Gold Raven (48 page)

Hope was thankful, happy to be back with the other women, even if it was just for the distraction they would offer her from the Indian chief.

Red Crow allowed her to go and walk with the women as they continued on to his village, where they would arrive in the next couple of days. He rode in the front of his braves to take his station among them with his best friend, Greeneye by his side.

"So, it has come to be." Greeneye stated, well aware of his chief's vision and believed fate with Gold Raven.

"It has come." Red Crow returned.

"How soon will you be taking her as your wife?"

"As soon as Cobenche has finished the ritual, and my uncle has come with a white missionary to make it legal according to the white man's law."

"She is willing?"

"She is willing…well, more now than at first, when the time comes she will be fully willing."

"Then I am happy for you my brother. You have waited long enough."

"Yes, I have. Thank the Gods; I will not have to wait any longer."

Traveling with the women and children extended the time it would have normally taken, but they finally reached the bluff shrouded by dense woods, concealing the Cherokee village. Three Indians went into a hidden hole that were covered with bushes, shrubs and rocks. A few minutes later, to Hope's amazement, a large portion of the bluff seemed to come away from the wall, opening to offer them safe entry. The wagon was not taken within, because the man made cave was not wide enough to admit anything that size, only horses and men, or things no wider than six foot. Entering the cave, Hope, the women and the children, were slightly fearful of the immediate dark. A lit torch, carried before them to light the way, helped dispel their fears of the dark, cold cave and in no time, they passed through to the sunlit doorway that opened up into another world.

All were fascinated by the lush paradise bursting with color everywhere, several shades of green from the deepest forest to the lightest pale green. Such beauty gave a sense of promise to those new there. As each stepped clear of the cave, they came down a slight hill onto the flat valley floor. The many braves walking their horses through mounted them after exiting and took off flying free and yipping their joy to be home.

Hope stood aside as many passed her by while she stood viewing the expanse of the spread out village. What lay before her was incredible, viewing all that she had in her life of travel made her appreciate the beauty and wonder of the earth and all the hidden places it had to offer.

For some reason she would never be able to explain, standing there
, a feeling of being home washed over her; a feeling of familiarity and safety. In the distance, scattered amidst the trees were many teepees. To her surprise, she saw as well building activity. The skeletal structures of wood frame houses were going up. The last person and animal emptied from the cave, Hope realized that she had best follow. She pretended to ignore Red Crow who sat his mount waiting for her to come to him. She walked with the group of women congregating before the Indian Greeneye.

As he stood looking the women and children over, a large crowd of other women and children came from the village to greet the new arrivals.

Hope stood at the rear, knowing that Red Crow rode towards her; she fought back a grin, enjoying the game of doing the opposite of what he expected from her. She was pleasantly surprised to see the friendly, welcoming reception. Suddenly Red Crow was there behind her, his horse’s nose nudging her from behind, snorting with excitement.

"You will come with me now; the others will be taken care of."

She looked back and up at him as if surprised that he was there making such a request. A playful grin flashed across his features. "I wouldn't play the game here if I were you. If you force me, I will finish what I started when you first challenged me." The message did not match the playfulness in his eyes, the warning was clear. With a sigh, Hope conceded once again and turned to him with arms up. He assisted her into his saddle and turned his horse from the crowd, starting on their way.

"Why do you do that?" She asked, leaning back against him as they rode through the village at an easy, safe pace; mindful of the milling throng around them.

"Do what?"

"Order me about; threaten to beat me, as if you have a right to."

He chuckled, "I've done nothing of the sort. Beat you – as if you would let any man do such a thing. Besides, a woman like you is not meant for beating, but something else, something else entirely. I have every intention of inflicting that something else the moment we are married." He promised close to her ear. Hope smiled with a sigh, "If I marry you."

He bent low and kissed a sensitive spot on her neck, making Hope tingle everywhere, to draw up surprised, yet pleased, as her sigh indicated. "You will marry me. No other man could handle a woman like you, without breaking your spirit. I was meant for you, just as you – were always meant – to be mine." He stated, with his arm wrapped around her waist, his hand flat to her stomach as he pressed her back against him, guiding his horse easily with the other hand.

