“Come, boy, we must see that Laughing Tree
tends to you while I am gone. I do not want you to wind up in
someone’s belly while I am away,” he chuckled lightly at his own
banter. The
dog barked as if to agree with him. He
continued to laugh. “But, old friend, I do not think you have to
worry much. I am sure you are too old and you hide is too
tough.”
Licks Too Much growled at his remark, then
ran ahead to show his master he was still full of spunk.
Blue Thunder called to his aunt.
“Come in nephew.” Like her brother Dasodaha,
she learned little English; and claimed to be too old. Blue Thunder
had reminded her many times that she is not like Licks Too Much;
and that she can learn to master the language. The older woman was
sitting by the pit, working on a new dress Blue Thunder assumed was
for her daughter, Little Turtle. He kissed her weather-beaten
cheeks and sat beside her, fingering the fawn-colored hide. She was
still comely for a woman of many summers; her long ebony hair
showed only a few silver strands. Her dark eyes were still clear
with wisdom and she was well respected by the tribe.
“You still do the finest bead work in the
whole tribe, more so than the young maidens, aunt.” He saw her
blush. She was modest about her skill and it annoyed him that
Little Turtle never helped. That thought made him asked, “Where’s
Little Turtle?”
Laughing Tree shrugged and he now regretted
asking, knowing the answer. She was probably visiting another
village and another brave’s mat. But he couldn’t condemn the girl,
since they were also lovers. He quickly changed the subject. “Will
my aunt feed and look after Licks Too Much when I am gone?”
Laughing Tree nodded. “Nephew never has to
ask, you know I like your dog as much as you do.”
“Yes, I wish my father felt the same,” he
touched her arm, tenderly. “Aunt has a good heart, not stubborn
like her brother.” That remark brought fourth a smile, making her
eyes crinkle with laughter.
She snorted, “My brother, the chief was
behind a tree when the god’s handed out
39
compassion,” she chuckled. He knew she was
teasing. His father maybe set in his ways, but he does have a good
heart, just tougher. Before he left the wickiup, the dog was
allowed in and he immediately sat by Laughing Tree, laying his head
on her lap as if to say, “Thank you.”
She patted its head, and replied, “You are
welcome.”
Blue Thunder mounted Night Rider and nine of
his men followed. They rode out of the valley, past the sentries,
into the open range where the hot sun glittered brightly and soft
white daisies dotted the land. He loved his land but hated the
white men for destroying it slowly, day by day. They traveled four
days without seeing a herd. Again dawn broke peacefully on the
fifth day but by that afternoon, buzzards were spotted flying in
the distance, circling the skies. He knew it meant only one thing.
Nudging his horse over the ridge, he reined in Night Rider with a
white man’s curse on his lips. Lying before him was a scene that he
feared, a scene he had witnessed too many times; a dozen or so
carcasses lay wasted on the hot ground. Flies had already covered
the dead beasts like a blanket.
“Come,” he waved his men forward. “Let us
find the men, they cannot be very far.”
They traveled as nightfall came in a blazing
splash of color, but Blue Thunder was in no mood to enjoy the
beauty. Another day passed and the white hunters weren’t anywhere
close by.
As the band traveled, his disposition grew
darker and darker; somebody was going to pay and he wasn’t going to
be choosy.
“I think it would be wise to return to the
village,” commented Eskaminzim. My friend wears an angry mask ever
since we discovered the slaughtered buffalo. I cannot blame you, I
also hate the white eyes as much, but it had been peaceful for
awhile and I know Dasodaha would not be pleased if his son stirred
up trouble.”
Blue Thunder threw a rabbit bone into the
fire with an oath, then stood and walked a few feet away. He didn’t
want to mince words with his friend, knowing harmful ones could
never be taken back. Since he was in such a fowl mood, he found it
necessary to hold his tongue. Stretching to remove some of the
tension in his shoulders and kinks from being on top of Night Rider
these past days, he needed to exercise to release his pent-up
anger. Without saying a word, he ran for three miles, and then
returned to find all the braves asleep.
