After the Storm: Clean Historical Western Cowboy Romance Novel (Dawson Chronicles Book 2) (21 page)

              Renee kept her promise to Tim and included him in all areas of her life from then on.  Tim had learned that closing himself off to discussing problems between them only hurt the both of them and was a big waste of time.  He wanted the time he spent with Renee to be happy, not filled with anger and sorrow.  They grew closer every day, their bond of love stronger than ever.

              When the time came for Logan and Bret’s trials, Renee testified, telling her story to the jury with confidence, even when tears rolled down her face.  Although she was scared, she took strength from all of her family and friends who were there, but most of all from her loving husband. 

              Marcus testified on her behalf, looking each member of the jury in the eye as he told them about the horrific injuries inflicted upon her by the defendants.  He was a sensitive person and the memory of Renee’s battered body brought tears to his eyes.  It was noticed that more than one man on the jury wiped away a tear.

              Between their testimony and that of Mitch and Shawn Taylor, the jury was outraged and found the two rapists guilty after only a fifteen-minute deliberation.  The judge in the case was also furious and gave each of them twenty years in prison.

              After giving an exclusive interview to J.R. Samuels of the
Dialogue
, Renee sought refuge at home, wanting only peace and quiet.  She and Tim walked out by one of the pastures, holding hands.

              “Have I told you lately how proud of you I am?” he asked her, tucking her hand into the crook of his elbow.

              “You might have mentioned it a time or two, but I don’t mind hearing it again,” she said, smiling.

              “Well, Mrs. Dwyer, I’m so very proud of you and you’re going to make a fantastic congressman’s wife,” he said.

              “Thank you,” she said.  “I want to help other women like me, Tim.  I want them to know that they have someone who believes in them and who’s there to support them like I do.  I don’t know what I’d have done if I hadn’t had all of you.  I probably wouldn’t have pressed charges, or if had, I might not have gotten very far.”

              They stopped and leaned on a fence, looking at the group of mares and foals in the pasture.  Tim put his arm around her.  “What did you have in mind?”

              “I’m not sure yet,” Renee said.

              “We’ll figure it out together, just like we will everything else.”  He looked at the sky.  “We need rain real bad.  It’s a good thing that Brown Otter figured out how to irrigate their crops or they’d be ruined by the time September comes if we don’t get rain.”

              “I know.  This drought is terrible.  The last rain we had was that horrible storm on our wedding day.”

              Tim laughed.  “Well, at least it’ll make for a good story someday.”  He sobered.  “Renee, you know, if I get elected in a few years—”

              “
When
you get elected, Timmy.  When.”

              “Right.  When I get elected, we’ll have to live in Washington part of the time.  Does that bother you?” he asked.

              She faced him.  “Tim, I’d follow you anywhere, anytime.  As long as you don’t mind me speaking my mind—nicely, of course—I have nothing against living there.  I believe in everything you stand for and I know you can do Montana, and a lot of other people, so much good.”

              He put his hands on her shoulders.  “And so will you.  You and I together will be unbeatable, Renee.  Between my bullheadedness when I get something in my mind and your scheming, there’s not much we won’t be able to get done.  Thank you for believing in me.”

              “Thank you for believing in me,” Renee said.  “And I’ll always believe in you, no matter what.”

              He kissed her and said, “I’m glad I had the good sense to marry you.”

              “It seems like we’re both pretty smart,” she said.  “I think we should go swimming and cool off.  What do you think?”

              “That’s a great idea.  Let’s get our suits.”  Tim grinned.  “On second thought, who needs suits?”

              Renee gave him a coy look.  “Are you telling me that you want to go skinny dipping?”

              “I knew you were a smart woman,” he said, grabbing her hand.  “I know a good place to go.”

              “I’ll just bet you do.”

              They ran to the trail leading down to camp, laughing together in the bright sunshine.  They’d faced some terrible, dark storms, but together they’d found their way through, back into the light.  The waters ahead would be choppy sometimes, but by remembering to rely on each other, they would withstand the ocean of uncertainty.

*****

              Joe and Lacey sat on the veranda, watching Tim and Renee run off into the woods.

              “Do you think Timmy will get elected someday?” Joe asked her.

              Lacey nodded.  “I do.  He’d be great in office, too.  He has the right temperament for it, and he’s very intelligent.”

