Kindred (7 page)

“Six in the morning!’ Her eyes popped open. “The house must be awake.” She tried to pry his hands from her bosom, but he would not let go. “Lelaheo, please! They will wonder where we are and we’ll be found out.”

“
And
?” he mumbled through his personal fog. “What of it? So we are together. They all are aware of how we feel about each other.” He ignored her frantic grappling.

“Stop, clawing at my hands, wild woman!” He tweaked her nipples, slapped her bottom, then released her. Kindred leapt out of bed.

“Insufferable!”

“You love it!”

“I am not amused.”

But she was amusing, he thought, standing there in all her naked beauty, hair in a tangled mass, attempting to castigate him.

“Get up! Get up!” She tossed his clothes at him, then hastily began donning her own. “Oh Lord, I should be in the garden or in the kitchen,” she said, her voice muffled by the dress she pulled over her head. She scurried around the room, then stopped abruptly and placed an open hand on either side of her head. “What if Gramma comes to my room?”

“She will see, me, your ‘husband’, the child she has loved these last ten years with her, I hope, very content, granddaughter.” He got up and began dressing.

“You are acting like one already.” She came over to help him slip his shirt over his head.

“I recall this action last eve. In reverse,” he quipped, his grin echoing in his voice.

She scowled at him. He tapped her under the chin with an index finger. “Smile, Kinny. You are too serious.”

“Yes, I am. Someone has to be. Oh no, my hair.” She raked her fingers through it. “Where is my scarf?” She looked around anxiously.

“It was one of the items tossed to the floor last night in our … haste. Oh, there it is.” The edge of it peeked out from under the bed. He retrieved it and handed it to her.

She tied it over her hair as best she could, checked her clothing and eased into her shoes. “I’ll go downstairs first, you come down a bit later. Agreed?”

“No. We will go down together. I am not ashamed of what we shared here.” Lelaheo said adamantly.

Kindred opened her mouth to toss a retort but closed it quickly. She realized she was acting like a child and not like the woman he loved. She comprehended that she wounded him by endeavoring to hide the depth of their relationship.

“Neither am I.” She stroked his face. “I apologize.” She saw discontent flee his features at her touch. He wrapped her in his arms and kissed her. A light knocking at the door jolted them.

“Kindred? Lelaheo?”

It was Rozina.

Kindred went to the door, swallowed hard, then opened it. “Gramma, how did you know we were ...?”

“Mek no nebbuh min’, chil’. Jis’ come down.” Through the cracked door, Rozina took inventory of her granddaughter’s well being. “You ah’right?”

“Yes, Gramma. Never better.”

“You sho’?”

“Very sure.”

After Rozina was sufficiently satisfied that Kindred was with Lelaheo of her own free will, she took Kindred’s free hand. “Weel talk’um. Uh ent mad.” Her eyes traveled to Kindred’s askew head wrap. “Fix yo’ hair fus. Tell’um him’own kin on da do’step.”

“Yes, Gramma,” Kindred squeezed Rozina’s hand. “You wise, wise woman. I love you. We’ll be right down.” She stepped back and closed the door.

“Is everything alright?” Lelaheo asked as he finished tying the leather lace on his braid.

“Gramma wants to talk with me.” She began combing her hair. “And your family is here already.”

Lelaheo took the comb from her and continued the job. “It’s only fair. It’s tangled because of me.” He paused in his task and took Kindred by the shoulders. “She understands, Kindred. We will talk with Rozina. We will go down together. Agreed?”

“Agreed,” she seconded, feeling a weight had been lifted from her. “Now hurry up with my hair.”

****

The pair’s descent from the second floor was eclipsed by the arrival of Lelaheo’s kin. By the time they came down, his mother’s sisters’ sons, or his “brothers” were out back on the cobble stoned courtyard, setting up camp. The concept of “cousin” was not a

term used in describing Haudenosaunee family kinship. His mother, Aliquipiso, was in the parlor with Dr. Twain, Joshua and Rozina.

Lelaheo and Kindred made their way down the hallway, hand in hand, to the parlor. Upon hearing laughter like a pealing bell escape from Aliquipiso, Kindred froze just before they reached the room. She attempted to wriggle out of Leloheo’s grip.

“Kindred?” he whispered, holding fast.

“Your mother has not seen you in over six months. Perhaps you should go in by yourself. I am sure you have much to discuss. I may be an intrusion. Lelaheo? My hand, please.”

