The Last Length Home

"Are you sure you'll be alright with the children?" Bella asked as we loaded up the car.

"With Rocky and Freckle to help, we'll be fine. The question is are you ladies going to be alright traveling by train?" I replied.

"Actually, it won't just be us women." Ivy said, stepping in.

"Yep, I'm coming too!" Oliver said while holding Mary on his side.

"You're coming back to St. Louis?" Freckle asked. "You should probably know we're going to be a bit low on space."

"Ah, you'll hardly notice us." Reuben said as he handed off a suitcase. "I got business over there to take care of. Some last-minute crisis that only the suavest cat this side of the Mississippi can apparently fix."

"Well, in that case we can give you the route we found when we get to the city." I said while Rocky rolled up the map. "Although, I thought you used the railroad to get booze across borders?"

"Not anymore, unfortunately. The Katy caught onto the scheme a couple years ago. They'll happily haul booze between the cities, but now I need a proper manifest and my bosses have drawn attention to themselves as of late. Anyway, you boys will be doing me a great favor with this. Just remember to find any detours around hostile parties like local sheriffs."

"Will do." Freckle said as he checked over the vehicles. Ivy walked up to him and kissed him on the cheek while holding their son.

"Now, don't let Rocky get you hurt. There will be a lot to do to turn this thing into a proper racer."

"Rocky get me hurt? When has that ever happ—" Freckle realized then that such a joke was going to fall flat. "Yes, dear."

"Good boy!" Ivy said. "The kids are going to miss you."

"I'm going to miss them too, even if it's for a couple of days. And I'll miss you too." He said, returning the kiss before nuzzling Danny's head under his chin. "And as long as we're making assurances to each other, you had better let others do the heavy lifting for you, Ivy."

"With Oliver and Dad it won't be a problem at all." Ivy said with a wink. "Speak of which, I need to sit down inside. Danny is getting heavy."

"Here, I'll take him." Freckle said, lifting his son into his arms before walking Ivy back inside. "Come on, Oliver, your sister could use some help."

"Yes sir!" He replied, taking Mary with him, leaving me alone with Bella. We looked away from each other for a moment before she spoke up.

"Look, Ethan, I know the last couple of years have been hard on you. They've been hard at home too. But we really are going to need to figure some things out when we get back to St. Louis."

"We can handle it, right?" I asked, sensing that there was more going on than Bella wanted to admit.

"Of course we can, Ethan. I think… You know, my parents are going to be happy to see you as will my siblings."

"Your siblings are still at home?"

"Well, it's not like there's a lot of places to go right now. Anyway, I was thinking that maybe we should go spend a day with them when we get back home."

"I'd like that very much." I said, kissing her. "Now, let's see if the kids are ready. Rocky is starting to get antsy."

We both looked with amusement at Rocky who was loading Joseph into the passenger seat of the sedan and waving to Freckle to start the truck.

"He does have a point, that old truck is going to take forever to get going." She said. "Let's go get the kids…"

Inside the house, Bella and I were pleasantly surprised to see that Riley had beaten us to the task. Standing there in his full traveling gear was William while Riley helped Emily tie her shoes.

"Wow, you two are ready to go!" I said, kneeling down to William's level. "Ready to finally get home?"

"We're going to Montana?" He asked, his eyes growing wide with excitement.

"Sorry, I meant St. Louis." I explained. The excitement left his face.

"Hey, it's not going to be so bad. Just wait until you see the farm. And tonight we better finish this up…" I said, pulling out the half-finished letter we were supposed to send to Roselyn.

"Can we finish it tonight?" He asked, looking over the parchment.

"I think that's an excellent idea. We'll stop with enough daylight for you to put your finishing touches on it." I was so happy and proud that his writing was legible. Ruth and whoever his teacher was taught him well. I could certainly read and write, but if his own writing was this good at seven it wouldn't be too long until he would surpass me. I ran my hand through his long hair, admiring how smooth and straight it was.

