The Spirits of Nature

by Michelle Post

  Rebecca learned to trust Running Wolf. He had proved to her long before she gave into his affections that he was a kind and decent man. He was devoted to her. She could rely on his care and protection.

  They had entered this relationship as mature adults. So their choice to love each other included what they had already learned from the outside world. They already had a lot of life experiences that made them grow individually, as well as a couple. They were devoted to each other.

  He provided the buffalo, which was the Indians source for life. He went to battle when the council decided it necessary. He was chief and therefore held the leadership position. However, Running Wolf was a wise leader and knew that it took the input of the entire tribe to have order. He was held in high esteem.

  Although he was their leader Rebecca never felt subservient to him. The women of the camp were reverenced as ‘the givers of life.’ This gave them the deciding factor in the tribe’s council.

  While Rebecca enjoyed the power of telling the men when it was time to hunt she never became accustomed to deciding that it was time to declare war. No matter how long she would live with them, she could not bring herself to cheerfully send her husband to battle. She worried she would lose him forever. She learned to adjust and did not show her feelings.

  Her last vision of him, as he would leave for battle was his strong frame and painted face. He would sit on his horse and yelp in anticipation of a victory. She bravely kept her fears to herself. She did not show Running Wolf her grave concern for his safety. She wanted him to have a clear mind and return safely to her.

  Bright Star Over The Mountains could see through her show of courage. When the men would leave the camp she would gently take her son’s wife in her arms and give her a reassuring hug.

  In time, Rebecca developed a keen sense of intuition. She seemed to know in her heart when her husband was victorious in battle. She knew when he was returning. She would watch from on top of a hill to catch a glimpse of him long before he entered the camp. When he was within view she would scamper to him and he would sweep her up on the horse with him. Together they would ride into camp. There were also times they did not return to camp for many hours. This made Running Wolf the target for teasing among the other Braves. He found this easy to ignore, thinking that they their chiding him was more envy than anything else.

  Rebecca learned the hard way that her light skin was not as resistant to the sun as her husbands. One night as Running Wolf rubbed her back with aloe he gave her some advice. “I think The Mourning Dove we should leave the baby-making to inside the lodge.” He was teasing her, but felt badly that his wife was hurt. “Or at least not fall asleep in the sun after and then swim in the river.”

  He continued to offer his wisdom to a wife who only wanted relief. She had painfully figured that out for herself. After that incident Rebecca was much more careful in the summer sun.

  In time she learned how to smoke a pipe and liked it. She and Running Wolf shared many nights smoking and enjoying the fire.

  The difference of the dance between their two cultures was as night is to day. There were dances for every prayer as well as dances for enjoyment. Eventually the women took her under their wings and taught her how to dance. The dance of the woman was different than the dance of the man.

  One night after the rest of the camp was asleep Rebecca took Running Wolf into her arms to show him the ‘white man’s’ dance. He was patient as he let her lead him. He stepped on her feet a couple of times. She laughed as she hummed a waltz. She smiled at him as his face took on the amber glow of the fire. She felt serene within his embrace. The only witnesses to their dance were the crickets in search of their mates.

  There was only one thing that remained heavy in her heart. She was often burdened with the thought of Philip and her father. She wondered what they knew about her. They probably thought she was dead. It was such a dilemma to her. She had found a home, yet at times she still missed the people she left and for Hidden Meadows. She did not know what they knew concerning her well-being and that haunted her.

  ~

  The yearly Pow-wow was celebrated for a week. There were canoe races and other games played among the Braves. There was a custom among them that was used to show bravery in battle. It was called the contrary warrior. When Running Wolf would perform this act of courage during battle he did not share it with Rebecca before he left the camp.

  Running Wolf would claim himself a ‘crazy dog.’ He would sit on the horse backward. He would ride into battle this way. It was considered a great feat to ride into battle backward and survive. When he accomplished this feat he would be highly decorated. Rebecca found this the most difficult to understand. She never learned to accept it.

  During the yearly fair they would exhibit this skill. They would have mock battles and the men seemed to be at their best during this time. They would count coup during this mock session as though it were a true battle.

  The women would display the works of art they had accomplished during the long winter. Many had made beautiful blankets during the ‘story-telling’ time. There would be prizes of pelts for the best works from the treasured buffalo.

  Then there was the dancing. It was done every night and almost all night.

  When the fair was over Rebecca found herself very tired. She had just drifted off to sleep one night when Running Wolf woke her. He placed a round metal piece in her hand. Rebecca was in the twilight stage of dreaming but quickly woke when she saw the watch. She looked over the piece. How could it be that it had made its way to the camp? For a second she wondered if Sarah and Robert had brought it.

  “Where did you get this?” she asked in English because of her shock at seeing something of such familiarity. She repeated the words in Crow.

  Running Wolf stood and offered her his hand to assist her to her feet. He led her to the middle of the camp where she saw a white man who was standing there waiting for Running Wolf to return. There were many of the tribe members surrounding him in curiosity.

