As the Eagle Flies

by J. D. Oliver

  “I think their afraid of rejection.” Faith said.

  “Balderdash, life is too short, you have to grab it by the horns.” I said.

  “Balderdash? Where in the world did you get that word? This isn’t the 1920’s you know.” Rosie said.

  “I don’t know, it just came into my mind, I must of read it somewhere when I was a kid.” I heard steps on the gravel, I turned, it was Hank.

  “Mom wants to know if you all would like some ice cream before bedtime?”

  Alita said, “Ice Cream. I want some, can we Mom?”

  “Sure, we’ll be right in, that sounds good.”

  Sitting around the table was Hope, Tiff and the Hoeffer boys. Why I called them boys, I don’t know, except that they were brothers, that were always together. When we came in, Hope stood up, her cheeks putting on a little color. That is more than her ethnic color usually was.

  One thing I guess I will never understand, why is it if a person has some Black or Indian in them, why are they called Black or Indian? Take me for instance, I’m half Indian, so therefore I’m an Indian. And Hope, she was half white, but was called Black. Now Tiff, her Dad must have been half white, because she wasn’t any darker than me.

  I guess I got off track a little bit. Anyway, both Chip and Dale stood up when we came in.

  Chip said, “Good evening Sir, Mam,” I detected a little fear in his demeanor, as well as Dale’s.

  “What’s this Sir and Mam Bit?” I asked.

  That really shook them up. They started to stammer, I said, “Forget it, just call us by our names. We haven’t changed, have you?”

  “Uh, no sir, I mean Clay.” Dale said.

  “Where’s that Ice Cream.” I said. Tiff jumped up, “I’ll get it, sit down.”

  When we all had our bowls full and were chowing down, I had time to assess their feelings. Hope and Dale were covertly eyeing each other. Tiff and Chip weren’t being coy about their interest in each other. I winked at Rosie and inclined my head toward the four of them. She nodded.

  I went back to giving my bowl the attention it deserved. But I was still thinking about Chip and Dale and their reaction to Faith and I. I guess I couldn’t blame them for being a little apprehensive about the two of us. They probably thought that we were dyed in the wool killers. Which we weren’t. We had never killed anybody, that weren’t trying to kill us at the time. But I guess at times we were a little zealous at defending ourselves.

  But really, can a person ever be too zealous about that?

  Poppy and Hank finished their bowls and went off to bed. Alita’s eyes were drooping also. Rosie and Alita slept in the bedroom that was off of the kitchen, Rosie picked Alita up and they went to bed. Suong excused herself, said she had a big day tomorrow. It was time for the Oil workers surprise drug tests.

  That just left the six of us. I got up and collected the empty bowls and took them to the kitchen. Hope said, “You don’t have to do that, I will do it.”

  “No, I’m Okay. In fact a feel just fine. Besides, you guys haven’t finished mooning over each other, it’s pretty obvious that you’re going to have to get married pretty soon, or there is going to be a whole lot of fornicating going on.”

  All four of them sat there with a shocked expression on their faces. Faith said, “Clay, you behave yourself. But yes it is pretty evident that the four of you like each other. But it is up to the four of you, if you want to get married or not.”

  “Well, well, Uh,” Hope stammered, Dale spoke up, “Yes, I do want to marry Hope, that is if she will have me.” I guess he got over that case of lockjaw. Chip wasn’t to be left out. “That goes for me also! I mean, not marry Hope, but Tiffany, if she will have me.”

  Both Mother and Daughter, said in unison, “Yes, we will.”

  Well sir, that’s the way it went. A week later we had a double wedding in our living room. We hired an outfit from town to set up a reception tent in the pasture off of the kitchen, just about the whole town showed up. Chip and Dale had relatives up a gum stump.

  Our wedding present was a honeymoon trip to Hawaii, they were to be gone two weeks. While they were gone I arraigned for two wings to be added to the house, on either side. Told them money was no object, as long as they had them completed in two weeks.

  Red was a changed man, he no longer drank. And he was downright respectful. I had him oversee the construction. The rest of us, including Rosie, Hank and Poppy, saddled up and headed for our Viking Valley, as I was prone to call it.

