“HF.” John read the initials carved into the bowie knife’s handle. “The dead man’s name was Hank Forbes. Where did you get this, Mochni?”
“From a soldier,” he said with reluctance. “I took your medicine pouch,” he said to Masichuvio, “and I traded it for the knife.”
Masichuvio paled. “Why?”
“Because of Pavati. If you were hanged by the Army, she would come to love me.”
“Did you kill the man?” Gus asked.
“No. But there was blood on the knife. It felt good to know that I held something that had killed a White.” He spat into the dirt.
“And you told this soldier, this man who kills his own kind, that you were me.”
Gus watched Masichuvio. A weaker man would have given in to shaky knees and sunk to the ground or taken to violence. Masichuvio fisted his hands but kept them by his side.
“Yes,” Mochni said with vehemence. “I told the soldier that my name was Masichuvio of Bacavi.”
“But… We were brothers.”
At last Mochni showed an emotion besides anger or hatred. “I love Pavati.”
It was rude to talk in a foreign language in front of Maire, who understood none of it, but one look at her expression, and Gus realized that she had the gist of the story. Smart woman. Sexy, tender, wonderful woman. And she was theirs. Even amidst this nasty business, his chest swelled with pride and love for her.
“I will not go to the Army,” Mochni insisted. “I will not go.”
“No need,” John said. “The Army has come to us.”
Gus covered his eyes to peer east. Sure enough, five uniformed men rode their way, about a quarter of a mile off.
Mochni made a lunge for his horse, but he was brought down by Masichuvio. The fight was brief. By the time the others arrived, Mochni had been subdued.
The lieutenant stayed astride. He nodded at the group. “John Eagle, Mr. Brannigan.” His gaze lighted on Maire. “And this is…?”
“Maire O’Ryan,” Gus said.
“How unusual to see a woman on the trail,” the man said.
“She’s here at the behest of my sister to make sure justice is done.” John pointed. “This is Masichuvio, my sister’s betrothed. The man he’s holding is Mochni. He has a story to tell you.”
“That’s him,” one of the men in the back of the group called out. He pointed at Mochni. “That’s Masichuvio! Forbes tore the medicine pouch from around his neck. I saw it happen.”
John stepped forward, between the Army and the men of his Clan. He used his chin to indicate the Army man now coming forward. “There’s your murderer,” he said.
Chapter Fifteen
“You’re lying!” the soldier spat out at John.
Gus stepped forward beside John and stopped the man from crashing into Talking Bird. Maire covered her mouth to prevent a cry from escaping. Her men were facing off against the US Army, or at least its representatives, and protecting Indians. This was unheard of.
“How do I know your man isn’t lying?” the lieutenant asked.
John spoke. “Masichuvio was nowhere near your camp when Private Forbes was killed.”
“Where was he?”
John hesitated.
“Hunting,” Gus said for him. “The hunting party came north a few days ago. Masichuvio's wife told you he was with them.”
The lieutenant leaned on his saddle horn and stared at Gray Deer. “There’s been some disturbance on Navajo land. Do you know anything about it?”
Gray Deer said something to John in Hopi. John shook his head in resignation. “He says he knows the Army has been helping the Navajo steal land from the Clans.”
“Shit,” the lieutenant said. “The tribes steal from each other all the time. Is he responsible or not?”
“Any man would be crazy to go up against the Army. Masichuvio isn’t crazy. He will soon have a wife, and responsibilities to the Clan. If he did such a thing and ruined my sister’s happiness, I’d kill him myself. So, no. I’d say he’s not who you’re looking for.” He gestured to Talking Bird. “He has the dead man’s knife. He says he traded Masichuvio’s medicine pouch to the murderer, who gave him the knife.”
The private spoke out. “Forbes ripped the injun’s medicine bag from around his neck! I saw him.”
