STARTING ANEW
Chapter Thirty-Eight
“This way, Rose,” said Jay, as he led the way
into the house.
Rufus galloped ahead of them circling Golden
Moon and Jack. Golden Moon turned looked at the stranger who entered with Jay.
The person that was more than a friend to Jack.
“So, Blue Hawk, you will introduce me to our guest?”
asked Golden Moon.
Rose looked puzzled. Who was Blue Hawk? She
must mean Jack. Then slowly Rose realized why she might have used such a name.
While this woman was dressed in conventional clothing, there was no mistaking
her background. Her long straight hair, golden skin and dark eyes, told of her
Native American heritage. She appeared ageless, but Rose guessed that she must
be between about 40 and 45 years old. Rose noticed the quiet way she spoke and
the grace with which she carried herself.
The two women studied each other. Golden Moon
admired Rose’s hair and outer beauty. But she felt sure that there burned a
fire deep within her. Jack would not have chosen to be with someone lacking
spirit. Rose looked at Golden Moon, her thoughts very confused. Her mother had
always tolerated the Irish help and they had come across black servants when
they had traveled. But Ruth had always spoken with great disdain about the
forbidden races and their undesirable characteristics. Untrustworthy, unclean,
uneducated. Those were among the many adjectives that Ruth had used to describe
people different from herself. Now Rose stood in a sparkling clean house,
looking into the intelligent eyes of a neat, articulate woman. She glanced
around the room and saw lovely pieces of pottery and woven rugs. Rose glanced
back at Golden Moon and smiled nervously.
Golden Moon could read the girl’s thoughts.
She knew that most of the white eyes had low opinions of The People and their
ways. She had lived among them now for twenty five years and while she was accepted
in this place, it was not the same everywhere. She was almost certain that Blue
Hawk’s woman had already been indoctrinated with some of these ideas. Yet he
was not the type of person who tolerated prejudice in others. Maybe she was
different from the rest. She would give her the benefit of the doubt.
“Golden Moon,” said Jack, almost reverently,
“I would like you to meet my wife, Rose.”
“Your wife,” exclaimed Golden Moon. She
looked at Jack and said, “You are indeed like your animal spirit guides, Jack.
I named you well, for the hawk has a bold heart.”
Rose watched this interaction with her mind
spinning. Jack had said that he and Jay were close and hadn’t Jay mentioned
that his mother had a soft spot in her heart for Jack? He acted in awe of this
woman and treated her with a special respect. She had not seen her self-assured
Jack act in awe of anyone.
“Rose, I want to welcome you to our home.
Tonight we will celebrate Jack’s return with his bride. What do you think, Jack?”
asked Golden Moon.
“Oh, yes, we will be happy to stay and have a
good visit. We’ve got five years to catch up on,” he answered, happily.
“But first, I want to get to know your wife better,”
said Golden Moon.
She held out her hand to Rose. Would she
recoil at touching one of The People?
“Come Rose, I need to go to the creek and see
if there are any early berries. Would you like to come with me?”
Rose looked at Jack, who said nothing, but
simply nodded his head in approval. She looked at Golden Moon and her
outstretched hand. Slowly she extended her hand to the woman.
Golden Moon smiled and said again, “Come,
Rose. We will let Blue Hawk and Stands Tall visit and talk over old times.”
Rose looked around the room for another
person. Golden Moon understood her confusion.
“Stands Tall is Jay’s other name. It is
because he stands tall with my people and his father’s people,” Golden Moon
explained.
“Oh,” said Rose, feeling quite ignorant.
As Golden Moon led Rose from the room, she
began talking to her.
“I will tell you about Blue Hawk’s name and
we will find one for you as well.”
They walked through the kitchen and she
continued her conversation.
“We will bathe in the creek and make you a
proper bride for Blue Hawk.”
Rose’s eyes opened wide and her mind started
spinning again. Bathe in the creek, with another person? What did this woman
have in mind? She had no idea what was in store for her, but obviously Jack
trusted her and wanted her to go with Golden Moon. She did not know whether to
be scared, nervous or curious. But there was not way out. She had to go with
Golden Moon.
Jay and Jack smiled at each other as the two
women left the room.
“Did you see the look on Rose’s face,” said
Jay. “She looked like a sheep being led to the slaughter. I wonder what stories
of The People she heard when she was growing up?”
“Well, knowing her mother,” said Jack, “I
know it was nothing complimentary. But Rose is not like that. Not like her
mother. She had broken free of most of that.”
“Mother will take care of her,” said Jay.
“Yeah, I know,” answered Jack. “We have had a
tough time and I know how comforting your mother can be.”
“Just how long have you two known each other?”
asked Jay.
Jack looked down. It was really almost
embarrassing to tell other people, the short period of time since they had met
and all that had transpired in between. But there was nothing embarrassing
about their love.
“Twenty eight days. We met on April 12,
though I really saw her the day before and couldn’t take my eyes off her.”
“Twenty eight days,” Jay repeated, “and you
are already married. You were always kind of fast with the girls, Jack. She
really must be special.”
Jack got quiet again.
“She is very special. Most special than you
can ever imagine,” said Jack softly.
Jay knew that Jack was not telling the whole
story. And it was not like Jack to keep things inside. At least the Jack he had
grown up with.
“Listen, Dad is busy and Mother is down there
with Rose. Let’s have a beer and catch up on old times. What do you say, Jack?”
Jack wanted to savor every moment of his
visit here. Sitting down with his oldest friend and sharing a beer and talking
about old times, sounded wonderful to him.
“Sure, Jay. I’ll tell you what I done here so
far. You remember those awful girls…”said Jack as he followed his friend into
the kitchen.