by Verna Clay
"Papa…PAPA! We're ready!" called Amy.
Thomas blinked to clear his mind and shifted his gaze to Tana. She was watching him with a curious expression. He smiled and said, "So am I, ladies." He gestured forward. "Lead the way."
28: Visitation
Thomas had to admit that the backdrop for their picture was incredible. Behind them gigantic stone monuments rose in colorful grandeur. Cast in afternoon sunlight, the reds, browns, and oranges of the stones were breathtakingly beautiful. Although the photograph would not capture the colors, Thomas knew he could never view another photo of the red rocks without visualizing its many and varied shades.
George positioned his subjects and then went about the business of angling his camera just right. Both Tana and Amy giggled when he said how pretty they looked. Thomas watched Tana smooth Amy's hair and then her own, and then brush her hand down her skirt. Her simple blue skirt and white blouse had the worn look of many years. Thomas had noticed that about all of her clothing. Some even had patches. Apparently, clothing was of little concern to her. She never fussed or complained about their condition. She was unlike any woman he had ever met.
George tapped his cheek in a thoughtful manner. "Thomas, I think you should be in the center with Amy and Tana slightly in front of you." They repositioned themselves as requested and George exclaimed, "Perfect composition!" He instructed them to hold their breath and stand perfectly still while he pushed the camera plunger. After a time, he said, "All right, folks, you can breathe again, but don't run off just yet, I want to take another one."
Thomas, Tana, and Amy watched while George reached inside his camera with a long black sleeve and explained that he was removing the exposed tintype and dropping it through a slot into a small tank fitted beneath the camera that was filled with developing solution.
Although George had explained the process to Thomas and Amy when they first met, he again listened with fascination. Lastly, George dipped the tintype in a bucket of water at his feet. Everyone crowded around him to see the picture.
Tana placed her hands on her cheeks. "Oh my, it's wonderful!"
George grinned and said, "And it's yours; a memento of this fabulous day."
Tana exclaimed, "Thank you, George! Thank you!"
Suddenly Petunia brayed loudly, charged around the boulders hiding their picnic area, and bolted down the mountainside. The roar of an angry bear was preceded by its actual appearance. It rounded the stones and stopped, watching them. Thomas silently cursed for having left his rifle in the scabbard on Petunia.
George made a choking sound and Amy covered her mouth with her hand. Thomas' heart leapt into his throat. He said quietly, "Amy, Tana, George, I don't want you to move. If the bear charges I'll distract him so you can run. George, if you have to run, I leave the care of Tana and Amy to you."
George replied, "Yes, sir."
Amy said, "Papa, maybe he'll go away, just like the other one."
"Honey, I hope so."
The bear rose on his hind legs, pawed the air, and growled. Thomas slowly inhaled, mentally and emotionally preparing himself to give his life for the others if it came to that. Their location couldn't have been worse. Behind them the bluff dropped hundreds of feet. In front of them a terrain of jagged rocks and boulders with few trees descended the mountain. At this elevation there was little to hide them or detour an angry bear.
Unexpectedly, Tana stepped around Thomas and started toward the animal. Thomas jerked his hand out and grasped her arm. "What the hell are you doing?" he whispered loudly.
The bear snarled and took a step closer.
"Let go of my arm, Thomas," Tana calmly replied.
"I'm not letting you get yourself killed."
"I'm not going to die. The bear won't harm me and he won't harm you. He'll leave just like the one at the river did."
"What!" In his confusion, he loosened his grip on Tana and she hastened forward.
Over her shoulder she called, "Trust me, Thomas."
Thomas didn't know whether to remain where he was or rush after her. Just as he was about to make a move to save her and shout for George to flee with Amy, the bear sat on his haunches and ceased growling. Tana stood about fifteen feet from him. Speaking gently she said, "Hello, Great One. You've lived among these rocks for as long as I have. I first saw you when I was a child. You were with your mama." The bear became perfectly still and Tana took a step closer. "I know everything has changed since then and it makes me sad, too. I wish I had an answer, but there isn't one. More men will come and someday there will be many families here. It cannot be stopped. Harming my friends will not change anything. You must…" Her words faded as she stepped closer.
George rasped, "My God! She's talking to the animal! And…and he's listening!"
Amy said, "The animals always listen to her."
In fascination, the three of them watched Tana and the bear face each other. She remained several feet from the animal and continued speaking so softly that Thomas couldn't decipher her words. When the bear rose to his full height again, Thomas prepared to rush forward, but it wasn't necessary. The animal merely turned and lumbered away. For long seconds no one moved or said anything—no birds chirped and no breeze blew. The only sound Thomas heard was his own breathing.
Finally, Tana turned and calmly walked back to them. She said simply, "Petunia will soon return." Thomas slipped his arms around her. She sighed and rested her cheek against his chest. He tightened his hold and closed his eyes, but opened them again and glanced down when he felt Amy hugging them both. For a few brief moments time ceased. Then he heard George packing his equipment. Thomas stepped backward, placed his hands on Tana's shoulders and bent until his eyes were level with hers. His gaze roamed her face and then settled again on her strikingly colorful eyes. "Thank you, Tana." He hesitated and asked, "How did you know about the bear at the river?"
