Forever Angels

by Simmons, Trana Mae

  Michael turned to the Shaman. "Of course, like you said, who can control a woman."

  "But we need them," Silver Eagle replied. He sat back down and Michael, after a glance at the sky, joined him. He held out another cigar to Silver Eagle, but the Indian shook his head.

  "Keep it for later, then," Michael said as he stuck the cigar in Silver Eagle's belt. "Hey," he continued when he saw the worry on the Shaman's face. "Rain will be all right. I was just sort of teasing Angie. She's really a pretty good driver now. She's gotten a lot more careful."

  Silver Eagle glanced skeptically at the sky before he spoke. "I wish to speak of Tess. She is my family now, too — the mother of my grandchildren. I have fasted and sought dreams, but I cannot see what will happen, and I do not want Rain Shadow and Mountain Flower to cry again. You must tell me if Tess will stay with them or if she will go back to her own time."

  "I can't do that," Michael said sadly. "Because Angie and I don't know either."

  Silver Eagle nodded solemnly. "It is as I feared, but my love for my grandchildren made it necessary for me to try to talk with you and see what you knew. I would ask you to speak to me again if you learn what I need to know."

  "I'll do that," Michael promised. "If Mr. G lets us know, we'll tell you. If He says it's all right, of course."

  "Who is this Mr. G?"

  "Aw, it's my name for Him. He's like your Great Spirit."

  "He allows you to call Him this?"

  Michael shrugged his shoulders. "I guess so. He's never told me I couldn't anyway."

  The Mustang screeched to a halt in front of them and Rain jumped out.

  "Grandfather, it's wonderful! You go for a ride now." He ran over and tugged Silver Eagle to his feet.

  "I do not think...."

  Rain pulled him toward the car, and Angela mentally opened the passenger door. She looked at Silver Eagle with a challenge on her face.

  "Go on, Grandfather," Rain said when Silver Eagle hesitated. "You can see everything from up there. Angela said cars don't really fly, but there's going to be things called airplanes. They'll carry bunches of people through the skies."

  "Rain, I do not think we should tell others of what we have seen this evening. They may call us loco."

  "Angela and I already talked about that while we flew around," Rain assured him. "It'll be our secret. But you need to go, so I'll have at least someone to talk with about it."

  "Perhaps so." The Shaman finally slid into the seat. "So I can speak with Rain Shadow of this," he said to Angela.

  "Of course," she murmured. She dropped the car into gear and popped the clutch. The little Mustang fishtailed down the asphalt in a roar of screaming rubber, and Silver Eagle closed his eyes and grabbed the seat.

  ~~

  "Good morning, husband," Tess murmured, snuggling up to Stone and wrapping her arms around his waist.

  "'Morning, wife." Stone dropped a kiss on her head, then lifted her onto his stomach. "I think I could get used to this real fast."

  "You better. I think it's going to take me a little longer, though. You hog the blankets."

  "Sure," Stone admitted. "Then you have to cuddle up to me for warmth."

  "Oh, is that how it works?"

  "Uh huh."

  "Pa?" a voice said outside the tipi. "You awake yet?"

  "Rain, get away from there." That was Flower's voice. "Let them sleep."

  Tess blew a curl away from her face. "Duty calls."

  "Yeah, I suppose. It's funny, though. Neither one of those kids had any time to spend with me yesterday. Rain took off with Silver Eagle and Flower was with you all day. Then they show up at the crack of dawn today."

  Tess looked around the tipi. "It's awfully light in here for dawn."

  Stone rolled her to his side and reached across Tess for his denims. Digging in the pocket, he pulled out a watch.

  "Good lord, it's after nine o'clock. I've never slept this late in my life."

  "Oh no!" Tess sat up and grabbed the doeskin dress she had carefully folded by the bedroll the night before. "We better get dressed. Oh, I wish I had my backpack. I don't want to wear this out there."

  "Tess, darlin'. What on earth's wrong with you?"

  "The whole camp's probably been out there watching this tipi to see when we get up, Stone!" A violent blush stole over her face. "They probably think...I mean...that we're...."