“What is this about?”

“Your mother.”

“She likes you.”

“I suddenly feel … deficient.”

“My mother adores you.”

“As a friend for you, yes. But as a mate? I am not sure.”

“That is not true and you know it. You are one of her children, as I am one of Rozina’s. Please, they are waiting.”

“No.”

He turned her sideways, bracing her against the wall. He pressed his lips to hers, cherishing her mouth more than kissing it. “Please, Kindred,” he murmured.

“Lelaheo, you make me so angry sometimes!” She sighed. “But how can I refuse my husband?”

“Then do not,” he replied hoarsely, pulling her from the wall. He placed an arm around her waist and guided her down the corridor and into the parlor.

“Good morning, all!” Lelaheo bellowed.

“About time!” Joshua harrumphed. “Can we eat now?”

“Rozina has been holding breakfast because of you two,” Dr. Twain added, shaking his head. “Where have you been?”

“Yaas, Joshua, we kin eet,” Rozina said as she rose from her chair and made for the kitchen. “Fetch da odduhs.”

Joshua hurried past Lelaheo and Kindred, his stomach grumbling as loudly as he.

“Lelaheo, we must talk after breakfast.” Dr. Twain squeezed the young man’s shoulder, then exited, following Rozina to the kitchen.

“Mother!” exclaimed Lelaheo. He pushed all thoughts from his mind of being admonished for his “seduction” of Kindred. After greeting his mother, Lelaheo was on his knees, at her feet in a flash.

“Mother! You are well?”

Aliquipiso was a winning woman of less than two score in years. She was short in stature and long on opinion. She possessed the same features as her son, especially the inquiring, bottomless eyes. Clad in her best deerskin skirt, cotton blouse and beads, Aliquipiso bent forward in her chair, her curtain of jet hair swaying, and held her son’s face between her hands.

“My son. I am very good. So the day has come. You leave for a strange place yet again. How my heart broke when you left us ten years ago. At least you were near enough for visits. Now this other place …. Where is it?”

“See, Lelaheo, even your mother thinks it is too far away. So, I am not alone in my sentiment.” Kindred folded her arms across her chest, feeling confident in her supported opinion.

“Please!” He took his mother’s hand then turned to Kindred and took one of hers. “My last days here should be pleasant.”

“Ha! You are so like your father. Sweet-tongued charmer.” Aliquipiso chuckled and nudged him sharply with her moccasined foot.

“Where is Father?” Lelaheo asked, rubbing the side where she poked him.

“Hunting, fighting,” she replied, slight annoyance in her tone. “As usual. What else can a man do when he has such war finery and nowhere to parade it?” She exhaled deeply. “But the village needs all the meat and pelts it can store. He sends his love.”

“Stop feeding the world. Your charity should begin with your longhouse. Perhaps then, father could be home more.”

“That is not our way, Lelaheo, and you know it.” Her lovely smile turned into a frown. “Never forget it. So far you have made us very proud. Continue to do so. Do not

become so European that you forget who you are. Besides, the notion of having your father under foot all day is better left in that realm.” Aliquipiso eyed Kindred and noticed how taken her son was with the young negress and how he still clasped her hand. The match could not have made her happier. Unless of course she had been Oneida. “Kindred! My daughter! You have grown into a very beautiful woman. You love my Lelaheo! True? Make me a grandmother as soon as possible.”

“You know?” Kindred asked.

“Is there no one who does not?” Lelaheo sighed. “I wanted to make a formal announcement of our betrothal, but why bother?”

“Oh, do bother, child. My sisters’ sons are not aware. They will be overjoyed for you and Kindred. They love her as I do.” She extended a hand to the girl. “Come, daughter.”

Aliquipiso stood up. Kindred fell in beside Lelaheo.

“Do you hold my son dear?”

“Yes,” Kindred smiled and nodded. Aliquipiso smiled back.

“Lelaheo, do you hold Kindred dear?”

“Yes, Mother. Very much.”

“Good.” Aliquipiso stood on tiptoe and hugged them both. “I give you my blessing.”

“We do too!” yelled Joshua and Lelaheo’s kin from the doorway. “Yes, brother, it is about time you shared your blanket with that woman,” one remarked.

Joshua, on the other hand, deeply inhaled the aromas wafting in from the kitchen. “Now that all that is finished, please, may we eat?”

