Swift Horse

by Cassie Edwards

  Edward James leaned forward and clasped his hands together. “Tell me from the beginning,” he said. “Tell me everything.”

  “I shall,” Marsha replied. She settled back in the rocking chair, tired and needing the comfort of her bed, yet knew that she must tell Edward James everything first.

  She began with how she had been there enjoying sewing, and how she had heard a noise in the outer room, thinking it was him coming back for something. But, instead, it had been . . .

  “Alan Burton,” she said, shivering at the thought of how she had been treated by him. Then she told him everything up to the point that she had seen Swift Horse and how wonderful it had been that he had seemed to come out of the blue and rescued her.

  “You actually rendered the one-eyed man unconscious?” Edward James said, chuckling. “My little sister who cringes when she has to even swat a fly—you knocked a man unconscious with a rock?”

  “Edward James, I rendered One Eye unconscious, not just a nameless one-eyed man,” Marsha said, then sighed. “One day everyone will believe me. It has to happen. This man is getting clumsy and careless and not using the best of judgment about things.”

  Marsha nodded. “Yes, it is One Eye, even though you still don’t believe me,” she murmured. “And actually, Edward James, I had hoped worse for him than just being unconscious. I was afraid that if I didn’t kill him, I’d be doomed.”

  “And then he escaped anyway,” Edward James said, scowling. His jaw tightened. “He won’t get away with this. He won’t have enough places to hide. He’ll be found and dealt with.”

  “He doesn’t need to hide because no one believes he is who he is,” Marsha said dryly. “But when everyone does finally believe me, I will feel sorry for One Eye’s people, his Wolf Clan of Creek,” Marsha murmured. “He’s their chief. They looked up to him. They see him as some sort of hero.”

  Edward James listened, but didn’t say anything. Inside his heart, he was beginning to believe his sister.

  “Edward James, One Eye plays the role of being a kind, generous man, a leader of his people, to the fullest, while in truth, he is a demon,” Marsha murmured. “But his time is almost over. I’ll see to that.”

  “You look so tired,” Edward James said, rising from his chair. He reached a hand out for Marsha.

  She placed her hand in his and rose from her own chair. They embraced, then Edward James walked her to her bedroom.

  He embraced her one last time, then walked to his bedroom as Marsha closed the door behind her and sighed as she looked around slowly. For a time tonight she thought she would never see this room—or civilization as she always had known it—again.

  She went to the window and saw that the moon was no longer in the sky.

  Instead soft, pinkish hues were being reflected along the horizon from the first breath of morning that was suddenly there.

  “Thank the Lord, I am home,” she whispered, sighing heavily.

  Chapter 26

  Let a man contend to the uttermost

  For his life’s set prize, be it what it will!

  —Robert Browning

  The morning was soft and pretty when Swift Horse went to Bright Moon’s cabin and spoke his name outside the door. He knew his shaman’s habits very well, and he knew that he was always awake with the birds, preparing himself for his full day of meetings with anyone who might need his guidance.

  This morning his chief needed guidance, for Swift Horse’s heart was heavy. He was beginning to believe now that the warrior who had been his friend for so long might not be at all who he had professed to be. Swift Horse could not believe that Marsha could be this mistaken.

  “My chief, do come in,” Bright Moon said as he opened the door for Swift Horse, his long gray hair coiled around his head, a robe of fur warming his old body.

  Bright Moon stepped aside, his brow furrowing into a questioning frown when he saw the troubled look on Swift Horse’s face.

  Swift Horse sat down on a pallet of blankets on the floor in front of the fire and Bright Moon sat beside him.

  “Tell me what is troubling you,” Bright Moon said, placing a hand on one of Swift Horse’s.

  “It is something hard to say,” Swift Horse said. He gave Bright Moon a troubled frown. “I am not certain, even, if I can.”

  “You have not slept the full night,” Bright Moon said, studying Swift Horse’s weary eyes. “Why is that, my chief? What kept you from your bed?”