"Now that I have you here, joy is truly mine. You see, I love you now, as I loved you when – you were but a small child, trusting me to always protect you; just as your mother, Amber Swann, trusted you to me."

"Hmph, love. How can you love me, when you don't even know me? As for my mother, Amber Swann, trust you say? One can only wonder, if she only knew what plans you have in store for me now." Hope chided.

"If she knew, she would give a sigh of relief, knowing that you are no longer a child. But a woman, who is safe, loved, and cared for…yes, if she only knew…she could bless our union, as the Gods do."

His words sent her heart hammering for many reasons. The mention of her mother – hearing of her would always move her, bringing forth emotions that quickly gripped her tightly and deeply from within. She did well hiding the effects, even though everything about this Indian, his words, his eyes, his voice, the feel of him behind her, his hand that was placed firmly against her midriff, holding onto her, his kisses and his attention to her, stirred her in a similar way.

"I think you know that what I say is true. Already you desire me. Already you awaken with my touch, and even though you do not now, you will come to love me one day. As a woman loves a man she would gladly die for." He declared with certainty.

"Maybe…maybe what you say is true. I cannot be certain of what you speak, because I have only felt what you claim towards my family. Die for them…yes, willingly."

She informed him, and added being honest, "All I can honestly claim and agree with, is that I do desire you but who is to say, that it is nothing more than curiosity? Perhaps once the mystery of your touch has been solved…my desire will fade. Who knows?"

"I can live with your honesty. That you desire me is enough. The seeds of love must sprout from something; desire is as good as any start – as long as it starts."

"I suppose that time will tell. What I must remind you that is uppermost, is that I have not agreed to marry you…not yet." She reminded him smartly.

"Tell me, why is it that you desire me?" He asked, wanting to know as much about her thinking as he could.

"Dear sir, even if I knew, I would not tell you. My brother would be fit to be tied if he knew what I have allowed you?"

"Really? What exactly have you allowed me?"

"That night… as I lay, and you touch me; I was not sleeping, only a bit afraid, and then – a bit curious." She admitted smiling up at his surprised expression.

"I see." He muttered. "Has any other inspired such curiosity within you?"

"No…you are the first."

"I shall also be the last." He declared.

"Emm, maybe."

The reigns were pulled, the horse stopped, and Hope found herself snatched around to face a scowling expression, meant to drive home something he would not joke about. "No. Not maybe…I shall be the last."

"Not if I don't marry you!"

"Oh, you will…you will be my wife."

"How exactly do you intend to make it happen…if I intend that it not?"

"It is as I have said; I am the one whom your mother trusted you with…when she was much too frightened to even let you out of her arms…did you know that?"

As always, her heart took off hearing it, at first, she shook her head, and then softly she answered. "No…I did not."

"Yes. Here with us, these people – was the only place your mother came to feel that you would come to no harm, that you would not be taken from her."

Hope looked away absorbing the information and storing it with the rest that she had gathered concerning her mother, Ceś alena. While she was still quiet, he continued softly.

"So, you see…I am the one who prayed and waited for you to come back to me, after you were taken away. I am the one to whom the Gods promised you. You are the one, who my father came to accept, as the answer to my life quest…you are the one fated to me, you are Gold Raven…it must be so…because here you are, in my arms."

"But I do not believe as you do." She returned softly.

"Time, Gold Raven. In time…all will happen in its time, just as it should, when it should, no sooner – no later…but right on time." At that point, there was nothing more she had to say, and nothing more from him.

They finally came to a large stream within a vast woodland, where still on the horse, they crossed it and went on to a trail leading through even more trees, which began to thin out so that in the far distance, Hope could see a two level log cabin home. Clearing the trees, Red Crow dismounted and walked his mount with Hope, still on it, to the corral coming off the side of the home.

"Who lives here? Is this your home?"

"At times…it is the home of my mother."

Hope's eyes widened in surprise as the front door opened and his mother walked out with a tall Indian behind her.

