Fated Memories (28 page)

“
Yes,” he nodded, “he has talked to me about you. He did not tell me the feelings ran so deep, though. He knows the dangers but, perhaps, like you, he lacks the strength to stay away.”

“
It ain’t just for me that he stays on my father’s ranch. He told me how bad things are on the reservation. He said without the money he can make workin’, his little sister and mother could starve.” She turned towards him. “Is this true?”

“
It is true. There is very little food for our people, but there has to be another way. Jessie, why don’t you talk to your father about how bad the Indian agent treats my people? If he can do something, then Two Spirits would not have to work off the reservation.”

“
If he left the ranch, then I might never see him again and I couldn’t live with that.”

“
Then the love you feel for him is that of a child. If you love him as a woman, you will try to help him.”

“
Pehta,” Jessie slowed her horse to a walk, “don’t ask me to send him away. I’ve already seen the way his mother feels about our bein’ together. If he left the ranch there would be no chance for us.”

“
My heart is sad for you, little one. I do not have the answers.”

“
His mother will tell him I came to see her, won’t she?”

“
Yes. But he will already know this, for as soon as you return to your home, I am going to trust you to send him to me. I will be waiting for him down by the big lake. He will know where.”

“
What makes you so sure I will tell him?”

“
You will send him to me, for you do not want him to be hurt. You are not a bad person, Jessie, just a person in love.” He left her there, turning his horse onto the path leading to the lake.

As Jessie rode up the dirt path leading to the ranch just before sundown, Two Spirits called out to her. Reining her horse, she waited for him.

“
Everyone has been searching for you, Jessie. Where have you been?” He looked over at her, his young face anxious with worry.

Slipping from her horse’s back, she walked a short ways away from him. Knowing the inevitable stood before her, she whirled to face him. “I’ve been to the reservation to see your mother. And before you tell me what a fool I’ve been let me assure you, I’m already well aware of the fact! She flew at me like a wild woman when she learned about us.”

“
You told my mother about us?” He slid from his horse’s back. “What kind of demons are in your heart to make you do this?”

“
I guess the same kind that is in all white women. I just went there to meet her,” she cried in her own defense. “I hadn’t planned to tell her about us. Somehow she knew.”

“
My mother is very perceptive. You could not hide such a thing from her.” He took a step away from her. “I must go to her now.”

“
I think first you should meet Pehta at the lake. He asked me to tell you he will be waiting.”

Spinning around, he glared at her. “You talked with Pehta, too? Who else have you spoken with?”

“
Pehta came after me. I’d never laid eyes on him before today. He rode back with me as far as the turn off to the lake.”

“
Yes, I will meet him. You have caused much trouble for me, Jessie.” His strong voice shook with frustration. “I do not believe you now when you speak of love. A woman does not cause her man the kind of trouble you do.” Two Spirits walked to his horse.

“
You are so wrong, Two Spirits. The love I feel for you is stronger than any love I have ever known.” But he could no longer hear her.

“
Where in the world have you been?” Charlotte met Jessie as she walked through the door.

Hoping her fears of the past hours and moments didn’t show on her face, Jessie replied, “I’ve been riding. I left early this morning. Why?”

“
You know better than to take off without tellin’ anyone where you’re goin’.”

“
I’m sorry. I felt like gettin’ away from everything for a while.” She shrugged Charlotte’s hand from her shoulder. “Is that so wrong?”

“
No, it ain’t wrong to want to get away. Only, the next time you feel like takin’ off, you need to tell someone, sweetheart.” Eathen pulled her into his strong arms. “We tend to worry when you ain’t around is all.”

“
I’m sorry, Daddy. I guess I didn’t think.” She swallowed against the guilty feelings threatening to overpower her.

“
Jessie, is something botherin’ you?” Charlotte peered at her.

“
No, Mama.” Jessie forced a smile. “There’s nothin’ wrong. I just like bein’ by myself sometimes is all.”

“
So does de rest of us, Miss Jessie,” Hattie spoke up from across the room. “But effen we did dat ‘twouldn’ nuthin’ ebber gits done roun hyah.”

