Date: Tue, 1 Mar 2011 07:47:59 -0800 (PST)
From: Daniel Running-water <danielrunningwater@yahoo.com>
Subject: A Heart's Legacy / Chapter One / Interracial and Beginnings.

A Heart's Legacy
Sequel to Captured Heart

By
Daniel Running Water

Chapter One

April 1889

With Strong Bear, White Deer and Spotted Wolf in their twenties and Abe now
eighteen, the next generation takes their place in Heart's Legacy.

***

The opening of the Indian lands in the Oklahoma Territory was of great
interest to white people across the United States in the late 1800s. The
Indian's desire to keep the Territory for their exclusive use and
occupation was complicated by the rapid growth of white population on its
northern, eastern, and southern borders; and when the first railroad
crossed it in 1870-1872, any effort to find an answer became hopeless. The
reasons for attempting to obtain lands in "the great American desert" were
almost as many as the individuals who made the attempt. Ranchers, Railroads
and Boomers sought access to the diverse landscape.

The Unassigned Lands were laid out in 160-acres homesteads, and on 22 April
1889, it was opened to white settlement in the "Run" for farms and town
lots, which has become one of the most dramatized episodes in western
history. Tent cities sprang up at Oklahoma City, Kingfisher, El Reno,
Norman, Guthrie and Stillwater.

The opening of the almost three million acres of Unassigned Lands, created
almost as many problems as it solved. All outside the authority of the
Indian governments were without civil law, and in criminal matters they
were under the long distance jurisdiction of the Federal court at Fort
Smith, Arkansas. The passage of the Organic Act of 2 May 1890 created
Oklahoma Territory and allowed the Organization of Government in the
central areas; and, the present Panhandle of Oklahoma was declared open to
settlement and would be included in Oklahoma Territory. Sections sixteen
and thirty-four of each township were reserved for the benefit of public
schools. Provision was made for the reservation of public roads on all
section lines. Guthrie was designated as the temporary capital.

***

Chief Hawk sat in his counsel lodge, speaking with his warriors about the
encroachment of whites on what was once designated Indian Territory. The
Sioux tribes were mostly peaceful now, but there were still renegades that
hindered the settling of the land, with raids on whites that were isolated
from towns.

Among the most notorious of the Sioux was Chief Wild Horse. Along with
gangs of white outlaws, they terrorized not only the white settlers, but
also the peaceful Choctaws, having recently raided Hawk's village, killing
many of his people.

"Ay-uh, Hawk knows what you speak about Wild Horse is true, but peace is
the only way to survive with the whites. If I go to war against Wild Horse
and the whites that ride with him, I shall be seen as nothing more than
another warring tribe and open to annihilation by the blue coat soldiers."
Hawk argued with Black Hawk, once his good friend but now his most
boisterous opponent of his warriors.

"My chief, I agree that peace should always come first when dealing with
the white eyes, but Wild Horse is not white, he's Sioux. Are we not allowed
to avenge our people, and in doing so we must accept that war is the only
way to deal with the renegades.

"Ay-uh Black Hawk, but Hawk has given his word to Colonel Dickson at Fort
Smith that he will not go to war against other tribes."

"Then you were wrong to agree to such an agreement," Black Hawk angrily
said, as he rose to his feet, his eyes showing the anger that was consuming
his heart. "If your father, Black Bear had been alive, he would have sought
revenge against the Sioux and not made such an agreement," he angrily
shouted.

"I will forget this which you said, because of the friendship we once had,"
Hawk said as he too rose to his feet. "Black Hawk forgets that Hawk is his
chief and his father Black Bear," Hawk said with his fists tight and
resting against his hips.

Black Hawk gave Hawk an angry glare and quickly turned, hurrying from the
lodge.

"Do any of my warriors feel that I am not right to lead them and wish to
join Black Hawk," Hawk asked, gazing around at the other warriors in the
lodge.

Several other warriors stood and shamefully hurried from the lodge, causing
a great pain to stir in Hawk's heart. Hawk stood tall and straight
shouldered, his chin held proudly high as the last of the warriors left.

"We that still remain my chief, pledge our undying allegiance to you,"
Jumping Elk said, standing and gazing at those that were around him also
stood and then looked at Hawk.

"Father, let me take some of your faithful warriors and go after those that
have formed an alliance with Black Hawk," Strong Bear said, as Hawk once
again sat down.

