by Linda Bridey
It took all of his will power to not grab her and kiss her. If it was this bad when she was only around for a couple of hours every day, how would he be able to stand having her around for eight or nine hours a day starting the following week? He almost went to Joe about it, but knew that Joe would laugh and say that he couldn’t fire Deena just because she made him hot and bothered.
On Saturday, Deena finished with Leo and tracked Eddie down. He was in the mare barn checking on a mare that was due to foal soon. The gray horse was restless, a good indication that it would be within the next couple of days.
“She’s a nice looking horse,” Deena said as she joined Eddie.
He nodded and tried not to look at Deena. Her perfume hit him and his stomach tightened with desire. “Yeah, she is. All of the foals are important, but this one is special because it’s another one from Lance’s line. Joe gets real emotional about it.”
“I’ve seen that,” Deena said. “I never saw Lance because I didn’t live in Dawson at the time.”
“I’ve got some pictures in my office. C’mon. I’ll show you,” Eddie said.
*****
Deena loved Eddie’s office. It still smelled of saddle soap and leather even though it had been his office for several years. He led her over to one of the walls and pointed to the pictures there. There were a couple of Lance in a show pose and Deena saw what a truly gorgeous horse he had been. Then there were pictures of Joe riding him and Joe standing by Lance, grinning from ear to ear.
“No wonder he loved him so much,” Deena said as she touched one of the pictures. “I would have liked to have seen him run.”
“It was a fantastic thing to see. Like we told you, we haven’t seen that kind of promise until Leo. We’re gonna keep needing your help with him,” Eddie said looking down at her.
She met his gaze and couldn’t look away. “I love working with him.”
“That’s good.” Eddie was transfixed by her luminous dark eyes and groaned. “I can’t do this, Deena.”
“Do what?” she said. “Look at pictures?”
Eddie chuckled. “No.” He was glad that he’d closed the office door. “I can’t work with you every day and not kiss you.”
Deena’s eyes grew wider and she smiled. “Who says you have to?”
“But I’m your boss now and I don’t want anything to interfere with our work relationship or anyone to say that I’m giving you special treatment,” Eddie said.
This was what Deena had been waiting so long for. She’d wanted Eddie to see her as a woman and he finally did. She wasn’t going to squander this opportunity. Moving closer to him, Deena said, “While I’m working, we’ll keep it strictly professional but then afterwards, you can give me special treatment.”
Eddie arched a brow at her. “Is that so?”
“Yes.”
Closing the distance between them even more, Eddie said, “Well, you’re done with work for the day, so how about some of that special treatment now?”
Deena put her hands on his chest and said, “I thought you’d never ask.”
One of her dreams came true as Eddie embraced her and lowered his lips to hers. To his credit, Eddie tried very hard to be gentle, but her strong reaction to him was his undoing and he backed her up to the door and pressed his body against hers.
Deena ran her hands over his back, reveling in the feel of his hard muscles. His kiss excited her beyond belief. It was demanding and passionate. A thousand times Deena had imagined what it would be like to kiss Eddie, but she hadn’t been prepared for how much more intense it was in reality.
He growled as he broke the kiss and pressed his lips to her neck. Deena shivered against him and held onto him tighter. She moaned just as someone knocked on the door. Both of them jumped.
“You gotta be kiddin’ me,” Eddie whispered. He pulled away from her, his breathing ragged.
Deena was in a similar state. She hurriedly sat down in one of the chairs and tried to get her breathing under control. Eddie followed her example and strode around his desk and sat down.
“Come in,” he said.
Charlie opened the door and entered. “I got those stalls done, boss. What do you want done now?”
Eddie tried to make his passion-filled brain to work properly. “Uh, how about you exercise Banquo? I don’t think he was ridden yesterday.”
“Ok, boss. Hi, Deena,” Charlie said and closed the office door as he left.
Eddie looked at Deena and asked, “Why didn’t you tell me long ago how you felt about me?”
