CHAPTER NINETEEN
Amelia wiped her brow once, then again. The sun had climbed high in the sky as the council of three men, four women and one child assembled together. The temperature was excessive, and, with the sun shining high above them, the day was becoming as hot as only a blistering day in August could be.
Turning her face toward the waterfall, Amelia let the droplets of the glacier-fed water provide her with a little reprieve from the heat. Being situated so high up on a cliff, there was a constant breeze blowing past them, although the wind was a hot one. But, now and again it brought a cooling droplet or two of mist into their council.
Around them sat a crude shelter, the same one Gray Falcon and Strikes Fast had constructed a few days previously. Its walls had been repositioned so it sat widely open, and, because the tiny lodge's sides had been hastily constructed of tree branches and bushes, the waterfall's constant, cooling spray brought a welcome relief now and again.
Eagle Heart, being the elder of the three men, had already begun their council, which started with passing the pipe to all present—Amelia and the other women, as well as his son, being included. It was possible, however, that Sharon might not be able to understand what was being said, because no one was speaking aloud, the council being held completely with the Plains sign language.
The constant clamor from the waterfall hitting the rocks supplied the atmosphere with a deep, earthy tone and a slow rhythm. Indeed, the natural sounds were soothing to her soul, and Amelia felt herself relax for the first time since the day when she had decided she would follow Gray Falcon.
Glancing toward Sharon, Amelia saw the distracted expression upon her countenance. But, it didn't matter. Later, Amelia would tell her friend what had been talked about and what had been decided.
"I believe the cause of our father-in-law's suffering is from his encounter with the creature we all saw in the mountains five winters ago. I believe it is the cause of his habit of drinking the white man's brew." Gray Falcon was speaking in gestures only. "Our wives' father also witnessed the evidence of the Creator's pathway between His world and ours. Because of this, our father-in-law must be aware there could be more of the Big People traveling from the Creator's realm to ours. It is probable he has not known such people exist in our world, and it has been said to me by our wisest elders that a man can become so shocked the first time he sees these tall, strong and hairy creatures, he can become like a man who is 'touched' in a bad way by the Creator. Indeed, many men are never the same again after an encounter with them. The reason I think this way is because the Creator showed me what was happening to our wives' father while I was in prayer. In the same vision, the Creator also revealed what we could do to ease our father-in-law's misery, if we can but obtain his agreement to allow us to use our cure upon him. Otherwise, I fear our father-in-law might experience an early end."
Amelia swallowed hard and gazed uncertainly at her sister. As their eyes met, Amelia became aware that, although her sister had argued with their father five years ago and had defied him to marry Eagle Heart, she now looked to be close to tears.
But, Laylah had begun to speak in the same language of gestures, and she said, "Perhaps my sister and I might talk to our father and convince him to allow you both to help him. We can, at least, try to do it. And, I believe we should."
"Áa."Eagle Heart whispered the word aloud. Then, switching to sign language, he asked, "But, how do we move him into a position to even begin to counsel him? He has already declared he will kill both me and Gray Falcon on sight. If we were to approach the trading fort, would he, then, set the white traders against us? I have no fear of the result of a skirmish if we encounter one at Fort McKenzie, for we of the Pikuni Nation still have many of our men encamped there. But, I do not wish to engage in battling our father-in-law."
"Nor I," said Gray Falcon in gestures.
"Perhaps," suggested Laylah, "my sister and I could sneak into the fort and talk to him there. I doubt any of the engagées would harm us if they discovered us."
"But, if they did discover you," countered Eagle Heart, "they would take you both to the evil trader. I fear it cannot be risked."
No one spoke in either the sign language nor with words for several moments, until, at last, Gray Falcon declared, "We must steal our father-in-law away from the fort and bring him here. It is the only way to unite our women with their father. It is obvious we cannot take our women into the fort until we have made it safe for them. Better we steal their father, as well as our mother-in-law, and bring them both here. Once this is accomplished and they are as far away from harm as possible, I believe one of us should approach the fort and challenge the old trader who has caused these problems. I believe I should be the one to do this, since it is my problem; I have long known the time would come when I would be required to confront this man face-to-face. You, my brother, Eagle Heart, have skills of healing that I have yet to learn, and I believe you should stay here and, with your wife's help, do all you can to bring our father-in-law back to health. But, I think Strikes Fast should come with me to the fort when it is time to confront the evil one, Maká'pato'si. I have prayed about this trouble every day since I learned of this man and what he has done to our wives' family; truly, I believe this is the best way to win this war with the evil trader."