"Gah-ween my son, Hawk is not a tyrant but he is a chief that rules his
people with compassion and much love," Hawk said resting his hand on Strong
Bear's shoulder.

"But what if they go and join with Wild Horse," Strong Bear asked.

"If they do, then so be it, but Hawk will not use his power to avenge the
hurt that Black Hawk has caused my heart. I truly doubt that Black Hawk
will align himself with those that killed his parents," Hawk assured him.

Strong Bear could see the pain that Black Hawk's betrayal had caused his
father and it too caused him pain to see Hawk lose an old friend. Strong
Bear did not agree with the agreement that his father had agreed to with
the colonel, but he knew that his father's ways only of peace were right
and that they protected his people.

"Remember my son, peace first before war, for when the red man wars against
the white eyes; it is always the red man that loses always. Someday this
may not be the case, but this is now and it's the truth."

"Ay-uh father," Strong Bear said in agreement.

Black Hawk and those that had aligned themselves with him rode from the
village with their families. A great wailing filled the air as those that
stayed behind mourned the loss of those that left.

"Hear our people as they mourn those that leave, their sorrow is great my
husband," White Deer whispered to Strong Bear.

"Ay-uh, but soon their cries of sorrow will change to shouts of joy,"
Strong Bear whispered back, causing a chill to course through White Deer.

"My warriors, set sentries at all sides around the village," Hawk
instructed as he look upon his faithful warriors and drawing Strong Bear's
attention back to his father. "I will go to those Sioux that seek peace
with us and also with the whites and seek counsel with Chief Brave Heart. I
feel that we should place our villages closer together, insuring the safety
of all our people, both his and ours."

"Oh Hawk, surely you don't intend on moving our people again," Seth said
sitting beside his husband as they talked by the fire in their lodge. "For
it wasn't that long ago that Brave Heart was your enemy." Seth reminded
Hawk.

"Ay-uh Red Sun, what with the white eyes taking more of the land that was
promised to us by the White Chief in Washington, soon we shall lose it all
to them. Remember also how Chief Lone Wolf moved his people to Canada to
seek freedom from the whites; I am considering going there to join our
villages."

"I see that happening more and more each year since we came here, and now
with the railroad crossing our land, soon more settlers will come." Seth
sighed, fearing that another move would only add more sorrows to Hawk's
people. "But Canada my husband, that is so far for our people to travel."

Hawk knew that it was more than the long trip that worried his heart; it
was their friends in the white community that would be left behind.

"Does Red Sun miss his people?" Hawk suddenly asked, shocking Seth with his
sudden question.

"Gah-ween my husband, my life has been full living it with you," Seth said
and snuggled closer to his husband in the privacy of their lodge.

Seth sat quietly, many thoughts and questions now filling his mind. Hawk
noticed how quiet he got and turned to face his sweet Red Sun.

"What has your thoughts captive," he asked turning Seth's face so that his
eyes would meet his. Seth considered his thoughts and after several
minutes, he looked deep into Hawk's eyes and spoke.

"Yes I would miss James and Shane and also their son, Abe, but their
absence from my life would not be half as bad if I did not have you and
your love to sustain me, my husband."

Again he remained quite for a long while as he considered another question
that had been plaguing him over the years, but never asked.

"Has my husband missed not having a wife that could have bore him many
children," Seth asked, yet fearing Hawk's answer.

Hawk looked at Seth with shocked eyes, wondering why he would ask him this,
had he not been the loving and loyal husband to him he thought.

"Gah-ween my love, Hawk has been very happy loving but one heart...yours. I
have a son that I am proud of, even though he is my half brother and not my
true son. Someday when Hawk walks in the land of the hereafter, Strong Bear
shall be chief."

"And what of him and his legacy, for he and White Deer have not a son to
pass the title of chief on to," Seth asked.

"Our Great Spirit shall provide my son with an heir that he can raise in
the ways of our people and one day lead them as their chief. Why this
sudden need to question our happiness, Red Sun," Hawk asked.

Again he was silent as his mind replayed mocking names and remarks from
those white eyes when he went into the trading post to trade pelts for
supplies.

"Hawk, have you not heard the whispers from the men at the trading post
when you and I have gone there to trade? They whisper of our strange love
and some have even called us a Molly behind our backs."