Deena looked down and said, “I was scared to because you acted as if you never saw me. If you had rejected me, well…” Tears threatened. She didn’t want to cry in front of Eddie. “I have to go to work. It’s my last day today and I don’t want to be late.”
Eddie wanted to let her keep her pride, so he said, “Ok. Have a good day.” She nodded and got up. “Wait a second,” he said. “Would you like to have dinner tomorrow night? We could go to Wolfe Point.”
“You want to go to dinner with me?” Deena asked.
Eddie replied, “Yeah. Would you like to go?” Please say yes.
“Yes. I’d love to,” she said, beaming.
Eddie grinned back and laughed. “I guess we should have done that before kissing, huh?”
“I’m not sorry, so don’t you dare be,” Deena said.
“Ok,” he said. “I’ll pick you up at five.”
“I’ll be ready,” Deena said. “’Bye, Eddie.”
*****
The rest of the day dragged for Deena. It was busy at the restaurant as Saturdays usually were, but the clock hands seemed to move excruciatingly slow. She chattered excitedly to Alice about her upcoming date with Eddie and grew more excited as the day wore on. Deena kept getting orders mixed up and Alice laughed at her.
“It’s a good thing it’s your last day or else Horace would fire you,” she joked with Deena.
“I can’t help it. I’ve been waiting for this for so long and I just can’t believe it’s really happening, Alice,” Deena said as the two of them brought dirty dishes back to the kitchen and put them on the counter by the sink.
“You deserve it, Deena. You’re a good woman and I’m glad Eddie sees that,” Alice said as she put a large pot of water on to heat for doing dishes.
“Thanks, Alice. I’ll go get the rest of those dirty dishes. Be right back,” Deena said as she left the kitchen.
Deena’s heart stopped as she saw Eddie sitting at the counter. He smiled at her and it restarted, beating furiously inside her chest. She felt as though she might melt into a puddle right where she stood.
“Hi,” he said. “How’s your day goin’?”
“Slow.” The word was out before she could help it.
Eddie ran a hand through his unruly hair and said, “Yeah. I know the feeling.”
“I, uh…what would you like to eat?” she asked as she stepped closer to him.
Eddie’s eyes met hers and he said, “You, but since I can’t have that I’ll take the ham steak and mashed potatoes.”
His answer made her laugh. “I see. This from the man who wanted me to stay away from him.”
Eddie said, “Yeah, well, that’s done and over with. It’ll be kind of like we’re starting over.”
“Ok. I’d like that,” Deena said.
He chuckled, “I do have to admit that you definitely got my attention with your stunt and with your crack about lighting dynamite under my ass.”
“I almost forgot about that,” Deena said as she giggled.
“I don’t think I ever will,” Eddie said. “It was right to the point, which I admire.”
“I’ll remember that,” Deena said. “I’ll put your order in.”
Eddie heard her laughing after she’d walked into the kitchen and he chuckled at the lyrical sound.
*****
Rick had an abundance of patience, but Minx was sorely trying it with her continued silence. It was Sunday now and he knew the
re was a lot she was hiding. It was in her body posture and in her eyes.
As he stood by her cell, Rick said in Lakota, “I have given you more than enough time to talk. I am done playing games.”
Minx covered her surprise that he spoke her native tongue.
“Did you also steal from those other people?”
“Yes.”
“Where were you going to sell the jewelry? You are a smart girl, Minx. Surely, you know that you could not sell it around here,” Rick said.
“I do not know where it was going to be taken,” Minx said.
“You mean where you were going to sell it, right?” Rick said.
Minx didn’t answer him.
“Minx, are you working with someone else? Someone who was going to sell these things elsewhere?” Rick asked.
Again, she was silent.
“Answer me!” Rick shouted. “Who are you working with?”
She shook her head. “I cannot tell you!”
“Minx, do not make me come in that cell, because if I do, bad things will happen,” Rick said softly.
Her black eyes widened in fear. “He will not help us if I tell you who he is.”
“Minx, is someone blackmailing you?”
“I have said too much. I took the jewelry and other things and that is all you need to know,” Minx said looking away from him.
