Authors: Janet Cooper
Wolf concentrated on the lad
. "And …"
Long Knife's glance shifted from spot to spot, but never centered on Wolf
. "My mother is not better. Her spirit floats apart from her body."
Wolf waited
then realized the boy expected a response. "I agree with your words. None of the wise women nor the shaman has any suggestions, accept to give Quick Rabbit time. Most recover."
"If she doesn’
t?"
The question made Wolf uncomfortable
. "Perhaps she needs more time."
"
Sarah Stone told me she had called and will visit my mother again."
So, she had decided, before I had withdrawn my objection
.
Wolf could not determine if the news annoyed him because Sarah had ignored his command, or pleased him because she dared and cared enough to challenge his authority. "Do you believe Sarah can help when our people have not?" Wolf needed the answer for himself as well.
The brave shrugged
. "At least she offers. More, I cannot say." The lad's words mirrored Wolf's. "Since I can do nothing here for my mother, I must find those that destroyed her." The tall, thin young man twisted his hands, contradicting the mature image he was trying to create.
"I search for the same men as you," Wolf said, unsure of what Long Knife expected him to say or do
.
"Yes, but we find old trails, or tracks destroyed by untrained soldiers and acco
mplish nothing!" Frustration crisscrossed his face.
His statement hurt, yet Wolf acknowledged the truth
.
"I must be the first to discover the marks they leave
." Long Knife pointed to himself. "Then I can track the men and kill them."
Wolf started to speak, but the lad rushed on
.
"I must join the army and become a scout
."
"What?" All other thoughts fled Wolf's mind
.
"
Sarah Stone mentioned that Daniel has joined Washington's men. The colonials made
him
a scout. He does not have my skill. They will make me a scout also. I will find the patrol! My mother will have her revenge.
"
Sarah told you about Daniel?"
"Yes
. She said with my ability, I should be a scout also."
"
Kwe!
" Wolf brushed his fingers through his short, scalp lock. "Long Knife, stay with me. Together we will find the men."
The brave shook his head
. "We tried and failed. Soon those responsible might leave the area. They must not escape punishment."
Hearing the determination and realizing his words not affected the young man's decision, Wolf reluctantly asked, "When will you leave?"
"Before night falls."
Seeing he had lost the battle, Wolf said, "
Gishelamu-kaong
will guide your path until you return." He grasped the lad's arms. Long Knife returned the pressure before whirling on his heel and running off.
"Damn her!" Wolf exploded
.
She interfered with Quick Rabbit, and now she meddles with my men. Why does she constantly intrude in our affairs?
Anger flashed from every part of Wolf as he headed toward the house and another confrontation with Sarah.
CHAPTER TWELVE
"Wonderful smells," Sarah said as she entered the kitchen.
Bowl Woman chuckled with delight
. "I fix you plate."
Not seeing any place settings on the table,
Sarah asked, "Have White Owl and Little Turtle eaten?"
The cook nodded
.
"Then, I'll wait for Wolf
." She walked over to the hearth, lifted the lid from the kettle and took a deep breath. Her stomach growled in anticipation.
The older woman laughed
. "That not necessary. Lenape eat when hungry. You one of us. You do same."
These final sentences filled
Sarah with pleasure. She hoped others felt as Bowl Woman did. Until she had heard the words, she had not realized how much she wanted to belong, to be a part of these people. The idea startled her. She wondered when she had accepted her present life and stopped thinking of her time here as temporary.
Even as these thoughts rushed through her mind, she could not totally reject the idea of being caught in a rift-in-time
. Her own century existed. She had been a part of that period. Logically, she must return. Yet, Bowl Woman's statement deepened Sarah's connection with the 1700's and gave her new existence credence. The concept did not displease her, that, too, surprised Sarah.
Bowl Woman carried a steaming bowl to the table then cut two wedges of cornbread and rested them against the plate
. "Eat."
Not wanting to appear rude,
Sarah compromised by sitting and nibbling on the bread. The wonderful aroma and the rich looking juice continued to tempt her, and she dipped her cornbread into the gravy. "This is good." Her taste buds tingle as she savored the delightful stew.
The cook smiled
. "When finish, have more."
Sarah
soaked the last piece of bread until she could scarcely carry the piece to her mouth without it breaking. Unwilling to lose a morsel, she placed her other hand underneath to catch any drips. As she popped the piece in her mouth, she heard the kitchen door open. She glanced up, trying to swallow and smile simultaneously.
Fury radiated from Wolf's face
. Seeing his scalp lock and the harsh lines that etched his face, she understood how whites could fear the Lenape. The sight caused the bread to stick in her throat like a lump of peanut butter.
"Bowl Woman,
e kaliu,
" Wolf said, abruptly.
Nodding her head and without glancing at anyone, Bowl Woman shuffled out the door
.
Sarah
managed to force down the lump. "What is the matter with thee?" she demanded.
"Why did you tell Long Knife to become a s
cout for the Continental Army?" Wolf's black eyes flashed with an intensity even the dim light could not conceal.
"I didn't
."
"He told me you said he should be a scout
." Harsh lines etched his face, and two deep ridges scared his forehead.
Having him loom over her did not improve her confidence
. She rose to her feet, determined to meet him as an equal. As she pushed back her chair, she struggled to recall exactly what she had said to the lad.
