They were first served steaming bowls of buffalo stew by several of the young, unmarried maidens. Then more girls followed, bearing baskets filled with several kinds of dried fruits and berries.
Yellow Bird wasn’t sure she would be able to eat anything, for she felt too nervous to think about food. Out of politeness to their chief and the other guests, however, she forced herself to take a few bites of everything.
When the meal was over, the chief rose and stood in the middle of the circle. Gray Eagle and Yellow Bird joined him there.
Yellow Bird stole a quick glance at her soon-to-be husband. He was so handsome, with high cheekbones and a straight nose. But nothing prepared her for the joy that filled her when she saw his warm smile that told of his undying love and devotion to her.
The chief spoke a few solemn words over them, giving instructions as to the duties and obligations of marriage. When he finished talking, he tied a leather cord around their wrists, symbolizing that Gray Eagle and Yellow Bird were now joined as one.
The drums began to play, the men chanted, and the women danced in time to the rhythmic, singsong beat. If anyone deserves to be happy, it is Yellow Bird, Amanda thought.
Amanda’s throat clogged when she saw Buck standing across from her, watching the festivities. He looked different today. He wore a broad smile, and even from a distance she could see a twinkle in his eyes that hadn’t been there before.
It must be because of the time he’s spent with his mother, Amanda thought. I’m happy they found each other. Then again, he may be smiling so brightly seeing how happy Gray Eagle and Yellow Bird are today.
Amanda’s heart fluttered when Buck looked at her and smiled. I wonder if he plans to stay here, rather than going back to the mountains. It would make sense if he did, so he could be close to his mother.
“This is quite an interesting ceremony, isn’t it?” Nathan asked, stepping up to Amanda and leaning close to her ear.
“Yes, it certainly is,” she replied. Amanda had been so caught up in wondering why Buck looked different that she’d almost forgotten Nathan was here.
“I hope it’s our wedding we’ll be attending next,” Nathan whispered.
Amanda shivered. She still had reservations about making a commitment to Nathan. It might make it easier if he would stop pressuring her. Then again, his persistence must mean he really cared for her.
She glanced at Buck again and was disappointed when she saw him walk away. He’d obviously decided to leave the celebrations, and she couldn’t help wondering why.
CHAPTER 56
After Buck walked slowly away, Amanda decided to follow him. He’d been avoiding her long enough, and she needed to know what was going on.
She turned to Nathan and said, “I’ll be right back.”
“Where art thou going?” he asked, looking at her strangely.
“I need to speak with someone.” Amanda hurried away before Nathan could question her further.
Buck walked slowly, so it was easy to catch up to him. “Buck, wait a minute; I need to talk to you,” she said, stepping up to him.
He stopped walking and turned to face her. “What about?”
“Why have you been avoiding me, and how come you left the celebration early?”
A muscle on the side of Buck’s neck quivered. “I didn’t think we had anything to say, but then I …” He dropped his gaze to the ground. “Never mind.”
“Never mind what, Buck? What’s going on?”
“Nothing.”
“Please don’t do this. Tell me why.”
He gave no reply.
“I thought we were friends, but you’re talking to me as if I were a stranger.” She clasped his arm. “When I heard you’d been injured, I was worried and came to see you several times. But Two Feathers, who I understand is your mother, would never let me in.” Amanda paused for a breath. “At first she said you weren’t up to company, but the last time I stopped by her lodge she said you didn’t want to see me. Is that true?”
Buck shrugged.
“Please explain why you didn’t want to see me,” she said, determination welling in her soul. Even though she and Buck could never be together as a couple, Amanda didn’t want to lose him as a friend.
“You don’t need me as a friend,” Buck said with a stoic expression. “You have Yellow Bird, Gray Eagle, the Spaldings, and the yellow-haired man who is heading this way.”
Amanda turned and saw Nathan coming toward them. She wished he had waited. Despite her irritation, she introduced him to Buck.
