Cowboy Creek Christmas: Mistletoe Reunion

Marlys slept lightly, checking on Little Deer and finding her sleeping more restfully. Before dawn she woke to sounds of the community outside the tipi and went to find the child’s fever gone. “Thank You, Lord.”

She woke Blue Water by gently touching her shoulder. The woman’s dark eyes opened in fear, and she sat, her terrified gaze darting to her child.

“No, she’s better,” Marlys told her. “Come see. Ho’eohe.”

The woman scrambled from her bed and leaned over Little Deer. She touched her face and neck, rolled back her covering and examined her arms and legs. Tears of joy formed in her eyes, and when she looked at Marlys, they fell unheeded. “Néá’ee. Éévaéše’tovóho.”

She touched her breast with the tips of her fingers and then touched Marlys’s chest.

Marlys smiled. She didn’t need a translator to understand Blue Water’s mother’s heart was grateful. She was no different than any other mother of any other people or skin color. Her heart was no different. Love knew no boundaries. Love translated into any language.

Sam and the other Cheyenne in the lodge woke and came near to see what was happening for themselves. She Knows shuffled forward in her fur boots, and Blue Water helped her lower herself to sit beside the child. She listened to her heart. Listened to her breathing, looked in her mouth, examined the bottom of her feet. She turned and spoke to one of the older children.

He pulled on a robe and darted from the tipi. Several minutes later he returned with Little Deer’s father and the chief. Woodrow Black Snake held a conversation with She Knows and Blue Water. They all nodded and gestured. He exited as suddenly as he’d arrived. Sam left the lodge while the Cheyenne mothers washed and groomed themselves and their children.

Blue Water brought Marlys fragrant mint water and twigs and indicated she should brush her teeth. She and another woman they called Neha brushed Marlys’s hair, while coating the strands with an unknown substance they lathered on their hands. They spoke in hushed tones, and Marlys guessed they wondered why her hair was cut so short. The process was disconcerting. Marlys’s mother had died when she was very young, and she’d taken care of her own needs for as long as she could remember. With persistent focus, however, they managed to secure short braids and fasten them with beaded leather strips.

They brought her coat and led her from the lodge across the encampment in the crisp morning air. The aromatic smell of cooking meat made her mouth water. Together they entered the chief’s tent, where Sam already waited. He raised his eyebrows in surprise at her appearance.

“I have no idea what’s going on,” she said. “I wish James would arrive.”

“I have a feeling it’s a celebration of some sort, and you’re the guest of honor.”

His assumption made sense after the women’s ministrations. “It’s a whole lot better than what I was imagining last night.”

He brought his gaze to hers. “You never let on that you had any doubts.”

She nodded. “No. I never let on.” She turned her gaze back to the gathering of Cheyenne before looking to Sam once more. “Thank you. For bringing me.”

He made a noncommittal sound.

They were seated across from the chief at the fire, and others crowded around them. The women served them roasted meat on a wooden platter, which they shared. Marlys tasted it and found it unlike anything she’d eaten, but tasty and tender.

“What is it?” she asked.

“Maybe elk or antelope,” he replied.

“Do you think sharing this food is a sacrifice for them? I mean, are we taking away from their winter supply?”

“They have meat hung in trees. If there’s no big game on the land where they’re allowed to hunt, the Army probably brought it to them.”

“They’re buffalo hunters, aren’t they?”

He nodded. “This tribe seems to have been left on their own and not relocated. The Army knows they’re here, so the Army is in a difficult situation, protecting the tribe while safeguarding settlers, as well. When the Indians are unable to hunt, they have to travel or starve. So if the Army is delivering supplies, they’re hoping to keep them here so they know where they are.”

Their discussion continued until James arrived and was given food.

“Red Bird told me the little girl is better today.”

“Our prayers worked,” she replied.

“And your Chinese remedy,” James added.

Sam nodded, surprising her.

“How did August fare the night?” Sam asked.

“He ate supper and played with the baby. Ava laughed and smiled at him. Hannah read to them for a while, then she made him a bed, and he went right to sleep. She was planning to walk him to school this morning.”

“Thank you,” Sam said.

It had been a sacrifice for Sam to remain here with her and not go home to his son. Marlys wouldn’t have blamed him for leaving last night, but she was thankful for his company and protection. She felt doubly indebted. Hannah had taken on additional duties for her sake, as well. “I will be happy to prepare a mineral bath treatment for Hannah to thank her.” She gave James a thankful smile. “She can bring the baby, and I’ll care for her while she relaxes.”

Before long James went out and returned with a crate holding jars of peaches. He opened several and indicated the mothers should share them with the children. The Cheyenne spoke among themselves, smiling and obviously enjoying the treat.

“Where did you get peaches?” she asked.

“I stopped at Remmy’s and bought all that Mrs. Herne had left for sale.”

“Thank you,” Marlys told him. “I’ll repay you.”

“No. This is my pleasure,” he said.

Two of the women took the jars and returned with them washed clean and set them before James. James spoke to them, and they nodded and smiled at each other, carrying away the basket of glass jars.

“I’m going to check on Little Deer and two other children, and then we can head home,” Marlys said.

They were headed back toward Cowboy Creek by midmorning. The ride home didn’t seem as long as the trip getting to the encampment. Marlys was justifiably satisfied with the experience. She had told She Knows that she would come again to bring her herbs and to learn about the roots and leaves the medicine woman used.

She offered to pay Sam and James, but both refused.

“Thank you, James,” she said as the two men unloaded crates at her office. “I couldn’t have made the trip without you.”

“I’m glad I joined you.”

“Perhaps you’d be willing to spend a few hours teaching me more Cheyenne?”

“Sure. I can meet whenever you want.” He mounted his horse and headed for the livery.

“You owe two days for the wagon,” she said to Sam. “I’ll pay.”

“I’ll let you pay for that,” he replied.

She took money from a metal lockbox and gave it to him. “Thank you for agreeing to go. And for taking the night away from August. I’m not much of a cook, but maybe I could take the two of you to supper one evening.”

“That would be nice.” He tucked the coins in his pocket.

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