According to Legend (5 page)

The beating of the drums, the enchanting sounds of wooden flutes, and melodic Indian chants filled the night air. The warmth of Running Wolf’s strong body behind mine and his arms encircling me as I leaned back into his embrace felt like magic.

“The People give thanks to the Great Spirit for the bounty of our harvest. They ask the Great One to see us through the harsh winter by placing an offering of our harvest into the fire,” he whispered against my ear.

The men of the tribe were dressed in deerskin leggings and tunics decorated with dried seeds and animal claws. They wore colorful feathers tied in their hair and chanted in a chorus that rose into the night sky as they danced around a blazing bonfire.

This looks like a scene straight out of
Dances with Wolves
,
I thought to myself and giggled.

“Something amuses you?” Running Wolf asked.

“Yes, I was just imagining myself joining in that dance, but somehow I don’t think I would be as graceful,” I answered and giggled again at the mere thought.

“You may join them if you wish.”

“No, this is perfect,” I answered, snuggling closer against his chest, feeling the heat of him against my back.
Yes, this was perfect.
Had I finally found the love I had spent my entire life seeking?

“I yearn to leave now and take you to a more private place, but fear the People would think their Chief and Princess displeased with the offering to the Great Spirit,” he said.

I desperately wanted to be alone with him and have his body and soul to myself, but I also knew he belonged to his People.

As the dancers gathered around the fire, a figure moved from the shadow of darkness into the firelight. Although she had a dark, weathered face that bore the wrinkles of age, the reflection of the beautiful woman she must have been in her youth remained. She was wearing a traditional American Indian dress that spoke of pride and tradition. She carried a large, colorful basket nestled in the bend of her arm.

“Who is that woman?” I asked.

“Do you not recognize her? That is Weekatay.”

Approaching the men positioned around the fire, Weekatay took dry corn stalks from her basket and handed one to each dancer in turn. The dancers faced Weekatay and began their dance around the fire, each dancer patting the ground with their stalks and then raising the stalks up above their heads, chanting as they circled the fire.

“They give thanks first to our Mother the Earth for nurturing our crops and then offer thanks to the Great Spirit for bringing the harvest forth,” Running Wolf said without my asking the question.

The drums stopped. Weekatay stepped toward the fire. With her arms raised over her head, she crossed the stalks in her hands and chanted. The dancers made a circle around the fire. Her chanting ceased and then in unison she and the dancers tossed their stalks into the fire. The fire blazed to life and sparks flew up into the black velvet night sky. I couldn’t draw my gaze away from the sight.

“The Great Spirit is pleased with our offering,” Running Wolf whispered, “and will grant enough to see us through the cold time to come.”

He stood and helped me to my feet. While still holding my hand, he addressed the People in their native tongue. Somewhere deep inside I knew he was thanking the earth for the yield, the Great Spirit, and the People. I was surprised to be able to understand his words. He was speaking as a Chief to his People, a People who looked up to him for guidance and direction, a People who respected him, and who revered him as their leader. My heart soared with pride. When he finished speaking, a cheer went up from the tribe.

The atmosphere was that of a festival. Even though it was well after the late eve moon, the ceremony went on. He took my hand and guided me toward Weekatay.

The old Indian woman smiled and stretched her hands out to take mine. “Welcome back, my daughter,” she said. “Tonight we have much to be thankful for, much to celebrate.” She guided me toward her. We embraced as if finding each other again after the separation of a long journey.

Running Wolf whispered, “I will leave you.”

I had seen this woman once before, but could not quite recall where or when, but I knew that I had a deep connection with her here in this dream life. Overcome with emotion, tears of joy welled up in my eyes and trickled down my cheeks.

“Do not weep Takshawee, my daughter,” she said, though she, too, had wet cheeks.

“Mother.” The word came rushing out in a whisper. “My eyes have waited so long to gaze upon you again and seeing you has opened my mind to what my life was here.” I realized then that the mystical Weekatay was the powerful, spiritual leader of this tribe and, in fact, the mother of the Indian Princess, Takshawee. I gasped when I realized the words that flowed fluently from my lips were spoken in the language of the Aloscotay People.
Could this woman standing before me have actually been my mother? Or, could my mother, Pam’s mother, have been the spirit of Weekatay?
In the brief moment that passed, confusion swirled like fog in my mind.
How could I live in this time as well as in my present time?

Weekatay laughed as if she could read my thoughts. “Are you pleased with the gift I gave to you at the fair? Have you had any more bad dreams?”

“The gypsy woman . . . you . . . that was you? But how?”

“Come, daughter, let us enjoy the festivities. We will eat with the People and then your husband, Moheeladeck, will take you to his lodge. Perhaps this night the Great Spirit will bless your union with a son.” She patted my hand as she escorted me toward the crowd that had gathered around their Chief.