Chapter Eight

Kindred sprawled, stomach down, on the grass next to Aliquipiso. Lelaheo’s mother was watching a swift game of
ga-lahs
played by all the men except Dr. Twain, who was busy keeping score. Aliquipiso cheered as the young men chased and tossed the hard wooden ball amongst each other with the aid of a long stick with

a scoop-like shape at one end. The object of the game was to get the ball and attempt to land it in an opponent’s goal.

“What did I miss,” Kindred asked, offering the woman some of Rozina’s hard molasses treats.

“No score yet.” Aliquipiso patted her middle and winced at the same time. “Oh, no thank you. No more room. Rozina made enough food for my entire village.”

“That’s Gramma.” Kindred popped a cookie in her mouth. “Food solves everything.”

“If only it could, Kindred. If only it could.” She bowed her head. “Unrest all around us. I wish one of ’Zina’s huge meals could mend it. I’d help serve.”

“War. Skirmishes. It is all I have known since Father brought us here, but Aliquipiso, in a strange way, we here have become accustomed to it. Let me explain. I do hate it, but turmoil has been the backdrop of my life.”

“Turmoil? Turmoil is a dispute between two families who share a longhouse fire. But these long periods of war are pure chaos and endless, unnecessary death. My people are caught in the middle of this. No one will escape untouched.” Her eyes followed her son as he charged up and down the grass.

“So you see it too? I thought only Father imagined and saw.”

“No, he is not alone. You must listen. The Haudenosaunee have ruled this valley for centuries through warfare and shrewd thinking and always by seeking what would be good for the Confederacy. But when others came to the region ....”

“You mean Europeans?”

“Yes. The Dutch were concerned with padding their pockets and treated everyone, native and new, with disdain. The French, ah, the French. More concerned with an uninterrupted flow of pelts and a good time. And, yes, possession of the land. But these English are a different sort of animal. They are not done with us.”

“Father is English.”

“But completely different than his countrymen. Dr. Twain has done nothing but give since he has been here. He is not an Englishman anymore. These English are the most cunning kind of invader. Their king saw a paradise here, and instead of out and out seizing it, they are charming it away from us.”

“The Crown is very good at that.” A cry rang out from the group of young men.

“Oh, look, Lelaheo scored.” Kindred waved. He wagged his stick at them and smiled.

Aliquipiso picked through some blades of grass at her feet. “Yes, the Crown is very shrewd. They made a treaty with our chiefs through that upstart Irishman, William Johnson, and in it stated that we were ‘subjects and allies’ with Great Britain. Pshaw! Children is more like it!” Aliquipiso’s tone hardened. “The Crown knew since we had

occupied this land forever, we would stand with them against anyone to maintain it. Even ourselves. And we then allowed them to take more than they gave. We were, and are, unwelcome guests here. Ugh!” She twisted the grass blades between her fingers.

“Aliquipiso, I will miss Lelaheo terribly. He is my other half, but I must admit I am glad he has not and will not be caught up in this fray.”

“I, too.” She stood up and surveyed the land around her. “The time is coming for side choosing and I hope my people choose the right one.”

“But which one is the right side, Aliquipiso?”

She frowned and replied, “The one which spares us.”

****

Way after the evening meal and late on Lelaheo’s last night at Twainhaven, he crept, barefoot, down the hallway and slipped soundlessly into Kindred’s room. She was wide awake, waiting for him.

“Where have you been?” Kindred griped. “The evening ended long ago.”

“I had to stay until the last game of billiards and then wait until everyone was asleep, love.” He walked over and peered out the window and saw his cousins around their camp fire in the back courtyard. Aliquipiso was in the circle. She looked up at him, nodded and smiled. He nodded back. “Well, at least until Joshua, ’Zina and Douglas were.”

“Lelaheo, Gramma never sleeps. You know her favorite adage, ‘Eb’ry shet eye ent sleebe’.”

“So true, so very true.” He chuckled tenderly, shucking his clothes as he neared the bed.

“Did anyone see you? Everyone knowing is one thing, but actually witnessing you come to my room is another matter.” Kindred pulled aside the coverlet to accommodate him.

“As far as I know, only my mother.” He saw that she was nude. “No nightgown? I see you were sure I’d visit. But Kindred, half the pleasure is undressing you.” He pointed to the coverlet. “We will not need this. Gets in the way.” He draped it over the foot of the bed.