The Dance

Chapter 130 Home Again

Matt borrowed Kenny's skiff for he and Jill to make the trip to Browntown. Matt was anxious to see his family again and welcomed the opportunity to share his good news. No one would ever expect him to take such a leap of faith and acquire his own land for a sawmill mill. The news about he and Jill probably wouldn't be a surprise to the family but nevertheless he wanted to tell everyone they were officially engaged. It appeared that the Brown family would grow by one with the addition of Jill.

The family had received a call on the sat phone from Matt giving them time to prepare for the visit. Gabe and Bear had started a fire to grill venison and the girls helped prepare bread and a cake for Matt's return home. It had been quite awhile since Matt had been home. Bam, Lila and the Brownies waited on the beach for their arrival. Jace and Lily were not quite yet walking but had perfected the art of crawling. Now that they were mobile, no one could take there eyes off them even for a minute.

The sound of the skiff motor could be heard in the distance as Bam's eyes searched the horizon for his brother. A small dot appeared on the horizon and grew larger as it neared. Bam could see Matt's outline and soon he could see his trademark smile.

As the skiff navigated closer to shore, Bam waded in the water to catch the tow line to tie off the boat. Matt flew out of the boat giving his brother a huge bear hug. "Hey old man, how's married life?" Matt peeked over his shoulder and waved at Lila and the babies.

Matt helped Jill out of the skiff, carrying her through the water and onto the dry beach. "Oh my goodness, look at how much the babies have grown." Jill ran to the edge of Lila's blanket and dropped to her knees. "May I?" Lila nodded and Jill scooped up Jace and carried him on her hip to see Matt.

"Look who's come to say hello, Uncle Mattie."

"Hey, little man. How have you been?" Matt stroked Jace's cheek with his finger. Jace grabbed it tightly with his small hand. "Damn, Bam, you make some handsome babies."

Bam chuckled and replied, "I hope to make a lot more."

Lila yelled to Bam, "Only if you get me indoor plumbing!"

"Come on, you guys are going to stay with us. Gabe's taken over the trapper shack. Lila's got a bed set up in the kid's room." Bam helped Matt carry their bags to his place as the girls followed in tow with the Brownies. Laughter, chatter and baby talk filled the air. Some say you can never go home but Matt felt welcomed from his first step on the beach.

After dropping the bags off at the cabin, the couples with babies in hand, made their way to the main cabin where the wolfpack gathered. Bear, in his usual fashioned, welcomed the collective group with a howl as Ami practically knocked Matt over with a welcoming hug. To say he was missed was an understatement as each family member welcomed him back home. Jill stood back from the group and watched the reunion play out. Matt turned and reached for her hand pulling Jill to his side, blending the old family with his new family.

As the dining table filled up, and the family exchanged recent news, Matt asked everyone to quiet down for a minute. "I have some news to share with everyone." Matt put his arm around Jill's shoulder and announced, "This woman has agreed to be my wife."

Elation erupted from the table as everyone congratulated Matt and Jill on their news. "Have you set the date yet?" Lila asked giving Matt a mercurial smile.

"Not yet because we have some more good fortune to share."

"Grandbabies?" Ami's curiosity was peaked.

"Ma, really? I just announced we were engaged. Let's not rush the kids."

"What's the big news?" Gabe asked.

"I've bought a piece of land in town and I'm going to open up a sawmill in Hoonah called Browntown Lumber Company."

Billy was stunned as were his brothers. "Repeat that again, Matt."

"I have decided to start my own business. Over the past several months, I saved enough for a down payment on a parcel of land near the dock. I thought, if you were all interested, you could be a part of this as well."

"Wait a minute." Bam stopped the conversation. "Where did you get the money for the land?"

"From my art." Jill flashed her spoon ring and bracelet that Matt had made.
"My girl, here, helped me realize I was really good at something and between my talent and her brains, well, we sold a lot of jewelry to the tourist trade."

"Matt took the proceeds and made a down payment on the land and is financing the rest." Jill clasped his hand and squeezed it. He appreciated her reassurance.

"Once I get the mill up and running, I can pay off the balance in a couple of months and then we will be working for us."

The brothers seemed intrigued by the idea. "There's plenty of trees here that can be hauled to Hoonah on the Integrity, milled and then sold along our delivery routes. It will be a natural extension of our business."

"Is there a building on the land already?" Billy inquired.

"More like a covered shelter, roof, no walls." Matt described the set up. "I think we can enclose the sides and move my small mill in there until we get some orders lined up. So are you guys up for the challenge?"

"Sounds like it's time for a family vote. Who's in?" Billy looked around the table asking each brother for their vote. It was unanimous in favor of the venture.