"Long Knife and I discussed the trail that thou and he had followed
. When he mentioned the soldiers had obliterated the track, I may have suggested that with his talents he should become a scout or something like that. I didn't expect him to join the army!"
Arrows sent, from his pitch-black eyes, pierced her
. "He informed me he intends to join Daniel's group," Wolf retaliated. "Who told him about that company?" The wrath and accusation in his voice and face continued unabated.
"From thy expression, thou obviously knows I mentioned it
. Why shouldn't I? The boys know one another. When Long Knife asked, I answered. I added how worried I was about Daniel. Doeth thou suppose I would wish for Long Knife or any lad to enlist in the army? Why would I encourage a boy, just barely becoming a man to leave his home and enter the military?"
"You should have thought of that before you painted the picture for Long Knife
. He believes only he can find those responsible for his mother's rape."
Wolf's face remained hard, yet his fists relaxed
. Sarah hoped the slight body language change showed a dampening of his temper. Needing to build on this foundation, she took a step toward him. He moved an equal distance away. "This isn't just about Long Knife, is it? Each time I become involved with thee or any of thy people, thou questions my actions. I had hoped the intimacy we shared would have shown my desire to be with thee."
Wolf raised his hand as if to stop her from speaking, but she ignored him
. "When Long Knife brought thee news of the British, thou asked him to speak English. Thou stated thy trust in me. Yet, when I reached out to Quick Rabbit, spoke to Long Knife just now, or tried to learn Lenape from Bowl Woman, thou berated me."
"I didn't know you were learning Lenape from Bowl Woman, so how could
I have stopped your lessons?"
"Thy son managed in thy stead," she muttered
.
"Now, just a minute
"
"No, I won't
. Perhaps thou did not directly interfere, but the result was the same. He senses thou wishes me gone and acts accordingly. I did not come of my own free will. You kidnapped me. Let us pray, either Washington's men or thou will find the British quickly, so I may go home." She whirled on her heel and left the room, holding her head high.
So much for wanting to be a part of his life.
Sarah
found the stairs leading up to her room more by instinct than by sight, since tears clouded her eyes. Yet, she had prevented Wolf from seeing the hurt raging inside her. Several times she swallowed. Each time, hoping her vision would clear, but nothing helped. She clutched the railing and slid her palm up the smooth, wooden support that both guided and supported her. Lifting her chin another inch, she looked forward and tried to suppress the dreams of what might have been.
Only a few feet more
, she told herself as she drew near her bedroom. Once inside, she quietly but firmly pressed the door closed and stood leaning against the hard, unyielding wood
. I want to go home. Home to my time.
Silently, the unbidden tears fell.
Will I ever find the pathway home and escape?
* * * *
Wolf stared after
Sarah. When she went out of his view, he listened as she climbed the stairs. Then he heard only silence. A slight creak behind him caused Wolf to turn. White Owl stood in the kitchen doorway.
His grandfather glanced at him
. "What is the matter?"
"Nothing
." Immediately, Wolf wished his sharp words back, for he never used this tone with his
XhanXhan
. For one who valued control, Wolf had shown little. His failure troubled him.
"My eyes may not see as far as a young man's, but, close, they do not betray me," said his venerable elder
.
"There is nothing worth discussing
. If you will excuse me …" Wolf made a move to edge by his grandfather. He needed time, time to resolve the river of emotions rushing inside him.
A restraining hand gripped his upper arm
. "Until Sarah arrived, I seldom saw you lose your temper. It is common now." A look of compassion and understanding washed White Owl's weathered face.
Perhaps voicing his feelings and confusion to his grandfather might help Wolf resolve his deep-seeded dilemma about
Sarah. "No one else makes me as angry or as frustrated as she does." He stopped, then added, "One moment I want desperately to confront her, the next to comfort her."
His grandsire nodded
. "Walk outside with me and we will talk."
Wolf allowed himself to be led
.
When they stood beside one another, his grandfather said, "Let us visit your grandmother's grave
. Her spirit will hear and help us."
Although White Owl often stopped by his wife's burial site, he had never asked his grandson to attend or accompany him
. Wolf recognized the importance of this new bond. They walked away from the house and toward a small fenced-in plot where many of the tribe’s ancestors rested. His father’s never would. The cool night air and the aura of serenity that continually surrounded his grandfather helped Wolf regain a measure of self-control.
White Owl sat on the waist-high stone pillar marking the entrance to the graveyard
. "Tell me what troubles you."
Wolf rested his hip on the other column and faced his grandfather
. Stars filled the sky and their reflection lit up the old man's face as clearly as a full moon. Wolf admired the composure visible in
XhanXhan's
countenance and had modeled his own life on this wise man. Unable to discuss Sarah, who was the root of his internal dilemma, Wolf said, "Long Knife will leave before the next sun rises to join Washington's army."
"The lad spoke to me about his decision
."
His grandfather's calm acceptance combined with his knowledge surprised Wolf
. "When?"
"Just before the setting of the sun
. He asked me about life in the army. I told him of my experiences in the war between the French and the British." White Owl frowned. "He needed to realize hunting men is far different from hunting animals, to understand the difficulties he will face because he is a Lenape. Our talk helped."