"Just remember, kid. Your mom wants you here. You have to trust her and in time you will come to trust me. I know it."

"Thank you for all the help, Riley. Really, your brother and I appreciate it so much." Bella said, hugging my sister.

"I wouldn't be much of an aunt if I didn't help out." She replied. "Besides, how many diapers did you change, Ethan?"

"I lost track after a week, but don't worry. Seeing the woman you've become, all that mess was more than worth it." I said, kissing her on the forehead. "Now, are you going to be okay staying behind to help Ivy and Freckle?"

"Of course! Besides, is it just me or is Oliver a lot more grown up since we last saw him?" She whispered.

I noticed how her gaze drift toward the young man. "Yeah… he's grown up alright. But what about Casy?"

"Casy is a good friend." She replied. "But we already talked about where things were."

I was honestly a bit disappointed. "Another thing I've missed… Well, while I know what kind of man Casy's father is, I'd still rather you be with a farm boy than the son of… whatever Reuben is."

"A fixer for the local mob…" Bella said.

"Yeah… that. Don't get me wrong, I know they are good people, but don't do anything you'll regret, Riley."

"Is that advice from an older brother or an order from a father?" She said with a smile.

"A bit of both. Just listen to Bella like you've been doing, okay?"

"Jeez you're such a worrywart, Ethan. I'll be fine." She said, hugging me around the chest.

"I know, it's just my job. I better get on the road. Come on, kids. Uncle Rocky is waiting!" I said, holding out a hand for each of them to take. Emily readily held onto my right hand but William only loosely grasped a couple of fingers. The goal of this trip was twofold, reconnect with my darling daughter and try to get closer to the son I only found out about last week.

Two Twenty-One

Two hours later we were rolling steadily through the countryside. Freckle took the first shift driving the old truck while I sat on the other side, the cab with a child at each side. Emily had her head out the window, taking in the scenery as it crawled past.

"How much longer?" William asked.

"We'll be there tomorrow afternoon." I said something that didn't give the boy much comfort. "Hey, I know it's been a long journey but it's not every day someone crosses the whole state by car."

"Can we stop soon?"

I looked at Freckle, trying to figure out between us when we'd be able to take a break. "I think we'll be able to stop soon enough, William. Really, it depends on Rocky."

"Which means we're not stopping…" Freckle muttered.

"Then let's hope Joseph has enough sense to convince him otherwise."

Up front in the car, Rocky was getting used to the feel of the new ride. Joseph put his head on the dash, feeling and listening to the roar of the eight cylinders under the hood.

"Isn't this great?!" Rocky said over the hum of the engine.

"Yeah… almost a shame you're going to race it. Imagine what else we could do with this."

"I can think of one or two things… but no. We make our money honestly now."

"Come on, Dad. If anyone can get booze into Kansas, it's you."

"Son, now that I've had a few years to reflect on things, we never were that great about smuggling booze. And besides, think of all we'd be risking."

"I know, but Aunt Bella is right, you know. I like William, but one more kid isn't going to help us much."

Rocky was somewhat disappointed to hear that. "She does have a point, I admit. But to Ethan and me you kids are very important and we're not risking anyone with something so dangerous."

"But you risk yourself all the time!" Joseph retorted. "I'm not saying we all become a gang like when I was little, but racing cars isn't going to bring in enough money."

Rocky sighed. "…I know. We have to do something, though. Tell you what, if you can figure out what a violinist, a war veteran, and a handyman can do for work that actually pays money instead of eggs and flour, I'll be happy to try it. In the meantime there's enough parts and paint to make this girl go like a rocket."

Just then the road opened up into a flat straight line between fields. Joseph noticed a devilish smile form on Rocky's lips.

"Dad…"

"Oh come on, it'll be fun! Besides, I've been wanting to see just how fast it will go."