“Minx, has it occurred to you that when he doesn’t get that loot he is not going to help you anyway?” Rick asked.
Minx’s eyes returned to his. “Then we are doomed.”
“Who is we?”
“Our tribe. He is going to turn us in to the military if I do not steal for him,” Minx said.
Rick sighed, closed his eyes, and leaned his forehead on the cell bars. “Minx, is this man a soldier?”
“Yes. We surprised each other one day and he ran me down,” she said. Slow tears began make twin trails down her cheeks. “Once he caught me, he hit me and cut me until I told him where our camp is. I told him I would do anything he wanted if he didn’t tell anyone else. He made me…I … we… and then he told me that he would stay quiet if I would steal for him.”
Minx began sobbing and Jack appeared. He had stayed overnight with Minx the past two nights and hadn’t gone home yet. Jack unlocked the cell door and went to her. Gathering Minx in his arms, Jack rocked her and stroked her hair. He’d heard everything and he was furious. “Shh, cousin. It will be all right. You have to tell us who this man who violated you is. We cannot help you if you do not tell us everything,” he said, also speaking in Lakota.
“He said his name was Bill Dixon. He is big like Uncle Black Fox. His hair is yellow and his eyes are green,” Minx said.
Rick asked, “Where do you meet?”
“At the old camp. We are to meet tomorrow night when the moon is high. Midnight,” Minx said.
He was silent for a few moments. “Then I guess you are going to have to meet him so we can catch him.”
In English Jack said, “We’re not using her as bait.”
“We don’t have a choice, Jack. It’s the only way to catch this degenerate blackmailer. If she doesn’t show up, he’s going to get away and he probably will tell someone about the tribe. The only thing standing in the way of that right now is catching him,” Rick said.
“I will do it. If it means protecting our family, then I will do it,” Minx said as she dried her tears and sat straight again. “Perhaps I can restore my honor a little. Tell me what I must do.”
“Minx, we can find—“
She interrupted Jack. “No. This man is right. This is the best way and it is my decision. I am going to help catch him and make him pay for what he has done.” She hung her head again. “I must also pay restitution to Joe and the others, but I do not know how.”
Jack pursed his lips, unhappy with her decision, but not able to argue against it. “We’ll figure that out later on. Let’s just concentrate on catchin’ this guy.”
“I’m going to head out to camp and see if Reckless is there to let him know what happened,” Rick said. “I’ll also stop and tell Mitch about all of this.”
Chapter Twelve
Rick rode at a canter for the Lakota camp, keeping a careful eye out for anyone who might be following him. He’d never forgive himself if he was the one responsible for leading the military to it. Upon reaching Reckless and Brook’s, tipi, Rick stopped and dismounted.
He dropped the horse’s reins and sprinted towards the tipi when he heard Brook scream. Rick drew his weapon and charged into the tipi. The four people inside jumped and cried out at the sudden intrusion. In seconds Rick took in the scene of Brook in the middle of childbirth and Reckless sitting close to her. Rick’s nephew, Mike, and Reckless’ aunt, Squirrel, were assisting in the birth.
“Whoops! I’m so sorry!” Rick said. “I heard Brook scream and thought someone was attacking her. I’ll just be right outside.”
Mike laughed at the situation, drawing a disapproving glare from Reckless. “Oh, c’mon, Reckless. It was funny. Laugh. It’ll make you feel better.”
Reckless, who was fearless about almost everything, was terrified. Every time Brook moaned or screamed, his nerves stretched even tighter and he became even more scared he was going to lose his wife, his baby, or both. Brook squeezed his hand tighter as the next contraction hit her and she moaned. She had been in labor since late the prior night, but had only moved into the final stages a little over an hour ago.
Mike, who was a medical student and a genius, was excited about helping with the birth. He used to be shy about doing such a thing, but over the last month, his Uncle Marcus had made him assist with two births by himself and now Mike was no longer bashful.
Squirrel smiled at Brook and said, “The baby is almost here. We can see it.”
