by Rita Karnopp
Sarah watched Melody. Fear, stark and vivid, glittered in her eyes.
Eagle Shield pulled Melody by the arm toward a warrior, and then swung her up behind him.
Sarah sensed Eagle Shield's embarrassment at being unable to handle the horse in front of his peers.
Standing motionless, unsure what to do, Sarah watched Eagle Shield grab the leather strip that surrounded the animal's tender nose. Sensing uneasiness mounting in the horse, Sarah backed a few steps. The beast reared, kicking out with strong legs, shoving Eagle Shield to the ground.
Sarah moved in slow and easy, making soothing, nickering motions with her tongue, hoping they sounded as Trail Walker had taught her. The animal shook his head. She moved in closer, continuing the clicking with her tongue, knowing her Gypsy liked it and maybe this frightened horse would too. With slow deliberation, she placed a gentle hand on his soft, moist nostril, rubbing slightly. She moved her hand across his cheek, under the jaw, then back again. He calmed as though mesmerized.
Looking up, Sarah gazed into the jaw-clenched face of Eagle Shield. The warrior's eyes bore into her like a sizzling branding iron.
She refused to let him intimidate her. She reached up and scratched behind the gentled animal's ears. Motioning up with her index finger, Eagle Shield walked toward her. In one lift, Sarah sat astride the wonderful white horse. "I'll call you Cloud," she said, grabbing both fistfuls of mane, hoping he wouldn't buck her off.
Looking around at the other warriors, Sarah wondered if she read expressions of respect and admiration on their faces, for the way she handled the white beast.
Eagle Shield stepped back. With his palms toward each other, he extended his hands out in front of his breast, then separated them to the right and left. Then, with his hand close to his forehead, palm outward, his index and second fingers separated and pointing upward, he proceeded to move his hand up, while turning from right-to-left in a spiral motion. He made these two signs slow and with great deliberation.
She understood his gesture to mean great medicine. Surprise filled her. Did they really think she possessed a spirit to calm the horse?
She watched Eagle Shield mount his horse, and then move alongside her. The leader, still wearing his impressive headdress, spurred his horse into action. They followed.
The cool morning air made its way through Sarah's thin dress, causing her to shiver. She straightened her back, lifting her chin high. She wouldn't let anything happen to Melody. Looking up at the sky, and God, Sarah sought peace. "God, please watch over Melody." A golden eagle circled high above her, distracting her prayer. It swooped down, breaking off to the right, flying a fair distance ahead of them. Thoughts of Henry Junior surfaced. Sarah shook them off, refusing to relive the nightmare again.
Sarah longed for Trail Walker. She couldn't shake the uneasy feeling that something might have happened to him. Why else had he not come to get her?
They traveled long and hard the entire day. Sarah's limbs were numb and beyond hurting. She didn't know how much longer she'd be able to hold onto the horse with her thighs. Her back muscles cried for relief. Her bruised tail bone bounced into the bony spine of the horse, causing her to grimace with each step. The riding blanket provided little cushion at their grueling pace.
They stopped. Sarah couldn't find the energy to dismount. She felt Eagle Shields hands on her waist before she saw him. He carried her to a blanket, and then wrapped it around her near frozen body. She curled up and instantly floated into sleep's haven.
A peaceful sleep didn't visit Sarah. The bloody mass that now served as René's head flashed in her mind's eye. Soon she found herself focusing on an arrow-pieced arm. She struggled to stop the dream…but it kept moving forward.
She found herself staring at René's hand clutching eagle feathers. She screamed.
No, it wasn't René's hand. Henry Junior! She stared at his small plump fingers. She saw dirt under his fingernails. Why couldn't he ever keep them clean? He should have let those damn feathers go. If he had, maybe he could have held onto that bush longer. She could have reached him. "Yes! Junior, you stubborn, spoiled boy. You should have let go of the feathers and held on with both hands. I would have saved you. Why couldn't you have listened to me? I was right, you know. That cliff was too dangerous to climb. See what it did to you? It wasn't my fault. You know it, don't you, Junior?"