  “You do not know?” Swift Horse said, searching his shaman’s pale brown eyes. Then he shook his head. “No. You would not know for I did not share what I was doing with anyone. Edward James’s sister was abducted tonight.”

  “Marsha was abducted?” Bright Moon gasped, drawing his hand quickly away from Swift Horse. “Is she still missing?”

  “No, she is safely home with her brother now. I found her and brought her home,” Swift Horse said, somewhat tightly. “But the fact that she was abducted lies heavy on my heart. I was not there to protect her. And she had to suffer at the hands of two men tonight, not one.”

  “Two . . . ?” Bright Moon asked, his eyes widening. “Tell me about it, Swift Horse.”

  “When I went to her cabin and saw that she was gone and that her sewing equipment was strewn across the floor, I knew that something had to have happened to her,” Swift Horse said thickly. “I went outside. I followed tracks to the cowkeeper’s house.”

  “The cowkeeper?” Bright Moon said, leaning forward and gazing more intensely into Swift Horse’s eyes. “He did this?”

  “He was the first,” Swift Horse said.

  “The first?” Bright Moon asked, finding this more and more incredulous by the moment.

  “He abducted Marsha from her home, and then the one-eyed renegade went there and killed Alan Burton and took Marsha with him,” Swift Horse said, now almost hoarsely, he was so troubled, still, by what had happened to his woman.

  “You say . . . a one-eyed man?” Bright Moon said, his voice drawn. “The same who killed your parents, others of our village, and various white settlers who come to our land or pass through it?”

  “It must be the same, and I need your guidance about what I am thinking now,” Swift Horse said, sighing heavily.

  “What are you thinking?” Bright Moon asked.

  When Swift Horse didn’t answer right away, Bright Moon reached over and gently patted him on a knee. “I see it is hard for you to say,” he said softly. “I urge you, though, to say it aloud instead of keeping it locked up inside your heart.”

  “If I am right about what I am thinking, I doubt I shall ever be able to fully accept it, for it is something that will tear at my very being if it is true,” Swift Horse said stiffly. He reached up and pushed his heavy hair back from his shoulders, then again rested his hands on his knees. “But I know it is best to say it, not continue to just think it.”

  “And that is why you came to your shaman this hour of morning, is it not?” Bright Moon said, placing his own hands now on his own knees.

  “Yes, I need to say it and then know what your feelings are about it,” Swift Horse said, turning to gaze into his shaman’s old eyes once again. “Bright Moon, my woman has said more than once that the one-eyed man is One Eye. She saw him murder her parents and says that is why she can never forget him. This man’s face is in her mind’s eye, always. How can she be this wrong? And, Bright Moon, how can there be two men with the exact scarrings of One Eye?”

  “She does believe it is he?” Bright Moon said softly.

  “None other,” Swift Horse said, inhaling a deep, nervous breath. “I cannot continue to openly doubt her. She is taking offense, and I want no ill feelings between us. If she is so absolutely certain this man is One Eye, how can I continue to ignore this? He might be guilty of many crimes.”

  “Your best friend, who has always professed to be our clan’s ally, might, instead, be our most ardent enemy?” Bright Moon said, now slowly shaking his head back and forth. “If that is
so . . .”

  “If that is so, I must stop him,” Swift Horse rushed out. “I cannot allow him to put on a false face of friendship when, in truth, he might be the worst sort of man on this earth.”

  “And so you are truly believing now that One Eye is the one-eyed man,” Bright Moon said, searching Swift Horse’s eyes. “I see it in your eyes . . . I hear it in your voice . . . the hurt, the humiliation . . . the anger.”

  “Yes, I feel all of those things,” Swift Horse said. He placed a hand on Bright Moon’s shoulder. “Will you help me?”

  “My chief, I have always been here for you, as I was here for your father and grandfather before you,” Bright Moon said, nodding. “Tell me. What would you ask of me?”

