Healing Woman of the Red Rocks

by Verna Clay

  Two hours later they had secured her cabin and barn and were ready to depart. Amy sat atop Stanton while Tana held the lead to Moses, her own mule, with Beulah, the goat, tethered to him. They had loaded enough supplies for three days, just in case they were waylaid.

  Thomas said, "We should be able to return with plenty of flour, sugar, salt, and other necessities. You'll be well-stocked, Tana."

  "I'm already well-stocked, Thomas."

  "Then you'll be well-well-stocked," he laughed, and both Amy and Tana giggled at his silliness.

  The path they followed, although challenging at times, was traversable, and when they paused to rest, Tana explained that the trail had already been there when her great-grandparents settled the area. "It was an Indian track that trappers discovered. I have no doubt it will eventually become a thoroughfare as more settlers arrive."

  Thomas stated the obvious, "I know that saddens you."

  Tana smiled sweetly at him. "Yes. I want the countryside to remain as it was during my childhood, secluded and teeming with animals. The trappers have already begun decimating the beavers. I fear they will become extinct. Fewer wolves also now roam the area."

  Thomas was about to respond when Tana lifted her hand to stop him. The only sounds were a birdcall and a breeze blowing the tops of the pines. Tana said, "My Indian family is nearby."

  Thomas and Amy looked around. Amy whispered, "Where are they?"

  Tana grinned and lifted her hands to her mouth and voiced a return birdcall exactly like the one they had just heard. Both Thomas and Amy gaped at her. Excitement lit Tana's eyes when she said, "I haven't seen them since before winter."

  While they waited, Tana told them they would be meeting her grandfather's brother, who was over ninety, and some of his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and even a great-great grandson. Before anyone even appeared on the trail, she said, "They're here." A moment later over a dozen people, from very young to very old rounded a bend and Tana rushed to meet them.

  Thomas said to Amy, "Honey, we'll wait here to give her time with her family."

  "I'm so happy she has family, Papa. I was afraid she'd always be alone."

  Thomas squeezed his daughter's hand and watched the joyous reunion.

  32: Reunion

  Tana's visit with her family lasted until noon. Her great uncle, Wise Bird, seemed to be as old as the rocks staring down on them. Skin the color of seasoned leather and etched with deep wrinkles was at war with alert, vibrant eyes—the eyes of a young man. And although his posture was stooped, his bearing was that of a tall man. His voice rang strong and commanding and those traveling with him deferred to him. He laughed often, and when Thomas offered his hand for a shake, the old man's grasp was firm. His black-brown eyes searched Thomas' face and he greeted him in English with puzzling words. "So you are the one."

  Before Thomas could ask what he meant, Wise Bird patted Amy on the head and said, "You now strong like red rocks." Those words confounded Thomas even more. Wise Bird glanced at Thomas and laughed. "White man does not understand the ancient path of knowing. Much is revealed in dreams."

  Tana reached for her great-uncle's hand and said, "Wise Bird was my grandfather's older brother and became medicine man after his father died. My great-uncle and grandfather learned from their father and taught my family much."

  Wise Bird smiled at Tana and replied, "And you have become great medicine woman."

  "Thank you, uncle."

  Wise Bird returned his attention to Thomas and asked, "You pass by Fort Verde on way to red rocks?"

  "I did."

  "You hear about soldiers chasing Geronimo?"

  Thomas chose his words carefully. "When I was there a soldier reported that Geronimo had been seen near the Superstition Mountains and the day before I left the Calvary went in search of him."

  Wise Bird nodded. "One moon ago I hear soldiers find his campsite, but he and my people already gone." Unexpectedly, he lifted his stooped shoulders and rose to an impressive height. For an instant Thomas had a glimpse of just how powerful and intimidating this man would have been in his youth.

  Wise Bird said, "My people are scattered like leaves in wind and a day comes when we will all be captured. But we never forget spirits of our family or old ways, and one day we will roam free again." Wise Bird resumed his stooped position as his foretelling words enshrouded Thomas like fog. Thomas believed him.

  Wise Bird brightened and said, "But we must not be sad today. We must visit and laugh."

  Thomas glanced at Tana hugging the smallest child and surrounded by her relatives. Although her great-uncle's words had saddened him, he would follow the wise man's instruction.