  "Well, we were until just before daybreak, weren't we?"

  "Darn it, Stone...."

  "Honey, how many times before today do you think people have been married in this camp? And it sure wouldn't have done my image any good in front of the other men here if they'd seen you out there at daybreak."

  "What's that supposed to mean?"

  Stone grabbed her and pulled her back down beside him. "What do you think it means?" he growled. "They'd think I didn't know how to satisfy my woman — that she'd rather be out there slaving over a hot cooking pot than in here making love to me."

  "I see," Tess mused. "Well, we can't have your manhood in doubt now, can we?" She slid her body closer and ran a hand teasingly over his hips while she watched his face. "Especially since I know there's not a darned thing lacking in that department."

  "Woman, you're gonna get yourself in trouble."

  "Trouble, huh? That's a funny word for it. I always thought people were supposed to try and stay away from trouble." Tess crawled her fingers along his waist and inched her index finger between their bodies. She wiggled her finger slightly. "Here, Trouble. Here, boy."

  Stone groaned and flipped Tess onto her back, muffling her giggle with his mouth.

  ***

  Chapter 30

  Two days later, after spending one night on the trail, Tess and Stone rode into Clover Valley. The owner of the livery stable on the edge of town was finishing off the last of his first pot of coffee of the day as they rode up.

  "Hey, Chisum," he called. "You're in town early."

  "Howdy, Jake," Stone replied as he dismounted. "You got room here for these horses for a few hours? I've got a little business to take care of before we head home."

  "Sure. You want 'em fed, or just put up?"

  "Just put up," Stone said, remembering his financial condition. "I'll grain them when I get home." He unwrapped the lead rope tied to the mare he planned to give to Jasper from his saddlehorn. "This one's just off the range and still sort of skittish. I'll put her in the corral myself."

  After Stone led the mare into the corral beside the stable, he glanced at Tess, who still sat on Sateen. The gray gelding stood patiently at the end of its lead rope, behind the black mare.

  "You gonna get down?" Stone asked.

  "As soon as you help Lonesome down," Tess replied.

  Stone stomped over and reached for the dog lying across the front of Tess's saddle. "This darned animal's perfectly capable of walking on its own," he growled. "You spoil him, and he won't be a bit of good around the ranch."

  "He likes to ride, Stone."

  Instead of setting Lonesome on the ground, Stone held him a moment, and the dog reached up to lick his face. Stone shifted him to one arm and stroked his head.

  "Let's get another rule down right now, fella," he said. "You can ride with Tess if she wants you to, but from now on you sleep at the foot of the bed. I didn't appreciate waking up this morning and finding you curled up between me and my wife."

  "Wife?" Jake said beside him. When Stone glanced at him, Jake lifted an eyebrow. "I guess congratulations are in order, huh?"

  Stone dodged another lick Lonesome aimed at his face and set the dog down before he grasped Jake's hand. "Yep, my wife," he confirmed.

  "Glad to see you ain't spoilin' her like the dog," Jake said in an aside. "Most women think we gotta help them on an' off the hosses, an' we all know they got two good legs to do it themselves."

  Despite Jake's low voice, Tess caught his words. She clenched her teeth and glared down at the two men before she tossed her head and slid to the ground. Sometimes
this women's lib stuff wasn't worth a darn, she realized as she dusted the legs of her jeans. Men who confused a simple courtesy with their idea of a man spoiling a woman...and acting like it was just fine to spoil a dog....

  Tess raised her face when she heard the stable man choke and start coughing. She watched Stone pound Jake on his back until the other man hacked up a wad of tobacco from his throat and spit it on the ground.

  "Nope," Stone said as Jake stood there gaping at Tess in her skintight jeans. "Ain't a thing wrong with my wife's legs."

  Chuckling under his breath, Stone slipped an arm around Tess's waist and led her away from the stable. "Keep the dog here for me, too, Jake," he called over his shoulder.

  "Look," he said in a stern voice to Tess after they got out of Jake's hearing, "I don't want you traipsing around town like that. We'll stop at Sid's store and get you another dress first."

