After what seemed like a very long time, she rose, brushing tears off her cheeks. A few other people stood still with bowed heads, but most had wandered off to continue the evening’s activities.
Soonie looked for Molly, but instead her eyes fell on Lone Warrior, sitting under the same tree where Brother Jenkins had been that first Sunday. The firelight gleamed on his twin buffalo horns. He raised an eyebrow when their eyes met.
Has he been watching me? Not that she felt embarrassed, she never cared about what other people thought of her worship practices.
Removing a few twigs from her skirt, she picked up a bowl of soup and went over to him, all the time wondering what drew her there. Why would I offer myself up for more ridicule? But she couldn’t stop her mouth from opening. “I thought you might be hungry.” The cup of soup was suddenly burning her fingers as she held it out to him.
“Thank you.” He took it, but did not eat, just stared at the food as though he didn’t know what it was.
“I enjoyed watching the dance. I’ve never seen anything like it before. So beautiful,” she said.
“I’m surprised you would think so.” His mouth was set in its normal hard line.
“Lone Warrior, I want to be here. I love to learn about both the Comanche and Kiowa cultures. This has been a most wonderful time in my life. Sometimes I believe . . . I may never return to Bastrop.”
What force compels me to hold out my heart, when it could be so easily destroyed?
The Kiowa man raised a filled spoon a few inches, but let the liquid dribble back into the bowl. A silence fell between them, the weight of things left unsaid heavy and dark.
Finally, he dropped the spoon back into the broth. “You say you wish to be like us. Look at you! Led by what you believe to be proper.” His hand holding the bowl shook. “Could you ever understand our ways? The Comanche part of you is like poison to the whites. The white side of you will never find trust in this place.”
“I thought things had changed with us. You saved my life.” The lumps in her throat were turning to words and she wanted to reach out and snatch them back as they tumbled out.
For an instant, a wistful light crept into his eyes. Then once more, his features hardened, like clay in an oven. He rose to his feet, and stared down at her. “I’ve seen you talk to the preacher. He thinks we are animals. You will join him, I think. I thought you were a spy, but now I understand what you really want. You came to make us like them.”
He poured the soup out on the ground and stalked away.
Soonie had never seen anyone in the camp waste food. The puddle of liquid shimmered on the dirt, and then soaked in, leaving only a damp spot with a few potatoes and chunks of meat creating their own tiny islands.
Her feet dug into the sand, and then found the solid rock as she stumbled away from the settlement and out towards the corral.
Most of the horses were gathered in the corner, huddled together for warmth in the brisk evening air.
Stone Brother broke away from the herd and trotted toward her. He whinnied loudly
and nodded his head. His tongue inched out to taste the salty tears pouring down her cheeks.
She turned her face away. “Oh Stone Brother, what will I do? Perhaps I don’t belong here. But I can’t go home. The children are learning so much. They need me. I can’t leave, but how can I stay?” She dropped her voice to a whisper. “He’s here. And he hates me so much!”
Stone Brother snorted and rolled his eyes.
“I know, I shouldn’t even be thinking about him. He cares so little for his own life and safety. He risks his mind to take the Peyote. If only he could move past these things . . . he could be a great man.”
Then a thought blindsided her with such force she almost sank to her knees. Lone Warrior is right. I AM trying to change him.
“Soonie, do you trust me?” A voice came, clear and bright in her mind, and she knew God was speaking to her. “Give the matter over to me. You know I am the only one who can save Lone Warrior. I created him, and I love him.”
“Oh God, you love him even more than I do.” Her breath caught in her throat. I love him. Tears fell faster now, sliding down to pool into her shawl until the fabric was drenched.
The huge tongue flicked close to her face, and she pushed away the golden muzzle. “Stop trying to lick me, you silly horse.” She straightened up and laughed shakily. All right, I’ve had my cry. I will trust God to take care of this. There’s nothing else to do.
Peace flooded through her heart, and she felt lighter, the way she always did when she finally gave things over to her Father.