  Gabe and Clancy met us at the waterfall. The stone that was behind the falls was an optical illusion. When we got close we could see the opening of the passage way to the valley. Hank and Rosie were the only ones that hadn’t been here with us. Poppy was overjoyed to get back. We had no more than cleared the passageway, than her and Alita started to pull their clothes off.

  Rosie said, “What are you doing? Leave your clothes on.”

  Faith said, “That’s Okay Rosie, they can take them off, we all went that way last time. But you don’t have to, till you want to, that goes for you too, Hank.”

  Hank said, turning as red as me, “I think I will leave mine on, if you don’t mind.” Like I told you about Tiff, Hank’s and her color was on the light side, so you could tell when they were embarrassed, of course so was Poppy’s, but she wasn’t the least embarrassed.

  “Won’t they get sunburned?” Rosie said, looking at Alita and Poppy.

  “No,” I said, then I explained about the water vapor in the air filtering out the harmful rays. Plus everything else as we rode along toward the Viking house.

  Rosie said, “Well maybe I will pull these jeans off, I have underwear on.” Then she stood up in the saddle like a trick rider and pulled her jeans down, then standing on one leg then the other one, she pulled her jeans off. Hank made sure he was looking the other way. Rosie sat back down in the saddle and tied the legs of her jeans around the saddle horn.

  Faith said, “I can do that, watch.” She stood up in the saddle and did the same thing. Of course I watched with interest. Hank was getting more miserable by the minute. I couldn’t blame him, almost fifteen years old, this was pure torture for him.

  The only thing different between Rosie and Faith was that Rosie had regular panties on, Faith had thong panties on.

  “Come on Hank, I’ll show you the swimming hole,” I said, as we spurred ahead, leaving the women to go on to the Viking House. We got to the pool in short order, “Now you can take your clothes off, there are no women around. The water is just the right temperature.” I said, as I stripped, Hank did also.

  We were sunning ourselves beside the pool when the women arrived about a half hour later. Of course by this time they were all naked. Hank dove in the pool. Couldn’t blame him, the second he seen the women, he started to swell. The curse of being a teenager. I guess we should of left him to help Red. Well shoot, he’ll have to start learning to control it, sooner or later.

  About an hour later, the women got their things together to leave, Faith said, “We had better go so Hank can get out of the water, before he turns into a prune.”

  Rosie said, “I feel sorry for him, does it hurt when it stays like that for a long time?”

  “No, just his ego, he won’t be able to look you guys in the eye for a long time. Don’t worry about him, we guys all have to go through that when we’re teenagers.”

  “It just gets like that for no reason?” Rosie asked.

  “No, believe me there’s a reason, and you guys are the reason. Don’t worry we’ll be along in short order.”

  Faith giggled, “In ‘short order’, huh?”

  “Go on, get out of here, let the poor guy get out of the water.” I said.

  “I thought they would never leave.” Hank said as he climbed on the rock I was setting on. “Well Hank, you do have a problem. And it’s not going to get any better. It doesn’t’ bother you when you look at your sister, does it?”

  “No, she’s my sister.”

&nb
sp; “Well, I’ll tell you what, just pretend that Rosie is your sister, which I guess you could say she is. And then just pretend that Faith is your Mother, again in effect she is. Then you won’t have the problem. Every time you feel it start, just close your eyes and think of your mother or your sister.”

  He closed his eyes, “Yep, that should work. What do you think about when you look at Faith?”

  “I try not to think, if I dwelled on it, I would have the same problem that you do. That’s just the way the Creator made us, to propagate the species.”

  “Do women have the same problem?” Hank said.

  “Yep, but it doesn’t show, aren’t they the fortunate ones?”

  “Yeah, I would say so. But it helps knowing they have the same problem.” Hank said. He perked up quite considerable, with that last thought.

  We picked up our clothes and tied them behind our saddle, then we rode slowly back to the Viking House. Hank was smiling by the time we got there.

