by Clay, Verna
When Jack bent to stoke the fire, she asked, "Do you know why the Indians have been so kind to us? We are encroaching upon their land and our ways are vastly different from theirs. Why have they allowed us to live here and even helped in the building of this cabin?"
Jack sat back on his haunches and Frannie heard her father and mother, who were conversing at a table made from tree trunks cut and fitted together, stop talking. All ears waited for Jack's reply. As was his habit, he pulled on his beard before saying, "I think its time for ye to know what Warrior Heals confided to me."
Frannie leaned forward as Jack continued, "It goes back to the Spirit Tree. Do ye remember when ye first mentioned it?"
"Yes."
"Well, that tree has great significance to the tribe. In their language, it is also called the Spirit Tree."
Frannie and her mother both gasped.
Jack nodded. "This is what Warrior Heals told me: Eighteen years ago it was prophesied by the seer of their tribe that a young woman with fair skin would travel to the red rocks and also be a seer. She would have great healing ability and her skill would merge with another's, her husband's. Together they would leave a legacy in this land, and that legacy would one day save the earth." Jack stared intently at Frannie. "And they believe ye are that seer, Frannie, and your husband will come from their tribe."
Frannie placed her hands on her cheeks. "Oh, no. It can't be me. There's been a mistake." She turned around to face her father and mother. "It's not me."
11: Crossed Fingers
Winter in the valley below the red rocks wasn't harsh like the ones in New York and every day Frannie awoke with thankfulness in her heart for that. Her mother and father were once again happy and healthy and she, herself, had a glow that could only be obtained from being outdoors daily.
When the first buds of spring began decorating the trees and the wildflowers lifted their heads to the sun, Frannie had an urge to sit under the Spirit Tree and read. Over her months of living in the valley, she had explored as often as weather permitted, and once, while following an animal trail, had happened upon a footpath and followed it up a ridge to a bluff. The view of the valley and red giants was nothing short of extraordinary and she made a mental note to return again when the weather warmed.
Now, however, she was content to rest on a root of the Spirit Tree and read the family journal her mother had brought all the way from Ireland. Once again she was enveloped in its magic. It wasn't until she felt the presence of someone that she glanced up. She was startled to see Wise Bird grinning at her. She returned his grin. Over the winter months Jack and their Indian visitors had been teaching her family their language, and they had been reciprocating by teaching the natives English.
Frannie motioned Wise Bird forward. In his language she said, "Hello and welcome."
He responded in English. "Hello, Spirit Woman," and sat cross-legged on the ground not far from her.
Using a combination of his language and her own, she shook her head and replied, "I am not Spirit Woman."
Wise Bird continued to smile.
Choosing her words carefully, she haltingly asked, "Why is this tree called the Spirit Tree?" The only words she could understand from his response and gestures were "old" and "roots deep."
He motioned toward her journal and questioned what it was by his expression.
She lifted the journal and said, "Also old. My ancestors wrote it long ago. It gives the use of herbs and stones to make healing potions."
When Wise Bird seemed not to understand, she made gestures with her hands, picked up a small stone, and pinched a leaf off a nearby shrub, trying to explain."
Finally, he nodded his understanding, although she wasn't sure if he was just being polite. Unexpectedly, he scooted closer and pulled his knife from its sheath at his waist.
Frannie's eyes widened and she shrank backward. Wise Bird frowned and shook his head. Feeling foolish, she apologized for her reaction.
Mysteriously, he began digging beneath a root near her foot. Eventually, he sheathed his knife again and continued digging with his hands.
Frannie was very curious about his actions. He made a sound of satisfaction and tugged a leather pouch from the hole. Lifting his eyes to Frannie's he smiled widely and motioned for her to open her hand and hold it out. When she did he lifted the pouch and dropped the contents into her palm.
She inhaled sharply and exclaimed, "It's beautiful!" In her palm lay a necklace of stones strung on leather.