A lantern bobbed towards her. “Soonie, what on earth are you doing out here, with only the moonlight?” Molly blinked when she saw her tears. “Oh, you must miss your home and family. Two months is a long time to be away.”
Soonie didn’t bother to try to correct her. Father, please help me get through this. All I’m doing is hurting myself. She shook her head at her own absurdity as they walked back towards home.
14 Journey to Town
Red dust puffed around Stone Brother’s hooves and settled on his sides to mix with sweat, turning his white splotches a dull, rust color. For the first time in her life, Soonie wished for a proper carriage. Closed in, with curtains over the windows. I’m going to be filthy by the time we reach the town to meet Doctor Early, with nothing to change into and nowhere to wash.
Leaves scampered across the path, and Soonie shivered. The air had grown colder during the morning. Fall had finally settled in.
Molly began a trail song, probably written by some lonely cowboy on a starry night.
Roll on, roll on;
Roll on, little dogies, roll on, roll on,
Soonie and Uncle Isak joined in.
Roll on, roll on;
Roll on, little dogies, roll on, roll on
They sang until Brother Jenkins pulled up his horse and turned around in the saddle. “It’s not proper to sing songs unless they are directed to the Almighty.”
The impromptu choir fell silent. Molly leaned toward Soonie. “Where in the Bible did he read that?” she murmured.
Soonie shrugged.
Molly and Soonie both wore calico dresses and straw bonnets. Uncle Isak had also donned a homespun jacket and trousers, and his long braids were hidden under his hat, like on their first trip.
They had traveled since the sun rose, and it followed them across the plains. The road led them through bluffs and hills, and then would flatten out for miles, the horizon only interrupted by clumps of brush and mesquite.
When Captain Wilkerson had been told of Brother Jenkins’s plans, he’d granted them permission to go, but also gave a warning. “Try not to draw attention to yourselves. If people know you’re with Brother Jenkins, they’ll probably think he brought you along to help with mission work and not give you a second glance. But better to be safe than to end up back at Fort Sill, or in prison.”
Brother Jenkins slowed his horse until Stone Brother caught up with him.
Soonie reluctantly matched her pace to his. I’d better try to be nice. After all, the man did change his schedule to accompany us to this meeting. “Thank you for agreeing to help Molly. She’s been so excited to meet with Doctor Early.”
Brother Jenkins shrugged. “I’ve never stopped at this town. Even the tiny border villages need the Lord, and I might as well preach a sermon or two where I’m able. I have to say, Molly is a bright little thing. She could pick up some skills for the settlement folks. It sounds like she’s already been a great help to the sick and injured.”
Maybe he really does care about improving the people’s situation. “Molly does have a gift for healing,” Soonie said. “My foot wouldn’t have mended nearly as well if it weren’t for her care.”
At last, buildings appeared on the road’s sides. First one or two, and then several clustered together. Some sagged with age, while a few glowed with new coats of whitewash.
Brother Jenkins turn
ed to Molly, Soonie and Uncle Isak. “Like Captain Williams said, folks probably won’t pay you any mind as long as you’re with me.” He puffed out his chest a little. “This white collar’s almost as good as a sheriff’s badge.”
“We certainly won’t be running off on our own.” With her half-Swedish heritage and her dress and bonnet, Soonie knew she probably wouldn’t have any trouble.
Molly’s hands trembled slightly, and she stared down at the reins.
Soonie patted her shoulder. “Don’t worry. We walk with God. He will protect us.”
“I know.” Molly looked up quickly. “I’ll try not to be afraid. I’m so excited to meet Dr. Early, I can barely stay in my saddle.”
The street grew wider, and the buildings more orderly. They passed a butcher’s shop. Offerings in the window looked less than fresh and buzzed with flies. Several old men sitting on wooden boxes and barrels outside the general store nodded to them as they rode past.
