The Write Place

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Read Chapter 3 Here

Birds chirped from the trees as the sun shone through the leaves.  The sun hovered over the valley, now lush and green.  The hillside was rich with the green of life as spring had come.  Life had returned to the village below.  Under the blooming tree stood Caleb and an older Indian man wearing his long flowing leather robe, carrying a staff of authority.  Together they looked towards the sun.  Caleb stood in his coat, the light beating on his vest as his hat rested on his head.  Still, through all his clothing, his body language betrayed his anxiety.

“Spring, life, both have returned to our village.  Though we lost many,” the elder Indian said.  A touch of bittersweet sentiment in the observation of a bitter season now past rang in his voice. “We lost so many.  My son is among them.  He was wise beyond his years.  He gave us grandchildren, I wish he had been given more time.  With us and them,” an unmistakable sorrow appeared on his face and in his voice.

“He was a good man.  Still is, though he is no longer with us.  He lives with God.  It was an honor to know him. I know I will see him again.  He stood by me over the winter, and next to so many in his life,” Caleb said as his voice trailed off into memories of a lost friend.  The winter had been hard with the loss of many good people in the village to that illness so few had seen before.  “He was a great help to us, even in his illness.”

“Gave you your fitting Indian name too,” said the elder man. A small smile on his face.

“Well the name does fit.  It was quite flattering,” Caleb replied, wearing the same smile at the memories of what had once been.  “There will be new memories, not in this life but the next.  That long wait, that loss weighs heavily on all who knew him,”  Caleb took off his hat.  His eyes fixed upon it as he rubbed it in his hands.
    “Truly so. Silent Hunt will leave a legacy, beyond his humor or his character.  Of that I have no doubt.  Many survived because of him.  Even in his sickness he cared for others.  Not only his family.  Bringing water, food.  Clearing their lungs.  He used all his strength to the end when he could do no more.  I am very proud of my son,” the elder man concluded as his voice trailed off into the valley.  He breathed deep, turning and motioning behind them both with his staff.  “And my daughter, who has caught your eye and taken your heart.”

Red Feather stood beside her mother at a distance, watching them from the other side of the worn trail.  She was nervous but radiant in her colorful patterned deerskin skirt as she watched the man she loved speak with her father.  She had a headband in her hair which kept her face clear, where a look of nervous excitement was displayed in the language of her body.

“It appears all the talking women were speaking truth in their chattering.  Now you speak to me because you wish to make her your wife?”  her father said, turning back to Caleb.  The question was more formality than inquiry.  Caleb gripped his hat tighter as he sweated more as his body warmed.  There are moments that life turns on, Caleb knew he stood within one.

“Yes, that is so.  Whatever may come, I want to be there for her.  Whatever may come,” Caleb’s voice trailed off into the wind.

“I do not know what my people will do.  Where they will go.  Some will stay here.  Many are heading west.  More of your people come to settle, not only to trade.  Yes some will leave, many others will stay.  Many such as my daughter,” Red Feather’s father said looking down on the village.  “Those who stay,” he motioned to the village beneath.  “Well, they will mix with your people.  Those who do not will change with the land they make their new homes.  We will never be the same.  We knew that when we started trading.  Now however, it has become something new.  A maturity to the whole of it.”  He held his staff tight, leaning on it with both hands.  Nodding, he continued.  “I commend you and your people, those who came with you.  Not all have been so kind as you.  You were willing to stay and risk death.  I do not know of any greater trait I could ask for in a husband for my daughter,” the elder man said to Caleb, a proud look upon his face for the actions of the younger.

“I would do it all over again, however it would end,” said Caleb staring into the distance of the valley. “My faith and my heart were in agreement.  It was a risk I saw as a calling.  For her, for you, her family, for her people,” Caleb replied looking at Red Feather’s father.

He nodded. “Many died, but all you Christians stood by.  Martha and John died among your number.  Yet you stayed.  They almost went with great joy.  In fact I can say nothing less.  This is something I have never seen from those of other gods.  Or from our own.  To die in such a way for ones not their own,” he nodded in agreement to his words.  “I know why your God has been so good to you.  Why your people do so well, is no invention.  No foul spirit.  It is unique, so beautiful this news you bring I cannot see it from any other source than a true and living God.  It does not matter to me what skin the man has,” he said, pointing to Caleb, then motioning to his heart.  ”But what is in his heart. You are the right man for my daughter.  She lived, I have no doubt, because our God has some purpose for the two of you.”  He said to Caleb.  He looked at the young man before him with pride in his eyes.  Here was a man he could trust with his child.

Turning once more to Red Feather he called her from her mother’s side.  Red Feather crossed the path on her way to stand beside her father.  “A moment, Caleb,” Caleb put on his hat and walked to where Red Feather had been.  They crossed paths for a brief moment, sharing an excited and nervous smile.  When she reached her father she took Caleb’s place by his side.

“So I hear you have strong affections for this man we call Sunburn?” said her father, a touch of amusement in his voice.

Red Feather blushed.  Excitement plain in her voice, she responded “Yes father.  I love Caleb”  she said.

“He is not one of us,” her father continued with curiosity laden in his voice.  He stared at his daughter, testing her, anticipating her response. “Who is he? What defines this man you love?”

“He is a Christian,”  she replied, a touch of soft defiance in her voice.

“And are you?” Asked her father in all seriousness.

”Yes,”  replied Red Feather.
“Then he is one of us.  Our God has placed you together in my reasoning.  He is a good man who loves this living God with a pure heart, and loves you as well.  That is what matters.  What the future holds none of us know but like your mother’s father told me, I rest easy knowing my daughter marries a good man,” a smile formed on his face as he reached to embrace his daughter.  After a long embrace he let her go, the sweetest of tears in their eyes.  Looking to Caleb he motioned to Caleb and Red Feather’s mother to come to them.  When they came he greeted Caleb with a hug and released him. “You shall marry our daughter.  She has found in you a good man who loves God.  I am thankful for that.”

“I am too,” said Caleb, a smile on his face as his words were received with a touch of laughter.  Taking their hands Red Feathers father and mother placed the hands of Red Feather and Caleb together.  ”You have our blessing,” her father and mother said in turn.

“We have a wedding to plan,” her mother said with a smile.

The sky was clear blue over the lush green valley.  Birds flew overhead  in the radiant sunlight.  Their song filled the valley, as the light shone on the four figures standing together under the tree.