Little Bear and the Ladies Page 6
Rachel shuffled her feet as she neared the fire, wearing a morose frown and emanating a bad attitude that Little Bear found hard to ignore. Morning Star wasn’t blind to the dour mood either. The newlywed couple’s eyes met; they knew what it was.
Jealousy.
Now what were they going to do? The chance for Rachel to find a mate in the next six months was nil. They had to stay hidden for everyone’s safety. The gold-hunting sergeant was bound to be on the lookout for them. And the more they traveled—a small Indian band with lots of babies—the easier they would be to spot. Besides, the first flakes of winter would be flying in weeks if not days, and they would be hindered by the snow. They had to remain where they were and construct permanent housing as quickly as possible.
It was a disaster waiting to happen, jealousy infused with sexual frustration. They’d have to figure something out or Rachel would make everyone miserable.
As they worked on stage one of their home building, picking up and stacking the wood that littered the site, Morning Star asked, “Little Bear, do you believe in God?”
“Yes, of course I do. I mean, I know Him as God, but I also believe He’s who the Indians call the Great Father or the Great Spirit. Why do you ask?”
Instead of answering, she asked another question. “Have you ever read the Bible?”
“Yes, I’ve read The Good Book several times, however I don’t have a copy of it now. Do you have a question? I mean, do you think that we have to have a Bible or a priest or preacher to have a valid marriage?” Little Bear wanted to remind her that she didn’t have either one of them when she married Number Two, but surely she knew that, and it wasn’t a problem.
“Did you ever notice how many men in the Bible had more than one wife? I mean, most of them did. One of the reasons was because so many had been killed in battle. There weren’t enough men for all of the women.”
“Yes, I believe you’re right,” he answered cautiously. Then he realized what she was suggesting. He sighed deeply. “You think I should have two wives?”
Morning Star nodded her head. “If they do it in The Good Book, then it’s fine with me, too. As long as it’s agreeable with you and her, I think it’d be best for everyone. I know she likes you. Not as much as I like you, maybe, but good enough.” Morning Star started to giggle. “And she’s not as noisy as I am when making love. You might like that part.”
“No,” he answered, then saw the scared look on her face. “No, I like your noises. Do you want to ask her or shall I? I mean, you might want to suggest it to her first. If she thinks it will work, I’ll ask her.”
“Great!” Morning Star said, then popped over to Rachel, pulling her aside to discuss the issue away from She Bear.
“Now what have you got yourself into, man?” Little Bear looked up to the sky. “Very funny, Lord. I wanted a wife, so You gave me two. I wanted a child, so you gave me five.”
“At least five,” Rachel said as she walked up beside him. “Do you want me tonight or do you want a few more nights alone with Morning Star first?”
10 The Decision
Two weeks later
Their winter housing was completed. Two brush huts had been established. Little Bear had donated his supply of wolverine and deer skins for use as outdoor ‘stucco,’ reserving the beaver pelts as interior floors and bedding.
“Are you sure you want to use them like that? I mean, won’t they spoil if they’re exposed to the wind, rain, and snow?” Rachel asked.
Little Bear shrugged. “They seemed to be tough enough for the critters who wore them before. Besides, what value would they have if we froze to death this winter? I couldn’t take them to a trading post as a dead man?”
Rachel didn’t know whether to giggle or agree with him. She settled on a brief nod, and then went back inside to check on her napping children.
Ever since that first morning at their new ‘homestead,’ after Morning Star married Little Bear in the traditional Indian way, she had been ill at ease. The suggestion, casually agreed on by all three of them—that Little Bear would be her husband, too—was beginning to sour.
Yes, he was a kind and generous man. They wouldn’t be alive—or at least safe and sane—if it hadn’t been for his clever, yet daring, ploy. And his gold. He had given all that he had to them. He didn’t have much for food or cookware, but what he had was theirs, too. He worked from pre-dawn until it was too dark to see, cutting timbers, hunting game, setting traps.
And by the yelps and grunts emanating from his and Morning Star’s home, he worked in the dark, too.
It was her own suggestion that morning after his wedding night that he have a few more days as a newlywed with only Morning Star as a wife. It didn’t seem right anymore, though, sharing a husband. She saw the way they looked at each other, the sly smiles, sudden flushes that could only be memories of what had happened the night before.
He was respectful to her—helped her when she was burdened, made sure she had wood for her small stone hearth, even helped with the children—but she could tell he loved Morning Star.
The group still ate as one large family—and that was fine—but when they split up to go to their own homes in the evenings, she couldn’t help but think that their original plan wasn’t right.
She had had a horrible childhood. Abused by her father and brothers, constantly, in one way or another. When the assaults wound up making babies was when she first found love—for her children. But even that was limited—she had lost two daughters. She never had decent clothes, shoes, enough to eat, or blankets to keep her or her sickly son warm. And after Papa died and Atholl left, there was no place to call home. Grant was always dragging her along with him on the road, beating her when she didn’t walk fast enough. For two years, New Bern and a new home were ‘just a few days away.’
Leaving Grant and becoming Red Shirt’s wife was the first and greatest joy she had ever had that she had control of. She and her son, inadvertently named Later by her loving husband, thrived. She wanted to have that again. From what she had overheard, Little Bear had been wanting Morning Star—no, she was Prudence back then—for at least two years. She wanted something special for herself again, too.
She liked the physical part of being married, but she knew from her past life, that it wasn’t good unless she was with someone she loved. She liked Little Bear plenty, and she would do almost anything in the world for him, but sharing bodies wasn’t wanted or needed by either of them.
She’d wait for her own man.
One who’d make her blush and smile at the same time.
She wasn’t looking for a husband when Red Shirt came into her life. Maybe the Lord had someone else planned for her.
She’d wait.
