Walk A Different Path 🤍 Jaa/First

Chapter 5 ~ apologies ~

"I can do that sure but who is Timi?" Maskwa asked looking confused.

"Timi, he's my wolf" Pon smiled.

"you mean ....?" Maskwa began,

"just know that you don't have to keep searching for my body, it's being well taken care of ... I have to go now baby, don't forget to keep your promises and be good to Sam, I like him" Pipon said as he turned to put his boots back on.

"please don't go Pon, stay a little longer" Maskwa said.

"I can't baby, I have so much to do" Pipon replied.

"I love you" Maskwa called out.

"I love you too Maskwa, I always will but live for the living, not the dead, promise me" Pipon said as he opened the door.

"Pipon"

"promise me baby"

"I promise"

"be happy Maskwa" Pipon said as he left and the door closed behind him.

"Pipon, don't go, not yet ... Pipon no ..."

Maskwa woke up with fat tears rolling down his cheeks and he saw it was morning already as sunshine peeped in through the wooden shutters.

He laid for a moment thinking about the dream he'd had and he reached up and touched his fingers to his lips remembering the kiss but then he thought of Sam, the kiss he had shared with Pipon had been a tender parting kiss where the kiss with Sam had been full of passion.

He stood up and straightened the bed before going to the door and pulling on his boots, he needed to tend to his horse and wash before heading home, he figured he had quite a few apologies to give.

After giving his horse some water and a bucket of grain and chopped carrots he drew more water from the creek and washed up then he saddled his horse and went back into the cabin to make sure that everything was secure, it was then he noticed a white lupine flower laid on the bed.

He picked up the flower carefully and inhaled its scent then he looked around the cabin before speaking.

"thank you for visiting me Pipon, I won't ever forget you" Maskwa said before taking the flower with him and walking out of the cabin.

Back in the village, Sam had been up since 6am, he had received a message from his agent that the fashions were being flown in later today and would arrive around lunchtime give or take an hour.

He had eaten breakfast with Maskwa's parents and neither of them knew where their son was so Sam was concerned how the shoot was going to go ahead with one of the models missing.

He knew that Maskwa wasn't exactly a professional model but he had offered to help and it was only right that he make good on his offer.

The morning passed quickly and lunchtime came and went then Sam got word that the helicopter would be with them within the hour so he donned his boot's and coat and walked to the house where his colleagues were staying.

"did you get the message?" he asked them all

"yes, where is Maskwa?" the photographer asked.

"I have no idea, I've not seen him since yesterday when we left here?" Sam said looking a little disgruntled.

"didn't he come home last night?" the stylist asked.

"I have no idea, I don't think so or his mother would have mentioned" Sam replied.

"what are we going to do if he's changed his mind?" the photographer said.

"again, I have no idea" Sam answered.

The guys chatted for a while until they heard the faint sounds of a helicopter then they all dashed to put their boots and coats on before rushing outside.

The village people came out onto their porches to see what all the commotion was about as the chopper came close and hovered overhead until it flew further away to land in the middle of a clearing a good 80 metres away from the village.

Sam looked at his watch to see that the time was 1.30pm then they all started walking towards the chopper, as they got closer they saw the KJ Hotels logo on the side and the blades had slowed to a stop.

Everyone watched as two guys climbed out and hefted several trunks containing the designs out of the helicopter then they were so busy inspecting the trunks that they didn't see the other occupants of the chopper as they climbed out looking extremely tired.

"aren't you going to say hi Sam" a voice spoke making Sam spin around.

"Paitoon baby boy what are you doing here?" Sam almost screamed with joy.

"you sounded depressed so I came to cheer you up" toonie replied.

"hey Sam" Chit called out as he jumped down from the chopper then Kiri Junphanatat and his husband Kan climbed out behind him.

"what's going on?" Sam asked looking at everyone curiously.

"Kiri owns the Ski Lodge at the top of the mountain and when I mentioned to Chit about you being here he told me his boss was heading here too so I bummed a ride" Paitoon laughed.

"awesome, how long can you stay for?" Sam asked.

Paitoon looked at his fiancé Chit who looked at his boss Kiri who shrugged,

"we need to be back at the airport this evening so we can call back for you in a few hours" Kiri replied.

"perfect, plenty of time to catch up and ..."

"shiyaa, who the fuck is that?" Kan said looking up the hill.

The small gathering followed Kan's eyes and saw a man riding down the hill on a horse.

"what, you never saw someone on a horse before baby?" Kiri asked Kan

"not one as handsome as him" Kan replied.

"babe, remember you're a married man or we'll need to have a serious talk" Kiri said as he glowered at the guy on the horse.

"he's the guy I was telling you about toonie" Sam said, his eyes never leaving Maskwa's"

Makswa approached the group of people and climbed down off his horse before looking at Sam.

"tansê Sam, tansê ... kîkwây ôma / what is this, what's going on?" Maskwa greeted then asked the group.

"it's the outfits for the photo shoot and this is my dear friend Paitoon Pinamakhorn, his fiancé Chit Thanonariwit and Kiri and Kan Junphanatat" Sam said.

"hey, I'm Maskwa Maskawisiw" Maskwa said holding out his hand after he pulled off his glove.

After all the introductions were made Maskwa asked Sam when he needed him?

"it's a bit late in the day now ... should we start tomorrow guys?" Sam asked the crew.

"yeah but let's make it early" the photographer replied.

"you heard the man" Sam said to Maskwa.

"ok, well I need to get my horse back so I'll see y'all later" Maskwa said turning to walk off but not before Paitoon saw the flower tucked under a strap on one of the saddle bags ...

"ah a lupine, how pretty ... did you know it comes from the word lupus which is latin for wolf"

Sam noticed how Maskwa paused before walking away, he couldn't help but wonder where he had been all night and who he had been with to come home with a flower?

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