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Then knowing how painful it would be, but seeing it as necessary, he dove downward into the water and swam beneath the surface for a while.
Then he bobbed to the surface again and began taking his powerful strokes. He swam from one side of the pond to the other, the pain intense with each and every movement.
Thoughts of his father stayed with him as he swam, as though his father were there, taking each stroke and bearing the pain with him.
His thoughts shifted to his time in the spirit world where he had been with his beloved family. He thanked Wah-kon-tah again for that opportunity.
His thoughts then strayed to his mountain home where his people awaited him and his leadership. There was no time for mourning the death of his father yet. When he returned and was among his people they could gather around him and mourn with him.
Now he must focus on getting well and on being able to make the long journey to his home. He understood that it might take several more days.
He would also spend time loving Lauralee so that leaving her newfound family would not be so painful for her.
He could see it in her eyes every time she spoke of leaving them that it was not going to be an easy task for her.
He would see to it that he would help his o-ge-ye get her through all of her sorrows and misgivings about leaving the Petersons.
He would make every wrong right for her!
The sound of an approaching horse and buggy on the small dirt lane that led to the farmhouse made Dancing Cloud swim quickly to the side closest to the farmhouse. He placed his feet on the graveled bottom of the pond. He stooped over and huddled close to the land, hoping that whoever was arriving in the horse and buggy had not caught sight of him swimming beneath the light of the moon.
His heart thudded wildly within his chest as he waited for the horse and buggy to stop. When it finally came to a halt, he listened for footsteps, and then voices as the visitor was met on the small porch of the farmhouse.
His eyebrows forked when he thought he recognized the soft voice of the woman.
“Lauralee?” he whispered, straightening his back in order to see over the embankment toward the house.
He could see the outline of a woman standing in the shadows, but he could not see the face.
He listened more intensely, the breeze only occasionally wafting the woman’s soft voice his way.
Still he could not be sure.
And if it was Lauralee?
What did it mean except that she had made acquaintance with perhaps some of the Petersons’ friends?
He hunkered low again when he heard the voices get somewhat louder.
Were they coming to the pond?
No.
It seemed that they might be arguing about something.
Then the voices got softer again.
Only the man was speaking.
The woman had gone quiet.
“Did I not tell you that I would bring Dancing Cloud’s horse to you tonight?” Paul demanded again. “I thought that we were going to spend some time together, talking.”
“I’ve thought things over, Paul,” Lauralee said, nervously and tensely clasping and unclasping her hands behind her. “I will be leaving Mattoon soon. I . . . will . . . be marrying another man.”
“You’ll what?” Paul said in an almost shout.
Frustrated, he raked his long, lean fingers through his golden hair. “You only arrived at the Petersons’,” he said, his voice drawn. “You will leave again, so soon? Do you not enjoy their company? Is mine so unbearable? How could you be considering marriage?”
