Love An Eagle

The Ithanchan (Chief) turned to look at Ms. Dolly and even Cara could see that Ms. Dolly’s words had displeased him.

“She is human,” the Ithanchan stated, as if no one knew this. “Wamblee needs to have shifter young to carry on the generations. Our blood is becoming weak.”

Ms. Dolly shrugged once more, seemingly unconcerned. “His brother Swift has found his soulmate, she is eagle. If the Wakan Tankan blesses them, they will have eagle young.”

The Ithanchan shook his head. “It does not matter, I am Ithanchan, both my sons need to have strong eagle mates to strengthen the blood and bring blessings to the tribe as a whole,” he told her. Then he turned back to Wamblee. “You will put her aside and do what is expected of you. You will claim Snana (Peggy) and the two of you will produce pure eagle young.”

Cara gasp at his words. Then before anything else could be said she spit out, “But…but I thought if a claim was broken the shifter or his animal spirit would die?”

The Ithanchan snorted. “That only happens if both are shifter. You are human so neither of you will suffer for it.”

Wamblee growled.

Cara turned to look at him. Who knew a bird could growl, she thought a bit crazily, feeling as if she was going to hyperventilate. She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry at that point.

“No father, I will not break my claim on Cara. The claiming is completed, and I plan to keep it that way,” Wamblee snarled angrily at his father.

“Then you will no longer be my son, or part of this tribe. You are hereby banished,” the Ithanchan said then, his face still blank.

Wamblee’s mother put her hands over her heart, looking as if she would cry. “Please mihigna ki, (my husband) don’t do this. He is our son and he is happy with her.”

The Ithanchan turned away, looking toward the window. “I have spoken, and it is done.”

Wamblee took Cara’s hand and she felt it shaking, felt a deep pain coming from him as if his very being was being torn apart. Then, turning on his heel, he almost dragged her out of the room.

The ride home was made in silence. Cara sat staring out the window of truck, tears silently running down her face.

Wamblee sat, looking stoic but he gripped her hand tightly as if he feared she would disappear.

When they arrived at the house, he shut off the engine and just sat, staring at nothing.

“Wamblee?”

“I never dreamed he would take it that far. I never dreamed he would disown me and banish me from the tribe,” he whispered. “This is bad Cara, very bad. My eagle spirit cannot survive without…”

Cara turned in her seat. “What are you saying Wamblee? Are you regretting us?”

He turned and grabbed hold of her, pulling her over into his lap. “No! Never! I belong to you and with you, but I have never been without the tribe. Even when I was away at school, I knew they were there for me if ever I needed them.”

Cara studied his face. Though he still looked calm, she knew it was a façade because she could see the fear of the unknown in his eyes. She gave a sigh and kissed him gently. “Perhaps he will realize what he did was wrong and change his mind.”

“No, he will never admit to being wrong,” he huffed. “Let’s go inside now and have a bite to eat.”

He opened his door and climbed out. Cara got out behind him. “I don’t know that I can eat right now.”

He nodded as they walked up the steps and inside the house. Then, pulling her to him he kissed her. “Help me forget for a bit?”

“Yes,” she agreed because she too wanted to forget the last horrible hour of their lives.

Then he was backing her toward the bedroom and their bed. Once there, he made love to her and they forgot all about the horrible day they’d had as they lost themselves in each other.

At least for a time they forgot.

“My dad left a message on my voice mail. He wants to take to me at lunch today.” Cara told Wamblee over coffee the next morning.

He looked up. “Monica told him about me?”

“No, I don’t think so actually. If she did, he was awfully calm about it,” she told him.

“Mm…well, lunch sounds good,” he agreed. “Do you want me to come?”

“I do,” she said. “I plan to tell him you’re my fiancé and soulmate.”

He raised his eyebrows at her, a sparkle in his eyes. “Oh, you are, are you?”

“I am. I would tell him you’re my husband, but that would be a bit hard to explain with no proof,” she told him, propping her chin in her hand. “You know, we’re going to have to marry for my dad to be happy.”

“I know,” he agreed. “The soulmate parts?”

