Mail Order Bride: Westward Christmas Novel (Montana Mail Order Brides, Book 11) (6 page)

Sasha giggled, something she rarely did.  “I haven’t felt like this in…well, never.”

Tessa’s eyebrows rose as she wondered at that remark.  She refrained from asking questions, however.  She opened the door before Ben reached it and said, “Hello, Ben.  It’s good to see you.”

Ben stepped through the door as he offered her a smile and said, “It’s good to see you, too.”  He saw Sasha come from the parlor into the kitchen and his smile grew.  “There’s the lady I’ve been looking for.”

“Hello, Ben,” she said softly.  She felt a little shy after last night.  Sasha was a little anxious about how he would react to her. 

“Tessa, I know that you ladies are visiting, but I was wondering if you would indulge me and let me steal Sasha from you,” Ben said. 

His eyes met hers and Sasha felt her stomach drop again.  It was a pleasant sensation, and she smiled at him. 

Tessa said, “Certainly, Ben.  Where are you off to?”

He looked at Sasha the whole time he spoke.  Ben wasn’t being rude; he just couldn’t take his eyes off Sasha. She looked beautiful in her simple calico dress.  She’d left her hair down and it flowed over her shoulders, some falling in front and some over her back. 

“I have to go to the camp to check on a patient, and I thought it would be a good idea for you to learn how to get there and become more acquainted with them,” Ben said.  “You never know when you might have to go there.”

Tessa knew that Sasha had balked about going there the last time she’d been in Dawson and she thought it was a good idea for Sasha to meet them.  Tessa wasn’t a frequent visitor to the camp, but she knew how to get there and knew all of Marcus’ brothers and some of their Lakota friends. 

Ben saw the hesitant expression on Sasha’s face and wanted to put her fears to rest.  “Sasha, these people aren’t like the tribe Sparrow came from.  You’ve met Black Fox and some of the other Lakota.  Tessa and Dean wouldn’t let their children frequent the camp if it wasn’t safe.”

Tessa said, “He’s right, Sasha.  If I felt that our children would come to harm by going there, they wouldn’t.  You have nothing to fear from them.”

Sasha didn’t want to appear afraid.  She knew she shouldn’t be, and yet she was.  Then she became angry with herself.  How could she be afraid of the very Lakota braves who had saved her life and the lives of their white family? 

“Yes.  You’re both right.  I’ll go,” Sasha said.

Ben grinned.  “There’s my brave lady.  Tessa, I’ll see you soon.  Take care until then.”

Sasha said, “Just let me run to Maddie’s and say goodbye to her and Sparrow.”

“Certainly,” Ben said. 

She passed by close to him and smiled at him before hurrying on.  Ben caught the scent of lavender on the slight breeze she created and inhaled deeply of it.  He turned back to Tessa, who arched a brow at him.

Ben said, “Yes?”

Tessa wasn’t sure she should say anything to Ben, but then decided to go forward.  “Ben, I respect and admire you and I’d like to think that we have become friends.”

Ben nodded.  “That we have.”

“Then as your friend, I caution you to be kind to Sasha.  She has not had an easy time of things and I hope you have good intentions towards her,” Tessa said as she stepped closer to Ben.

Ben was momentarily annoyed with Tessa, and then smiled.  She was merely trying to be a good friend to both him and Sasha.  “Tessa, I assure you that I only have the best intentions towards Sasha.  Can I be frank with you and know that it will not go further than you and I?”

“Of course,” Tessa said.

“I was sorely vexed when she was here the last time and I was introduced to her at such a late date.  She has never been far from my thoughts since then,” Ben said, looking into Tessa’s eyes.  “So you can imagine how happy I was not only that she had been planning to come back, but also that she has been of the same mind.”

Tessa smiled.  “I am very pleased to hear you say that.  As far as I’m concerned, this conversation never took place.”

“Thank you,” Ben said.  He saw Sasha come out of Maddie’s house and bid Tessa farewell. 

              As the trail sloped down, Sasha leaned back on Ingrid to help shift the center of balance and help the mare keep her footing.  Up ahead a short distance, Ben’s back faced her and she admired it along with the breadth of his shoulders and his black hair that slightly curled at the collar of his shirt. 

              Unbidden, the thought of him in a loincloth came to mind and she almost laughed out loud at her bold imagination.  Who could blame her, though?  Between his handsomeness, his cultured manner of speech, and his Georgia accent, she didn’t know which was more devastating to a female.  As she thought about it, she realized that it was the combination that made her senses spin.

              A whistle sounded, and then another.  Sasha thought that one of them came from Ben, but she couldn’t be sure.  She would have to ask him about it later.  As they came out into the clearing, fear gripped her and Sasha froze at the tableau before her.  Her vision was filled with Indians as far as she could see. 

