by S. E. Smith
“Be ready to head to Meeteetse first thing in the morning,” Jonathan said before pulling the mules around and heading back down the road toward the main house.
*.*.*
Indy was so mad she felt like her head was going to explode. She turned and headed for the river, throwing the hammer down when she reached the edge of the shallow, rocky shore. Standing on the edge of the bank, she threw her head back and screamed out her frustration.
“Argh! I hate big, bossy, arrogant, knuckle-headed males!” Indy shouted out in frustration as she clenched her fists into tight balls and stomped her feet in an effort to get mad so she wouldn’t start crying but it was no use, overwhelming defeat swamped her already overtaxed emotions.
*.*.*
Maikoda watched from the woods across the river as the white woman yelled at the white man named Jonathan. He couldn’t help but smile as she faced the big man unafraid. She was different from any woman he had ever known, white or Indian. She was fierce like the mother bear protecting her cub. When she walked toward the river he watched curiously as her two dogs followed her sitting and watching as she moved back and forth screaming, cursing and yelling dire threats to all males. He observed as she suddenly stopped and closed her eyes, standing motionless as if waiting for something. She stood there breathing in and out slowly. He could tell she was saying something as her lips moved but no sound escaped from her. She did this for several minutes before she opened her eyes. Even from the distance separating them he could see the tears glistening in her bright green eyes as she stared blindly at the river. It was only when she moved to sit on a low rock near the water that he made the decision to approach her. He could not stand listening to the quiet, agonizing sobs shaking her slender body.
Moving silently out of the woods and through the shallow water, he paused only when he heard the dogs give a low growl of warning. They stood protectively near their mistress. The hair on their backs standing straight and their deep growls warning him not to come closer without their mistress’ permission. He waited calmly to see how the white woman would react to him being so close to her.
Indy heard the soft growls of warning from Tweed and Chester. She looked up to see what they were growling at and recognized the Lakota brave who had been watching her earlier. Motioning for the dogs to lie down, she turned and looked at the man standing in the middle of the cold river bed in resignation.
“Your feet are going to turn to ice if you don’t get out of there, you know,” Indy said releasing a shuddering breath and wiping her wet cheeks on the sleeves of her shirt.
Maikoda stared at the white woman a moment before slowly crossing the rest of the river. “You are not afraid of me,” he stated quietly.
Indy smiled glumly and shook her head. “Takuwe iyecetu mis un kokipe un mitiblo ki?” Why should I be afraid of my brother? Indy asked in Lakota with a weary, dry humor.
Maikoda jerked to a stop, staring in disbelief at the white woman sitting so calmly in front of him as if she did it every day and speaking to him in the tongue of his people.
“How is it you know the language of my people?” Maikoda asked, confused. Nothing about this white woman made sense to him, not the way she dressed, not the way she acted, and definitely not the way she spoke.
Indy laughed softly at the surprise and confusion flashing across the face of the man standing in front of her. “My godfather is a Lakota medicine man. It was pure survival if I wanted to know what his kids were up to when I was growing up.”
“Your godfather is an Indian?” Maikoda asked curiously. “What is his name? Perhaps I know him.”
Indy shook her head. She was through with men wanting to find out more about her. With her luck, Hayden might have taken into account she might hide out on the reservation near the ranch. She was sure he would have posted a missing person poster on her there as well. She was better off just moving on. It would be safer in the long run if she didn’t stay in any one place for long.
She looked at the man standing in front of her and shook her head again. “No way, I’m not telling anyone anything,” Indy informed him firmly, standing up. “If you want to stay that’s fine but I have work to do before I leave. I hate leaving any job half-assed,” she told him as she walked over to where she had thrown down her work pouch in her anger.
Maikoda watched as the white woman picked up the hammer and the bag of nails she had dropped earlier. She walked around him, heading toward the lean-to where the horses stood nibbling on the grass growing around it. Hanging her pouch on one of the vertical posts, she walked over to the side of the cabin and pulled the ladder down so she could use it. Without a word, Maikoda walked over and took it from her. He carried it over to the lean-to and set it against the side.
