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Several years later
“Lainey!” Calian called as the girl ran across the camp. “Careful! Hileah and Koda are still little. They can’t run as fast as you.”
“Sorry, Papa!” Lainey called, and she slowed down until her little brother and sister ran up to her, giggling loudly. Then she started trotting away again, the children chasing her.
Calian watched them with a smile. It was adorable to see Lainey with Hileah and Koda. She was ten, almost eleven, and it seemed like she had shot up. She was almost as tall as her aunt. But she had thrown herself into being a big sister to Hileah and Koda, who were now three years old. Even though she was their cousin through Valerie, she saw them as her siblings. Calian was more than happy with that.
It was nice to see her so vibrant and alive. It had been five years since she came to the village, unable to speak and terrified by everything. Now she was speaking to the point everyone wished she would stop; a confident child who adored the little ones. That included Yakari’s son and Mato’s daughter.
The two babies were being held and cuddled by their mothers outside Yakari’s tent, sitting up and leaning toward each other to grasp their hands together with a lot of baby giggles. Falcon and Mato were nearby, heads together as they talked. It was good to see the pair in better spirits. Mato had returned three years ago, right after Valerie had given birth, and he had brought home a woman he’d fallen in love with, a lovely girl named Tayani. She had fitted in well with the village, and now she had an adorable daughter with her husband.
People were beginning to settle down. It was like Calian’s marriage was the catalyst for everyone to calm down and think about their future. With the amicable truce between them and the people of Dawson County, life was far more relaxed. Calian was glad about that; he didn’t want to deal with any further discord.
“Calian?”
Calian turned. Jeffrey Gibbons, Valerie’s father, was walking toward him. He beamed and approached the man.
“Jeffrey! I wasn’t expecting you today.” He shook the man’s hand warmly. “Valerie’s just finishing off another article, so if you can wait a short time…”
“It’s fine. I’ve got my grandchildren to see.” Jeffrey rubbed the back of his neck nervously. “I heard something in town, and I thought you deserved to know.”
“What is it?”
Although, Calian could guess what it was about—Kenneth Mulligan. While Sheriff Hull had been hanged for murder, and his deputies had been put into jail, Mulligan had managed to get a lawyer to get an acquittal. He had walked from the court a free man, much to the anger of the tribe. But Calian had told them to leave him alone. There was nothing they could do, and they certainly couldn’t go around dishing out retribution. It would make it worse for them. Mulligan hadn’t tried to go after the village, which was something, but Calian felt as if they had to look over their shoulders occasionally.
“It’s about Mulligan.” Jeffrey shook his head. “He’s dead.”
Calian stared. “Dead? How?”
“His heart gave out during the night. He died in his bed. Apparently, his drinking and fine eating got the better of him. Doctors say he died of gluttony, if you can listen to such nonsense.”
Calian let the words sink in. He hadn’t thought this would happen. While Mulligan was a mere nuisance, he’d hoped that he could have a final confrontation to know what he really did to Jackson and Pathan. They deserved justice. Now he was gone, and that was no longer the case.
But, at least, he was no longer a problem.
“I see.”
“I know it’s not good news, in a way,” Jeffrey said. “But I’m glad that troubles with him are over. The railroad isn’t going to be built; it’s being dismantled and put up through Montana, North of Virginia City. It’s a ways off, but it’ll be nowhere near the village.”
“That’s something.” Calian looked around. “I didn’t like the idea of having the noise and pollution so close to the village. Things are peaceful now, and I intend to keep it that way.”
“I can heartily agree with that.” Calian found himself smiling as Valerie approached them, her hair tied away from her face and her cheeks flushed. “I can get my work done far quicker without any extra noise. It’s so quiet out here you forget about everything.”
“I know,” Jeffrey muttered. “I spent the first week living here wondering if I’d gone deaf.”
Valerie giggled as she kissed Calian, and his heart swelled at the sight of her. Five years and two children later, and she was more beautiful every day. He didn’t think he could love her more. She took his hand and turned to Jeffrey.
“Would you like something to eat, Father?” she asked, kissing his cheek. “White Sparrow is making dinner today. That’s why you’re here, isn’t it?”
“I…”
Jeffrey’s face went red, and Calian bit back a smile. Even though White Sparrow was a bit older than Jeffrey, he found her very attractive. It was quite sweet to see the two of them together.
“Why don’t you go and find her?” he suggested. “I’m just going to talk with my wife for a moment.”
As Jeffrey walked away, Calian turned to Valerie, surprising her with a kiss. Valerie blinked at him.
“What was that for?”
“Because I love you. Nothing more than that.”
“Oh?” She giggled. “That’s all.”
“Do you want more than that?”
“No, not really.” Rising up on tiptoe, she kissed him back. “I love you, too.”
They’d said it plenty over the last five years, something Calian never anticipated in doing. And it never got boring hearing it. There were moments when he worried that Valerie would want to leave and go back to the East Coast, believing she was missing home, but Valerie never mentioned it. She embraced his life, and she declared how much she loved it so many times. She still had her job, and it had built to the point she was writing for more than one newspaper. Most of the bigger papers in the cities were asking for her to write about her life in a Native village, what the culture was like, and even one wanted her to write diary entries every week. Valerie had never been so busy, she declared, but knowing she could do that and work so close to her own family with plenty of time to spare, she was content with it.