Wise Bird motioned toward the necklace and then to the hole he had dug. Frannie understood his words when he pointed to the tree and said, "Spirit," and then pointed to the necklace and said, "Spirit." But although she understood his words, she pondered his meaning for a time before exclaiming again, "I understand! The spirit of the tree is now in the necklace." She made gestures to help him understand her words.
He said in English, "Yes!" Then he reached for the necklace and slipped it over her head. Suddenly, he became quiet and looked behind him, waiting for something. Frannie hadn't heard anything, but she trusted his senses. Within moments, Raven Sees stepped beyond the pines, and, if possible, seemed angrier than usual. He glanced at the necklace around Frannie's neck and shouted at his brother. Wise Bird only shrugged and said something in response that to the best of Frannie's knowledge was "She is Spirit Woman so she has a right to know."
Raven Sees narrowed his eyes at Wise Bird and said something Frannie could not understand. Then he turned his gaze on her and said in English, "She is not Spirit Woman!" before stalking away.
Wise Bird chuckled and Frannie glanced questioningly at him. He raised one index finger and said, "Brother." He raised his other index finger and said, "Frannie." Then he placed his fingers side-by-side before hooking them around each other.
After Wise Bird left, Frannie closed her eyes and said to herself, "I am not Spirit Woman and I will not become the wife of Raven Sees."
She continued reading the journal written by her ancestors and their wonderful stories of healing using herbs and stones. It was while she was turning the page of the diary that a sudden inspiration dropped onto her like a giant rock. She glanced from the diary to the roots of the Spirit Tree, and back to the diary. She fingered the necklace and whispered, "I'll plant my elixirs in the roots of the Spirit Tree."
12: Defeat
The wildflowers were in full blossom and the trees leafing when Frannie trekked the footpath up the ridge to the bluff she'd discovered during early spring. There were views in every direction and she marveled at the giant monoliths soaring above the valley she now called home. When she spotted an outcropping of rocks on one side of the bluff she circled them to discover a lovely clearing that would be perfect for family picnics. Sitting and leaning against one of the stones, she sighed with contentment and watched a raven soaring above the valley, dipping and playing in the wind currents. Her eyes grew heavy.
"Hello, dear child."
"Grandmother, you haven't visited me for a long time."
"No. But I'm always with you."
"Yes, I feel you. Why doesn't Grandfather visit me?"
"He does. You just don't hear his voice."
"Sometimes I feel like he's hugging me."
"That's because he is."
"You and Grandfather are in a wonderful place, aren't you?"
"Yes dear. And someday you will join us."
"Thank you for bringing us to the Red Rocks. We love it here."
"It is beautiful. But I must tell you, one day, a very long time from now, destruction will come not only to this valley, but to the entire world."
Frannie gasped. "How is that possible?"
"There are future events difficult to explain. But when you are with us, you will have perfect understanding. For now, it is important that you learn from your experiences and the things I teach in your dreams."
"I'm dreaming now, aren't I?"
"Yes, dear one. But after you cross over you will be the one returning
in dreams to help our granddaughters. You will take over my work."
"What is your work?"
"Oh, it's not work as you think of it. It's watching over and guiding our family. But now is not the time to discuss future events. It's time for you to awaken because you have a visitor."
Frannie stretched and opened her eyes. Brown ones stared back at her. She scooted upright and ran her hands through her mussed hair. Raven Sees stood before her and his expression suddenly changed from curious to dour. He said something she didn't understand and then motioned as if ordering her to leave.
For months Frannie had been enduring this man's unpleasantness and her Irish blood had had enough. She jumped to her feet and marched toward him, pointing her finger at his chest. "You are the most arrogant and rude man I have ever met, and I've endured your unpleasantness long enough! You don't like me, and believe me, I don't like you!" She now stood directly in front of him gazing upward into eyes the color of the darkest tree bark and stabbed her finger into his bare chest. "And furthermore, I never claimed to be the Spirit Woman. Others put that title on me. And just so you know, I don't believe it myself!" She jabbed him one last time and marched around him.
