Merry Christmas, My Love

Two Moons shook his head. “Don’t believe that for one minute. She might come from a great family, but I remember reading about Senator Cochran. Do you know he was raised in a brothel?”

Mitch sat forward, his elbows resting on his knees. “What?”

“Yes, sir. His mother was a prostitute. He dropped out of school and some librarian took him under her wing, got him a couple of scholarships, and he went to college and law school. So don’t think for one minute that woman out there is any kind of snob. If Jesse Cochran is the type of man I believe him to be, he would never raise a daughter like that.” He swallowed the last of his drink. “Just keep that in mind.”

“Dinner is ready,” Priscilla called them from the kitchen.

Two Moons had given him something to think about, but he still didn’t believe she would last the winter. Snob or no snob, she wasn’t meant to live in a backwoods town.

Priscilla was amazed at what she’d learned about Mitch and his family. She assumed he had some Indian in him but didn’t know he was half Crow. She also had no idea he could speak French. It had been a dirty trick for him to keep that from her. But then, her assumptions had been shattered more than a few times since she’d arrived. Ian was, by far, the brightest student in her class. Mitch was a smart man, dedicated to the town and his son.

But he still should have told her he knew French.

At Priscilla’s suggestion, once they were all seated, they joined hands and thanked the Lord for the food, their health, and the company at the table. Soon platters and bowls were passed around until everyone’s plate was overflowing.

“Two Moons. Is that the name you go by in your Ranger duties?” Priscilla asked.

“No. I thought that might a bit hard for the Rangers to swallow. I go by T. M. and borrowed Mitch’s last name, so to the Rangers I’m T. M. Beaumont.”

“And where does Two Moons come from?”

“I was born in a month that had two moons. I’m afraid my parents weren’t very inventive.”

“Every summer Uncle comes to Dogtown and takes me to the reservation where his family lives,” Ian said between swallows. “I stay there for a few weeks. That’s how I learned Crow.”

“I think that’s a wonderful idea.” She turned to Two Moons. “I would love to meet your family.”

“You would?” Mitch said, his eyebrows raised.

Two Moons grinned and winked at him, something passing between the two men that she didn’t understand. “Yes. I think visiting a reservation and living there for a while is a wonderful learning experience.” She looked at Ian. “I suggest when you go this summer you keep a journal and share it with the class when school starts up again in the fall.”

“See, Pa. I told you Miss Cochran wasn’t going anywhere.”

Awkward silence fell at the table, both Mitch and Priscilla very interested in their food.

“Sounds to me like she’

s heading off to the reservation come summer. What do you say Mitch?”

He snorted and continued to eat, despite the hardy laugh coming from Two Moons.

Dinner was over and they were all stuffed. Amazingly enough, the two men and Ian helped her clean up from the meal. Her papa had always helped Mama, but she didn’t think it was a practice other men took up. She was grateful for the help.

Two Moons reached for his blanket, hat, and pole. “I’m off to your house, Mitch. Gonna need a place to bed down for a day or two.”

“That’s good. We’re trying to hunt down a mountain lion that’s killed quite a few animals around here, and the farmers and ranchers are upset. We already had one party out, but we never got him. If you’re here for a couple of days, you can join us. We could us the help.”

Ian stared at Priscilla with a look that begged for her to tell Mitch she could shoot very well herself. She gave her head a quick shake. She wasn’t quite ready to reveal her secret just yet. It had been bad enough that Mitch had caught her running around in her britches.

Two Moons held his hand out to Ian. “Come with me, boy. I want you to practice your Crow on the walk home. Your pa can come along in a little bit.”

Before Priscilla could protest there was no reason for Mitch to hang behind, the Indian and Ian were out the door. All of a sudden she felt very nervous and didn’t want to be behind closed doors with Mitch. “I feel the need to take a walk myself. Help to digest my food.”

Mitch looked relieved. “Good idea. Go get your coat, and make sure you wear a hat and gloves. It’s cold out there.”

Pushing back damp curls from her face, she said, “Actually after the heat of cooking all day, the cold air will feel good.”

As they strolled away from the house, Mitch took her hand and tucked her arm into his. The night was beautiful, the air cold, the stars like diamonds in the sky. Soft light glowed along the street from the gas lights. Shrouded in shadows, the town looked cozy, peaceful. A beautiful place to be.