Wild Embrace

She looked anxiously at Strong Heart, wondering if he had noticed the snowflake. She also wondered what the chances were that a snowstorm might come from those clouds overhead. Mount Rainier already had a coat of snow enwrapping its great peak. This was her first winter in the Pacific Northwest. She had cause to fear the fierceness of the winds, the dangers of the snows, and the long days and nights of isolation when she would be confined to the longhouse.

But that latter thought made her relax from her worries. Not only would she be isolated in the longhouse, so would her husband. They knew ways to pass the long hours. It gave her a thrill even now to think about how those hours would be spent.

Then her thoughts returned to their journey and where Strong Heart was guiding his canoe. Her heart seemed to leap into her throat and her eyes grew wide as she watched the canoe sliding through the water in the shadow of a sheer cliff, gnarled cedars clinging to its sides, close to the land that was owned by her father. The reason she had not recognized it earlier was because the house was no longer there.

When they passed the high hill that had once been dominated by the old mansion, Strong Heart began drawing his canoe even more closely to the shore. She quickly saw the pier where her father had moored his ship, and on that pier stood her parents.

“Mama?” Elizabeth gasped, sitting forward on the seat. “Papa?”

She could not hold back her questions any longer. She tossed aside the bearskin on her lap, and in her long robe of rabbit fur went and squeezed herself between Strong Heart and the brave sitting next to him, and sat down. “Why are my parents there on the pier as if waiting for us?” she asked, her words tumbling out in a rush. “Strong Heart, please tell me what is happening. It isn’t fair that I am the only one who does not know!”

“Ah-hah, it is time that you should be told,” Strong Heart said, turning a smiling face toward her. He paused from his paddling. The others rowed the canoe to shore.

“My la-daila, soon the hallowed ground of my people will be returned to us,” he said feelingly. “Your father has given it back to us. After today, the ancestral burial grounds will not be disturbed by the presence of white men any longer.”

He frowned at the towering, grotesque fence. “My people have come to witness the removal of the fence that glares like an enemy, standing for everything bad to the Suquamish.” He looked over his shoulder at the canoes following close behind his. “In its place will be erected a massive totem pole, which will stand guard over the land that houses many Suquamish spirits!”

Elizabeth’s lips parted with a slight gasp, everything he said flowing like a stream of sunlight into her, warming her through and through. “My father is doing this thing for you?” she finally said.

She turned her eyes to her father who was wrapped in a long robe of elk skin, beside her mother who was as warm in her own white rabbit fur coat.

Elizabeth cast Strong Heart another quick glance, knowing that the robes her parents wore had to be gifts from him, for they were identical to those that Strong Heart and Elizabeth wore. It was a wonderful thing—this amity that had grown between her husband and her parents. It could have been just the opposite—unbearable—and something that would have strained her marriage to Strong Heart.

But now everything was perfect. She prayed that it would continue to be this way. She decided to accept things as they were now and count herself blessed.

After the canoe was moored and Strong Heart helped Elizabeth from it, she ran to her mother and embraced her, then turned to her father.

Her eyes filmed with tears as she hugged him. “Papa, thank you for what you are doing today,” she said. She stepped away, yet held his gloved hands within hers. “Surely no one has ever been so generous. Especially now that you are poor. You could have sold the land for a profit. Instead, you are giving it to the Suquamish. Thank you. Oh, thank you.”

“Yes, it seems that when I was searching to find a way to gather up enough money to pay your way out of the prison I forgot about what I could have got from the land, and only sold my ship,” he said, chuckling. “It is good that I had that lapse of memory, baby, for it’s doing your father’s old heart good to see the beaming faces of these people whom you have joined.” He cleared his throat nervously. “I . . . I . . . only wish that I had never gone to their village in the first place. If I hadn’t, Morris Murdoch would have seen no need to do what he did, to cause Strong Heart’s people such pain.”

Marilyn stepped close to Earl. She placed her arm around his waist. “Darling Earl, that’s in the past,” she said softly. “Let us look now to the future. It will be as if our past never was. We are blessed, Earl, to be given this second

chance. Let’s not have any regrets, and spoil what should be a joyful day for everyone.”

Earl dropped Elizabeth’s hands and turned to his wife, giving her a soft kiss on the lips. Elizabeth watched them, glorying in the moment, then turned and watched the Suquamish make their way up the steep path, the braves carrying thick, heavy ropes. Others were toting a large totem pole, the designs carved into it bright and threatening. She had not noticed this pole earlier, for the canoe carrying it had stayed far behind the others.

Chief Moon Elk and Pretty Nose came to Elizabeth and her parents. After embracing one another, they all began ascending the steep path. Proud Beaver was assisted by two braves, his staff held proudly in one hand.

After they all reached the summit, they stood back in silence as the ropes were placed around the sharp pikes of the fence, and in one yank, the fence was toppled to the ground with a loud crash.

Many shouts and cheers rose into the air. The upturned faces were touched by the snowflakes that were falling thickly from the gray sky overhead. Elizabeth no longer feared the snow, for she saw that it had a purpose today. It was beautifying this land that had been dirtied so long ago by the first white man who had walked on the soil of the Suquamish ancestral burial grounds. It was covering the black ash remains of the house, and the destroyed fishery below.

Yes, it did seem a new beginning for these people, and Elizabeth was glad that she was able to be a part of it. What tales she and Strong Heart could tell their children!

Suddenly she felt nausea rising through her, threatening to spoil everything. She placed her hands over her stomach to steady it and smiled. She had been experiencing these feelings the past several days, and she understood why. She most definitely understood what missing a monthly flow meant. And she had missed hers! If everything stayed as sweet as now, she would be giving birth to Strong Heart’s child before their next autumn salmon run.

“And what do you think of my surprise?” Strong Heart said, coming to Elizabeth with a broad smile.

She smiled impishly up at him, wondering what he would think about hers?

When Proud Beaver stepped into view, held on both sides by braves to steady him, Elizabeth forgot her surprise. It was so touching to see the elderly Indian watch the raising of the totem pole. He had achieved his goal, and even more, it seemed. His noble old face held great dignity, and his fading eyes were now able to watch for the last flickering of life’s sunset in peace.

“I’m very pleased,” she finally said, gulping back a sob. “So very pleased, Strong Heart.”

“I knew that you would be,” Strong Heart said, squaring his shoulders proudly. He circled an arm around her waist and drew her close beside him. Then he smiled a silent thank you to Earl as Earl turned his gaze his way.

Earl returned the smile.