With her back to him tears pricked her eyes and she commanded herself not to cry. A tear slid down her cheek and she involuntarily sobbed. With mortification that Raven Sees might realize she was crying she started running across the bluff toward the trail.
Suddenly, he was in front of her, stopping her by clasping her shoulders. Lowering her head to stare at the ground she tried to swipe tears from her cheeks. His voice was gentle when he spoke. She thought he said, "Little one, do not cry."
Swallowing against the lump in her throat she lifted her head and when she stared into Raven Sees' beautiful eyes, no longer did she see anger. She saw something that made her heart race. She saw…adoration?
His expression suddenly reverted to its usual scowl and she decided she'd been mistaken. He removed a hand from her shoulder and made a motion that encompassed the ridge. Speaking in his language he said something that she repeated in English. "Sacred place."
His frown deepened and then he said in English, "Sacred, yes."
"You don't want me here because this place is sacred?" Her expression must have conveyed something of her hurt, because he hesitantly nodded.
Again tears pooled and slid down her cheeks.
Raven Sees said something unintelligible and unexpectedly pulled her into an embrace. His solid chest felt so safe that she relaxed against him and started sobbing. The more she sobbed, the tighter he held her. She even felt him lay his head atop hers. Frannie had been fighting her feelings for this proud man for months, but no longer was that possible.
When her sobs quieted, he gently set her away from him and motioned for her to precede him down the trail. She obeyed without question. Back in the valley, he continued walking behind her until they reached the Spirit Tree. She glanced around to see him staring at the tree. Following his gaze upward, she spied a raven perched on a lower limb watching her. She shifted her focus back to Raven Sees and was startled by the intensity with which he was staring at the bird. Then he did something totally surprising. He hung his head as if in defeat.
Before she could ask him what was wrong, he turned and hurried away.
13: Permission
Frannie didn't see Raven Sees again for several weeks and it saddened her heart. Something had happened at the Spirit Tree that she didn't understand.
As summer warmed the land and also the hearts of Frannie and her family, they enlarged their root cellar and began cutting trees for a barn to house the animals she knew were coming. Their garden, planted from seeds brought with them, was productive beyond anything they had imagined and Patrick remarked, "This winter we'll be able to share much with the Indians, just as they shared with us last winter."
Fall arrived and turned the forest into beautiful shades of orange. One evening Jack said, "My friends, I shall always consider ye as close as family and this valley my home, but it's time for me to continue onward. Wise Bird said a scouting party is headed west and I've decided to join them. Eventually, I want to explore until I reach the end of this continent. I've sailed across the Atlantic, but now I want to sail the ocean on the other side."
Patrick said sincerely, "Jack, we also consider you family and it's with great sorrow that we bid you farewell, but also with excitement for you as you continue your journey."
Nellie said, "Thank you for bringing us here and–"
They were interrupted by a knock on the door.
Jack went to open it and they heard him say, "Hello, Warrior Heals, Raven Sees. Please come in."
Frannie's heart thumped hard against her chest. The previous night her grandmother had visited and said, "Soon, sweet Frannie, your life will be forever changed."
The expression on Raven Sees' face was just as intent as when they had parted under the branches of the Spirit Tree.
Nellie rushed to the fireplace to bring the tea kettle to the table as Patrick jovially greeted their guests, inviting them to sit.
Warrior Heals lifted his hand and everyone paused in their motions while he spoke to Jack. Jack said, "Warrior Heals has something important to say."
Everyone waited. The medicine man spoke again and Jack interpreted. "Greetings my white friends. It is with humility that I enter your home—humility and great responsibility for my people."
Frannie's heart pounded at the way Raven Sees was still watching her. She could understand some of what his father was saying, but Jack was now fluent in the language and translated eloquently. "For many moons my people have awaited the coming of Spirit Woman who would sit on a root of the Spirit Tree. When I first came upon you with my sons and we saw Frannie sitting there, my son Wise Bird and I wondered if she was the fulfillment of prophesy. But later when she spoke of the Spirit Tree, we knew she was. My son Raven Sees did not."