"So my son, you have finally…returned…"

That was as much as she said, then her eyes wondered up to his horses back, stopping on the young girl who sat there, staring back at her. Red Crow walked beside the mount and helped Hope to the ground as he led his horse within the corral.

"Son!" Josey called to him with wide eyes on the girl.

"Yes mother?" He called back as the two women stared at each other.

Josey swallowed nervously, unable to answer him.

Hope stood with rioting nerves looking into the eyes of the woman she knew to be her mother's best friend from long ago when she was a small child. She looked from her up to the tall man standing behind her, also staring at her, surprised. Hope offered a gentle shaky smile at him, then back to the woman. She could not help staring captivated by the very elegant, forty something woman with her glorious crown of beautiful red hair, streaked lightly with gray and eyes so green they reflected the forest around them.

Eyes surrounded by tiny lines in the otherwise creamy luminous skin; Hope stood incredulous that this slender and seemingly fragile lady could be the mother of such an arrogant brute, Chief Red Crow, her son.

Nervous, unsure of what to do next, she looked back for Red Crow. Without realizing it, she had already formed an attachment to him, and felt she could not move forward without him by her side. Leaving his horse loose in the corral, he walked back to Hope, and took her by the elbow leading her forward to his astonished mother, introducing them to each other.

"Golden Hope Webster-…"

Josey gasped, covering her mouth as the name confirmed what her eyes could not believe. "…-my mother, Red Dawn."

Swallowing the moisture gathering in her mouth, Hope stepped closer as she watched tears gather and fall from his mother's eyes. "My God! Where did you find her! How – how did you find her?" Josey cried as she reached out her hand to Hope; hesitant, but unable to hold back from touching her.

"How, very nice to finally meet you; I've heard a lot about you…and – my mother." Hope spoke up, feeling sentimental as she took the woman's hand, squeezing it she witnessed Josey struggle with her emotion.

Josey could not believe her eyes. She was facing Lena's daughter, the child that meant so much to her. "I can't believe it…I can't believe you're here. How can this be? How? And your mother? Lena…where is Lena?"

"I don't know." Hope answered simply.

"Mother, we have traveled far. Let us go inside, there we can talk."

"Oh of course, yes – please come inside sweet child. Come inside." Josey turned pulling Hope's hand to lead her within her home. Hope hesitated only a moment, looking for Red Crow, and then followed Josey; who was quick to see that there was already something going on between them. "Come along dear, it seems we have a lot to talk about." Josey invited, her interest apparent. Following behind, were Red Crow and Dark Shadow, who was eyeing his nephew curiously.

Fully aware of his activities and attacks; fueled by the death of his father who had given his life in vain, fighting in a war he believed would bring a lasting allegiance between the whites and the Cherokee nation. Regretfully as time showed, that had not been the case. All he’d striven for had come to nothing; things were in fact now worse.

It was now against the law to elect a chief for their people. Red Crow knowing the law better than anyone maintained his place upholding their tradition, always consulting the elders among them before he made a final decision that affected them all. Decisions that involved attacks on forts, thus far, he faced no opposition from them. As many of the elders turned a blind eye, because just as his grandfather had foretold, they also knew…the time for their way of life was nearing its end. He felt the extent to which he would keep their laws, was to the same extent they, the governing whites, were willing to keep their word toward the Indian population, no more, no less.

Dark Shadow sighed with a troubled mind for his nephew. While he had always backed his brother, Long Bow, in his beliefs and feelings, he could not dispute the ways and thinking of his nephew. His brother was dead due to his attempt to render aid to the whites, and his fear now, was that his nephew would end up the same for his opposing cause. How could he oppose his nephew when he too knew of the injustice and betrayal by the white leaders, whose laws protected only their own, the white, totally disregarding all other nations residing on the vast continent.

"Tell me nephew, how is it you have come to find your Gold Raven?" Dark Shadow asked close to Red Crow as they entered his mother's home.

"While hunting uncle, of course…while hunting." He replied evasively.

Entering the living room, Josey offered Hope a seat. "You sit right here sweetheart, and let me get you something to drink, I know how travel sets up a thirst."

"Yes please, I am dry." Hope returned with a smile.

"Joseph, would you like-…"