“I have heard much about thee,” Nathan said, as he shook Buck’s hand. “And I want to thank thee for guiding Amanda safely on her journey west.”
“I can’t take all the credit,” Buck mumbled. “She had another guide before me.”
“That’s true, but you brought me most of the way,” Amanda interjected.
In the midst of an awkward silence, Amanda heard her name being called. “Oh, that’s Eliza,” Amanda said. “I’d better go see what she wants.”
Amanda hurried off, leaving the two men alone. Eliza had volunteered to watch Little Fawn that morning so Amanda could attend the wedding, and she had a feeling the baby might have become fussy.
“I need to go,” Buck said, turning away from Nathan.
Nathan placed his hand on Buck’s shoulder. “What is thy hurry? I was hoping we could talk for a bit.”
Buck turned back around. “What about?” He really had no desire to talk to this man, but he didn’t want to be rude, either.
Nathan lifted his dark hat and drew his fingers through the ends of his thick blond hair. “I was wondering if Amanda told thee that she and I will be getting married soon.”
Buck pinched the bridge of his nose, hoping to release some of the tension he felt. “No, she hasn’t mentioned it, but I’m not surprised, since ya came all this way to be with her.”
“That’s right, and I love Amanda very much.” Nathan’s piercing gaze made Buck wonder if the man suspected that he had feelings for Amanda, too. Well, if he did, he could think whatever he wanted; Buck wasn’t about to admit anything to Nathan.
“I wish you well,” Buck said. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, my leg’s startin’ to hurt, and I need to get off my feet for a while.”
“Certainly.” Nathan started to walk away but turned back around. “Oh, and we will let thee know when the wedding date is set, in case thou would like to be there.”
Buck merely grunted in reply. If Amanda was going to marry this prim little man, he was definitely not going to be there!
“Would you take this basket up to the mission house?” Buck’s mother asked, the following day. “It has some herbs in it that Mrs. Spaulding asked for.”
“Can’t you take it to her?” Buck had no desire to go anywhere near the mission where he might run into Amanda or Nathan.
“I would, but I am needed at White Foot’s lodge. His mother, Shining Star, is ill.”
“Okay, I’ll take the herbs over to Mrs. Spalding.” Buck gathered up the basket and stepped out of the tepee, breathing in the crisp air and taking a minute to admire the beautiful blue sky.
When Buck arrived at the mission a short time later, he decided to enter on the side where the Indian children were taught. He knew Amanda was one of the teachers but hoped Eliza would be teaching the class this morning.
When Buck stepped inside, he heard the shrill cry of a child. It wasn’t the sound a baby made, so he knew it couldn’t be Little Fawn or the Spaldings’ baby. No, the cry was distinctly that of a child, and when Buck entered the classroom, he was stunned by what he saw. Nathan had a young Nez Percé boy lying across a wooden chair, his pants pulled down, and he was beating him with a switch. Nathan’s hand was pressed firmly on the back of the boy’s head, holding him in place so he couldn’t get up. The child’s exposed skin was covered with red welts, and Buck could easily imagine what the boy’s clothing hid.
Buck stiffened. What did this man think he w
as doing? The all-too-familiar scene reminded him of the numerous times Silas had whipped him, and it made his blood boil, just watching the injustice.
“Let the child go!” Buck hollered, unmindful of the basket he carried as it dropped to the floor.
Nathan glanced at Buck briefly and mumbled, “Mind thine own business,” and he kept thrashing the boy.
Unable to stand and watch any longer, Buck marched up to Nathan and yanked the switch out of his hand. “I have half a notion to use this on you!” he shouted. Then, remembering the sniffling child who still lay across the chair, he lowered his voice, touched the boy’s head, and helped him to his feet. “It’s okay now. There will be no more whipping. Go find Mrs. Spalding and tell her what this man did.”
With tears rolling down his red cheeks, the boy pulled up his britches and hurried from the room.
