开云体育

Josiah shielded his eyes from the biting wind and blowing snow. “Cheyanne!” he shouted as loud as he could so that his voice would carry over the encompassing wind.

Cheyanne threw another arm full of hay into Blazes stall. She’d already seen to Josiah’s horse and was doing her best to keep her steed calm. Storms made the black and white paint nervous and this one in particular seemed to have him more anxious than usual, especially the wind, he was even refusing the sugar cube Cheyanne offered him.

“Annie!” Josiah called to her as he was half blown in through the barn doors he held tight to the inside of the door to regain his footing.“Com’on girl, you need to get inside”

“No.” She insisted “Blaze is very afraid. I must stay with him.”

Josiah let the doors swing open and strode purposely over to her. Today he was not taking no for an answer and took hold of her arm.“He’ll be fine, now you get your tail into that house before I throw you over my shoulder and carry you there you hear.”

Cheyanne had not heard that fearful fatherly tone from her guardian in a very long time, she knew what that tone meant, something bad was coming. The authoritative sound in his voice assured her that Josiah meant business and he meant it now.Telling the horse in her native Cheyenne language that he would be alright she gave Blaze one last gentle pat and reluctantly obeyed.

“Yes Josiah”

Josiah closed and latched the barn doors from the outside to keep them from blowing open. Cheyanne shielded her face against Josiah holding tightly to him as they made their way through the blinding snow back to the house.

Once inside Josiah pulled off his coat and hung it on one of the hooks next to the door, then put another log on the fire thankful he’d brought in extra wood earlier. Cheyanne hung her shawl next to Josiah’s coat then moved to the window over the sink and stood there looking out at the barn doors. Even though they were latched the wind was so strong that they still rattled.

Josiah came up behind her wrapping his comforting arms around her. “Don’t worry so much, He’s safe and warm in that barn, he’s got plenty of hay and water. He’ll calm down. “

“I have never seen him like this Josiah.”

A commotion out in the church interrupted anymore comforting words Josiah could offer. Both he and Cheyanne rushed to see what the disturbance was.

Vin shook the snow off and grinned when Josiah and Cheyanne came through the door from Cheyanne’s residence. The surprised look on their faces nearly made him chuckle.

“Well, since Christmas is only a few days away and you mentioned you were thinkin’ about gettin’ a tree for the church, just thought I’d do my part and donate one, for the church you know.”His voice said the church but his eyes were on Cheyanne.

“Well now brother Vin that is right kind of you.” Josiah walked up to his friend giving him a friendly pat on the shoulder and a wink that Vin acknowledged with a small nod of his own. Truth be told, the two of them had planned this all along, getting a tree, not so much for the church as for Cheyanne. It had been several years since they had had a real Christmas. Now that they had set down roots, and given everything Cheyanne had been through this year. Josiah wanted to make this holiday special for her.

“I Think right up there on the pulpit would be a good place to set this handsome tree. What do you think Annie? We could make some fine ornaments and string some corn, it’d give us something to do while we wait for the storm to pass. Vin did you get those supply’s I asked for while you were in Eagle Bend.”

Vin Helped Josiah to set the tree on the pulpit in the corner opposite Cheyanne’s door then nodded.

“Yup sure did they’re over there in the corner.”He tilted his head toward the back corner of the church.

A noise from behind the back pew drew Cheyanne’s attention from the tree.

“Oh ya, I almost forgot, there’s one more thing” Vin quickly finished helping Josiah secure the tree in place then hurried over and retrieved a box from behind the pew. He handed it to Cheyanne who eyed him curiously.

“Merry Christmas Cheyanne. I know it ain’t quite Christmas yet, but I don’t think this present can wait much longer, best open it now.”

Something inside the box moved and a small whimper echoed inside.

Cheyanne carefully untied the string while Vin held the box steady.

A little black nose poked up out between the flaps of the package, then two little ears and a head as the fluffy little 9-10-week-old wolf pup struggled to free himself from the confines of the box, a big red ribbon was around his neck.

Cheyanne’s heart melted as she reached for the little animal, she cooed and spoke softly to it in her French/Cheyenne language as she lifted him from his confinement and snuggled the little pup close to her.

“Little feller lost his mama.” Vin told her as he set the box aside. “I found him out in the woods near where I found the tree poor little guy was half froze. Knowin how you are with critters ‘n’ all I thought maybe you’d be a good substitute mama for him.”

Cheyanne looked up at him and for the first time in months genuinely smiled.“A’ho”

Seeing the sparkle in Cheyanne’s eyes again was all the thanks Vin needed. He tipped the brim of his hat to her “A’ho”

Josiah grinned and nodded approvingly. He had not seen the light shine so brightly in his ward’s eyes in a very long time.

“well what are you going to call him Annie?”

“I do not know” she giggled as the pup stood in her arms and licked at her nose.“he will earn his name soon enough.”

Taking his gaze from Cheyanne Vin turned toward the door. “I Best get the buckboard back and get the horses to the livery, snow’s comin down pretty hard and that winds bound to start it driften.”

“Vin” Cheyanne called to him.

Hearing his name Vin turned to face her.

“When you have finished, I have food inside, you are welcome to eat with us.”

Vin let a smile escape and politely removed his hat. “I’ld like that.”

