by Joany Kane
I'll take good care of yer steed, Miss Annie. Emmet tells her, his voice quivering a bit as well.
“Thank you, Mr. Howes. You are a fine guide and a decent man.”
“Decent? I wouldn't go that far.” He smirks.
The quip inspires Annie to smile, a bright, wide, lovely smile. The first since she arrived in town. Another moment that captures Mark's attention and heart.
Emmet gives Annie a hearty handshake. He hops up into his wagon. “Try not to follow too closely in your aunt's footsteps, Miss Annie.” Emmet warns.
“Make your own footsteps, Annie.” Jenny encourages.
The wagons pull away from the house, riding down the main street of town. Mark stands next to Annie. "Hitch your wagon to a star," he says.
“You're familiar with Emerson?” Annie responds, pleasantly surprised.
“Thanks to my roommate at West Point. One quote of Emerson's I have tried to live by. “‘The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.’” Mark shares.
Annie looks directly at Mark, deeply moved by the quote he aspires to live by. “That is a fine quote and one I have long held in regard.”
They share a look, which, if held much longer would ignite sparks. Annie looks away.
“When would you like to start your assignment, Mrs. Landon?” Mark inquires.
“I have no prior obligations, Captain.”
*****
A horse-drawn buggy approaches Fort Mills, a military outpost in the wilds of the Colorado Territory. Mark drives it with Annie seated next to him. Mark parks the buggy in front of the main building.
Mark helps Annie out of the buggy. His close proximity to her body as he helps her out of the buggy allows him to pick up on her nervousness. His kind eyes connect with hers as he keeps her in his embrace for an extra comforting moment. He could hold her forever if she’d let him he thinks, but quickly pushes the thought out of his mind.
“Don't worry. You'll do fine.” Mark reassures Annie. Offering her his arm he escorts her to the schoolroom. When they reach the room, Mark opens the door for Annie. They enter.
Inside the schoolroom, six male Indian scouts sit at desks working on reading and writing. Although dressed in Army garb, they still do look intimidating.
Mark addresses the scouts. “This is your new teacher, Selma is her aunt.”
“What does "aunt" mean?” One of the scouts asks.
Mark looks to Annie to answer.
Annie musters courage. “Aunt is the sister of your mother or father. Selma is my father's sister.” It's unclear by their expressions if the scouts understand the meaning.
Mark motions to the desk. “Selma kept detailed notes on reading and writing assignments. They're on the desk.” Mark gives Annie an encouraging smile with those beautiful eyes of his. “I'll be right outside should you need anything.”
“Thank you, Captain.” Annie nods politely.
Mark leaves. Annie is alone in the room with the Indian scouts. She looks at them. They look at her. Silence.
Chato, one of the scouts, in his early twenties, good-looking, friendly smile, stands. “I am Chato. Son of Running Bear. I have two aunts.” He takes a seat.
Another Indian scout stands up, tells Annie his name, his father's name and how many aunts he has. He takes a seat. And then another scout stands up and does the same. And another. And another. Until every scout has stood up and told Annie his name, his father's name and how many aunts he has.
Annie is touched by the gentle politeness of these young Indian men. There's nothing savage about them. “I am...” She begins but pauses, thinking of how she should be known. Finally she adds, “Miss Annie...” As she says her name, she smiles; it's a turning point moment for her. “I am the daughter of Stephen MacHattie. I have one aunt.”
After class Annie leaves the schoolroom followed by the scouts. She carries a couple of books. As promised, Mark is nearby.
Chato walks with Annie. “You are good teacher, Miss Annie. Like your aunt.” Chato tells her.
“Thank you, Chato.”
“She teach us to fit in wasichu world.”
“Wasichu?” Annie is confused by the word.
“White eyes.”
Annie still doesn't quite understand.
“White man.” Chato elaborates.
Mark joins them.
“Captain sir, may I bring Miss Annie back to town?” Chato asks.