And Calian got to hold her as they fell asleep every night without a worry, even with their twins snoring away nearby.
“How’s your work?” he asked, taking her hand as they walked through the village. “Did you get what you needed to do sorted?”
“All done. I just have to run them into town in the morning and send them off.”
“Maybe your father could send them when he leaves. He’s more than happy to run around after you.”
Valerie laughed. “Well, with White Sparrow here, I don’t think he’ll be leaving anytime soon.”
Calian grinned. “He does seem quite taken with her. Aren’t you bothered by that?”
“He’s a single man, and Mother died so long ago. I think he deserves a bit of happiness. It’s not a pairing I would’ve expected, but who am I to argue?”
“Glad you think that way, otherwise I’d be having a word with you.”
Valerie giggled and leaned into him as they walked. The sun was setting, and the light bounced off her hair, giving her something of a halo. She looked even more beautiful than Calian first remembered. And he loved it when she looked up at him with adoration in her eyes. It was clear to see she loved him; it was written all over her face.
“Anyway, that’s me done for a couple of days. I’ll then have to do a diary entry, and then another article about inter-cultural marriage from personal experience, and that’s it until next week.”
“Good. Then you can come with me to hunt for some more fish.”
Valerie groaned. “Do I have to? I’m still not very good at catching fish. Slippery little things.”
“You’ve got to get good at it at some point, and that requires practice.”
“Can’t you just catch them and pretend I did?”
Calian laughed and kissed her head. “I think even your father might think that was suspicious.”
They reached the edge of the village and saw Hileah and Koda chasing Lainey, who was making them run in a circle. There was a lot of squealing and giggling, and Lainey looked flushed from all the running. Calian and Valerie stopped to watch them; Calian smiling at the sight of his children together. Even though he had no blood bond to Lainey, he saw her fondly as his eldest. She was a lively, intelligent girl, and she was incredible. To think she had been mute when he first met her, and now she was like a different person.
He was glad Valerie had decided to stay. It would’ve broken his heart to have both her and Lainey leave. At least Lainey had been there to help. Calian didn’t think he could’ve done that himself.
Children were far less embarrassed when things like that were involved.
“It’s strange to think that she was silent and scared when she first came here,” he commented. “Now look at her. Probably the best big sister we could ever ask for.”
“Hileah and Koda agree with you there,” Valerie replied. “She’s blossomed so much. Her mother and father would be very proud of her.”
“And the mother and father she has now are incredibly proud.”
“I won’t argue with that.” She looked up at him. “I love what we’ve built here. I never thought I could be this happy.”
“Neither did I,” Calian agreed.
Not for the first time, he was glad that he’d taken in an injured woman and urged her to stay to recover. If he hadn’t, he wouldn’t be here now.
Making him feel like the man and leader he should be.
OFFER: A BRAND NEW SERIES AND 2 FREEBIES FOR YOU!
Grab my new series, "Western Brides and True Loves", and get 2 FREE novels as a gift! Have a look here!
Greetings, dear readers! I trust you relished the blissful conclusion of Valerie and Calian ’s love story. Let’s reminisce together—what was the most heartwarming moment in their romantic journey? Share your thoughts with me, for I cherish your input! ♥️📚
A very easy book to read-with many interesting characters- good and bad
Inter-race relationships culminating in
a happy integrated family after enduring
the greed that follows those who would
do anything to get their hands on treasures that are not their’s to have
Thank you so much for your thoughtful feedback, Coral! I’m delighted to hear you enjoyed the story and its characters, as well as the journey toward a happy, integrated family. Your kind words truly mean a lot!
Throughly enjoyed reading this story. Intrigue, greediness, corruption, killing of innocents, unlearning learn prejudice, and a significant happy ending.
Thank you for your writing.
Much appreciated.
Thank you so much, Virginia! I’m truly grateful for your kind feedback and happy to hear you enjoyed the story.
A very enjoyable story
Thank you, Gwen! I’m so glad you enjoyed the story.
You had this packed to the hilt!! The corruption, doubts, love & truths, the various dilemma scenarios and a volcano if emotions were all so jam packed in this wonderful heart touching story! Calian & Valerie’s story is a heart beater!!
Thank you Ms Hales!! Please keep them coming. I really love & appreciate your talents as an author which takes me to places & emotions in the real!!
Thank you so much, Judette! I’m thrilled the story touched you that deeply. Your kind words mean the world — I’ll definitely keep them coming! ❤️
My grandpa was almost 1/2 Indian and he married a white woman. Her relatives weren’t happy about it. My dad was the oldest of their three children, and his mother died when he was 16. I was always proud of being part Indian. Thanks for ending this book when everyone was still happy.
Thank you so much for sharing your story, Sandy! It truly warms my heart to hear, and I’m so glad the book resonated with you. Knowing it left you with a happy ending makes me even more grateful that readers like you connect with the characters and their journeys.