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Three Years Later
Rosemary Rods babbled on the furs on the floor of what used to be Kellam’s big house, crawling around and trying to pull herself up on the couch.
James laughed at his daughter, picking her up and sitting her on his knee. “You turn one year old soon, darlin’. How will we celebrate?”
Rosemary babbled as if she was telling him exactly how she wanted to celebrate, and Macha came into the room, laughing at the little girl.
She had James’s green eyes and Macha’s black hair, and she was smart as a whip.
“I thought we’d have a celebration in town,” Macha said. “Culver City hasn’t met her, yet.”
“Except for Uncle Elijah and Aunt Kimimela, of course,” James said, bouncing Rosemary on his knee.
They had moved into Kellam’s place, but they’d mostly spent their time in the village, visiting Rosemary’s grandfather and her Uncle Mato.
Things had shifted in Culver City after James and Macha married in a small ceremony in the village. The townspeople had accepted Macha with open arms, and they were both grateful for it.
Nevertheless, Macha felt more comfortable among her own people, but this celebration would be different.
“We’ll invite Mato and Chata and Chumani,” James suggested.
Macha’s eyes widened. “Invite them here? To Culver City?”
“Why not? They’ve accepted you and Kimimela.”
Elijah opened his own practice after Doc John retired, and he’d been raking in patients and making money hand over fist. He and Kimimela had married a year after James and Macha, after a long courtship.
“And I suppose the council has been going well.”
The council, developed by Macha, James, Kimimela and Elijah, kept peace between the settlers and the natives in the area, both the Cheyenne and the Lakota.
Rosemary would grow up knowing her heritage on both sides and learning from the people who had raised her.
Macha wasn’t exactly against the idea, but she was nervous about it, and James could tell.
He stood up, putting Rosemary on his hip, and drew Macha into his other arm, pulling her close against his side.
“It’s going to be all right. Culver City and the natives have gotten along swimmingly so far, wouldn’t you say?”
Macha nodded, but she bit her lip.
James laughed, kissing her mouth to keep her from biting her lip anymore. She smiled against his lips, and the celebration was determined.
***
Three days later, James invited all the townspeople and the Lakota to come to Kellam’s big house, where they’d set up lilies, Rosemary’s favorite flowers, and a bunch of balloons to keep the kids interested.
Mato brought his son, six-month-old Luta, and his wife, Zitkala. Macha had already met the two, of course, and she hugged Zitkala tightly. Zitkala was from a neighboring tribe and Mato had met her on an expedition. They’d fallen in love and been married within the year.
Macha couldn’t be happier for her childhood friend.
Kimimela and Elijah arrived, too, with Elijah wearing his spectacles and Kimimela wearing a brand-new linen dress, which she’d dyed red herself.
“It looks lovely,” Macha praised, and Kimimela did a little curtsy.
Chata arrived with Chumani on horseback, his hand in hers as she led her into the house, and Macha couldn’t help herself.
She ran down the front steps, throwing herself into her grandmother’s arms. Chumani grunted and laughed, stumbling backward.
“Remember child, I can’t see you run at me.”
“I’m sorry, Grandmother,” Macha said sheepishly, but Chumani just smiled and waved a dismissive hand at her.
Ed was deep in conversation with a native Lakota woman named Shappa when James walked up to him, offering him a drink.
“No thank you,” Ed said quickly, smiling wryly. “Me and alcohol don’t like each other very much these days.”
James nodded, proud of the sheriff. He’d really stepped up since Kellam and his men were arrested.
“Have you heard anything about Kellam and his men?” he asked quietly, not wanting Macha to hear. He didn’t want to dim the happy mood.
“Most of his men fled, and the only ones who stayed were truly loyal to him, evil people. They were taken to state prison along with Kellam,” Ed explained, turning away from his friend and toward James.
James nodded. “And the youngsters?”
He’d been worried about the boys under eighteen years of age, worried they’d be sent to prison or hard labor.
