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He looked heavenward. He knew that his father was there now, in spirit, looking over him and giving Eagle Wolf the strength and courage that it would take for him to return to his people a well man.
“And so I shall,” he whispered as he began his descent.
He passed through a lovely forest of juniper, spruce and cedar trees, where the air was filled with birdsong. He could hear small animals scampering away from his horse’s approach. He observed the creatures of the forest, trying to focus on something besides the sense of loss that filled him with such a deep, hurtful sadness.
He smiled as he looked slowly around him, thinking as he had many times before that Mother Nature had blessed this mountain and all of the land below that lay in its shadow.
It was a place where he sometimes saw antelope peacefully grazing. His favorite animal was the white-tailed deer; the most feared were the bears and cougars.
The beauty of this land and its animals never ceased to take his breath away, for each creature had its place in the order of things. Even the slinking wolf could be seen as beautiful by a man filled with the love of nature.
He had found a wounded wolf one day not long ago while he was riding along the mountain pass. It was apparent that it had fought a fierce battle with an enemy. It had a large, raw wound on its right side, yet the wolf had apparently managed to escape the final death blow from its attacker.
Loving all animals, especially one that had proven to be so valiant as this wolf, Eagle Wolf had stopped his horse and dismounted. He had searched out and found a forest plant that his father had taught him was used for healing.
Eagle Wolf had torn the plant into tiny pieces and sprinkled the herb onto the wolf’s open wound.
At first the wolf had snarled and bared its teeth at Eagle Wolf, but after he had spoken softly to it, the animal had stretched out and allowed Eagle Wolf to minister to its wounds.
Since then, Eagle Wolf believed that he had seen that same wolf from time to time, disappearing into the dark shadows of the forest as Eagle Wolf approached on his horse.
On those occasions, Eagle Wolf had felt the animal’s yellow eyes on him, watching from its hiding place. Eagle Wolf could only smile, for he believed that the animal recognized him and saw him as a friend.
As he rode along now, Eagle Wolf searched the darkest shadows, wondering if that same wolf could be nearby?
Eagle Wolf had reached the lower part of the pass, and he was feeling dizzy from the fever. He knew that he could not go much farther. He needed to stop and rest.
He needed to find water so that he could bathe his face. He needed to recover so he could return to his people. There were many dangers still facing them.
His thoughts returned to the white government. The cavalry in charge at Fort Sumner had forced many Navaho people onto the reservation. But under Chief Eagle Wolf’s leadership, the Owl Clan had escaped to this remote, high mountain.
His father had told him some winters ago that the mountain had special powers, powers that would serve their people well. His father had told Eagle Wolf that the mountain would work as a protective shield if ever they needed to seek sanctuary there. Hidden within its canyons, the clan would never be found by the white eyes. The spirits of the mountain would not allow it.
After his father’s death, Eagle Wolf had led their people up this mountain, where they had established new homes in the deep slash of a canyon.
He and his people met often in their council house. There they offered prayers to the mountain, asking the spirits to keep them all safe.
Thus far, the mountain had continued to bless them. Except for this disease that the white man had passed to his people, the Owl Clan had remained safe.
Their hunts were always bountiful and their gardens provided vegetables for their cook pots.
Ho, except for the disease that Eagle Wolf was carrying away from his people, life had been good for the Owl Clan in the place they named Navaho Mountain.
“It will be our home, always, whether or not I am there to experience its goodness myself,” Eagle Wolf whispered to himself.
But for now he must find a place to stay where he could battle this disease alone and away from those he loved.
He gazed into the blue sky and prayed again for his body to heal.
Chapter Two
The stagecoach rumbled onward, sending dust through the window to the interior, where Nicole Tyler sat with seven other passengers, squeezed in like sa
rdines in a can. She tried to focus on anything but how uncomfortable and hot she was, yet it was hard. It was autumn, when the days could turn from cold to hot in the blink of an eye.
Today was one of the most uncomfortable, hottest autumn days that Nicole could recall. It was torment sharing the tiny space of the coach with so many people.
As they sat squeezed together, inhaling each other’s body aromas, Nicole squirmed uncomfortably on the hard seat.