Frannie glanced at Raven Sees who was still staring at her.
Warrior Heals continued, "Raven Sees now believes that Frannie is Spirit Woman."
"Wh-Why," asked Nellie, moving to stand beside her daughter.
Jack interpreted Nellie's question and then Warrior Heals response. "He saw the raven in the Spirit Tree and the raven told him."
Frannie gasped and remembered that day.
Warrior Heals glanced at her and then at Jack, speaking solemnly. Jack conveyed his words. "My son is named Raven Sees because he sees what the ravens see." He moved his gaze to Patrick and was silent for a moment before continuing. "I am here with my son to ask permission from the father of Spirit Woman that she be joined with Raven Sees."
Frannie gasped again and covered her mouth with her hand. No one spoke until Patrick said. "Ah, maybe we all should sit down and discuss this." Jack interpreted her father's words.
Frannie interjected, "Yes! I will be joined with him."
Nellie exclaimed, "Frannie!"
Turning to her mother, Frannie said, "Ma, I know this is what I must do. Grandmother Ana came to me in a dream last night and said my life was about to forever change."
"But what if this isn't the change she meant?"
Frannie smiled. "It is, Mama. I know it in my heart."
Warrior Heals glanced from Frannie to his son and said in broken English, "You join when moon big again."
A few days before Frannie's wedding, Nellie came to her and said, "Daughter, I have something I want to give you." She held out her hand and in her palm was the heirloom wedding band her husband had given her. "You know it’s our families' tradition to pass the wedding ring to the next generation."
"I know, Ma, and I promise to always cherish it in honor of our ancestors."
Nellie kissed her daughter's cheek and chuckled. "I now believe Raven Sees is the perfect husband to keep you balanced, my child. Your life with him will be exciting."
After Nellie left, Frannie lovingly fingered the ring for a long time and then followed her heart in doing s
omething completely irrational.
When the moon was full Frannie and Raven Sees stood beneath the Spirit Tree which was encircled by Raven Sees' tribe. Frannie's parents stood behind her. Warrior Heals and Wise Bird stood in front of Raven Sees and Frannie. Jack stood with the tribe because he had delayed his leaving until spring when another scouting party would journey westward. He said nothing could make him miss Frannie's wedding.
Warrior Heals spoke words joining Raven Sees and Frannie as one spirit under the Spirit Tree. Then he stepped aside so Wise Bird could address the gathering. Jack interpreted for Frannie and her parents.
"This is a special night, not only for Raven Sees and Spirit Woman, but for all of us. It is the transition from one world into another. My father has been teaching me and Raven Sees since childhood about the old ways. And since I am the elder son, I will one day assume his great responsibilities as medicine man. But there is additional importance to this night, for not only do we honor our traditions, but we welcome the one who will teach us beyond what we have known. It is Spirit Woman who will blend her ways with ours. The world is changing. White man is coming to our land and he will not honor our ancestors. Because of that, we must hide the old ways in our hearts and learn from the new. Many thousands of moons from now, as prophesied, a descendant of the Spirit Woman and Raven Sees will know what to do when the earth no longer brings forth her harvest." He continued speaking for several minutes. When he indicated with a nod that he was finished, many in the gathering murmured their agreement. Others remained quiet, their thoughts unknown. Silently, everyone returned to their dwellings as a flock of ravens flew from the branches of the Spirit Tree and into the night sky.
Frannie sat on a buffalo hide in the tent erected for her wedding night. For the past month she had waited for her grandmother to speak to her in dreams, but as night after night passed with no communication, she'd wondered why her grandmother had forsaken her at such an important time. Finally, only the previous night, Grandmother Ana had come and given one directive. "Love him Frannie, for he loves you dearly."