Authors: Karen Noland
“Presents from Martha, shall we
open them?”
“Oh, yes!”
Untying the string and opening the
brown wrapping paper, revealed several smaller parcels, each carefully wrapped
in shiny colored papers and marked with their names. Finding the gifts for Jo
and Kate, they set them aside and carefully re-wrapped the others.
“You go first, Jo.”
“Can we say our blessing first,
momma?”
“Why that’s a wonderful idea.
Would you like to do it?”
“Yes, please.”
They bowed their heads, joined
hands, and Jo began, “Dear, God, I just wanted to thank you today for all the
wonderful things you do. Thank you for Nana and Papa and Jon and Mr. Luke. God,
take especial good care of my daddy and my baby brother, and if You can, will
you give them some chocolate cake today so they can eat with us? And please
take away all of momma’s worries. I know You can take care of her, ‘cause she
always tells me so. Amen.”
“Amen,” Kate echoed with
tears in her eyes. “Now, how about opening these presents?”
Jo took the one with her name on
it, and quickly tore into the wrappings revealing a beautiful picture book, a
slate and several pieces of chalk to practice writing. Her face glowed. “Look,
momma, my very own book, isn’t it wonderful? And a brand new slate to draw and
write! What did you get? Oh, look, here comes our cake.”
The waitress carried over two
china plates, each with a rim of gold, and a slice of the richest looking
chocolate cake that Kate had ever seen. Setting the plates before them, she
placed a candle in each slice and lit them.
Smiling at Jo, she said, “Happy
Birthday, honey.”
“Oh, it’s not my birthday,” Jo
said in a solemn voice, “it’s my daddy and my brother’s, they’re having their
cake in Heaven!”
“Oh, my!” the poor waitress
looked so stricken, that Kate quickly stepped in.
“It’s all right, we’re
celebrating here today!”
“Oh, I see,” she replied, though
she obviously did not. After placing the coffee, milk and silverware on the
table, she quickly retreated.
Jo and Kate watched the glow of
the candles for a few moments, each lost in their own memories of Will and Caleb.
Finally they blew out the candles together and dug into the luscious cake.
“You haven’t opened your
present yet, momma!” Jo observed after a few bites, chocolate frosting
decorating the corners of her mouth.
“You’re right. Let’s see what it
is.” Kate carefully opened the paper, removed the cover from the box, and
exclaimed over the delicate handkerchief within. Dainty cutwork embroidered
flowers adorned the white lawn, and tatted lace ran gracefully around the
edges. Below the beautiful hankie was a layer of perfumed soaps, oils and
lotions. Picking up one of the small vials, she carefully removed the stopper
and breathed deeply of the musky aroma of sandalwood. Handing it gently to Jo,
she shared the exotic treat. There were jars of lavender and lemon verbena as
well. She couldn’t remember the last time she felt so pampered.
Oh, bless
you, Martha
, she thought. They each dabbed a small amount of the oil behind
their ears. Giggling, they shared an afternoon of girl talk and memories.
***
The buggy swayed and bumped along
the road home. Jo sat quiet and contentedly next to Kate, and they rode in
companionable silence. A few moments later, Kate noticed the Jo had drifted off
into a light sleep. Sighing, she flicked the reins and the mare extended her trot
slightly. Kate wanted to make it home before the threatening clouds finally let
loose the torrents of rain they seemed to promise.
Alone with her thoughts at
last, Kate’s mind turned back to Martha’s news and the bit of charred paper she
had found. Was it coincidence? After all That could have been anyone’s name.
Would Matt really stoop to such nefarious schemes to drive her from her ranch?
If he really thought that she would consider marrying him, then what reason
could he have? No, she decided, it must have been rustlers, and the receipt was
simple coincidence and nothing more. But her mind was restless and her heart
beat heavily in her chest as they drove along beneath rain laden clouds.
“Momma, stop! She’s gone, she’s
gone!” Jo shrieked.
Frightened, Kate pulled strongly
on the reins bringing the startled mare to an abrupt stop. “Jo, what is it?”
Kate asked in a panic stricken voice.
“My dolly, I can’t find her,
she’s lost!” wailed the grieving girl.
“Are you sure? Perhaps she fell on
the floor here, or next to your seat.”
“No, she’s gone, I know she is.”
“Jo, calm down. When was the last
time you had her?” The doll had been a part of Jo’s life from the time was just
an infant. Losing her would be a shock.
“She was in my hand when I fell
asleep, and when I woke up she was gone.” Tears flowed down her cheeks.
“Are you sure you’ve looked under
the seat and everywhere?” Kate asked. They both searched the floor boards,
under the seat and all around to no avail.
Glancing at the darkening
sky, then at her daughter’s tear-stained face, Kate made the decision. “We’ll
go back down the road a little ways and see if we can see her, but Jo, honey,
listen to me, we can’t take too long, there’s a storm coming, we’ve got to get
home soon. Do you understand?”
Drawing in a long shuddering
breath, Jo nodded mutely, her sorrowful eyes breaking Kate’s heart.
“All right. Now, I’ll drive
slowly, you watch the ground, and so will I.”
They traveled back over their
trail for several minutes in fruitless searching, Jo crying and Kate torn
between her daughter’s plight and the growing threat of rain.
“Momma, look, in there!”
Kate looked where Jo was pointing
into the dense growth along the side of the road, but saw nothing. “What is
it?”
“I saw someone.”
“Who?”
“I don’t know.”
“It was probably a deer or
something, Jo. I don’t see your doll anywhere.”
Jo sniffed, “Me neither, what am
I going to do?”
“Kate.” A deep male voice spoke
from behind them, sending tendrils of fear through Kate’s stomach.
Turning, she was met by black
eyes set deeply in a dark, familiar face.