“Thanks,” Indy muttered.
“Will you tell me what you are called?” Maikoda asked, watching as Indy tied the cloth belt around her slender hips.
He couldn’t help but look at the glittering jewel in her belly button. He felt strangely protective of the white woman climbing up the ladder. He would need to reflect on it later tonight when he was alone. It was as if the Spirits guided him to her. He felt that it was important that he watch over her. He did not understand why but something told him she was to be protected.
“Indy. What’s your name?” Indy asked, pulling pieces of loose wood off the roof of the lean-to.
“Maikoda,” he replied, reaching up and taking the pieces of aged wood from her and piling them up next to the side of the stall.
“Well Maikoda, can you hand me some of those wood shingles over there? It would make the job go a lot faster if I had some help,” Indy said with a small, hopeful grin. “I’ll make you dinner in return, how’s that?” Indy asked looking down at the handsome brave who was frowning up at her with a bewildered expression on his face.
“Why do you do the work of a man?” Maikoda asked curiously even as he handed a piece of shingle up to Indy.
Indy shrugged her shoulders. “I’ve been working on a ranch my whole life,” she replied nonchalantly. “You learn how to fix things. Why should I have to depend on a man to fix it for me when I am perfectly capable of fixing it myself?”
Maikoda handed Indy another shingle. “You are different from other white women I have seen,” he admitted ruefully.
Indy chuckled at his reluctant admission. “I guess so. I like who I am and I don’t feel like I need to explain myself or answer to anyone.” Indy looked down on the Maikoda with a sad smile. “My grandpa and my godfather both used to tell me I was born to the land and this way of life. Who am I to argue with such wise men?”
*.*.*
Maikoda and Indy worked for the next two hours side by side, talking quietly about a wide range of things from fishing and hunting, to the weather, to his family. Indy enjoyed his company and they were able to finish not only the roof of the lean-to but the fencing around the paddock as well.
Stepping back to look at the finished product, Indy couldn’t help but grin with pride at all they had accomplished in such a short time. Life sucked at times but usually not for long. She might be out of a job again and back to living in the mountains but at least she had met some really nice people along the way. Smiling at Maikoda as he carried the ladder over to the cabin and slid it underneath, she thought it would have been nice to introduce him to Sam’s daughter Aleaha. She was currently doing her residency at a hospital in Billings but would soon be home to help Doc Emerson at the local clinic in town.
“Come on in and I’ll make you some dinner. It won’t be anything fancy, I’m afraid. My supplies are getting a little low,” Indy said moving towards the cabin. She pulled off her gloves and tool belt and set them both on the shelf near the door.
Within minutes, she had a thick beef stew simmering over the little Sterno stove and was slicing some bread she had left over from the range. It wasn’t the softest but it would be good dunked in the stew. Setting the table, she turned to Maikoda and motioned to the old met
al pail sitting on the end of the counter.
“If you’d like to wash up the water is fresh. Dinner will be ready in a few minutes. You have a choice of beverages: water, tea, or coffee. I don’t have anything else, I’m afraid,” Indy said with a smile.
Maikoda liked the easy way Indy moved about. She acted like she had known him for years. Unlike the few white females he had encountered, she was not hesitant at all around him. She was even more unlike the Indian maidens. She did not try to catch his attention in any way. He was considered a catch among the females of his tribe as he was an excellent hunter and could easily provide for a family. He was not sure what to make of the slender white female who treated him as if he was her ‘brother’ as she called him earlier.
“Why are you so comfortable with me? You are not afraid to be near me, not even as it grows darker outside. Yet, you have not tried to make me want you like the young women of my tribe. I do not understand you,” Maikoda blurted out as he sat in the chair across from Indy.
