Fated Memories (26 page)

In no time at all, it seemed they were riding up to the house. Jack dismounted and, walking over, he reached up to help Jessie off her horse. As she started to walk away, Jack reached out, halting her.

“
Jessie, about that walk, I think it’s a great idea. Besides,” he grinned down at her, “there’s gonna be a full moon.” He slid his hand down to hers, smiled when she didn’t pull away. Together they walked up the front porch steps and into the house.

“
My, you two look happy this evenin’,” Charlotte declared as they walked through the door.

“
Yes, ma’am.” Jack’s boyish face flushed with pride as he removed his hat to hang it on the coat rack.

“
Mama, I asked Jack to go walkin’ with me tonight after supper. Do you mind?”

“
Of course not, Jessie,” Charlotte told her, glad to see her in a better mood. “I’ll help Hattie with the dishes.”

“
Gotta big evenin’ planned, huh, Sinclair?” Eathen asked, pouring himself a healthy glass of bourbon as Jessie and Jack walked into the parlor.

“
Jessie’s goin’ walkin’ with me.” Jack pushed a stubborn lock of sun-bleached hair back off his forehead. “I guess you could call that a big evenin’.”

“
I can trust you to be a gentleman with her can’t I?” Eathen peered over at him.

In an instant the grin left his face. “Yes sir, Mister Eathen.” Jack dragged sweaty hands down both sides of his jeans. “You sure can!” The large Adam’s apple in his throat bobbed with unease. “Jessie’ll be as safe with me as she would be right here at home. You got my word on that, Sir!”

“
All right, son,” Eathen smiled, slapping the young man on the back, “I was just funnin’ with you. If I didn’t think you could behave yourself with my daughter, you sure as hell wouldn’t be walkin’ out the door with her.”

“
Daddy always likes to make my boyfriends feel uncomfortable.” Jessie noticed the unhealthy-pallor covering Jack’s face. “It’s his way of showin’ them how close I’m guarded `round here. Don’t you, Daddy?” She placed a loud kiss on her father’s clean-shaven cheek.

“
I’ve always been protective of you, Jessie. That’s one thing that’ll never change. You’ll always be my little girl! And God help the man who ever hurts you.”

Eathen hugged her tight against his hip.

“
Don’t worry, Daddy. No man would have the nerve to harm Eathen Thornton’s daughter. He would like livin’ too much.”

“
He better! If I ever found out someone put his hands on you,” a coldness entered his eyes as he shook his head; “he wouldn’t live to see another sunrise.”

At his words, Jessie felt a chill skitter up her back. “I think we should see if Hattie’s got supper on the table. If we don’t eat pretty soon, Jack and I won’t be able to take that walk like we planned.”

Later, as the two walked out into the early evening, Jessie could still hear her father’s ominous words echoing in her mind. She had never known him to be as serious about anything as he admitted to being over her. Trying to shake the frightening feelings from her thoughts, she grabbed hold of Jack’s hand.

“
Come on, slow poke,” she laughed, “we’re burnin’ daylight.”

As they walked away, Jessie glimpsed someone standing back among the trees. The strong wind catching up his long black hair told her her plan was working.

Chapter Fifteen

The long days continued to pass and still Jessie ignored the one person she wanted to be with more than anyone else. Jessie spent her time with more than just Jack Sinclair. She had always enjoyed her share of popularity, but now it seemed she dated every boy in the county.

“
Ah swears dat chile ain’ nebber roun’ w’en Ah needs her,” Hattie grumbled to herself, placing a large jug of fresh milk in the icebox.

“
What did you say, Hattie?” Charlotte walked into the kitchen.

“
Ah bes needen’ Miss Jessie’s he’p, Ah ain’ as young as Ah ust ter bes. An’ eve’y time ah goes ter dos sumpin’ she ain’ hyah.” She banged the icebox door shut. “Ah done tole her dat we wuz a-gwing ter cleans house, now she ain’ nowhar ter be seed.” She threw up her hands in frustration.

“
Don’t be too hard on her, Hattie. She’s young. She needs to be with her friends. I’ll help you clean.”

