As the Eagle Flies. J. D. Oliver

“My Great Grandmother survived the Sand Creek Massacre. That was on Dec. 28, 1864. On Sand Creek, Chief Black Kettle was camped there with Cheyenne and Arapaho families. Chivington and 700 so-called Colorado Militia. That was when he said, ‘Kill them all, big and small, nits make lice.’ Out of 123 dead, a hundred of them were women and children.”

      We three sat there for awhile, not saying anything. I finally spoke up, “Of course those two depredations were only two things that happened. There were many more. In the whole world things like that are going on everyday: Still! It has never stopped. But Hell, there’s not much we can do about it. I guess the only thing we can do; is for us not to be a party to any of it.”

      Gail took a deep breath and said, “So, when do the four of you want to get married? I can have the paper work ready tomorrow.”

      “That’s fine with us,” Faith said, “but I had better call you in the morning, after we talk to Felicia and Karl.” On that note, we all said our goodbyes. Faith and I got back in the Pickup. It snapped to life, with a throaty growl. “So how fast does this thing go? I asked Faith.

      “I don’t’ know this is the first time I’ve every rode in it. But Teddy did say that he could bury the needle, whatever that means.” She said.

      I looked down at the speedometer, it read up to 140. I don’t think I would like to go that fast, but it was nice to know it could. When we got back to the Hacienda, Alita was awake and hungry. The four of them were playing cards, Texas Hold Em. Alona was winning. I looked at Jake, for once he wasn’t a sore loser.

      Dad and Felicia were playing by remote control I think, because they couldn’t take their eyes off of each other. Which made me glad, Dad deserved some happiness again.

      Faith had taken Alita into the bedroom to feed her. The poker game broke up. Alona went off to bed, Jake went to his own room. I guess I was supposed to sleep with Faith, my bag was in there anyway. And I think Dad’s was in Felicia’s room.

      The three of us were having a short nightcap. I told Felicia about what Gail had said; that some lawyers were poking around the records.

      She said, “Yes, I know. They have been trying to overturn my Spanish Land Grant. They haven’t made any progress though. But still I’m worried, you know how some of these crooked lawyers are; if they can’t find a loophole they will try to make one.”

      “You know, there is one thing about loop holes; they sure resemble a hang man’s noose,” Dad said. “That old saying, ‘give a man enough rope and he’s libel to hang himself’; it sure could prove true in this case.”

      “Oh yeah, one more thing, Gail says that she can marry us, she wants to know if tomorrow is fast enough?” I said.

      Dad put his arm around Felicia, she smiled up at him, she said, “No, it’s not fast enough, but I guess it will have to do. That is if your Dad doesn’t mind living in sin for one night?”

      “I sure don’t mind, as long as we tie the knot first thing tomorrow, does that go for you too, son?”

      “I reckon I don’t have much choice, if I don’t go in there; she will just come out and drag me in, but that suits me to a tee.”

       Chapter Three

      As I closed the door quietly behind me, Faith said, “I’m not asleep, but Alita is, would you put her in her crib? Lay her on her back, not her tummy.”

      I laid her on her back and covered her up to her chest with a light flannel blanket. She stirred a little bit, but didn’t wake up. I heard the bed squeak as Faith got up and went to the bathroom, I glanced around, all I seen was her naked backside as she padded away.

      I sat down on the bed and pulled my boots off. One of my socks had a hole in the toe. I was setting there contemplating that, when Faith came back.

      “What’s the matter, how come you’re not undressed?” She said, standing there with her hands on her hips, with her head cocked to one side looking at me. I looked back, she sure was pretty. I think she was the first natural blond that I had ever seen.

      “Uh, no reason, I guess I was just waiting for you to tell me, I didn’t want to assume anything.” I said, as I started to unbuckle my belt.

      “Land sakes, you sure are something, what do you mean you don’t want to assume anything? We’re getting married tomorrow, here let me do that, you’re all thumbs.”

      Alita slept all night, it must have been just after daylight when I heard her whimper, I got up and got her, I changed her diaper before I woke Faith and put Alita in her arms. Then I went and got in the shower. As soon as I was dried off, Faith handed me the baby. And she stepped in the shower. I laid Alita in the middle of our bed, she just giggled and smiled at me; I think she liked me.

      I got my bag out and was looking through it for clean underwear; I couldn’t find any. I was still rummaging when Faith came out, drying herself, she said, “What are you looking for?”

      “It seems I don’t have any clean underwear.” I said, standing there in my all-together.

      “No problem, on the right side of the dresser, top drawer, it’s full of men’s underwear. You don’t mind do you?”

      “Huh? You mean they were his?”

      “Yeah, but I threw away all of the used ones; these are brand new, they have never been washed. I don’t know why I kept them, sort of a hope chest I guess. Anyway, were my hopes realized?”

      “Well, I would say so, that is if I fit the bill?” I said, walking toward her, she met me half way, jumping up, she put her legs around me and one thing led to another; as I backed her toward the wall. Alita wasn’t paying any attention to us, she was busy playing with her toes.

      We had a late breakfast with Dad and Felicia. It was just the four of us; everyone else was already about their chores, including Jake and Alona. Gail showed up before the noon hour, she had all of the needed paperwork.

      We had the wedding at two PM, in the yard under the big cottonwood tree. There were about forty people there, some from town, Gail had told them about the wedding. And of course all of the people from the Ranchos de Chama.

      The rest of the day turned out to be a big fiesta. Everyone had brought some kind of food dish; plus of course the Ranch had supplied enough to feed an army. Some of the ranch hands played on their guitars and whatever. It was the best wedding that I had ever been to; of course I guess because it was mine.

      The next day Dad and Felicia left for a short honeymoon. They said they were going to Mazatlan. Miguel drove them to the airport in Santa Fe. Faith and I decided to stay right at the Ranch, what could be more romantic than here?

      The Rodeo in Santa Fe was a week long affair. There was four days left, Jake had called and he could still compete. Alona was entered in the barrel racing anyway. So we went to the Rodeo. I didn’t have a roping partner, but I did sign up for saddle bronc.

      We took the quad cab with a horse trailer behind for Alona’s horse. It sure was nice that Faith was nursing; we didn’t have to take bottles along, but of course the diaper bag was a necessity. We got rooms at the Holiday Inn. Yeah, Jake and Alona had separate rooms.

      That horse of Alona’s was a good one, she took second place money the first day. Jake was in top form, he placed third in the bull riding, second in bareback. I got bucked off, I don’t think my mind was on my riding. Besides it sure was nice having Faith to assuage my wounds.

      The second day though, I did better, I took second place money. I had to show my wife that I wasn’t a complete duffer. Of course she knew that I wasn’t. She liked my riding capability.

      I don’t know why we got rooms for Jake and Alona; cause they slept in the stables with her horse. Turns out someone was messing with the horses. I guess it was the sign of the times when a horse wasn’t safe anymore. But they did come back to