Brook laughed and cried at the same time. Reckless could have fainted with relief. Suddenly his fear began abating and he smiled down at his wife. He leaned over and kissed her forehead. At Mike’s urging, Reckless got behind her and helped support her as the pushing began in earnest.
Outside, Rick paced back and forth, pleased as punch to be present during such a miraculous event. He grinned as he heard Reckless start encouraging Brook along, telling her how much he loved her and how proud he was of her. Squirrel and Mike’s voices joined Reckless’ and Rick silently cheered the young woman on. After one more powerful push and a huge groan from Brook, the baby was born.
Mike laughed as he said, “It’s a boy!”
Reckless would have let out a whoop no matter the sex of the baby and he couldn’t stop the loud cry from escaping his lungs. Brook laughed weakly at her husband, who kissed her and thanked her for their son. Then Mike and Squirrel kicked him out of the tipi.
The brave came bursting out of the tipi and picked up Rick, spinning him around and laughing. Rick laughed with Reckless and congratulated him and Brook. Reckless sat Rick down and immediately dropped to the ground and began a prayer of thanks to Wakan Tanka for the birth of their child and for keeping Brook safe throughout the delivery.
Brook moaned again and Mike called out, “Uh, Reckless, you might want to get back in here.”
Reckless stood up and asked, “Why?”
“We’ve got baby number two on the way, that’s why.”
Rick watched Reckless’ face go slack with disbelief and reached out to steady him when he swayed slightly.
“Two?” Reckless said dumbly. “Two babies?”
Rick laughed softly. “Sounds like. Go on, Reckless. Help that wife of yours. She needs you and so does your other baby. Buck up, son.”
Reckless ducked into the tipi and came out holding his son. He smiled down at the tiny life in his arms and then said, “Look, uncle, I think his eyes will be blue like Brook’s. You are to hold him. We will be busy.”
Rick gladly took the baby and chuckled at Reckless’ obvious statement. “Get back in there. Me and the little guy will be fine.”
Reckless gave the baby one last loo
k and rushed back inside the tipi. It wasn’t long before another little boy was born and a second whoop was heard outside the tipi. Rick laughed and told the little one in his arms that his brother had also come into the world. The tiny fellow made a growling noise in response.
Rick said, “You sound just like a little bear. A fierce little grizzly bear.”
Reckless was kicked out for a second time and fell to his knees again. The first thing he prayed for was, “please let there be no more babies right now.”
Tom Abbott waited out on their front porch for Eddie to show up. He considered the foreman to be a good man and was happy that such a fella was interested in his girl. However, he was still a father and had a right to be protective of Deena. Tom intended to make Eddie aware that he would make Eddie sorry if he mistreated Deena.
Deena finished getting ready as she heard a buggy drive up to the house. She giggled and wanted to shout with joy, but brought herself under control so she didn’t embarrass herself.
Eddie saw Tom sitting on a chair on the porch and smiled to himself. He’d been down this road a time or two and wasn’t worried. He alighted from the buggy and strode confidently over to Tom to shake his hand.
“How are you, Tom? Good to see you again,” Eddie said with a smile.
“Come sit a couple minutes while Deena’s gettin’ ready,” Tom said.
Eddie dropped down into the chair by Tom and rocked a little. He waited for Tom to speak. He wasn’t going to engage in meaningless small talk when he knew Tom wasn’t interested in that.
Tom said, “Deena’s a good girl, Eddie. I think you’re a fine man, but I’m warnin’ you. You better treat her right, treat her with respect or I’ll hunt you down and put a bullet in you. Do we have an understanding between us?”
Eddie looked Tom in the eye and said, “Yes, Tom, we do.” Eddie held out his hand and Tom shook it.
Only then did Tom start talking about the weather and such. Eddie looked around the farm as the sun began to set. “Tom, how many acres do you have here?”
“Oh, I guess close to eighty or so.”
“Really? I didn’t know your spread was that big,” Eddie said. “What do you have planted right now?”