  When the sun was straight up, Wise Bird said to Tana, "We go now and stop at your cabin to leave supplies. Then we go far into red rocks to hide from soldiers." He reverted to his native language in speaking to her, then turned and glanced from Thomas to Tana and back again. A warm smile lit his aged features. "You good man for Tana. You make her cry."

  Thomas heard Tana gasp and exclaim, "Uncle, how could you know–"

  "–I dream."

  The two of them stared at each other for long moments and then Tana asked, "Frannie?"

  Wise Bird touched Tana's shoulder and again reverted to his native tongue. Thomas watched their interaction and when it ended, Tana laughed and said in English, "I should have known."

  Wise Bird smiled at Thomas' puzzled expression. "Goodbye, my friend. Someday Tana tell you much about Frannie, my brother's wife."

  33: Hospitality

  It was almost dark when they reached the small settlement that Tana said had about thirty-five inhabitants from four families. Thomas lifted Amy off Stanton and they waited behind Tana as she knocked on the door of a cabin. A large woman cracked the door and then threw it wide open. She bellowed, "Hello, child. It's been a week of Sundays since I last seen ya!" She glanced past Tana to Thomas and Amy and her eyes widened. "Have you done got yourself a man and his child?"

  Tana laughed. "Mrs. Burgess, I'd like you to meet Dr. Thomas Matthews and his daughter Amy. They came to me a few weeks ago because Amy was ill. They'll be returning to Globe soon."

  A look of disappointment passed across Mrs. Burgess' face, but was replaced by another smile. "It looks like you done healed another one." She stepped sideways and made expansive motions with her hands. "Now where are my manners? Ya'll git in here and git comfortable. You've come a long way." Suddenly, she yelled, "Tator! Jimmy! Hank! I need ya'll in here!"

  Almost immediately, three boys who looked to be triplets rushed from a back room. Mrs. Burgess said in her expansive voice, "Ya'll take care of Miz Tana and Dr. Matthews' animals."

  Thomas said, "Ma'am, I can't put you to the trouble. I can–"

  "–ain't no trouble a'tall! Why Tana saved my boys a couple years back when they got the fever. I didn't think they'd make it to their tenth birthday 'cause they was almost dead, so's I always do what I can for her. And since you're her man, I mean friend, I'll do for you too."

  Before Thomas could protest further, the boys were out the door and Mrs. Burgess was insisting, "Ya'll just pump some water at the sink and wash up while I git the table set and vittles on it."

  Thomas glanced at Tana and saw a twinkle in her eyes. He read her expression and knew protesting anything Mrs. Burgess offered was futile.

  While Tana helped Amy wash, Mrs. Burgess said, "Mr. Burgess is at his brother's house down the road. With their passel of girls, they had to enlarge their place before the sides busted out. They got twelve girls now. Henrietta and Loretta is the latest set of twins. They was born a month ago and they got voices louder than mine." She laughed at her own joke.

  Thomas said, "Your boys look so much alike I was wondering if they're triplets."

  Mrs. Burgess paused in setting plates on the table. "They sure are. First Jimmy popped out, then Hank, and we wasn't surprised cause twins run in the family and I was as big as our barn, but when Tator—his given name's
Timothy—made an appearance, Mr. Burgess almost fainted. A few years after the boys was born we had twin girls but the good Lord in his wisdom decided they was needed in heaven more'n here. They only lived a week but sweeter angels was never born."

  "I'm sorry for your loss, ma'am."

  Mrs. Burgess, about to plop another plate on the table, instead waved it in the air and replied, "I'm sorry for my loss, too, but we're God-fearin' folk and don't question the Almighty. He took our little angels, but he gave us twelve more through Mr. Burgess' brother. Four sets of twins in that bunch and we love 'em like our own. So the Lord takes and the Lord gives."

  Thomas merely smiled and walked to the sink to wash up. He didn't agree with Mrs. Burgess' viewpoint, but he wasn't about to argue. He splashed his face and was drying off when the door opened and a man as large as their hostess stepped inside. The newcomer boomed, "The boys said Miss Tana and company was here."

