As soon as Cincinnatus had heard the reason for the unexplained sickness, he began trying everything he could think of to purge the Cherokee of the poison in his system. At times, Becky had been near tears, wondering if the treatment wasn't worse than the toxin; especially when, during his semi-coherent moments, the native had begged for mercy and had pleaded with them to stop.

By midnight, everyone was exhausted. The tavern keeper said that he had done everything that he could do and that it was now the hands of God.

Earlier that evening, Dan had taken the Gorman's back to the inn and had put them under somewhat of a house arrest. He had recruited several men from the settlement to take turns guarding the door to their room. He really had no fear of the Philadelphians escaping, knowing that they would have no idea where to flee, but it made him feel better knowing that it was one less thing to worry about and that they would be properly cared for.

Afterward he had hurried back to the cabin and was surprised that several people had accompanied him; concerned for the Indian's welfare. Mingo had more friends in Boonesborough than both he and the Cherokee realized. As the vigil in the cabin continued, his friend lapsed into a coma.

…..

Mingo felt as if he was pushing to the surface after being deep underwater. When he emerged into the light, he could hear a rhythmic thump of what might be drums, the measured clack of wooden sticks and the soothing hum of a mother's lullaby. When he cracked opened his eyes, he saw Daniel's wife steadily swaying back and forth in the rocking chair, her hands deftly manipulating the knitting needles she held.

"Rebecca?" he questioned, unsure if she was real or an apparition.

Becky stopped and stared, her hand resting in surprise on her chest. "Mingo? Can you hear me?"

The native nodded slowly.

She brought her hand to her mouth to keep from crying out; there were tears shining in her eyes. "Oh thanks be to God. Welcome back."

…..

Later that afternoon, Daniel told his friend all that had happened. Mingo was shocked both by the events that had taken place and by the fact that he had been on the outer edges of the netherworld for almost two days.

"I want to talk to them, Daniel," the Indian requested. "I've never even met the man who shot me."

The woodsman shook his head. "I'm not sure that's a good idea. You're pretty weak; I don't want you troublin' yourself with things that I can take care of for you."

"Daniel," the native said with increasing exasperation. "Is it not my right, in both Cherokee and White man's law, to confront the ones who have attempted to harm me? Do you intend to deny me of what is justifiably mine?"

The frontiersman held up his hand to halt the tirade. "Hold on. I'm not plannin' on keepin' you from speakin' with them. I just want to make sure that you're up to it. Mingo, whether you want to admit it or not, you've been pretty darn sick. I'm not rushin' to do anything and I don't think you should either."

The native suddenly waned. "Alright, Daniel. Just promise me that I will have my chance before you do anything without my consent."

The tall frontiersman sighed. 'I promise."

…..

The following day, Dan brought the Gorman's to his cabin to meet with Mingo. The native was still somewhat frail and obviously feeling the effects of all that he had been through in the past week; but he was determined to discover the real truth behind what had been done to him.

He had sent his woodsman friend away, wanting this private conversation to be without bias or accusation and to exclusively include only the people most directly involved.

When they were finished, the Cherokee asked to speak alone with Boone. "Daniel, I think I understand now all that has happened. We need to go to Chota."

The frontiersman's eyebrows arched in surprise. "I hate to be the one to point this out, but it's gonna be quite some time before you're gonna be able to travel across the road, let alone as far as your village."

The native shook his head. "No, we have to go now. Leaving things unresolved will only lead to further mistrust. I know I cannot walk that far, but I can probably ride a horse."

When Dan frowned, Mingo acquiesced.

"Alright, I may not be able to make it in a single day, but we can make camp if I cannot."

"Mingo," his friend said softly. "You know that Saul will still be under Menewa's scrutiny, but Esther will be the one in greater danger when he finds out what has happened. I have to take them to Salem for their own protection."

"Daniel, no," the native said struggling to sit up straighter in the bed. "Salem will result in a no-win situation. If Mrs. Gorman is tried and convicted, she will be put in prison or possibly hanged. If not, then it will be one more instance where the Redman cannot get justice in a White man's court."

"So you think that it would be better if she was tortured or put to death by the Cherokee?" Daniel countered. "That is only going to rile people in the settlement."

Mingo shook vehemently his head. "No! Hear me out. All of this has been a series of misunderstandings and misinformation," he said loudly.

His friend was starting to get upset and agitated, so Dan held up a hand to stop him. He grabbed a nearby chair and sat in it next to the bed. "Okay," he said calmly. "I'm listening."

The native took a deep breath and let it out slowly, realizing that his emotions were getting the better of him.

"It all starts with the Gormans being from Philadelphia or any other city, where they would have limited exposure to Indians. They developed a certain mindset based on only what they had heard from others. Then when they arrived at Fort Potterville, that mindset was further reinforced by what has been happening there between the settlers and the Choctaw. On the trail, they were confronted by natives who stole from them."

