Chapter 5
Wilson, Marcus and Josiah waited outside the barn, watching the horizon. "Now remember," Wilson spoke, "Make your signs big and obvious. We want Ike to see them."
Marcus pointed to the left. Ike and Julie were approaching. Quickly, Wilson turned his back to them. "Let's begin."
Ike and Julie rode back, side by side. As they approached the barn, Julie noticed the three men near the barn. She turned to Ike. "Is there another way in?" she asked. Ike shook his head. Sighing, Julie dismounted and they led their horses to the barn. As they got closer, Ike watched Marcus and Josiah.
"They're blaming us for something we didn't do!" Marcus signed.
"It wasn't our fault. They just don't want us here," Josiah added.
"I think they hate mute."
"But what about Ike?"
Ike looked at Julie with a curious look. Julie shrugged her shoulders. "Let's find out," she said. They walked up behind Wilson, who spun as Julie touched his shoulder.
"Julie, Ike, you scared me!" Wilson signed.
"Is everything ok?" Julie asked.
"No," Wilson replied. "We're moving on."
Julie looked at Wilson in shock, then at Ike. "Why? What's wrong?"
"Too much to explain. Please go help the boys pack. I'd like to talk to Ike for a moment."
Julie nodded sadly and handed Ike the reins to her horse. She walked away to the wagon with Marcus and Josiah, fighting back tears the whole time.
When they were alone, Wilson turned to Ike. "Sorry we're leaving so soon, but the boys feel very… unwelcome here."
"That's strange," Ike replied.
"You're friends don't like us around," Wilson continued. "They have been making trouble for my boys, then blaming them for it. I don't want to cause any problems, so we're just going to leave."
"I'm sure there is a different reason, just give it time. They'll open up."
Wilson shook his head. "Are you happy here, Ike?"
"What do you mean?"
"Are you happy here? It seems to me that the people here don't like us because we are different… because we are mute. I was wondering how you can stand the prejudice."
"There is no prejudice. They are my friends."
"But Ike, are they really your friends, or do they just use you? Whenever a chore needs to be done, who do they ask?"
"… Me…"
"Whenever someone wants a day off, who takes his ride?"
"Me."
Whenever there is dirty work that needs to be done, who does it? Who's the one who gets left out? When something important needs to be done, who's the one who's NOT asked? All because you are mute."
Ike was silent, taking in the words. He had never looked at his life that way. But as he pondered, he saw some truth in Wilson's words. However, there was one…
"Not Buck," Ike signed. "We mean too much to each other."
"You still believe that?" Wilson asked. "But in reality, that Indian is the worst. He uses you for your friendship if anything else. Without you, he'd just find another person to latch onto."
Ike shook his head slowly. "I don't believe it."
Wilson put a hand on Ike's shoulder for a moment, then signed, "Believe what you want, but one day you will see." He turned from Ike and started towards the wagon, then turned back. "And when you finally do see clearly, know that you have a home with us."
Wilson walked away, Ike watching him while his thoughts wandered. Wilson signed with Adam and Julie for a moment, and then the two of them ran to Ike. Julie pulled Ike into a hug.
"He won't change his mind," Adam signed. "We're almost ready to go."
"Ike, I don't want to go," Julie said. "I want to stay here, with you."
Ike pushed Julie towards Adam. "You have to move on. I have my work, here."
"Come with us," Adam signed. "One more is always welcomed."
The wagon pulled up alongside of the three young people. "We have to leave now to pull ahead of the storm," Wilson signed.
In the distance, a thunderstorm was quickly approaching. Lighting flashed sparked through the dark clouds. It would be upon the station in a few minutes.
Adam waved goodbye again and climbed into the back of the wagon. Ike looked at Julie, who's hair flailed in the increasing winds. As tears came to her eyes, she went to Ike and hugged him.
As she pulled away, Ike pulled her back for a kiss. He held back Julie's hair as they kissed, and separated as drops of rain, or was it Julie's tears, fell on their faces. Sadly, Julie took one last look at Ike, then climbed into the back of the wagon.
Wilson nodded his head, then the wagon, followed by Marcus and Josiah on horseback, rode out of the way station. Ike watched them leave until the storm swept over the station and the wagon was out of sight.