  She ran to him and took hold of his jacket. The smell of his body quickly made her move back.

  “Where did you get this and who are you?”

  Fletcher looked at her and could not believe his luck.

  “Well, if it is not the infamous Rebecca Butler.” He made a foolish remark as he observed her clothing and the feather in her hair. “Have you become part of them?”

  She chose to ignore this rude man’s remarks. She did not owe him an explanation. She knew immediately that he was without couth. She may have been wearing Indian clothing but at least she was clean. He was filthy.

  Running Wolf could not fully understand English but he was able to gather that Rebecca Butler must have been her name. He could feel the threat of losing her and was growing very anxious.

  “Who are you?” she asked again growing very impatient.

  “I don’t believe my eyes,” Fletcher exclaimed. “I heard you were a handful. Now that I have found you I can see it is true.”

  “I need to know how you got these things?” she continued.

  “I bought them from a trader who got them from a renegade Indian. Stolen, I recon. I don’t know what happened to the owners, but I think you can figure it out.”

  He said this with little regard for her feelings. Fletcher took out the bag and gave Rebecca the jewelry box. Her stomach began to ache. This would mean that Robert and Sarah were killed! It was too much to bear. Did all of them perish? Maybe the child that she thought Sarah had conceived had been saved. She prayed that was true.

  For a moment she was silent. The sadness she was feeling was breaking her heart. She assumed they had begun a life on the west coast and were doing well. The reality of them having met ill fate made her sick. And, Indians killed them.

  “I am Fletcher Stone, ma’am,” he said as he tipped his hat to her. “I have been hired by your father and brother to fetch you and bring you on home.”

  The sound of their names made her hear
t soar and brought her back to reality. She missed them so and now having some contact was more than she could fathom.

  “How are they?” she asked feeling her heart racing.

  “They are fine. They are worried sick about you.”

  Running Wolf was listening but understanding very little, except that this man could take her away. The little he knew of English was being spoken too quickly for him to comprehend. Fletcher also used slang that was not part of Rebecca’s vocabulary. He was too emotional to really concentrate. He could lose her and that is all his instincts told him. He had made up his mind that if she wanted to go he would let her. He trembled at the thought.

  “I am fine, as you can see,” she assured him.

  She was confused and her head was spinning. She loved her family and thought she would never see them again. Now, she had the opportunity to be with them. How likely was this to happen? It was a one in a million chance that he had found her. Obviously her father had gone to great lengths to bring her home. Her heart was torn.

  Fletcher Stone continued. He was wanted to sweeten the deal. “You know that brother of yours? He married him a cute little wife. They are having a young one.”

  Philip married? Life had gone on of course and she was missing it.

  “I could have you home in a few months,” Fletcher said as though he was reading her mind. “Just in time for the baby.”

  “So, you could really take me back home?” she asked.

  “Is there something wrong with your hearin’? That is what I have been saying.”

  “I have some nice things here that the Indians would consider valuable. Maybe trade me for you.”

  Rebecca resented his lack of character. He obviously did not know much about these people. She had become soft-spoken which was very unusual for her. She was in shock. The thought of seeing her family again was playing havoc on her mind. She knew she had a choice. Up until this time she had accepted her fate and even embraced it. Now, things were suddenly different.

  She looked at the faces surrounding her. She could see all the people she had grown so close to, and loved. They were staring at her and wondering what she would do. She scanned their expressions and saw Bright Star Over The Mountains. She had pain in her eyes. Rides With Fury understood everything that was being said and moved closer to see what she would decide to do.

  When she looked over to Running Wolf their eyes locked for a long time. She knew that he would not stop her from leaving. This made him all the more admirable to her. It was overwhelming. She had to walk away. She put her hand on the sleeve of Fletcher.

  “I will be back in a few moments.”

  Fletcher was concerned for his safety. Would they attack him for trying to take her away?

  “Wait, don’t walk away!”

  Rebecca continued to walk, ignoring him. She retreated to her tent. She was grateful that Running Wolf had not followed her. She looked over the watch and held it to her breast. How she loved Philip and her father. If she did not go now there would not be another opportunity. This was a miracle in itself. She began to cry as she took a blank piece of paper from the back of her Bible. She took some powder and ground it. She would use this as ink. She found a feather and used it for a writing instrument.

  She composed a letter to her father and brother.

  My Dearest Father and Philip,

  How can we ever understand the matters of the heart? As I am writing this my heart is breaking at the thought of never seeing you again.

  I know it will be difficult if not impossible for you to understand but I have married and I intend to stay with my husband. He is my life and I love him in a way I never thought possible. In a different time and different place you would agree that I could not have a better husband.

  I pray that you will find it in your hearts to forgive me for something that I do not expect you to understand.

  I will love both of you, always.

  The Mourning Dove (Rebecca)

  She could not leave Running Wolf. As much as she loved and missed her family they were part of her past. Her husband and his family were her future. She knew this within the depths of her soul.