              Tipis stretched up towards the sky and fires burned outside as well as inside some of them, as evidenced by the smoke issuing from their tops.  Women and children came and went in and out of them.  Groups of men walked between the tipis, while some worked on various projects as they sat by the fire.

              She didn’t mean to stare, but she couldn’t help it.  Unconsciously she had pulled Ingrid’s reins a little tighter, and the mare backed up a few paces.  It was enough to bring Sasha out of her trance.  Ben had already dismounted and approached her.

              “Are you all right?” he asked.

              She gave him a tight smile and said, “Yes.  No.  I don’t know.”

              “At least you’re honest.  It’s all right, Sasha.  Come on down, sugar,” Ben coaxed.

              Sasha looked at his outstretched arms and while she didn’t need help dismounting, she was in need of the comfort his touch would bring her.  She took her feet out of the stirrups and leaned towards him.  Ben took her around the waist and lifted her from the horse with ease.

              Those powerful shoulders of his moved under her hands and she started paying more attention to him than where they were. 

He smiled down at her and said, “There you are, Miss Sasha.  Everything is fine.”  He took her hand and started leading her forward. 

Sasha went with him, looking around all the while.  A group of children came running over to Ben.  He let go of Sasha’s hand as they began talking to him in Lakota.  Ben understood some of it, enough to get the gist, but he had a hard time comprehending the language.  It frustrated him because he’d mastered French, Latin, and Italian, and yet he could not grasp the spoken word of Lakota. 

Their sign language was another matter.  He’d caught on to it rapidly and whenever he came to camp, it was the primary way he spoke to them.  This was useful for dealing with elderly patients who were hard of hearing as well as one of the little children surrounding him now.

Brown Otter, now six-years-old, was a pudgy little boy who was deaf.  Ben had fallen in love with the boy a couple of years ago when he’d treated him for a respiratory infection.  Anytime Ben came to camp, he always tried to find Brown Otter and visit with him a little if possible.  Their conversation took place in sign.

“Hello, Brown Otter.  How are you?” he signed to his little friend.

“I am fine.  Are you here to see my sister?” Brown Otter said.

Ben smiled.  “Yes.  How is she?”

“Good.  Her leg does not hurt as much,” Brown Otter said.  “Who is the yellow-haired lady?”

“This is my friend, Sasha,” Ben signed.

Sasha smiled when Brown Otter grinned at her and signed something to Ben. 

“He says you are very pretty,” Ben said.  To Brown Otter he said, “Yes, she is.  Where is Wandering One?”

“She is at our tipi,” Brown Otter said.  “We will go there now.”

“Yes,” Ben said.

Brown Otter turned and began walking.

Ben said, “That’s Brown Otter.  He’s deaf, so he only speaks in sign.  I’m treating his sister, Wandering One, for a broken leg.”

Sympathy for the poor little girl filled Sasha.  “That’s awful.  Is it healing well?” she asked.

“I am happy to say that it is.  The break was a complex one and I had to perform surgery in order to correct it and save her leg,” Ben said as they followed Brown Otter.

Sasha shuddered at the thought of a child losing a leg.  “Thankfully you were here to help her.”

Ben nodded.  “There are some times when I think we were meant to lose our fortune so that I would notice that there were more important things than money.”

“Perhaps,” Sasha agreed.

“I believe that had our wealth remained intact that I wouldn’t have been as good of a doctor,” Ben said introspectively.  He looked at Sasha and smiled.  “Being poor as a church mouse tends to teach one some life lessons.”

They arrived at the home of Brown Otter’s family and Ben greeted his mother, Pond Lily.  Ben had a strong fondness for the family.

Ben signed to Pond Lily, “I am here to see Wandering One.”

“Yes, of course,” she signed back.  “Come in, please.”

Ben motioned for Sasha to follow him into the tipi.  Sasha smiled at Pond Lily and ducked inside with Ben.  The interior was dark, but her eyes adjusted quickly.  Pond Lily brought up the rear.

A little girl sat up against a backrest.  One of her legs, encased in a cast, was stretched out before her.  She looked up and smiled at Ben.  He signed to her, “Hello, little one.  How is your leg feeling?”

He knelt beside her and began examining her even as he watched her sign, “Better.  It still hurts, but not as bad.”

Wandering One was not quite two years older than her brother and was able to sign very well. 

“Good,” Ben said.  “Pond Lily, has there been any kind of drainage or any fever?”

He looked up to see Pond Lily sign, “No.  She has been completely fine.”

“I am bored,” Wandering One said.  “When can I get this thing off?”

Ben smiled at her.  “I know, but you must be patient a little while longer.  It won’t be too long until you can run and play again.  But if you don’t listen to what I tell you, it won’t heal and it will be much longer until you can.  All right?”

“Yes.”  Wandering One wasn’t happy, but she would do anything to be able to get back to her normal life.

