Savage Courage

“The horses that were captured today are beautiful, are they not?” Dancing Willow said, slowly sneaking away from Shoshana while her sister-in-law’s back was to her. Dancing Willow had seen a movement in the grass at the edge of the water.

She smiled devilishly as she realized what it was. A snake!

A snake had come at an opportune time for Dancing Willow. It was going to be very useful to her. She would not give up until she had intilled cold, stark fear within Shoshana’s heart. She wanted Shoshana to long for the sort of life she had known when living as a white woman.

“It was fun,” Shoshana said, her back still to Dancing Willow as she braided her hair. “It was exciting to see several bands of wild horses and how they galloped off with such great speed at our approach. I especially enjoyed that one time the herd headed by that superb black stallion came directly toward us, not halting until it was thirty yards from us. It was so exciting how that black stallion threw up its head, snorted, and regarded us with intense curiosity, then made a quick turn and led its herd away.”

Shoshana was suddenly aware of how quiet Dancing Willow had become. She started to turn to see what Dancing Willow was doing, but didn’t get all the way around before she heard a screech from somewhere above her in the trees and knew that the panther was near. Her heart pounding, her knees weak, Shoshana slowly bent down and picked up her rifle.

Just as she turned to search for the panther, she saw a huge snake slithering toward her. At the same time she spotted the panther right above Dancing Willow on a low limb, ready to pounce.

“Lord,” she gasped, not knowing what to do. Should she save herself from the snake, or Dancing Willow from the panther?

She prayed that the snake wasn’t a poisonous one, for she knew what she had to do. She had to save Dancing Willow from the horrible death awaiting her from the panther.

She trembled as she took steady aim and fired her rifle. At the same moment she heard another gun blast.

The snake leapt as a bullet pierced its body at the same time the panther fell from the tree, dead.

Storm came running to Shoshana.

He dropped his rifle and grabbed her in his arms, while glaring at his sister over Shoshana’s shoulder. Dancing Willow stood there, trembling, with a very uneasy look of guilt in her eyes.

Dancing Willow stepped up to Shoshana just as Storm dropped his arms from around her. He turned to face his sister, his eyes accusing her, but he did not say anything just yet. His sister seemed to want to say something to Shoshana.

“Shoshana, I cannot believe that you chose to kill the panther instead . . . instead . . . of the snake,” she said, her voice trembling. “Especially knowing that the snake could bite you and send its deadly venom into your bloodstream.”

“I couldn’t let the panther kill you,” Shoshana murmured, glancing down at first the snake, and then the panther, which lay only a few feet away.

She was so glad that the young boy long ago had allowed her to use his father’s rifle to practice her marksmanship. Yes, she was proud of the skill that had saved Storm’s sister today.

She turned back to Dancing Willow. “I’m so glad I was able to stop the panther from harming you,” she murmured.

“I will never forget this,” Dancing Willow said. “I . . . I . . . am forever in your debt, and please, oh, please forgive me for what I did.”

Shoshana’s eyes widened in wonder. “Forgive you for what?” she asked, stunned that Dancing Willow suddenly lowered her eyes, seemingly finding it hard to answer Shoshana’s question.

“I will tell you why my sister is filled with guilt,” Storm said thickly. “Shoshana, I came to warn you both that the panther had been sighted. As I approached I saw my sister chasing the snake toward you. At the same time, I saw the panther. I could not believe that my sister could still hold such hate in her heart for you, Shoshana. It is good that Dancing Willow knew that the snake was not a deadly one . . . or I would disown my sister forever.”

Stunned almost speechless, Shoshana gazed at Dancing Willow, whose head was still lowered in disgrace. Despite this show of humility Shoshana still believed she was insincere, for only moments ago hadn’t Dancing Willow talked about the snake’s venom? Although she knew that the snake was not deadly, she still wanted Shoshana to believe it was, while in the next breath, Dancing Willow pretended that she was sorry for what she had done.

Because Storm was so stunned over his sister’s behavior, he had not noticed what his sister had said. But Shoshana would continue to be wary of Dancing Willow’s every move, especially when they were alone.

It stunned Shoshana that Dancing Willow could be so vindictive, could hate her so much, when all that Shoshana had ever done was marry Dancing Willow’s brother.

When Dancing Willow came to Shoshana and embraced her, Shoshana stiffened. She knew that Dancing Willow was embracing her for only one reason . . . to make her brother believe that she was genuinely remorseful for what she had done.

Dancing Willow then stepped away from Shoshana. “I am truly, truly sorry,” she murmured. “I will never do anything against you again, Shoshana. I do thank you, ever so much, for saving my life.” She lowered her eyes, then slowly raised them. “Can you forgive me?”

Shoshana looked over Dancing Willow’s shoulder at Storm and saw the weariness in his eyes . . . the disappointment he felt in his sister. Storm had the weight of the world on his shoulders. They were strong, but they could hold only so much.

She hated doing it, but she twined her arms around Dancing Willow and gave her a gentle hug. “Yes, I forgive you,” she murmured. “Let’s put the past behind us and live for a wonderful tomorrow. Canada. Soon we will leave for Canada.”

Storm came and embraced them both. He whispered “Thank you” in Shoshana’s ear.

She smiled and nodded, then said, “Thank you for killing the snake.”

Storm stepped away from them, a smile on his face where a frown had been only moments ago. “From here on I will expect only good between you two,” he said, then took each by a hand and led them away from the dead panther and snake.