The Devil Behind Us

by S. C. Wilson

  Abby curled up next to her. “Once. A few years ago, but it was only for a couple of days.”

  Jesse asked, “What’s it like?”

  Abby and Jesse lay awake for hours. The more Jesse heard, the more she wanted to see the sprawling city for herself. It sounded more like a place of fantasy than reality. Something in her gut told her it was exactly where they needed to be.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Notes of pine saturated the crisp, clean morning air. It smelled of freshness, of life returning to the mountain after another harsh winter. The songs of birds echoed through the trees, their melody in full agreement with the season as Jesse and Toby sat at the water’s edge, their horsehair fishing lines slicing through the current of the stream. Jesse stared at the deadfall of leaves and twigs that had collected in an eddy. The detritus swirled like the words she contemplated, the ones she’d put off for far too long.

  Her brother had feelings for Aponi, that much was certain. For whatever reason, though, he kept those feelings to himself. He couldn’t hide his emotions from her, he never could. When he learned they were leaving Mount Perish, he said nothing. He didn’t need to. Despite their years apart, Jesse still knew when something was eating at him, and she’d come to know all too well the grip of love. Their life on top of the mountain was coming to an end, as was the opportunity for this passion to bloom. The time was now to have the discussion.

  She looked over at her brother. “I’m sure going to miss this fishing hole. Maybe we can find a better one when we get settled.”

  “Are you sure you wa-want to leave this place?” he asked, already pulling in a fish.

  She could hear the apprehension in his voice. The world hadn’t been kind to him and she didn’t blame him for not wanting to go back to it. She’d felt the same thing. It wasn’t easy for her to walk away from her home, either. Most days she walked around as if she’d swallowed rocks, a shaky smile forced into place and held aloft by invisible clothespins. But she knew it was for the best.

  “I’m going to miss the mountain too, but it’s no place to raise a family. Besides,” she said, shrugging her shoulders, “what do we have to lose? If we don’t like it down there, then we can always come back, right?”

  “I suppose so. It’s just…” he shook his head. “Never mind.”

  “No. Finish your sentence,” she said, pulling in a fish of her own.

  “It’s nothin’.”

  She took her eyes off of the catch and looked at him. “I know,” she said.

  He met her gaze. “And just what do you th-think you know?”

  She looked down and continued removing the hook. His words came out with the sting of accusation, but she knew him well. “I know you have feelings for Aponi,” she said, pulling the leather thong through the gills. She set her pole down and continued. “I’ve seen you two together. It’s pretty obvious you have feelings for her.”

  The relief that his sister knew the truth flitted by, a butterfly too quick to catch. “Not th-that it matters. We’re leaving soon.”

  “Does she know how you feel about her? You know she is welcome to come with us.”

  “She knows. She feels the same way ‘bout me. I asked her to come, but she won’t leave the mountain. She thinks her people won’t approve of her being with a wh-white man. I told her to just sneak away and not tell th-them, but she won’t. Says that would bring dishonor upon her.”

  Jesse tried to think of something, anything she could say or do to make things right for Toby and Aponi. “Um…I might be able to talk to the elders and see if I can get their blessing.” She patted him on the back. “It’s worth a try.”

  He combed his fingers through his beard. “Do you think th-they will come ‘round and approve?”

  “Not sure, but what do we have to lose by asking? Let’s go and find out.”

  On their walk back to the cabin, Toby divulged some of Aponi’s past only he had been privy to. Aponi was a few years older than he was and had once been married to the great-grandson of the tribe chieftain, Black Turtle. He went on to explain how chosen members of the Ponak tribe traveled to other villages each spring, a yearly ritual in which they observed the movement of the white men. One year after returning, the men of the tribe brought back not only vital information, but also a sickness that spread through their village. The plague seemed to hold no preference, indiscriminately striking down the young and fit as it did the older members of the tribe. Whether the victims were male or female mattered not. Not even children were spared. It showed no prejudice.

