by Linda Bridey
“When Hannah got her, he was so happy. Yeah, he shouldn’t have done so much lying to her, but he was gonna make it up to her. She wouldn’t listen, though. Clive got mad but left her alone after that one time. The next thing anyone knew, she was takin’ up with him,” he said pointing a finger at Owl. “It drove Clive crazy, but he didn’t say anything. That Indian did, though. He told Clive to stay away from Hannah or there’d be big trouble.”
Marcus looked at Owl in shock and saw from the small muscle that twitched in Owl’s jaw that Vince spoke the truth. Owl didn’t give any other outward sign that anyone else would have picked up on, but Marcus did.
Owl had forgotten about his threat to Clive and now saw how it hurt his case. He made no reaction, however.
The crowd reacted to Vince’s accusation and Mitch and the other officers had to settle them down again.
“So I think he was just waiting for his chance to attack Clive and when he saw it, he killed Clive like the animal he is,” Vince yelled.
Hannah shouted, “He’s not an animal!”
George Levine said, “That’ll be enough, young lady. Everyone better settle down or else.”
Lacey and Jamie tried to sooth Hannah.
Vince said, “When you make your decision, think about how you would feel if your brother or son or friend were killed by the likes of him. Would you want him running around again, ready to kill anyone who crossed him? Do you want him allowed around your women and children? Think about that when you vote.”
Vince sat down and Marcus gathered his thoughts as he stood up. He wore his suit and brand new doctor’s coat. As he took his place in front of the audience, he stood straight and said, “Today I am speaking as a physician and not the defendant’s brother. I could stand up here and tell you about what a good brother Owl has been to me since I was seventeen and other similar things, but I’m more interested in the medical facts pertaining to the injuries that Ms. Fairbanks sustained.”
With Hannah’s permission, Marcus read his notes from her chart and then went into how much force would have had to be applied to leave the kinds of bruises Hannah had sustained and give her a concussion. When he was done, he thanked the audience for being allowed to speak and sat down.
Jake Henderson got up and stated that whenever Owl came to the Watering Hole, the Lakota man never caused any trouble. He was quiet and rarely had more than one or two beers a night.
“He’s the perfect customer. He’s certainly caused a lot less trouble than Joe Dwyer has over the years,” Jake said.
Joe said, “Hey, don’t get me involved here. I’m behaving myself…for a change.”
There were many people who laughed.
George had to rein the crowd in again. “What did I tell you all? Now knock it off! Finish up, Jake.”
Jake didn’t have anything else to say and took his seat.
Tessa stood up and people started whispering about a woman speaking. Tessa tried to quiet her nerves as she faced the crowd.
“Good morning, everyone. Many of you know that Owl spent the winter with our family after being severely injured last fall. Yes, we are friends, but I don’t want to talk about that right now. My children come first in my life, which is the way most mothers feel. We have three young children.
While he stayed with us, Owl was entrusted many times with the care of all of our children and was never anything but kind and loving. Our children adore him and he loves them, too. As a mother, I always worry about the safety of my children. I would never let anyone care for them that I deemed inappropriate. I have never seen any sign of aggression in Owl and would happily still allow him to take care of our children and my husband feels the same way.”
“As a woman, I can tell you that the kind of experience Hannah went through is every woman’s nightmare. If someone was choking the life out of me and had beaten me, I would want my attacker stopped, even if it meant that person’s life was taken. What you should be thinking about as you vote is what would you have done if you saw a man beating and strangling your wife, betrothed, sister, or mother? If you only had a split second to save the life of a woman you loved, what would you do?”
As she sat down, George Levine began outlining the procedure for voting. Mitch made sure that things were kept orderly as the voting commenced and then delivered the ballots to Pastor John who counted them in front of everyone. When he was done he wrote something on a piece of paper and gave it to George.
George gave nothing away as he said, “The defendant has been found not guilty.”
The community center erupted and pandemonium ensued. Sammi and Jack stood protectively by Owl as Mitch, Seth, and Luke worked on calming everyone down. Sammi unlocked Owl’s handcuffs and said, “Congratulations, friend,” in Lakota.
Owl smiled at her and said, “Thank you.”
Jack tried to not smile a lot, but couldn’t help it. Owl looked for Hannah and saw her trying to push her way through the crowd. He left Sammi and Jack and hurried towards her. She broke free of the swarm of people and threw her arms around him. He held her close and felt her shake with sobs.
He kissed her hair and murmured soothingly to her. Then he was surrounded by family and friends, many of whom had tears of joy running down their faces. Marcus’ hug was as enthusiastic as everything else he did and Owl laughed as his brother rocked back and forth with him.
Owl was in a state of happy shock. He’d thought for sure that he was going to be swinging from a rope by the end of the day. He looked around at the throng of supporters and couldn’t believe how many there were. Jake decided that he was going to open the Watering Hole for a celebration and the happy crowd started pulling Owl and Hannah along.
As Marcus left the community center, he saw Raven standing a little ways off and ran over to the boy.
“Hey, buddy. It’s good to see you, but what are you doing here?” Marcus asked.