  She carefully folded the letter. She picked up a pouch made of rawhide called a parfleche. She put the letter and the watch in the pouch. She was not convinced that this would suffice in proving that he had seen her. She looked at the Bible and saw the hair ribbon. She had left it in the book of Jeremiah all this time. She opened the book. She ran her fingers over the name Jeremiah. She put the book to her lips and kissed the page with his name. “Please forgive me father,” she said as she closed the book.

  To be certain that they knew it was her hair ribbon she took a knife and carefully cut a lock from her hair. She tied the ribbon around the hair and put it in the parfleche.

  She would give this to the lewd man in hopes that it would get to her family. She was confident it would. Why else would he put himself in harms way? There must have been a handsome reward waiting for him.

  Her absence was an eternity to Running Wolf. He expected to see her return to the campfire with her belongings. He saw the parfleche and became very concerned.

  She did not look at him as she passed him.

  Running Wolf understood that as a sign she was leaving. He could not bear to see her go or the humiliation in front of the rest of the tribe. He only wanted her to stay if she desired to be his wife. He left for the comfort of his tipi.

  Rebecca approached Fletcher Stone and handed him the parfleche.

  “I can’t leave,” she told Fletcher. “I love my father and brother more than anything, but I have a husband now. I love him.”

  Rides With Fury let out a sigh of relief. When Bright Star Over The Mountains saw the look on her husband’s face her heart soared. Her son would not be hurt and she would not lose a daughter she had grown to love.

  “You cannot be serious?” Fletcher was starting to laugh. “I just don’t get it,” he said thinking about his bonus.

  Rebecca looked directly at him. “No, I guess that you would not.”

  “How will I have proof that I saw you?” he questioned Rebecca.

  “You have the note I just gave inside that bag. I have also enclosed the watch and the lock from my hair. That should be prove enough.”

  Fletcher Stone opened the bag as she thought he would. He pulled out the hair. “They will think that you have been scalped,” he said knowing the ignorance of his statement.

  She was growing impatient with this vagabond.

  “That is not a scalp,” she said her voice becoming impatient. “Stop toying with me, or I will have my husband show you what a real scalp is, your scalp!” she said with a smile.

  Fletcher looked at her. He knew she meant it.

  “Just show them these things and I am sure you will be paid handsomely.” She knew that his concerns were for his own gain.

  “You are making a terrible mistake.” He made a last attempt.

  “No, not at all Mr. Stone,” she said with conviction. She turned to walk away. She had injured his ego and he had to get even.

  “What should I tell them it is like to lay with a savage?” he said with a grin.

  Rides With Fury braced himself. He was not sure what she would do.

  Rebecca did a one-eighty turn. She was trying to control her temper. She walked very close to him. She wanted to slap him but that would have brought a reaction from any brave standing there. She needed him alive to get word to her family of her chosen life.

  “You are as stupid, Mr. Stone as you are filthy.” She shook her head in disbelieve of his lack of wisdom. “You know, I could just say the word and no one would ever be able to find you.”

  He could see the fierceness in her eyes and once again he decided it prudent to back down. For one of the few times in his life Fletcher Stone was frightened. She was really tough and he knew that she meant what she said. He mounted his horse.

  Rebecca could not leave it as that. Once he was
on his horse she approached him for her final say. “Let me ask you something in answer to your question,” she grinned. “Do you see me mounting my pony to return? When was the last time you saw a woman this happy and content?”

  She walked to the face of the horse he had mounted.

  “Take this stupid bastard back home,” she instructed his pony. She laughed as she hit the horse frightening him into a gallop.

  Rebecca spoke the Crow language all the time. However, when she found herself frustrated or provoked she would revert to English cursing.

  Bright Star Over The Mountains walked up to Rebecca as the dirty stranger left their camp. She questioned her daughter-in-law.

  “Bastard?” she asked confused.

  Rides With Fury snickered curious to see Rebecca’s response.

  This was a comic relief for Rebecca. She chuckled and shook her head to let Bright Star Over The Mountains know that it was not important.

  She scanned the people, looking for Running Wolf. She did not see him. This confused her.

  ~

  Rebecca entered the tipi to find Running Wolf gazing into the fire. He looked at her and she could see he was surprised she had not left. She sat next to him at the fire.

  “Would you not fight for me?” she questioned him.

  Running Wolf smiled at her lack of understanding.

  “Fight to keep you here as a prisoner?” he questioned her. “No, that would not be good.”

  “When you first arrived here, I removed your ropes,” he said looking into her eyes. “I had you brought to me because that is what my vision had told me. You have always been free to leave.”

  “I thought you would return to your father,” he continued.

  Rebecca moved closer to him. She took his hand in hers.

  “I could not leave you. I love you and you are my husband no matter what.”

  He was touched by her words. He was feeling exalted that she chose him. He was also feeling guilty that she had to make a choice. He would spend the rest of his life making sure she never regretted her decision to stay with him.