by Ken Busato
I’ve seen my reflection from time to time in the water. When the water and wind are still, I marvel at how dispirited I look, how defeated. As I push with the oar against the current, I create creases, lines in the flowing river and on my face that make me feel so much older than my sixteen years. The movement of the oar as it hits the water makes me feel beaten down, almost broken. Often, I turn away from the water, from this image, and I focus my attention on George. He is only a little older than me, and he has experienced equally in our pain, our hardships. If there was anyone who was holding themselves upright, taking on the role of a hero, it’s George. It’s why I adore him so much. He does not look down, but rather ahead. He carries himself with a quiet dignity, a grace I am blessed to be in the presence of. Once we are finally settled, once we are free from the challenges of constant movement and fear, I will make George Cooper my husband. Hopefully when that time comes, he will still want a woman whose age is so much greater than her actual years.
“Molly,” George calls out to me from across our canoe, “Is everything alright?”
“Forgive me George,” I responded, startled a little to be pulled from my thoughts. “I’ve been dreaming with my eyes open.”
“There’s nothing to forgive. We all go through quiet moments. I can see the look of worry in your eyes, but I want you to trust me and not worry. We will be fine.”
I wondered to myself if George believed his words? “How long do you think it will take to get to our next destination?”
“We are heading for the tip of Lake Winnipeg, and I don’t think it will take too long to get there, probably a few days at the least. Once we are there, we wait to see who will come for us. If Mr. McLeod is right, there will be others who will come to meet us, and help organize a forceful return.”
“I like the sound of that,” I heard my uncle respond a few seats ahead of me. “I want the chance to go back and face down Cuthbert Grant as an equal, with a loaded gun in my hand.”
“That may happen sooner than you might expect,” George replied.