The Spirits of Nature

by Michelle Post

  He looked to the tipi and saw the small faces of his children. They were peering through the opening trying to determine what their fate would be. Their grandmother had come to their rescue. Running Wolf bent down on one knee to welcome his children with open arms. They ran to his embrace.

  The Mourning Dove looked at her mother-in-law. The exchange of glances told Bright Star Over The Mountains that her daughter-in-law was grateful for her intervention. She looked on her husband with pride in his reaction. She would deal with her discord in her husband later.

  The children fell asleep early. All of them had a day of exhilaration. The Mourning Dove could have just ignored her husband’s behavior toward her. She understood his worry when the children had disobeyed. She admired how he handled them when he returned to camp. He had taken Swift Fox Who Enters Quickly out for a long ride.

  Running Wolf took his youngest son to a peaceful hill just outside the village. They sat under a tree and he pointed out the nest of sparrows in the branch of the tree. The mother bird was feeding her hungry young. He took the young man into his arms and pointed to the birds.

  “In some ways my son, our brothers the birds can be smarter than humans. See how high the nest is from the ground?”

  Swift Fox Who Enters Quickly nodded. Running Wolf continued.

  “Well, my son the only way that the bird will not get hurt when he leaves the nest is to fly. The mother will decide when the birds are old enough to fly. Then she will teach them how, but only when she feels the time is right. Until then the young birds do not attempt to fly. They remain obedient to their mother and do not leave the nest without her help. If they did then they would fall from the nest and surely die.”

  He turned the child to face him.

  “You see, if one of those birds thought it was brave to fly and show the mother that he could do it, he would not be brave or wise. There are times we are to be brave and times we need to wait. A wise man knows the difference.”

  The young boy thought for a moment.

  “I do not like being little and not able to do things. I cannot wait until I am older like you and can do what I want. Then I can show everyone that I am brave! No one can tell you what to do…except for Mother.”

  The wise warrior smiled at the innocence of youth. He was not sure how much he had taught him today.

  “My son, we always have to obey the wishes of the Great Spirit. Even a chief does not do what he wants to do all the time. I have a council of women and men who help with all the decisions. And then the chief will always ask what the Creator desires.”

  “Oh,” the child said with disappointment.

  Swift Fox Who Enters Quickly sat for a moment in thought. Running Wolf was hopeful that he was thinking about the lesson he was trying to instill in him. the child then looked to his father with a question.

  “Do birds have teeth?”

  Running Wolf took his son into his arms and laughed at the naiveté of his child. It was the same unassuming attitude that nearly cost him his life that day. His question made him wonder if he had understood the moral at all. It would not be until years later that he would know that his lesson did indeed reach his child that day.

  Running Wolf also wanted to instill upon Quick Fox Who Enters Quickly the reverence of bravery. He told him of his experience when he was young. It was the time his mother reminded him of earlier. He shared with the young man how the elders know what is best. Running Wolf knew that his son was wise beyond his years. If he were to make this lesson one the boy would remember he would have to share some life experiences that would make sense to the boy. In an effort to teach the young man he shared with him his vision quest. That was how his mother came to live with the Crow.

  Swift Fox Who Enters Quickly was enthralled by the story. He could not believe that his parents were anything but happy all the time. Even in his very young age the child now had a new admiration for his father. He could see why he was such a loved and respected chief.

  Swift Fox Who Enters Quickly was much more obedient after that day.

  When Running Wolf told his son of the relationship between him and his wife he thought about how he had behaved toward his Mourning Dove that day. He was remorseful and he knew she was upset. He was hoping that she had just forgotten the whole thing by now. He knew later that was not true.

  Running Wolf told a special story to Sparrow Song before sending her off to slumber. He needed to hold her and feel close to her after the near tragedy earlier that day.

  When she had fallen asleep he looked at his wife who was tending to the fire. She had her back to him. He wanted to be close to her but was not sure how to approach her after such a long silence between them. He could see the coldness in his wife. He had hoped that the gentleness toward the children would earn him the forgiveness he wanted from her. He waited until the children were sound asleep.

  Swift Fox Who Enters Quickly pretended to be asleep. He knew that his actions earlier had caused a conflict between his parents. He felt badly about it. He was also very curious to hear what would transpire between the two adults later, when they thought the children were not awake.

  Running Wolf was lying next to The Mourning Dove. He knew she was not asleep. He pulled her close to him and kissed her on the neck.

  She immediately pulled back.

  “Not tonight!” she said in a sharp tone.

  He did not know what to do. He really did not know why she was still upset. He convinced himself that she was being unreasonable.

  “What is wrong?” he questioned.

  “You already know.”

  “I was angry,” he tried to explain.

  The remark made her more upset.

  “I was angry too, but I did not blame you.”

  He tried to defend his position. “I just did not understand why you did not watch them better.”