Rocky adjusted his grip on the steering wheel while Joseph rolled up his window. It was hot in the July sun but he didn't want to be choked out with dust. Pressing the clutch and finding the highest gear, Rocky leaned into the steering wheel like he would while racing. Joseph held on, half excited and half afraid.

Behind the truck we putzed along, but suddenly the coupe started accelerating. "What the hell is he doing?" I asked.

Freckle shook his head. "He's taking it for a test drive."

"Here? Now? You gotta be kidding…"

Joseph watched as the needle on the speedometer began climbing at a rapid pace. Despite the gravel surface, Rocky knew how to keep the car moving in a straight line. Just little movements here and there, almost like skating on ice… not that he'd know what that is. Or maybe he did? His dad was unusual in that he rarely told the same story twice, and when he did it was usually a bit different. Just enough to keep it interesting.

Rocky could hardly believe it, the car galloped along like a thoroughbred, the tires digging for every ounce of grip while the engine roared like an aircraft. Looking down he chanced to peek at the speedometer and his eyes went wide with excitement. Sixty-seven on dirt! It was as fast as he dared to go and immediately eased the car back down before the road re-entered the trees. Henry Ford had made a fantastic machine!

By the time our truck caught up to the car, Rocky was beaming with joy. Freckle rolled down the truck window and shook his head after seeing Joseph as white as a ghost. "Rocky, don't scare the poor kid!"

"Uncle Freckle, can I ride with you guys now?" Joseph asked as he carefully removed one claw at a time from the door frame.

"Sure, hop in." I said, before getting out of the truck and swinging open the door. "Alright kids, looks like as good a place as any to take a bathroom break. Don't wander too far though."

Rocky inspected the engine again, making sure nothing had broken loose. Freckle just rolled his eyes. "You don't even know what you're looking for."

"Sure I do, cousin! Loose nuts, dislodged pipes—"

"How about dents in the radiator after a stunt like that?" Freckle replied in annoyance. "One rock in the grille and we'll be limping it back home the rest of the day."

"Jeez, Freckle. When did you get so worked up over cars?" I asked, genuinely confused by the behavior of our normally reserved family member.

"Stresses of being a mechanic!" Rocky said, not bothering to stick his head out of the hood.

"Stresses of being his mechanic." Freckle clarified. "That and, if I'm being completely honest, I'd rather be with my wife and kids."

"Well, then let's get there in one piece and you'll see them tomorrow night, right?" I said, putting an arm around Freckle's shoulders and rubbing Rocky's back.

"Fine, fine… no more speed trials until we're back home." Rocky said, lifting his head out of the engine bay and securing the hood.

"Thank you." Freckle replied. Now, if you're confident all is well, can we get on the road."

"Yeah, let's go get the kids." I said, looking around the surrounding bushes.

Preparations

Without much else to do and with sore feet, Ivy opened up a worn notebook and began recording her thoughts on a very important event.

Oliver, playing with his niece, glanced over his sister's shoulder. There were numerous things written in it in a haphazard manner. "What's all that about?"

"This? Miss M and Mr. Sable are getting married, and I'm going to make sure the day is nothing short of spectacular!"

"About time, if you ask me." Reuben said as he sat down in the chair and motioned for Danny to walk toward him. "Come on, kiddo! Let grandpa see you use those legs!"

Daniel smiled and waddled over, his coordination wasn't quite there yet for the two-year-old but he was still happy to reach his grandpa's knees and as a reward he was hoisted into the man's lap. "That'a boy!" He said.

"Ganpa!" He excitedly replied.

"Grandpa, Danny. Gotta use the "r" and "d" to get the word right."

"He'll get it soon, dad." Ivy said, smiling at the two of them. A sudden click of the shutter caused everyone to look over where Riley had just taken a picture. Reuben was pleasantly surprised by the intrusion.

"You must get me a copy of that photo, Miss Riley."

"Of course I will, Mr. Sable." She said. Reuben took a moment to look at the young woman's camera.

"Hey, that thing is a real gem."

"Thanks! It's a Rolleiflex that Miss May gave me out of her own collection."