Buck turned to Nathan, still struggling with the urge to hit him with the switch. “I never want to see you treat anyone like that again! Especially the children!”
Nathan’s nostrils flared, and his face contorted, turning bright red. Pointing his finger, he snapped back, “Thou art no teacher here, and thou hadst no right to interfere in my discipline of that boy!”
“I have every right to step in when I see someone being abused like that,” Buck countered, stepping so close to Nathan’s face that he could smell the man’s hot breath. “If I was not a Christian, I would knock some sense into you.”
“Christian?” Nathan mocked, his lips curling. “What does a half-breed, uneducated mountain man know about Christianity?”
“I know that the Bible says we are supposed to do to others as we would have done to us. Would you want someone to put welts on your body the way you did to that innocent young boy?”
Sweat beaded on Nathan’s forehead. “That child is not as innocent as thou might believe. He refused to wear the new clothes he was given, and then he would not memorize the verse of scripture that I gave him.”
Buck fought the urge to put this pompous, self-righteous man on the floor and beat the stuffing out of him. But as a new Christian, he knew such a response wouldn’t be right.
“What is going on here?”
At the sound of Amanda’s voice, Buck whirled around. “I think you’d better ask him!” He motioned to Nathan as he stepped away from him.
Amanda looked at Nathan and tipped her head. “One of the young boys I have been teaching came to me, crying. When I questioned him, he said a man in here had given him a whipping.” Amanda glared at Buck and pointed to the switch he held. “Why would you do such a thing, Buck?”
Buck tossed the switch into the fire and hurried out the door. He couldn’t believe Amanda would think him capable of whipping the boy. Was she really the sweet, understanding woman he’d thought her to be, or could she judge him so quickly?
Tears welled in Amanda’s eyes as she tried to come to grips with what Buck had done. But why had he done it, and what had brought him to the mission this morning?
“That mountain man had no right to interfere when I was disciplining the boy,” Nathan said, pacing in front of the fire. “Thou wouldst not believe the things he said to me.”
Amanda’s hand shook as she pointed at Nathan. “You are the one responsible for the welts on that poor child’s body?”
Nathan nodded. “He was disobedient and needed to be taught a lesson. And he would have learned that lesson, too, if that so-called friend of thine hadn’t interfered.”
Amanda’s jaw dropped. “So Buck took the switch from you?”
“That’s right, and that is not all,” Nathan shouted. “That half-breed had the nerve to stand here and call himself a Christian.”
“Buck said he was a Christian?” Amanda could hardly believe her ears.
“That is what he said, all right, but I am sure he made it up just to make himself look good. He certainly didn’t fool me.”
Amanda grabbed her shawl and bonnet and moved quickly across the room.
“Where art thou going?” Nathan called to her.
“To see Buck. I need to find out if what you said is true.”
CHAPTER 57
Amanda stood outside the door of Two Feather’s lodge and called, “Buck McFadden, are you in there?”
No response.
“Buck, I need to speak with you!”
Still no reply. Was he inside the tepee, refusing to speak to her, or had he gone somewhere else after leaving the mission?
Boldly, Amanda pulled the tepee flap aside and peeked in. She saw no sign of Buck or his mother.
Where else could he be? Amanda wondered, stepping outside. She lifted her gaze upward. Dear Lord, please point me in the right direction. Biting her lip until she tasted blood, she scanned the sky, hoping to get a glimpse of the hawk that always stayed close by Buck, but all she saw were some vultures soaring in circles as they caught the upward breezes.
Just then, Gray Eagle rode up on his horse. “I am looking for Buck,” he said after he dismounted. “Is he in the lodge?”
Amanda shook her head. “I don’t know where Buck is. He was at the mission awhile ago, but he left. I figured he’d come here, but apparently he went somewhere else.”
Gray Eagle glanced around. “I don’t see Buck’s horse anywhere, so he must have gone for a ride.”
Amanda’s heart pounded. “I hope he hasn’t gone back to the mountains. I’d feel terrible if he left again before we had the chance to talk.”
