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"Wos-so mon-nit-to himself has connected you." Burning Tree scolded lightly, for he made exceptions for the breed before him. "It will be done. She will come to you of her own free will. What I do, I do against the traditions of my people, but I do it for my people which makes it right in the eyes of Wos-so mon-nit-to. And you are the son of a Shawnee Chief, it is right that you are the one chosen for such a feat. Your heart is pure, your mind is clear, and your body able, Chase Rivers, and Wos-so mon-nit-to has deemed it so."
Chase smiled indulgently. He loved this old man, and always had. His respect was deep rooted and he knew if it could be done, Burning Tree would do it. But it was times like these that his white side warred with his Indian side. Still, she had come to him in the dream, maybe it wasn't just superstition. And was he already connected? If so, how could he continue to grieve for White Dove, his beloved? It had been a year, and he had held to the custom of grieving even though they had not married. But it felt too soon to put it away. Yet even he knew there was no room for two women in his heart.
"Okay, sure. I'll bring her back, if I can." Chase nodded to the old medicine man. As he stepped out of the wigwam he glanced around the camp. Old women sang for the weak and dying. A great disease had taken its toll on these good people and Chase hated to see it happening. He'd do anything to save them. He loved them and they knew it.
The chief looked at him as he mounted his bay to ride out. There was much pride in his face. He would not tell his only son how proud he was of him, but it shone in his eyes. "Go in peace my son. Wos-so mon-nit-to has spoken."
His white mother came up to him, her eyes shining brightly. "Burning Tree has spoken with you?"
"Yes mother, he has." Chase nodded, looking down into his mother's bright blue eyes. "I'll be back as soon as I can."
"God go with you my son. I only hope he is right. All in the camp respect Burning Tree and even the chief believes what he says. You cannot doubt and succeed. He's had the same vision twice. It cannot be a lie."
"I don't doubt him, mother. I've never doubted his sincerity. I've seen the girl of which he speaks…in my dreams. But the task is risky and much can happen. She lives in Comanche country for one thing. She brings a great sadness within her."
"How can you know all this?" His mother questioned her brow furrowing.
Chase shrugged, "When I see her, I see where she is, who she is, and what she can be. It is part of Burning Tree's plan, so that I may know how to save her. For she is surrounded by much trouble."
"Then it is true. Burning Tree is right. Burning Tree has said he will send special powers to you and to her. That Wos-so mon-nit-to has joined you."
"You believe that?" Chase almost laughed. "Do you believe in the special powers?"
"Your skepticism comes from the white side of you. There was a time you would not have laughed or questioned. It is as you said, you have seen her in your dreams, as Burning Tree put her there," his mother scolded lightly.
Chase's face screwed up into a frown, "This girl knows nothing of her past. It will be hard for her to accept. It will be hard for her to leave her white family."
"Yes, but you will do so under empowerment. I am sure of that." His mother said quietly.
Chase looked down into his mother's beautiful face, "You are more Shawnee than white, mother."
"Yes my son, I am." She smiled. "I have lived with your father too long."
Chase asked in a whisper glancing at the powerful figure of his father standing in the distance, speaking with other tribesmen. "Do you regret the not going back when you had the chance?"
She looked at the chief, and smiled openly, "No. I am happy… Besides, the white man's people would never have accepted me after you were born. And I would not leave you. You are my son and I'm proud to be White Cloud's wife. My white husband would have disowned me, as I knew him well. I knew that. It will be a long time before an Indian and a white can marry and be happy. It will happen many times before it is accepted. It will be a long time before the half-breeds can live in this land without having to choose a side. Someday it will come to pass. But as for me, these are my people now. Even though your father is Indian, he has brought me much happiness. As have you." "So what…of me mother, what am I acceptable with?"
She smiled up into her sons' eyes with great wisdom, "This woman, this girl, is your promised. Burning Tree has said so himself. She will love you…and you…"
"I will never give up White Dove, she was my promised," Chase insisted, unable to understand this giving of the girl.
"Perhaps, but White Dove is dead. And the living cannot lie with the dead. The woman you bring back will be your wife my son, in all ways…and you will want her to be. Don't deny what is rightfully hers."
"It's too soon; I cannot put White Dove away so quickly." Chase frowned.
"It has been a year, and you have mourned her well. But it is time to give her up. And if you don't, then my son, you will live with the dead…" His mother touched his face her frown puckering her forehead. "Have faith in God that he knows what is to happen, even when we do not, my son."
"That I can do. I'll be back…" He winked at her and smiled. Chase looked about one last time, not wanting to linger for he knew his mission was a great one. But the stillness in camp brought his attention. Children didn't play along the creek banks any longer. Old women chanted outside their homes.
Still he had doubts as to how he could accomplish his mission. He was a scout for the army now and there was little time to go traipsing about looking for some girl.
Yet if Burning Tree considered him worthy to find her and bring her back, it was the least he could do for his own people. Despite the fact that he lived among the white people now, his heart was Shawnee and he knew it, just like his mother. Living with the whit
es, he saw things differently. He wondered about his mother's words, and whether this woman, this Katherine was his. She was radiant, as though the real beauty she possessed came from within her. Perhaps it was her spirit he actually saw and not her. That could be. He'd given up believing in the Shamans of long ago, but he did believe in God, and with Him all was possible.
The sun cut itself against the desert floor, bleeding into the horizon, as Chase rode away.
The wood smoke of their campfires filled him as he headed south. South to Texas, where trouble lay waiting. He pondered on the land they called Texas. How men fought and died for her so often. A strange land, even he called home. A land he knew well. He had a hard chore ahead of him. He'd need to outsmart the Comanche, the army and the girl to accomplish such a feat.
