The night air had become chilly, so Lavinia held a blanket snugly around her shoulders, while Wolf Dancer was wrapped in his own.
The fire burned brightly in the center of the village. Beside it sat many mothers and fathers as they watched their children at play while they awaited Spirit Talker’s arrival.
Food had been shared by the fire, and much talk and laughter. The children had played all afternoon and into the early evening.
Lavinia was glad that Dorey and Twila fit in with the Seminole children so well. They had forgiven the two young braves for what they’d done to Dorey, and the four were fast friends now.
Lavinia watched the children playing a game with sticks.
“That is called a whirl and catch game,” Wolf Dancer said as he leaned closer to Lavinia.
He was filled with love for this woman, far more than he had ever thought possible.
They had shared a wonderful day today. The basket of shells they had collected sat in his house waiting to be made into necklaces.
They had shared more than one kiss before returning to the village, but they had not made love, although his body ached to have her.
But he felt it was best to wait until she was stronger before making love. And he wanted to be certain that she felt the same way as he.
As difficult as it might be, he would not initiate lovemaking tonight after the stories had been told. Just by looking into her eyes, he could see how tired she was from all the activities of the day.
She was only sitting beside him now for her daughter’s sake. More than once since he and Lavinia had returned from their outing, Dorey had voiced her eagerness to hear the stories with the other children tonight.
Once the stories were told, Wolf Dancer would take Lavinia to his home and tuck her snugly in her bed. He expected her to be asleep before he left the room to go to his own bed.
One day soon he hoped they would share the same bed as man and wife.
“It looks like such a simple game the children are playing, but they seem to be enjoying it,” Lavinia said. She smiled at Wolf Dancer. “Will you explainit to me? I want to understand it in case Dorey talks to me about it later.”
“Whirl and catch is a favorite game with the boys and girls,” Wolf Dancer said, watching the children as Lavinia listened to his explanation. “It is played with ten short sticks. As you see, the sticks are thrown in the air, one at a time, and each child tries to catch them. The person who catches the most wins the game.”
Lavinia mentally counted how many Dorey had already caught and noticed that her daughter was disappointed when at the end of the game, she had only two sticks.
Wolf Dancer had also seen how few Dorey had caught. “She will learn to be faster and catch more sticks,” he said. He now watched Twila, who had caught four of the sticks and was giggling because she had outdone her friend.
Wolf Dancer was glad when Dorey laughed good-naturedly, accepting that she was not as fast as the others, not even Twila.
This demonstrated her unselfish nature to him. It was a trait loved and admired by all.
Lavinia sighed. The air was still filled with the aromas of the food that had been cooked earlier by the women. She was full, yet comfortably so, and she felt sleepy. She hoped she could stay awake until the stories were all told.
She still tasted the bear ribs she’d eaten for dinner. She had hesitated before taking her first bite, for she had never eaten bear meat before.
But she’d found that it tasted better than any other meat she had ever eaten. She had also enjoyed the hot corn cakes that had been covered with a jelly she was told was called conte.
When she had asked one of the women how this jelly was made, the woman had eagerly responded that it was made from the roots of a wild rose bush, which grew on Mystic island. The roots were carefully ground into a pulp, to which water was added. The paste was then air dried and saved for later use. The woman explained that she mixed the powdered root with water and honey to make the delicious jelly.
Lavinia planned to make her own conte one day, to show Wolf Dancer that she could be a good cook. She had just never had to cook while living first with her parents in Atlanta, and then with her wealthy husband.
But now, away from all of those luxuries, she would enjoy learning such womanly skills.
At that moment an elderly man stepped from his home near the central fire. His gray hair dragged on the ground behind him as he walked to a small platform, upon which were thick bear pelts.
The children scattered and found their places sitting on blankets that had been spread earlier.
Some mothers had given their children netting to tuck around themselves, so they would not be bitten by mosquitoes.
Lavinia had to smile when she saw Dorey and Twila sharing mosquito netting with the other girls. Running Bear and Deer Shadow were sitting nearthem with braves of their own age, who chose not to use netting.
Lavinia could only surmise that they had refused the netting because they thought it might make them look weak in the eyes of the girls.
“The Spirit Talker is such an old man,” Lavinia whispered to Wolf Dancer as the storyteller made himself comfortable on the platform. It was raised high above, so that everyone would have to look up at him as he told his stories.
“Most Spirit Talkers are elderly, for they must have lived a long life in order to have knowledge of all things,” Wolf Dancer said just loud enough for Lavinia to hear. “Our Spirit Talker is a legendary storyteller, and all listen to him in respectful silence.” “What is his true name?” Lavinia asked, watching the elderly man as he tucked his buckskin robe around him, his legs folded beneath him on the platform.
She was fascinated by his long, long hair and watched as the Spirit Talker wound it into a tall bun atop his head, securing it with short sticks stuck into it.
“He was born with the name Star Gazer. That is because his mother gave birth to him outside her home beneath the stars. She wanted to be sure that when he opened his eyes for the first time, he would first see the stars,” Wolf Dancer explained. “His mother had had a vision of her firstborn being the village Spirit Talker when he grew into adulthood. She felt that the name Star Gazer fit the child whose life was already mapped out for him.”