"You put it to good use." Bella said, reaching out to pat Riley on the hand.

Soon the conversation steered back to Ivy's plans for the wedding. Bella realized then that the hyperactive young woman that she had known a few years before had aged and mellowed, almost like fine wine. The extravagance was dialed back to reflect the frugal nature of the times. There wasn't going to be many people in attendance. Arrangements would all be simple and cheap.

"What about the venue?" Oliver asked, still analyzing Ivy's notes.

Ivy thought about it for a minute before an idea clicked in her head. "I know! We can hold it down in the Lackadaisy!"

"A wedding in a speakeasy?" Reuben said, raising an eyebrow. "That sort of thing should be done in a church."

"Neither Mr. Sable nor Miss May are particularly religious. It'll be a civil affair."

"We'll have to be sure not to mention that to Nina." Reuben added, shuddering at the thought of her going on a tirade about such blasphemy even if it didn't involve her. Ivy and Calvin's involvement would be enough to get her going.

"Don't worry, Dad. Calvin knows better than to involve his mother in these sorts of things. Which reminds me, she'll insist that you an Oliver come to church with us when you get to St. Louis."

"Yay…" Oliver said sarcastically.

"Oh come on, it's not that bad. She could use some company now and then anyway. It's just her all alone in that house."

"Fair enough." Reuben said. Ivy then got up and stretched, the fullness of her belly visible under the dress. "I think it's time to put the kids down for a nap."

"I got it, Ivy." Riley said while Oliver tried to get his sister to sit down. "You ought to rest too." He said.

"Guys, I'm pregnant, not helpless."

"Yeah, but Freckle gave us orders." Riley explained.

"Such a worry wart. Worse than your brother even." She huffed. "Fine, I guess I'm busy with planning this thing anyway. Don't let Mary give you too much trouble."

"I can help her, sis." Oliver said. "Right Riley?"

Riley smiled at the thought. "I could use the help I guess."

As soon as the two left, Lily walked through the door and took off her hat. "Got the train tickets booked!"

"Thank you, honey." Reuben said. "And I'm sure you'll be happy to get back to Jefferson City."

"I honestly thought we'd be around longer." She said, taking off her shoes and joining the family in the parlor.

Reuben shrugged his shoulders. "Eh, it's the nature of the job. But hey, now you could come with us to St. Louis if you like!"

"How long do you think you'll be in the city?"

"Probably a week or two." Reuben said. "There's some issue my bosses want to take care of but I don't know what."

Bella wandered away from the conversation between Reuben and his daughters. Her eyes couldn't leave Ivy's swollen belly. She did all she could to hide it, but there was still lingering guilt and regret. On the one hand, she wanted to have children that were undeniably hers. Father figures could come and go, she's seen it a hundred times before. But William already had a mother. Emily too had a mother; she just wasn't aware of it. It's not that she didn't care about the children, but no matter how much she adjusted to things it never felt like it was enough.

On the other hand, there was guilt and fear. She just couldn't go through with another pregnancy. Not after the last one. It was a terrible thought, but if anything happened to Emily or William, she was at least comfortable knowing that she'd be able to move on in a way that she never could with Thomas. She felt guilty about that, but also for not being able to give Ethan the children she knew he wanted. Sure, Ethan pretended that it wasn't a big deal, but after Thomas' death there just wasn't the same closeness between them like during the first months of their marriage. She couldn't help but feel that it was her fault.

And then there was the demon within her. The one she desperately tried to keep locked up and, to her credit, managed to hide well. Jealousy. Ivy was younger, the life of the party, and soon to be a mother of three. Even more, Ivy and Freckle were a match like no other. Ivy could heal and Freckle could fix nearly anything. Hell, Riley was even better than her at some things. That little girl she first met in 1927 had grown into a kind, intelligent, and compassionate woman who scooped up and took care of William without a second thought. Maybe it was her loyalty to Ethan or how she had been raised, but Riley did what Bella couldn't bring herself to do and Bella knew it.