"Who has whispered of these things, tell me and I shall see that they
whisper them no more," Hawk adamantly said, his anger rising and giving yet
another reason why he disliked the white eyes.

"It doesn't matter who says these things because you cannot silence bigotry
and hatred," Seth said and cuddled closer to Hawk, needing the assurance of
his nearness and arms to calm his fears.

"Words such as these have started wars between the white eyes and the red
man," Hawk said glaring angrily into the flames of the fire. "This is but
another reason why I wish to move our people from the influence of the
white eyes, because soon their bigotry and hatred will cause annihilation
of our people and also of all men with skin that is red."

"Do you think that could be the reason why Black Hawk and the other
warriors separated themselves from our people, because of our love," Seth
asked, raising the question in Hawk's mind.

"Ay-uh Red Sun, I have thought of this very thing to be one of the reasons,
but gah-ween, for he too has had his warrior lovers. Black Hawk is a man
that has grown angry with every white eyes that has come to settle on our
land," Hawk's mind went to one in particular, George Bennett.

George Bennett was considered a land baron among the white community and he
either stole or killed those whose land abutted his and refused to sell, so
that he could acquire it.

George Bennett also hated all Indians, and he hated Hawk most of all. He
saw Hawk and his people as a roadblock to his plan for acquiring more land,
because he wanted the land that Hawk's village now stood on.

He knew that Hawk's land was rich in minerals, having heard of the gold
that lies buried on it. Hawk often suspected him of riding with Wild Horse,
raiding and killing those settlers on the land that he wanted.

Once George Bennett had lost his re-election as governor of this territory,
he began grabbing land by any means possible, until he had amassed a
sizable spread where he raised cattle.

"My husband, now it is you whose mind has drifted away," Seth said as his
hand moved slowly, seductively over Hawk's leg, resting and fondling Hawk's
manhood.

"My Red Sun needs loving...ay-uh?" he asked as he laid Seth down on the
softness of the pelts and covered his body with his.

"Ay-uh my husband, Red Sun always needs his lover," he whispered as he
pulled Hawk's mouth to his in a sweltering kiss.

***

"Father, I am going into Guthrie today for supplies," Abe said as he sat at
the table enjoying his breakfast. "We are out of barb wire for fencing and
I'd like to stop by and see Spotted Wolf."

"It is good that you and Spotted Wolf have become good friends, he is a
very good man," Shane said, glancing over a book that he was reading at
him. "I hear that he is now a full fledge doctor like Jonas."

"Yes he is father, and he has the degree to prove it from that university
in Canada. But what good does it do him, no one will let him treat them
because he is an Indian," he said sighing over the bigotry and hatred that
lived in the hearts of white people.

"From what Jonas has told me, he is planning on becoming shaman to Hawk's
people now that Brave Bull is dead."

"Yes, I heard the same thing and from what he's told me, Jonas is moving
with him also when he becomes their shaman. He feels that he can work just
as well from Hawk's village as he can from that run down shack that they
call a house."

"A doctor's life may not lead to riches son, but their rewards are so much
more valuable. Look at how they smile and feel proud whenever they help
someone or save a life. Not all people have great wealth which lies in the
bank as we have," he reminded his son. "Most gather their riches up in
heaven where neither rust nor thief can rob it." Wiping his mouth with a
white linen napkin, Abe nodded in agreement.

Abe, having finished his meal, got up and gave Shane a warm hug and then
went to James where he did the same.

"Just don't go near the saloons Abe, you know how dangerous they can be,"
James said as he brushed an errant strand of blond hair from Abe's
face. "My how handsome a man you have become my son," James said as he
stepped back and gave a long look at his son, marveling in the handsomeness
of him.

Abe had grown into quite the man, standing well over six feet and extremely
muscular. His looks were classic, a strong jaw line, straight nose and eyes
as blue as the spring sky. When he walked, his muscles rippled beneath his
clothes and his ass was round, hard and turned the eyes of many a young
woman and a few unsavory men, whenever he passed them.

"Father, I am a man now and I can handle a gun as well as hold my own in a
fight," Abe reminded his dads, hating the way that his fathers fussed over
him, always protecting him as if he were but a child.

"I know you can sweetheart, but we still worry about you," Shane added as
he walked over to Abe's side. "I don't want you anywhere near that evil
man, George Bennett," he added, his hand resting on Abe's shoulder.