“What if he had not wanted to be the storyteller when he grew into a man?” Lavinia asked. “What then would his mother have done?”
“There was no question that he would be as his mother willed him to be,” Wolf Dancer said. “You see, it was said that Star Gazer felt the calling himself the first time he heard stories being told around the night fire by our people’s storyteller.”
“What happened to that man?” Lavinia asked softly, hoping she wasn’t disturbing anyone around her with her curiosity about Wolf Dancer’s people.
“The one who was our people’s Spirit Talker was already elderly, yet he lived long enough for Star Gazer to reach the age that he could take over his duties,” Wolf Dancer said. “You see, each Spirit Talker must do his best to retell the stories as close to the original version as possible. It is a great responsibility, and the best storytellers are greatly admired.”
“It sounds like he might be as much admired and loved as the village chief,” Lavinia said, hoping she wasn’t offending Wolf Dancer.
“A storyteller and chief are both loved and admired, but never in the same way,” Wolf Dancer said.
He was not insulted by Lavinia’s comparison, for he, too, would have wondered the same were he not Seminole.
“Star Gazer has devoted his life to the Wind Clan, just as I have, and for that he has earned our people’s love,” he said. “He keeps our history and traditions alive. But a chief is responsible for the future of his clan. Through prayer, sacrifice and careful thought, he guides the lives of his people. Thestoryteller prays to the Master of Breath, the same as a chief, but there is one difference. If necessary, the chief must be willing to lay down his life if such be necessary for the survival of his people, w
hereas nothing akin to that is ever required of a Spirit Talker.”
“You…would…sacrifice yourself?” Lavinia asked, paling at the thought.
“Yes, if it meant the survival of my people,” Wolf Dancer said thickly.
When he saw how Lavinia’s face drained of color, he smiled and reached beneath the blanket, taking her the hand. “No sacrifice will have to be made here on Mystic Island, so do not fret, my woman, that our future together might be endangered,” he said.
“Our…future…?” Lavinia asked, her heart racing at the implication of what he had just said.
“Our future as man and wife,” Wolf Dancer said, and noted that her eyes widened even more. “You will marry me, will you not?”
Lavinia was stunned speechless by the sudden question, although she had dreamed of this moment after realizing the nature of their feelings for one another.
“You will become my wife?” Wolf Dancer repeated, placing a hand beneath her chin and directing her eyes to his. “I want to protect not only you but also your daughter. I want to love you forever.” Lavinia suddenly became aware that they were sitting among others. She realized that the Spirit Talker was beginning his first tale of the evening.
She looked quickly around to see if anyone had heard Wolf Dancer’s proposal of marriage. When she saw that he had spoken so quietly that only she had heard, she turned and smiled into his eyes.
“I will gladly become your wife,” she said softly. “Although we have only known one another a short time, I knew right away that I had fallen in love with you. I think it happened the first time I saw you resting in the tree near my house. I dreamed of you often after that.”
She didn’t mention the white panther, and doubted she would ever question him about it. The creature was too mysterious to talk about, and she felt that if there was some association between him and the panther, he might rather not speak of it.
If he ever wished to talk to her about these mysteries, she wanted him to know that he could tell her anything. Even if he revealed something she could never understand, she would not love him less for it. “We will marry soon,” Wolf Dancer said, still holding her hand as they turned their attention to the tale being told.
Lavinia at first found it hard to concentrate on anything but what they had just agreed upon.
But the more she listened to the Spirit Talker, the more engrossed she became. He made his story so interesting, she couldn’t help listening intently, and marveled at his ability.
After a short while, the Spirit Talker drew the first story to a close and started another one. It was about a grandmother spider who stole the sun.
Lavinia settled in more closely to Wolf Dancer. Both now snuggled under the same blanket as they listened together to the words of the elderly storyteller.
“When the world was young, there was blackness on one side,” the Spirit Talker said as his eyes moved from child to child. “Nobody on that side of the world could see beyond the nose on his face. One day Mother spider suggested that their new world needed light. Possum said he would go to the other side, where there was light, and steal some, because those people there were too selfish to share it with the world. Fox said he would go. His tail was thick enough to hide some of that light and bring it home to everyone on this side of the world. Possum frowned at Fox. He wanted to be the one to go and get the sun, and so he tried. When he got to the other side, he found the sun high up in a tree. Possum climbed up and grabbed a piece of the sun, which he quickly hid in his tail. But he soon discovered that the light was very hot. It burned all the fur off his tail. From that time on, the possum’s tail has been bare. He went home with his burned tail and without the light. Mother spider said that she would go and get the light. She grabbed a pot and then, carrying the pot, spun a web that reached to the other side of the world. Then she crawled on that web until she was able to grab some of the light and put it in her pot. Then she carried it home along the path of her web. Everyone celebrated, for their side of the world finally had light!”