“Why shouldn’t I be comfortable with you?” She asked in surprise. “If you tried anything the boys would tear you apart,” she said nodding to where Chester and Tweed lay sleeping by the bed. “Besides, I just don’t think you are that kind of guy. I enjoyed your company today, not to mention all of your help. And while I think you are very handsome, I just don’t get that ‘feeling’ with you. Not like…” Indy’s voice trailed off as she thought of Jonathan and his kiss. She had definitely gotten a ‘feeling’ from that. She was honest enough with herself to admit she had been dreaming about kissing him from the first time she saw him out on the range.
“As you do with the one called Jonathan?” Maikoda finished with a mischievous smile.
Blushing, Indy waved her hand to the bowl in front of him. “Oh, shut up,” she muttered as she blew on her food to cool it so she could eat.
“You are different from women here. I would like to find a woman such as you,” Maikoda said quietly. “I like your strength. I like how you talk with me about different things. I like how you look,” he added with another smile.
Indy laughed. “You would like my friend Aleaha. She is absolutely gorgeous, a great listener, and the sweetest person in the world,” she teased.
Maikoda looked up in interest. “Who is this Aleaha? She lives near here?”
Indy paused a moment trying to think. She figured it wouldn’t matter if she told him about Sam and his kids, especially Aleaha. After all, she would be gone tomorrow morning as soon as she collected her pay for the past four weeks.
“Aleaha is Sam and Claire Whitewater’s daughter. Sam is a full Lakota Indian and a medicine man of his tribe. They have six kids, four boys and two girls. The girls are twins. Anyway, Aleaha has been studying to be a doctor. She’s doing her residency in Billings right now and should be done by this fall so she can move back home to set up her own practice. She’s really smart. I have a picture of her if you would like to see her,” Indy said getting up to go to her saddle bag where her iPod was. She had all kinds of pictures on it.
Indy turned and looked at Maikoda, holding the iPod against her chest and biting her lip as she carefully studied him. “Listen, I would appreciate it if you didn’t tell anyone you saw me, except of course Aleaha and Sam. I have some men looking for me I would just as soon not see again for a while. I won’t ask you to lie. It would just be helpful not to say anything if you can,” Indy asked nervously looking into Maikoda’s eyes to see how he was taking her odd request.
“I will protect you with my life, little sister. You have no need to worry,” Maikoda promised sensing it was very important to her.
Indy smiled her thanks before pulling her chair around so it was next to Maikoda. “Okay, this is Sam and his wife Claire. This next one is Aleaha and her new pickup truck. She was so excited when she got it.” Indy went through the pictures explaining each one of them unaware of Maikoda’s reaction.
Maikoda looked at the small shiny box in Indy’s hand in wonder. What type of magic was this? He wondered silently. He had never seen images of people so clear before. It was almost like the people had been captured within the thin, silver and black box. When Indy laughed at one picture showing her, Aleaha and a group of boys standing next to a pool of clear water in nothing but small pieces of material, Maikoda couldn’t contain his growl of disapproval.
Indy looked up startled. “What’s wrong?” She asked startled.
“Who are these other males who would see you and Aleaha with so little clothing on?” Maikoda growled in anger.
Laughing, Indy replied with a shake of her head. “It’s okay. Those are Aleaha’s older brothers. We had gone to one of Taylor’s rodeos down in Texas. This was taken at the hotel. It was a fun trip,” she explained looking at her adopted family with affection.
“All those males are her brothers?” Maikoda asked in relief.
“Yes. Don’t worry. Aleaha and her sister Allie can more than take care of themselves,” Indy said turning the iPod off and putting it back in her bag. She let out a big yawn. She hadn’t had much sleep last night and she had worked hard today. Between the hard work and the emotional roller coaster she had been on, she was exhausted.
“I don’t mean to be a party-pooper but I’m beat. I need to get some sleep. Tomorrow’s going to be another busy day,” Indy said, yawning again.