"Father please, don't call me sweetheart that is not a name that men call
one another. I know that your love is different than most men, but can't we
not let others know about it?" he said, his voice almost a shout.

"Does our love shame you son?" Shane asked his feelings hurt by Abe's
sudden outburst.

"No, but do you have to use terms like that around others? Even the ranch
hands call me sweetie and honey, do you have any idea how embarrassing that
is?"

"I'm sorry son that our love for you has caused you so much
embarrassment. We shall try to remember not to use such language in the
future," Shane said and turned from Abe, hoping to hide the hurt and tears
in his eyes.

"Father please don't, I never meant to hurt your feelings," Abe said as he
turned Shane to face him, his arms wrapped about his neck. "In the house is
alright to use them, but when we are outside could we not use them?"

"Your happiness is all that matters to us son," James said coming up behind
him. "Now run along and do remember to be careful."

Shane walked with Abe out to the stable and he too noticed how certain
ranch hands whispered together when they thought that he did not see. His
anger grew as he walked over to two that had been snickering and addressed
them, centering his attention on the one that was his ranch foreman.

"Have you got a problem with James and me or for that matter our son?" he
asked glaring into the eyes of Sam Wilson, his foreman.

"No sir...we are both fine with things here at the ranch," he stammered,
fear showing in his eyes. "You treat me and the boys well and the pay is
the best for miles around."

"Then end the whispering and snickering or else you'll find yourself
looking for employment elsewhere," he firmly said and turned to a shocked
Abe.

Feeling more embarrassed than ever, Abe pulled his father over to a quiet
corner to talk.

"Why not just tell the men that you and father prefer what a man has
instead of what a woman has between her legs," he sharply asked and then
walked away leaving Shane further in pain. "After all father, its not like
they already don't know that you and pa prefer sex with each other," he
rudely, coldly said and walked away, leaving Shane on the verge of tears.

"Have I let my love for James destroy our son and his happiness," he
whispered as he watched Abe ride away.

***

As Abe rode into the town of Guthrie, he was aware of the staring eyes of
people now and then as he rode along the main thoroughfare on his way to
see Spotted Wolf and Jonas.

"Damn bigots, these people of Guthrie," he whispered when he passed a
saloon that was notorious for its whores. "Like they are any better than my
dads," he snickered, kicked his heels against the horse and galloped past,
pulling his horse to a halt when he reached Spotted Wolf and Jonas' cabin.

Hitching his horse to the rail in front of Jonas and Spotted Wolf's
ramshackle shack, he lazily walked over to the front door and opened it,
expecting to find patients inside as they sat waiting to be seen by Jonas.

Instead he froze when his eyes focused on Spotted Wolf, kneeling in front
of Jonas while his mouth gave pleasure to his husband's manhood. Spotted
Wolf's hand rested on each of Jonas' round hard ass cheeks while his mouth
moved quickly up and down on his hard length. Jonas' eyes were closed, his
head thrown back as he enjoyed the attention that Spotted Wolf was giving
him.

"Abe," Jonas shouted when he opened his eyes, yanking his throbbing manhood
from Spotted Wolf's mouth and hastily pulling up his breeches.

"I'll come back later," Abe said blushing and turned abruptly, hurrying
from the room.

Just as he mounted his horse, Spotted Wolf was beside him, his midnight
black eyes gazing up apologetically at Abe.

"Please don't leave Abe," he asked. "I'm sorry that you had to witness
that. But we have not had any patients for days now and...well my husband
was aroused and needed attention," he said, a glow of red covered his face
as he turned his eyes from Abe.

"I probably should have knocked instead of just walking in," Abe said. "But
your sign does say to just enter and have a seat," he pointed out with his
finger pointing to the sign.

"Ay-uh Abe, so it does," he said and they both began to laugh. "Come on in
my friend and tell us why you have come to see us. Is everything alright?"

"Yes," he said dismounting.

Abe walked back to the house, following Spotted Wolf as he entered the
house. Jonas, who was now fully dressed and blushing profusely when Abe
entered the room, again, looked at Abe apologetically.

"I am so sorry for what you just witnessed," an embarrassed, Jonas said,
offering his hand to Abe.

"Don't worry about it Jonas, I have more than once caught my fathers doing
worse than that," his mind remembering the times when he had walked in on
Shane as he made love to James.

"So what brings you here this fine day," Spotted Wolf asked, hoping to
divert his attention.