11 Foo on Fairies
Ian could smell him before he could see him. It was a good thing he hadn’t eaten, or he would have lost his breakfast.
The deranged, bearded man was making more noise than an elk in rut, babbling as he swatted bushes with a four-foot long broken branch. “Damn him and damn her and damn those MacKays and damn those Pomeroys and damn all them other fairies. And damn everyone who has ever been to Garden Hall… I’ll kill them all!”
Did he say Barden Hall? Ian shook his head. The man almost looked familiar.
Whoa! Wait! He said Pomeroys and MacKays. Those were family names, his family. His kin. Something wasn’t right. Maybe damning one of those names might be coincidence, but Garden Hall… That sure sounded a lot like Barden Hall. The Pomeroys used to live at Barden Hall and his cousin Mona, now married to a MacKay, was living there in the 20th—or was that 21st?—century.
Ian shook his head to try and clear the physical memories of Barden Hall that were clouded with strong emotions tied to the former and future inhabitants. He couldn’t think of his ex-wife, aunt and cousin as fairies, but they were undeniably time travelers.
Shit! Even this far away from all of them, they were still haunting him.
He sat back against a convenien
tly located boulder and took a deep breath, trying his best to compose himself. His anger was trying to escape. Again. Calm, peaceful thoughts… An eternal ten seconds later, he realized it must have been his imagination. Either that troll wasn’t really there, or he had misunderstood him.
Ian inched up from his quiet place and looked.
No one was there, but it still stank.
If there had been someone, hopefully he wasn’t speaking of his kin and their home. Because if he had been, he’d have to hunt the varmint down and stop him before he could do any damage.
He, Ian Kincaid, may not be on the best of terms with his family, nor care for their popping back and forth between the centuries, breaking hearts and causing chaos, but they were still his kin.
And he’d protect them to his last breath.
The End
Note from the author:
Have a moment? Would you please leave a short review? Thanks!
Review for Little-Bear-Ladies-Three-Fairies-ebook
Oh, and if you enjoyed Little Bear and the Ladies, you can meet Little Bear and his friend, Ian Kincaid, for the first time in Naked in the Winter Wind. There’s also more about Little Bear, Rachel, Morning Star and many others in Dances Naked, third book in The Fairies Saga.
Feel free to contact me at dani.haviland@gmail.com with your comments.
About the author:
Dani Haviland began writing late in life, but old age hasn’t slowed her down. An avid researcher and photographer, she traveled to Sydney, Australia in 2014 to study the land, climate, and to experience sailing on a tall ship (massive seasickness-ugh) for the next big novel in The Fairies Saga series, Fairies Down Under. Discover what happens to a modern day time traveler when he winds up on the First Fleet of convicts in 1787, bound for the newly discovered and barely explored Botany Bay, Australia.
From Connecticut to Arizona (early years) to Alaska (past 23 years) to her current residence in Oregon, Dani never fades in her search for beauty and awe. Check out some of her photos: www.danihaviland.com and Pinterest.
And watch for novellas to be released in between her major (over 150,000 words) novels.
Other books by the author:
Naked in the Winter Wind: Who—and when—was she? And was this mountain man really her husband? Fountain of Youth water and a big case of amnesia confound life. Book One.
Ha’Penny Jenny A novella about a sweet (and psychic) young lass of 1780s North Carolina, her trials, fears, and discoveries. Light-hearted, sweet story, suitable for all ages. Book One and a half.
Aye, I am a Fairy: Where was Mom? Could that young woman who showed up in the emergency room then disappeared really be her? And who was this hunky British Lord who said he was here to help her? Leah meets James and questions and sparks fly. Book Two.
Dances Naked: Lost in the backwoods of 18th century North Carolina, Marty, an amiable British Lord, is rescued by three Indians. How will he find his way back to The Trees, the portal through time? Book Three.
The Great Big Fairy: Benji was born in the 18th century, but came to the 20th century as a youth. Now all grown up, he wants to return to his natal time. Will he make it? And once there, will he be able to remain? Falling in love has its complications. Book Four.
Contact information:
Dani Haviland can be found at:
Author site: www.danihaviland.com
Amazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/DaniHaviland/
On Twitter: @dani_haviland
Facebook: facebook.com/dani.haviland
Blog: danihaviland.blogspot.com
Pinterest: Dani Haviland
Little Bear and the Ladies and The Fairies Saga are works of fiction. Names, places, characters, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously for the reader’s entertainment. Any resemblance to persons living, dead, or fictional, events, business establishments, or locales, is entirely coincidental.
Copyright 2015 by Dani Haviland
Published by Chill Out!
Cast of characters:
Baby Brother ~ Morning Star’s stepson
Big Sister ~ Daughter of Number Two. Later called She Bear
Colonel Mannheim ~ Commander of Hessian mercenaries
Full Moon ~ Infant son of Rachel and Red Shirt
Fritz ~ Hessian soldier
Grant MacLeod ~ Ne’er do well scoundrel, brother of Rachel
Hermann ~ Hessian soldier; nephew of Colonel Mannheim
Ian Kincaid ~ Kin of people Grant MacLeod wants to punish, friend of Little Bear
Later ~ Rachel’s first son, formerly called Atholl Junior
Little Bear ~ White trapper, originally from Scotland
Morning Star ~ White woman living with Cherokees
Number Two ~ Morning Star’s husband, father of three
One-Eyed Jack ~ Colonial scout working for the Hessians
Rachel ~ wife of Chief Red Shirt, mother of two sons
Red Shirt ~ chief of a very small Cherokee tribe
Sergeant Bressler ~ Hessian mercenary soldier
She Bear ~ New name for Big Sister, about ten years old
Shooting Star ~ Infant son of Morning Star & Number Two
The Young One ~ Single adult male brave in tribe