Chapter 44

Maura was sitting on the back porch and looking out over the fields. It had been almost a year since Jane came back to Stockton and moved into the house with her. Elan and a few of the other Apache were living on their land, hidden from the Army. Liluve had been working with Maura in the mornings on the fields, while Elan was out hunting. Together, they made sure that Maura was cared for, protected and provided for while Jane was out of town.

Liluve stood under the shed roof of the barn. She was watching Maura. She knew that the honey-blonde was missing her Ranger. But, the more she watched Maura, the more she realized that it was deeper than that. She could tell that they both loved each other immensely, but white eyes were stubborn. She knew that Jane was a Two Spirit and she loved her more for it. Elan thought of her as a sibling and he was glad that Jane had allowed them to move onto her land. They both knew it was to protect them from the government because they weren't a threat, but they were happy to still be on the prairie.

"Ojo Verdes?" Liluve asked as she joined Maura on the back porch of the house.

"Oh, hello, Liluve, what can I do for you?" she asked as the Apache woman sat in the rocker next to her.

"Something troubles you. I can see it in your eyes. Is Jane not well?"

"As far as I know she is fine," Maura answered.

"Has the Skin Walker returned?" Liluve questioned her voice full of concern.

"No."

"Then, what troubles you, Ojo Verdes?"

"I love her," Maura answered.

"I know."

"No, I mean I love her, but besides our arrangement, we can have nothing more."

"I don't understand."

"We can't have a wedding."

Liluve bit her lip. She wanted to laugh. Instead, she shook her head at Maura's "white eye" thinking. She reached out and took Maura's hand in her own.

"Jane, she is special," Liluve started, but stopped when Maura looked like she was going to interrupt. "She is. We all know this. We've seen it. She is a powerful Two Spirit. But, your laws and ways do not pertain to her. She is more Apache now than she was ever a white eye. She follows her heart and where her spirit takes her. It brought her to you and it keeps her bound to you. If you want her pledge, you simply need to ask for it."

She gave Maura a large smile and stood up. She looked out towards the barn. Maura followed her gaze and saw Jane as she was walking out. It was obvious that she'd just gotten back. She brushing dust off her pants as she walked out. Jane turned and closed the barn door. As she turned around, she saw both Liluve and Maura standing on the back porch watching her. She couldn't help but give the well-known, huge, Rizzoli smile. She pulled off her gloves as she approached them, her smile never leaving her face.

"Liluve, Maura, good afternoon," she said as she stepped up onto the porch.

"Ranger Jane," Liluve replied as she moved to leave. "I'll be back in the morning to work the field. And, depending on what Elan has caught, we'll have a good stew for dinner. Take care, my sisters."

She left before Jane could say anything else to her. Jane turned and looked at Maura, wondering if she'd walked up into something she wasn't supposed to. Shrugging her shoulders, she reached out for Maura's hand and guided her into the house. As soon as they crossed the threshold into the kitchen, Jane had her backed against the door and was kissing her fiercely.

Breaking the kiss, Jane back up to speak. "I've missed you."

"I can tell."

"Is dinner on the fire?"

"Yes," Maura answered with a slight lilt of question.

"I want to see you. I want to feel you. I want to taste you," Jane told her.

"Can you not wait?"

"No," Jane told her as she reached over and picked her up.

Maura couldn't help but laugh at Jane's antics. It had been two weeks since Jane went on her man hunt. She assumed by Jane's insatiable hunger that they'd caught the man, but it had been a hard fight. She didn't stop her. She loved Jane enough to gauge her moods when she returned. Tonight, they would love each other many times and she would still be trying to catch her breath in the morning. And, she was sure that Liluve would tease her about it as well.

Hours later, Maura rolled over in their bed. Smiling, she ran her hands down Jane's back, admiring the muscle and softness. It was the juxtaposition of Jane, strength and caring, toughness and sweetness, hard and soft. She knew that most never got to see both sides, but Maura counted herself lucky that she did. It was another reason that she loved Jane so completely. They just fit together well.

"If you keep doing that, we'll never make it to the table to eat tonight," Jane told her sleepily.

"Would that be a problem?"

"You would burn dinner?"

"No, Jane, I can go move it off the fire. It'll keep until morning. We can have it with some biscuits."

"I love you," Jane said as she rolled over to face her.

"And, I love you," Maura replied.

Jane leaned forward and kissed her again. Before she could deepen it, Maura pulled back. She looked deeply into Jane's dark eyes.

"What is it, Maur?"

"If we could marry, would you?"

"What do you mean?"

"If you could marry me, would you?" Maura asked her.

"Why can't I marry you, Maura?"

"We can't marry, Jane. Two women can't get married. It isn't sanctioned by any church I know of and I doubt that it would even been legal. I am sure that you would know of such a law as you are a law enforcement officer," Maura told her.