"I have to get some barb wire for the fences we need to put up between our
land and the land that belongs to that scoundrel George Bennett. It seems
that he's been complaining about our cattle roaming onto his property and
has threatened to shoot them if it continues. So seeing how I was in town,
I thought that I would stop by and say hello."

"George Bennett seems to be a man with an evil heart," Spotted Wolf
said. "I wonder what his daughter thinks about him, she seems so
embarrassed whenever I have seen her with him," Jonas said, thankful that
their conversation had moved to a better topic.

"Well he's been dogging my father to sell our land to him and they both
told him in no uncertain words that their land was not for sale and never
would be to the likes of him."

"I've heard that others around here have also turned him down, only to be
found dead several days later."

"If we had a sheriff with some backbone, Bennett would be behind bars,"
Jonas said, as he took inventory of his medical supplies.

"Everyone knows that Bennett has Sheriff Bryant on his payroll," Abe
interjected, furious that the man got away with not only stealing land, but
also murder.

"Have you got time for a coffee, Abe?" Jonas asked as he walked over to the
wood stove and shook the pot that was sitting on it. "I just made it fresh
before we..." he stopped short, not wanting to mention sex.

"I'm good Jonas, I really should be going and seeing about the fencing," he
said as he placed his hat upon his head and turned toward the door.

"I'll walk you out," Spotted Wolf said as he walked beside him.

Once outside, Spotted Wolf grabbed Abe's arm and stopped him, turning Abe
back to face him.

"I have wanted to ask you something for a long time now, but felt that it
was not any of my business so I haven't."

"Spotted Wolf, are we not friends," he asked as he smile warmly at him. "So
what is it that you wanted to ask me?"

Spotted Wolf fidgeted with his fingers before gathering the courage to ask.

"Well Abe, seeing how your fathers share the same kind of love as Jonas and
I do, I was wondering if you did also or do you prefer a woman?" he asked,
his face turned crimson, accented more so by the sun.

"Truthfully Spotted Wolf, I really don't know. I have not yet," he looked
carefully around and then lowered his voice to a whisper before
continuing. "I have never had sex with either a man or a woman, and to tell
you the truth, I haven't met either that has taken my heart," he confided.

"Do you mean that with all these handsome men and beautiful women that live
here in town, not one have caught your eye yet?"

"Nope...not one...man or woman, Spotted Wolf, so until one does, my hand
suffices my needs quite well," he whispered further, his own face now
turning red. "I know it may sound strange, but I'm waiting for the person
that I will share my life with for eternity to give my body to."

"Ay-uh my friend, it was the same for me and Jonas, we both were each
other's first, well with a man that is. Jonas has a son back east in
St. Louis, he lives with his ex-wife."

"I didn't know that Jonas was married before he and you... well before you
came into his life."

"Ay-uh, and from what he's told me, she was quite unfaithful to him after
his son was born. I know that he misses him, I hear him call out his name
at times in his sleep."

"What is the boy's name and how old is he?" Abe asked.

"Caleb, Caleb Jameson and he is sixteen winters, sorry, years old now."

"I can imagine that he's missing his father as much as Jonas is missing
him."

"Ay-uh, because Jonas and Caleb write to each other often and Jonas has
mentioned to his son to come live with him."

"Him and not you both, so it would affect your relationship with Jonas,
because I doubt that he would want his son to know about the two of you and
how you have... well would he?"

"You really do have a hard time with our kind of love, don't you Abe," he
asked.

"I guess so, but I would never want my fathers to know, it would break
their heart. Like I said before, I really don't know if I will fall in love
with a man or a woman, but which ever it is, I am sure that my fathers will
accept it."

"Ay-uh Abe, they will because they love you," Spotted Wolf said and then
hugged Abe warmly goodbye, his arms wrapped around and his hands resting on
the young man's ass.

"You really like to grab any chance you get to feel my backside, don't you
Spotted Wolf?" he said smiling down at the man.

"Ay-uh my friend, because your backside is sooooooo round and muscular,"
Spotted Wolf chuckled.

Shaking his head laughing, Abe undid the reins to his horse and swung
himself up into the saddle, tipping his hat to Spotted Wolf before riding
off.