“You would never be able to rip a man’s medicine pouch from his neck,” Gus said. “They wear them low, under their shirts. The cords are hidden, and strong leather. And besides,” Gus said, rubbing his chin, “I saw the medicine bag when the lieutenant came to Bacavi, and the cord wasn’t broken.”
Gus turned to her, seeming to feel her anxiousness at what he and John were about to do. If the lieutenant could prove they were lying to protect Gray Deer from punishment, they would be taken by the Army themselves. But… Gus winked. She relaxed marginally. He knew exactly what he was doing.
“You say you saw this murder?” he continued.
Belligerently pointing to Talking Bird, the private said, “I saw him stab Forbes with Forbes's own knife. Then he saw me and ran off without stopping to take back his property.”
“How did you know he was called Masichuvio, then?” Gus stared holes in the man.
“Well…well.” The private looked left and right, as though gauging where to run.
“Soldier?” the lieutenant said. “Answer the man. You told me that you saw an Indian named Masichuvio stab Private Forbes. You said Forbes pulled his medicine bag from the Indian's neck and that you retrieved it from Forbes's body after the Indian ran. So how did you know the Indian's name?”
The private gestured toward Talking Bird. “It was his idea. I was happy to trade the knife for the medicine pouch. It wasn’t my fault,” the younger man exclaimed. “Forbes had just taken me for everything in a poker game, including my father’s watch. All I wanted was the watch back, and the bastard laughed. He said I was a fool to play cards with a New Orleans man.”
The lieutenant looked down at him with narrowed eyes. “Are you stating that you killed Private Forbes?”
“I had nothing left. And he laughed.” He looked up at the lieutenant. “What else could I do? I used his knife and I took back what was mine.” Two men swung off their horses and took each of his arms.
“Ask him,” he shouted, using his chin to point to Talking Bird. “He gave me the idea. It would have worked, too.” They dragged him back to his horse and tied him on. “It should have worked!”
“Looks like we were after the wrong man. Sorry for the trouble,” the lieutenant said.
Sorry for the trouble. That was all? Maire knew the problem. It was too easy to blame the Indian for any trouble in the area. The military hadn’t looked any further than the private’s story for their killer. Thank God the truth had come out.
“You can be certain we will take care of this one,” John said, pointing to Talking Bird.
When the Army men rode off, Talking Bird turned to John. “Why didn’t you tell them everything? I did nothing wrong, only traded for a dead man’s knife. Masichuvio would have been punished for what he did on Navajo land.”
“You” —John pointed at Talking Bird— “will leave Bacavi. You will move to another mesa, join another Clan, if they will have you.”
“You can’t make me do anything. You’re not our leader. You chose the White man over your own people.”
“I didn’t choose. Spider Grandmother decided for me. She sent the eagle to show me how to transcend both worlds. But I say to you, this white man”—he rested his hand on Gus’s shoulder—”is more a brother to me than you, a member of the Clan.”
Gray Deer stepped forward. “You’ll leave the mesa and never return.” Talking Bird started to say something, but Gray Deer continued. “If you do not leave, I promise that the Clan will turn their backs to you. You’ll find no friend, no relative who will welcome you. Your water will be dirty and your corn spoiled.”
Talking Bird sneered. “I will leave. But with a happy heart, for I know you and Pavati
will never be happy. You will never let go of your hatred, and she will not be able to accept it.” He walked to his pony and jumped astride. Racing off across the desert, he soon became a speck on the horizon.
Gus explained what the men were saying, and Maire addressed Gray Deer. “He could be right, you know.” The men all turned to stare at her. “Hatred is a heavy emotion that affects everything about you. Clear Water is a sweet girl. She deserves a man who can love.”
Gus continued to act as translator, When he finished Maire's comments, Gray Deer’s face was a panoply of emotion.
“I don’t like that you left the Clan,” he said to John.
“I didn’t leave. I’m there frequently to see my family. I don’t try to take any power or displace anyone, do I?”