Cara smiled thinking back. “My dad always said mom was his. He said from the moment they met they were meant to be. She didn’t agree though and led him on a merry chase for almost two years.”

Standing up, he pulled her up into his arms to give her a long kiss. Breaking apart and breathless, he whispered, “I wouldn’t have survived that long.”

Cara laughed. “Me either.”

“What about Monica?”

Cara sighed. “He loves her, but honestly? I think most of his heart still belongs to my mom. Monica seems to accept that though, so, they work.”

Wamblee nodded solemnly and after taking a deep breath, he asked, “Work now?”

“Yep,” she agreed and went to get her purse and shoes.

Later that morning, the new doctor showed up, with his wife, who was a nurse, and his sister.

Everyone found out then that Dr. Greg Childers was the OB-GYN and his sister Gretchen was their new pediatric doctor. Talk about keeping it all in the family!

“Why didn’t you tell us?” Ramona asked when Wamblee introduced everyone.

“I actually had another pediatric doctor lined up, but he didn’t work out. So, Greg offered the services of his sister. She was wanting a change of pace, so this worked out perfectly,” Wamblee told them. “Also, everyone, this is doctor Childers’ wife Leslie, she’s going to replace Becky.

“Hello, it’s very nice to meet you all,” Leslie said in a soft voice, a genuine smile on her face.

“I think I’m gonna like her,” Peggy said, and the other two women agreed by nodding their heads.

“In the next few days, Dr. Gretchen’s nurse will be joining her. Until then Peggy, you and Leslie will be splitting your time between the three of us. It shouldn’t be too difficult since we’ll have another nurse before we begin getting a lot of pediatric patients,” Dr. Claw said.

Everyone nodded their agreement.

Then, the three women stood and watched as Wamblee took the two doctors back to show them their offices and where they’d each be seeing their patients. Since Leslie was going to be Dr. Greg’s nurse, she went with them.

Peggy turned sad eyes to Cara. “I’m sorry about what happened yesterday.”

Cara turned and sat down at her desk. “Not like you’re the one who did it Peggy. I was wondering though, what does your name…”

“Snana,” Peggy supplied.

“Yeah, what does it mean?” Cara asked.

“It means, “jingle like little bells”. Mom always told me when I was little my laughter sounded like those little bells, so they named me Snana,” Peggy explained.

Cara smiled. “That’s so cute. Do all of you have names that kind of mean something like that?”

“Most of us, though not all. Not all of us are as traditional as mine and Lee’s parents are,” Peggy told her.

“So, why are you called Peggy?” Cara asked then.

“Peggy is my name, my middle name. I suppose my mom figured I’d need a “normal” name when I went out in the world on my own. She was mostly right because I remember the strange looks I received when the name Snana was used. Guess that’s why in collage Wamblee began going by Lee,” Peggy explained. Then she asked, “So, have you moved in with Lee permanently?”

“I think so, but we’re having lunch with my dad,” Cara told her. “If he doesn’t have an apoplexy when I bring it up….”

“Ah…dads! Well, I hope it goes well,” Peggy told her, then headed toward the door and work.

Lunch came too quickly, or maybe it was just that Cara was nervous about talking to her dad.

She met Wamblee at the door, and they walked to the café together.

Wamblee hugged her against his side. “This will be a walk in the park compared to meeting my parents,” he teased.

Cara laughed. “I hope so.”

He held the door and they walked in, quickly spotting her dad off to the one side. Moving that way, Cara scooted into the booth, Wamblee sat down next to her.

Cara’s dad looked startled. “Well, hello! It’s been a very long time, but you must be the all grown up version of Wamblee Claw?”

Wamblee chuckled as he shook her dad’s hand. “That I am. Good to see you again sir.”

“I wasn’t expecting anyone but my daughter,” her dad said then as he looked over at Cara.

“Yeah, sorry about that dad, but I felt like Wamblee needed to be here since…” she trailed off and took a deep breath. “Dad, Wamblee and I are in love with each other and have been seeing each other outside work for a while now. He’s asked me to be his wife and I said yes.”

Cara knew it was stretching a bit, but for the most part, it was the truth.

He dad sighed. “I had a feeling.