Maikoda stood immediately. “I thank you for sharing your company and your food,” he said walking toward the door of the cabin.
Indy followed him to the door and opened it. It was dark outside. “Can you make it back okay in the dark?” She asked worried that she had kept him so late.
“Yes, little sister. You do not need to worry. I will be fine,” Maikoda paused, looking down at Indy with an intense expression before he made up his mind. “May I ask you one more question?”
“Sure,” Indy said with a raised eyebrow.
“Where could I find this Aleaha?” Maikoda asked almost hesitantly, as if he was afraid Indy wouldn’t tell him.
Indy laughed softly. “On the other side of the mountains. You have to go through a place called Spirit Pass to get there. Sam showed it to me. He said it was a magical pass to another world. From there you can ask just about anyone and they can point you to the Whitewater ranch. Sam can contact her for you if you really want to meet her. She comes up pretty frequently considering how busy she is,” Indy replied as her shoulders drooped in exhaustion. “Be careful on your way home,” she added sleepily as Maikoda paused as he stepped through the door.
Maikoda lifted his hand and ran it softly down Indy’s cheek. “Okoblaya icimani.”
“Okoblaya icimani, Maikoda,” Indy responded lightly as she shut the door to the cabin.
Neither one of them noticed the figure standing under the tree near the road watching them.
Chapter 7
Jonathan had been furious as he turned the mules around to head back to the ranch house. He couldn’t believe that Indy had said she wouldn’t marry him if he was the last man on earth! Then why the hell was she on his ranch? It wouldn’t have been the first time one desperate mother or father had thought to try to trap him or Jacob into marriage by throwing their daughter at them. Damnation, he was going to haul her butt into Meeteetse tomorrow if it was the last thing he did and find out who sent her. Then, he was going to find the preacher and have him marry them right then and there. She had been on his ranch with nothing but males for the past four weeks.
Her reputation would be ruined if I didn’t marry her, he thought savagely. No respectable man would touch her if they found out she had been alone on a ranch with nothing but men. Hell, he thought ruefully knowing his and his brother’s reputations. No respectable man would touch her once they found out she had been alone with me or Jacob.
Once they were married, he was going to make love to her as soon as they got far enough out of town he knew they could have some privacy. He desperately needed to relieve the damn pressure in the front of his pants since he fi
rst laid eyes on her. He wouldn’t give her a chance to argue about it either. He knew she wanted him as much as he wanted her. The fire in her kiss had damn near melted him with its intensity. After he had satisfied the ache they were both feeling, he would return to Meeteetse alone and beat the hell out of the ones responsible for putting her in such danger! He didn’t care who the hell they were. She should never have been placed in such a position.
Jonathan was so busy picturing all the ways he wanted to beat the shit out of the person or persons responsible for endangering Indy that he didn’t even realize that they were back at the house. He jerked back to the present when Jacob touched his arm. He looked at his brother with a dark scowl of fury.
“So, do you want to tell me what that was about?” Jacob asked cautiously, not sure of the darkening look on his brother’s face.
“About what?” Jonathan snarled, tossing the reins to Carl who came out of the barn to take care of mule team when they pulled up in front of the homestead.
“You could start with the ‘Jacob please leave the cabin’. That would be good or the ‘I’m going to marry you’ would be even better,” Jacob said, hopping down off the seat onto the hard ground while keeping his brother in his sight.
Jonathan jumped down on the opposite side and stared tersely at his twin. Taking a deep breath, he finally answered. “I can’t share her, Jacob,” Jonathan replied quietly looking down at the ground. “I can’t share her with anyone,” he added looking up at his brother. “She’s mine. I don’t know what the hell happened or why but I feel like I would kill anyone who touched her, even you.”
Jacob looked at his twin brother and nodded in agreement. “I’m okay with that. She’s off limits. Though I have to tell you if I see her wearing what she was wearing today I am going to be doing some serious looking,” he added with a wicked grin.