  Nearly half the Ponak had been lost, including Aponi’s parents. Then her husband fell ill and passed away not long after. Since his passing, no other man of the tribe would be with her. It wasn’t that they had no desire. No man chanced insulting the chieftain by daring to ask for her hand. Aponi had been a widow for eight years now.

  Jesse hoped it had been long enough for Black Turtle to free her from the shackles of her past.

  Sitting at the table, Jesse swallowed the last bite of fried fish. “We’ll be there by this evening. If all goes well, we should be back late tomorrow. Are you sure you’re all right staying here by yourself?” she asked Abby. “I hate the thought of leaving you alone.”

  Abby shifted Jim in her lap, careful not to bump the table and spill the morning’s cup of coffee. “Jes, we’ll be fine. You two just be careful.” She turned to face Toby. “I sure hope things turn out for you and Aponi. I like the idea of her being part of our family.”

  Jesse repositioned Gwen in her arms and scooted back in her chair. She picked up her plate.

  Abby shook her head. “No. Leave it. I’ll clean up. You two get going. The sooner you leave, the sooner you’ll be back.”

  Jesse kissed Gwen before laying her in the cradle. She grabbed the supplies needed and met Abby, who waited at the door with Jim on her hip.

  “You be a good boy for your mother,” Jesse said as she adjusted the leather satchel around her neck. She bent down and kissed him on top of his head. Then she looked at Abby. “You be safe and don’t you step outside unless you have the gun.”

  “I know. Believe me, you don’t have to worry about that. Be safe. Both of you.”

  Jesse picked up her rifle. “We’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “I’m counting on it,” Abby said, running her hand down Jesse’s arm.

  Abby watched from the doorway as they set out. When she lost their outlines to the dark of the forest, she closed and latched the door.

  Conversational lulls throughout the trip gave Jesse time to plan, or at least try to. She racked her brain for anything that might convince these people to allow the joining of two races. While it seemed simple, she knew the wrong approach might offend them and sour the whole possibility.

  They reached the village as the early evening sun stretched the shadows out across the mountain, much to Jesse’s relief. She wasn’t comfortable with Abby being alone. She wanted—needed to get back as soon as possible.

  The people of the tribe were scattered about, clustered in groups, performing all types of tasks. Jesse spotted Aponi among the women tanning hides, and then saw Kaga seated with a group of men crafting arrows. She and Toby made their way toward Kaga.

  “Good to see you, my friend,” Jesse said.

  Kaga stood and nodded. “And you.”

  “I have some news. May I speak with Black Turtle?”

  Kaga held up his hand. “Wait here,” he said, and then made his way toward a gap in the mountain.

  Jesse took in the activity around her as she waited. She looked for more familiar faces among the teepees that now dotted the landscape. The native way of life fascinated her. The place had changed significantly since her last visit. In the winter months, they sheltered in the hollows of the mountain. When it got warm, they moved to the open grassy areas. Fires burned in front of many of the teepees, filling the air with a variety of aromas. Some made her stomach rumble, a reminder of the hours since she had eaten. Others wer
e so unpleasant she could only imagine what the pots might contain.

  She was thinking of her own experiences with the bitter native medicine, mouth going dry at the thought, when Kaga’s voice rang out behind her. “Come.”

  Jesse grabbed Toby’s arm before he took a step. “I think you should wait here. Let me test the water.”

  Toby nodded and watched as she followed Kaga into a cavern.

  Inside, a group of men sat around a fire. Black Turtle, the chieftain who had performed her initiation into the tribe, waved her forward. He pointed to an opening in the circle of men. “Sit.”

  Jesse did as instructed, her legs crossed in front of her.

  “What news you bring us?” he asked.

  “I’m leaving the mountain on harvest moon and will be gone for many, many moons.” She glanced at the men seated around her as she continued. “If I ever hear of white men crossing the river, I will return and together we will protect our mountain.”

  The circle of men nodded their approval.

  “Here, I have something for you.” Jesse reached into her leather satchel. She pulled out the envelopes of seeds she had purchased in Big Oak and offered them to Black Turtle. “You take these seeds. Grow many, many crops.”

