Authors: Karen Noland
As they approached an open
meadow only a few miles south of Providence, Kate felt Tochoway’s arms tighten
around her, his gaze urging her attention to the west. Looking in the direction
he indicated, Kate caught her breath at the sight of a small herd of bison
grazing in the golden sun. Perhaps fifty cows and half as many calves shuffled
through the deep grass. A great bull lifted his head and stared directly at
them, his horns curving in a graceful, deadly arc above his head, a massive
hump rising from his shoulders covered in tattered shreds of brown wool. Most
of the vast herds were gone now, only scattered remnants traveling in family
bands like this one still remained on the southern plains. Kate’s heart ached for
the vanishing life and the lost culture of the people left behind.
By midday, they crested the rise
that brought Kate’s home in sight. The carved wooden sign rocked in a gentle
breeze on its posts above the road. The house lay in the distance, blue smoke
drifting lazily from the chimney. As they rode on, the sound of voices carried
on the breeze made her heart race. Rounding the bend, Kate saw Luke chopping
wood in the yard while Jo played with her pup near the garden. Before they were
sighted by the family, Tochoway reined the small horse to a stop, and Kate slid
to the ground. Still holding Tochoway’s outstretched hand for support, she
gazed into his dark eyes looking for some way to express the depths of her
gratitude to this man who had touched her life in such a profound way. In
another time, could things have been different for them? A single tear slipped
down her cheek. Tochoway brushed his hand across her cheek, catching the
glittering tear, and brushing it away to the wind.
“Do not mourn, I will be with you
always,” he said, touching his hand to his breast. “Here will I carry your
spirit.”
Kate nodded, unable to
speak past the swelling in her throat.
“Your home is there. Your
daughter needs you, and there is a man that loves you well.
Go.”
Turning away, Kate went home to
Providence.
***
From his vantage point, Tochoway
watched as the little flame-haired girl ran toward her mother, nearly bowling
Kate over in her joy. Luke dropped the hatchet near the wood pile, and gazed at
Kate as though he had never seen anything so beautiful in his life. The blue
feather so painstakingly sewn on the white leather tunic sparkled in the sun.
Tochoway saw Luke’s eyes drawn to the symbol, then look up, searching the horizons.
Raising his arm in a final
farewell, Tochoway turned the pony to the south.
“Momma, Momma, wake up.” The
insistent voice cut through the hazy dreams in Kate’s mind.
“Jo, what is it?” Kate asked,
opening one eye, annoyed to be awakened in the predawn chill.
“It’s Christmas morning, you’ve
got to get up,” Jo said, jumping up on the big feather bed. “C’mon, Daddy, wake
up!”
“Huh! What? What’s wrong?” Luke
bolted upright.
“It’s Christmas morning, dear,”
Kate said with a wry grin.
“Well, so it is!” Luke exclaimed.
“Let’s go make your momma some coffee, maybe then she’ll be more cheerful.”
“Oh, yes, and see if there are
any gifts in our stockings!” Jo added.
“I can’t believe you two,” Kate
said. “It’s two hours till the sun will even be up.”
“But Grandpa Josey will be here
soon, ”Jo reminded her. “He promised he’d be here in time for breakfast on
Christmas morning.”
“So he did,” sighed Kate. “You
know I still don’t think he’s forgiven me for wearing my leather tunic when he
married us in Guthrie.”
“Oh, I admit, he thought it
was a bit heathen,” Luke agreed. “But I think you won him over, when he
realized it was because of you
‘
I finally repented
of my sinful ways, and fell on my face before the Lord! Hallelujah Brother!’”
Luke spoke in perfect imitation of his father from the pulpit. Jo dissolved in
a fit of giggles.
Kate punched him playfully on the
arm. “You oughtn’t to joke like that, Luke Josey!” she admonished.
“And why ever not, Mrs. Josey?”
he teased.
“Well, it has to be sacrilegious,
don’t you think?” By now they were all laughing so hard, Kate knew they would
never go back to sleep. “Well, as long as we’re all up, let’s get
breakfast going so Nana doesn’t have so much to fuss over when she gets here.”
Kate said. Swinging her legs over the side of the bed, she was overcome by a
wave of nausea so strong she grabbed for the chamber pot next to the bed.
“Kate, what’s wrong?” Luke asked,
worry creasing his brow.
Swallowing hard as the nausea
passed, she shook her head. “Nothing really, this just confirms my suspicions.”
“Your suspicions?” Luke asked in
a puzzled voice. His eyes grew huge as a look of joy and surprise suffused his
features. “You mean....”
Kate nodded, smiling.
“Yippee!” Luke shouted, pounding
his fist against the pillow.
“What?” Jo asked perplexed,
looking from her mother to Luke and back again. “We’re going to have a baby?”
She asked, eyes as wide as saucers.
Kate smiled, placing her
hand over her mid section, feeling the first flutters of new life.
THE END