“Gah-wen, no! Do not harm him,” the young brave said, stepping forth. “He killed a water moccasin that was only moments away from biting me or Wild Flower.”
Mariah bit her lower lip to keep herself from crying out as the brave’s hand did not lessen its grip on her wrist. It seemed that Wise Owl and his companions had not heard what the young brave said. They apparently did not think that her having saved the two young lovers was a redeeming act at all. And because of their stubbornness, she was going to lose all of her freedoms again, and perhaps her life.
Yet Mariah could not feel that she had made a wrong decision. She was proud of her act of selflessness, and would do it again if given the choice between her own freedom and the lives of these two beautiful young people.
Wild Flower stepped to the young brave’s side, her eyes downcast as he slipped an arm possessively around her waist. The blush to her cheeks was proof of her embarrassment.
“Wild Flower, you leave your bed before your mother and father and come and meet Brown Bear by the river? You were so caught up in each other you did not see the snake approaching you? What were you doing, daughter? Better it not be that you went further than holding hands!” Wise Owl grumbled, stepping up to his daughter, lifting her chin with a forefinger, so that her eyes were forced to meet the anger in his. “My daughter, you shame yourself by such actions. Go. Return to our dwelling. Do not leave again until you have my permission!”
Sobbing, Wild Flower turned with a jerk away from her father, and without casting her lover a glance, ran toward the village.
Wise Owl stepped up to Brown Bear. “It would be simple to banish you from our tribe for what you have done,” he said blandly. “But you have proved more than once that you are a young brave with much promise. And so shall you also be a good husband. You will marry my daughter. Soon.”
“This I do with much pride,” Brown Bear said, lifting his chin boldly. Then he glanced over at Mariah. “And what of the young lad? In my eyes, he is a hero, and should be treated as such.”
Wise Owl went to Mariah and stood over her, glaring down. “Release your hold on this lad,” he ordered his brave. Then he stood there a moment longer, as though contemplating her fate.
Mariah went almost limp with relief when he suddenly smiled at her and clasped a friendly, gentle hand on her shoulder.
“I will forget that you did this act of bravery in the midst of escaping from our village of Chippewa,” Wise Owl said. “It would have been easy for you to have gone on your way, with only thoughts of self. Instead, your thoughts and deeds were for someone else. My daughter and her future husband! And because of this I shall encourage Chief Silver Wing to give you your freedom.” He nodded. “But you will not leave our village before I offer you clean clothes, a bath, and much food.”
Mariah’s heart thrilled at the thought of having become an instant friend of this powerful Chippewa brave. It seemed that he had much influence with Chief Silver Wing.
Yes, she would soon be free. Then she would ride with haste to Fort Snelling.
She regretted with all of her heart that she had been sidetracked so long. The wounded, ailing Indians from Echohawk’s village had needed assistance immediately. Some had perhaps even died because of her inability to get help sooner than this.
But she knew that she could not act too hastily in wanting to leave these Indians. Again they might get suspicious of her. And she was not free to confide in them about why she was so desperately eager to get to Fort Snelling. They must never know her part in the massacre. Too soon their trust of her would be cast into the wind.
“Brown Bear, take the white boy back to the wigwam that he escaped from,” Wise Owl said. “I will talk to Chief Silver Wing. He will also see the lad as someone who is a friend, not a foe.” Wise Owl moved to Mariah and gazed down at her. “Soon you will be free to go wherever you choose to go. If you need an escort, even that will be arranged.”
“Thank you for everything,” Mariah said, her voice low, trying to sound boyish. “I appreciate everything that you are doing for me.” Seeing so much kindness in these Indians made her guilt twofold for having been forced to be a part of the raid against others of their same race. Oh, but if they should ever discover this truth, how quickly their attitude about her would change! As quickly as she had become their friend, she would again be their enemy.
“Come,” Brown Bear said, nodding to Mariah. “I am indebted to you. How can I ever repay you?”
“It’s not necessary,” Mariah said, falling into step next to him. “That I am being looked to as a friend is all that is important to me.” She smiled at him. “And I was glad to be able to save you and your beautiful friend from that horrid snake. Water moccasins are deadly. Your death would have been instant.”
“Ay-uh, yes, instant,” Brown Bear said, his smile fading. Then he looked quickly over at Mariah, his eyes dancing. “I shall give you my most prized bow. My grandfather made it for me. While you carry it into the hunt, my grandfather’s spirit will be with you, always.”
Mariah smiled weakly over at him. “Truly, you don’t need to give me anything,” she murmured. “Especially not something that has so much meaning to you. All I want is to be able to go on my way. Soon.”
“As Wise Owl said, first you must accept clean clothes, a bath, and food,” Brown Bear said, guiding her on into the village and toward the wigwam in which she had been imprisoned. “This is expected of you, white boy. You must accept our gifts graciously, or look to my people as though you see our ways as beneath you.”
Mariah swallowed hard, not wanting to do anything to upset the Indians now that she had gained a foothold with them. “I appreciate all of your people’s kindnesses,” she said, glad to see Nee-kah waiting for her at the doorway of the small wigwam.
“I heard of your heroism,” Nee-kah said, rushing toward Mariah. She took Mariah’s hand and led her into the small dwelling. “I have been assigned many duties these past several days,” she giggled. “You are now one of them.”
Mariah looked down at a basin of water, then over at a clean fringed outfit of breeches and shirt, and then at the food awaiting her beside the fire. It was a feast. There were fish, broth, rice with maple sugar, and dried berries.
“First I bathe you,” Nee-kah said, her hands eager on Mariah’s heavy jacket, already removing it.
Mariah panicked, knowing that if she did not stop Nee-kah, her secret would soon be revealed. And she did not see that as wise. She now had the Indians’ trust. Should they see her deceit, then what?
“I can undress and bathe myself,” Mariah said, gently easing Nee-kah away from her. “You can go on to your other duties. Your husband seemed angry at you last night for having neglected someone who was in need of your care. Perhaps that is where you should be, even now. We don’t want your husband getting mad at you again.”
“My husband sent me here,” Nee-kah said, shrugging. “And as for Echohawk, I have seen to his head wound and fever already today. I have even bathed him with herb water to help get his temperature down. And even after all of this, all he does is sleep.” She slipped Mariah’s shirt over her shoulders. “Now, just stand still. I think it is time that mud is washed off your face so that I can see the true features of my friend.”
Mariah was in a stunned state from having heard Nee-kah mention Echohawk’s name, and that he was here, only a few dwellings away.