  Black Turtle upended a packet into a weathered palm and examined the contents. She could tell by his expression he was pleased with the gift.

  Holding up a hard black kernel as if it were the most precious of beads, he asked, “What you ‘em want to make trade?”

  Offering them the gift had been the easy part. She cleared her throat. “I want us to join together with a marriage.”

  The men looked at one another in confusion. She would have to be more specific.

  “I make a treaty with tribe. To come with news if I ever hear white men are coming on our mountain. I give you seeds to plant all sorts of crops. I only ask one thing in return.” At the last second she chose not to single out Aponi, in case they thought her idea one of lunacy. “I want to join my brother with one of your women.”

  Black Turtle nodded. “You leave us. We talk this trade.”

  She stood and left the group, leaving the men to discuss it among themselves.

  Toby hurried to her side as soon as he saw her exit the cavern. “Well—what d-d-did they s-s-s-say?” he said, his words dragging more than usual in his rush to get them out.

  “They’re talking it over,” she said, placing her hand on his shoulder. “But, I think it went well.”

  Jesse and Toby stood on the westward-facing ledge of Mount Perish, awash in the magnificent scenery. She tried to remain hopeful as the sky went from orange to pink to purple, the sun slowly dipping from sight.

  The stars had all woken up by the time Kaga came and found them. Jesse and Toby trailed behind as they made their way back inside the cavern.

  Jesse saw Tala first. The thirteen-year-old was dressed in a beautiful tunic, a woven garland of white and yellow spring flowers crowning her head.

  “Tala make good wife for Toby,” Black Turtle said, pointing to the offered bride.

  Jesse looked at her. The whites of her eyes were large, standing out in stark contrast against her russet skin. The girl was terrified.

  It had been a horrible mistake to leave Aponi out of her request. She scrambled for a way to decline without causing offense. She rubbed the scar on her forehead, racking her brain as she stalled to find the words. “Uh… Tala is good trade, but…” She pointed to her brother, “He wants Aponi for his wife.”

  The men remained silent and focused their attention on Black Turtle. Even members of the tribe who were interested in Aponi had never had the audacity to ask this of him. Everyone in the space seemed to be holding their breath, curious to see how the chief would react.

  Jesse had the sense she would have to offer more—much more. She turned to Toby, hiding her mouth behind a closed fist. She whispered, doing her best not to move her lips. “Offer him the rifle.”

  Toby took the gun from her and extended it to Black Turtle. “Trade for Aponi?”

  Black Turtle rose to his feet and took the weapon. He ran his hand along the wood handle and traced it all the way to the end of the barrel.

  Jesse held out the powder horn and a pouch of lead balls.

  Black Turtle studied the items held out in front of him. “Aponi my family.” He tapped his finger on his chest. “She daughter to me.” The Chieftain looked down at his bare feet, trepidation visible. He lifted his head, wistfulness in keen eyes. “She mourn eight summers,” he said. He reached for the powder horn and pouch of ammo. “Time she mourn no more. I make this trade. We join ‘em this night.”

  Jesse and Toby stepped outside, both feeling giddy over the trade.

  “I can’t believe you gave th-them your rifle,” Toby whispered.

  She shrugged and whispered back. “I don’t think we had a choice. We had nothing left to offer.”

  An hour later, Jesse stood in the mix with the tribe, wishing Abby could be there to witness the ceremony. Under a sky sprinkled with stars, she watched as Toby and Aponi took their places in front of Nateko.

  The bride-to-be, looking more lovely than usual in the glowing firelight, was dressed beautifully in a white-leather tunic with fringe running down the sleeves. Blue and gold feathers hung from her ears, matching those adorning her outfit. Her hair, black as ink, was drawn into two long braids. They fell on each side of her face, framing her cheekbones.