The children applauded and asked for more, but Spirit Talker said that was enough stories until the next time. Then he left and returned to his home.
Dorey ran over to Lavinia. “Mama, did you hear the story?” she asked excitedly. “Wasn’t it interesting?” “Yes, dear, I found it quite fascinating,” Lavinia murmured, smoothing a lock of her daughter’s hair back from her eyes.
“Mama, Twila wants me to stay the night with her,” Dorey blurted out. “May I? Joshua said it was alright.”
“I see nothing wrong with that,” Lavinia said, smiling at her daughter’s excitement. “Enjoy yourself, Dorey.”
“I shall, Mama,” Dorey said, her eyes bright. “Thank you.”
Lavinia watched Dorey run over and take Twila by the hand. Then the two girls skipped toward Joshua’s is and Twila’s hut.
“I think you need to go to bed,” Wolf Dancer said, removing the blanket from around their shoulders. He gazed into her weary eyes. “Did you do too much in one day?”
“It was a wonderful day,” Lavinia said as she slowly rose to her feet. “One I shall remember forever.” “I want each and every day to be that unforgettable for you,” Wolf Dancer replied. He placed an arm around her waist and walked her toward their home, others behind them collecting their own blankets and dispersing, too.
“If I am with you, they shall be,” Lavinia said with a shy smile.
She accompanied him to his hut, and was soon asleep in her bed of blankets and pelts. Wolf Dancer sat beside her, marveling at how the world had become a better place since he had met this woman.
She was all sweetness.
When she smiled or laughed, her joy reached right inside his soul, warming it as nothing had ever before been able to.
But there was still a problem: a certain man that Wolf Dancer knew must be dealt with to assure the continuing contentment of this…his…woman. He knew that if Hiram Price ever discovered where she was, he would find his way to Mystic Island, and perhaps bring the whole United States cavalry with him. Wolf Dancer could not allow that to happen.
As soon as Lavinia had the strength, he and she would do what they must to ensure her happiness on Mystic Island, and her safety.
“That man will not be a danger to anyone much longer,” he whispered. “And soon, my woman, we will make love. How I need you, and I feel that your needs match my own. Perhaps even tomorrow…?”
Chapter Twenty-seven
When love could teach a monarch to be wise,
And gospel-light first dawn’d from
Bullen’s eyes.
—Thomas Gray
Lavinia awakened feeling refreshed, even renewed, after her outing with Wolf Dancer the day before.
She would never forget how understanding and gentle he’d been when she told him how tired she was after hearing the Spirit Talker’s stories.
She sat up on her bed of pelts and stretched her arms lazily above her head, yawned, then smiled as she recalled how gently Wolf Dancer had tucked her in.
She knew he had sat beside her as she fell asleep. It was wonderful to know that she could trust him so much.
She had seen the need in his eyes yesterday as he gazed into hers. She had wondered if he had seen that she felt the same needs.
But neither of them had made any motion to assuage those needs. They both knew it would happen sometime.
And the fact that they had made a commitmentto one another, to be married, made her heart swim with pure joy.
Although she had been married before, to a wonderful, gentle man, this love she felt for Wolf Dancer was brand new. She felt a deep passion for Wolf Dancer, something she had never experienced before for any man.
And the knowledge that he loved her so much he wanted her to be his wife made tears of joy fill her eyes.
She had felt a connection between them from the moment they first made eye contact. At first she’d thought it might be her imagination. But now she knew that his love fo
r her was real. She wanted to shout her joy to the treetops.
This life with him would be so different from her life with Virgil. She and Wolf Dancer shared a true connection, and had passionate feelings for one another.
To be fulfilled in this way was something she had never expected in her life. But now she would belong to the most wonderful, gentle, caring, loving man in the world.
She glanced over at the basket of shells, remembering the special time spent with Wolf Dancer.
Then she noticed other things in the room that had not been there yesterday: a beautiful doeskin dress embellished with beads on the front, and a pair of new moccasins on the floor mats.
Also there was a basin of fresh water and a cloth with which to bathe herself.
She had been told that Moon Beam would bringthese things for her. It seemed that the woman felt she owed Lavinia much because her two sons had wronged Dorey.
Lavinia would correct this misconception, for the lovely woman owed Lavinia nothing except friendship, which Lavinia openly welcomed. It would be good to have a special friend among these people. She hoped to live among them for the rest of her life. She would enjoy learning the ways of the Seminole, not only from Wolf Dancer but also from this friend.
A mischievous glint appeared in Lavinia’s eyes as she looked at the lovely dress. She glanced out the window and saw that it was barely dawn. Surely Wolf Dancer would still be asleep.
She wondered what he might think if he found her at his bedside when he awakened.
If she hurried, she could wash up, put on the dress, and get into his room before he woke up.
If he found her sitting there, surely he would understand why she had come so early in the morning to his bedside.
She felt wonderful today, without an ache in her body. Her wound was feeling much better. In fact, she couldn’t feel any pain in it whatsoever.
Would Wolf Dancer think her a hussy if she approached him to make love for the first time? She didn’t think so.
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