40
TEN
A month passed since the incident with her
sister. Seth hadn’t come around to see Daphne and the distraught
girl retreated into her shell. Melissa as well as Effie worried
constantly. Vida apologized relentlessly to her for her misjudgment
about her son. She couldn’t blame Seth for being upset; he was
young and terribly confused. He needed time and she prayed that he
would forgive her and come visit again.
Though Daphne was in her seventh month and
she was showing more, her sister was still to thin. At first,
Melissa prayed that her sibling would lose the baby; now she prayed
that it would be healthy. Seven months since that horrible day and
she had hated a bastard growing inside of her sweet, innocent
sister but she chided herself for such awful thoughts. That child
was just as innocent as its mother. It will have enough problems in
this world without its aunt’s hate. The baby was not her only
concern; Daphne wasn’t eating as she should. Something had to be
done! Sam was back to driving the team again, so that day she ran
ahead. Upon reaching the Adam’s wagon, she saw Seth was alone,
driving.
“Seth, I want a few words with you!” Melissa
jumped onto the slow-moving vehicle and climbed next to him,
ignoring her presence. Seth snapped the whip and the team moved on,
picking up the pace. She sat a few minutes, studying his profile.
He seemed thinner and there were dark circles under his eyes. She
knew he was suffering also.
“This isn’t going to be easy but I must ask
a favor of you.” She put up her hand so he wouldn’t interrupt.
“Hear me out, please. I know you’re upset at what happened and I
don’t blame you. It was a shock to have to find out the truth the
way you did, but you have to believe me, I was going to tell you
that very night. Seth, what you think of me now is of no
importance. There is a very sad little girl back there that didn’t
deserve what she got. If you knew my sister before this happened,
you would have loved her.”
She touched his arm. “She was a sweet,
sensitive child and now needs you more than
41
anyone ever needed you. Please put away your
bitterness and be her friend again. There are two people that may
die without your help.”
Melissa put her head in her hands and wept.
She never begged anyone before, and she did not expect to feel his
arms around her but she appreciated the gesture. She heard Seth
take a deep, soulful breath.
“I didn’t have to know Daphne before because
I’ve already fallen in love with her. Until I knew she was a girl,
it tore me apart thinking there was something wrong with me. She
will never know how much I love her. I feel ashamed of my selfish
actions.”
The boy stiffened and drew away. He had gone
through such hell these past weeks and she was partly to blame.
“I’m sorry Seth. I had no idea.” She wiped her nose on her sleeve
wishing she could take away all the hurt. It seemed that damn war
took away all the innocence in everybody and in the country.
Nothing would ever be the same. Ever!
He lifted his shoulders as one does when
ones in a dilemma. “I understand your reasons
for what you did and I don’t hate anyone who
would go through such lengths to protect a loved one. You did what
you thought was right but if I hadn’t entered the picture things
would have been different. I probably made things worse.”
“Oh, no, Seth, you brought back light into
her vacant eyes. Without you she wouldn’t have improved so much.
Please spend time with her. Try to forget what happened and show
her your love. I’ve heard true love conquers all.”
Seth nodded. “You’re right and I’ve been
such a fool wallowing in self-pity. I love her beyond reasoning,
I’ll tell her tonight.” He wiped his wet face on the back of his
hand. “I have to confess, I never showed such emotion in front of
anyone before, not even my mother. But this talk made me feel a
closeness I’d never experienced with someone who wasn’t family.
Things will be all right; I’ll see to it and make it up to Daphne.
You’re right; your sister wasn’t at fault. I almost let my stupid
pride ruin the best thing that ever happened to me.” Swallowing, he
admitted, “Someday she may return to reality and I want to be with
her when she does.”
“Thank you,” Melissa whispered, her own
voice stuck in the back of her throat. She walked back to her wagon
and removed her bonnet. The weight of her problems seemed to fall
from her shoulders, along with her flowing tresses. She shook her
head gently, closing her eyes
42
as she wiped the sweat from her brow. Her
arm was still resting on her forehead when she felt the air rush
past her face and a whizzing sound. At first she thought it was an
insect but when she opened her eyes, her heart stopped. An arrow
was still vibrating in the side of the wagon.
She froze.
43
ELEVEN
When his band of Indians reached the top of
a ridge, Blue Thunder raised his hand to single the braves to halt.