While she wasn't exactly pleased with Ethan at the moment, it was a combination of all these emotions that drove her to question his decisions rather than any solid principle. Yeah, Ethan needed to include her in the big choices he made. That was his duty as a husband and her right as a wife. Yet at the same time it wasn't like Ethan made a mistake in bringing William or Emily back with him after an adventure. What drove her anger towards her husband was the feeling that these adopted children were, in some way, a replacement for the one they had lost together. Her rational mind knew it was silly. William was Ethan's biological son. Of course he'd care for that child at all costs. And Ethan had attached himself to Emily before he got back to the farm. A mere infant that found comfort in the arms of a gentle man. In contrast, these children were what life had given her as if it made up for the loss of the one which was undeniably hers.

Fireside Chat

"Daddy, look at my picture!" Emily said, holding up the paper for me to see. It was simple, but quite good for a five-year-old.

"Wow, you even got the river!" I said, perhaps exaggerating my excitement slightly. "You better save that to show mom when we get home."

While Emily went back to working on her newest masterpiece, I checked on William who was busy finishing what turned out to be quite a lengthy letter. "How's it coming, son?"

"Don't look!" He ordered, covering what he was writing. "This is for mom."

"Alright, I won't look."

"Promise?"

I rolled my eyes. "Yes, I promise."

William looked like he didn't trust me, but Freckle snorted slightly at the interaction, getting both our attentions.

"What?" I asked.

"Don't worry, William. Your father always keeps his word." He reassured William who cautiously accepted my promise.

Satisfied, Freckle went back to examining the car but found it difficult to look stuff over in the dark. "Hey Ethan?"

"Yeah?"

"Could you hold the light for me?"

"Um, I guess…"

I stood up and dug out the electric torch. Crawling underneath the car alongside Freckle, I flashed the light up into the frame. "Better?"

"Much better." Freckle said, rubbing his eyes.

"So, what exactly are you looking for?"

"I thought that after Rocky's stunt it would be good to check for any leaks. Look for dark stains that feel greasy."

As we did so, I noted that the engine was actually quite clean. "I don't think there's a leak anywhere."

"Yeah…" Freckle said, agreeing. "Heck, I haven't seen an engine this well put together before."

I looked at him unimpressed. "Freckle, we own an old farm truck, a sedan that's been shot to hell, and a midget race car that you and Rocky put together in the barn. Oh yeah, and a tractor that doesn't run. I'm sure this is what most engines are supposed to look like."

Freckle was adamant though. "No chance. I didn't notice it before, but this engine has been combed through. Look at how tight and polished everything is."

"So you're telling me this is something special?"

"I think so. No wonder it accelerated so quickly. We'll have to look at the top end when we get home."

In the fading light, Rocky observed Joseph as the boy made another attempt at Rocky's patented fishing technique. He was already much better than the first time, but the two of them saw another shadow come close.

"Okay, wait for it… I'll pounce—" Rocky started to instruct but Joseph glared at his father.

"I got this, Dad."

"You sure?"

"How am I supposed to learn if you won't let me do it myself?"

"Alright, alright, fine," Rocky said, annoyed. They did have mouths to feed, after all. Yet, Joseph seemed to figure out the timing on the fly. In an instant he dove in. All that came up for a solid few seconds were bubbles. Rocky's stomach moved into his throat, instinct screaming at him to save his son. As accident-prone as Rocky was, he had developed a knack for getting Joseph out of the way just in time whenever something backfired on him. But he knew Joseph wasn't the strongest swimmer and Rocky hadn't gauged the depth of the water like usual.

"I'm coming!" Rocky said under his breath, but just as his feet hit the water Joseph lunged for the surface, dragging the mother of all catfish with him "Holy hell!" Rocky said, immediately wading up to his chest to grab the tail end of the fish.