Softly, Maire spoke to Gus as he told her what was being said. “He should be happy that John works with the Army. He presents the Clan’s views to the Army. Doesn't he understand that because of you and John, the tribes are safer than without you?” Maire wasn’t sure exactly how accurate that was, but she wished it to be true.
Gus shook his head as he listened to Gray Deer's answer to John.
“The Whites are taking our land, our hunting grounds, and our livelihood. They want our souls.” He paced for a moment and then came back, pointing to Maire. “They think we don’t know why they ask us questions about our lives? Why they record our language? It’s so that when we are gone from the Earth, pushed back into the Third World by their armies and farmers, they can read about the Clan who once lived on these mesa.”
“The Third World,” Gus explained, “is where the Clan lived before Masauwu, doorkeeper to the Fourth World, allowed them to settle here.” He studied her eyes. “He's not entirely wrong, you know.”
Maire ached for the man, seeing his very culture disappear. “I wish I could change it,” she said. “But there are some things that cannot be stopped.”
“That is why I hate.” Gray Deer spat at the ground.
“It does no good, to you or anyone else.” Gus moved beside her and took her hand.
“You have a woman who loves you, a good woman,” John said. “Let her teach you.” John took Maire's other hand. “With a loving woman, half the battle is won.”
Gray Deer stared for a moment, then leapt on his horse and rode off.
“Do you think he’ll find his way?” Maire asked.
“I don’t know,” Gus said, looking down at her. “But I know I’ve found mine. If you’ll have me, that is.”
“I have nothing to offer,” John said. “No home, no Clan, no fortune. But I love you. Will you have me?”
She thought of Clear Water, who also had two men who loved her. That situation had brought about nothing but resentment and pain. She was lucky to have found Gus and John. “I’ll definitely have both of you.”
* * * *
“But I won’t marry you,” Maire said.
What did she just say? John shook his head and smiled. “You can marry both of us. Gus and I have it worked out.”
She cupped his cheek and smiled. “I love you both. I don’t need a piece of paper to prove it.”
“Well, I sure as hell do,” Gus burst out. “We can apply in Utah, where polygamy is accepted.”
Maire rose onto her toes and kissed him lightly. “Between one man and several women. I’m not sure they’d agree to one woman and multiple men.”
“Then marry one of us,” John said.
“No. That wouldn’t be fair to the other.”
“What about children? Whose name will they carry?” Gus stuck his hands in his back pockets and looked at her from under wrinkled brows.
“O’Ryan.”
“Won’t that cause problems?” John’s worry rivaled Gus’s. He hadn’t expected her to reject their proposals. He wouldn’t have been surprised if she had agreed to marry one of them, and he suspected it would have been Gus. Why would she want to saddle herself with the problems of being married to an Indian? But to insist on remaining single while being with the two of them? Unheard of.
“Why will you not marry one of us, or at least investigate marrying both of us?” he wanted to know.
She hugged herself to fight off the morning air, and John suffered a moment for her sake, remembering all that had gone on that morning. She hadn’t yet had time for breakfast or even a cup of coffee. He poured some of the hot liquid into a tin cup and handed it over as Gus wrapped her coat over her shoulders. She smiled her thanks, and the tightness in his chest loosened. He wanted this woman. He needed her, no matter what.
She held the cup in both hands and breathed in the steam before taking a tiny sip. “My sisters all married, following the accepted path for women. I didn’t. I was a dutiful daughter, staying with Father and nursing him until he died. I didn’t dislike the idea of marriage, but the longer I remained independent, the more I liked it. I made up my mind to be my own person. I don’t see why that must change now that I’ve found two wonderful men to love.”
“You found someone to love who loves you.” Gus slung out one arm and huffed a breath. “That’s when you get married.”
“Not me. I’ll live with you forever, but as Maire O’Ryan.”
“What will people say?” Gus looked like he wanted to strangle her or kiss her to death, John couldn’t tell which.
“That I’m a lucky woman to have two such special men in love with me.”
John shook his head. “Not likely.” He paced away from her and then back. “I will agree to this until there are children. As soon as you become pregnant, you marry one of us.”