  “I would like for you to make medicine that will harm the man who is guilty of crimes we have spoken of today,” Swift Horse said. “If word is brought to me that One Eye is ill, then I will know for certain that he is the one who should pay for the crimes committed by the one-eyed man.”

  “His injury?” inquired Bright Moon.

  “The one-eyed man who killed the cowkeeper and then abducted Marsha is carrying around a head injury today, for Marsha hit him over the head with a stone. She knocked him unconscious. I saw blood on the ground caused by the injury. This has to mean that if One Eye is the one who did this thing, he will not be able to hide the injury left by the blow.”

  “That should be enough proof, do you not think, without my making medicines that will harm him more than he is already harmed?” Bright Moon asked softly.

  “Yes, that is enough,” Swift Horse said, nodding.

  “You will go to his village today and ask for him and see whether or not he is the injured one?” Bright Moon asked, bringing his robe more snugly around him. “To see if he is friend or foe?”

  “No,” Swift Horse said tightly. “It is better that I wait for him to come to me. You know that not too many days have ever passed when we have not met and talked. I am anxious to know whether or not he is truly the enemy, yet a part of me says to wait.”

  “It is because you are afraid to know?” Bright Moon said, reaching again and patting Swift Horse’s knee. “The longer you go without knowing, the longer you can still feel a friendship you are fighting against losing.”

  “Yes, that is somewhat true,” Swift Horse said, nodding. “But when I truly know for certain that he is the one who has left a bloody trail behind him, I will not hesitate to make him pay.”

  “When will you allow yourself to know . . . to accept?” Bright Moon asked.

  “Our two clans are supposed to come together soon for the Busk Ceremony, so I shall wait and see if he comes, or stays at his home, which would prove he is hiding something—namely another scar that will never go away,” Swift Horse said, slowly rising. “I have waited this long to know the truth, I can wait awhile longer. I would like for him to feel that he got away with this latest evil deed, and then allow him to step directly into a trap.”

  “You do speak as though you now truly believe he is the one-eyed man,” Bright Moon said, also rising and walking Swift Horse to the door.

  “Yes,” Swift Horse said, turning and hugging Bright Moon.

  “Will the woman be in danger the longer the one-eyed man is allowed to be free?” Bright Moon asked as he returned the hug.

  “No one will ever get close enough to harm her ever again,” Swift Horse said, stepping away from Bright Moon. “She will be guarded.”

  He went outside, and Bright Moon came with him.

  Swift Horse looked up at the sky, then over at Marsha’s cabin, and then at Bright Moon. “My woman was weary from her trying ordeal,” he said. “She will be asleep for some time today. This will give me time to do something else that must be done.”

  “And that is?” Bright Moon asked as he walked Swift Horse to his mount.

  “I have never cared for the cowkeeper, but it is not a good thing to leave his death unreported,” he said as he started to swing himself into his saddle, but stopped when he saw Edward James step into the doorway of his store, waving at him.

  “I am going to Fort Hill to tell Colonel Harris about Alan Burton’s death so that the soldiers can collect his body and give him a proper burial,” he said.

  “And what of his cows and other animals?” Bright Moon asked.

  “I am certain the soldiers will take them away,” Swift Horse said, gazing at Edward James as he walked toward them.

  “It is certain that the cows will not be in our corn ever again,” Bright Moon said.

  “Nor will the man be a problem again for our people, especially Marsha,” Swift Horse said. “Had I seen the true evil in the man, I would have known that he could do something as underhanded as to steal my woman away.”

  “That is behind you now,” Bright Moon said. “But you have something else to work through. Go now, and I will pray for this that is troubling you.”

  “Thank you,” Swift Horse said, smiling at Edward James, who walked briskly up to him and stopped.

  “Your sister still sleeps?” Swift Horse asked, placing a hand on Edward James’s shoulder.

  “Very soundly—and the back door is locked and we can see the front door,” Edward James said. He looked at Swift Horse and then at Bright Moon. “After last night, I was made aware of how quickly things can change and how quickly a loved one can be gone from one’s life.”