Sarah looked back into his face. She searched the peacefulness of his boyish features. He didn't blame her. Father was wrong. It wasn't her fault. Junior had just told her so.
In spite the night coolness, perspiration collected on Sarah's upper lip. She wiped at it with her trembling fingers. Her dream had been so real. A sudden peace settled over her for the first time since Junior's accident. Why had it taken so long to realize she'd done everything possible to help Junior? It didn't matter now. Never again would she allow herself to believe it was her fault; she finally felt free of the guilt.
"Thank you, Junior. Thank you for the eagle feathers. I love you, too," she whispered into the night, turning toward the security of the campfire. Exhausted, Sarah knew she'd finally sleep well.
Sarah jumped, her heart pounded. Panic filled her. She looked around, fear attacking her senses. A few seconds passed before she realized it'd been the exploding wood in the campfire that caused her alarm.
She looked across the camp area at Eagle Shield. Her vigilant warrior stared back at her. His black eyes bore into her. His expression revealed his concern over her sudden unrest.
Another log cracked, causing a loud ringing to echo through her ears. Sarah grabbed at them, suddenly realizing she heard it.
Raucous sounds of laughter and snatches of joyous sobs filled the night air. It took a few seconds for Sarah to realize those sounds came from herself. Stretching her hands to the sky, she said, "Thank you, God! Thank you, Junior!" A river of tears streamed down her face, consuming her entirely.
Boundless joy filled Sarah. She struggled to find enough control to stifle the trembling within her soul. She glanced around to find the entire camp had been awakened by her outburst.
"I can hear!" She announced loudly. The words seemed strange on her tongue. Her voice sounded nothing like she'd remembered.
Sarah watched Melody rush to her side. "Melody, I can hear. It's true. I had a dream and Junior told me the accident was his fault. He didn't let go of the feathers, and he fell. He's never blamed me for what happened. My father did. Father was wrong!"
"Shhh, Sarah," Melody encouraged, stroking Sarah's arm. "Everyone is watching you. I'm getting scared."
Sarah searched the warrior's expressions. They appeared uneasy by her outburst. What did they think it meant? She turned to Eagle Shield, whose facial gestures betrayed uncertainty.
He made several abrupt hand signs to Sarah.
"What did he ask you?" Melody's anxious voice heightened with each word.
"He asked me if I had a dream from the Great Spirit." Sarah informed Melody.
Sarah told Eagle Shield about her dream the best she could. She knew some of the meaning had been lost in the translation.
Eagle Shield appeared disturbed by the dream. He spoke to the others. Sarah didn't understand any of his Sioux words. She did understand the immediate unrest among the Indians.
"What did you tell them? Why are they acting so strange?"
Sarah sensed Melody's growing uneasiness. Trail Walker had told her that Indians held dreams with the utmost respect. But how could her dream concern them? How did they interpret her dream into something that threatened them? Sarah turned to Eagle Shield. With her hands she asked, what dream mean to Sioux?
Gesturing an answer, Eagles Shield explained their concern.
"What did he say, Sarah?" Melody's voice rose, trembling as she spoke.
"He said the Great Spirit is giving me renewed life. In giving renewed life the Great Spirit must also take an equal life. It is the great circle of life and death. Since I'm in their protection, this can only mean they are al
l going to die soon."
"Just because you had a dream about your brother and regained your hearing, they believe they're all going to die? That doesn't make sense. What do they think is going to happen to me?"
Sarah couldn't help but wondering what might happen to Melody now. With that thought, an idea emerged with a rush. Sarah turned toward Eagle Shield and spoke with her hands once again.
He responded short and quick. Several warriors began their death chants and others sat stunned, staring at Sarah as though she'd condemned them to death.
Melody grabbed Sarah's sleeve. "What did you say to him? What did he answer? Tell me what is going on…I'm so scared I wet myself."
"I told him that in my dream I also saw you astride a gray and white horse. You had a pouch of water and some jerky strapped to your back. Then I watched you riding through the gates of the great Fort Bryson."
"What did you tell them that for? Did you dream that, too?" Her brow creased in bewilderment.