“See! There are more pale faces coming to take our land!” he said
this in his native tongue, though Eskaminzim and many of the braves
with the leader spoke English. “We must stop them before they kill
all our buffalo.”
The others mumbled but only Eskaminzim spoke
out. “They outnumber us; we came to scout, not raid. We do not kill
people, but only deprive them of the means to raid Apaches by
taking their horses and food supplies. We do not kill enemy unless
in self defense! They are not the ones responsible for the
slaughter we saw,” he pointed out.
Blue Thunder was adamant. “It does not
matter! You know that our people have gone with hungry bellies too
long.” He hardened his jaw. “If we kill one white man, it is one
less to kill our buffalo. This will be done for self defense. To
preserve our way of life! I am not afraid to die!”
With that declaration and ignoring
Eskaminzim’s grumbling, Blue Thunder lifted his bow and arrow and
took careful aim. Eskaminzim and the others saw his target, it was
a woman but it didn’t matter to his friend. How many times had he
heard Blue Thunder curse about how Indian maidens had been
butchered and raped by white bastards? Too many, Eskaminzim
reflected and
he had to agree, but this was wrong. He
watched as his friend drew his bow slowly; the muscles in his arm
grew taut. He shook his head sadly and mumbled something to the
effect that the chief’s son will cause trouble for their nation.
Dasodaha will not be happy. He knew Blue Thunder could shoot an eye
out of a squirrel from the time he was a small boy. Now, over
six-feet, he could outrun and outfight any brave. But his friend
was a stubborn red-man, had been since he was a young boy. But, he
loved him like a brother and he was son of the chieftain so he held
any further objection and advice. This would only lead to trouble
he thought again but still remain quiet.
44
He watched Blue Thunder’s keen eyes take aim
and the anticipation of his kill quickened the pulse in his
friend’s neck. He was about to let the arrow fly when his target
took off her bonnet. He heard Blue Thunder gasp and he then saw the
reason. The white woman’s light hair flowed down her back like a
glistening water fall. His friend was distracted enough to miss his
target, something which seldom happened. The brave voiced an oath
so the others would hear, but Eskaminzim did not miss the man’s
lips lift into what could have been a big smile. It seemed to him
that Blue Thunder was glad he missed.
“I will take her to village to be slave!” he
shouted to save face.
Blue Thunder then signaled his men and
kicked his horse into motion. Whooping and hollering, they raced
down the hill behind him and sadly, Eskaminzim had no choice but to
follow.
45
TWELVE
Melissa heard the Indians coming. Their loud
cries blended with the thundering hoof beats. The earth shook
around them but she was too terrified to utter a sound. She heard
the wagon master shouted orders to circle. Others who had seen the
band were already moving.
Finally, she raced to her wagon. Sam had
followed orders and she jumped up into the moving Conestoga,
grabbed her rifle from under the seat and glanced back to see Effie
holding Daphne. The servant was crying and rocking her sister in
her fleshy arms.
“Lawdy, Lawdy, sho’ly weah be scalped dis
time. Ahs knows it fo’ sho’.”
Annoyed, Melissa shouted, “Lie down and hang
onto Daphne!” She didn’t have any time or patience to listen to the
women’s blubbering. The wagons stopped. She and Sam immediately
jumped down to join the others and fired their weapons. The thud of
an arrow, just inches from her head, caused Melissa’s heart to lose
its normal rhythm. These Indians could hold them off until they all
died of starvation, if an arrow didn’t get them first. A little
while later Seth crawled over to ask her if Daphne was all
right.
“She’s in the wagon with Effie,” Melissa
answered. She took aim, shot an Indian from his horse, and then
wiped the red dust from her burning eyes. It was an Indian but it
still didn’t sit well with her.
Hearing screams, Seth leaped into the wagon
and swung his rifle butt down on the unsuspecting buck’s head,
rendering him unconscious. The Indian landed on Effie’s body in a
crumpled heap. Daphne screamed and Seth went to her seeing blood on
her dress. Thinking she was wounded, he cradled her in his arms as
tears streamed down his face. Upon hearing a soft moan, he blinked
and her hand touched his face. Stunned, he gasped when he looked
into beautiful blinking eyes.