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Neither can the floods drown it.
—KING SOLOMON
Lauralee glanced over at the window. It was growing dusk. She had wanted to leave and go to Paul’s farm before now and break the news to him that she did not wish for him to call on her this evening. She would tell him, then get Dancing Cloud’s horse and take it back to the Petersons’ stable.
But she had felt that Dancing Cloud needed her with him for a while longer. He was driven to get his strength back. He felt a strong need to return to his people, which had to mean that she would also be saying a much earlier goodbye to her aunt and uncle than what she had expected.
Lauralee’s promise that she would look after Nancy in her weakened condition came to her in a flash. A deep feeling of melancholia swept through her knowing that she wouldn’t be able to keep her word to her aunt.
And it was sad that they had been allowed only a brief acquaintance. Had things been different there could have been such a long, lasting, and wonderful relationship between herself and the Petersons.
Lauralee only hoped now that Abner and Nancy would not hate her. It was never her intention to play with their affections.
Fate, her destiny, had changed everything.
“You are in such deep thought,” Dancing Cloud said, shifting his weight on the bed to get more comfortable. His legs ached from the persistent pacing.
And that wasn’t all that he planned to do to heal his body. Tonight he was going to escape from the hospital long enough to go to a small pond that he had seen at the edge of town on his and Lauralee’s arrival to Mattoon. He would seek the healing powers of water, that which was practiced by all Cherokee warriors.
The heroic treatment of the plunge bath in the water healed wounds more quickly than any of the white man’s medicines.
He had not shared this plan of escape with Lauralee knowing that she wouldn’t approve. She would say that it was risking his health by doing it.
In time, everything about the Cherokee would be understood by her, he thought warmly to himself. When she became as one with him as his wife she would by then know most of the customs of his people.
He would gladly teach her.
Something nagged at his consciousness that his father had said to him in the hereafter about marrying Lauralee. But no matter how hard he tried to remember it would not come to him. As each moment passed, things experienced in the afterworld were becoming vague to him.
But never would he forget the happiness of being with his family again.
Never would he forget how blessed he had been to have been granted such an experience.
Whenever he thought about his father no longer being alive, he would recall his father’s smile and his strong body as he stood with his family somewhere high above in the vast realm of the heavens. It made losing his father easier.
“I feel as though I’ve neglected Aunt Nancy,” Lauralee quickly blurted. She couldn’t tell him her true reason for being so quiet and pensive—that another man was on her mind.
She took one of his hands and gently held it. “Darling, would you understand if I went now and spent time with Aunt Nancy?” she murmured. “You see, I feel I owe her so much that I shall never be able to repay.”
Although she was going to spend some time with Nancy, it was not going to be now.
And, oh, how she hated lying to Dancing Cloud.
But this lie was necessary. It was being told to help further along their future, unhampered.
“Go,” Dancing Cloud said, leaning up on an elbow, reaching his lips to hers. “It has been a tiring day. This Cherokee needs some rest.”
Although he did need to rest, it wasn’t going to be at this very moment, he thought to himself. And, oh, how he hated lying to Lauralee.
But he felt that this lie was necessary. It was told to help further along their future, unhampered. The more quickly his body healed, the more quickly he could return to his people.
Lauralee did not know it yet, but he would insist on taking her with him this time when he left Mattoon. The altercation with McCloud had taught him that life could be way shorter than one plans.
“I feel that I should stay to feed you your supper,” Lauralee said, melting inside when he kissed her.
Fighting the need for her, Dancing Cloud eased away from her. “Did you not see me feed myself adequately enough today?” he said, still resting his weight on his one elbow. “I believe I can take care of myself well enough during the evening meal.”
Lauralee’s eyes widened. She couldn’t help but wonder why Dancing Cloud was trying to get rid of her, but she felt it was best not to question him about it. She had things to do. The longer she delayed, the harder it would be to tell Paul her true feelings.
