“How did you find it?” Hannah asked.
“My father. He brought me here,” Bear Claw said. He told her the story of when he had been a boy. And his father had taken him out one morning and shown him the waterfall. He had been excited, and fallen in love. “I come here to think. When I need some time alone,” Bear Claw said.
She saw the vulnerability in him. He acted tough, but this was expected of him as chief. He had a huge responsibility as chief. To protect and care for the hundreds in the clan. It was a heavy burden for one to carry.
“What happened to your parents?” she asked. She didn’t think he would answer her. Not when he kept silent.
“There was a war. Two clans. My father died protecting his people. My mother tried to be strong, but she followed moons later,” Bear Claw said.
There was sadness in his voice, and she held herself from hugging him. It must have hurt him to lost two parents within such a short time.
“My father died when I was a little girl,” Hannah surprised herself by saying. “I barely have any memories of him. He was a big man, with an even bigger laugh. My mother was heartbroken, but she survived, but I had to look out for the both of us. She was like my child,” she added with a laugh. She had played the mother role to her mother. From the moment she became aware of her surroundings, she had cooked, cleaned, and cared for her.
“No one cared for you,” Bear Claw said, staring at her.
He was right. She had always cared for others. First her mother. And when her stepsiblings came into the picture, she cared for them too. She had moved from her home into the wild west because of them as well.
“I am a big girl,” Hannah shrugged. But he sensed the hurt in her words.
She dipped a toe in the water. It was cold. A swim here would give her a cold. She was surprised when he took her hand, leading her to the waterfall. She followed his steps as he jumped on the rocks, leading them further into the running streams of water.
She squealed, wondering if he was crazy as he led her below the water. A chill ran through her body, as she was showered by the water from its source.
“What is—”
Her words stopped as he led them into darkness. There was an opening behind the waterfall. It was completely dark, but somehow, he was able to navigate them through it. He led her to a strange place, and she was supposed to be scared, but she wasn’t. She trusted him, a thought that niggled at her.
There was light at the end of the tunnel, and he turned right. She gasped. Light filtered in from above, through a small opening of nature in the rocks. But what captivated her the most was the small pool in the middle of the room. It was raw and rough surrounded by stones.
“Touch it,” Bear Claw said, relishing in the wonder on her face.
Slowly, she dipped a toe in the water. Her face turned to him with surprise. It was hot. “How?”
“There’s a source, but I have never found it. It heats the rocks, which warms the water,” Bear Claw said. He had tried hard to find the source, scouring through the rocks and mountains, but had not found it. Nature indeed was great in its way of creation.
“This is beautiful,” Hannah whispered. She imagined an old civilization once occupying these parts. Their lives had been simple, but they had this.
“I will leave you. To wash,” Bear Claw said.
“Oh,” her mouth opened in surprise. How had he known that was what she wanted?
It took all of his self-will to leave the bath. He ached to watch her strip. To see her lower her body into the warmth as it wrapped around her. Patience, he told himself, patience.
Hannah counted to ten before she stripped, her eyes on the entrance which seemed to have been carved from the rock. What if he tried to hurt her? They were alone, out here in the middle of nowhere. No one would hear her screams. And he knew this place more than she did. She could always go back to him and demand they return to the camp. But miss this? She had never been in a bath before. The idea of it was one she didn’t want to miss out. This was a lifetime opportunity. She hurried out of her clothes and folded them, keeping them on the ground.
She sighed with relief as her body lowered into the pool. The warmth embraced her, spreading over her body, especially the parts that hurt her the most. She hadn’t realized how much she needed this. There was no soap to wash, but she used her hands, running her fingers through her hair and body. Her eyes closed as she relaxed, enjoying for the first time in a long while.
A noise sprung her eyes open, and her head turned to the entrance. There was a lizard looking about curiously. It was a reminder that it was time to go. She sighed, wishing she could spend more time here. Would he bring her here some other time? Why was she even thinking of some other time? She wouldn’t be here, she reminded herself.
She wore her clothes back, and although they stuck to her skin, she felt better than she before she came here. Leaning against the wall was Bear Claw and they stared at each other.
“Thank you,” Hannah said.
He nodded in response. He took a step towards her and she swallowed. What was he—he touched her wet hair, running his fingers through it, and from the look in his eyes, he liked her hair. He pulled away from her and without saying anything, he led the way back. He wrapped his arms around her when they got to the waterfall, shielding her from the cold torrents. She giggled as the water still got on her, stepping over the rocks on the way to shore.
The ride back to the camp was quiet. But content. Hannah didn’t have words to say. And so did Bear Claw. It was a peaceful calm, but a shift had happened that they would realize later, for the moment spent together had changed something in their relationship.
Bear Claw dropped Hannah in front of the teepee when they returned to the camp, then set off to attend to his duties that he had moved aside to spend time with Hannah. He was grateful for the moment spent with her. He had seen a vulnerable side to her. She was a woman who had given her love and care to others, but had not been rewarded. She was like him. As chief, he held an esteemed position. Some considered him lucky, and that he had certain privileges, but the sacrifices he made, supersedes these privileges. He worked hard to protect his people, putting his life on the line. When they lacked food, he let them eat before him. He always came last in his efforts to ensure that they were hale and hearty. A leader had to sacrifice, and serve others, before being served. The spirits had given him a woman who understood what it was to carry a heavy burden. But now that she was his, she would never lack. He would love her, and give her all that she had never been given. May the spirits help him on his quest, he prayed.