The two struggled but got it up on the bank after exerting a lot of effort. Panting, Rocky smiled and shook his head in disbelief while Joseph collapsed on the bank to rest for a moment. Joseph raised his head and grinned. "See? Told you I had it."

"It nearly had you!" Rocky laughed before sitting down and hugging him. Joseph leaned into the embrace, his dad's body heat warming him up momentarily. "And I'm so proud…" Rocky whispered into Joseph's ear.

"Ew! No!" Emily said, refusing the food. My frustration was growing with the willful girl. "Come on, you've eaten plenty of catfish."

"Not hungry!" She insisted, but the growling stomach said otherwise. I finally gave up. There was plenty of meat to go around, if she'd rather starve all night then so be it.

"Fine, you win. But there's nothing else out here to eat, little lady." I said, returning to my own food and shaking my head. Rocky and Freckle laughed at the whole interaction, and I couldn't help but laugh too. "What kind of Cajun doesn't eat catfish?" I said but immediately realized my mistake.

"What's a Cajun?" Emily asked. I could see in the firelight that she had started tearing up, thinking I was making fun of her.

"Oh, sweetie, I'm sorry."

"Is a Cajun bad?"

"No, not at all. It's, uh…"

Rocky stepped in. "It's a girl who doesn't like fish."

"Oh!" She said, immediately changing her tune. "Thanks, Uncle Rocky!"

"That was close." I mouthed to the two of them. Rocky just winked back.

"And how's the fisherman?" Freckle asked, turning around to look at Joseph as he sat down between his dad and uncle.

"Dry now… but still a little cold." He said, warming his hands on the fire. He was instantly enveloped in Rocky's jacket. Rocky then pulled him in close so Joseph could lean against him. "Thanks, dad."

"Anything for you, Cal." Rocky said. He wavered slightly, nodding off for the briefest of moments.

"I think it's time for bed." Freckle said, stretching and standing up. "I'll be in the cab."

"And we'll be in the car." Rocky said. "You got enough blankets, Ethan?"

"We'll be fine in the back." I reassured him. We didn't need too much insulation on a warm evening like this.

"Daddy, I'm hungry." Emily said, to which I rolled my eyes.

"Honey, you can either eat fish or stay hungry. Now which will it be?"

She sat and pouted for a minute then grabbed a piece and gingerly took a bite. Her eyes immediately lit up with excitement. The girl immediately starting humming as she ate, happy as could be to fill her belly.

"I stand corrected, you are a Cajun through and through." I said under my breath, just quiet enough that she couldn't hear.

Stories

As the embers of the fire faded between the two vehicles, I laid back to look up at the night sky. Emily, exhausted, collapsed right next to me and immediately snuggled in under my left arm. I immediately covered her with a light blanket. The evening's activities reminded me that there was something important that I had been putting off for some time. I needed to start telling Emily where she actually came from and who were biological mother was. The memories of that week were still etched into my mind. The chase through the woods and hills, running Serafine down with murderous intent, cornering her and firing a single shot through her. It wasn't an accident nor was it something anyone really considered a bad thing. Sera was no angel, but I was an angel of death with a rifle in my hands and even if I hadn't been fooled into doing the gang's business, there was no doubt that the real authorities would have asked me to do the exact same thing.

Sera and Nico were like St. Louis' own Bonnie and Clyde before that pair went on their violent warpath through the country. The only difference was that while Bonnie and Clyde lasted a few months, the Savoys had been on a tear for years. It was actually amazing that this sweet, innocent girl by my side now was the spawn of such a devil. I had been secretly afraid that she would go down a similar path, but now at five years old Emily was just… well, she was just a normal five-year-old girl. Not much different than Riley at her age. But she had a right to know her full story, and in time I could reveal everything I knew. For now though, I could start by explaining what a Cajun was and when we got home, I'd have to dig out that old box for her. Maybe if I revealed the truth a little at a time, she wouldn't come to resent me? One could hope.