"My husband, you humble me." Amelia spoke up next using signs. She said, "I freely admit I have not given this the thought you have. I have a request, though. If you are to bring our parents here, could you please show me and the other women how to put together a shelter for them before you leave? I am thinking of giving our father some peace and quiet so he might recover more easily, and, at present, we have only this one little hut."
"This is a good suggestion, my wife," answered Gray Falcon. "Indeed, I think we will need to construct more than one other lodge before we leave. Perhaps four more will be required. These small lodges take little time to put together. In this way, each family, as well as my sister and your friend, will have their own quarters, as well as some privacy. Also, while my brother, Eagle Heart, and I approach the fort to steal our wives' father, I believe Strikes Fast should remain here with the women. One of us must stay here on guard and ready to defend you if necessary."
Both Strikes Fast and Eagle Heart nodded.
"Let me say," commented Laylah with signs, "that when I last saw our father, I knew he needed attention from a medicine man. He is clearly not well, and he may not even put up a fight when you both come to take him. Indeed, my mother told me he is so ill, she fears for his life. It is her belief that Mr. Calhoun has forced our father to journey to Fort McKenzie, regardless of his health. She mentioned she believes the old trader has forced this on our father so as to ensure the contract our father signed is fulfilled."
"Oh? What kind of contract did our father sign?" asked Amelia aloud. "I thought the only agreement between our father and Mr. Calhoun was a 'gentleman's bond,' which is a verbal pact and was made so as to deed our father's property to him."
"What you say is true," Laylah murmured softly. "But, I have come to learn from Mother that our father did sign a contract and deeded away something he did not have any right to give away."
"Oh? What is that?" asked Amelia.
Laylah looked down and said beneath her breath, "You. He gaveyouaway to Calhoun. That is, according to the contract our father agreed to, you were to marry the old man as soon as you came of age."
"Me?" Amelia asked aloud. "How can this be? I was given to understand the old man asked for this verbally only and that it was a simple request, not an actual contract. Please tell me you aren't saying our father signed his name to some kind of bond giving me away."
"I'm sorry, Amelia. Apparently, he did," whispered Laylah. "But, our mother has told me our father agreed to the marriage between you and Mr. Calhoun only if you consented to it. However, although the contract should have contained the language of requiring your agreement, it is not now to be found in the document our father signed."
Amelia sat still, feeling as though she were spinning round and round. She swallowed, then whispered, "It is worse than I thought. If this truly is the agreement between our father and this terrible old man, and if that specific language isn’t a part of the written contract, it cannot possibly be legal. Not when Calhoun deceived our father. Don't lawyers call this 'fraud'? Besides, it is obvious we do not live in England or anywhere else where a father may make his daughter's decisions for her. This is America, and forcing me to marry this Mr. Calhoun would be a worst kind of slavery. Besides, there is another aspect about this I don't understand. Please tell me, why this man is so intent on marrying me? To bring father here, along with three other men accompanying them? And, all this is being done to force me to marry him? Why?"
"Perhaps because you are beautiful," Gray Falcon commented, though his words were softly spoken. "But, although I do not understand what a 'contract' or a 'bond' or an 'agreement' is, it does not matter because none of this is right, and because I also have a plan. When I took you as my woman, I was well aware this man could become a future problem, and so I have thought well on what could be done about it. Perhaps when our council is finished, you and your sister can tell us about contracts and agreements and what this 'fraud' is so we understand this better."
"Of course we can. But, my darling husband, you have a plan?" asked Amelia aloud.
"I do"—he grinned at her—"because, as I have already said, every day since you made this man known to me, I have been praying to the Creator about it. It is He who showed me how to overcome the deception of this man you call Calhoun, and, if you all will listen carefully to what I say, this is what we shall do…."
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