I was dumbfounded and my jaw dropped opened.
Could that happen?
I wondered.
This is only a dream! And did she say husband
?

As we approached the group gathered around Running Wolf, I realized his tribal name spoken in the Aloscotay tongue was Moheeladeck, just as Mrs. Warren had said. He raised his eyes to meet mine as if he felt my presence before I had arrived.

“Here at last is our Princess,” he said, and the People around him cheered. He took my hand and drew me to his side. “Everyone awaits us. Let us hurry for the celebration cannot begin until we arrive. Tonight we will enjoy this feast with our People.”

A grin captured my lips when I realized that his People were my People as well.

“Now that you have seen your mother, I trust your memory is returning. You now know you have obligations here in this time as well.”

I nodded, realizing that this entire conversation was being spoken in a language that up until only a few moments ago had been completely foreign to me.

We strolled together into an area set aside for the feast and the gathering parted as we approached. We were led to a colorfully decorated mat placed on the ground before a great fire that was set there for us. Meat roasted over the open flames and the tantalizing aroma of it made my stomach grumble. The mat was covered with many clay bowls filled with different types of food that also smelled delicious. Colorful gourds had been hallowed out and painted with animal shapes and were now filled with berries and nuts. An array of different types of squash, corn, and pumpkins lay appealingly on another mat. This feast rivaled memories of my best Thanksgiving meal.

“We will sit here,” Running Wolf said.

I took my place sitting beside him on a log placed close to the edge of the mat.

“Takshawee, you are our guest of honor this night,” he said.

“Guest of honor?”

“Yes, the People celebrate your return,” he answered with a smile.

Now that we had arrived and were seated, the festivities could begin. There was eating, drinking, game playing, singing, and storytelling. It was a magical night. When the festivities started to die down, Moheeladeck stood and took my hand. He said goodnight to his People and we made our way out of the circle of celebration. He led me down a small path to his lodge.

As we walked, I asked him, “Did you send Half-Breed to protect me?”

“Yes, you are safe when you are here with me, but I can’t protect you in your time. Does this displease you?”

“No, I love that you have done this. Thank you, Moheeladeck,” I said as I slipped my arms around his neck.

Sensing my anxieties, Moheeladeck pulled me closer into his embrace. “What troubles you, my love?”

I felt like a nervous virgin bride on her wedding night. I longed to be in his arms again. As before, it was as if he could read my emotions and thoughts.

“Do not be frightened, my love. You already know there is nothing to fear from me.”

I clung to him. He bent his head and brought his warm lips to mine. He took possession of my lips, my mind, my spirit, my very soul, and all my fear melted away. He lifted me into his arms and carried me into the lodge. As we entered, I saw Half-Breed take his place as guard outside the door.

In the dim firelight of the lodge, we undressed each other in what seemed like a ritual. We made love that night tenderly, fiercely, gently, completely—all the while enshrined by the vibrating energy of the union of our bodies, our spirits, and the stones.

Just before the first rays of dawn, Half-Breed nudged us to consciousness.

“Noooo,” I murmured. “It can’t be time to go already. Please, just a little longer,” I whispered as I snuggled deeper into the furs and into the warm embrace of my Warrior Chief. He held me gently as Half-Breed laid down heavily with a sigh.
Har-humph.

“Is he going to give us a little more time together?” I whispered to Moheeladeck.

“If he is, let us not put it to waste,” he answered.

We made love again sweetly, tenderly. Afterward, Moheeladeck held me and rained kisses over my hair. But when Half-Breed whined, I knew it was time to go. We dressed quickly and left the lodge hand-in-hand.

“I wish I didn’t have to go back,” I said.

“You must . . . for now.”

“Will there ever be a time when I won’t have to leave you?”

“That answer is held within your heart and in the power of the stones.”

“The stones?”

“Yes, in your world you must reunite the stones,” he said, and then . . . I woke up.

I rolled over consumed by the feeling that I was floating on air, so sated and well loved that I must have been glowing. I glanced at my watch. Ten o’clock. I gasped and leapt out of bed. I had to meet David at the kennel at eleven.
Shoot, no wonder Half-Breed was so anxious for me to wake up.
“You’re not going to ruin my after-glow, wolf,” I murmured as I sprinted to the shower.

I didn’t want to bring a purse nor did I want to leave the catcher at the hotel.
What could I do?
Then it dawned on me that I had an extra set of rawhide shoelaces for my hiking boots in my backpack, so I rifled through the pack until I found them. Stringing the catcher on a long strand of rawhide I put it around my neck and hid it under my sweater. I expected the dream catcher and stone to feel cold against my skin, but much to my surprise, warmth emanated from the stone as it rested over my heart.

