In the mind speak he said to them, "Hello, my brother and my sister. You are always welcome in my camp. Stay as long as you wish."
And, as he turned his back on the cliff wall behind him, he shut his eyes and was soon asleep.
****
LAYLAH WORE A WHITEdress to signify her innocence. While it was not truly a wedding dress, the gown was yet beautiful and lacy, and therefore was the dress of choice to suit this occasion.
Its material was made of a silky blend of satinet and muslin, with off-the-shoulder lace sleeves and a soft half-dress pelerine that doubled as a short feminine cloak. Because the dress was made of satinet, it created a swishing sound as she paced toward the parlor, where the wedding was to take place. The sound of her dress over the wooden floor helped to calm her nerves, and she was glad of a temporary reprieve.
Would her mother's plan work? It would have been easier, of course, if she could have escaped the fort without the additional trauma of attending a wedding she prayed would not take place.
But, apparently her father had feared she might try to run away from what he thought was her "duty" and had set a sentry at her door to escort her to the parlor and the intended wedding. Although she would have preferred to be open and frank about what was in her heart, it was not possible now. Her father had his reputation to protect, and this included dictating to his daughter what she must do to appease him.
Laylah sighed. She would rather nothaveto pretend she was properly submissive. But, she was glad her mother had predicted this very scenario and had devised her plans to accommodate this adverse turn of events.
With her hand holding on to her mother's arm, Laylah paused before the entrance to the parlor.
"Do not forget my advice," whispered her mother. "You must not stop or turn back once you start running. Rather, you must rush straight to the gate. Millie will be there to ensure the common door within the gate is opened for you, and, once you are outside the gate, Mr. Gray Falcon has consented to help you up to your seat on your mount. Do not be frightened of him, because, until your arm fully heals, you will require assistance with this."
Laylah nodded, the motion so small, it could barely be seen. She watched as her father stepped down the aisle and approached her. Her mother waited a moment only, then turned and paced toward the right side of the room.
Robert McIntosh offered his arm to her, and Laylah placed her hand upon the sleeve of his jacket. She didn't look at him, nor did she speak to him.
It was perhaps a turn of kindness that one of the fort's engagèes had produced a guitar and was strumming the beginning measures of the favored Wedding March. To the beat of the rhythm, her father pulled her down the aisle beside him.
The parlor was a small room, and, as she stepped forward, she took note of several clerks whom she knew personally and by name; these were standing on her left and were the majority of the guests. No Indians were present. On the opposite and right side of the room, she beheld her mother, who held a handkerchief up to her eyes.
There was a definite rhythm to the song, and she found her footsteps were keeping time to the beat, the sound of her low-heeled slippers acting much like the throbbing of a drum.
The veil over her face kept her expression hidden, and she was glad of it, for her emotions were a mix of anxiety, dread and fear.
Looking forward, Laylah beheld the priest, Father Pierre, who was dressed in the traditional black and white. He stood ahead of her, watching her. Then, she took notice of Thomas, who was standing on the priest's right. Amelia was present and had taken her position on the priest's left. Amelia, however, looked worried, and a frown pulled her brows together.
Perhaps there was good reason for Amelia's nervous countenance, since Laylah's escape depended upon the common door in the gate being open. Once Laylah and her father had paced all the way forward, her father patted her hand and stepped away from her, taking his place next to Thomas.
This was a signal for Thomas to come to her side. He did so and, presenting his elbow to her, invited her to put her hand on the sleeve of his coat. She did so.
Was her mother's plan going to work? The only element in the strategy's favor was one of surprise and perhaps the disbelief that the McIntosh women had conspired to allow Laylah to follow the wishes of her heart. Would it work?
Father Pierre opened his book and began to speak, when, without a word, Laylah turned swiftly around and ran as fast as she could from the parlor. Her low-heeled shoes gave her a slight advantage, though it might not be enough, for she could not outrun a man. And, she was limping.
However, the element of surprise seemed to have swept over the small assemblage and no one reacted quickly enough to follow except her mother, who, once the two of them had exited the room, placed two chairs against the parlor's door, effectively locking it for a short time.
"Hurry, Laylah. And, may you and your young man give me many grand babies. Remember, I love you."
"I love you, too," Laylah said between deep breaths. "Goodbye, Mother."
"Goodbye," whispered Molly McIntosh, and then Laylah was gone.
She didn't look back but concentrated instead on reaching the door in the gate, hoping her sister had charmed the men in charge of it into opening it. Any minute now, she felt as if someone might overtake her, and, because of it, her steps became faster and faster as the gate loomed up tall in front of her.
"Hurry, Laylah. Gray Falcon will help to seat you on your pony. May you find happiness with Eagle Heart. You know you take my love with you as you go."
"I know," returned Laylah. "I love you very much, also."
Soon, the door swung inward, allowing a small opening in the gate, and Laylah hurriedly fled through it. As planned, Gray Falcon held the reins of her pony, and, placing them in her free hand, he lifted her up onto her seat on the pony.
With his left hand, he whipped the pony's rear end, setting the animal into motion, and, as she and Honey Sugar rushed away from the fort, Laylah's dress trailed behind her, over the rear end of the pony. Looking back briefly, Laylah thought her trailing dress looked alive, as though it were a kindly spirit come to help her.