Raven’s big, dark eyes were sad and he looked scared. “It’s Mother. She’s having the baby and I think she’s going to die. Please help her, uncle. She needs you.”
Marcus closed his eyes for a moment and heard Black Fox’s warning in his head again. Marcus’ oath as a doctor had to come before concern for his own life, however, and his ethical code wouldn’t let him stay away when he could help Wind Spirit.
“Ok. I’ll come. But you can’t tell anyone, ok? Now here’s what I want you to do when you get to camp…”
Raven listened intently to his uncle as he was given instructions.
Marcus slipped through the woods. He didn’t take any of the trails into the camp. He moved cautiously, utilizing his ability to move silently. If there was ever a time that he needed it, it was now. The direction he travelled would lead him to an area that was close to the back of Black Fox’s tipi. He hoped Raven had been able to accomplish what he’d asked. When he arrived at the clearing, Marcus stopped and listened to what was going on around him.
He heard women’s voices talking inside the tipi and didn’t like what he was hearing. He saw that a slit had been cut in the back of the tipi and smiled. Raven had come through for him. Marcus made sure no one was looking as he ran the ten feet from the woods to the tipi and shoved his way through the opening.
Squirrel was with Wind Spirit and she almost screamed in fright when she unexpectedly saw Marcus. Marcus put a finger to his lips and did the same to Wind Spirit. Marcus began assessing the situation and whispered instructions to Squirrel about making certain teas he needed. They needed water. Squirrel left the tipi. Outside she told Black Fox where she was going. Wind Spirit cried out during a very painful contraction and Black Fox popped his head into the tipi.
Marcus froze as his eyes met his brother’s. A smile briefly passed over the chief’s face before Black Fox quickly shut the flap again. Marcus grinned and turned back to Wind Spirit. Squirrel returned and helped make the teas. He was concerned by the amount of blood Wind Spirit was losing. Marcus instructed Squirrel to give Wind Spirit the tea for pain and he
waited as long as he could for it to take effect, but the situation was becoming dire.
“The shoulders are stuck. We need to get this baby out right now,” Marcus whispered to Squirrel.
“What do we do?” Squirrel asked.
“It’s called an episiotomy. It’s a last resort. I’m going to have to make an incision so the baby can pass through,” Marcus said. He told Wind Spirit what he was going to do and Squirrel gave her a leather thong to bite down on. “I’m starting now.”
Marcus worked as quickly as possible to cause Wind Spirit the least amount of pain and to make sure the baby would be all right. Once the incision was made, Marcus was able to get the baby’s shoulders through quickly. He smiled as he told Wind Spirit that she had given birth to a healthy baby girl. In his excitement he’d forgotten to whisper. Black Fox coughed loudly to cover Marcus’ gaff and Marcus almost laughed.
He and Squirrel finished taking care of the mother and child. He whispered his goodbye to the two women and kissed the baby before crawling out of the tipi and ducking back into the woods.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Spirits ran high at the Watering Hole that afternoon. Joe made a speech about justice prevailing and how proud he was that it had been mainly an orderly affair since there had been good cooperation by all parties. Then he and Jamie sang while Luke played fiddle and Wendell played piano. The beer and whiskey flowed and there was a lot of dancing.
Towards evening, Owl took Tessa aside.
“Thank you for speaking for me. I feel that it was your words that made people vote not guilty. I owe you my life and I’ll forever be in your debt,” Owl told her.
Tessa smiled at him. “It was my pleasure. I only spoke the truth, Owl. I would trust you with my children anytime.” Then she hugged him. “You’re a good man.”
“Thank you,” he said as he hugged her back.
Dean came over and said, “Are you trying to move in on my wife?”
Owl laughed. “No. Nothing to worry about there.”
“You’re lucky,” Dean joked. “Your job is waiting for you. Will I see you in a couple of days?”
Owl nodded. “Yes. I’ll be there,” he said.
He and Dean shook hands. Owl said to Hannah, “I need to go tell my family that I’m fine and that it’s all over. I’ll see you at your house in a while, ok?”
Hannah nodded. “Yes. I’ll be there.”
He kissed her and left.
Owl hadn’t a horse so he ran to the village. It felt good to stretch his legs after being confined in the jail cell for so long. His hair whipped behind him as his long legs carried him along at full speed. He reached camp and headed straight for Black Fox’s tipi. Wind Spirit sat outside with a baby in a cradleboard which was propped up against the tipi so she could keep an eye on her.
Owl smiled. “Greetings, sister,” Owl said as he stopped before the tipi.
Wind Spirit gave a cry of joy and rose slowly to greet him. Owl gently embraced her.
“Congratulations,” Owl said. “How are you?”
Wind Spirit said, “I’m fine. Sore and tired, but good. Come meet your niece.”
Owl took the baby out of the cradleboard and held her in his arms. He smiled down at her. “Does she have a name yet?”
“No. We have not figured out something that we like yet,” Wind Spirit said
“You will,” Owl said as he kissed the little one and put her back in the cradleboard. “She’s beautiful.”
“Yes. Thanks to someone who came to help,” she whispered.
Owl smiled. “Ah, I see. Where is our chief?”