“Tochoway.” Kate said, relief
flooding her.
“This is Jo’s baby?”
“My doll,” Jo cried reaching out
for the precious possession.
“Thank you, how did...” Kate
began.
“I was coming to meet you.”
Tochoway cut her off. “I have a message from the father of Nocona. He says to
tell you his son lives, and he is grateful.”
“Oh, I’m so glad. Is he healing
well? Does he have use of his arm?”
“Nocona will be a fine hunter and
horseman. His arm is healed, and he is well, thanks to you.”
A flash of lightning split the
air followed by a crash of thunder that shook the very trees around them, large
drops of rain began to fall.
“Come.” Tochoway said, melting
into the foliage beside the road.
Kate stepped down from the
buggy, securing the brake. Tying the mare to a nearby tree, she grabbed her
shawl for protection and held it over Jo as they followed the path Tochoway
made. After a few moments they came to a clearing where a simple skin tent was
erected and two ponies were tethered. Holding back the flap covering the
entrance, Tochoway beckoned them to enter. Kate took Jo’s hand and led her in
without hesitation. As Tochoway entered the sky was split asunder and torrents
of rain began to fall. The sound of the rain drumming upon the hides was
deafening, but they were safe and dry within the cozy shelter.
“This will pass,” Tochoway
reassured them. “The storm is moving quickly, and will soon be gone.”
“I hope so. I worry about the
mare and the buggy.” Kate replied.
“They will be fine.”
“I hope so,” she said, not
convinced.
Lightning flashed and the thunder
rolled, but it grew more distant with every flash. Within minutes the rain
began to lessen until it was no more than a gentle patter against the sides of
their tent. The spring storms would sometimes do that here in Oklahoma
Territory. They would brew all day, the heat and humidity building with every
passing hour, until it seemed the air could no longer contain the storms that
it was holding and they would be unleashed with a violent intensity, and be
gone, the energy entirely spent. As they emerged from the small shelter, the
air was fresh and clean and the rich scents of rain washed leaves and damp
humus clung to their skin.
“Thank you. You came along just
when we needed you.” Kate said.
Tochoway smiled briefly and
watched the woman before him intently.
“I guess we had better be
getting home before they worry too much and start looking for us.” Kate said,
watching Jo, and stooping to pick up the shawl she had dropped. As she reached
for it, Tochoway picked it up and held it for a moment, fingering the soft
material, before handing it to her. “Thank you,” she said. His dark eyes held
hers, and she felt the heat rising within her in response to his intent gaze.
At last, she dropped her eyes to the ground, and turned to leave.
“Wait.” Tochoway said quietly,
placing a hand lightly upon her arm.
Kate turned, her heart racing.
He paused for a moment before taking
her gently by the arm, and leading her toward the ponies that were tethered
near the shelter.
“Nocona’s father sends you this
horse in exchange for his son’s life.”
Kate beheld a beautiful white
mare, heavily muscled, her coat still glistening from the rains. Upon a closer
inspection, Kate realized that the horse was not completely white, but had
chestnut over the ears and poll and a patch of the same color over one eye. Her
eyes were blue, something Kate had never seen before. She had heard this type
of horse described as a medicine hat, and she knew that they were held in the
highest esteem by the native people. Two hawk feathers braided together on a
narrow leather thong were intertwined in the mane just behind her ears, and
draped gracefully down her neck, the deep red shading on their ends matching
perfectly the red accents of the horse.
“Oh, but I couldn’t...” she
gasped.
“Yes, she is yours.”
Kate stared at the mare,
speechless. She tentatively reached a hand out to the magnificent animal. The horse
quivered beneath her touch, turning her head, and nudging the woman in return.
Kate ran her hand firmly down the horse’s neck and up over the withers, feeling
the power within the taut muscles.
Tochoway placed a hand-tied rope
halter over the mare’s head, untethered her leg and handed the lead to Kate.
She still couldn’t believe this was happening. How had Tochoway found them that
day?
Returning to the buggy, Kate let
out a sigh of relief to see the mare standing calmly where she had been tied.
Their packages had survived safely packed away beneath the seat in the storage
box. Tochoway tied the white horse behind the buggy, and lifted Jo up to the
bench.
Turning to Kate, he held out a
hand to assist her into the buggy. She paused for a moment, searching his face.
“Why?” she asked finally.
He said nothing, but helped her
up to the high seat. Picking up the reins, she looked at him one last time,
before clucking to the mare and giving a flick of her wrist to start her down
the road to Providence.
“What you have done for the least
of these....” he spoke quietly.
Kate’s heart soared as she
heard the parting words, and her mind finished the phrase, “....
you have
done to me.”
Kate could see Nana peering
anxiously through the kitchen window as they approached the house. Bringing the
horse to a stop near the porch, Kate and Jo jumped down, happy to be safely
home. Jake came from the barn as Nana appeared from the back door.
“Where have you been?” they both
asked at once.
Kate laughed, “To town of course,
but it’s good to be home.”
“We expected you back near an
hour ago!” Nana scolded.
“What’s this?” Jake asked, seeing
the white mare tied behind the buggy.
“It’s a horse.” Kate answered mischievously,
unpacking the buggy as she spoke, and handing the parcels to Jon, who had
appeared from the bunkhouse with Luke.
“Well, I can see that. Where did
it come from?” Jake asked, annoyed.
“She was a gift.”
Luke let out a low whistle,
Jake’s eyes narrowed, and Jon nearly dropped his burden at her declaration.
“Get those things in the
house, Jon, and we can have supper if it’s ready.” Kate said looking at Nana.
“It’s ready,” came the terse
reply. “Has been for a while now.” Nana turned and entered the kitchen without
another comment.
“Luke, will you unhitch the buggy
and see to Rosie. I want to settle this new mare in before we eat.”