  The remark infuriated her. “That is such bullshit, Running Wolf. I had left them with your mother. If you had taken the time to find out what really happened, you would have known that they were not in my care.” She had rolled on her side and away from him. “It would have been nice had you trusted me, and trusted your mother.”

  So, that is what really bothered her? He thought. She was a good mother and his remark in the meadow and his ignoring her was a reflection on her as a parent. He was still confused. He was reacting that day. She should have understood.

  It was late. He would make it up to her in the morning. He could see she was too upset to reason with now.

  A simple apology would have been all it took to smooth things over. He did not think of that. He was too tired and he did not think that a make-up session was going to happen anyway. He wanted to say something. He wanted to feel as though he did not completely lose the battle with her. He thought about a word she said in English just a few minutes ago.

  “Bull … shit?” He asked her.

  She looked at him confused. He obviously was not concerned about her feelings at all.

  “Is that all you heard was that word out of the whole conversation.” She was so frustrated she began to cry.

  “Obviously you do not understand Crow which I was speaking, if all you heard was one word in English!” She was becoming more upset.

  She knew she was raising her voice. She also knew that Swift Fox Who Enters Quickly was awake. He did not need to hear their words. She regained her composure. This just was not worth the effort.

  “Never mind,” she retorted. She pulled the blanket around her shoulder and moved even further away from him.

  He lay back defeated. Tomorrow was another day. He counted on the fact that she would have the night to sleep it off. However, after the hunt tomorrow he knew he had a fire to put out. He made one last attempt.

  “Tomorrow after the hunt, we can go to our place in the mountains, The Mourning Dove. Maybe there, where there are no other people…or children, I will be able to hear what you are saying,” he offered sincerely.

  His attempt to c
omfort her turned her coldness into warmth. He was immediately forgiven. She knew he wanted to make things right and that touched her soul. She also did not want him to leave for a dangerous hunt without some resolution.

  “Tomorrow will be good, for now my love you need to get some rest.” She turned to passionately kiss her husband. She looked forward to their time alone in the mountains. Running Wolf responded to her kiss hoping for more. She held her husband at an arm’s distance. She put her finger to his mouth to keep him from speaking. She looked over to where the children were lying.

  “You can go to sleep now, Swift Fox Who Enters Quickly,” she instructed her son. “Your parents are through discussing things for tonight.” She smiled and looked at her husband. He loved how well she knew the children and saw things that he did not.

  Swift Fox Who Enters Quickly immediately shut his eyes tightly as though she had seen him and that is how she knew he was awake.

  She turned to her husband. He was smiling at her and kissed her. He pulled her close to his heart. The Mourning Dove giggled and pulled the blanket over their heads. They could be alone for the night tomorrow without concern or the interference of the children.

  The following day The Mourning Dove returned from the hunting grounds early. Bright Star Over The Mountains would prepare the buffalo for her. When she saw her husband approaching the camp she ran to him as she did so many other times in the past. She approached the horse and he pulled her up in front of him. With his long beautiful raven hair blowing freely in the air she embraced him. He smiled as his pony took them to the mountains.

  ~35~

  Philip’s Triumph

  Philip sat in the confines of his office. It had been several years since he had traveled to Virginia. Somehow Lester and his son had vanished. He reflected on how he had his son within his grasp, and then lost him.

  Philip had left Lester’s shop. He kept a vigil across the street in the alley. He wanted to be sure that Lester did not leave. In the morning he would go to the office of the local sheriff and tell them of his suspicion. The wanted poster he guarded with his life was his proof.

  His one mistake was assuming that Lester did not know him. It cost him the reuniting of his son and the discovery that Molly was still alive.

  After nightfall Lester left his home. He knew the area very well. He was able to ambush Philip and beat him until he was immobile and unconscious. He wanted to kill him. However, he knew that it would send the authorities after him. There were too many who had seen them conversing earlier in the day.

  Philip suffered a few broken ribs. He also had a broken leg. This would deter him for quite some time.

  The Albright family nursed him back to health. During his recovery he learned that Lester had changed the family name to Wainwright and his first name to Oliver. He had never changed Andrew’s name. He had obviously remarried. He was told that the woman’s name was Emma.

  Once Philip was well enough to travel he ventured out in a vein effort to find the ‘Wainwright’ family. They had been gone for several months. Lester had used the time well. They were nowhere to be found.

  Philip had financial responsibilities to tend to. He was fortunate that he had several assistants who would keep the business operating in his absence. However, he needed to return.

  He hoped he could find someone with the keen sense of Fletcher Stone who could help him.

  Philip located a small town just outside of Massachusetts when he decided to refresh.

  He was sitting in the saloon and learning to accept the fact that it was not going to be easy to find his son. He would not let go of the hope in his heart. He knew he would not leave this earth without seeing his son once again. It is what gave him a reason to live.