Closing her eyes, Sarah shook her head for a moment, then opened them, staring at Melody. "You're a captive of these Sioux. They aren't going to just turn you lose or take you back to the fort. I added the part about you in my dream so they'd set you free. It's the Great Spirit who wants you to be sent back to your people."
"But I can't go alone! I'd never find my way. I'd get lost. What if I'm attacked by a bear or by wolves? Sarah, you can't just send me back by myself. I can't make it. You must come with me!" Melody grabbed at Sarah's arm, shaking it in wild abandon. "You have to come with me! Come with me, Sarah!"
Hearing the strains of hysteria set in Melody's voice, Sarah slapped the girl across the pale, tear-streaked cheek. The crack echoed in the night air like the exploding wood in the fire. Every movement in camp ceased. "You must leave, and you will leave… without me. They won't let you go if I insist on going with you. This is your one and only chance to go back to your parents. I can't protect you. You must believe you will make it back, alive. If you don't go now, they'll kill you if you refuse to go. The Great Spirit has come to me and said you are to return to your people. You don't have a choice."
"How could you do this to me? I thought you were my friend. I'll die. I just know I'm going to die out there alone," she cried, her eyes wide and brimming with tears.
Sarah cupped Melody's chin. Their eyes locked for a few seconds. "I did this to save you, not to kill you. They won't let me go. Can't you see that? I'm their link to the Great Spirit. Making favor with me might spare their lives. But you now have a chance to make it back. You might get to see your parents once again. Don't you understand? I've tried to give you back your life, not take it away from you."
Melody wiped miserably at her face, her fearful gaze begging Sarah to reconsider. Sarah understood her inner struggle…the hopeless battle of wanting to go home and the dread, fear, of having to get there.
"I'm sorry, Sarah. I know you meant well. You can't imagine how much I want to go home. I'm afraid to go. I can't make it by myself."
"You must trust God. He'll provide you with the strength and guidance you need. Now go back to your blanket and get some sleep. You'll have to leave in the morning."
Sarah watched Melody make her way around the now smoldering fire. Her plodding walk reflected the deep concern and fear she felt about her future.
Sarah turned toward Eagle Shield, then hand-signed her need for some rest. She searched the faces of the warriors. She read only dark, suspicious expressions. Wrapping the blanket around her shoulders, Sarah settled on the ground, pretending to go to sleep.
Sleep wouldn't come. She heard the horses snorting, the campfire snapping, warriors whispering among themselves, others turning on their sleeping blankets. She heard the wind rustling in the trees. The pounding of her heart within her chest seemed the loudest of all the sounds keeping her awake. Sarah feared this had all been a dream. Her greatest fear…waking up and finding out her hearing hadn't returned.
The crunching of gravel and grass beneath moccasin footsteps moved closer and closer toward Sarah. She worked at keeping her breathing slow and steady. The footsteps stopped just behind her. She heard the warrior sit on the ground near her head. She'd thought of turning and facing him, but she remained still.
She felt certain Eagle Shield sat behind her. Soon she realized he had begun brushing the snarls and tangles from her hair. Did he think the Great Spirit would look kindly at him if he took care of her? Oddly, it had a comforting effect. She let him brush her hair, and soon found herself dragged into sleep's haven.
Chapter Seven
An early morning breeze sent a cloud of smoldering campfire smoke across Sarah's face. Her nostrils burned as the offending air filled her lungs. She choked and coughed.
Within seconds Eagle Shield rushed to her side with a water bladder. She drank, then sparingly wet a hem section of her dress in order to wipe her eyes, face and neck.
Quickly she signed thank you. Eagle Shield appeared embarrassed by her show of gratitude
Sarah glanced at Melody's sleeping blanket, it remained empty. Unconcerned, Sarah headed for the nearby creek, certain she'd find her friend washing.
Considering past travels, Sarah guessed they were camped near Pryor Creek. How she wished she'd have listened more to Trail Walker's lessons concerning the lay of the land.
Lost in thought, Sarah made her way down the path. She stopped to listen to a meadowlark. The crisp, clear, melodic happy song lifted Sarah's spirits and brought tears to her eyes. She'd longed to hear the meadowlark sing. How she wished she could share this moment with Trail Walker. How proud he'd be she recognized the song of his favorite bird.