              “Sounds like my wife,” Joe said.

              She smiled.  “He
is
a lot like me.  He looks like me and he’s slightly quieter than Joey and Emily, but he’s a lot like you, too.  He’s got your instincts about a lot of things, especially business.  And he has your dimple.”

              She pinched Joe’s cheek a little and he laughed.  “Thanks, darlin’.  Renee will help get him in, you watch.  She’s a firecracker and she’s stronger than most people realize.  She’s not a woman you want to mess with.  She shoulda been a spy.”

              Lacey laughed, but said, “Yes, I think that job would have suited her.”

              “It sure has been interesting watching them all grow up, hasn’t it?”

              “Especially our oldest and our youngest so far.  Devon was easy to raise, and Kyle’s somewhere in the middle.  He’s even quieter than Devon sometimes,” Lacey said.  “He’s always been like that.”

              “Yeah, but he writes great letters.  He says all sorts of things in his letters that I’ve never heard him say out loud, but he’s not exactly shy.  He likes goin’ out and doing stuff with his brothers and he’s been out with a couple of girls.  Hey, I wonder if he met any pretty French nurses across the sea,” Joe said.

              Lacey grinned.  “You’re such a romantic.”

              “I am,” Joe agreed.  “I like seein’ everyone happy.  He’s our only single kid now.  Listen to me trying to marry him off.”

              Lacey said, “He’ll find someone when the time is right.”

              While they moved on to talk about the newly built church, inside the house, Hunter ran up to Sawyer, who’d come to see if Devon was done for the day.

              “Hi, Uncle Sawyer,” he said, sitting Percy, the kids’ ferret, on the floor.

              “Hi, buddy.”

              Sawyer laughed when Percy climbed up him to perch on his shoulder and root through his hair.  “That tickles, Percy.  Knock it off.”  He got a hold of the critter, handing him back to Hunter.  “There you go.”

              “Thanks,” Hunter said, his hazel eyes smiling.  “Look at Percy’s belly.”  He held the ferret up and showed Sawyer Percy’s rather sizeable girth.

              “Looks like he’s been eating good.”

              “He’s a she and she’s having babies after a while.  Uncle Rick says so.  I guess when he brought Percy’s friend Snarky to visit that’s what happened.  They made some babies.  I’m not supposed to tell, but I think you know how to keep a secret, right?” Hunter asked.

              Sawyer almost burst into laughter, but he kept a straight face.  “That’s right.  I won’t tell another soul.  Am I the only one who knows?”

              Hunter said, “Just us kids know.  Uncle Rick says that it’s a surprise for Pappy and that we shouldn’t spoil it.”

              “So why are you telling me?”

              “Because I know I can trust you,” Hunter said.  “And besides, it’s killin’ me not to tell someone.  I better put Percy away.  See ya.”

              Sawyer laughed as Hunter ran off, picturing Joe’s stunned reaction to having a litter of ferrets in the house.  It might give him a heart attack.  He was still grinning when he went to find Devon.

*****

              Raven watched his father at the head of the line of the search party and smiled for the hundredth time since they’d left Dawson as fond memories of his youth washed over him.  He remembered the first raid he’d ever gone on and the first adult hunt that Black Fox had taken him on.  How proud he’d been when he’d helped bring down a bison bull.  Black Fox’s praise had meant more to him than the prize of the bull’s horns since his arrow had been the one to actually pierce the bull’s heart.

              He remembered hearing some of the older men criticize Black Fox for being too tenderhearted.  Raven had challenged those men, telling them that his father was more of a man than they could ever hope to be.  They’d been surprised that he would speak to them like that, but they hadn’t rebuked Raven.

              What those men hadn’t understood was that Black Fox drew his strength from the tender heart that beat inside the body of a great warrior and chief.  If it weren’t for his kindness and consideration, he wouldn’t have protected his people so effectively nor worked so hard to make sure their tribe didn’t starve.

             
Speaking of tenderhearted
, he thought.  His view of Black Fox was obscured by Skip, who had nimbly stood up on Dash’s broad back.  The boy shielded his eyes from the sun to look around from his higher vantage point.  He was looking for game, which had gotten scarce over the last couple of days.  His vigilance had paid off as they’d traveled; he’d alerted them to deer, rabbits, and even some pheasant.