Mark looks at Annie. “Chato used to bring Selma home after class.”
“That would be fine. Thank you, Chato.” Annie agrees.
Mark gives Annie a courteous nod and a tip of his hat as his kind gaze and smile linger for a moment. “I look forward to seeing you tomorrow, Mrs. Landon.” Mark says with deep sincerity.
*****
Chato drives the buggy on the road back to Beaver Creek. Annie sits next to him. A horse gallops up from behind. Chato stops the buggy.
Annie turns and sees that it is Chief Red Hawk on the horse. The sight of him startles her. Chief Red Hawk looks at Annie once, deeply, and then converses with Chato in Arapaho. The Chief looks at Annie again before he gallops away.
“What did he say?” Annie inquires curiously.
“He asked what you were doing at the fort and I told him you were the new teacher. He said he wants you to teach him.” Chato relates.
“Teach him English?”
“He knows English pretty good. Not so much some of the meaning. He wants to understand the wasichu. He said he saw you in a vision many moons ago and that when he saw you yesterday, he knew the Great Spirit was honoring his vision.” Chato informs Annie.
“The Great Spirit?” Annie asks regarding another name unfamiliar to her.
“You call him God. We all honor the source of creation, just named different.” Chato tells her.
“Will the chief be joining our class?”
“No. He wants me to bring you to the village. You are to teach him there.”
“We should report this to Captain Caldwell.” Annie says.
“Please honor this request, Miss Annie. There is an important pow wow coming soon where white eyes from Washington will be bringing a new treaty to sign. The white eyes have not honored the treaty the Arapaho have already signed. This concerns Chief Red Hawk greatly. He wants to be able to talk clearly with the white eyes from Washington and better understand the journey they have been on with the hope that he can make them understand our journey.”
Annie turns and watches the chief ride out of sight, intrigued by his conscientiousness.
The rest of the buggy ride into town is quiet. Chato parks the buggy by the theatre. He helps Annie out.
“Thank you, Chato.”
“You're welcome, Miss Annie.”
“You have very good manners, Chato.” Annie shares, impressed.
“Your aunt taught us.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow.” Annie says before entering Selma's place.
Chato waits until Annie is inside. He then approaches the saloon. He peeks in the window and catches Clara's attention. He hurries down an alleyway near the saloon. He waits for a moment.
Clara approaches. She stops and locks eyes with Chato. They hurry to each other. They double check to make sure no one is around. Once they are sure they are alone, they embrace. A passionate, hopelessly in young first love embrace.
Inside Selma’s house Annie takes a seat at Selma’s desk. She opens her books to prepare for her next class. She notices a letter addressed to her near the corner of the desk. Annie picks up the letter and reads it...
"Dear Annie, I know that it's been months since I've written, but so much has happened, I have so much to share with you. I've met a man. A remarkable man. He has honest eyes, you can see his character when you look into them. He is just and honorable, though many choose not to see it. I met him when I was riding out to the fort to teach my class to the Indian
scouts. Yes, I'm teaching Indians, not Christian children. And it is a blessing. I've been learning just as much from them as I think, as I hope, they are learning from me. We all have much to learn from the Indians and should take the time and accord them the honor of understanding their way of life. Though vastly different from ours, it is still valid. I know I am a different woman than the person you once knew. This place and the people that I have been privileged to know have shaped me in ways I never could have imagined. I pray that when we meet again your love and acceptance of your aunt will not waiver."
*****
At dinnertime Annie enters the jail carrying a picnic basket.
Selma stands in the cell, acting out a fairy tale scene to the enraptured marshal. Neither Selma nor the marshal notices Annie. Annie listens.