“He and He Who Runs are with the council. There is much arguing, Owl.”
Owl frowned. “This is all because of me. I’ll go talk to them.”
At the council lodge, Owl scratched on the door for admittance. He Who Runs popped his head out and then hurried from the lodge to embrace Owl. The two brothers laughed and soon Black Fox and the council members joined him. There was a joyous reunion with their brother and it seemed like the tension was broken for a little while.
Then Owl grew serious. “I am angry with you all.”
White Horse said, “Why do you say this?”
“Because you have turned your backs on one of our own over something that was my fault alone. He and his other family have been very kind to us and now you have greatly offended them. I am ashamed,” Owl said. His dark gaze touched on each council member. “We should ask for their forgiveness and welcome them back, if they will come.”
Owl’s statements ignited more heated debate and they filed back into the council lodge to discuss the issue. Owl wasn’t on the council, but he joined them anyway. He felt that he should speak on Marcus’ behalf.
The arguing grew heated until Black Fox yelled, “Enough!” He thought about how Marcus had risked his life to help Wind Spirit with the birth of their little girl. Black Fox would no longer tolerate any more bigotry against his brother or family. “It is apparent that we are not all going to agree on this and that it will turn us against one another. It pains me greatly to have to do this, but I think it would be best for those who do not want Silver Ghost our white friends and family to come here anymore to leave and make your own tribe. Those who still want to associate with them can stay. I have spoken on the matter and as chief I have the right to decide such a thing.”
Stunned silence followed Black Fox’s statement. All looked at Black Fox’s fierce expression of reproach and knew that he was completely serious.
Red Bear said, “Are you sure you want to take a chance on who will stay and who will go? You may not be left with very many people.”
Black Fox gave Red Bear a challenging stare. He was a formidable presence and Red Bear looked away a little. “Then so be it. It is better to be true to what I believe is right than to give in to criticism. Let the people do what they must. We will make the announcement immediately. Hear this, from this moment on, Silver Ghost and all the rest are allowed to come to the village and will not be harmed.”
Red Bear and several of the other council members left the lodge. White Horse said, “Chief, I think you have chosen wisely. Your grandfather would be proud.”
“Thank you, White Horse. Your support is appreciated. Let us go make the announcement,” Black Fox said and exited the lodge.
Of the one hundred twelve Lakota men and women in Black Fox’s tribe, thirty-eight decided to leave. Some families were broken up by this because not all of the members agreed. It caused much grief, but staying would cause even more strife and possible violence. They began packing right away and planned to leave in the morning.
Black Fox was saddened to see some of his own family and friends go, but it was for the best. The chief distracted himself from his grief by holding his new daughter and playing with their sons. Owl said that he would go tell Marcus what had transpired before he went on to Hannah’s house.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Hannah waited anxiously for Owl to come to her. She’d prepared a meal for them in celebration and the scents of chicken and blueberry pie wafted through the house. With the trial behind them, Hannah was excited about the future. When the verdict had been read and she’d heard not guilty, she could have fainted with relief. She hadn’t been able to help crying in Owl’s arms afterwards.
As Owl approached Hannah’s house, delicious aromas reached him and his stomach growled. Before he went inside, he stopped and looked at the pretty little house. He smiled as he remembered how afraid of houses he used to be. While Sammi and Joe’s houses still made him uneasy, he found that Hannah’s house didn’t do that to him.
Suddenly he wondered what it would be like living there. Waking up every morning with Hannah and going to bed with her every night certainly appealed to him. Just being with her every moment possible would be wonderful. He’d told Hannah that he didn’t know what the future held and he still wasn’t quite sure. His shoulder was doing better, but it was untested concerning shooting bow and arro
w and other combat moves.
The uncertainty of whether he would leave in the fall rose again and Owl grew very frustrated. Then he shook it off as he thought about Hannah. She was waiting and all he wanted to do was be with her. Owl shoved his worries about the future away and entered the house.
Hannah was at the stove and saw him come in the door.
“There you are,” she said with a smile.
Owl said, “Yes. Something smells great.”
He waited until she was done stirring gravy before pulling her to him and kissing her soundly. They parted and Hannah sighed. “I missed that.”
Owl chuckled. “You’re not the only one.”
She smiled and said, “Wash up. Supper is ready.”
“Ok,” Owl said.
They sat down to a dinner of baked chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy and green beans. Hannah knew that they were all foods that Owl enjoyed. As they ate, Owl told Hannah what had transpired in camp and while she was sad that some of his family and friends had decided to leave, she was glad that a resolution had been reached.
After dessert had been eaten, Hannah rose to clear away the dishes, but Owl stopped her. There was a heated look in his eyes that made her breath catch. She was ready for him when he slid his arms around her waist and brought his mouth down hard on hers. Hannah reveled in his possessive actions. Her response was immediate and desire consumed them. Owl couldn’t believe how lucky he was to be alive and with the woman he loved so much.
He picked her up and carried her to the bedroom despite the pain it set off in his shoulder. All Owl knew was that he needed her and she obviously felt the same way. Their clothes were quickly shed and Hannah sighed with pleasure as Owl laid her down and showed her how much he’d missed her.