Ed shook his head. “Only a couple of them were loyal to Kellam, and they were sentenced to light work camps instead of prison.”
James let out a long, relieved breath and smiled at Ed. “Thank you for all your help, Sheriff.”
Ed flushed. “I wasn’t as much help as I should have been.”
James clapped him on the shoulder. “You came through when it counted.”
He trailed off toward Macha, feeling lighter knowing that those Kellam had manipulated had gotten off easier.
As the party went on and the alcohol flowed, everyone got more comfortable with each other. Mato and Chata had been learning English, and they conversed with the townspeople while Macha or Kimimela translated for Chumani.
Culver City, once fractured, had become a place of actual acceptance and forgiveness, and James and Macha couldn’t be prouder to call it home.
Macha and Kimimela, along with their husbands, split their time between the village and Culver City while Elijah and James prepared for their journey to the Cheyenne tribe.
It had been a long time coming, getting to know their ancestry, and the two men had been more than excited about it.
It was all James talked about at the party, and Macha found herself watching her husband with a smile that lasted all night. He wanted to meet his family, and Macha couldn’t wait to hear all about his adventures, or experience them with him, if she were able.
Once it was late and everyone started to leave, Macha put a hand on Kimimela’s shoulder.
“How long have you known you’re with child?”
Kimimela flushed, but she was smiling. “A couple of weeks now. I haven’t told Elijah yet.” She worried her bottom lip between her teeth, a habit she and Macha shared. “He’s just getting his footing with this new practice and-”
“He’ll be thrilled,” Macha promised. “And if I need to stay behind with you while they go on their journey, they can make it alone.”
Kimimela smiled wider and hugged her close friend, tears standing in her brown eyes.
Macha and James stood on the porch as everyone left, Rosemary wailing because her friend Luta was being taken away.
Macha bounced Rosemary on her hip. “He’ll be back, love. Or we’ll go to visit him, okay?”
Rosemary continued to wail, tired and upset, and it was Chata who offered to take her to bed.
“Are you sure, Father? It’s a long ride back-”
“I’m sure. I can put my granddaughter to sleep,” Chata said defensively, kissing Rosemary’s cheek, and sure enough, the baby had already started to calm down, putting her head on his shoulder.
Chata started to hum a song to her, one that Macha recognized, one that Chumani sang to her when she was small. It was her mother’s song, and it made her heart ache to hear it sung to her daughter.
James turned to Macha on the front porch, and they stood there, watching the sky light up with pinks and purples, the sun setting.
James’ arm around Macha’s shoulders was heavy but comforting, and she leaned against him as they looked up at the sunset.
Lee and Ed stood near their horses, talking about the army and the corruption within. They planned on taking them down as soon as they had enough evidence, and they’d already started the process with internal affairs in the military.
James waved at them as they got on their horses. He’d started working with them briefly as a deputy, and he enjoyed his work quite a lot.
Macha, on the other hand, worked at Elijah’s doctor’s office part-time, healing the sick just as she did back at the village.
As their friends and family started to ride off and Chata and Chumani came out on the porch, Macha and James heard an eagle cry overhead.
They looked at each other and laughed out loud.
The good omen had followed them here, to the place that had once been James and Elijah’s prison but was now their home, and James and Macha were both equally glad that the spirits had brought them – and the rest of the town and the Natives – together, at last.
OFFER: A BRAND NEW SERIES AND 2 FREEBIES FOR YOU!
Grab my new series, "Western Hearts United", and get 2 FREE novels as a gift! Have a look here!
Hi lovely readers! I truly hope you enjoyed the book and the Extended Epilogue. I’m excited to read your thoughts! 💫
A most beautiful, heartfelt story! I enjoyed every single page! The epilogue & extended epilogue was just the right way to end this amazing story! Thank you Ms Dunham!
It is always such a delight to read your comments, Judette! It is really me that should thank you for your kind words! Truly glad you enjoyed both the story and its extended epilogue. 😊