“This is the only town in the area with a shop like that, besides the one where your slates are coming from,” said Uncle Isak. “And I’ve heard it’s the only town for fifty miles with a saloon.”
He gestured to a false-fronted building painted in garish colors. Two women stood outside.
Molly’s mouth fell open. “They’re only wearing underclothes!” she gasped.
Soonie’s cheeks warmed. Though Bastrop had a saloon, ‘loose women’ were not allowed to stand around where they could be seen.
She nudged Molly. “Come on, we don’t want to be left out in the street alone.” But she couldn’t help glancing back at the women. One smiled brazenly, but her eyes were red and black shadows lay beneath them.
“May God have mercy on their sinful souls,” Brother Jenkins murmured.
He pointed to a square, gray building across the street. It bore a sign with the words ‘Town Hall’ scrawled across it in shaky letters. “Doctor Early told me she’d be running her clinic there. She’ll be ready to meet with you ladies around noon.” He pulled his pocket watch from his vest. “That’ll be about an hour from now.”
The group followed the pastor to a hitching post, where they dismounted and tied up their horses. The beasts lowered tired heads into the public troughs, guzzling the water greedily.
Soonie stamped her feet to get the pins and needles out. She peered down into the water, trying to pat her hair back into order beneath her straw bonnet.
“Don’t be silly. The doctor knows we’ve just finished half a day’s ride.” Molly chided her.
“Still . . . oh, what’s the use.” Soonie turned away from the trough and followed the rest of the group.
Brother Jenkins led them to the building, where several patients lined the wall. An elderly man leaned on a cane. A Mexican woman carrying a baby had two little girls clutching her skirts, and two other women who were obviously ‘in a family way’ as Grandma would say, stood at the end of the porch.
The little girls, both with tangled hair and stained, torn dresses, stared out at Soonie from their fabric refuge.
“I trust you ladies will be all right here for a while?” Brother Jenkins said. “Isak and I are going to find the place where we’re supposed to stay the night. The school master here is a benefactor for my fellowship and he’s allowing us to sleep in the schoolhouse.”
“I’m sure we’ll be fine,” Soonie replied.
Molly found a wooden crate and settled down, arranging her voluminous skirts around her. “I've never worn a dress with this much fabric before. What a waste! I could make a whole other gown with this.”
Wonder how she would feel about the green velvet dress I wore to the holiday dance last year. Pretty as that outfit had been, Soonie hated how constricted and bundled it made her feel. Even the simple gown she wore today felt tight and strange compared to the light, loose-fitting Comanche-style clothes she had become accustomed to.
The baby was asleep now. The two little girls sat on the faded porch steps, playing a game with sticks.
The door opened and a man stepped out, broad-brimmed hat in hand. “Thank you kindly, Doctor Early.”
A short woman in a crisp white apron came behind him. Her cheeks were red and round with smiles, and her sharp, intelligent eyes softened when she spoke. “Don't you be chasing those cows any more, Mr. Hollister. You let those strapping sons of yours do the heavy work, you hear?”
Mr. Hollister grinned and gestured with a bandaged hand. “A farmer’s work ain’t over till he’s dead.” His boots clattered on the wooden floor as he left.
The elderly man rose to his feet and shuffled over to the door. Doctor Early peered down the line and caught Soonie’s eye. “You must be the girls who came to speak with me today. I hoped you could make the trip. I’ll be finished with these folks in about thirty minutes if you don't mind waiting.”
“Not at all,” Soonie replied.
Doctor Early gestured to the woman with the baby, who called to the little girls. They all disappeared inside the building.
Molly gripped the sides of her box. “I can’t believe we’re here!” she whispered to Soonie. “She looks so ... so capable. Doesn’t she look capable, Soonie?”
“Yes, she does.” Soonie couldn't help but share Molly’s excitement. But how could Doctor Early possibly help a Comanche girl realize her dream?
“I could help our people so much more if I could only receive the proper training.” Molly twisted a bonnet string around her finger.
