201 Easter3

Brayden came running towards Marshal and his Mom. 

" I found the money egg in our section of the yard. Think Crystal told everyone to let me find it. Marshal did you do the same things like today when you were a kid?" Marshal looks at him and nods answering him. 

"Sure did, today is not much different then when I was a kid. In fact it is almost three Aisling will be announcing dinner any minute. Then after dinner we get to do more fun things. There will be a game of baseball ,riding the motor bikes, riding horses or fishing. Then just before dark we will make s'mores . It can be kind of boring since it's what we always do. " Brayden looks at him as if he has two heads. Thomas announces the winner of the egg hunt it is Tannis. Aisling giggles and asks Sam what would Tannis like for her prize. Tannis tried to grab a bow out of the prize box. Everyone laughs at the little baby. Marshal calls out 

"I guess she wants to be like her Aunt and be a archer."  Everyone starts laughing. Sam puts the bow in his truck and Aisling motions for Crystal and Brayden. She announces .

" We will be starting hunting lessons for these two next week . So anyone who wants to join be here starting next Saturday. " she turns to her Uncle John and asks him. 

"Dinner is done so if uncle John will bless the food we can start." John proceeds to say the blessing . When he has finished everyone begins to eat. Dinner was delicious and the oldest elders were ready for a nap. Debra put the twins down for their nap while Sam and Marshal got the motorcycles out. Yona and Onacona were in charge of the horses. Thomas got some of the older kids involved in a baseball game in the back field. Aisling and the other ladies began to clean up. Randy takes Salali and his parents fishing for some quiet time together. 

Yona texts Astila to let him know Randy wants to talk to them. The two men head for the creek to meet up with him. When the brothers get there Randy is already waiting for them. Yona looks at his brother and asks. 

"So how much are we going to torture him?" Grinning Astila calls to him. 

"Yo Randy you wanted to talk to us?" The two brothers stare at him coldly waiting for him to speak. 

"Yeah, I don't know how much Salali has told you about our relationship. I just want to let you know that I am going to ask her to marry me tonight. I have been away on tour so this is the first time I have had the chance. I love your sister and I don't want to be away from her any longer. I want to take her on tour with me. I want to have her by my side for the rest of our lives. " 

Yona knew this was coming because of his little trip with Aisling . He was just waiting for it to happen. Astila likes Randy and has known for a few months that they had been dating. He just isn't sure if his sister is ready for this. Randy thinking that they are concerned about his job hands them his bank book. 

" I'm not worried about that, the only thing I'm worried about is my sisters feelings. We know she loves you but we also know that she has never been away from us ever. One of us has always been close by. If not us then Uncle has been. She has never been on her own. We will let you get engaged, she can even go with you on tour for short periods of time. I don't want to have her rush into marriage. You are her first love, most likely her first boyfriend. So my answer is yes to engagement no to marriage. I want you to wait at least a year before getting married. It's not that I don't like you because I do. I just want the two of you to take your time . I know that neither of us are good examples of waiting but Salali isn't Remi or Aisling. Other than cooking a meal or keeping a house she has no experience with relationships or anything outside of the four of us. Where we did live on our own and have the knowledge of living with others that were not our immediate family." Astila just looks at Randy and says. 

"yeah what he just said." 

Randy looks at the two brothers and says ok he goes back to the house to make a plan to ask Salali to marry him. 

that evening when the sun was going down everyone was around the fire pit roasting marshmallows. Randy comes out of the house with a guitar. Crystal and Brayden are following him. Salali watches as he comes closer to her. Sitting on the ground in front of her he begins to sing. Everyone is quiet all you hear is the fire crackling and Randy's mellow voice. Astila holds Aisling in his arms whispering in her ear. 

"Do you regret my not asking you to marry me in a more romantic way?" Turning in her husbands arms she kisses him and tells him. 

"Nope it was perfect. " 

Randy feels his heart pounding , he is so nervous that Salali is going to say no that it's to quick. Taking a deep breath he turns to Crystal and gets the box she was carrying for him. 

"Salali, the night you came into Marshal's bar my heart changed. My heart began to beat so loud I thought that the whole room could hear it. It only took me the length of one dance for me to know that I loved you. That I wanted to have you with me where ever I may have to go. The times we have had to be separated I thought I would die until I could hear your voice or see your face. Will you give me the privilege of marrying me. "

Salali's looks at her brothers wondering what to say . She has never even talked to them about Randy. Looking over at Astila she sees he is kissing his wife and Yona just nods ok at her. Salali says yes . Randy puts the ring on her finger and kisses her. Everyone erupts into a cheer for the couple. Brayden hands Salali the flowers that Randy had prepared. Randy's parents come over and gives them congratulations and hugs. The family starts to crowd around the couple to congratulate them. John asks Salali " Are you planning two  weddings or one?" Salali looks at Randy's mom and asks her.

" What kind of wedding are we having? Our customs are different so are we going to have one or two?" Salali begins to fiddle with hem of her shirt nervously. She doesn't want to offend Randy's parents but she also doesn't want to not have her tribal wedding. Randy's mom sees her nervousness and tells her reassuringly. 

" we can have a wedding that has elements of both . We have time to talk about it and make plans. There is no hurry. After the twins are born I would like you to come visit with us. That way we can get to know each other better. There are a few things I would like to teach you. " Salali agrees with her soon to be mother in law.  

That night Salali goes to talk to her brothers. they meet up in the sitting room . 

Yona gives his little sister a hug. 

"congratulations Sis , on your upcoming marriage. I like Randy though I don't know him well, he seems to be an ok guy" Salali peeks up at him wondering what he is thinking about. 

" Thanks Bro , I know I didn't talk to you guys much about my dating him. It's just you both had so much going on I didn't want to add to it. Especially since Astila didn't like him at first." Astila gives her a cold look. 

" You know that the only reason I didn't like him was because he was too close to Aisling. I thought they were more than friends. Once I knew they were just friends I was ok with him. We knew you liked him and were quietly dating. I just felt it was not our place to say anything till you were ready. " 

Yona messes with her hair as he teases her. 

" You know it's odd none of us chose to marry from the tribe. Not even uncle married from the tribe, I wonder how the elders are going to feel about it. You know we asked him to wait at least a year before you marry. You have never been away from us before so we want you to take your time and make sure he is the right one." Yona is hoping that if they can wait a year his niece won't be put in danger. That maybe the future will be changed in some way for her safety. He of course can't tell her about his trip with Aisling but he can try to possibly change it from happening. He doesn't ever want his sister to face the possibility of having her child taken. Salali knows her brother is not telling her everything but they agreed to her engagement and later marriage for now that is enough. She hugs both of them and says good night. When she leaves Astila confronts his older brother. 

"What has you worried?" 

Looking at Astila he tells him of his trip with Aisling. 

"So you already knew they would be married? You were just trying to delay it hoping to protect her child." 

Yona watches Astila wondering if he is upset that he went on a journey with Aisling and did not tell him. 

"So that's why Aisling and you became close quickly. I always wondered why you had a quick change of heart. I'm glad you did I just was surprised that you gave up on thinking I had gone crazy. Then you and Remi got together so I thought that she was why. You know that we won't be able to stop her from leaving with Randy now. " Yona sighs 

" I know but at least now things are clear with her and we know that they will be a family. "