  There was laughter all around him. That is something he had not known in quite sometime. He also had not been with a woman since Molly. His injuries, when he was shot, entailed the taking of his manhood.

  He looked at the men groping the women in the bar. Out of the corner of his eye he saw something that looked familiar. There was a young woman who had the chestnut color of Molly’s hair. She walked with the same bounce that he found so attractive in Molly. She caught him staring and gave him a warm smile.

  Philip walked over to the woman. “Can I interest you in a drink?” he asked not sure how she would react. He had been quite the ladies man before Molly and he was not sure if he had lost all his charm.

  She smiled and replied, “I would love a drink.”

  In his mourning Philip did not realize that he could still turn heads. She was happy he was paying attention to her. He was well dressed for man who was just passing through. He looked like quite the gentleman.

  They talked for quite some time. Philip had been very aware of his loneliness. The knowledge of his limitations as a man had not depleted his need for the closeness of another human being.

  The night progressed and she invited him to her room. He hesitated at first but knew there were sensations happening that he had not had in a long time.

  ~

  The following morning Philip woke to see this woman, who remained nameless, at his side. He had a headache from the amount of spirits he had ingested the night before when he was trying to gain courage. His memory was not too clear about the exact details of the night before. He remembered enough. He smiled because he had a small victory. Lester had not taken all from him that he had intended.

  ~36~

  Tender Moments

  “Poor bastard,” Jack said as he read my latest chapter. “I would love to know the rest. I guess that I will not know what happens until you write it.”

  “I will tell you, if you like.” I was sincere.

  “No, I really like the way you put words together. I can wait.”

  I looked outside, it was still light.

  “Hey, can I show you something? It is a place that I will write about next and I think you would like it.”

  “Anything for inspiration,” he said as he led me to the door.

  In a short time we were standing at the side of the river. It was quiet and almost nightfall. I took Jack to a place that Tiponi had mentioned to me. It held the story of a tender moment in the life of Running Wolf and The Mourning Dove.

  “Can you imagine they stood here in this very spot?” I had goose bumps thinking about it.

  We walked further. It was so quiet and serene. It was romantic. Jack took me in his arms and we stood in silence for a long time listening to the water.

  ~

  Swift Fox Who Enters Quickly and Sparrow Song were running in the shallow water of the river. Running Wolf and The Mourning Dove were playing in the water as well. The Mourning Dove was teasing her husband by splashing him. They were laughing as the children played. Strong Eagle came to the river and the younger children ran to him. They were tired of the water and wanted to return to camp. Running Wolf gave the signal that it was permissible. They knew to go to their grandmother when they were not with their parents.

  Running Wolf took this opportunity to have some time alone with his wife. He knew that his mother and Rides With Fury would care for the children. He would steal these few moments with The Mourning Dove.

  Running Wolf took The Mourning Dove in his arms and laid her on her back in the water. He held her as floated within his embrace. The Mourning Dove was very relaxed.

  He took her hand. He led her to a canoe and without saying a word instructed her to climb inside.

  “Where are we going?” she wondered.

  He put his finger to his lips to signal that he would not tell. He had great surprises so she was more than willing to wait.

  The afternoon was warm. They found it to be cool as he paddled down the river. It was lined with trees that secluded the river from the strong rays of the setting sun.

  The Mourning Dove smiled as she watched her husband in silence. She was grateful for the stolen moments.

  He pulled the canoe to the side of the river and assisted her in climbi
ng the bank.

  They had paddled to a place where the birds were their only company. Running Wolf found a spot along the edge of the river where there was enough of a clearing for them, yet very private. He took her in his arms as they fell to the ground. The Mourning Dove was laughing as her husband kissed her falling into playful splendor.

  ~37~

  The Promise

  Running Wolf, as a leader in both bravery and spiritually, often would depart for a vision quest. When he returned he would share with The Mourning Dove the visions that he had been blessed with receiving. Through the many years they had been together she was still amazed at the deep spirituality he possessed.

  He returned from a vision quest one day looking very intent. Unlike the many other times he did not immediately share with her the vision he had received.

  When she saw him spend a lot of time with Rides With Fury in private consultation she knew there was something that made his heart sad. She let him be for some time, but eventually she was concerned for his mood. He was sulking about and it was not like him. She knew from her many years with him that when he was ready he would tell her the matters of his heart. She had learned to be patient.

  They had spent fifteen years together and had learned how to approach each other in matters that were of any concern.

  It did not take long for The Mourning Dove to realize that his worries were many when she saw her mother-in-law ask to enter their lodge. She was with Rides With Fury. They had brought over food for the children.

  “I would like to take you to the mountains for a while,” Running Wolf told his wife.

  His look was intent and she could feel the anxiety building in her. He wanted to spend time alone with her. She was certain it was about his latest dream. By the look on the face of Rides With Fury she knew it must have been a special vision.