  "Stone, I can pick out my own clothes. I'm sure you've got other things to do."

  "I'll have to speak to Sid first." Stone ignored Tess's questioning look and guided her up the steps to the board walkway lining the buildings, then on past a small cafe and to the door of the general store. He held the door open for her and scanned the inside of the store, glad to see they were the only customers. He hated the idea of asking Sid to wait a few more days for him to pay his account in front of any of the other townspeople.

  "Go on over and look at the dresses while I talk to Sid," he told Tess.

  She nodded and walked away, while Stone took a deep breath and headed for Sid. The storekeeper looked up at him with a wide grin on his face and shook Stone's hand in welcome, grabbing it again a second later and pumping it harder after Stone explained that he and Tess were married.

  "Uh...," Stone began. "We've been out at the Cherokee camp, and Tess didn't bring a dress with her. She needs to get one before we...."

  "'Course she does," Sid interrupted. "New bride needs a new dress. There's some in the storeroom I just got in and haven't put out yet. You go on and do whatever you need to do, Chisum, while I fetch the dresses out for your missus to look at. I know men don't like to hang around while their women try on clothes."

  "Uh...my account...."

  "Sure," Sid said with a wave of his hand as he started away from the counter. "I'll put the dress on it. See you later."

  Stone stared after Sid with a frown on his face. The last time he had come into the store, he'd sensed a little reserve in Sid when the storekeeper licked his pencil point and added up Stone's purchases. He shrugged and turned from the counter as Sid emerged from the storeroom with an arm load of dresses. Half the town probably owed Sid money, and Sid ought to know by now that he couldn't keep a business going around here without letting people charge until they could pay.

  "Stone," Tess called before he could open the door. "Where do you want me to meet you after while?"

  "How about over at the cafe in about half an hour?" Stone said. "Think you'll be done by then?"

  "That'll be fine."

  Stone went out the door and tipped his hat as two of the women in town came toward him down the walkway.

  "Good morning, Mr. Chisum," one of the women trilled. "My husband was just over at the stable, and I hear the territory had lost another bachelor."

  "Yes, ma'am," Stone replied. "Word sure gets around fast."

  "Well, where is your lovely wife?" the other woman asked. "We can't wait to give her our best wishes. Perhaps the Ladies' Guild could host a small reception for you both in a few days."

  "Guess you'll have to discuss that with Tess," Stone said. "She's in the store, picking out a dress."

  Rose Brown sat rigidly on her horse in front of the hitching rail, glowering at the small party on the boardwalk. It couldn't be. Stone was hers, damn it. Or at least he would have been in a few weeks, if that stupid Tess hadn't shown up. Why, just the week before Tess arrived on the scene, she'd almost gotten Stone into her bed.

  Well, maybe not her bed, but that pile of hay in the barn would've done just as well. She'd planned it so carefully. She'd known Stone would stop by that morning to check on that sick calf for her. She'd waited in the barn, wearing only her nightgown and robe, and pretending astonishment at his early arrival. She'd been checking on the calf before she got dressed, she'd told him.

  Even when she had stumbled in feigned awkwardness into his arms, though, Stone had only steadied her and told her to go back in her cabin and dress. But if that damned calf hadn't picked that moment to bleat out in pain....

  More drastic measures had been called for, but those men she had hired....

  "Good morning, Stone!" Tillie Peterson emerged from the cafe and called her greeting. "And Rose. How are you, Edith and Fredwina?" she continued as she sped down the walkway toward them.

  Stone glanced up at Rose and nodded. "Didn't see you there, Rose. And good morning, Tillie," he said as he turned to Mrs. Peterson.

  "Oh, Tillie," Edith said. "Have you heard? Stone and Miss Foster are married. We must plan a party for them."

  "How wonderful!" Tillie stepped up to Stone and planted a wet kiss on his cheek. "I'm so glad my little talks with you have finally gotten through that thick skull of yours, Stone Chisum."

  Stone grinned wryly at her and tipped his hat up on his forehead. "Well, now, Tillie, I think maybe mine and Tess's feelings for each other might've had a little something to do with it, too."