“You…you did?” she questioned.

“I may be old Cara, but I’m not blind,” her dad said. “Look, I noticed how lately you sigh to yourself a lot. I also notice the smiles when you think no one is watching. I figured there was a man involved, but I was waiting until you were ready to tell me.”

“You don’t think it’s too fast?” Cara asked him.

Her dad shook his head. “I’ve told you more than once Cara that I fell in love with your mom the first time I met her. Why should I disbelieve it happening to you now?”

He stopped and scrubbed a hand over his face as they gave their orders to the waitress who had walked up.

Once she was gone, he spoke again. “I also know that things are getting worse between you and your sister. I’ve talked to her time and time again, yet nothing seems to get through to her. So, I’ve told her she needs to get a place of her own.”

Cara’s mouth dropped open. Then closing it, she swallowed hard. “Oh.”

Her dad chuckled. “You weren’t expecting that were you?”

“Um…no,” Cara agreed.

The waitress returned and placed their drinks on the table.

Cara took a long drink of her ice water before speaking again. “Um…dad, Wamblee asked me to move in with him and I’ve agree to that too.”

Her dad stared at them, looking back and forth. After a moment the asked, “Is that where you’ve been staying?”

“Yeah. Look dad, Robyn tore my room to pieces and it isn’t the first time,” Cara began, her breathing picking up as she remembered the threats Robyn had made. “I just couldn’t deal with her anymore. Not only that, but I want to be with Wamblee…”

“Cara, stop,” her dad whispered. Reaching over, he took her hand in his and gave her a solemn look. “If you love him, then it comes as no surprise that you want to be together.” He turned his gaze to Wamblee. “All I ask is…You go today, you get a license and you marry my daughter Dr. Claw. If she wants a big wedding, then she needs to move back home. If she just wants vows said, then you marry her as soon as the law allows it.”

“Dad!”

Her dad turned with a frown. “Choose Cara! This is the way it will be. You’re still my daughter and I want the best for you. If he is what is best, then he will marry you. So, either you move home, or you have a shotgun wedding. Which will it be?”

Cara turned to look at Wamblee to find him looking at her with a twinkle in his eye. He found this funny and she poked her lip out in a pout!

“I’ve actually already gotten a license sir. All I have to do is call the judge and set up a time,” Wamblee told her dad.

Cara’s jaw dropped again. “Seriously?”

Wamblee chuckled. “I knew he wouldn’t want you staying at my house. You and Monica both told me that much, so, I made plans.”

He dad laughed. “I like this guy.”

Cara laughed to as she leaned over to hug Wamblee. “Yeah dad, me too.”

And just like that, it was a good day!

When Saturday rolled around Cara didn’t want to leave the bedroom.

Finally, around noon, her growling stomach roused her and Wamblee laughed.

“You know, you still have to go clean your room out today,” Wamble said later from where he stood at the stove.

Cara was now seated at the table, wearing nothing but one of Wamblee’s button up shirts while he fixed lunch. “I know.”

“I wish I could go with you, but I have some things I need to do, and this is my only day to do it,” he said as he put her filled plate in front of her. “But, I will drop you off, if you like, and come pick you up, so we can load your boxes into my truck.”

She hummed. “That would be great, as long as you don’t take too long to get back. I really don’t want to take the chance that Robyn will start something. You did talk to the judge though, right?”

“Yes, and we will be getting married at eleven on Tuesday.” He said as he sat down across from her with his own plate. “That was the earliest he could get us in. You don’t think your dad will make you come home for those two days?”

Cara snickered. “No, I don’t think so. I mean, he did let me stay the rest of the week here.”

“Only after I promised I’d have someone stay with us,” he muttered.

Wamblee was still annoyed he’d had to put up with Peggy all week at work and at home.

“It was worth it though mihigna ki, because it meant I got to stay here with you,” she said.

“I know,” he agreed.

She stood up then and stretched. “How about we go take a shower together?”

He looked up from his half full plate. “Nope, because if we do that we won’t make it to your dads today.”

She pouted, but knew he was right. So, even though she didn’t like it, she agreed, “Fine, be that away.

Then she turned and headed for the bedroom.