Her Texas Cowboy Protector, page 13
Chapter Fifteen
Tahlequah, Oklahoma, was a bigger town than Landon had expected. When Natalie had suggested that they get married there surrounded by all her relatives, he’d agreed, knowing how much her heritage meant to her and how happy it would make her family.
In the year and a half since their engagement, they’d had plenty of time to plan the details.
Her father and grandparents had really wanted her to have a traditional Cherokee wedding ceremony, but they’d taken care of the legalities with a civil ceremony at the Justice of the Peace’s office the day before, and there would be a reception in San Saba for his family and friends who weren’t able to travel to Oklahoma. Landon appreciated his parents understanding how important it was to him to have the kind of wedding that made Natalie happy.
He glanced at the sky. The sun had nearly set in Wilma Mankiller Park. The wedding would start soon. The ceremonial fire they’d been given special permission for had been lit an hour ago and was burning strong. Joseph had found a beautiful location for the wedding in the fifteen-acre park, and relatives and friends now sat on blankets surrounding the fire, their colorful traditional tear dresses and ribbon shirts resembling a summer garden.
Landon wore a black ribbon shirt with a chevron design made of red, white, green and blue ribbons with the ends hanging down the sides of the design. He also wore black slacks and black moccasins.
Carson stood beside him carrying a beautifully woven basket filled with Landon’s traditional gifts to Natalie, which she’d receive during the ceremony. Her grandmother had helped his mom prepare the venison Debra had brought from their freezer, and Natalie’s grandfather had contributed the wonderfully soft rabbit skins it held.
Out of the corner of his eye, Landon caught sight of the holy man who would perform their ceremony. Adahy Mayes was an elderly Cherokee man of middle height with silver hair in braids hanging down his chest. He wore a yellow ribbon shirt with a colorful ribbon design on the front, black slacks, and black moccasins.
As Elder Mayes made his way up the cleared aisle space toward the ceremonial fire, Carson nudged him. “Look who’s coming this way.”
Landon turned around and broke into a smile. Natalie, surrounded by the women dearest to her, approached them.
She wore a white polished-cotton dress with long leather fringes hanging from the elbows of her wide sleeves down to below her wrists. Although her neckline came to her collarbone, fringes also hung in a V-shape from her shoulders to a point between her breasts before falling below her tightly belted waist. The many-colored beaded belt accentuated her small waist, while the narrow skirt that fell to just below her knees accentuated her slender hips. The skirt ended in long leather fringes that reached to her ankles, and white doeskin moccasins completed her beautiful outfit.
His heart pounded at the vision she made.
His mother walked up to him holding a blue blanket and settled it around his shoulders.
Natalie’s mother covered her daughter’s shoulders with a similar one.
He reached for Natalie’s hand, and, followed by their closest family, they walked down the improvised aisle.
When they reached Elder Mayes, most of their family found places on blankets near the fire. Left standing near them were Carson holding Landon’s basket and Natalie’s cousin Ronnie, whose Cherokee name was Salali, meaning squirrel, who held her basket. They’d been especially close growing up.
Elder Mayes held up his arms and welcomed everyone. Then he said, “Landon Winchester and Natalie Onacona Walker, the marriage ceremony is sacred among the Cherokee. Fire is also sacred to our people and always has been. It’s a living memorial. It’s been with the Cherokee since the beginning of time.
“Your blue blankets represent your old ways of weakness and sorrow, of failures and depression. You will soon start a new way.
“I am honored that you picked me for this sacred occasion.” Then he began his blessing in Cherokee.
Landon didn’t understand what he was saying, but Natalie knew the language well, and he watched her expression change subtly as she listened. Her face was so full of joy it made him smile.
Then the elder said, “You, their family and friends, must support these young people.” Then he began to bless the onlookers too.
When he finished, it was time for them to read their vows. Elder Mayes nodded to him. He took Natalie’s hands. “Natalie, I promise to love and cherish you no matter what problems we face. I’ll provide for you and our children, should we be blessed with them, and I’ll never leave you. I love you, honey, and I’ll love you for the rest of my days.”