Josiah had been watching the two of them with a twinkle in his eye. His Annie was slowly starting to get her life back. He could see the deference in the way she smiled at Vin. A few months ago she wouldn’t so much as come out of the house when anyone was around, and when she did it wasn’t for long and she would quickly retreat back into thesafety of her home. Especially when it came to Vin. Now she was inviting him to dinner. It warmed his heart to see her coming out of the darkness that had overshadowed her for so long.

“Vin, why don’t you let me take the horses and buck board back to the livery.” Josiah offered “I should go check on Miss Chandler make sure she’s got everything she needs to hunker down in this storm since she’s all alone you know. You stay here and have some of Annie’s stew and get warmed up.”

Vin did his best to hide a knowing grin, it was no secret that Josiah had been smitten with the new store keeper since her arrival.

Cheyanne followed Josiah into her living area while he retrieved his coat.

“Josiah?” Her concern for him had replaced the joy that masked her delicate features only moments ago.

“I’ll be alright, and so will you. I won’t be long” he assured her laying a comforting hand on her cheek.“Vin, you make sure she don’t try to go out to that barn.”Josiah warned before shutting the church doors behind him.

*

It took Josiah longer that he had expected to get the horses and buckboard back to the livery. The snow was indeed beginning to drift by the time he made it to the Mercantile. The wind gusts were enough to knock even the strongest man to the ground. The doors to the store were locked, and the sign in the window read Closed.

Josiah pounded on the door for what seemed like an eternity until Belle finally answered.

“Mr. Sanchez, what are you doing out on a day like this? Come in. Is there something important you are in need of that would have you braving this weather?”

“No M’am” Josiah answered humbly removing his hat. “I Just thought I would check on you. and see if there was anything you needed to weather out this storm. Do you have enough wood for the fire?”

Belle smiled sincerely appreciative of Josiah’s gesture. “That’s very kind of you and Yes I have plenty, Young JD was good enough yesterday to make sure I was overly stocked. I’m fine, thank you for being concerned.”

“We’d be glad to have you at the church it might be safer? Cheyanne’s a mighty good cook and suppers on the stove.”

Belle was grateful for the invitation but refused. She had every intention of spending this unexpected time to herself writing letters to her he father and brother and catching up on some reading. “Thank you very much for your kindness Mr. Sanchez but..”

“Please M’am , Josiah ” he interrupted.

“Josiah” Belle blushed “but I’ve had my supper and as you can see I have all that I need here in the store. I plan on settling in with a good book and turning in early.”

“If you insist m’am, I won’t keep you enjoy your evening.” Putting his hat back in its place he politely tipped the brim to her and turned to leave suddenly snapping his fingers as if he had forgotten something he quickly spun back around. “I’ll be conducting a small service on Christmas eve at the church, if you’d like to join us, around 7:00.”

“I will remember that, Thank You for the invitation Mr., I mean, Josiah. It’s been a long while since I’ve attended a Christmas service. I look forward to it.”

“Until then” Josiah smiled graciously bowing slightly with a tug on his hat brim before he started back toward the church.

*

Josiah, Vin and Cheyanne finished a supper of hot stew and warm fresh bread.Josiah popped corn in a pot over the fire as the snow storm raged outside.Cheyanne strung the popped corn into a garland for the tree which proved to be a bit of a task trying to keep Josiah and Vin from eating her decoration.The three of them spent the rest of the evening adorning the Christmas tree with the popcorn strings and wooden ornaments that Josiah had carved for just this occasion along with several pine cones Vin had picked up along the way.

As Josiah set the wooden star on the top of the tree then began lighting the candles that sat in small candle holders secured to several of the branches Cheyanne took a step back and was suddenly quiet, a tear escaped from the corner of her eye as a memory from the past abruptly popped into her mind. A memory she had long forgotten.

Josiah quickly picked up on the sadness that fell over the young woman who only moments ago seemed so happy.

“Annie? What is it?”

“Papa” she answered softly as she wiped away a tear. “I remember When I was little, he did this with the tree, it was Christmas eve. He gave me a present he had sold many beaver pelts to buy.It was a store-bought doll. She was like me, dressed in buckskins with braided hair.When I was older Blue Leaf told me he had taken the doll to her and asked her to make her look more Indian.”saddened eyes looked up at him for solace. “I miss them”

Josiah put a comforting arm around her shoulder and did his best to ease her melancholy.

“They loved you very much, let their memory bring you comfort, not sadness. I know for a fact they would both be very proud you and how far you have come. I know I am.”

Cheyanne offered him a small appreciative smile.

The howl of the wind and a sudden gust blowing the church doors open sent Vin and Josiah running to close them and startled the little wolf who’d been laying in the corner on a blanket sleeping. Cheyanne hurried over and gathered him in her arms blanket and all.

The drifted snow made it hard for the men to get the doors shut but perseverance paid off and the church doors finally closed. Josiah had to bolt them from the inside. Vin helped to set a couple of benches in front of it to make sure they didn’t blow open during the night.

“I’ve got an extra bedroll, Vin you best sleep here tonight.”

“Appreciate it Josiah.”

“Blaze!”Her horses name fearfully erupted from Cheyanne’s lips. She turned on her heels and ran back into her home heading straight for the back door, Vin and Josiah were on her heels. Josiah catching her before she could open her door.

“Barn doors are still closed” Vin announced relieved. It was hard to see through the nearly snow-covered window. But he could definitely make out the barn doors. Cheyanne hastily pushed her way in front of him. Vin was right, the doors were still closed. Cheyanne breathed a sigh of relief, still she would feel better if she were there to help calm Blaze’s anxiety.She prayed he would stay safe.