The warmth of the late summer afternoon magnified the floral scents that danced around them. Sweet as sunshine, Teresa's honeysuckle beds bloomed wildly unattended with the spicy aromas of rosemary thickets, and musky wood blends rising from mugwort and hawthorn bushes. Yellow freesias turned there scalloped trumpets towards the brilliantly blue sky, drinking in every ounce of golden splendor. Springing up haphazardly along the base of the white terrace, pastel blue, pink and purple love-in-a-mist stars, hovered proudly in their bold chartreuse nettle patches. It was as though the entire estate had lifted its vibrant flora adorned head to search about for Teresa's nurturing hand.
This was a part of her world that Jake could never touch, for fear of unintentionally destroying it. He could only admire its lush beauty from a distance, as he watched her painstakingly clipping and plucking away, the dried brown husks of perished petals and leaves. She could stay out there for hours, shaded by the wide brim of her straw sun hat, her gloved hands digging expertly into the rich damp soil. Removing wing leafed weeds and setting them aside as Cloud Dancing had requested, that he might harvest some for medicine salves. It was a beauty he filled his sketchpad with, hoping to capture these memories and make them tangible, on paper at least.
Jake's wandering thoughts drowned down under the pool of Lucy's voice.
"Come on Izzy you can do it!" she stood a few feet away in the circlet of open grass, on the side of the house. Here the leaf burdened branches of the oaks, stretched like a partial canopy, reaching their spindly fingers for the roof of the house. Lucy stretched her arms out to Izzy beckoning her to join her.
Jake stooped low over his tiny daughter as her little hands held on to his fingertips. Izzy's chubby legs dragged her dainty feet forward, awkwardly attempting to mimic the art of walking. She chortled happily pushing towards her big sister's laughing form. Jake fought his melancholy thoughts, that Teresa wasn't there to witness Izzy, make her first attempts at walking. However, one jumbled misstep gently folded her pliable ankle bringing her down on her bottom in the thick grass.
"Oh honey!" Jake pulled her up to her feet again, dusting off her bottom. Instinctually, he wanted to inspect her for injury, but Izzy reached out her hand to Lucy completely undaunted.
"Don't give up Izzy!" Lucy persisted as well.
Jake chuckled hardily at the perseverance of his girls. He felt his heart swell with pride as Izzy clasped her hands to his fingers once more. Stepping with her, Jake's lowered voice-vibrated encouragements, "That's right honey. One foot…keep going sweetheart."
The closer they got to Lucy the faster she hobbled along excitedly crying out, until Lucy was directly before her. Instantly, Izzy released Jake falling into Lucy's waiting arms. "You did it!" Lucy hoisted her growing baby sister into her arms. "Papa Izzy walked!"
Jake came down on his haunches smirking delightedly, as Lucy fell into the soft grass with Izzy in her lap. Watching them together, Jake couldn't quite believe they were his. But then he saw the silvery blue glow of his eyes piercing through the thick veil of jet lashes as Lucy smiled proudly at her sister. He saw how her smile curled to one side, much like his own, revealing the smallest hint of her front teeth. They were truly something to behold, he thought observing the fiery crimson contrast of Izzy's wavy mop to Lucy's glossy midnight ringlets. Izzy had pushed herself forward on her hands and knees, crawling back up to him. She pulled herself up by his inner thigh resting her head on his chest.
"Time for ah nap," Jake sighed lifting her up into his arms as he rose. Lucy followed close behind him as they rounded the corner of the house and climbed the steps of the terrace. Jake nearly had his hand to the door when he saw Cloud Dancing's approaching form in the reflection of the glass.
"Grandpaw!" Jake turned in time to see Lucy bound down the steps up to the only grandfather she'd ever known. "Grandpaw, Izzy walked! You missed it!"
"Truly?" he looked quizzically up at Jake as he hugged Lucy to his side.
"Well, balancin' on mah fingers," Jake admitted stepping up to the top of the steps to meet him.
"Soon she will be running, and you will long for these days," Cloud Dancing smiled smoothing the hair on Izzy's drowsy head.
"Rub it in, why don't yah," Jake mused dryly. "Gotta put Izzy down for 'er nap."
Cloud Dancing nodded, "Then we must talk of unpleasant things."
This caused Jake to hesitate as he observed the concerned expression dragging down Cloud Dancing's usually mellow demeanor.
"I can do it," Lucy stepped up taking Izzy's heavy body into her small arms. Jake smiled opening the door for her.
"Just watch her on the sofa," he gently closed the door after her. Turning to face the man he now considered family, he crossed his arms over his chest. "Look, if this is about Celina, I'm way aheada yah… I mean I can't prove it… but I think she was in the house last night."
"Everyone is worried for you and Teresa," Cloud Dancing took his usual seat on the top step. "My concern lies with the young ones."