He slipped the beautiful fire opal with a yellow-gold band onto her finger. He’d chosen it because opal was traditional for a Cherokee wedding ring.
Then Carson handed him the basket. Landon said, “Natalie, the contents of this basket symbolize my promise to feed and clothe you for as long as I live. I love you, honey.” He handed the heavily laden basket to her and was rewarded with a brilliant smile.
She said, “Thank you, Landon. I love you too.”
Her mother came and took the basket from her.
Natalie looked at him. “Landon, I promise to love you with my whole heart and soul. I’ll take care of you and nurture you and I’ll love you and bear your children, if God wills it so. I’ll love you, sweetheart, every day, forever and ever.” Then she slipped the traditional turquoise wedding ring onto his finger and smiled as tears slipped down her cheeks.
Ronnie handed her the basket he held, and she put it into Landon’s hands. “This basket symbolizes my promise to make a home for you and to always feed and care for you.”
The smell of freshly baked bread assailed his nostrils, and beautiful multicolored ears of corn were nestled between the loaves. “Thank you, honey. I love you.”
Natalie’s father stepped forward and removed the blue blankets from their shoulders. Then he put a white blanket around them both.
Elder Mayes said, “This white blanket represents your new ways of happiness, fulfillment, and peace.”
Then stomp dancers came up to the sacred fire and performed for them. The drum music and calls really got everyone’s blood pumping, and the wedding guests enjoyed the performance immensely.
Afterwards, Elder Mayes prayed for him and Natalie again, ending with, “This is not a closing prayer, but a prayer of continuance. Your love and dedication to each other will continue for the rest of your lives.”
Landon drew Natalie into his arms and kissed her softly. Night had fallen, and the soft glow of the fire shone on her face. He’d never forget how she looked in her beautiful dress before all her relatives in the firelight. He’d love his white owl forever.
Chapter Sixteen
Natalie rose to her elbow in the motor home’s queen-sized bed and stared down at Landon’s sleeping face. He always looked so young when he slept, with an innocence that tugged at her heart. She placed a soft kiss on his cheek, careful not to wake him, and stealthily got out of bed. He’d insisted on doing all the driving yesterday, and they’d made it into Yellowstone after dark. She wanted him to rest.
Gently closing the door behind her, she went into the kitchen, made larger by the slide-out, with the table and benches on either side. Her mouth watered as she made her cup of Taste of San Antonio coffee with its cinnamon chocolaty flavor, then sat down at the table.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. The air was thinner here at eight thousand feet. Used to an elevation of just under five hundred feet in Austin, she wondered if hiking the trails into the mountains of the park would be difficult for her.
They’d made a couple of sightseeing stops on the way to Yellowstone. First, they’d stopped at the National Ranching Heritage Center in Lubbock. There’d been so much to see and learn, and Landon had been especially interested in the exhibits on frontier life.
Then, they’d stopped several days in the Denver area to do some rock climbing at Clear Creek Canyon and North Table Canyon. Their short, quick climbs and sightseeing jaunts were made easier by the fact that they’d parked the motor home close by and had towed Natalie’s Jeep behind it. The elevation in Denver had made breathing a bit of a problem as they’d climbed, so hopefully it had prepared them somewhat for their Yellowstone adventures.
The sound of the bedroom door opening made her look up.
Landon walked in and yawned, then smiled at her.
“I hope I didn’t wake you,” she said, frowning.
“Nah, I rolled over and you weren’t there. I figured I’d get up and have coffee with you.” He walked over and gave her a kiss on the top of her head, then nuzzled her neck playfully.
She giggled and ran her hand up his arm. “I’m glad you’re awake. I love having coffee with you in the morning.” She kissed his bicep. “Just think, we can do this every morning for the rest of our lives.”
He knelt beside her and looked into her eyes. “I can’t think of anything I’d love more, honey.”