“We don’t even know if I can have children,” she said. “But if and when that time comes, we’ll talk about it.”
John looked to Gus. “What now?”
“Damned if I know. I didn’t expect this.”
Maire heaved a sigh. “Well, loves, this is what I know. I didn’t have dinner last night and the morning is moving on. Would it be out of the question to eat something? And then I say we head back. Along the way we can talk about our future. I need to let the research group know I won’t be staying.”
John gave a disbelieving laugh. “You have everything figured out.”
“Not really. Except for the being hungry part.” She smiled in a way that made his heart flip. “There is one more thing weighing on my mind.”
“What’s that, darlin’?” Gus asked.
“It’s already been a few hours since we made love. How soon do you think we can stop for the night?”
* * * *
Six months later
A farm outside St. George, Utah
Maire sucked in a deep breath and stared up at a breathtakingly blue sky. John half reclined on a blanket roll, and she rested back on his chest. His cock, lodged deep in her ass, pulsed and throbbed. Gus braced himself above the two of them, his cock deep in her pussy. He began moving, pulling out and driving in, pushing her onto John. The base of Gus’s penis rubbed her clitoris, sending fire through her veins. Under an apple tree where they proclaimed their love in the oldest way known to man, blossoms cascaded over them. The only sound other than the sough of the breeze that caressed them were the huffs of breath squeezed from her by the thrusts of the men. With one hand she held on to John’s hip. With the other, she clung to Gus’s neck. In moments, she was lost in a raging spring thunderstorm of sensations and emotions that left her lost to the world.
When she next knew anything, she lay on the soft grass, cuddled between her men.
“I have something to tell you,” she said. “I’m going to have a child.”
“Maire!” John exclaimed.
“How long have you known?” Gus asked.
“About a week. I wanted to wait until the right time to tell you, and between the lambing and spring planting, I haven’t seen that much of you.”
John skimmed his hand down her arm, over her hip, and along her thigh. “What we just did didn’t hurt the babe, I hope.”
“No, we’re fine. The d
octor in St. George said I’m healthy and in good shape to do anything I want. And I wanted this.”
Gus laughed. “You weren’t alone.” He gently massaged her breasts. Their sensitivity made his touch shockingly erotic.
“Marry me,” John said insistently. “Or Gus, but one of us.”
“Both of you. I’ve met an open-minded minister who believes that God loves all those who also love. He’s willing to say a few words for us, and also to perform a ceremonial braiding of our hair.” She lightly swatted John’s leg. “It has to be ceremonial because your hair is too short. Anyway, I think our children should carry the name O’Ryan Brannigan Eagle.”
“That’s a mouthful for a little babe,” Gus said on a chuckle.
More seriously, John asked, “Can he do it this week?”
“You’re awfully anxious to be shackled,” she said, laughing.
“Living with you is anything but a hardship,” Gus said. “But I have to be away early in the week. I’m picking up those two rams we bought in Moab.” Their sheep ranch would grow greatly once they added those rams, and she knew how excited the men were to get them.
“We have time,” she said. “After all, the baby won’t come for months.” She hesitated asking the next question. “Do you think your mother might come? And what about Clear Water and Gray Deer? Might they come to the wedding?”
John stared silently into the trees. “I don't know. I can write and ask.”
“It sounds as though Pavati and Masichuvio are doing all right,” Gus offered. “In her last letter to you, Maire, didn't she say that Masichuvio is taking his responsibilities as Clan leader seriously, and recommending that his men stay away from Navajo lands until a settlement over property boundaries can be arranged?”
“She said he's excited over becoming a father, too. Just as I hope you two are.”
“I love you, Maire,” John murmured from behind her. Their eagle had followed them from Arizona. When she sighted it circling above their house, it brought her peace. The farm they found in Utah matched the vision she had had months before, so she knew this was where they would find their happiness.
Maire [The Sisters O'Ryan 4] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 12