Mingo took a second to catch his breath before he continued. "When they asked about the situation in Kentucky, the Gormans were told that there were intermittent issues with the Shawnee and that it was rare for Indians to come near the settlement, but they found me in your cabin with Rebecca. I remember I was describing a serving bowl to her." To demonstrate, he held out his hands as he had that day. "Mr. Gorman thought I was going to harm her. When he yelled, he startled me and when I turned I knocked something from Rebecca's hands."

The frontiersman leaned back in the chair, rubbing his chin as he thought. "Alright, maybe I can buy that, but it still doesn't explain Esther."

His friend nodded and waggled his finger for emphasis. "I'm getting to that. This is where you come in. After you took Mr. Gorman to Chota, you told him that Cherokee law dictated that the injured party has the right to determine the punishment. However you deliberately, I am assuming, failed to inform him of what would happen if the injured party died; in this case that Menewa intended to retaliate in kind."

Dan nodded. "Yes, Saul was already mightily upset. I didn't want to worry him more."

"Based on that information," Mingo stated. "Mrs. Gorman, fearing for her husband's well-being if not life, assumed that if I was eliminated, that nothing more would come from the situation."

The woodsman gave a lopsided smile. "You make it sound like it's my fault."

"Not at all, Daniel," his friend hurriedly interjected. "As I said, a series of misunderstandings."

"I don't know, Mingo. Still seems awfully extreme on her part."

The native nodded. "As I thought when I didn't understand Mr. Gorman's motivation for shooting me."

Daniel sighed. "So what do we do now?"

"We go to Chota," the Cherokee concluded.

…..

Despite his misgivings, and Becky and Cincinnatus' strong objections, Daniel borrowed two horses for the trip to the Cherokee village.

Becky packed several bags of provisions, including one that contained only medical supplies. She was rather put out with her husband for agreeing to this journey, just as Mingo was finally on the mend, but he had reminded her that their Cherokee friend was an adult and could make his own decisions. It would only take a couple of days at the most or maybe even just one day, if the native's strength held out, to reach Chota. Then the Medicine Man, Pitapuni, could take charge over Mingo's care if need be.

The foursome slowly made their way along the trail that would take them into Cherokee country. Mingo and Mrs. Gorman each rode a horse, while Dan and Saul held the reins.

Occasionally, the native would grunt in pain if the horse took a step that shifted him in the saddle and Dan would turn back to see. Each time, his friend would defiantly pin him with the 'I'm fine' look.

However, by late afternoon, the Cherokee was looking less resolute.

"What do you wanna do here, Mingo?" he asked. They were still several miles from the village. If they stopped they would not make it before nightfall. If they didn't stop, Dan feared that his friend might fall out of the saddle.

Mingo glanced at the other two people traveling in their party. The Gormans were looking about as weary as he felt.

"Let's stop, Daniel," he said with a sigh. "We can make camp here and be to Chota by late morning."

The frontiersman nodded and helped the Indian slide off his mount. Mingo held on tightly to the horse's bridle in order to maintain his balance; a fact that did not go unnoticed.

"Why don't you sit down for a spell," Dan suggested quietly. He knew that his friend was not one who liked to show any sign of weakness. "You can keep Esther company while Saul and I set up camp." He watched Mingo ball his hand into a fist out of frustration at not being able to perform his usual duties, but in the end he simply nodded and made his way to the small clearing.

…..

Esther gasped when she saw the three natives slide from behind the trees and surround them. Her husband moved closer to her side to reassure her. He remembered the fear that had filled him when this had happened on his trip with Dan only a few days ago.

Mingo smiled and spoke to them in Cherokee. They nodded and one of the braves led them into the village.

Menewa stood beside his lodge carefully watching his warrior. Dan again helped Mingo off the horse and the native walked as steadily as possible to his chief.

"You are still unwell," Menewa said, a grim look on his face.

Mingo did not try to deny it. "Much has happened and we need to talk, but before, I would like permission for Daniel and the Gormans to use my lodge."

The chief stared at the visitors. Boone he knew well; the tall man had been to the village many times and called Mingo his brother. The other man he recognized as the one Boone had brought with him earlier – the one who had shot his warrior. The woman he had never seen.

Menewa nodded. "Boone may come and go as he wishes. The other two must have a guard at all times."

Mingo waved Daniel over to his side and explained the situation, and then he ducked into the chief's lodge.

…..

The tall woodsman led Saul and his wife to the teepee like lodge on the edge of the village. He pulled back the bearskin flap, but neither of the Philadelphians moved.

"What's this?" Esther demanded. "You don't expect us to go in there, do you?"