***

"Hey Sam," Abe said as he entered the store and saw the elderly man
struggling to retrieve a lantern that was hanging from a rafter. "Here Sam,
let me get that for you," Abe took the long stick which had a hook on the
end from Sam and hooked it under the handle of the lamp and swung it down
to Sam's waiting hands.

"I have been trying to get that darn lamp for hours, but I guess I wasn't
quite tall enough," he said. "Thank you kindly Abe, now what can I do for
you?" he asked as he and Abe walked over to the counter.

When they arrived at the counter, a beautiful young lady was standing
there, her purchases waiting to be counted on the counter.

"Why don't you help the young lady first," Abe said, removing his hat and
nodding to her. "Abraham Mathews-Thornton is the name ma'am," he said, his
eyes locking with hers.

"Emily, Emily Bennett," she said, and the very sound of her name sent
shivers down Abe's spine. "I can wait if you are in a hurry," she said and
shyly turned her eyes away.

"Ladies before gentleman, my fathers...father always told me," he said,
stuttering over having two fathers.

"Thank you kindly...Abraham," she said as she batted her long lashes that
covered emerald green eyes at Abe.

Emily was a small woman, but voluptuous in figure. Her long auburn hair
flowed three quarters down to her waist, and what a full set of breasts
that she had Abe thought.

Emily glanced sideways, taking in the muscular form of Abe. She looked over
at his long blond hair and blue eyes, and she was instantly taken by him,
as he was with her. As her eyes flowed slowly down his masculine form, they
stopped briefly when she noticed that his manhood was hard and pressing
against the fabric of his jeans, blushing, she turned her eyes away.

They continued to make small talk while Sam figured up her order's cost.

"Do you ride at all...Miss Emily?" he softly asked.

"I usually ride every morning just after the sun rises," she said. "I like
to ride beside the river, I do adore the cool breezes that float off of the
water," she added, fluttering her long lashes flirtatiously at Abe.

"Maybe some time we can go for a ride, that is if you do not mind, Emily,"
he said and she jumped when a bee passed by her face.

Her sudden movement caused her shawl to fall from her shoulders and to the
floor, exposing her cleavage to Abe. Abe quickly bent to retrieve the shawl
and when he stood, he carefully placed about her shoulders, his hands
remaining gently on her shoulders, slowly pulling her to him.

"Kindly remove your filthy hands from my daughter's shoulders," George
Bennett snapped stepping into the store and glaring angrily at Abe.

George was very protective of Emily, the youngest of his three daughters.
Although he never had a son, Emily was as hard riding and feisty as any boy
could be.

"Father, Abraham was kind enough to pick up my shawl when it fell to the
floor," she said turning to her father, a slight blush warming her face.

"I know what that...that robin's intentions were Emily, now hurry on with
you purchases, I've got important business to attend to," he grumbled to
her, but his eyes were glaring angrily at Abe.

Boldly ignoring George and his hurtful names, Abe turned to Emily and took
her hand in his, raised it to his lips and kissed it softy before saying...

"I was a pleasure to make your acquaintance Miss Emily," Abe said tipping
his hat to her with his free hand and still holding her hand.

Furious over being ignored by Abe, and he still showing attention to his
daughter, George grabbed Abe by the shoulder, turned him to face him and
landed a hard right fist to his jaw, knocking Abe from his feet and causing
him to fall to the floor.

"Father please, is that how you repay a kindness to Abraham, by hitting
him?" Emily scolded, glanced a long moment at Abe lovingly and then ran
embarrassed from the store, leaving behind her purchases.

"Just keep away from her...got it," he snapped as he glared down at Abe,
and then grabbed his daughter's purchases and quickly left the store.

"Are you alright Abe," Sam asked apprehensively, coming around the counter
and helping the man to stand.

"I'm fine Sam, thanks," Abe said brushing his clothes off and straightening
them before reaching up to his mouth were a slight flow of blood was oozing
from a cut. "You just try to keep me away from your daughter...Bennett,"
Abe growled, wiping away the blood with the back of his hand and looking
out the window as George helped Emily into their fancy buggy, her eyes
meeting Abe's as her mouth silently mouthed `I'm sorry'.

"I wouldn't go making an enemy of that one, Abe," Sam said looking at what
Abe was watching. "He's liable to just shoot as to look at you," he added.
"Now give me that there order that you came for," he grumbled, turning
Abe's attention back to Sam.