  Edward James paused, then said, “I want to marry your sister today, Swift Horse. If she doesn’t feel strong enough for the formal ceremony, then we can exchange vows as she lies in her bed.”

  “I am strong enough, Edward James.”

  Edward James turned with a start. He gazed in wonder at Soft Wind, who was walking toward him, then slid his arms around her waist when she stepped up to him. “You are out of bed,” he said, smiling. “You are much better.”

  “I am well enough to become your wife,” Soft Moon said. “And I want to marry you today, too. We should not delay it another day.” She looked at her brother and Bright Moon. “Can we?” she asked. “Or will it be too much trouble to do this so quickly?”

  “Nothing I ever do for you is any trouble,” Swift Horse said, seeing the tears of joy that this brought to his sister’s eyes. He took her from Edward James, drawing her into his gentle embrace. “After the noon hour,” he said, smiling into her eyes. “I must leave to take care of business, but when I return I will see that my sister becomes a wife to my friend Edward James.”

  Then he stepped away from her and stepped up to Edward James. “Keep an eye on your sister while I am gone,” he warned. “I will double the sentries around my village.”

  “No one will ever be able to harm my sister again,” Edward James said tightly as Soft Moon eased to his side, his arm sliding around her waist and holding her next to him.

  “I will return in time for your wedding,” Swift Horse said, then swung himself into his saddle and rode away.

  Chapter 27

  Some silent laws our hearts will make,

  Which they shall long obey.

  —William Wordsworth

  A miracle seemed to have touched Soft Wind, for today, the day of her marriage, she had gotten up from her bed after a peaceful night of sleep and felt completely well! The scar from the terrible accident was now only a pucker of skin, and she was almost as strong as before the day the arrow had slammed into her shoulder.

  Marsha gazed at her as she stood with Edward James, the two exchanging wondrous words as Bright Moon presided over the special event. The marriage ceremony was all but over and soon would come much merriment.

  Marsha could not help but feel the excitement building inside her heart knowing that soon she and Swift Horse would be exchanging vows, too. She had secretly hoped that they could speak theirs along with Edward James and Soft Wind.

  But there was not enough time for Marsha and Swift Horse to ready themselves for their own nuptials, and it seemed that it was only right that this was Edward James and Soft Wind
’s day.

  As Bright Moon was now speaking of the Supreme God in the Heavens, who was the Master of Breath, to her brother and Soft Wind, Marsha looked slowly around her. She had not known about this huge rotunda, which was used for ceremonial functions such as weddings, diplomatic negotiations, and assemblies of various kinds, particularly special meetings between Creek clans. It was larger than the council house that sat in the center of the village.

  This was a circular building, thirty feet in diameter and made of logs. A low tunnel entranceway led into the council chamber, and seats lined the walls all around the circular room. More seats were positioned a few feet away in the same sort of circle, leaving room for people to walk between them.

  The seats were filled now with people of only the Wind Clan, the ceremony having been decided upon too quickly to send invitations around to others.

  Marsha was disappointed for only one reason. She had hoped to see how One Eye reacted to his invitation—whether he would have come or not. She had not expected him to, for the wound to his head would prove that he was the one who accosted her and who had spread death and destruction everywhere.

  She was trying terribly hard to understand why Swift Horse had not yet gone and spoken with One Eye. She assumed it was because he was afraid of what he would uncover—that just perhaps he could not handle the truth.

  She shifted her thoughts back to where she was now, and why.

  “You seem restless,” Swift Horse whispered as he leaned closer to her.

  “I’m sorry,” she whispered back, taken by how handsome he was today. He wore a full outfit of fringed buckskin, heavily beaded, and a neckband of fur that denoted his rank as chief, which he wore during special functions such as this.

  His thick, long hair hung down his back to his waist, and his headband, also of fur, matched his neckband. A lone eagle feather hung from a coil of his hair at the right side of his face.