“
Effin’ you ast me,” Hattie shook the dish cloth she held for emphasis, “dat chile ain’ gots no bizness a-runin’ wid all dem boys. She bes a young lady now, an’ it bes time she started ackin’ lak one,” Hattie’s cheeks puffed out with anger, “befo’ she goes an’ gits herseff into trouble.”

Turning on her heel, Charlotte’s brows lifted and her voice took on a cold tone. “What kindda trouble are you talkin’ ‘bout, Hattie?”

“
You knows whut kinda trouble Ah’s worrit ‘bout.” Hattie cocked her head to peer at her.

“
I think you’re oversteppin’ your bounds here, Hattie. Jessie’s a good girl. We trust her to behave.”

“
Ah ain’ sayin’ she ain’ a good girl! But w’en dem juices gits ter flowin’, dey kain allus be tuhned off in time.”

“
I think you need to drop this subject, before one of us says somethin’ we’ll both regret.”

“
Yas’m, Miz Charlotte.” She heaved a long, disappointed sigh.

The banging of the front door told them Jessie could no longer be considered missing.

“
She’s back, so I’ll send her in to help you.”

Nodding, Hattie started cleaning off the counters.

The kitchen door swung back as Jessie walked into the room. “Good mornin’, you two, I been out ridin’ with Ben Havelo. We had the most glorious time.” She lifted a firm red apple from the bucket Hattie had brought up from the root cellar. “Don’t bother fixin’ me any breakfast, Hattie, this’ll do me.” She bit into the fruit on her way to the backdoor.

“
Where do you think you’re goin’, young lady?” Charlotte asked.

“
I left Maggie tied up down at the corrals.” She gave her mother an impatient glance over her shoulder. “I need to rub her down.”

“
One of the hands can tend to her. You have things to do right here. Another thing,” she continued, ignoring Hattie’s baleful stare, “I think it’s time you stopped runnin’ all over the countryside with every boy in the county.”

“
Alright.” Jessie’s voice took on a sullen tone as she stood looking from one unsmiling face to the other. “I’ll go ring the bell for one of the hands to take care of Maggie, then I’ll help you with whatever you need me to do, Hattie.”

“
Awright den. Ah’ll fergives you dis time.” Hattie shook a broad finger at her. “But frum now on, Ah specs you ter bes hyah ter he’p ole Hattie, chile.”

“
I will.” Jessie felt a niggling of guilt nip at her conscience. “I promise.” She walked over and gave the older woman a big hug.

“
Hattie!” Eathen called out from the other room. “I need some coffee in here! I ain’t got all day to be lolly-gaggin’ ‘round the house like the rest of you.”

“
I’ll take it to him, Hattie. You go ahead with what you’re doin’. And don’t pay him no mind,” Jessie lifted the coffeepot off the stove, “you know Daddy’s always an ole bear this early in the day.”

“
Dat’s mah good girl.” Hattie patted Jessie’s small hand. “You mout tek sum of dem sweet rolls, too. Day allus puts him in a better mood.”

“
Thank you, Hattie.” Charlotte gave her a quick squeeze. “All right, Jessie,” she waved her by, “you bring the coffee, and I’ll bring the sweet rolls.”

Dropping a fond kiss on her father’s damp forehead, Jessie reached in front of him to pour his cup full of hot, strong coffee. “I told Hattie I’d bring it in for you.”

“
This mornin’ you have both your women takin’ care of you, darlin’.” Charlotte set the plate of sweet rolls down on the table beside his cup.

“
My, this is a surprise.” Eathen grinned, wiping a sleeve across his sweaty forehead. “To what do I owe the honor?”

“
Does everything have to be a special occasion for you to get waited on?” Charlotte kissed the side of his face. “If it does, then you have been very neglected.”

“
Mist’ Eathen, Ah hopes all dis has put you in a better mood dan you wez w’en you come in hyah.” Hattie seated herself in the nearest chair.

“
Don’t worry, Hattie,” he gave her a roguish wink, “with the two most…no, make that three most beautiful women right here beside me, I couldn’t help but be happy.”

“
Mist’ Eathen,” Hattie’s dark face flushed with delight, “you’s jes’ full of de ornery, you is.”

“
As much as I hate to bring it up,” Charlotte poured herself a cup of coffee, “what was it that had you in such a sour mood earlier?”

