The Brothers Too
Chapter 4
Craig was still trying to talk some sense into Kelly. It was getting a little volatile at times. Normally the one to calmly referee bouts between her siblings, Christine decided to stay out of it. Part of her wanted Kelly back at the ranch, safe, and the other part of her understood his point of view in staying. Terry had also backed out of the argument and disappeared into the backyard. Actor had gone to his room. Casino and Goniff were having one of their little arguments. Chief had disappeared also. Finally, Chris decided she needed some peace and quiet. She was not familiar with the grounds, but how lost could she get on the estate? At least it was almost warm enough for a stroll.
Chief was sitting on his heels beside a tree, hidden in some bushes, watching the stream flow past down to the pond. This was his favorite time of the day. The sun was just going down and the wildlife was starting to stir. It was quiet and peaceful. It was a time to get away from the confines of the mansion and the noisy group of men he lived with. The tension in the house with the issues the Garrisons were dealing with was getting to him too.
As he waited, he heard someone moving down the path closer and closer. He shrank back into the undergrowth and watched to see who had followed him. It was the younger sister. She seemed to be wandering, not searching. She stopped in front of him, looking at the pond. It was almost time. They wouldn't come if she was there. He rattled a bit of the bush. Startled, Christine turned around. She saw him, eyes widening. She didn't scream or make a noise. She just stared, poised to run, like the wild ones who came to drink from the pond. He motioned for her to come to him. She relaxed a tiny bit and moved into the brush to kneel beside him.
"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I didn't know you were here."
The Indian raised a finger to his lips indicating to her to be silent. He pointed toward the water. Chris followed his gaze and watched. Chief was very aware of her closeness to him. He remained still. A few minutes later, a doe arrived. She looked around before dropping her head to drink. After a moment, she looked back. The second doe stepped out and paused to drink beside the first one. Chief felt delicate fingers touch his forearm. His eyes glanced down. The girl's hand was resting on his arm. She was watching the scene with a soft smile. They stayed that way until the two does disappeared silently into the brush.
Chris smiled wider now, freezing when she became aware of the tenseness beneath her fingers. She remembered Terry had said the young Indian hated to be touched. "Sorry," she whispered, withdrawing her hand. "Do they come here every day at this time?"
"'S'all right," said Chief, strangely sorry the fingers had left. "Yeah. Sometimes the buck comes too." He thought a moment. "Guess this is old hat to you, livin' in the mountains an' all."
"Oh, they're still beautiful. It reminded me of home," said Chris with a smile. "Thank you for letting me stay."
She looked at Chief. He nodded and rose to his feet. After a split second of hesitation, his hand reached down to her. She placed her fingers in his and allowed him to help her up.
"I wasn't trying to follow you," she said hesitantly.
"I know." At her questioning look, he grinned. "You were too noisy."
"I wasn't trying not to be,' she said defensively.
His grin widened.
She looked at him shyly. "You probably came out here to be alone. I can go back to the house."
"You don't have to," said Chief. "Unless you're afraid to be out here with me."
Chris picked up on the defensive challenge in his voice. "Do I need to be afraid?"
"No."
"Then I'm not afraid."
He had not released her fingers, so she turned her hand and entwined hers with his. Curious, she watched to see what his reaction would be. He stared back at her with unreadable dark eyes. Slowly, his fingers curled up over her hand. She smiled.
"Guess we should get back before dark," said Chief.
Chris nodded. She walked alongside of him as he led the way back up the path towards the house. She was acutely aware of his coiled, restrained strength. He was aware of her softness and gentleness.
"Why are you called 'Chief'," she asked. "If you don't mind my asking?"
"Always been called that," he replied.
"You must have a name," she prompted. "I mean Chief shows strength, but it can also be almost an insult. Kind of like calling you Injun."
"Naw, that's Casino does that."
"What does your family call you?" asked Chris.
"Don't have any family." It was said with a careful tone of not caring. He glanced at the girl to see what her response was to that.
"I'm sorry," she said sincerely. She continued to look at him expectantly.
"It's Rainey," he said.
He was rewarded with a smile. "That's a nice name," said Chris. "Can I call you that, if we're not with the others?"
He shrugged, "If you want." He did not want to seem eager.
They walked the rest of the way back to the house in silence, but did not release each other's hand until they reached the steps. Chris paused at the bottom of the steps and waited for Chief to stop and turn back to her.
"Thank you for letting me watch the deer with you, Rainey," she said quietly.
"Sure," he answered, still a bit self-conscious.
They walked up the steps, not touching. As Chief started to open the door, they heard Terry's loud, exasperated voice.
"Will you two knock it off?"
Chief and Chris grinned at each other.
"Casino and Goniff," said Chris in a whisper.
Chief opened the door and they stepped in to face Kelly and Garrison staring, stunned, at their sister who was glaring, hands on hips.
"What have you been doing? Learning from Casino?" Terry asked her older brother. She eyed both brothers narrowly. "Kelly's not going to go back to the States. Craig, you have made your point you are trying to persuade him to go home. Mexican stand-off . . . again. So why don't you two just quit and let this place get back to its normal peace and quiet?"
There was a moment of silence followed by a crash from upstairs. Chris could not stifle a giggle. They all looked up as they heard Actor's voice raised in anger, words unintelligible. A door slammed upstairs. Angry Italian words were punctuated by heavy feet on the stairs as the irate con man stormed down. He ignored the five people staring at him, all aware of the red mark on his right cheekbone, as he moved around Terry and disappeared into the dining room. A second later, they heard the back door bang shut.
Craig looked around, eyes settling on Chief. The Indian shook his head. "Not me this time, Warden."
Garrison started forward. Terry held a hand up. "Oh, no, Brother! This one's mine."
Her boots beat a staccato up the stairs. She pushed into the common room and stood glaring between the two miscreants. "Okay, who hit Actor?"
"It was the Limey," said Casino quickly.
Terry's glare settled on the Englishman. Goniff shrugged. "It were an accident," he whined. "Besides, 'e should've ducked."
Terry shook her head. "Clean this place up and then get downstairs. I'm putting dinner on the table."
Twenty minutes later, Terry sat down in her seat and looked around the quiet table. Everyone was on their best behavior. Except for one thing. There was an empty chair beside her at Actor's place. Shaking her head, Terry got up and went into the kitchen. She stepped into the mudroom and pushed the outer door open to peer into the inky blackness.
"Actor!" she hollered. "Dinner!" She started back, but paused and looked back out. "And I'm not reheating it!"
She went back to the dining room and took her seat. She glanced around at stifled smiles. Nobody yelled at the Italian like that and it had lightened the mood at the table. Actor's place remained vacant for several minutes before the con man moved with dignity into the room and took his seat. Terry picked up the man's empty bowl and passed it to her sister. Chris filled it with stew and passed it back. Terry placed in front of the man.
"Marmocchia," muttered Actor.
"Takes one to know one," replied Terry calmly taking a bite of her stew.
Chris grinned. "Almost like home."
"Not quite," said Kelly from across the table. He reached into the bread basket. "Hey, Actor."
The con man looked up as a roll was flung at him. He deftly caught it and looked at Kelly in askance.
"Now it's like home," said Terry, not looking up.
The Italian looked to the other end of the table at his commanding officer in noncomprehension at the goings on. Craig looked at the older man, raised his eyebrows and shrugged.
The next morning, Kelly was gone.