***

The next morning:

Abe was up before the sun was, quietly sneaking down the hall and trying
not to wake his fathers. But when he got next to their door, he was
surrounded by the familiar sound of their bed springs squeaking as the two
men made love.

"Damn, how can James take dad's manhood up his..." he let it drop, vividly
his mind's eye remembered the one time that he had caught them in the act
and he moved quietly on, shaking his head.

Outside, the air was crisp as the moon made its approach toward the
horizon, yielding to the sun's glimmering rays as they broke the horizon.
He inhaled a deep breath of the cool air on this fine September morning and
then hurried to the barn to saddle his horse. Just as he was about to mount
his horse, a ranch hand, Jed Williams, stepped from the shadows and walked
over to Abe, quietly.

"Here `robin'...let me give you a hand," he said, placing his large hand on
Abe's ass and squeezed it.

Abe quickly turned and gave the man a right hook directly to his jaw,
sending his stumbling backwards and falling into some fresh horseshit.

"You can draw your pay and leave, Williams," Abe snarled at him. "You are
fired and don't think that my father is going save your sorry ass," Abe
added and then mounted his horse, turned and rode from the barn.

"You just wait you...you robin, I'll get even with you," he growled as Abe
rode away.

Hurriedly, a man with a plan, Abe rode hard and fast until he reached the
river and saw Emily standing beside her horse as it drank from the
river. She glanced up quickly when she heard Abe riding toward her.

"Good morning Miss Emily," Abe said, dismounted and led his horse over to
the river so that it could get a drink.

Looking up into Abe's soft blue eyes, she reached up and placed a finger to
the cut at the side of his mouth.

"Did my father do that?" she asked and flinched some when Abe placed his
fingers around her small wrist.

"Yes, but its nothing compared to the beauty of you...Emily," he said as
his hands came to her waist and gently pulled her to him, lowering his
mouth down to hers in a kiss.

Gently stepping away from her, he looked apologetically at her.

"I am most sorry, I didn't mean to be so presumptuous," Abe said, his eyes
lowering as his face turned red.

"Did you hear me complaining about your kiss, Abraham?" she asked and
stepped forward.

Emily stood there for a moment and then twined her arms around Abe's neck,
pulling his mouth down to hers in a sumptuous kiss. Abe wrapped his arms
around her waist, pulling her tightly to him as he kissed her back.

***

Spotted Wolf paced the floor of his home, nervously. He waited for Jonas to
return from meeting the train, where his son would soon be arriving from
St. Louis. Jonas had never told him how he was going to explain him to his
son, and more so, their relationship. Every time that Spotted Wolf would
bring up the subject of his son and their relationship, Jonas would change
the subject.

"What if his son hates me and makes you choose between us," Spotted Wolf
asked, stopping only when he heard the shrill of the train's whistle. "I
don't want to live without you Jonas, you are my world," he said almost
prayerful and then the door opened, he turned to see George Bennett
standing there, holding up a wounded ranch hand.

"Where is the real doctor, injun," he sarcastically asked, glaring darkly
at Spotted Wolf as he helped his ranch hand down to a chair.

"He's at the train depot," Spotted Wolf snapped back, ignoring the wounded
man that bled freely from a gunshot to his shoulder.

"Mr. Bennett please...this here pain is more than I can stand," Frank Tyson
barely said, his voice weak from his blood loss.

"I guess I don't have an option...go ahead and attend to him," he snarled.
"I gotta warn you though, if anything happens to him injun, you're a dead
injun," he warned, glaring down at Spotted Wolf with darkness in his eyes.

Ignoring his threats, Spotted Wolf helped the wounded man over to a table
and laid him gently on it. As he bent over the man, examining his wound,
the man reached up and grabbed him by his shirt.

"Please don't let me die," he pleaded, his eyes showing the fear that was
in his heart.

"I'll do the best that I can...what is your name sir," Spotted Wolf
politely asked.

"Frank...Frank Tyson," he replied anxiously looking up at Spotted Wolf.

"I am going to give you some chloroform to help you with the pain," he told
him quietly as he poured some of the liquid onto a cloth.

He placed the saturated cloth over Frank's mouth and nose, telling him to
take several deep breaths and soon Frank was unconscious.

"Is he dead," George barked at Spotted Wolf and placed his hand to his
revolver at his side.

"He's just passed out from the chloroform," he told him and went about
gathering the instruments that he needed to extract the bullet from
Frank. "We use it as an anesthesia to put people under so that they won't
feel the pain when we operate on them."