I don't think I could stand to have both of my children resenting me. I looked over and William was curled up next to the wall of the truck's box, all alone. I had tried being close to him but it was obvious he wasn't completely comfortable with being around me. Too much had changed too quickly, and how could he feel affection for the one who took him from his mother? At least he was calling me 'dad', so that was a start.

"Why don't you scoot over, son? Getting cold isn't going to do you any good."

William shook his head, and I was about ready to give up for the night, but then an idea popped into my head. "Hey, how'd you like to hear a story?"

"About what?" He asked, not bothering to lift his head or turn around to face me.

"I thought you might like a story about your mother."

It worked like magic and he was instantly next to my shoulder. "A story about mom?"

"Yeah. Here, get comfortable." I said, giving him the other half of the large blanket. It might have been July, but a little insulation from a cool breeze was prudent insurance for young kids. Looking up at the sky, I closed my eyes to help focus on the memory.

"I don't know about this." I said to Derrick as we climbed the hill toward the high school.

"Oh, come on Ethan. Even if you don't have a date, it'll still be fun."

"I guess if it gets me away from Dad…"

"That's the spirit! Now, she should be around here somewhere…" Derrick scanned around us until a lone figure caught his eye. She was illuminated by the full moon, pale light reflecting off the hair which flowed down her breast. Roselyn looked so different from her usual attire. Her dress wasn't fancy, and even in the dark I could tell it was home made. Still, it was better than the random assortment I had on. Some of my suit was my father's, other parts were given to me over the years by friends.

"Derrick! Ethan!" Roselyn said as she slid off the ruins of a burned-out building and joined us.

"You excited?" Derrick asked, adjusting his own suit while Rose hugged him.

"Very! I've never gone to a dance before."

"Well, it's quite the event." Derrick said-

"Wait, Dad. You took mom to a dance?"

"Not me, William. No, back then your mother was in love with my friend. His name was Derrick."

William connected some dots in his head. "Oh yeah, she talked about someone named Derrick before."

"I bet she did. Those two were meant for each other."

"W-what happened to him?"

I had to fight back tears recalling that terrible time. "He and I had to go to war in Europe long before you were born. I lived through it, but he didn't make it."

"So he's dead?"

"Yeah. But I knew him since we were both your age. He loved your mother, and they would have married if he had lived. Anyway—"

The gymnasium was packed full of people from all walks of life. Surprisingly few of us were miners, though. The immigrants and blue-collar Americans weren't expected to get this far in our studies, but mom insisted that I see my education through to the end even if I would be more useful down in a mine. Here I was, though. No date, just me and a smattering of other single boys counting down the days until graduation. That's when I saw them enter the middle of the dance floor.

Derrick and Roselyn weaved and tangled like no one else that evening. The spotlights illuminated them in the center of the crowd while the band played ragtime at a fast pace. It was like watching two falcons engage in their courting ritual. They both worked themselves into a frenzy before locking arms and swinging around. Right before one or the other could lose balance, they'd separate and fly apart, one hand each keeping them glued together. For a brief two minutes they were the life of the party. And then it happened. In a moment of intense passion and with the faculty overseeing the event turning a blind eye, they kissed passionately. Derrick and Roselyn were in love.

While working their way back to me, all was well until someone called out. "Hey Derrick! That's some princess you got there! When you going to let the rest of us have a turn?"

Derrick stopped and turned around. "What did you say?"

"You heard me." The jerk said, flanked by two burly men who worked a different shift from us. "You don't think I know an Indian girl when I see one? You leasing her out or what?"

"Don't you lay a hand on her, Marshall." Derrick growled, but he was quickly shoved out of the way. The big cat grabbed Roselyn and forcibly held her next to him. "What do you say, sweetheart? I just got paid and can give you a good time."

All he got instead was a deep set of scratch marks across the face, the fierceness of a Blackfeet rising up to the surface in an instant.

"What the hell, you bitch? Fine, I guess you like it rough!" The cat went to hit Roselyn, but before he could, she ducked out of the way while Derrick landed a solid punch on the cat's jaw.