That warm, fuzzy feeling she got whenever he used that tone swept through her. She took his face in her hands, “I love you, Landon.” Then she kissed him tenderly, taking her time.
When she drew back, he gave her a lazy smile. “Maybe I don’t want to go hiking today after all. Maybe I just want to stay here in bed with you.”
She chuckled and leaned back in the seat. “You say that now, but I know you. You’ll be climbing the walls inside three hours.”
He grinned and rose to his feet. “You’re probably right.”
As he made his coffee, she took in the sight of his body clad only in a pair of formfitting black boxers. Her heartbeat grew faster. God, he was sexy. Maybe she should encourage him to stay home.
He turned, holding his steaming mug and running his other hand through his hair. Then he yawned again as he settled onto the bench opposite her. “That was a long drive yesterday, but I’m glad we went ahead and pushed through until we got here.”
“This is a nice park. With the paved roads and campsites, and the way you’re able to back up this big thing, settling in was a breeze.”
He nodded. “The hookups are great. Easy to use. Setup wasn’t a problem at all.” His eyes twinkled. “You sure look gorgeous this morning.”
She grinned. “I think you just want to get lucky.”
He threw back his head and laughed. “There’s that, too, but you really do look amazing. There’s a pretty blush on your cheeks, and your eyes are even more beautiful than normal. They’re soft and warm, like dark chocolate.”
She reached across and took his hand. “I’m sorry I didn’t take you seriously, sweetheart. You say the most wonderful things to me, and I love you for it.”
He took a sip of his coffee. “Man, this stuff’s good. How did I ever get along without it?”
“It’s addicting, all right.” After another swallow of hers, she said, “I’m really looking forward to hiking the Purple Mountain Trail today. I think you’re right—it’s a good one to start with. The inclines look pretty gentle until we get almost to the top, so I think I’ll be OK, even with the altitude.”
“If we go slow and take our time, we should still hike it in three and a half hours. The weather’s supposed to be pretty good today. But the reviews said that thunderstorms are frequent there, so I’ll check again just before we head out.”
After a quick breakfast, they were ready to go. Each of them carried a backpack with emergency necessities and a lightweight rain poncho. They also had a large can of bear spray each.
When they arrived at the base of the trail, they parked in the tiny parking area, beside another Jeep. Natalie stood for a moment at the edge of the trail. It was eighty-one degrees on this mid-September morning, and the air carried the scent of pine trees. She tipped her head back and inhaled deeply, breaking out in a smile. This was what she’d come for.
“It’s amazing, isn’t it?” Landon slid his arm around her waist.
She leaned back against his chest. “It’s heaven. I can’t believe we have seven whole days to roam the park. A week to hike and explore.”
He kissed the top of her head. “I wish climbing was better here. There’s just so much unstable rock it’s not desirable in most places. But our Denver climbs were great.”
“We could travel outside of Yellowstone if we really want to climb. I know we decided against leaving the park, but we could always change our minds,” she said.
“Nah, I’m good. I haven’t done much hiking in years, and Yellowstone is so beautiful this time of year. I’m looking forward to seeing as much as we can of it.”
As they entered the trail, he took point. It narrowed moments later, so Natalie couldn’t have walked beside him anyway. Tall pines lined the trail, and faded brown needles littered the ground beneath the trunks. Green ferns added sporadic color alongside the trail. Despite saying that they were going to take it easy, Landon had set quite a pace, and she felt slightly out of breath. “Hey speedy, I thought we were going to take our time.”
He immediately slowed and looked back at her. “Oh, man. I wasn’t thinking. Is the pace affecting your breathing?”
She nodded. “Starting to.”
He stopped and put his arms around her. “I’m sorry. I guess I’m just used to hurrying everywhere I go. Why don’t you take point and set a pace that’s comfortable for you?”
He was such a wonderful man. “Okay, I will. And thanks, honey.”
