Printers Daughter
Chapter 11

(Author's note: Getting the happy back on track using the episode :Dark Brother." We are very quickly winding down to the end of the tv series. This story will end just past there. I want a sense of conclusion for all the characters. I do have a second story which will carry the story through the War years, if people are interested. Thank you EarthDragon for the head's up. This should fix it.)

The day after I received Maggie's response to my angry note, I received a letter that drove all the anger from my heart. It was from Camille, my Little Bird from the Kiowa. When we were quite young, we were betrothed. That ended the day the Buffalo hunters attacked out camp. I was with the men on a raiding party-a very young warrior, but proud to be included. The Buffalo hunters killed the women and children. Camille was spared because they recognized her as being white. They sold her back to her family.

She chose to stay in the white world after that. Bitter and blaming myself for her loss, I left the Kiowa and went to the Mission school. Occasionally Camille and I would exchange short letters. By then I had a better understanding of what she was going though, so mostly I left her alone. I had last sent her a note telling her that I was now working with the Pony Express.

In this letter Camille told me that she was now engaged and moving to St. Joseph where her fiancee was taking over his family business. They were going to stop in Rock Creek on their way and was looking forward to seeing me again.

It took me forever to get ready. The guys kept teasing me, although I kept reminding them that Camille was just an old friend and engaged. I don't think they believed me.

Seeing her was joyous and strange. The Camille I had grown up with had been vibrant, almost etherial. There was just this light about her and she was always sensitive to the world around her. The Camille I saw was just as beautiful, but something was off. I realized there was no light in her eyes. Could she have changed that much? Then she collapsed and we all realized that there was something wrong. We called the doctor, but he couldn't figure out the cause of her fever. Nor could he or I understand the strange words she was saying. it sounded like some Indian language, but not one I knew.

That started one of the strangest spiritual adventures I've ever had. I was befriended by what first appeared to be a crazy old Indian. He turned out to be one of the Old Ones and he helped me to defeat the evil Old One who had taken possession of Camille's body. I was eventually successful at driving him out and I was able to restore Camille to her fiancee, Bill, who clearly loves her very much. And she loves him.

Restored to herself (and it was so good to see the light from her eyes again!), she quickly told me that she did not blame me for what happened with the Buffalo hunters. That I was not to blame myself any more. Somehow I felt a great weight start to lift off me.

In the little time we had left I told her about Maggie and how angry I had been. She looked up at me with those clear eyes and asked me why I was letting my anger and pride get in the way the relationship between a warrior and a Shaman's daughter? Was it possible that Maggie has the gift of hearing from the spirits? I should have calmed myself down before writing. "Some things are better said in person." Camille said.

Camille was making a lot of sense, as she always had. I told her that I would seek wisdom and hopefully I would be sending her a note about my own engagement someday.

I took some time and went to Maggie and my quiet spot. I cleansed my own spirit and heart, then I did what I should have done before. I smudged Maggie's medicine bundle with sage and sent out to her healing and my love. Because I realized that, once my anger was gone, I really do love her.
Yes, when I was younger, I did love Little Bird. But the two of us have been sent on different paths. My path leads with Maggie (If I can get her to forgive me). Little Bird is beginning to feel, more and more, like a beloved little sister. I don't know if I'll ever see Camille again. But I wish her and Bill well.

I have a letter to write.

Maggie,

Does it help if I start this with an apology? I should not have written you that note when I was angry. I'm sorry. We're going to get through all this.

I want to tell you more about it when you get home, but I need to let you know that I have not been entirely honest with you about parts of my past. I will be. Recently I had the strangest and most powerful spiritual experience of my life. I met one of the Old Ones, White Feather, and he helped me to defeat a powerful evil Ancient One. And in the end I was able to do good and to find some healing in my own life.

One of the things I was reminded of is the fact that you are a Shaman's daughter. You were trained in a household where sensitivity to the Spirits and the needs of others are very important. I think I forgot that. Sometimes you will have insight I don't have and I need to be willing to listen.

Please come home soon! I don't know if I can say all the things I want to say to you in the few days before you have to go to your school. I want to have a few more days to spend with you before we part again. There is no date for the final Pony Express run, but Teaspoon says it will be before Christmas. I need to be ready to leave too.

I love you and I miss you. Please come home soon!

your Buck
p.s. I did finally smudge your medicine pouch. Did you feel my love?