I arrived at David’s kennel ten minutes late. The little bell over the door chimed as I entered. David stood behind the counter and Half-Breed was lying on a huge dog bed in the corner of the room, just beyond the large plate-glass window at the front of the shop.

“Sorry I’m late. I, um, a, overslept.”

Har-humph.

My cheeks stung with embarrassment at the wolf’s sigh, imagining he knew exactly what had kept me.
Now this is getting ridiculous.

“Ah, are you late? We hadn’t even noticed, right, Half-Breed?” David asked, aiming the last part of his remark toward the wolf.

Har-humph.

The sound of dogs barking came from back in the kennel as I took a few steps further into the room.

“He’s brooding,” David said, keeping his tone low as I approached the counter. “I’ve never seen him like this. He was prancing back and forth in front of the door watching the clock until eleven. He must have thought you weren’t going to show up because then he took to his bed and started this.”

Now I know everything in my life these past few days had been strange, but this was even stranger. I
heard
a gruff, gravelly voice in my mind say,
What’s he talking about? I never prance!

“What?” I said aloud, shaking my head in disbelief.

“I said, I think he’s brooding.”

Could it be that David hadn’t heard the voice?

“I’ll grab Half-Breed’s things and get them loaded in my truck,” he continued. “I’ll be back in a few and we can head over to the park.”

I nodded and when David left the room I turned to face Half-Breed. I heard the gruff voice in my mind again.
Sleepy head . . . We tried to tell you it was time to go.

Oh my God!
Was the wolf actually speaking to me?
I knelt down next to him and stroked his head. “I’m sorry, Half-Breed. I’ll pay more attention to you in the future.”

Har-humph,
he groaned aloud, but my mind heard,
Apology accepted, don’t let it happen again.

I giggled. “Friends?” I asked.

Forever,
he answered, lowering his head as if bowing in acquiescence as he placed his large paw lightly on my hand.
I have a message for you from my Alpha.

“Your Alpha?”

Moheeladeck,
he answered impatiently, and it dawned on me that this was how the wolf would view Moheeladeck, as his Alpha master.

“I can speak to him through you?”

Yes, that is one of the reasons he has sent me to you.

“Okay, what’s his message?”

I hate this,
the wolf complained.

“He hates this? Hates what?” I questioned, confused.

No, I hate delivering messages dripping with human sentiment.

“Oh.” I giggled. Not only was I having a conversation with another species, it was with a wolf that had some interesting opinions.

So
forgive me if I paraphrase.

Did he just say ‘paraphrase? ’ “Please, do go on.”

He says ‘Good Morning. He loves you and misses you. Well, a lot.’ YUCK. There, I gave you the message.

“Thank you, Half-Breed. Please tell him the same from me.”

The wolf’s gruff voice relayed my message to Moheeladeck, but I could only hear one side of the conversation, as if the wolf was talking into a telephone to Moheeladeck.

Then the wolf’s thoughts.
Ewwwwww. I realize that you ARE the Alpha, but please don’t make me say THAT!

Before I could hear what my dream lover had said, David came back into the room. I was eager to hear the message Half-Breed was so reluctant to deliver. I hoped my disappointment wasn’t apparent.

I smiled as David said, “I see you two have made up.” He chuckled. “My truck is parked right outside. Are you ready to go?”

“Sure,” I said sheepishly, then stood, embarrassed to have been caught talking to Half-Breed. “I’m really looking forward to learning how to
control
this wolf.” Was it my imagination, or did Half-Breed growl under his breath?

David held the door open. While he locked up, I headed to the truck followed by Half-Breed.

Ha! I only let him think he controls me. I only answer to one Alpha. Besides, I hate the way he was looking at your butt just now.
The wolf’s thoughts intruded into my mind.

He was looking at my butt?

Like a starving dog.

Oh my God
—
this is so cool.

You think him looking at your butt like a starving dog is cool?

No, I think it’s totally cool that we’re actually talking like this.

Yeah, it is pretty cool. But, Princess, you should know that Moheeladeck can hear my side of all of our conversations, so he’s well aware of David’s . . . ah . . . shall we say . . . interests.

Oh
. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea after all.

David held the door to the truck opened and I climbed in. As he circled the rear of the truck to the driver’s side, he tapped the side of the truck bed and Half-Breed jumped in effortlessly.

“We’ll head over to the park and run through a few commands and I can show you how to handle Half-Breed. Although, you seem to have him wrapped around your little finger already,” David said with a wide smile.

Mmm, that dazzling smile
.

Grr
filled my thoughts.

“He’s great! I think Half-Breed actually does like me,” I said to David.

“I think he does, too.”