“
That Indian I hired on,” he talked around a large bite of sweet roll, “some of the hands got to teasin’ him ‘bout his name and he took a swing at one of them. I guess they damn near killed him.”

Jessie choked on her coffee. “Is he gonna be all right?” She blotted her nose and mouth with a napkin.

“
Yeah, hell,” Eathen waved her concern away, “he’s all right. I knew it’d happen sooner or later.” He pulled the plate of butter over close and skimmed his half-eaten roll across the top. “I thought he’d be back in the hills by now, but he says he’s gonna stay.” He dunked the buttered roll into his coffee then shoved the entire roll into his mouth. “He’s a tough one.” He chewed, swallowed, and then wiped his mouth on a linen napkin. “I gotta give him that.”

No one noticed when Jessie got to her feet, the fear burning in her throat almost choking her. Once outside, she continued walking toward the bunkhouse. She could hear the laughter all the way out in the yard.

Leaning over a large water-trough, Two Spirits splashed cold water on his bruised face and bared chest. As a shadow fell across him, he straightened to face whatever danger he might encounter next.

“
I heard what happened.” Jessie walked up to him. “Are you hurt bad?”

“
No,” he breathed, surprised to see her standing in front of him. Two Spirits pulled a torn shirt from the fence post to cover himself.

“
My father said the other hands beat you up because of your name. That’s so childish,” she touched his battered face.

He jerked his head back away from her. “I think you should go back to the house, Jessie. I don’t need anymore trouble.”

“
Two Spirits,” she whispered, stunned at his coldness towards her. “I came out here to see if you were all right. Why are you bein’ so cruel?”

“
You have not concerned yourself with my feelings for the past few weeks. Why do you concern yourself now?” He didn’t bother to hide the bitterness in his voice.

“
Because I care!” she cried. “I thought if I made you jealous, you’d spend more time with me. I guess I wasted my time,” she gazed upward, trying to halt the tears forming in her eyes, “because you never even noticed.”

“
I noticed, Jessie.” Two Spirits pushed his long, black hair out of his face then reached out to take a leather headband off the hook and pull it over his head. “But I can not tell you what to do. You must go your own way. As I must go mine,” he told her walking away.

Without a word, she watched him go. But just as she turned to leave, the ranch hands came out of the bunkhouse. Ignoring her, they started in on the razing of Two Spirits.

“
Hey, injun,” Tom called out, “I think we’ve solved your problem.”

Two Spirits stopped walking to stare at them.

“
Well hell! Ain’t you even gonna ask how?” Jake, another of the hands laughed, nudging the man standing next to him.

“
I am sure you will tell me when you are ready,” Two Spirits told them.

“
You’re right, injun. We sure as hell will!” Tom returned in a loud voice.

“
See,” Jake, spoke up, “this whole thing ‘bout gettin’ your ass kicked, started over your name. As we see it,” he snickered, winking at the other hands, “if you had a white man’s name then maybe we wouldn’t be so inclined to jump in your shit.” He spread his hands wide, lifted his shoulders.

“
`Sides that, we figure if you’re gonna have a white man’s job, then hell, you’re gonna need a white man’s name to go with it,” Tom chimed in.

“
Yeah, so we decided to start callin’ you, Johnny Two Spirits. What do you think ‘bout that, injun?” Jake asked, looking at the others as they urged him on.

“
You will call me what you will.” Two Spirits straightened his broad shoulders, looking Jake square in the eyes. “My name is Two Spirits. I am a Blackfeet Indian.” His voice rang out clear and strong. “I am not ashamed of my blood.”

“
He talks like bein’ a Blackfeet’s like bein’ kin to the king or somethin’, boys. Hell, if I was a stinkin’ Indian, I sure as shit wouldn’t be proud of it,” Jake guffawed. “Would you?”

Shaking their heads, the others joined in on the laughter.

“
Now, this is how it’s gonna be, Johnny Two Spirits,” Jake said, placing a worn-out Stetson with a long feather sticking out of the band on Two Spirit’s head. “We’re gonna leave you alone. Let you go ‘bout your duties of breakin’ horses. But just as long as you come by the name we call you, when we call you! And as long as you wear the nice hat we’re givin’ you here,” Jake gave the hat a strong tug, “you’ll do just fine.”

“
What do you think you’re doin’?” Jessie demanded, stepping forward.