  Mrs. Burgess replied, "That's true, Mr. Burgess. And ain't this turned into a fine night to have supper guests."

  "It certainly has, Mrs. Burgess."

  Both Mr. and Mrs. Burgess were prone to ramble, but Thomas enjoyed the evening immensely. He learned they had pioneered their land about five years previous with a look toward the future when they built the general store next door. Mr. Burgess explained that their location was at the junction of crossroads, and although not heavily traveled as yet, they expected a boon of travelers because of westward expansion.

  Mrs. Burgess interjected, "'Course we been sayin' that ever since we arrived."

  Mr. Burgess patted his wife's hand. "It will happen, dear." While he spooned more gravy onto his plate, he said, "My dear wife loves socializing and since there's only us and three other families here, she gets a might lonely for church activities, town picnics, and the like."

  Mrs. Burgess returned her husband's pat. "Like you said, Mr. Burgess, it will happen in time."

  Tator, who was mopping up the remaining gravy on his plate with a biscuit, said, "I sure hope it happens soon so there's more boys to play with. I hate playing with girls 'cause all the boys 'ceptin' my brothers are too small to have fun with. Ech!"

  Jimmy and Hank joined him in vocalizing their disgust until their father cast a dour glance in their direction. They immediately went back to cleaning their plates.

  Thomas stifled a grin and changed the subject. "Where do you purchase your supplies, Mr. Burgess?"

  "We get 'em from Flagstaff. Sometimes we travel there when we got an itch to get away, but mostly supply wagons stop by 'bout once a month. We get enough traffic to make a modest living from the miners and trappers, folks passing through, and the ones living in the wilderness like Tana. We also grow most of our own food and raise our own meat, but like I said before, we're hopin' this place will soon be settled."

  After supper, Thomas joined Mr. Burgess outside and accepted a cheroot from the small case he opened and offered. The friendly storekeeper drew on his own cheroot, closed his eyes with a look of bliss, and then slowly exhaled the smoke. He said, "It's right nice to have a new face to enjoy a smoke with. Don't get me wrong, I got my brother and the other men to jaw with about politics, but we keep rehashin' the same old news. So, Dr. Matthews, tell me what's happening in Arizona Territory. Since my wife hates politics, I didn't broach it at the table."

  Thomas stifled a laugh when Mr. Burgess leaned forward and grinned like a little boy about to hear something forbidden. Inhaling on his cheroot, he tried to remember all the juicy tidbits he'd heard while in Globe, and then fed Mr. Burgess' curiosity on the exhale.

  34: Trust Me

  Thomas stretched his neck sideways. He'd insisted on sleeping in the Burgess' barn and now he was paying the price. He decided he was getting soft after so many weeks in the bedroom Tana had insisted he and Amy occupy.

  After a hearty breakfast prepared by Mrs. Burgess and an hour spent loading supply purchases onto their mules, they were now back on the trail and headed home.

  Tana laughed. "Thomas, would you like me to realign your neck? You're making me hurt just watching you."

  "Maybe that's a good idea." He called to his daughter, "Hold up, Amy."

  Amy halted Stanton and turned around in the saddle. "Is it time to rest?" she asked.

  "No, sweetie, I've got a kink in my neck that Tana is going to fix." He loped the lead to Petunia around a rock and looked back at Tana. He'd expected to see a smile on her face, but her expression startled him.

  "Someone's coming," she said, and lifted her hands to cup her mouth. A moment later she made a bird call that was different from the one she had used in responding to her great-uncle.

  Alarmed, Thomas said, "What is it, Tana?"

  "I have a bad feeling."

  Thomas reached toward his rifle in its scabbard, but Tana exclaimed, "No! That will get you killed." Her eyes pleaded with him as she said, "Please trust me."

  Thomas hesitated, studied Tana's indigo eyes, and slowly lowered his hand. He saw her heave a relieved sigh and then she said, "Now, we wait."

  Thomas heard a sound in the trees and turned to grab his rifle—to hell with Tana's warning. She rushed forward and placed a hand on his arm. "No," she whispered, as riders broke through the pines.

  Three men surrounded them and Thomas knew they were in trouble. Silently, he cursed at himself for listening to Tana about the rifle.