  "I should hope so," Tillie huffed. "Where is Tess? I want to hear all the details. I suppose you didn't invite us because it wasn't your funeral." Tillie giggled at the private joke between her and Stone.

  "We got married out at the Cherokee camp," Stone told her. "It was a lovely ceremony."

  "And just as binding as if a minister had performed it," Tillie said, tapping Stone on the shoulder. "Don't you forget that."

  "I wouldn't think of it, Tillie."

  "Well, are you going to tell us where Tess is? I hope you haven't gone off and left her alone this early in your married life."

  "Tess is in the store," Stone repeated again. "I'm sure she'll be glad to see you. If you ladies would like to come over to the cafe with Tess in a little while, I'll buy you all a cup of coffee or tea."

  "We'll do that." Tillie glanced up at Rose, who still sat on her horse. "Are you coming, Rose? We've got plans to make."

  "I don't have time right now," Rose said in a tight voice. She gripped her reins, forcing herself not to jerk her horse's head around and gallop out of town. "You can let me know what you decide later."

  "All right," Tillie agreed. She and the other two women hurried into the general store.

  Stone stepped down into the street, and Rose hurriedly dismounted.

  "Stone," she said, placing a hand on his arm. "Stone, why did you do it?"

  "What, Rose?" Stone asked in a puzzled voice. "You mean, why did I marry Tess?"

  "Yes, damn it. I thought...you and I...you've always been there when I needed you."

  "Don't worry," Stone said with a pat on her hand. "I'll still help you out when you need it. That's what neighbors are for, and Tess won't mind."

  Stone pulled his arm free and started across the street, whistling a jaunty tune out loud as he headed for the bank.

  Angry tears filled Rose's eyes, and she dug her nails into her palms. She was getting damned tired of men leaving her. First her father when she was fifteen, then her fiance the day before their wedding. Then her husband had had the gall to up and die on her. Of course, her husband had already told her that he was sick and tired of her shrewish temper and mood swings. At least he'd had the decency to die instead of just leave her, like he'd threatened to do.

  It could have been better with Stone, though. Stone was a gentleman and knew how to treat a lady. They could have combined their two homesteads and had enough property to make a decent living, instead of scraping by. She would have been someone more important than just the dressmaker in Clover Valley — accepted because her husband was an important rancher, instead of t
olerated because she used her skills to make gowns for women who didn't know a needle from a thimble.

  And even before her husband died, Rose had felt stirrings around Stone that she never experienced with any other man. She'd bet her entire homestead that making love with Stone would be more than just a fifteen second rut in the dark. Stone would get her pregnant — something her husband hadn't seemed to be able to do. And she'd give him his own children — white children he could be proud of instead of those two half-breeds he'd gotten stuck with out of the tenderness of his heart. They could send those two back to the reservation, where they belonged, like she'd been trying to tell the other women in town.

  But now Tess would be the woman Stone touched and caressed — spoke tender words to — gave babies to.

  Rose bit back a scream of rage and whirled around to her horse. Glancing at the sidewalk, she saw a man stop and stare at her in surprise.

  "Are you all right, Mrs. Brown?" the man asked.

  Rose quickly schooled her face into a smile. "I'm fine," she called to him. "I was just upset because I remembered I'd forgotten to bring something with me to town. And now I've got to ride all the way back out to the ranch and get it."

  "Can I help you on your horse?" The man walked down the steps and stopped beside Rose.

  "How nice of you," Rose said with a false smile. "Why, thank you."

  A second later, she held her horse down to a sedate trot as she left town.

  "So there, Michael," Angela said. "Do you still think Rose might be a good wife for Stone if Tess has to go back to the future?"

  "Not on your life," Michael said with a shiver. "That woman could be dangerous. Don't you think she's on the verge of a breakdown?"

  "If you'd taken the trouble to look into her background like I did, Michael, you'd know she's always been like that. I never have figured out why, but it seems like some people are born bad. But Rose is just smart enough to keep somewhat of a lid on her meanness and try to manipulate people into doing what she wants without giving herself away."