"You're drunk, Marshall. Go home."

He laughed, massaging his jaw. "Still sober enough to know when something unnatural is happening. Why would you defend a whore?"

"He'll defend a woman, as will I." I said, stepping in, my eyes narrowed.

"Oh look, it's the runt that gets the shit kicked out of him by his daddy." He laughed while two of his friends joined his flanks.

"Leave us alone you… you invaders!" Roselyn growled. "It's an insult to see European garbage walking where my grandfather once roamed!" She threw a punch at the Marshall but he absorbed the blow without much effort.

"You're a feisty one, I like it!" He smiled. "But watch you call trash, savage. Don't you know you're dating an Irishman?"

"Then let me show you a game called Erin go bragh!" I shouted, landing a solid hit and then another. One of his friends finally stepped in but I showed him everything my father taught me in a matter of three seconds. Within moments the fight was quickly out of control.

"And stay out!" The principal said, kicking Derrick, Roselyn, and myself onto the street. He huffed, straightening out his suit. "Education is for those who want to learn, not ignorant sons of immigrants and… and an Indian." He said.

"Hey, Marshall started it!" Derrick shouted back.

"I'll deal with him soon enough. I expect you both in my office on Monday. We need to discuss whether you'll get to graduate in May."

"So mom kicked that guy's butt?!" William said, giggling at the thought.

"He looked like a puzzle with a couple of pieces missing by the time we were through with him." I said, giggling lightly while trying not to wake Emily. But the laughter faded quickly.

"So, you didn't love mom. Not like Derrick."

"Not like Derrick, no. But no one could love your mother like Derrick did."

"Does that mean you didn't want me?"

"What? No, of course not! William, I've always wanted children of my own, and you are undeniably my son. I mean look at us, our fur color even matches! If I had known about you years ago, I would have crossed the country to find you and be the dad you deserve. That's why I'm trying so hard now."

William didn't say anything after that, but he also did move back to his old spot. He was at least more comfortable now being next to me, so I took a quieter tone and whispered to him as the boy drifted off to sleep.

"I love you, son. And I wouldn't trade a moment like this for the world. Both my children by my side under a clear night sky. And your mother would be very happy to see us like this."

I then settled onto my back and moved my right arm so that it was holding William close. One arm around each child, I drifted off and left sleep overtake me.

"Well, that was a bust." I said, nursing my own wounds as the three of us walked the streets of Butte.

"I wouldn't go that far, Ethan." Roselyn said. "We gave those guys quite the fight. Didn't know you had it in you."

"Hey, when I see my best friend and his woman in danger you can bet your last dollar I'll come to help."

"At what cost, though?" Derrick said. "I wasn't thinking about you graduating! What if that doesn't happen now?!"

"I'll be fine, Derrick."

"No, I'm going to make sure it stays fine." He replied. "I'll take the fall; it's not like I'd do anything with a diploma anyway."

"Don't be silly, Derrick. Besides, you're the one who wants to get out of this place."

"We'll get our chance, I'm sure of it." Derrick said. "Diploma or not, it won't matter."

"Just promise me you boys won't travel too far. I want to stay near my people."

"Roselyn, I'll happily go wherever you want." Derrick said, hugging her tightly. "I was thinking up to Great Falls." He said. "Ethan, you still wanted to go back east, right?"

"Yeah, someplace where the grass grows green and the crops grow tall."

"Well, Great Falls is green half the year. Better than Butte." Derrick said, putting an arm around my shoulder as we continued to walk.

"Just show me the way, and I'll follow." I said. We eventually came to a balcony overlooking the city and, sensing their desires, I backed off to lurk in the shadows. From a distance I saw the two lovers embrace each other once again before staring longingly into each other's eyes. Then, as the moon shone overhead, they kissed. Their own ritual complete.

I shed a tear remembering that night. A rare, good memory from Butte.