She heard Blue Thunder sucked in a labored
breath.
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“One of you own kind did this to your
sister?” his voice hardened.
She swallowed a burdensome sigh, trying not
to reveal her contempt and anger. “Yes. I guess it doesn’t matter
what color our skins are, there’s barbarians in all races. You were
right, my race is capable of doing the things you’ve claimed that
day you brought me here.” He held her closer in his embrace and
promised her that he would make sure her future was nothing but
happiness.
“We must put the past behind us,” he
repeated the words she had said before.
Soon Melissa was familiar with the
routine.
With the speed of a hawk, she realized that
two months had flown by. She mulled over what supposedly was a
savage breed, and some books say not even quite human, but they
seemed
much the same way as was the white race.
They loved, laughed, and labored as she did. In that time, Laughing
Tree had approached her, offering her needles, sinew, and colored
beads. Blue Thunder told her that his aunt was asking for
forgiveness and also might be willing to show her how to make a
dress.
Melissa said, “Tell Laughing Tree thank you.
I accept and harbor no ill feelings towards her. It is I who should
ask her for forgiveness.”
He replied, “It is good to accept the peace
offering and to let the matter rest.”
Laughing Tree helped her make her new dress.
Her bead work and stitches weren’t as professional as her teacher’s
but she was assured that in time, she would be skilled in the
craft. Nevertheless, the finished dress appeared beautiful to
Melissa. It was the first thing she ever made for herself. She also
learned that their moccasins were immediately distinguished from
other tribes by a buckskin flap on the toe. When Melissa questioned
this, the Indian women explained it came in useful deflecting
cactus spines when one runs near, Jumping cholla cactus. She
laughed at herself. Back at the plantation, she would never have
been caught dead sewing her days away. Bittersweet thoughts
saddened her as she recalled her early home life, how much her life
has changed in a short time. No amount of tears would bring back
the past and she was sure her future held a new promise. Her
monthly flow had not come since her capture; she was carrying Blue
Thunder’s child. What would he think? Would this create greater
friction
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between him and his people? He claimed that
they were man and wife but the chief still refused to accept it.
They had no ceremony, but she also believed he was her husband and
she needed no papers to prove it. She would tell him tonight.
“A papoose?!” Blue Thunder was pleasantly
surprised and showed it by lovingly touching her stomach. The
surprised reaction etched into his features and gave it a comical
expression and she had to smile in spite of her nervousness.
“Are you happy?” her voice croaked slightly
as she tried to control her uneasiness. She searched his dark eyes
for answers to her many questions. Would his people let him marry
her in an Apace ceremony? If not, would he have to choose between
her and his people? Who would he chose? Why was her joy constantly
marred by sorrow and uncertainty? Her husband must have seen her
downcast expression and took it for disappointment over the
baby.
“You do not want child?” She looked
away.
“Yes, I want our child, but I want it to be
viewed as a joyous occasion not filled with so much uncertainty, my
husband.” She trembled, “I don’t want this child to cause more
trouble between you and….”
He turned her around and placed his finger
under her chin to look at him in the eyes.
“Such beautiful golden eyes; so clear; so
soft, like honey. Nothing can hide behind those light orbs,
especially not lies. Such a tiny bundle of trouble, but trouble I
would spend the rest of my life with.” She saw his eyes twinkle
with mirth, believing that he might be half teasing her. He hugged
her and confessed that no greater joy had anyone ever given him,
than his Honey Eyes, called Moon Glow by his people. Even though he
himself had taken to calling her that, he claimed that in his heart
she would always be his Honey Eyes.
“My people will come to love my soul mate
and our child. We must give them time.”
“But---”
“Shush,” he stopped her words with a
feathery kiss. “I am happy, my love. Do not be troubled, we will
work this out. You must trust me.”
She bit her lower lip with indecision but
said, “I will trust you. And if you are happy, then so am I. We’ll
be a strong family no matter what. But I do not feel right not
being legally your wife. I mean legally by your customs.”