"I am sure that I don't care about that, Maura. We can pledge ourselves together and that would be enough for me. I thought that I had already done that for you, but if you need something more. I could ask Elan to give us an Apache wedding. Would that be enough for you?" Jane asked her, holding her hands in her own, afraid that if she didn't have this connection with Maura at the moment that she might disappear.

"You would be my wife?"

"In a heartbeat, Maur. There is no question of that. I love you," Jane answered.

"Will you speak with Elan?"

"If you wish, but what of your family?"

"I don't care about that. I would love for them to come, but I don't think that they would understand us. I don't want them to ruin what we have, Jane, and I am sure that my father would try. He did send me here to find a husband," Maura reminded her.

"In the Apache world, I would be your husband. Is that not enough for him? Do I not care for you enough for him? Do I not provide for you? Do I not protect you? What else would I need to do for him?"

"It isn't that, Jane and we both know that. It is society. They don't understand Two Spirits like we do and like the Natives do. They would kill them for breaking their ideals and not following the tenants of radical Christianity. I don't want to lose you, Jane. So, if the only way I can have you is to renounce my family, I'll do it," Maura told her.

"I'll speak with Elan," Jane told her.

Elan stood inside the barn with Jane, her father and Governor Doyle. She wasn't pacing yet, but she was close. She knew that her mother and Liluve were in the house with Maura. She looked like she was ready to bolt out of the barn and just take Maura away.

"Do you have the cord?" Jane asked her father as she finally gave in and started pacing.

"Yes, Janie, I have it," Frank replied.

"Let me have it, please," Elan stated as he reached out for it.

Jane watched the exchange and then smoothed down her waist coat again. Frank eyed his daughter. He'd never seen her this nervous, ever.

"Jane, she'll be coming out of the house for you. Do not doubt Maura's intentions. She wants you," Doyle told her as he laid his hands on her shoulders. "She's made that abundantly clear to me and her mother. She would take on the entire Mexican Army for you, Jane. Do not worry. She's yours."

Jane shook her head and stopped pacing,mostly because Doyle was holding her still, but she stopped. There was a knock on the barn door and Elan opened it. Tommy was standing there. They all exited and moved towards the porch. Jane let out a sigh. She would finally get to see Maura. As they neared the house, she saw Frankie at the back door. He was smiling. As they approached, he knocked on the door and Liluve opened it. They spoke briefly and then Liluve exited alone.

Elan stepped forward and faced Frankie and Liluve before saying, "Ranger Jane has come to make her pledge for Ojo Verdes. Does she accept her pledge? Will she give one in reply?"

Liluve smiled at her husband and nodded, "Ojo Verdes has agreed and gives her pledge in reply."

"Call her forth and let them give their pledge before the tribe and family," Elan demanded.

Frankie opened the door. Maura stepped out in a black lace and green satin dress. Jane lost her breath and felt both Doyle and her father step closer to make sure she didn't fall out. Angela and Frankie stood behind Maura. She took Frankie's hand as she made her way down the stairs and towards Jane.

"Breathe," Doyle reminded Jane quickly in her ear.

"Take each other's hands," Elan told them when they were near enough.

He began a prayer or recitation in Apache. Jane couldn't follow, nor did she mind. She was too enamored with Maura. She barely felt Elan wrap their hands in the cord that Frank had provided.

Doyle stepped forward and leaned in close, so they were the only ones that heard his next words. He looked from Jane to Maura and back again. Standing at his full height, he smiled at them.

"Jane, you have done more for Maura than I ever could. I couldn't help her in Boston. I did what I did to save her from the man she once called father. I am proud of both of you and bless this union like I would any other. Take care of my daughter, Jane. And, if you ever need anything, don't hesitate to ask," he told them before shifting slightly and looking at everyone else there and addressing them more fully. "As governor, I have some leeway with the law and as with any other marriage, I declare this one valid. I cannot speak outside of the territory, but as long a you are in Texas. I shall protect you both."

"Thank you," Maura said quietly, still reeling from the knowledge that Doyle was her true father weeks later.

"Thank you, Sir," Jane told him.

"Elan, finish your ceremony," Doyle commanded as he backed away from the couple.

"Now you will feel no rain, for each of you will be shelter to the other. Now you will feel no cold, for each of you will be warmth to the other. Now there is no more loneliness, for each of you will be companion to the other. Now you are two bodies, but there is one life before you. Go now to your dwelling place, to enter into the days of your togetherness. And may your days be good and long upon the earth," Elan told them as he took his hands off their joined hands and opened them towards the farm house as he gave Jane a large smile.

Jane leaned forward and kissed her bride. With their hands still tied, she led them up the stairs and back into the house. Kissing her again on the porch, Jane lifted her over the threshold, to many raucous cheers, and into the kitchen.

"You're mine, now," Jane told her as she kissed her thoroughly again.

"I've always been yours," Maura told her and turned to lead them upstairs.