"...Then the princess ran to the door and opened it, and there she saw the frog, whom she had quite forgotten. At this sight she was sadly frightened, and shutting the door as fast as she could came back to her seat. The king, her father, seeing that something had frightened her, asked her what was the matter. 'There is a nasty frog,' said she, 'at the door, that lifted my ball for me out of the spring this morning: I told him that he should live with me here, thinking that he could never get out of the spring; but there he is at the door, and he wants to come in." Selma dramatizes with the proper amount of theatrical flare.
“There ain't no way a princess would live with a frog,” the marshal gripes.
“Not until she kisses him.”
“Why on god's earth would she kiss a frog?” He asks incredulously.
“So he'll turn into a prince.”
“That makes no sense.”
“This is a fairy tale, not real life.” Selma sighs, exasperated by the marshal.
“Well, it ain't something I'm going to want to see, I tell ya that,” the marshal huffs.
“The fairy tale shows are a big hit in Boston and New York.” Selma boasts. She finally spies Annie who has been standing there bemused by the sparring.
“Annie!! You're still in town?!” Selma beams.
“The capt'n must have gotten to her,” the marshal grins at Selma. He then looks at Annie. “He was making an awful lot of inquiries about you last night.”
Annie, feeling a blush coming on, ignores the comment. She looks at her aunt. “I thought you might be hungry.”
“I'm starved. Whadaya got?” The marshal answers.
So you're staying? Selma asks, not interested in food at this moment.
“I'm teaching your class.” Annie informs her aunt.
Selma extends her hand through the cell bars. “Thank you.” Annie takes Selma's hand and affectionately grasps it.
*****
The next morning Fort Mills is bustling with activity. Cavalrymen come and go on horseback.
Annie stands with Captain Caldwell outside of one of the buildings discussing the encounter with the chief.
“Foolish idea.” Mark shakes his head.
“With all due respect, Captain, I don't think it is. The chief is willing to prepare himself for his meeting with the men from Washington. I think that is commendable. You yourself spoke of the need for understanding between us.” Annie declares.
“I agree with your assessment but I am worried for your safety. Traveling to the village could prove troublesome and I am suspect as to why the chief doesn't want you to have an Army escort.”
“Aunt Selma explained that having Chato escort me would show the Arapaho that we trust them.”
“That is true.” Mark agrees.
“I wish to go, Captain.” Annie says with near complete conviction and only a hint of trepidation.
“I don't want you placed in any position that could potentially bring you harm.” Mark reveals with more meaning than just a cavalry captain concerned for a citizen.
“I honored your last wish not to go. Now I hope you will honor my wish to go.” Annie asserts, with a kind smile.
“I can't argue that.” Mark returns the smile as he locks eyes with Annie.
*****
Chato drives the buggy through the picturesque Colorado wilderness. Annie sits next to Chato. She looks nervous. The Arapaho village comes into view. Annie is awestruck by the sight.
Once the buggy reaches the village, Chato whoa’s the horse. He gets out and helps Annie out. The Indians in the village regard Annie with caution.
Chato motions for Annie to follow him. “This way, Miss Annie.” He heads for a large teepee located in a tranquil area of the village. Annie follows.
Chief Red Hawk stands by the teepee. He is a magnificent sight. He has dark penetrating eyes, strong cheek bones, a muscular, sinewy body and eagle feathers tied in his long jet black hair. His chest is bare except for a buffalo bone breast plate. In stature alone he commands respect. He is a man of noble dignity.
He looks directly at Annie. “I am Red Hawk. Chief of the Arapaho. Your name is Miss Annie, this is true?”
“Yes, it is true.” Annie smiles politely.
“The white eyes from Washington will be coming to meet with the Arapaho. They want to change the treaty we have signed. They want to take more land. I want you to teach me what I need to know to make them understand that this is the land of my father, and his father. I cannot lose it,” the chief tells Annie.
“Chief Red Hawk, I'm not sure that what I know could help you in negotiating with the Indian agents.” Annie replies.
“Some moons ago I had a vision. In this vision I saw our way of life changing. In this vision I saw you. I saw you teaching me,” the chief reveals.