Tana gave him her secret smile and said, "Frannie."
29: Broken Heart
Five days after the bear incident, George bid a jovial farewell. He grinned and said, "Tana, I only wish I had a photo of you talking to the bear," then he shook his head. "If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes I wouldn't have believed it." With a slightly embarrassed expression he reached to embrace her. "Thank you for your hospitality..." He sighed and finished with, "…and for saving my life."
Tana returned George's hug and replied, "I'm going to miss you, George. You must visit when you return to the red rocks."
He leaned back and smiled. "You can count on it." Next, he turned and knelt in front of Amy. "And I'm going to miss you, too, little one."
Amy's bottom lip trembled. "I wish we could all just stay here forever."
George smoothed her hair. "Amy, the only thing that lasts forever is our memories." He hugged her and then leaned back and grinned. "And we sure have some great ones, don't we?"
Amy nodded and sniffed as tears clouded her eyes.
George stood and reached to shake Thomas' hand. "Here's hoping we meet again, my friend."
Thomas slapped George on the back with one hand and shook with his other. He said, "If you're ever in Globe, I'll line up clientele for you. And although the terrain is quite different from the red rocks, there is beauty and history that should be photographed for our posterity."
George nodded. "Thomas, I may just take you up on that." He reached for his hat, settled it on his head, and bid a final goodbye as he stepped onto the porch. Tana, Thomas, and Amy followed him outside. Everyone waved as George grabbed the lead to his mule loaded with photography equipment and began his journey home. When he disappeared into the trees Tana inhaled slowly. For years she had loved her solitude, but somewhere in the past weeks, that had changed. The thought of Thomas and Amy also leaving brought such heaviness to her heart that she started toward the barn to compose herself. She called over her shoulder, "I need to check on Warrior."
The wolf sat at the entrance to the barn waiting for her. A few days previous Tana had removed
his splint and felt his impatience to return to his pack. Silently, she had asked him to stay until his leg was strong again. Now, at her approach, he could barely contain his enthusiasm. She grinned and knelt to inspect his leg. Patting his head, she said, "Your leg has healed perfectly and you're as strong as before. You can go home, dear one." A lump formed in her throat knowing that Warrior was also leaving.
The wolf licked her face, put his paw on her arm, whined, and then ran toward the trees. Halfway there he stopped and turned back to stare at her. She felt both his sorrow and joy at leaving, mirroring her own feelings. Knowing she must release him, she made a waving motion. "Go, Warrior. Your family is waiting for you."
Staring into her eyes, he lifted his head and howled, and then raced for the trees. A flood of emotions rushed through Tana as she watched the reunion of Warrior with his clan. His first encounter was with his mate and they joyfully tussled. Soon that joy spilled over into playfulness with the other wolves. Warrior had returned to his rightful position.
Tana glanced toward the porch to see Thomas watching the wolves and then his gaze sought hers out. His smile was so genuine and sweet it brought tears to her eyes. Frannie's words echoed. He's the one who will make you cry.
Quickly, she reentered the barn. She didn't want him to see her tears. She didn't want to beg him to stay. She didn't want to tell him how much she had come to love and adore and respect him. His world wasn't a world she could enter. She belonged in the red rocks with the ghosts of her family and the animals who needed her.
The remainder of the day was quiet. It seemed George's and Warrior's departures had created an atmosphere of contemplation. Tana excused herself early for bed and woke an hour before dawn with tears drenching her pillow. Covering her face with her hands, she quietly sobbed.
As dawn lit the pane of her window, she sat on the side of her bed, pushed her long braid back, and then knelt to look under her bed. Reaching for the loose floorboard, she lifted it and pulled out a nondescript metal box hidden beneath. Setting the box on her bed, she opened it and removed one stone from among the many precious heirlooms and gems. Also in the box were silver and gold coins and packets of gold dust from grateful patients. Thomas was the first person she had ever refused payment from. She placed the box back in its hiding place.
For many days Tana had observed and felt Amy's strength returning. The stone in her hand was the last remedy needed.
30: Disbelief
Thomas stared in disbelief at the gold nugget Tana had set in front of him. It was half the size of his fist. "Tana, where did you get this?"
"My great-grandparents brought it to America from the old country. It's considered the greatest of all healing stones–"
"–and you want Amy to carry it around with her?"
"Yes. That's what I said."
"Tana, that's ludicrous. A chunk of gold cannot heal someone."
Her hurt expression made Thomas want to grab his words back.
"And your medicine did not heal your wife," she stated flatly.
"That's different."
"How so?"
Thomas inwardly cursed. "I'm not going to argue the obvious with you."
"Then don't. Just let Amy carry the stone in her pocket and sleep with it under her pillow for a week."
Thomas closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Do you have any idea how much this gold is worth?"
"No. Nor do I care. It's a healing stone and thus priceless."
They were interrupted when Amy opened the door to the cabin and rushed inside. "There's an eagle in the yard. I think he's hurt."