Dan nodded. "This is Mingo's home and yes, I do expect you to go in. He has offered to let us stay here while he is in council."

The dark-haired woman ducked down and entered carefully. To her surprise, it was larger than it looked from the outside. Bearskin rugs lined the floor around a small fire ring. A couple of brightly patterned blankets were neatly folded on top of a small steamer trunk along one edge. Next to it was a stack of books.

She started, however, when she looked to her left and saw the bow and arrows, spear, and shield. Daniel could not hide his smile. He had pulled Mingo's rifle and whip from the horse and set them next to the other weapons.

"You might as well sit down and make yourselves comfortable," the frontiersman said. "Or you can go outside if you prefer. Either way, it is likely to be a long day."

Esther had a look of disgust on her face as she gingerly lowered herself to the rug.

"What happens now?" Saul asked warily.

"Mingo will tell Menewa everything that has happened. His chief will then tell him what he thinks," Dan explained. "You might as well know up front that Menewa is gonna be very angry. He is more than just Mingo's chief; they are blood relatives."

The Gormans eyes grew wide. "After that Mingo will suggest to Menewa what he thinks will be fair punishment for both of you."

"Mr. Boone, this is absolutely insane!" Esther exclaimed. "You can't let these heathens go through with this!"

Dan shook his head. "As I recall, you, Mrs. Gorman, got yourself into this when you tried to murder my friend. It's time to pay the piper."

"What does he intend to do?" the older man asked, now fearing for his wife's safety. "You said you could talk the Indian out of this."

"I said I could probably talk him out of anything too farfetched," the woodsman reminded him. "That was before."

Saul was on his feet in an instant. "Tell me what he plans to do to my wife, Boone!"

Daniel shrugged. "I have no idea. He wouldn't tell me."

The Philadelphian reached down and grabbed his wife's hand. "Come on. We are getting out of here right now!"

Boone raised his hand. "I wouldn't try it. Those braves outside the door will kill you before you could take three steps."

…..

It was late afternoon before one of the braves stuck his head in under the flap of Mingo's lodge and motioned for them to follow. The older couple stared at Dan, but he indicated that they should go.

They were led to the large fire circle in the middle of the village. In the center of the ring was a tall wooden pole. Although there was currently no fire burning, Saul could see the char marks from previous blazes.

An exhausted looking Mingo was standing with his chief and another very old Indian. Dan recognized the old man as Tutanta, one of the tribal elders.

Leaving the Gormans standing where they were, the frontiersman walked around to stand next to his friend. "You doin' alright?" he asked quietly. The native nodded, but sighed deeply.

Suddenly, as if they had appeared out of thin air, braves and warriors completely surrounded the circle, blocking any avenue of escape. As Tutanta chanted in the ancient tongue of his ancestors, the couple clung to each other in fear.

When the elder was finished, Mingo cleared his throat. "As you have been informed, Cherokee law provides for a means of justice. I, as the injured party, have the right to choose whatever punishment I feel is both just and fair. My chief and the elder, can of course, ultimately overrule my decision. However, they have, quite reluctantly, agreed to abide by my wishes. As such, I have sentenced you both to spend the next two weeks here in Chota with me. During that time, you will live and work among my people and hopefully come to understand us as human beings, not merely as a group of vicious savages."

The Cherokee took a deep breath before continuing. He swayed slightly on his feet and Daniel reached out a hand to steady him. "All of this came about because of your lack of understanding of a culture different from your own. That ignorance led to mistrust, which in turn nearly caused me my life. My hope is to break down those preconceptions and for you to come to know me for who I really am."

"Do you understand and agree to the terms?" Mingo asked.

Saul stood up straight. "And what if we refuse to stay here?"

The Cherokee shook his head sadly. "Then Menewa will change his mind and I can assure you that his punishment will not be to your liking."

"Boone?" Saul implored.

The frontiersman shook his head. "Sounds more than fair to me."

Mingo tried again. "Do you agree?"

The couple stared at one another and then nodded their heads.

The native smiled. "Good. Onnasa will escort you back to my lodge and I will join you shortly."

The circle of Indians parted to allow the couple to be returned to the lodge. The frontiersman started to follow, but Mingo grabbed his arm. "Daniel, a moment please? I have a request."

His friend nodded. "Name it."

"Menewa would only accept my planned penalty if I would agree to spend the night in Pitapuni's lodge," Mingo said softly. "Can I impose upon you to stay with the Gormans tonight? I do not want them to be frightened."

"Yep, I'll stay." Daniel grinned. Considering how his companion was sometimes mistreated, he was often surprised at the depth of the Cherokee's compassion. "You've got a heap of forgiveness in you, my friend."

Mingo smiled wearily. "As Shakespeare so eloquently put it '…ignorance is the curse of God, knowledge the wing wherewith we fly to heaven'."

The End