  We unsaddled and stowed the gear in the tack shed. Then we went into the house. Hank walked right in, smiling. Rosie and Faith turned as we came in, Hank said, “Hi, I’m feeling much better, Clay explained a few things to me, I understand now. Do you need any help with supper?”

  Rosie said, “Yeah, you could get in some wood, there’s a stack beside the door.”

  After Hank went outside, Rosie said, “What did you tell him?”

  “Simple, I told him that women have the same problem, only it doesn’t show.”

  Faith said, “Oh, we do, do we?”

  I looked at her with a small smile, “Yes, you do.” Both her and Rosie looked down at the floor. They both had small smiles on their faces.

  “Alright, it’s a push, man and woman, are more alike than they like to admit. Just don’t make a big deal out of it.” Faith said.

  “Deal.” I said, as Hank came back, in complete control. He smiled at Rosie. Rosie stuck her tongue out at him.

  “What? What did I do?” Hank said.

  “Nothing Hank,” I said, “you’re just a man, that’s all.”

  Alita and Poppy came in from outside, with some Raspberry’s, they each had a hatful. “These are really good, much better than the ones at home.” Poppy said. She looked at her brother, “You alright now?”

  “Yes, thanks for asking.” Hank said, without any embarrassment.

  The supper that night was delicious. And one good thing about it, we didn’t have to worry if we spilled something on ourselves. We could always just take a bath. Of course we had to be really careful not to spill hot stuff in our laps. Seems like every good thing has its drawbacks.

  Clancy and Gabe were the fortunate ones, they didn’t need clothes, because the creator had provided them with the needed covering. After supper that night we sat around and talked. Hank didn’t want to sleep in the house. So Clancy said that he could sleep outside with them and the saddle stock.

  Hank thought that was a good idea. Cause he had been sleeping in the barn a lot of the time back at the ranch. Also he was relieved that he didn’t have to sleep in the same house with naked women. He had a ways to go to conquer the teenage curse.

  The three girls had picked out a room that they liked and were going to sleep together. I was overjoyed to hear that, as well as Faith was. Oh come on, you know why, I don’t have to tell you.

  This Viking House was versatile, it seemed to change to meet the needs of its occupants. I do believe at times I could hear it breathing, of course it wasn’t, was it?

  “No, of course it isn’t, does your head hurt, Honey?” Was Faith’s answer to my musings.

  “No it doesn’t. Just that everything seems so convenient here, do you think that’s how it was in the Garden Of Eden?” I asked.

  “Yes, I do. Look, if you want some fruit, all you have to do is just go pick some. Seems like there is always some kind of fruit just right for picking. And the vegetables in the garden, did you notice there are no weeds?” Faith said.

  “Yes, I did notice, do you think it’s like this year around?” I asked, as we walked to our bedroom. The diffused moonlight that was coming in through the windows put a romantic light over everything. Including my wife….

  Faith never did get around to answering my question. I had no more than asked it, then I forgot about it myself…

  Alita woke us up the next morning by jumping into bed with us, Rosie followed her in.

  “Breakfast is ready, that is if you guys are?” Rosie said. As we detangled ourselves.

  “Sure,” Faith said, “but first I think we need a shower.”

  “Yeah, I suspect that you do. We already had ours, when you’re ready, the foods on the table.” Rosie said, as she picked up Alita and left the room.

  I looked at Faith, “Do you think she’s a little miffed at something?”

  “Yes, I think so, I think she is just a little jealous of us. She is starting to wish she had a man, herself.” Faith said.

  “What? She couldn’t be thinking that, she’s not old enough.” I said.

  “Yes, she is, she’s going to be sixteen her next birthday. Plus she’s, say, like in her twenty’s when it comes to life experiences.”

  “Yeah, I guess you’re right, have you talked to her about it?”

  “It? You mean sex?” Faith said.

  “I don’t know, I guess maybe, hell I don’t know. About life in general, I guess.”

  Faith gave me a sideways look as she brushed at her hair, why I don’t know, brush her hair I mean, not the look, cause we hadn’t taken a shower yet, am I rambling?