  Nateko draped a piece of beaded fabric over Toby and Aponi’s outstretched hands, binding them together. He looked out at the gathering and spoke. “The Great Spirit here. Listen and you hear the voice on the wind.” He turned his gaze to the couple in front of him. “Great Spirit say you see no more darkness, for you’re each other’s light. You will brave many storms, but will face it together. Remember in the blackest of clouds, the sun is still there.” He paused and waited.

  Black Turtle’s wife, Lewonta, approached the couple and draped a blanket, woven with animal hide and fur, over the couple’s backs.

  Nateko continued. “You no feel the rain, for you’re each other’s shelter. You feel no more cold, for you’re each other’s warmth.” He placed his palm on the fabric that bound their hands. “Two lives are now one. May the Great Spirit allow your days together in this world to be long, and may the Great Spirit bless you many sons and daughters.”

  Jesse waited for the traditional kiss, but it never came. It wasn’t part of the native ceremony. Instead, Toby and Aponi were escorted to a raging bonfire. The entire village celebrated the couple by feasting and dancing around the red and orange pillar. Eager young men kept the fire stoked with logs, never giving it a chance to die down, for this was a night of celebration.

  Tears welled in Jesse’s eyes as she watched her brother and his beautiful wife dance. Aponi moved around Toby in a spirited fashion, her face aglow. The tempo of her steps, quick and agile, kept pace with the drumbeats. Measured at the start, they grew to a crescendo, the fringed sleeves of her tunic held high above her head. Her shadow, cast by the light of the bonfire, looked like a graceful bird ready to take flight. The smile on Toby’s face was unmistakable in the light from the flames. Jesse wished so much that her parents could see him and what a wonderful man he had turned out to be. She wished Frieda could have had the chance to meet him, too.

  Jesse pushed against the sadness, unwilling to let the past creep in and bite her when such happiness grew in front of her eyes.

  Winded, Toby came over and dropped down beside her. “I can’t believe it. I’m the luckiest m-m-man alive,” he said, panting.

  Jesse smiled. “Being in love is a great feeling, isn’t it?” She nudged him with her shoulder. “Have you got to kiss your bride yet?”

  Toby shook his head. “No. We n-n-never have.”

  Jesse couldn’t help it. She laughed out loud at the thought of what was going to happen later. “Brother, I think tonight is going to be the best night of your life.”

  “I c
an’t imagine being any happier than I am right now.”

  Jesse laughed even harder. “Just wait!” she said as she stood up and joined in the dance.

  The celebration continued until the drumming and singing came to an abrupt halt. The women of the tribe giggled as they guided Aponi to a teepee, followed by the men of the tribe escorting Toby.

  The drumming and singing resumed, even louder than before. Jesse wondered if it was to help drown out the sounds of lovemaking. Either way, she was grateful. There was no way she wanted to hear any of what went on in her brother’s teepee that night.

  Chapter Fourteen

  “Jes,” Toby said, kneeling down at his sister’s side. Getting no response, he shook her by the shoulder and repeated her name, louder this time. “Jes!”

  Jesse, lost deep in a dream, mumbled and pulled the blanket up to her chin.

  “Jes! Wake up.” He shook her more forcefully, which did the trick.

  “What?” She bolted upright, sending the blanket to the dirt beside her. She squinted at him. “What’s wrong?”

  He sat down beside her. “Nothin’s wrong. I just don’t feel right ‘bout wh-what you did.”

  “What’d I do?” she asked, rubbing sleep from her eyes.

  “I know how much that rifle m-meant to you. Isn’t there something else we can offer ‘em instead?”

  Jesse yawned and stretched, trying to cure the stiffness of sleeping on the hard ground next to the fire. “I don’t have anything else. It’s all right.”

  “But it wa-was Frieda’s. And I know it means a lot to you.”

  “It does—did. But you mean more. Don’t worry ‘bout it.” She cracked a smile. “I think we came out better in the trade anyway. Don’t you?”

  “Yes. But—”

  She raised a hand. “But nothin’. It’s done and over with. So, did you get any sleep last night?” Her arched brow gave away that she already knew the answer.