Chapter 65

Brenda woke Hawk up early Sunday morning with slow, soft, amorous caresses and little tender kisses. After a while his internal thermometer ‘popped up’ to tell her he was ready. They kissed a little longer and then she climbed over his waist and lowered herself onto him. They both lost track of the time while they made love to each other, with each of them working to give the other the most pleasure of their personal time together until they both exploded in ecstasy. When they slowly retreated from the sexual high Brenda giggled, and said, “Well, that ought to take care of the pregnancy issue. I think you dumped your entire load of sperm directly into my womb.”

“I didn’t hurt you, did I?”

Wrapping him in her arms and legs, Brenda replied, “My sweet man. That was a good hurt. I can’t imagine a better, more enjoyable way of getting ‘knocked up.’ Maria and I are so happy to be your wives.”

“Brenda, I also feel pretty lucky. It seems like the good Lord took pity on me for what I went through with Candice and gave me a two fold blessing in return. You and my little Chipmunk are everything she wasn’t, raised by a factor of ten.”

“Hawk, you’ve no idea how much those words mean to Maria and me. We’re both happier than we would have ever imagined.”

“If you do become pregnant, do you think it’ll affect your and Maria’s relationship?”

“Definitely not. We’ve talked about this long and hard over the past months. All children are ours, not hers or mine. Just like you’re blessed with two wives, they’ll be blessed, or cursed, with two moms, and that’s just the way it’s going to be.”

“Personally, I think our kids will have the best moms they could ever imagine, and I have to admit I’m pretty excited about being the father to your children.”

“And what about your other daughter? What are your plans there?”

“Brenda, I’m still not sure. It’s something I want to discuss with you and Maria.”

“If it helps any, she and I have had several discussions on the subject.”

“And what did the two of you come up with?”

“Well, the key point we determined was that, without revealing your true identity, you’d have no legal claim on the child. After that, most of the other issues become rather moot.”

“I hadn’t considered that, but you’re absolutely correct. I just don’t want her to feel abandoned by her father.”

“How can she feel abandoned? John Grayson, her father, is dead; it’s as simple as that. On the other hand, we can easily provide for her financially without raising any flags.”

“Now, you’re confusing me. How can I not have a claim on her, but provide for her personal needs?”

“Hawk, the funds were willed to the trust before John knew he had a daughter. Then, since our ‘shell game’ with the body the DNA evidence shows that genetically she isn’t even your child. This will prevent the state from overthrowing the will and putting everything in her name.”

“I can follow what you’re saying, but doesn’t that just raise another barrier to us helping the child.”

“Yes and no, for though we’ve established the trust has no legal obligation to the child there’s plenty of moral justification to help. Also, since it’s a gift from a charitable trust it wouldn’t be taxable income.”

“OK, that makes sense. Now, who’s going to be her guardian? Do we try to adopt her, or do we leave her in the foster care system?”

“Actually, from what I understand from Aunt Beth, Katrina and Connie have bonded well. I propose Deke help get the relationship formalized, as I think they’ll be good for each other.”

“But, doesn’t her being Connie’s ward cut her off from us?” asked a concerned Hawk.

“Not really, as Aunt Beth now has a good relationship with Connie, and Katrina has decided Beth is her grandmother. This will give us a quasi-family link to at least be on the fringe of the child’s life.”

“Again, the two of you amaze me. Here I was anguishing over the problem, and you lay out the solution in a way even my simple mind can understand it. Not only that, you’ve removed any basis for anguish or guilt I might have felt over the situation.”

“Hawk, it wasn’t really a big deal. Your problem was you were trying to deal with it from a father’s perspective, but you can never be her father. It’s that simple. At least through Aunt Beth you and I, as well as Maria, can be as close to Katrina as the child wants us to be. Now, would you please get in the shower while I order breakfast? We need to check out of here, and get started toward the reservation as soon as possible.”

“Are you going to join me?”

“Hawk, if I get in that shower with you right now it’ll be at least two hours before we can leave. Just consider this a rain check, not a rejection.”

“I’ll hold you to that.”

Brenda giggled, and replied, “Oh, I hope so.”

Things went smoothly, and less than an hour later, the couple were riding in the middle seat of a sage green Suburban with two security team members in the front. Hawk and Brenda had been in a deep conversation about the people he’d hired the day before when he suddenly realized they were no longer on Highway Sixty, but were heading toward William’s Gateway Airport. “Are we flying up to the lodge?” he asked their driver.

“Yes, Sir. Mike radioed me a few minutes ago concerning the change. They flew your other wife, Jason, and his bride up earlier, and your pilot is on the way back to pick us up. We’re already running a little behind and there was some ice reported along the road in the mountains. This change will enable you to have more time with the others in the wedding party, as well as providing a less dangerous and much shorter trip.”

“Excellent. I guess I’m so used to driving it I don’t think about taking a plane.”

“From what I understand, the four to five hour drive will now take just over an hour. Remember, in this case, it’s not just the speed of the plane, it’s the fact we can go in a straight line rather than through all those twisting and turning mountain roads.”

“Believe me,” remarked Hawk, “I’m not going to miss traveling those roads at all. It’s bad enough getting to Jason’s cabin or to the tribal offices, but the drive to the lodge just seems to take forever.”

“I agree,” said the driver. “Just for an experiment we once took the Interstate up to Flagstaff and then turned east past Winslow to Holbrook. From there we took the local roads to Pinetop. It was surprising how little additional time the much longer route actually took,”

The SUV was soon parked beside the King Air they’d chartered in San Diego. Bill hadn’t yet had the time to fly back to California and swap aircraft, and Hawk was beginning to think they might need both of them.