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He grunted a manor that told her he was
slightly annoyed. “We are man and wife. We do not need white man’s
words to make it so. As soon as we mated, we were wed in my heart
and our laws. My people will not completely accept our marriage
until the council puts their blessings on us.” He touched his
chest, saying, “You must feel it here, and then it is right.”
She nodded. “I do feel it in my heart that
you are my husband. But please do not leave your people over
me.”
“I will do as you ask, Moon Glow. With or
without blessings of council, I will not marry Apache maiden. They
might not accept you, but they will accept me. My child will be a
half- breed and cannot succeed me, but that time is far away and
times change.”
Melissa was happy over his words and mused
over her new name. She missed his old pet name for her but this was
now her true Apache name and she accepted it.
Another month slipped by taking with it all
Melissa’s thoughts of ever seeing her family again. She settled
into a daily routine with her husband and Laughing Tree. The women
of the village kept their distance and simply ignored her. Dasodaha
had not once spoken to her and her
heart ached that he might never acknowledge
her. No matter how she tried to win his favor with a smile or a few
words, he would only grunt and walk by. She mentioned this to Blue
Thunder many times but he continued to insist his father needed
time.
Star Gazer, her brother-by-marriage talked
pleasantly to her and she liked him. He was so different from the
other braves. Melissa wondered if he didn’t have some white blood
in him because of his love to study the skies at night. He took
part in Indian games with the other boys his age but he was very
quiet and the brunt of many jokes. She would find time to talk with
him about the universe and many things beyond the tribe.
In addition to Laughing Tree, she became
friends with a young maiden named, Weeping Bird. She spoke little
English but still could teach Melissa crafts. Weeping Bird was
tall, not beautiful, but pleasant looking. She had a warm smile and
a sweet disposition, one couldn’t help liking her. She took part in
the war games, despite the protests of the young braves. She was
glad that her husband would see that Weeping Bird could join in,
for she was able to keep up with the best of the bucks. This made
the maiden an outcast with the other maidens and the envy of
the
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young braves. There were times when the girl
could beat them in a race and archery. Melissa often had to laugh,
thinking what a perfect match Star Gazer and Weeping Bird would
make. The Indian girl reminded her so much of herself, never liking
to do women things when she was on the plantation. Her matchmaking
ideas were beginning to evolve.
This one morning dawned bright but cool; a
reminder that winter was coming. With a heavy heart, Melissa kissed
Blue Thunder good-bye. “I will miss you, my love, please come back
soon. My days and nights will be as empty as a dry well.”
“I will miss my wife of my heart. It is time
to hunt buffalo, for winter is coming. We need meat for food and
skins to protect us from cold. Dasodaha and most of the braves will
join the hunt. We take many of the women too, to help with
skinning.” He placed his hand on her stomach, “If wife was not with
child, you would come along.” Giving her a hug, he continued, “You
will have Laughing Tree, Star Gazer, and Weeping Bird to keep you
company. It took many words to persuade Weeping Bird to stay
behind. Her skills are of great value to us but I need her to
protect you from danger.” He kissed her long and passionately.
She watched the swing of his loin cloth,
giving her a glimpse of his rounded behind. Her eyes lovingly
studied his bronzed back, marveling how his muscles rippled beneath
the satiny tone of his skin and she was sorry for the scar that
marred his beautiful body. He was like a panther, sleek but solid.
It amazed her how much he filled her life. Without him, she was
only half alive. It alarmed her when she realized the power he had
over her emotions; how she depended upon him for her comfort and
protection.
Melissa kneaded her stomach and thought
about the seed growing inside her womb, feeling such dread if Blue
Thunder were taken from her. She now knew the loved her parents had
for each other. She thanked God for giving her that rare gift of
love and to be loved so deeply.
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TWENTY-FIVE
Every so often Laughing Tree nudged the
daydreaming white girl, who spent more time rubbing her swollen
stomach than working. “You will never finish baby’s blanket in time
for happy event,” she said teasingly.