  A rangy, unkempt cowboy said, "Well, well, looks like we got a supply train." He pointed to the mules. "Pete weren't you just sayin' we was gettin' low on supplies."

  "I shore was, Lefty."

  "Well, why don't you and Clyde load up on what we need while I check out our female comp'ny."

  The man named Pete nodded. "You got it. I hope they got some sweets."

  The leader cocked his head and studied Tana. "Oh, they got some sweets all right."

  Thomas stepped forward, freeing himself of Tana's grip. "Look, we don't want any trouble. Just take our goods and leave."

  "Oh, we'll have your goods all right, but we ain't leavin' just yet." He removed his gun from its holster and pointed it at Thomas. He called, "Clyde, get the man's rifle and any other weapons he's got."

  Behind him, Tana said softly, "Thomas, trust me. Do as he says."

  Clyde dismounted, pulled Thomas' rifle out of the scabbard on Petunia and, while Lefty kept his pistol trained on Thomas, patted him down for weapons. He discovered the knife in Thomas' boot and jerked it free of its leather casing. When he rose, he lifted it and said, "What'd'ya want me to do with this, Lefty?"

  "Keep it as a souvenir." Lefty returned his attention to Thomas. "Now that we have the knife and rifle, where's your pistol."

  "I don't–"

  Tana interrupted, "It's in there." She pointed to a saddle bag slung over Petunia.

  Thomas couldn't believe Tana had just revealed the location of their only remaining weapon.

  Lefty shifted his attention to Stanton. "That's a mighty fine gelding. I been wantin' to rid myself of this nag and looks like I found her replacement." He pointed to Amy and said, "Clyde, get the girl off the horse."

  Thomas shouted, "No! I will! Don't touch her!"

  Tana took a step toward Lefty. She needed to buy time. "If you allow the child's father to lift her down, I'll show you something of great interest. Something that will make these supplies seem insignificant by contrast."

  Lefty shifted his attention between Thomas and Tana. He grinned and smirked, "Boys, did you hear them fancy words—in-sig-ni-fi-cant by con-trast. Now what do you s'pose this mite of a woman's got that we want?"

  Pete said, "I can name somethin' fer sure and it's under her petticoats."

  Tana stepped closer and Thomas ordered, "Tana, get back here."

  Lefty moved his gaze to Thomas. "Shut up! I wanna hear what the lady has to say since she's got more guts than most men."

  Tana said boldly, "Allow my friend to help his daughter off her horse and I'll show you."

  35: Open It

  Tana's
gaze never wavered from Lefty's. She repeated her demand, "Allow my friend to help his daughter from her horse and I'll show you."

  Something flickered in Lefty's eyes and she knew he would allow it. Although relieved, her expression did not change.

  Lefty nodded at Thomas. "Git her off the horse."

  The look Thomas gave Tana held both gratitude and anger. She knew his anger was because she had waylaid him from retrieving his rifle and then revealed the whereabouts of his gun. What he didn't know was that he would be dead by now if she hadn't done so. She watched him lift Amy to the ground. The little girl's lips trembled as she stoically tried to keep from crying. Tana's heart hurt for the child but she had to remain strong and focused.

  Lefty leaned back in his saddle and eyed the length of her body. "Now, li'l lady, just what is it you got to show us."

  Tana heard his comrades chuckle and Pete said, "Hey boss, ya want me to pull her in the trees and see what's under her skirt?"

  Tana stared into Lefty's eyes. "Before you do that, I think you should see what else I have to offer."

  Lefty's eyes widened. "Damn, but I ain't never met a woman like you. What else could there be that me and the boys want?"

  "If you will allow me to approach the child, I'll show you."

  Lefty was clearly befuddled. "Huh?"

  Tana repeated slowly, "Allow me to approach the child and I'll show you. You have your gun pointed at me. If I try anything, shoot me."

  Lefty said, "Well, I ain't never…" He glanced at his men. "Hell, boys, I gotta follow through with this. You agree?"

  Pete said, "Shore do, boss."

  Clyde said, "Go ahead and let her. If she tries anything, I'll shoot the kid's father."

  Tana heard Amy whimper.

  Lefty pushed his hat back and scratched his head. "Go fer it." He waved her forward with his gun.