“I do not think he would do that,” Gray Eagle said with a shake of his head. “Buck would not leave his mother.”
Amanda sighed. She hoped Gray Eagle was right. “Something happened at the mission while Buck was there,” she said. “I need to talk to him about it.”
“What happened?” Gray Eagle asked.
Amanda explained what she had witnessed, what Nathan had told her about the whipping he’d given the boy, and about Buck claiming to be a Christian. “Do you know anything about that, Gray Eagle? Could Buck have accepted Jesus as his Savior?”
“Yes, he did,” Two Feathers said, walking up to them.
“Really? When?” Amanda questioned Buck’s mother.
“A few days ago,” Two Feathers explained. “Buck asked Jesus to come into his heart. He is a Christian now, same as me.”
Amanda gasped. All this time Buck had been so against anything that had to do with religion. She could hardly believe he’d had a conversion. But then she had been praying for him for months. She felt such joy that God had finally answered her prayers.
“I need to find him,” Amanda said, feeling desperate. “We have much to talk about.”
Following a trail along the river’s edge, Buck rode his stallion hard and fast. He didn’t know what had upset him the most—seeing Nathan whipping that boy, the things Nathan had said to him about not being a Christian, or Amanda believing he had whipped the child. The thought of Amanda marrying that tyrant of a man made Buck feel sick to his stomach. Nathan Lane, with his pompous attitude, was no better than Silas Lothard. Amanda deserved better than that. She needed a husband who would love her and provide for her needs—someone who would treat their children with love and respect. If Nathan was capable of whipping an innocent boy until he had angry-looking welts on his body, he could do most anything.
The image of that poor child, so vulnerable, being held in place by a person twice his size, not to mention the humiliation of being hit in front of the other children, was enough to make Buck want to beat Nathan to a pulp.
Pulling on the reins to slow the horse, Buck realized what had to be done. “Come on, Dusty, we’re headin’ back!” Buck turned the lathered horse around and rode at a hard gallop.
At Two Feather’s suggestion, Amanda waited inside her lodge, hoping and praying that Buck would return. After some time went by, she decided that she needed to get back to the mission to check on Little Fawn. Although Eliza was there with her, Amanda didn’t like the idea of her daughter waking up and crying for her.
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Amanda was halfway back to the mission, when she spotted Buck’s horse running at full speed. Buck halted Dusty and stepped down, then he secured the horse to a tree.
“Amanda, I need to talk to you.”
“Buck, I have something I need to say.”
They’d spoken at the same time, and Amanda, feeling breathless, smiled and said, “Go ahead.”
“You can’t marry Nathan!” Buck blurted. “He’s not the right man for you.”
“I know that, Buck, and I am not going to marry him. I never made him any promises about marriage.”
“Really?” A look of relief washed over Buck. “He said you had.”
“He wasn’t telling the truth.”
“He’s an evil man,” Buck said, his forehead wrinkling. “I felt this in my heart the day we met, but after seeing what he did to that boy, I knew I was right.”
“I agree. I was fooled by Nathan once, but never again.” Amanda moved closer to Buck, and when she looked up at his face, it was all she could do to keep from throwing herself into his arms. “I’m sorry I ever assumed you had whipped that boy. You’re a better person than that, and I should never have jumped to such a conclusion.”
“I know what it must have looked like, and I forgive you,” Buck said. “I’m glad you realize I could never do such a thing.”
“I do have a question for you.”
“What do you want to know?”
“Nathan said you claimed to be a Christian, and when I asked Two Feathers about it, she said you had asked Jesus into your heart. Is it true?”
He nodded, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “A sense of peace came over me when I did that, and I was finally able to forgive the man who had separated me from my mother. I still don’t like what Silas did, but it doesn’t eat away at my heart anymore.”
Tears welled in Amanda’s eyes. “Oh Buck, I am so glad. Hearing that you have become a Christian is an answer to my prayers.”
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