Spotted Wolf worked meticulously on Frank, trying to extract the deeply
imbedded bullet as well as curb the bleeding that the bullet had caused.
After forty minutes of laborious work, he had the bullet resting in a metal
bowl of alcohol, and he was stitching up the wound. He had just cut the
thread when Jonas and his son came through the door, Jonas looked at George
and then to Frank who lay unconscious on the examining table.

"What happened," Jonas asked as he hurried over to Spotted Wolf.

"Frank here got shot and I just finished patching him up, Jonas," Spotted
Wolf proudly said, glaring past his husband to George, who eyes were
holding his glare.

"I don't like injuns around me, much less having them doctoring up us white
folks, but seeing how you were out gallivanting, I had no choice," George
sarcastically said, glancing over at Caleb.

Caleb looked nothing like his father, Jonas, except for his hair and
eyes. He wore his dark brown hair much longer than Jonas, and his eyes were
a warm brown.  George ran his eyes down the boy's frame, taking in his
slight build, where Jonas was quite muscular, Caleb was thin.

"Who's this here kid, a new robin for you two to fondle," George sneered,
chuckling rather loudly as his eyes continued to look at the boy.

"I'll have you know Bennett, that this is my son, Caleb," Jonas sneered
back, stepping between his son and George. "Now your ranch hand will need
rest so why don't you leave him and come back tomorrow, he should be good
to move by then," he said, more demanded then asking.

"I guess so, but he'd better still be breathing when I come back," he
warned and then stepped away, stopping for a moment beside Caleb. "Why
aren't you a sweet little thing," he whispered before leaving the room.

"I don't like that man father, he looked at me as if I were naked," he
said, his eyes looking down at the floor.

"Don't you pay him any mind son, he's as evil as the day is long," Jonas
said and then turned back to Spotted Wolf and helped him carry Frank to a
bed. "Did Bennett hurt you sweetheart," he whispered, turning to see if
Caleb heard him.

Spotted Wolf was quick to see how Jonas was being careful about letting his
son see or hear anything that might give the boy a hint as to what they
were to each other.

"Gah-ween...sir," Spotted Wolf snapped, his heart hurting because of the
way that Jonas was acting, now that Caleb was there. "We need to talk
Jonas, either here or outside but it must be now," he said and after
removing his white coat, walked determinedly from the room. "I'm Spotted
Wolf, Caleb," he said only pausing long enough to introduce himself to the
boy.

"Why was he so upset with you?" Caleb asked once Spotted Wolf was gone.

"He wasn't angry with me son, it was that evil man, George," he lied,
knowing that his lack of affection towards Spotted Wolf had hurt his
feelings deeply. "How about we get you settled in your room and then we can
go over to the hotel for a bite to eat."

"That sounds good father, I am famished," Caleb said, but his thoughts were
still on Spotted Wolf and why he had seemed hurt emotionally when he fled
from his father's house.

Jonas stepped out of the cabin and saw Spotted Wolf standing beside his
horse and his eyes told Jonas that he was hurt more than deeply, he was
hurt beyond forgiveness.

"Are you ready to talk about us, Jonas," Spotted Wolf said, his eyes
burning with rage as he glared at Jonas.

"Yes Spotted Wolf, but it must be quick, because I'm taking Caleb out to
dinner" he whispered, lowering his head in shame, further telling Spotted
Wolf that he was ashamed of their relationship.

***

"Excuse me Mr. Bennett, but there is a gentleman here to see you," George's
butler, Hubert said, interrupting George from his thoughts.

"Well who the hell is it Hubert," he barked at the man.

"He refused to give me his name, but said that he had information that you
would find quite valuable."

Wondering what this man wanted, he stormed past Hubert and into the foyer.
When he saw who it was, George froze momentarily before he regained enough
composure to speak.

"Well Shawn Murphy, you're the last person that I ever expected to see
again," a shocked George said, remembering how Shawn stiffed him, knowing
that his sister Jenny was not waiting for him in the cabin.

"I've got some information that might just be of interest to you."

To be continued...

So there is the first chapter of the next generation. I'm sorry that the
sex was missing, but I promise to have a more sensual chapter next. As
before with Captured Hearts, let me know what you think at 
danielrunningwater@yahoo.com

Thank you, Daniel