Sarah bumped into Melody before she saw her. "Morning. I'm surprised you'd venture anywhere by yourself."
"I wouldn't have. But I had to go too bad. I wanted to wake you, but with that Indian watching over you, I didn't dare."
"Eagle Shield has been acting strange, hasn't he? It makes me nervous to have him always helping me. I didn't think Indian men did things for their women. I don't know what we'd have done without him, though. I've grown to like him." Sarah's thoughts went further, but unspoken. The only time a white man acted this interested in a woman was when he came courting. Could Eagle Shield be courting? No, of course not. How simply ridiculous it was to even think such a thing. Just the idea made Sarah nervous.
"Are you serious? You really like him?" Melody gave her a sidelong glance of utter disbelief.
Melody's words interrupted her thoughts, something Sarah wasn't use to. "There are so many sounds. It's hard to think and talk with so much noise."
"What noise? It's so peaceful out here."
Sarah looked at Melody, surprised at her comment. "Don't you find the water rushing over the rocks somewhat loud? What about all the singing birds? I never realized how noisy horses neighing and snorting can be. Let's move on down to that pond so we can wash up some," Sarah suggested, picking up the pace.
"Sarah, you're acting…I don't know what it is, but you seem different."
"In a way you're right, Melody. But I'm not different anymore."
"What do you mean by that?"
"I've been different since my brother died. Now I'm finally like everyone else. I really did get my hearing back last night."
"Really?"
Sarah realized Melody looked at her as if she had three heads.
"I thought you were just saying that so the Indians would believe you. I've been hoping you forgot about last night. I mean…I really am happy you got your hearing back, but―"
"But what? Am I really going to send you back to Fort Bryson all alone?" Sarah tried to disguise her irritation.
"Please, Sarah. You don't know what you're saying. Can't you see how impossible it is? You must come with me."
"It's settled and there's nothing more to discuss. Look. Over there," Sarah pointed at a tree overhang. "That's a western lark sparrow. I recognize it from a book my father had on birds. It told how it sang, but listen," she said
. Standing still and closing her eyes, Sarah let her ears absorb the melodic song. "Nothing could describe how that sounds. Nothing."
Melody walked alongside Sarah, silent and brooding.
"Stop. Do you hear it, Melody?"
"Hear what? I don't hear anything."
Sarah smiled, finding it impossible to feel unhappy. "You've grown used to the beautiful sounds around you. Can't you hear the breeze rushing through the leaves?"
"No."
"What about the swishing and splashing of the water? You must hear that. It's like a soothing lullaby."
"No one hears all those things."
"You're wrong. Trail Walker could hear them. He would describe these sounds to me, but I could never really hear them until now."
"I never could understand why you spent so much time with that old Indian."
"I'll forget you said that." Sarah spoke quiet, yet her voice carried an undertone of anger. "Trail Walker had become my one and only true friend. He not only taught me how to accept my silent world, but he encouraged me to hear beyond it. I love Trail Walker like a father. I wish he were my father!"
"I never knew. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings," Melody said in a hushed response.
"I know. It's just I owe him everything. Now that I can hear, people will treat me like I'm normal again. But I'll never forget that Trail Walker loved me…for me. I didn't have to hear to be his friend."
"I'll bet it won't be long and you'll sound normal, too." Melody said, and then snapped her hand up to her mouth. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean that how it sounded. I didn't mean that you sounded―"
"Don't worry about it, Melody." Sarah reached over and squeezed Melody's shoulder. "I've known for a long time that I spoke different. Rachel told me that I sounded strange and that it embarrassed her. She wanted me to talk as little as possible."
"Rachel? Your mother? Oh, Sarah, how awful for you. How could she tell you something like that?"
"I don't know, but she did. That's just the way she is. I'm sure both my parents are relieved that I'm gone."
"I think you're wrong. They couldn't be that cold. Speaking of home, do you think the Indians would let you go with me if I asked them to? Surely they must realize I can't make it back all by myself."