Ben nodded his approval.  To the girl’s mother he said, “I think the willow bark tea will do the job now.  I’d like to stop giving her the laudanum.”

“I understand,” Pond Lily said with a smile.

“I’ll be back again next week to check on her.  If there is any problem, have someone come get me,” Ben said.

Wandering One held out her arms to Ben and he happily embraced the girl.  “You be good until I come back.”

“I will,” she signed when he had released her.

Back outside, Ben told Sasha everything that had been said in the tipi.

“I knew that the Lakota used some sign language.  Sparrow has mentioned it from time to time, but I didn’t know it was so extensive,” Sasha said.

“Yes, it is, and much of it has to do with body language,” Ben said. 

“I see.  I hope her leg keeps healing so well,” Sasha said.  “Where are we going now?”

“To see either Black Fox or Wind Spirit.  Whenever I’m here, I always check to see if there are others who need to be seen,” Ben said.

Sasha’s gasp of surprise served as a warning to Ben, and he turned and struck out.  The blow hit Raven in the middle of his chest and the young brave went down.  Raven hadn’t been expecting Ben’s attack and the force Ben had used kept Raven from being able to breathe for a moment.

He rolled over on his hands and knees and willed his lungs to expand.  Sasha stood back, her eyes wide, looking back and forth between Ben and Raven.  Ben smiled and bounced on the balls of his feet a little.

“C’mon, Raven, get up,” Ben said.

Raven’s lungs finally cooperated and he started laughing.  He flung his long black hair out of his face and got up.  He looked at Sasha with laughter in his eyes.  “You gave me away,” he accused good-naturedly.

“I’m-I’m sorry,” Sasha stammered.  She cried out as hands grabbed her upper arms and pulled her backwards. 

Wind Spirit, Raven’s mother, said, “Do not fear.  This is a game they play.”

Sasha looked over at the Lakota woman and tried to smile. “I see.”

“You have never been here before and do not know our ways.  All is well,” Wind Spirit said gently.

“But aren’t you afraid Raven will get hurt?” Sasha asked.

Wind Spirit chuckled.  “My son is fast and strong.  He may not win, but he will not get hurt.”

Ben saw Sasha’s fright and dropped his hands, indicating to Raven that there would be no fight.  “Another time, Raven.”

Raven frowned.  “Why?”

“I need to get back to the clinic.  Is there anyone else that you know of who is sick, Wind Spirit?” Ben said.

Wind Spirit shook her head.  “No one.  Please ask my son if he has heard of anyone needing you.”

“Please tell my mother that no one has mentioned anything to me, but that if I do hear of any sickness, I will let you know,” Raven answered.

Sasha thought this exchange was strange.  The two people conversing were right there and yet they were communicating through Ben.  She didn’t understand, but kept her own counsel for the time being.

“Ben, please tell my mother that I am going to the ranch, but that I will be back soon after dark.  That is where I will be should Father need me,” Raven said with a glance at his mother.  He offered her a quick smile and looked back at Ben.

“Tell my son that I understand and will let my husband know.”

Raven nodded, and with a pat to Ben’s shoulder jogged off.

“Thank you, Wind Spirit,” Ben said.  “I’ll be back next week, but as always, let me know if I’m needed.”

“You are welcome, Ben,” Wind Spirit said.

“Pardon my bad manners,” Ben said, and introduced the two women, who smiled at each other.

Then Ben led Sasha back to their horses.  Brown Otter came running after them and jumped at Ben, who caught him with ease and hugged the little fellow.  Then Brown Otter reached out to Sasha.  Sasha was a little startled, but there was no way she could ever refuse a hug to any child who wanted one.  She came closer to Ben and he handed off Brown Otter to her.

The boy was strong and held on tightly for a few moments.  Then he was ready to be put down and Sasha released him.  He signed something to Ben as he looked at Sasha with a big smile.  Brown Otter then laughed and ran away.

Sasha looked at Ben with curiosity.  “What was that all about?”

“He said that you are a beautiful maiden and that he will marry you some day,” Ben said with a grin.

Sasha broke out in laughter and Ben joined her.  “Lord knows I love that boy, but he’s got competition,” he said as he helped Sasha mount.

Sasha said, “Ben, I appreciate that you are a gentleman, but I can mount and dismount on my own, not to mention drive a team of horses.”

Ben smiled.  “My apologies, Sasha.  Helping women with such things is something that was drilled into me as a young man.”

“No need to apologize,” she said as she took up Ingrid’s reins.

Ben inclined his head and then mounted.  “I wonder how day one of Joe’s gambling-free week is going?” he said.

Sasha said, “I’m sure it must be interesting watching him resist it.”

Ben moved his horse ahead of her onto the trail.  He laughed softly and said, “It certainly must.”