“Oh, Laughing Tree, I wish things were
perfect for us.” The mother-to-be sighed, it was such a unhappy
release of breath and she put another stitch in the skin. “Why
couldn’t he just be an ordinary Apache instead of the chief’s son?
Then there wouldn’t be a problem.”
Laughing Tree hugged her sad friend, wishing
she could tell Moon Glow that her nephew had a touch of white blood
in his veins. If her brother were not so stubborn, he would admit
it also. She grunted inwardly believing that his pride was the
reason why he was hiding the truth about their grandmother’s past.
She remembered her mother, Red Dawn, and the stories she was told
when she was young. Red Dawn spoke many times of her father,
Napoleon Gagnon, whom the Indians called, Nappy. He was a big man
who worked the soil looking for magic medicine in plants and trees
for white man’s diseases. He married her grandmother, Sings Like
Winds.
When Sings Like Winds became a widow, she
married Wise Warrior, giving him a son, Dark Like Raven. But both
father and son were killed in a raid. Dark Like Raven was to be
next leader because of true blood line, but Laughing Tree’s father
became leader only because his half
brother died. Her mother, Red Dawn, gave
birth to Dasodaha, Laughing Tree and two other females who died in
childbirth. Red Dawn also died bearing the last infant.
Coming out of her own reverie, she said,
“Things will work out, be patient.”
“That’s what Blue Thunder keeps telling me.”
Moon Glow stabbed her frustrations into the skin, making another
stitch.
Weeping Bird giggled.
“My nephew is wise, listen to him, Moon
Glow. And finish blanket,” she added with a stern voice, unable to
hide her smile.
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Weeping Bird managed another giggle.
“It is getting late, we must prepare supper.
I wonder what is keeping Star Gazer,” she muttered her thoughts out
loud when she remembered that she had sent her younger nephew out
earlier looking for porcupine needles. Not liking the look in
Weeping Bird eyes when she mentioned Star Gazer, she looked at the
young maiden’s eyes who mirrored what she believed was the same
worried expression she had.
“What’s the matter?” Moon Glow asked,
studying her handy-work with a deep frown.
Weeping Bird told the white woman that Star
Gazer was gone from camp too long, she shrugged; her face screwed
into a frustrated pout, more concerned about her crooked stitches.
“He’ll be back soon. You know how he loves to daydream.” She tossed
the blanket into the basket with a sigh.
Laughing Tree was also concerned.
Star Gazer was so engrossed in thought that
he didn’t hear the giant grizzly bear hiding in the thickets. His
senses were sharp but he let his mind wander, making the greatest
mistake an Indian or anyone who treasured his skin, could make.
Then it was there. The hot breath on his
neck, bringing him fully aware of the danger he was in.
Instinctively, he rolled off the boulder from where he was sitting
and onto his knees. In that quick motion, he stood to face the
danger only inches away. The giant bear stood on his hind legs with
his head raised, sniffing his fear and growling fiercely, showing
off his large brown teeth. The animal’s eyes were darker than any
starless night Star Gazer had ever seen and there was no compassion
in the depths of its black orbs.
The beast swung his mighty paw, slicing the
air with claws like a white man’s sickle. Star Gazer envisioned his
body shredded like the fringe of a squaw’s dress. The beast’s eyes
were hungry for a kill. He took a few steps backwards; his heart
palpitated against his chest so hard he feared it would burst. His
lungs ached and he tried to swallow the lump in his throat but he
couldn’t produce the saliva to dislodge it and stop it from choking
out his breath.
Today I will
die
, he feared. But it wasn’t a good day
to die. No, not yet.
Baring his wicked teeth, the bear backhanded
Star Gazer with his huge paw and he flew
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through the air, landing in a scratchy bush,
bruised and dazed. The creature was toying with him. Momentarily
stunned, he watched the bear growl at the sky in triumph. The
grizzly then landed on all fours and sniffed the air, giving him
the moment he needed to roll from the bush to scale the nearest
tree. Once again the bear stood on two legs, furious that he had to
give chase.