Soonie glanced at the closed door. Perhaps, miraculously, Doctor Early would have an answer.
The noon sun blazed over the small town before the last patient came out of the battered white door.
“Indian summer,” Grandpa always called late warm spells, though he'd never explained where the term had come from.
Grandpa. Soonie’s thoughts drifted to home and she pulled out a letter from she’d received earlier in the week. It had come in a packet Uncle Isak had picked up at the fort, only the second time Soonie had heard from home in almost three months. The letter was already creased and smudged from many readings.
Dear Soonie,
Remember the old rope swing hanging over the gully in the woods? Even as proper young ladies we would climb on it and swing out over the open space. I suppose those days are behind me now, as I grow ever rounder. The other day, while I was making corn bread, I burst into tears. Wylder came over to ask me what was wrong, and I couldn’t give him a reason. I feel like everything is changing so quickly. And sometimes I’m afraid. What if something goes wrong, like what happened to Mama?
Grandma Louise told me later that women in my condition often became sad for no reason at all. Isn’t that strange, Soonie? I don’t remember my mother acting sad when she was expecting Orrie. But Wylder was so loving about it. He’s so happy, Soonie. Even happier than he was on our wedding day.
Soonie folded the letter and placed it back in her handbag. Wylder and Zillia were the happiest young couple she had ever known. She smiled. I had a feeling they’d be perfect for each other. Took them long enough to figure it out.
Lone Warrior and his friends had left last week to hunt in the deserted hills, despite Brave Storm’s fear that the trappers could still return with reinforcements. She hadn't seen Lone Warrior since the night of the fire dance.
She thought of that look on his face, the one where the corners of his mouth turned up ever so slightly. At first she thought it was a self-satisfied smirk, but now she knew better. She'd seen him give the same smile to Timothy when he was especially proud of something the boy had done, and to Brave Storm, during rare moments when they were at peace. He’d given her this expression of fondness twice now. When she’d helped him during the race, and again that night on the ridge when she’d touched his hand.
Must I think about this again? He’s convinced I care for Brother Jenkins, and nothing could be further from the truth. She covered her face with her fingers. How can I show him? How can I make him see?
The door creaked open
, interrupting her thoughts. Once more, Doctor Early emerged from the building, wiping her hands with a cloth. “Well, girls, shall we find a shady place? The town provides my lunch, and there’s plenty to share.” She reached behind the door and picked up a basket, which she held out invitingly.
“Sounds wonderful.” Soonie’s stomach grumbled in response to the tantalizing smell of fresh bread and baked ham coming from the basket. After the settlement’s meager rations, they would have a feast.
The two girls followed the older woman to a patch of grass beneath a tree.
Doctor Early spread out a blanket and began to arrange food on the cloth. “I always eat outside when I come here. The clinic room gets so hot by this time and the saloon is the only place to purchase a meal. Not a proper establishment for ladies at all, even us wild ones.” She winked at Soonie and Molly.
“Now, girls,” she lowered her voice. “Brother Jenkins has not given me details about where you come from, but I figure you have journeyed a long, dangerous path to meet me. I’m interested to hear what you have to say.”
Molly finally spoke. “Could you first please tell us a little bit about yourself? I’ve never heard of a woman becoming a doctor, and I wonder why you chose to come to Fort Sill.”
“It would be my pleasure.” Doctor Early settled on the corner of the blanket. “This weather is pretty warm for October, isn't it?" She fanned herself with her apron. “Of course, I was born and raised in Connecticut, and we might have had snow by now.”
“How long have you been in Oklahoma?” Molly asked.
"Let’s see.” The doctor pursed her lips. “I received a doctor’s certificate in the year of 1882. Then I worked in the slums of New York among the poorest of the poor for a long time.” The doctor chuckled. “I once had a gentleman pay me a single postage stamp for delivering his wife's child.”
The Comanche Girl's Prayer, Texas Women of Spirit Book 2 Page 10