She set off at a slower, more sustainable pace. After a while, a big blue jay flitted from one tree to the next off to her left. Farther up the trail, she saw a red squirrel scamper up a tree. It stopped on a high limb and looked down at her, chittering and scolding. She grinned and continued on.
“How’re you doing, honey?” Landon asked from close behind her.
“I’m fine so far. Isn’t this area beautiful? And the smell. I love this air. I can’t get enough of the fresh piney scent.”
“There’s nothing like it.” Then he said, “Love you, honey.”
Warmth swept through her. “Aw, I love you too.” Smiling, she looked ahead as the trail started a more distinct rise.
After the first hour, they stopped to rest. “This elevation is kicking my butt.” She grinned at Landon. “I think it’s even getting to you, tough guy.”
He sat down beside her at the edge of the trail under the shade of several pine trees. “Oh, it is, believe me.” He took out his bottle of water and, after several long swallows, sighed in satisfaction. “I’m glad the reviews suggested taking extra water with us. I’m almost through this bottle, and I’ll probably start on the next one before we get underway again.”
She’d just chugged the last of her first bottle and nodded. “I hear you. Is it the elevation that makes us so thirsty or just the exertion of hiking this incline?”
Landon shrugged. “Beats me, but I’m sure glad we’re prepared.” He leaned back against the nearest tree, and she moved close to him, settling back against his chest. He put his arms around her, and she smiled.
She said, “This is nice. I’m so glad we chose Yellowstone instead of the more traditional honeymoon destinations.”
He leaned his cheek against hers. “Me too. A beach or Europe is okay, but this is way more my style.”
She nodded. “It’s perfect.”
When they’d rested and were breathing normally again, they returned to the trail. Soon, they began to encounter switchbacks as the incline increased. Half an hour later, as they approached the summit, she was really feeling the elevation and the effects of her exertion in the thin air. She was breathing deeply, feeling like she couldn’t get enough air into her lungs. Landon gave her pushes from behind in the difficult parts near the summit. When they finally reached it, they moved about a hundred yards away to find the exquisite views Purple Mountain was known for.
She put her hands on her hips, sucking in air.
Landon put his hand on her back. “Hang in there, honey. We’re here—and we’re not starting back until we’re rested and ready.” He was also breathing heavily from the climb and the elevation.
She nodded, unable to speak yet.
Finally, she really looked around. Reaching for Landon’s hand, she said, “Oh, sweetheart, it was all worth it. This is gorgeous. Just fantastic.”
He slipped his arm around her shoulders and held her close. “It sure is. How far do you think that blue-gray horizon is? Fifty miles? More? And there’re no houses, no people. It’s just pristine wilderness. I love it.”
She leaned her head against him and sighed. “Me too.”
Going downhill on the way back wasn’t so bad, thank goodness, although the thin air still affected her. Later, when they returned to the motor home, though, she was limp with fatigue.
“You can shower first,” Landon told her. “I’ll make us some sandwiches. Those energy bars we ate on the trail gave up the ghost a long time ago.”
“Thanks, honey. I’ll hurry. I know you want one too.”
In minutes, she was in the small tub with the shower head pointed at her. It didn’t quite reach her shoulders, so she held it in her hand and let the water play over her back from side to side. Mindful of the limited amount of hot water available, she quickly washed, then scrubbed and rinsed her hair. Hasty showers were the only real downside she’d found to Class A motor home living.
As she dried off in the bedroom, she called out, “It’s your turn, handsome.”
He walked in a few seconds later. “Mm, don’t you look delectable. Maybe we should eat those sandwiches later.”
She laughed as he wrapped his arms around her naked body and nuzzled her neck, giving her goose bumps. “We could do that.” Then she took an audible sniff. “Maybe after your shower, though.”
He laughed. “I can take a hint.”
She turned in his arms and clasped his face. Her kiss was deeply passionate.
He smiled when she drew back. “Is that a promise?”
“You better believe it, buster.”
He threw his fist in the air. “Yes!”