The wolf’s voice intruded,
I’ve pledged my duty to Moheeladeck to protect you. Liking you is a benefit, Princess.

I turned to David. “You have no idea how much I’m looking forward to this.”

“I’ve been looking forward to this, too. I could hardly stop thinking about seeing you again,” he said.

The wolf’s voice rushed into my mind with a growl
Back off, Horn Dog! He Better Not Touch You! He Better Never
—

Half-Breed, you’re over reacting,
I thought and then cleared my throat. I’d better change the subject before that wolf makes a scene.

I looked over at David. He seemed at ease behind the wheel. “So, how long have you had Half-Breed?”

“He came to me a few weeks ago through a rescue service from up north. I don’t know too much about him, but I’ve been working with him. He’s smart and very well trained and I feel really confident placing him with you.”

“I think we’ll get along fine.”

The conversation for the remainder of our drive consisted of things such as what to feed Half-Breed, exercising him, and discipline. When we started to discuss the subject of sleeping arrangements, Half-Breed’s growl intruded into my mind.

What are you going on about back there, Half-Breed?

The wolf’s voice sprang up.
Nothing of concern. I’m simply bored with hearing him talking on and on about my habits. And you’re sleeping arrangements are none of his concern.

When we arrived at the park, David got out and came around to the passenger door to help me out of the truck.
He sure is handsome
.

Grrr.

Oh, man. Is nothing sacred
? I thought.
I have got to get a grip
.

David circled around to the bed of the truck. “Come on, Half-Breed, this is your chance to show off for the pretty lady,” he said as he clipped the leash onto Half-Breed’s collar, then led the wolf over to a grassy area and I followed.

“Okay, Pam,” David began as I came to stand beside him. He took my hand in his and our eyes met briefly as he slid the loop of the leash over my wrist.

“The best way to control Half-Breed is to keep the leash over your right hand.” He moved and stood behind me. “And hold the strap of the leash in your left hand.” He put his arm around me and illustrated placing his hands over mine.

Half-Breed’s growl filled my mind the entire time, as well as his complaining about David getting too close.

David smiled at me. “That’s great. Now lead him around and bring him back here. He knows how to heel, so he won’t give you any trouble.”

“He’s really gentle for such a large animal,” I said, smiling back at David as I led the wolf around in a wide circle.

David taught me the hand commands and we put Half-Breed through his paces, but soon I started to feel on edge.
Is David standing a little closer than he should? Did his hand linger a bit longer when he touched mine to emphasize a command?

Half-Breed’s persistent grumbles only added to my uneasiness, and I hated knowing that Moheeladeck was hearing all of the wolf’s comments.

But despite the discomfort that came from Half-Breed’s complaints, I had a great afternoon with David. Half-Breed made it clear he didn’t care for the fact that we liked each other, and it appeared we did like each other . . . a lot.

We headed back to the kennel and David loaded most of Half-Breed’s things into the trunk of my car.

“Let me go inside and grab his bed and some of his food. You know, you can stop by anytime to pick up more food for him at no charge, my treat. It’s sort of expensive, he’s on a raw diet and after all, I feel guilty. It was Aunt Agnes who suggested you take him.”

“That’s very nice of you. You know, David, since the attempted break-in I haven’t felt safe. I’m so glad to have Half-Breed for protection and I want to thank you.”

We all went inside, and David was about to get the food and load it into my car when he said, “Can I take you out for a late lunch? Now? I mean today?”

I was surprised by his sudden offer, but realized I wasn’t ready for our time together to be over yet either. “I think I would like that very much.”

A growl rolled from deep in Half-Breed’s chest.

“What is it, boy?” David asked.

Silence.

“Maybe he’s hungry, too,” David said. He took out a bowl and put some food in it. “Here you go, Bud. You stay here and eat your lunch, and we’ll be back when we’re finished with ours.” He placed the bowl down near Half-Breed and turned to me. “I know a new place where the food’s great. I hope you’re hungry.”

“Come to think of it, I am.”

Half-Breed ignored the food bowl, moved closer, and sat right in front of me. He stared up at me.
Please, Princess, don’t go.

It’s only lunch
.

You know it’s more than that. He wants to mate with you.

“HALF-BREED, COME!” David’s voice was stern with authority.

Please, Half-Breed, don’t make a scene.

I’ll do as you ask, but only because Moheeladeck has commanded me to do so. He trusts you with his heart
.

The wolf turned, padded over to his bowl, and started eating.

“Half-Breed, you keep an eye on the place,” David said, then facing me he said, “If you’re ready, let’s go.”

David held the door open for me. I heard the wolf’s growling voice.
I don’t like it, either, but YOU are permitting it, and YOU ARE ALPHA. Personally, I would have bitten him in the
—

HALF-BREED!
My reprimand cut him off.