              Raven smiled as Skip crouched a little and hopped up in the air, coming down to land squarely on Dash’s back again.  The mule was used to his master’s behavior and took no notice of it.  The way Skip hopped up and down like that reminded Raven of a prairie dog.  He was glad to have Skip along.  He was useful for such things and his freakish sense of balance allowed him to take risks that the others couldn’t or wouldn’t. 

              Skip was good with weapons and was a good hunter.  He was also entertaining and helped break up the monotony of the trip with his antics.  Raven wished Dusty could have shared the journey, but he’d declined, knowing that he would have been more of a liability than a help.  Hailey was another matter, however.  She rode ahead of Raven, her back straight, her manner alert.

              He would have loved to see her in battle in France.  He was certain that she’d fought as fiercely as she did everything else.  Although, he did notice a little more tenderness in her where Art was concerned.  He liked the man whom he was certain would be his son-in-law one day.  Art didn’t take crap from Hailey and he made her laugh, both of which Raven felt she needed.

              Then his mind turned towards his youngest boy and he scanned the low hills they were entering. 
Where are you, my son?  Do you still live or does your spirit walk the next life with your grandmother?  I pray that Wakan Tanka has blessed you and that you are healthy and happy.  I have many questions for you, even though I think I know some of the answers.  Can you feel us coming?  I hope you can.  If so, come to us.  I am angry with you, but more than that, I love you and I want to see you again.  I want to take you home to see the rest of your family.  Your mother’s heart cries for you every day.  Hear
my
heart, my son, and come to us.

              Gazing up at the sun, Raven prayed to Wakan Tanka, the Great Creator, to help their search be fruitful and to keep them safe until they returned home.

The End … Almost …

August 24, 1903

              Sitting outside the school at lunchtime, Emily tried not to think about the fact that she wasn’t sitting with her beau, Bobby Night Sky.  It was the first day of the school year, and Emily normally liked school.  However, it wasn’t the same without Bobby, who’d graduated the previous year. 

              Her friend, Kimmi Robertson, sat down on Emily’s bench and noticed her downcast expression.

              “Emily, you’ll see him after school,” she said.

              Emily smiled a little.  “I know that I’m being silly, but I can’t help it.  Just wait until Zach graduates.  You’ll know what it’s like then.”

              Kimmi said, “I’m sure it’ll be hard.”

              “Too bad our men aren’t the same age as us,” Emily said.  “I’m proud of Bobby for stickin’ it out.  He was so happy to be done with school since he hated it so much.”

              “And now he has his own business,” Kimmi said.  “He’s a smart one.”

              Emily looked in the direction of Bobby’s Bath House, the endeavor Bobby had started right after his graduation.  He’d gotten the idea for the business venture during the rodeo the previous July when a few people had asked him where they could go to clean up.  He knew that a lot of towns had public bath houses and he’d decided that Dawson should have one, too.

              He’d found a spot down near the stream that ran down by Thompson’s Feed Mill to put the business.  He’d been saving his money from his job working for a carpentry outfit and once he’d had enough for the lumber, his buddies and family had helped him build it. 

Then he’d bought five large tubs, two big eight-plate wood stoves and a bunch of stock pots in which to boil water.  Owl and Hannah, his parents, had given him a secondhand washer, and he’d also had to purchase a huge amount of towels.  Rick Westlake made and sold a wide variety of soaps and Bobby had struck a deal with him for a continuous supply of them. 

Although he hadn’t liked school, he’d learned some accounting and business principles, and he’d shown some business savvy.  Between the advertisements he’d put in the
Dialogue
and all of the word of mouth people had done on his behalf, news of his enterprise had quickly gotten around town.  He charged a dollar for a bath and he’d been happy when twenty people had shown up for baths on the first day he’d been in business. 

Emily knew he wasn’t far from her and she pictured him washing towels and filling tubs with hot water.  He often worked shirtless since he usually got his clothes wet and it was so hot in the kitchen/laundry room of the building.  She stopped in mid-chew of her sandwich as she saw those glorious, light bronze muscles of his in her mind.  He was bound to be sweaty from the steam and she felt the familiar hunger for him that he brought out in her.