“What would you like to know?”
“What does negotiating mean?” He asks.
“It means two parties try to come to a mutual agreement over a matter that needs settling.” Annie informs the chief.
“Parties meaning, the Arapaho and the Great White Father in Washington,” the chief figures.
“Yes.”
“Deciding on the fate of our land.”
“Yes.”
The chief becomes animated in his response. “We have been negotiating with the white man. The negotiating harms us, not them. Now they want more negotiating. More harm will come to us with negotiating. I don not like this word negotiating.”
The Chief sees a furrow in Annie's brow. A satisfied smile crosses his face, which catches Annie off guard. “See, you teach me already.”
Once the first lesson has ended, Chief Red Hawk walks with Annie to the buggy. Chato helps Annie up into the buggy. Red Hawk observes this interaction between Chato and Annie.
“What is this that Chato has done?” The chief asks.
“He helped me up into the buggy.” Annie tells him.
“Why? Are you not able?”
“Chato was being polite. The white man helps the white woman when he can.” Annie enlightens the chief.
“I wish to try,” the chief demands.
“Then you must help me out of the buggy.”
“You are helped down as well?”
“Yes.”
In one swift powerful move, Chief Red Hawk grabs Annie and pulls her out of the buggy, holding her close in an embrace.
“A bit more gently, and not so familiar.” Annie gasps, flushed.
“This I do not understand,” the chief replies, genuinely confused.
“White men and women do not touch each other so intimately if they are not personally acquainted.” Annie instructs the chief.
“This makes no sense. I must touch you to get you down and to get you up,” the chief huffs.
“Yes, but not quite so much touching.”
Red Hawk pushes Annie up into the buggy, trying not to touch so much.
“Maybe you should watch Chato help me.” Annie suggests.
Chato helps Annie out of the buggy and then back into the buggy.
“I see,” the chief beams with enlightenment.
Red Hawk helps Annie out of the buggy and then back into the buggy, his movement more polite and
polished, but still a little rough.
“That was good, Chief Red Hawk.” Annie praises.
“Again. I want to do again,” the chief declares, quite pleased with himself.
Red Hawk helps Annie out of the buggy, and then back into the buggy. This time with more confidence.
“Very good, thank you.” Annie says to the chief.
Red Hawk does not respond.
“When someone thanks you the appropriate response is ‘you're welcome.’” Annie informs the chief.
“Why?”
Annie thinks for a moment on how best to reply. “To show appreciation for gratitude.”
“Why did you thank me? I should thank you. You teach me,” the chief answers, confused.
“I thanked you for helping me into the buggy.”
“Oh, yes, I see. You're welcome.” Chief Red Hawk looks intently at Annie. “This has been good. You teach again. Captain Caldwell is honorable warrior. You tell him I said so. You being here teaching me is a good thing. He does not need to keep watch over you. I will make sure no harm comes to you.”
Annie's not sure why Red Hawk has said these things, but she gives the chief a warm smile. “Thank you, Chief Red Hawk.”
“You're welcome, Miss Annie.” The chief replies with sincerity and a twinkle.
Chato drives the buggy out of the village. As the buggy rides away from the village, Annie spies Captain Caldwell on horseback some distance away. He's been keeping an eye on her. She smiles slightly at the Captain's concern, now understanding the chief's words. Mark rides close enough for their eyes to connect.
*****
All is quiet in the saloon. Only a couple of lonely souls drink at the bar. Roy plays the piano. He attempts to play "Silent Night" trying to figure out the music from his memory. It's a bit rough.
Clara joins him. “What song are you playing?”
It's a Christmas song. Called "’Silent Night.’" Roy tells Clara.
“It's pretty.” Clara appreciates.
“I've only heard it once before.”
Clara looks out the window and sees Chato peeking in. Her face lights up. Clara moves to the back of the saloon as inconspicuously as possible.