Knowing Hattie’s keen eye, Jessie hastened to offset her suspicions. “I’m sorry, Hattie. I know I promised to help you more around the house and I mean to keep my word, but today I just had to get away.”

“
Dat’s whut you keeps sayin’, but den you tuhns roun an’ does jes whut you wanter.” Hattie pursed her lips into a firm line of disapproval. “Doan makes no nebber mine ‘bout anyone else needer.”

“
Oh, Hattie,” Jessie moved across the room to throw her arms around the woman’s ample waist, “don’t be angry with me. I love you.”

Unwilling to be taken in by soft words any longer, Hattie stiffened her heart against the onslaught of tears. “Miss Jessie, Ah doan thinks you does anymo’, kase yous done lied ter ole Hattie too many times.” She pulled Jessie’s arms away.

“
Why is everyone bein’ so mean to me?” Jessie looked at each of them. “Don’t anybody care about how I feel?”

“
Jessie, no one is bein’ mean to you,” Charlotte breathed a sigh of impatience. “We expect you to keep your word when you say you will do somethin’.”

“
Come here, sweetheart.” Eathen held his big arms open wide.

With loud sniffles, Jessie threw herself into those loving arms, crying as if her heart would break. “You’re the one who really loves me, Daddy.” She laid her tear-stained face against his broad chest. “The one who has always been there for me when I really needed someone.”

“
I’ll always be there for you, Jessie.” He tipped her face up to his. “I promised you the first time I ever laid eyes on you, that as long as I had breath in my body to protect you, I would. You’ll always be my little girl.”

“
And you’ll always be my knight in shinin’ armor, Daddy.” She swiped at her tears as she snuggled herself deeper into his loving arms. “No one can ever hurt me as long as I have you.”

Rolling her dark eyes at Jessie’s dramatics, Hattie called back over her shoulder. “Supper bes ready, effen any body’s hongry. Effen day ain’, den Ah guess Ah’ll jes’ th’ows it ter de hawgs.”

“
I think that’s our hint to get to the table.” Eathen grinned, hugging his daughter tight against his hip.

“
I don’t blame Hattie for bein’ miffed at us. She works hard around here.”Charlotte laced her arm through Eathen’s and walked with them to the table. “Sometimes I think we take her for granted.”

“
As soon as supper’s over, I’ll clear the table and do the dishes all by myself. Hattie can relax the rest of the evenin’. Maybe that’ll make her love me again.”

“
Hattie loves you, sweetheart. Don’t ever doubt that.” Eathen dropped a kiss on the top of her head. “She just wants you to start showin’ some responsibility.”

After everyone seated themselves at the table, Hattie bowed her head. “Lawd, we thank you fer eve’y spec of food on dis table, an’ thank you fer givin’ me de strent ter cooks it by myseff. Amens!”

“
You said a very nice blessin’, Hattie, and I’m sure God’s smilin’ on you for doin’ it all yourself.” Eathen grinned over at her.

“
Ah doan mind wukin’ my fingers ter de bone fer dis fambly.” She plopped a large slab of butter on a golden-brown biscuit. “Dis fambly bes all Ah gots. An Ah bes pleny thankful.”

“
Hattie, this family couldn’t survive without you,” Eathen told her, the teasing grin gone now from his face. “One of the best days in my life is when I found you in Mississippi and you agreed to come back to Montana with us.”

“
Mist’ Eathen,” she sniffed, laying the biscuit down on her plate, “effen you doan hesh yo’ mouf, Ah’s gwing ter starts blubberin’ an’ den all dis good food’s jes’ gwing ter goes ter waste.”

“
The food’ll still be here after I’ve said what I need to say. There are gonna be some changes made around here,” he declared glancing around the table. “Hattie, I’ve heard the complaints you been makin’ ‘bout not gettin’ any help.”

Hattie’s dark eyes widened in alarm. “Mist’ Eathen, it wuz wrong of me ter bes worrit ‘bout dat. You pays me ter tek keer of yo’ fambly an’ dat’s jes’ whut Ah’s gwing do. You woan heer me complainin’ ‘bout nuthin’ no mo’!”

