time to regret it.
There were also the twins to consider. They now knew who their father was and deserved the chance to have him in their lives. If Callie succeeded in chasing him away, she would hurt them and they’d come to resent her for it. Nope, that wasn’t going to happen if he could help it. His sister obviously needed some help seeing the light and Caleb was going to help her no matter how much she fought it.
Callie took deep breaths of the chilled autumn air, listening to the calls of the birds and squirrels, and taking in the beauty all around her. The mountains were constant even as the seasons rolled and the years passed. Her ancestors had lived here for thousands of years, their flesh and blood part of the soil, part of the life all around. This was where she belonged, where she drew her strength from, where she found peace. Her refuge.
With each breath she tried to calm her spirit and settle her mind. Memories of the love she had shared with Euan warred with the hurt he had caused her, and her fears of his motives for being there enshrouded all of it like a suffocating fog. He had been the first and only man she had ever loved or been with and she had been bonded to him to the marrow of her soul. Even after all of this time, after all of the hurt, there was still the residual of love amongst the pieces of her broken heart.
Maybe it was because she saw him every time she looked at her children. Red Wolf was very much his father’s son in both appearance and manner, and some of Mountain Rose’s mannerisms, such as her laugh and the way she would shake her leg or wiggle a foot when her legs were propped up, were very much like Euan’s. Maybe she loved her children too much to truly hate their father no matter what he had done to her.
Dinner was ready by the time they arrived at the lodge. Their mother and grandmother had fried up the fish Papa and Euan had caught, serving it with fried potatoes, cornbread, creamed corn, and a mess of collard greens. Other relatives started showing up with more food- fried chicken, rolls, homemade bread, several vegetable dishes, and desserts ranging from chess pie to blackberry cobbler to spice cake. A folding table was set up near the long dining table, both loaded with food, and the desserts were placed upon the sideboard.
Euan and John watched as the elder members of Callie’s extended family came in. Some were more Native American in appearance while others were more Caucasian and still others almost Mediterranean. There were familiar Scottish surnames, a few of old English origin, and several that were rather unfamiliar. Awiakta, they had learned, meant Deer Eye in Cherokee. Cumbow and Niccans also came from Native American languages although the meanings had been lost over time. Mullins, Goins, Gibson, Bowlin and Collins were Irish in origin but were some of the more common surnames among the Melungeons.
Papa’s two younger brothers came with their wives. His three surviving sisters, their husbands, and widowed brother-in-law were there. All six of Papa and Jolena’s children were present, along with three of Jolena’s siblings. A few teenagers and young children came with the adults.
Five great-great-aunts and great-great-uncles arrived as well. There was enough shared Celtic blood and culture among these people for Euan and John to understand that this wasn’t just a social function. When the clan elders show up together, serious decisions are being made. With a sympathetic look, John put a hand on Euan’s shoulder and then patted his back.
Everyone looked Euan over quite closely, with a bit of perusal going John’s way as well. Most offered a hand with their greeting. Others simply nodded.
There was a bit of noise until one elderly lady entered. Everyone stopped what they were doing and turned towards her. Her hair was white with age, her face beautifully wizened, her hands slightly gnarled from years of hard work, but her gray eyes were clear, her
There were also the twins to consider. They now knew who their father was and deserved the chance to have him in their lives. If Callie succeeded in chasing him away, she would hurt them and they’d come to resent her for it. Nope, that wasn’t going to happen if he could help it. His sister obviously needed some help seeing the light and Caleb was going to help her no matter how much she fought it.
Callie took deep breaths of the chilled autumn air, listening to the calls of the birds and squirrels, and taking in the beauty all around her. The mountains were constant even as the seasons rolled and the years passed. Her ancestors had lived here for thousands of years, their flesh and blood part of the soil, part of the life all around. This was where she belonged, where she drew her strength from, where she found peace. Her refuge.
With each breath she tried to calm her spirit and settle her mind. Memories of the love she had shared with Euan warred with the hurt he had caused her, and her fears of his motives for being there enshrouded all of it like a suffocating fog. He had been the first and only man she had ever loved or been with and she had been bonded to him to the marrow of her soul. Even after all of this time, after all of the hurt, there was still the residual of love amongst the pieces of her broken heart.
Maybe it was because she saw him every time she looked at her children. Red Wolf was very much his father’s son in both appearance and manner, and some of Mountain Rose’s mannerisms, such as her laugh and the way she would shake her leg or wiggle a foot when her legs were propped up, were very much like Euan’s. Maybe she loved her children too much to truly hate their father no matter what he had done to her.
Dinner was ready by the time they arrived at the lodge. Their mother and grandmother had fried up the fish Papa and Euan had caught, serving it with fried potatoes, cornbread, creamed corn, and a mess of collard greens. Other relatives started showing up with more food- fried chicken, rolls, homemade bread, several vegetable dishes, and desserts ranging from chess pie to blackberry cobbler to spice cake. A folding table was set up near the long dining table, both loaded with food, and the desserts were placed upon the sideboard.
Euan and John watched as the elder members of Callie’s extended family came in. Some were more Native American in appearance while others were more Caucasian and still others almost Mediterranean. There were familiar Scottish surnames, a few of old English origin, and several that were rather unfamiliar. Awiakta, they had learned, meant Deer Eye in Cherokee. Cumbow and Niccans also came from Native American languages although the meanings had been lost over time. Mullins, Goins, Gibson, Bowlin and Collins were Irish in origin but were some of the more common surnames among the Melungeons.
Papa’s two younger brothers came with their wives. His three surviving sisters, their husbands, and widowed brother-in-law were there. All six of Papa and Jolena’s children were present, along with three of Jolena’s siblings. A few teenagers and young children came with the adults.
Five great-great-aunts and great-great-uncles arrived as well. There was enough shared Celtic blood and culture among these people for Euan and John to understand that this wasn’t just a social function. When the clan elders show up together, serious decisions are being made. With a sympathetic look, John put a hand on Euan’s shoulder and then patted his back.
Everyone looked Euan over quite closely, with a bit of perusal going John’s way as well. Most offered a hand with their greeting. Others simply nodded.
There was a bit of noise until one elderly lady entered. Everyone stopped what they were doing and turned towards her. Her hair was white with age, her face beautifully wizened, her hands slightly gnarled from years of hard work, but her gray eyes were clear, her
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