  She laid the brush down,

  “What do you think of Rosie?” She said.

  “What do you mean? I like her of course, she’s our daughter.”

  “You know what I mean, do you like her as a woman?”

  “I think she is a fine woman. If you mean am I interested in her as a woman? I am not! She is my daughter, that’s all, period. How could you even ask me such a question?”

  “Alright, alright, don’t get in a snit. I’m just a wife, that’s all, strange things pop into our minds every now and then. Forget I even asked you that, okay?”

  I picked her up by the shoulders and pulled her close and kissed her hard, “You are the only one that turns me on, so don’t ever get jealous of any other woman, ever.”

  Rosie stuck her head in, “Hey, come on, didn’t you guys get enough last night, we’re all waiting for you!”

  “Alright, give us a minute,” I said, as Faith and I got in the shower, together.

  We spent the next two weeks in a paradisiacal haze. We all got the best tans of our lives, without any skin damage. Due to the misty haze that covered the valley that screened out any harmful rays from the sun. I think I told you about this before, didn’t I?

  Hank and Poppy were a little anxious to get back and see their Mother and Tiffany. But at the same time were hesitant to leave this Garden of Eden. Now Rosie was a different story, she had no hesitation either way, she knew what she wanted to do. We were setting around the breakfast table, when Rosie said,

  “It’s time to go home.” It was a flat statement, with no indecision. She sat there with a firm set to her jaw, like I would disagree with her. She had blossomed in the last two weeks, her female assist’s were more pronounced, as in fact all of the women’s did. I hadn’t paid much attention, but looking at them now, they were more than beautiful. I cleared my throat,

  “Uh, yes, I suppose you’re right, so I guess we had better find our clothes. I haven’t seen mine in awhile, but I suppose there around here somewhere.”

  Faith said, “I washed all of our clothes, they are in the closets. I tried mine on the other day, it seems in places they are a little tight, not in the waist, but you know, up here.”

  Rosie and Poppy turned a little pink, Poppy said, “Yes, mine have been getting bigger also, so has Rosie’s too.” Hank and I, kept our mouths shut, it seems our minds worked a little better now, enough to know not to comment on t
he size of the girls breasts.

  Alita was following all of the conversation. She put her hands up to her chest, “Mommy, where are mine, it’s not fair, you three have big one’s, why don’t I?”

  Hank and I, got up, “We’re going to get the saddle stock ready, there’s too much female talk in here this morning.” I said. Clancy was setting beside the tack shed, eating a turnip.

  “So you’re leaving this morning.” It was a statement not a question. “I want to warn you, things have changed a little bit.”

  “What do you mean, changed a little bit?” I asked. “It’s only been two weeks, how much could they have changed?”

  “Hmm, two weeks? Yes, in here it has been two weeks, but never mind, just be ready.” Clancy said, then swallowed the last of his turnip and walked away.

  I didn’t like it, reading between the lines, I was sure there was a lot more to his ‘Hmm’ then he let on. I glanced up to the sky, Gabe was making big circles, riding the air currents.

  Faith came out where we were working with the stock, “Honey, I just tried the Satellite Phone, the battery is still alright, but there’s no signal, how can that be?”

  “There’s no signal from here.” I took the phone and poked in a diagnostic code, nothing happened, “Yep, like I said, no signal” I said as I handed it back. I looked at her, “Did you forget your top?” She had put on jeans and boots, but no top.

  “No I didn’t forget, not only will my bra not fit, but my blouse is way too tight, I’ll have to borrow one of your shirts, is that okay?”

  “Sure, what’s mine is yours anyway, or did you forget that we are one flesh?”

  “No, I didn’t forget. My jeans are just a little tight, how do they look?”

  I looked, wow! How jeans could improve over being naked, I had no idea, but they did. “Uh, honey, they look just fine, just fine. Are the girls getting ready?” I had to change the subject, if I kept looking at my wife, we wouldn’t get underway this morning.

  Faith went back into the house, “Hank, be sure we don’t forget anything, especially any of our weapons. I have a feeling we might need them.”