“
If you’re not gettin’ the help you need,” he slammed a fist down hard on the table, “I better, by damn, hear you complain! You’re part of this family and I don’t ever want you to worry ‘bout leavin’ here. Jessie’s gonna start helpin’ ‘round here. As of tonight.” The tone of his voice and the fire in his eyes left no room for argument.

After a loud blowing of her nose on her white starched apron, Hattie picked up her fork to begin eating her dinner. For the first time since coming to live on the ranch, she remained silent throughout the meal.

***

All that next day, when she could pull herself away from the household chores, Jessie watched and waited for any word from Two Spirits. By evening, she had taken to pacing the floor.

“
Jessie, what in the world’s the matter with you?” Charlotte glanced up from the afghan she had been crocheting. “You’re pacin’ like a caged animal.”

“
I’m just restless, Mama. I think I’ll go out for some fresh air.” She peered through the screen door. “It looks like a beautiful night out.”

“
That sounds like a good idea.” Charlotte affixed her crocheting needle in the half-finished afghan to drop it along with a ball of yarn inside a bag beside her chair. “I’ll go get Hattie and we’ll all go out for a breath of night air.”

“
If you don’t mind,” Jessie smiled her best little girl smile, “I’d kindda like to be alone.”

“
All right, Jessie,” Charlotte cast a quick glance across the room to Eathen, “but if you need me, I’ll be here.”

Once outside, Jessie ran toward the bunkhouse, keeping herself alert for any unusual sounds. When she heard loud laughing and talking, she slowed her steps towards the corrals. A light breeze blew her hair across her face. She swiped it back in place. Stopping at the fence, she scanned the pens. All the horses had been brought in for the night, except for one. Two Spirit’s big paint remained absent.

“
Evenin’, Miss Jessie,” Jake drawled, striking a match against a post as he leaned back against the fence. “What you doin’ out here all alone?”

At the sound of his voice, Jessie jumped back, then whirled to face him. “I came out for some fresh air,” she told him in a cold voice, already turning to leave.

“
Think I could find somewhere better’n the corrals,” he jeered, “if it’s fresh air I wanted.”

“
I mean,” she punctuated her words with contempt, “I’m outside for somethin’ to do. I get restless stayin’ in the house all the time.”

“
Pears to me,” he pushed himself away from the fence, “you ain’t been stayin’ ‘round the house here of late.”

At the snide inflection in his voice, Jessie drew herself upright. “I didn’t know my movements interested you, Jake.”

“
Well, they don’t really.” Jake cupped his chin in one hand to run slow fingers up and down his stubbled cheek. “But a few of us have noticed you makin’ a lotta trips,” he nodded beyond the corrals, “to that tree line over yonder.”

Although her heart beat a wild thudding inside her chest, she made up her mind not to show it. “If you have a point to make, Jake, why don’t you make it?”

“
Now, Miss Jessie, I’m well aware this ain’t any of my business,” he smirked, edging closer to her, “but I don’t think your daddy’d like knowin’ you been meetin’ ole Johnny Two Spirits out behind the trees late at night. Now would he?”

The slap she delivered across his smug face echoed throughout the still night. “Don’t you ever insinuate such a thing to me again, Jake! I ain’t been meetin’ nobody! If that’s what you and the rest of the hands think, then by all means, Jake, go to my father with your dirty suspicions! But don’t you ever voice them to me again!”

“
All right,” he held up his hands, “so maybe we got a little rash in what we thought. We saw the two of you talkin’ over in the tree line one night and I guess we jumped to conclusions. There ain’t no reason to go botherin’ your daddy with this, Miss Jessie. We all need our jobs.”

For a long moment she remained quiet, giving him time to think on all he stood to lose if she went to her father with what he believed could be going on with her and Two Spirits. Finally, taking a deep breath to relax herself, she replied, “If that’s so, then you think about your jobs the next time any of you start givin’ Two Spirits a hard time. For your information, he needs his job too. Not to play poker or spend money on women either! He needs it to feed his mother and sister.”

Jake could feel his anger at being dictated to by a female starting to rise. “There ain’t no reason to get all riled over a dumb injun. If he’d stay on the reservation like he’s suppose to, he wouldn’t have any problems.”