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The winter storm was threatening to be a “humdinger”; as Jack would have put it. The two friends and brothers; Nakoma and Bill; were traveling down the mountain as fast as they could; in order to reach Adams’ cabin before the worst of it arrived. Goldie was staying home with Wise Eyes; her joints painful over the years; keeping her from making the trip. Before leaving; Bill petted and kissed the top of her head.
Bill loved the snow at Christmas time. Despite the three years that had passed since his inclusion into his new life among the Crow people; he still held onto cherished memories of warm Christmases spent with Ev.
Giving the household staff time off to celebrate their own holidays; the two young men had spent the season between Christmas and the new year alone in the huge mansion that they called home.
Each morning they would awaken; snuggled deep within the down comforter that had kept them warm throughout the chilly night. Each morning they would throw it off during their love-making and drowsily pull it back on; the better to distribute the heat generated by their bodies; when the hearth had already gone cold overnight.
Having made love instead of eating breakfast; they awakened with ravenous appetites and would make their way; barefooted and bare-assed to the kitchen; to see what they could throw together.
Every year at Christmastime; Bill had roasted the turkey at the open hearth of the massive, walk-in fireplace. He served it upon the antique, porcelain dinnerware that had belonged to Ev’s Irish grandmother. They sat; not at opposite ends of the highly polished and long mahogany table; but with Ev at the head and Bill next to him; peeking out from behind his folded hands; smiling at his lover; waiting to add his resounding “Amen! Pass the turkey!”
At the head of the table; Ev would then stand and do the honors of carving. Each year Bill instruction Ev in the proper way of doing so; even though Ev didn’t need the coaching.
They were wonderful memories; yet Bill had had to move on and create new memories for himself.
They were memories with Silent Runner and Wise Eyes; with Nakoma and his sister-in-law; Walks Far Woman; with her son and Nakoma’s nephew; Eegeenagasha; a mouthful of a name for a smallish boy; longer even than the boy was tall.
Bill immediately named the boy “Pony”. No one else; but Nakoma; understood why. It was only after Bill explained that a “pony” was a small horse; that Eegeenagasha accepted it; allowing only Bill to call him that.
Four months ago; Bill had sent away for his gift to his grandfather; the Chief. He had ordered it from a catalogue while visiting the mercantile at the village.
Christmas morning; he had gifted Wise Eyes with a new pipe and “special” tobacco that he had traded for; some time ago; in preparation for the Christmas event. He had given Silent Runner the telescope that he had ordered those four months back.
Neither the Chief nor Wise Eyes were aware that it was Christmas; nor were they even aware of what it meant. In Crow; they had asked Nakoma what was going on.
Nakoma explained the White man’s celebration of the birth of a special child…a spiritual child…that had gone forward to teach the people with his heart and was later put to death by a jealous chief.
“Ahhh.”; Wise Eyes had said sadly.
After Bill had demonstrated the use of the telescope; the first thing the Chief had seen through it was the larger-than-life face of his beloved wife; Wise Eyes. The close up image had at first startled him; then laughing at the novelty of the gift; he demonstrated it to his wife; who laughed from behind her hand. Reaching for it; Silent Runner; somewhat reluctantly; handed it over. To his surprise and enjoyment; he laughed when Wise Eyes used it to look at her husband of so many years. From the feather atop his head; to his moccasin covered feet; she took him all in. They laughed; putting their arms around each other; their foreheads touching. Bill sealed that image of the two in his mind’s eye FOREVER.
That Christmas morning, Bill’s gift to the Chief was passed along as the Chief made his way around the village. Demonstrating its use; he held it throughout; allowing no one else to touch it; not even Nakoma. Already knowing so much about the White man; Silent Runner believed that he finally had the upper hand over his grandson by not allowing Nakoma to try it out. Unknown to Silent Runner; it was not a new experience to his grandson and besides; Nakoma had already peered through the glass when Bill had collected it from the mercantile. Silent Runner didn’t know that; of course and the Chief would certainly not allow their great grandson; “Pony” to even touch the precious gift.
After the morning meal; the Chief walked with Nakoma and Bill; carrying with him; his gift. He watched his two grandsons from above as they made their way among the shaggy-haired horses; picking their own mount for the longish trip to visit with their friend, Adams. The horses; far below in the field; usually seemed small and distant; but with the telescope; the Chief now saw them clearly; looking every bit like giant horses within the lens of the telescope.
Silent Runner was well pleased with his gift; as he could now see his two grandsons when they should have; at the point of their journey; been out of sight. He watched until the scope could no longer keep up with them; he then returned to his wife; Wise Eyes; who smiled a greeting to her husband.
Due to the deep snow; the two travelers did not arrive early at Adams’ valley as they had planned; but they weren’t late for it either.
Jack and Number Eight had arrived two days ago and Jack was already preparing their Christmas feast when the two friends had arrived.
On the way to their celebration feast; Nakoma and Bill could see the smoke from Adams’ fireplace rising high in the gray, winter sky. There was no enticing aroma of roasting meat; due to the fact that Adams was a strict vegetarian; but the smell of fresh baked bread made Bill’s mouth water as it carried along in the breeze.
Despite the lack of meat at their feast; Adams had some few enticing dishes that he knew would fill any travelers stomach. Jack; of course; was preparing his flap jacks. He seemed to be of the opinion that flapjacks were meant for every meal; not just breakfast; and deserved to be included in their Christmas feast.
When they arrived at the cabin; both travelers removed their fur traveling robes at the door; leaving them outside in deference to Adams’ sensibilities.
Upon entering the cabin; the warmth from the fire in the fireplace and the scent of fresh baked bread greeted them; full in their faces.
“Shootagee, Jeck.” Nakoma had greeted Jack with the familiar hand shake; receiving in return a sleeve dusted with flour. Nakoma repeated the greeting to his brother, Adams. Bill patted Jack on the shoulder and shook Adams’ hand.
Looking around the cabin, he asked; “Where’s Ben?”
“Interesting thing.”; Adams began. “Turns out ol’ Ben’s got hisself a family here’bouts. I see him and a male cub now n then. I reckon he’ll bring him by for a visit when he thinks the time’s right.”
“Well good for him.”; Bill replied.
At the fire; Jack continued stacking flap jacks; Adams turned to check on the state of the gourds and vegetables; removing them from the glowing embers and placing them onto a wooden platter. The bread was brought to the table. Strong coffee had been boiling at the fire and was brought to the table along with four cups, four plates and the forks and spoons.
Everyone was seated; when Adams offered up his traditional prayer of thanks. When he had finished and everyone; including Nakoma said their ‘Amens’; they got down to the business of eating and celebrating their friendship.
There were stories rather than gifts passed around this year. If there were awards for the best of stories; of course ol’ Jack would have won; hands down! A natural-born storyteller was Jack.
Bill; on the other hand; had tales to tell of exotic countries and climes. The other three men could only imagine the things that Bill had spoken of and had seen first hand. Jack was tempted to challenge Bill for telling tall tales; but unlike Jack’s own tall tales; Bill’s tales were all true.
Come nighttime; the fire in the fireplace was kept aglow. The stories had wound down and sleep was coming fast upon the friends. Jack; as the oldest; appreciated Adam’s bed; though he put up a good “fight” that he slept on the ground most of his life and wasn’t a greenhorn who needed a soft mattress. His bottom had no sooner touched the mattress when he was snoring loudly; much to the amusement of the three younger men.
Christmas eve and Christmas day and night had been passed in good natured camaraderie, tall tales and true stories. Come morning; Nakoma and Bill would once again put on their heavy, fur traveling robes and make their way home to the village; weather permitting.