She was so caught up in her daydream that when a bouquet of flowers was suddenly thrust in front of her, she yelped in surprise and dropped her sandwich on the ground.

A hand descended on her shoulder.  She recognized Bobby’s touch and his chuckle sounded in her ear.

“Well, I didn’t mean to make you do that,” he said as she turned to face him.  “Sorry.”

“I don’t care.  I’m just so happy to see you,” she said, wrapping her arms around his neck as he crouched before her.

His amber eyes smiled into hers.  “I’m happy to see you, too.  It’s strange not to be coming to school with you.  I thought I’d come see you quick in my lunch break.  Butch is watching the bath house for me.”

Emily said, “I’m so glad that you did.”  Not caring who saw, she pressed a brief kiss to his sensual lips.  “I’ll come down when school is over.”

“No, you won’t.  You know you’re supposed to go home to do your work.  Don’t get grounded,” Bobby said, looking into her beautiful hazel eyes.

“I’ll only stay for a little bit.”

He chuckled.  “Your ‘little bit’ will turn into an hour.  I know you, remember?  Go home and I’ll see you tonight.”

She grinned and ran a hand up under his long, black hair.  It was slightly damp and he smelled of soap and fresh sweat.  The two scents made a pleasant aroma.  “Do you promise to come see me?”

“I said I would, didn’t I?  When have you ever known me to break a promise?”

“Never,” she said.  “All right.  I’ll go home.”

He kissed her cheek and handed her the flowers.  “I’ll see you then.  Behave.”

She smiled as he stood up.  “See ya.”  Watching him lope across the street, she said, “Isn’t he the handsomest man you’ve ever seen?”  She sniffed the flowers in her hand.  “And so thoughtful and sweet.”

Kimmi laughed.  “You’re so funny.  When are you getting married?”

“He hasn’t asked me yet, but we’ve talked about it plenty.  One of these days, he’ll make it official.  I can be patient.  I have to graduate first and I was thinking about going to college, so I wouldn’t want to get married until after that,” she said.

Kimmi’s brown eyes were filled with doubt.  “You can hardly stand being away from Bobby now.  How are you going to be able to go away to college?”

              Emily sighed.  “I know, but I wanna do something a little different for a while.  Don’t get me wrong.  I love my family and Dawson, but I don’t want to settle down and start havin’ babies right away.  I want that someday, just not now.”

              “Have you told Bobby that yet?” Kimmi asked.

              “No,” Emily said.

              “I don’t think he’s going to take that well.”

              Emily sighed.  “I know.  That’s why I haven’t told him yet.”

              Kimmi said, “If I were you, I’d tell him sooner rather than later so he can get used to the idea.”

              Nodding, Emily said, “I’m workin’ up the nerve.  We better get back so we’re not late.”

              Kimmi gathered her things and followed Emily back into the school.

*****

              That evening as Emily and Bobby sat dangling their legs into the bathing pool upriver from the Lakota camp, Bobby took her hand and kissed it.

              “Why are you so quiet?  What’s on your mind?” he asked.

              She looked at him, wondering how she could bear to leave him, and yet she felt that going to college was something she needed to do.

              Turning his strong hand over, she traced his life line and the other creases on his palm with a finger.  “This is my last year of school and I’ve been thinking about what I’m going to do once I graduate.”

              “Did you decide on anything?”  A tingle of warning ran up his spine.

              “Well, I’d like to go to college.  The University of North Dakota admits women and has a really good business curriculum,” she said, keeping her eyes on his hand.

             
We’ve never really talked about it, but I wondered if she might want to go to college.  It’s different hearing her say it, though.  I don’t want her to leave me!  And I don’t want to go to college.  How will I live without seeing her every day?
  Bobby took a few moments to compose himself, then said, “And you’re worried about me being mad, aren’t you?”

              She nodded and he saw a tear fall onto his hand.  Bobby’s heart cried whenever she did.

              “Hey, I’m not mad.  I figured that you’d want to go to college.  You’re too smart not to.  That school isn’t so far away that I couldn’t come see you now and again,” he said.  “The train runs right through Grand Forks, so it won’t be hard to get to you.  I can have someone drop me off in Williston and I’ll just take the train from there.  And you’ll come home in the summers.”

              “You’re not angry?”  She was finally able to look at him.