Plopping himself down by Cloud Dancing, Jake raked his fingers through his hair with an exasperated exhale. "Tomorrow morning, Teresa will be home… It'll be safe tah talk with Loren then."
"Dorothy and Hank have already spoken on your be hath," he pursed his lips in thought. "I fear this woman has gained footing in the store. She will not be uprooted easily."
Resting his forearms on his knees, Jake ran his thumb reflectively up and down the edge of his jaw and chin. "What about Dr. Mike? What does she think?"
"She and Sully are awaiting Teresa's return…She has been wronged as well," Cloud Dancing tilted his head in Jake's direction. His warm earth toned eyes read the fine display of emotions Jake was attempting to hide. "You did not think to have righted the situation before she arrived?"
Waving his hands anxiously before him, Jake fumed, "Look, I didn't even know the woman was after me! I never thought… I don't know what I thought." A thunderstorm was erupting in his eyes as he met Cloud Dancing's understanding gaze. "I love Teresa…I would never do anything tah hurt her. All I want is for things tah go back tah normal."
"What is normal? Life is like a touch of nature," his bronzed hand padded Jake's shoulder with reassurance. "Full of mystery and surprise. Good and bad. You are part of a tribe now. And they will weather these changes with you and for you. Do not think to leave your other half from harm by keeping secrets from her now."
He knew Cloud Dancing was right. Jake would have to explain the entire ridiculous truth and have faith that she could trust him. She knew the kind of man he was and had witnessed first hand how far he could fall. Yet, his conscience fought him, arguing how far he had come. It would be ludicrous to allow the whims of some maleficent woman, to destroy the home he and Teresa built with love, and compassion. In the end, Cloud Dancing's golden words of spun wisdom won out. Jake padded Cloud Dancing's hand, before nodding to him in agreement.
Cloud Dancing rose, feeling he had accomplished what he had set out to do. "Embrace the little ones for me."
"You're not stayin' over?" he had secretly hoped for some company to wait out the long night.
"Dorothy as planned a special dinner for us," Cloud Dancing pressed his lips into a mischievous smile. "I have been warned not to be late."
Forcing himself to smile in turn, Jake nodded in farewell. However, a strange far off glance took hold of Cloud Dancing's countenance. He seemed to be peering off into nothingness as he wavered at the bottom of the steps. "Do not lock your door this night."
Jake's mouth dropped with a start, "But- that woman."
"You would do well to listen to me, my friend," the knowing Indian grinned to himself as he began to walk away.
"Wait ah minute!" Jake rose bewildered as he shouted after him. "Did yah have another dream?"
Jake waited for an answer, receiving only a backwards wave as the cryptic man disappeared down the dirt path, and into the trees.
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The warm night breeze mussed her loose satin tresses, causing the wild strands to fall into her face. Impatiently, she swept her slender hand across her brow attempting to brush them back. She inhaled breathing in the sweet delicate scents of jasmine and honeysuckle. Her feet moved silently up the white steps bringing her to the vacant terrace. The plant baskets swung eerily to and fro overhead casting their dark vibrant colors against the waning moonlight. Without thinking about what would surely be a locked door, her hand struck out impulsively and pull the unfastened door open.
She would have speculated on the oddity, if not for the lunar-lit foyer, which pulled her attention down to the occupied winged sofa in the front parlor. Swishing about her feet her skirts would not allow her the stealth she desperately wanted. As she near Jake's sleeping body, she took a moment to take in his length. Once again, he had fallen asleep fully dressed with his boots on. His chestnut vest fell fully open and rumpled under his heavy arms. The ivory linen of his shirt was creased as it lay untucked and open revealing the pale bare skin of his chest and stomach. Rhythmically, his chest rose and fell beneath the smooth trunk of his chiseled neck. As delicately as she could her hands reached out, pulling the two ends of his shirt back together, to cover his stomach.
His face was peaceful at first serene and handsome in her gazing eyes. Then as she shifted down on her knees at his side, his brows furrowed with despair. Jake's face contorted in reaction to some fowl dream plaguing his sleeping demeanor, filling her with alarm. She rose afraid to wake him when his hand flung out seemingly of its own accord and grabbed hold of her wrist. His hand tightened like a vise forcing a whimper to bleed from between her blushing lips.
It was her gasp that shattered his nightmare, and the tangible form of flesh and bone held within his grasp, that ripped open his eyes. The hues of ash and blue sky burned wildly up into her face animated as if in a waking nightmare. In a flash, Jake released her wrist and cuffed her shoulders roughly pulling her up to his irate face.
"Why!" he demanded, his voice boomed striking her heart with paralyzing fear. Her words caught in her throat, too terrified to rush to her rescue. "Why!" He shook her violently in his iron grip until the world crashed down around them.