For the moment, Thomas forgot his disagreement with Tana as he followed her outside. In the center of the clearing between the cabin and the barn a bald eagle spread and then retracted his huge span of wings. The majestic creature limped forward and stopped, eyeing Tana. Tana said to Thomas and Amy as she started forward, "Wait here. Pain is making him fearful."
Thomas exclaimed, "Tana, please be careful."
She turned and smiled. "He'll not harm me." She returned her attention to the eagle and when she knelt in front of the bird, Thomas held his breath.
Amy said, "Don't worry, Papa, all the animals love Miss Tana."
As if to confirm his daughter's words, Tana touched the bird's wing and he did not react. Thomas could hear soft utterances by Tana, but couldn't make out her words. When she started toward the barn, the animal limped behind her. Thomas thought about their disagreement over the gold nugget and shook his head. Everything he had witnessed over the past weeks was supposedly impossible, so why was he protesting about the gold?
Tana led the eagle to a section of the barn reserved for birds and checked him thoroughly for additional injury other than the one to his leg and talon. By the look of it, he had been captured and tied at the feet. Speaking softly while bathing and applying salve to the injuries, she made the animal as comfortable as possible.
After treating the eagle, rather than return to the cabin, she made rounds among the other animals. Most of the critters she had been caring for when Thomas and Amy arrived had been released back into the wild. As she visited the remaining animals she sang.
"You have a beautiful voice, Tana," said Thomas when she finished her song.
She turned to see him leaning against the siding of the first stall. "As do you and Amy."
There was an intensity to his expression that kept Tana from returning to her chores.
"I'm sorry about this morning," he said. "I was being unreasonable. If you want Amy to carry around a gold nugget, I won't object."
Tana stepped forward until she stood directly in front of him. Reaching her hand to touch his shoulder, she said, "Thank you."
Thomas stroked the back of his fingers down her cheek.
Against her better judgment and surprising herself, she stood on tiptoe and touched her lips to his. She heard his intake of breath and felt his hesitation. Her action had been a mistake but she would never regret it. She stepped back.
Thomas pushed his fingers through his hair. "Tana, I have feelings for you and if I act on those feelings we'd be in trouble. Your life is here. Mine is in Globe. Your medical treatments are the polar opposite of mine. You don't understand me and I don't understand you. We–"
Tana lifted a finger to his lips. "Shh…Thomas. My mind knows what you say is true. My heart doesn't. Since nothing you say will change that, we will speak of this no more. You must return to your home, fall in love again, and marry a woman who believes as you do." She stepped around him and said over her shoulder, "Amy will be able to leave soon."
31: Family
Thomas watched Tana read a story to Amy. She sat in a rocking chair in front of the hearth with Amy sitting beside her on a rag rug. The weather had warmed over the past two weeks until there was no need of a fire. He studied his daughter's animated face. She had been symptom free for days. He moved his gaze to Tana and the happiness he felt about his daughter's apparent recovery was replaced by sadness at the thought of leaving Tana. He and Amy would depart within the week; they only had a small window of time to avoid the height of summer.
He lifted the cup of tea Tana had brewed earlier and sipped the lukewarm drink while pondering an idea that had surfaced that morning. Setting his cup on the table he said, "Tana, you once told me there's a settlement about a day from here where you buy supplies."
She glanced up from the book. "Yes. Why do you ask?"
"I want us to go there so I can replenish your supplies."
She knit her brows together and replied, "There's no need. I have everything I require and my Indian family will be traveling this way soon. They bring me many necessities. And besides, what about the animals?"
Thomas refused to take no as her answer. "Since you refuse my money, I insist."
"Thomas–"
He interrupted with a grin. "We'll leave tomorrow and be back before dark the next night. All the animals have been released except for the eagle and you said you
were going to free him tomorrow. We'll leave enough food for the chickens and bring the goat with us. Besides, I'd like to see more of this beautiful country." He lifted his cup to his mouth while keeping his eyes trained on her. He saw a slight smile tilt her lips and knew she was relenting.
"It does sound like fun," she said.
Thomas winked, "But no more bears, please."
She chuckled, "I can't promise that." She glanced at Amy's excited expression. "What do you think, Amy? Should we seek another adventure?"
"Yes!" Amy exclaimed.
Thomas said, "Then it's settled."
Just after dawn the next day Thomas watched in amazement as Tana walked to the center of her yard, lifted her leather-clad arm with the eagle perched on it, and spoke in the Apache language. The magnificent bird gazed upward, back at Tana, and then with a mighty leap soared toward a rose colored sky.
Beside him, Amy said, "Papa, he's free again. I hope he finds his family."
The words "finds his family" put a lump in Thomas's throat and he said, "He will, Amy. I'm sure of it." He felt his daughter wrap her small arms around his legs and the lump got bigger when she said, "I'm so happy you're my family, Papa."
Thomas knelt and hugged his daughter. "I love you, Amy, and we'll always be family." Thomas glanced toward Tana and saw her swipe her eyes. He had never seen her cry. Quickly, she turned and walked back toward the barn.