              He brushed away her tears.  “No.  I’m going to miss you like crazy, but I’m not mad.  I love you, and when you really love someone, you don’t stand in the way of their dreams.  If this is what you want, then I’ll support you.”

              She embraced him tightly.  “You’re always on my side.”

              “And I always will be.”

              Laying her head on his shoulder, Emily said, “It’s only for two years.”

             
Only?  It sounds like a lifetime to me.
  “I can wait two years.”

              Drawing back, Emily met his gaze.  “Are you sure?”

              “Yeah, I’m sure.”  He dragged her over onto his lap.  “I’d wait as long as it took.  I might hate it, but I’d do it.”

              She cocked her head at him.  “Why do you love me?  I argue with you, I get you in trouble, and I don’t know when to shut up.”

              Bobby smiled.  “Yeah, but you have a lot of good qualities, too.”

              “Like what?”

              He frowned in concentration and then confusion.  “You’re right.  What am I thinking?”

              Emily let out a scream as he pushed her off his legs into the bathing pool.  She went under and came up to hear Bobby laughing.

              “Bobcat!  You’re a dead man!  You just wait until I get out of here!  This was a new skirt, too, damn it!” she hollered, her face red with the force of her anger.  “I can’t get out of here with this thing on.”

              Bobby was weak with laughter as she floundered around in the water.  Emily quickly reached behind her, undid her skirt, and pulled her legs up out of it.  She flung it out of the water before lifting herself out of the pool, making a beeline for Bobby, who sprinted away.  In only her blouse and pantalets, Emily sped after Bobby into the camp.

              Marcus sat at the central fire with Claire and Black Fox as the young couple raced by them.

              “Huh.  I wonder what that’s all about,” Marcus said.

              Claire laughed.  “It must have something to do with Emily being soaked.  Bobby must have dunked her.”

              Black Fox chuckled and took a bite of his brownie as he looked after Bobby and Emily.

              Marcus said, “Wow!  Look at Emily go.  Wait.  Where’s she going?”

              The girl had veered out of sight, making the trio curious about where she’d gone.  They soon had their answer when she reappeared in their line of sight galloping full-out on one of their Indian ponies.  They erupted in laughter at her ingenuity as she bore down swiftly on Bobby.

              There was a collective gasp as they saw Emily lean off the horse as she closed in on her prey and fall on Bobby when she was near enough.  They went down together on the grass near the entrance of the trail leading to Emily’s home.  After they rolled over several times, Emily ended up on top.  She threw up her arms and let out a victory yell while Bobby laughed.

              Black Fox started to laugh and a piece of the brownie got stuck in his throat, making him cough.  Marcus thumped his back.

              “Easy, brother.  I keep telling you all those desserts are gonna kill you.  Seems like I might be onto something.”

              Black Fox swatted his hand away.  “Stop!  I am fine.”

              They watched Bobby pick Emily up, sling her across his shoulder, and disappear into the trees.

              Claire giggled.  “I wonder what they’re going to say up there about Emily coming home only half-dressed.”

              Black Fox grinned.  “I will find out tomorrow and let you know.”

*****

              Lacey sat out on the veranda with Randall and Timmy.  The thirteen-year-old boy strummed on his guitar and hummed along. 

              He stopped.  “What the hell?”

              Randall sat close enough to smack the back of his head.  “Watch your language, young man.”

              Timmy absently rubbed his head as they watched Bobby come toward them carrying Emily across the huge lawn.  Lacey got up when she saw that Emily was scantily clad and that what clothes she did have on were dirty and grass stained.

              Lacey started down off the veranda.  “Emily!  Are you all right?”

              Emily grinned as Bobby put her down.  “I’m fine, Mama.  I just went for an unexpected swim, thanks to a certain someone,” she said, elbowing Bobby.

              He laughed.  “I’m sorry.  I couldn’t resist.”

              Randall cleared his throat, drawing the brave’s attention.  “Timmy, go inside.”

              Timmy scowled up at him.  “Why?  I didn’t do anything wrong.”

              “I know, but go inside anyway,” Randall said.

              “But, I wanna see—”

              “Timothy!”

              Randall’s tone of voice told Timmy he meant business.  He stomped off into the house, grumbling to himself.

              Lacey said, “Emily, go to your room and put on some clothes, please.”