The Warrior who had been riding in the front passengers seat climbed out first. Then, while he carefully scanned the area around them, the driver helped Hawk and Brenda to exit the vehicle. Once they were safely on the tarmac the first guard followed the couple to the steps of the aircraft, where Bill was waiting. As the four started up the steps the driver pulled away, heading for the ranch. Bill had already done his pre-flight check, and since this was not his first trip to the Show Low airport this morning the engines were warm and ready to go. Bill closed and locked the door while everyone took their seats. Moments later, they were heading into the eastern sky, and for the first time Hawk viewed the Apache’s sacred mountains from the air. It gave him an entirely different perspective.

In his earlier life Hawk had gone skiing several times at Sky Mountain Lodge, and had appreciated the scenic vistas, but from twenty thousand feet the view was striking. In contrast to the desert and semi-arid land that existed for hundred of miles around them, the deep green of the White Mountains was more like he would find at his home in Alabama or in the Great Smoky Mountains. It was like God had reopened the Garden of Eden and placed it in the midst of an almost barren land. As he looked closely he realized he’d never seen a scene like this before. Instead of individual peaks or long parallel ridges, these mountains were like the veins of a leaf, or actually multiple leaves. In addition, instead of being arrayed in a common pattern, they looked like they’d been randomly dropped by a swirling wind causing each ‘leaf’ to point toward a different direction. On each ‘leaf’ there was one long ridge that formed a center spine with numerous ridges on each side branching off in angled parallel rows. The deep valleys between these veins of the ‘leaf’ had sharp sides, and the shadows, thus created, only heightened the effect. A small group of braves could hide within these hills for years, and from what he’d previously seen from the ground it was obvious to Hawk this land was intended for wild game, not cattle, sheep or crops. Oh, there would be pockets where these could be grown, but the grass, water, and sheltering valleys weren’t placed where fields of crops such as corn or cotton could be raised commercially or where large herds of cattle or sheep could be grazed profitably. On the other hand, the land could feed the deer and the elk for a thousand years. The best way Hawk could describe it was an intelligence had created this land just for the Apache.

Once the plane landed, they were met by another SUV, and at that point things deviated drastically from what Hawk was expecting. Instead of driving to the lodge they were taken to a fairly small, but beautiful church that overlooked a clear blue lake. The majestic White Mountains framed the view on three sides. It was almost impossible to see this and not be awed by God’s creation, and when Hawk exited the SUV he was so touched by the feeling of a Holy, supernatural presence he wanted to fall to the ground and worship. From the pressure on his hand, he realized Brenda must have been experiencing similar feelings. It was a feeling he’d never experienced before.

Before the couple could recover, a joyous Maria ran from the church and grabbed Hawk and Brenda for a period of happy hugs and tender kisses. Then, without saying a word, Maria handed Hawk the clothes he was to wear, and quickly led Brenda away to join her in assisting Andy. Hawk just stood there with his mouth open while his wives skipped up the path. “Could you use some help?” came a voice behind him.

Hawk turned, and found a man roughly the same age as Jason. He was wearing a suit, but he obviously didn’t like it. He had a kind face and smile, but his eyes were like those of Jason - the eyes of a warrior.

“Probably,” replied Hawk. “I don’t have a clue as to what is going on.”

“I take it you’re the one known as Hawk. Earlier Jason told me you’d probably look like a baby rabbit thrown into Michael Vick’s kennel. By the way, I’m Chaz.” In spite of himself, Hawk chuckled at the remark. He could hear the old man making that comment.

“Yes, I’m Hawk, and that’s probably a good description of what I’m presently feeling. Though I will say my initial shock after arriving came from the feeling I was on Holy Ground.”

“Son, I’d say your observation was dead on. This is Holy Ground. Not only for the members of this church, but also for many tribal members. It’s only through Jason’s efforts were we allowed to build here, and it required a provision the beliefs and tribal customs would always be respected. In spite of Jason being a member of this church it’s because of that provision today’s wedding will take place upon these grounds.”

“Chaz, I’d like to learn more, but this suit and stuff is getting heavy.”

“Oh, I’m sorry for not being more sensitive. Follow me and I’ll lead you to Jason and the others. Also, let me take part of your load.”

Hawk followed Chaz though a door at the side of the building. They went down a hall, through an office marked Pastor, and finally into a small lounge area. Here Jason sat in a wheelchair talking with three men: Austin Manning, the leader of the tribal council, and two white men of Jason’s generation. Also, a very old Indian male in traditional tribal dress sat off to the side in a rocker / recliner. His eyes were closed, and his lips seemed to be saying something, but no sound came forth.

Out of respect for the man’s position on the tribal council Jason first introduced Hawk to Austin Manning. Hawk and Austin had met before, but that was while Hawk was in the disguise of Gade, the war chief Jason had appointed. As a result, Hawk had to act as if this was their first meeting. Next, the white men in ill-fitting suits were introduced as Jess and Eddie, two of Jason’s old wartime buddies. Hawk expected Jason to next introduce the old man, but instead, a few minutes of casual conversation followed the introductions. It surprised Hawk everyone acted as if the weathered old Apache didn’t exist. Finally, after about twenty minutes Jason asked Chaz and the three younger men to step out of the room for a few moments. Once they had departed and the door was locked Jason led Hawk to where the old man was seated. Feeling the same sense of reverence a Catholic might feel in standing before the Pope, Hawk fell to his knees before the old man. It was not intended to be an act of worship, but an act of respect. “Hawk, I would like you to meet my grandfather. His Apache name is almost impossible to pronounce, but it could be translated as ‘he who watches the mountains with the eyes of an eagle.’ Long ago, it was shortened to ‘Eagle Eye.’“

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The Hawk and the Chipmunk

Mike Lowe aka The Scot

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