Chapter 3

The next two days were hot and dry and everyone was glad when they could camp for the evening. It had become a ritual for Joe to escort Singing Heart from the wagon at night, and they had become very close as they told each other about their lives. Joe had told her of his family and how he was the youngest of three brothers. He made her laugh when he told her of some of the pranks he had done as a child. She in turn told him of some of her life, but still hadn't talked about what had happened to make her become a prisoner. Joe didn't push her but hoped she would tell him soon. He couldn't believe someone with so much love and kindness in her heart could ever do anything to harm another person.

They had been lucky enough to camp by a small stream tonight, and Joe and Singing Heart were sitting by the stream each lost in thought, when she touched his arm and pointed to a small clearing. Putting her finger to her lips for Joe to be quiet, Singing Heart pointed over at the clearing and smiled warmly. A doe and her fawn were slowly edging their way to the stream while the mother nervously looked around for any danger.

"Look, Joseph, at what wonder we have around us. The Great Spirit has given us a chance to see the love of a mother for her fawn. Man is foolish enough to think that only he can love something and an animal cannot show its love. But all living things can love… all you have to do is watch and learn."

Joe turned to watch the mother and fawn and smiled before glancing back at Singing Heart.

"You remind me of my big brother, Hoss. He loves all critters and is always going on about how they love their young. I guess for me being a rancher, it is hard to see the gentle side of nature because I spend most of my time trying to work the land and stock and make it prosper."

Quietly reaching for Joe's hand, Singing Heart squeezed it gently and they both stood by watching the deer.

But as usual, Joe's thoughts were always thinking about this young girl and the fact that she was going to be hanged, so his happiness was short lived.

"Singing Heart, how can you not be angry about what is going to happen to you? Please tell me what happened to put you here," Joe asked, as he suddenly saw her face turn sad.

He knew it was going to be hard for her to tell him and wished he could take the pain away for her. But eventually Singing Heart let out a heavy sigh and sat down on the soft sand as she started to tell her story.

"My brother Proud Eagle and I had trapped all winter and had gone into a town to sell our furs. We were greeted with angry eyes as we walked into the store where we could trade our furs. As I looked around us, I could see that there was much hate in the people's eyes as we went up to the counter. I do not understand how someone can hate another when they know nothing about you. I kept my head down to stop anyone from thinking I was too proud. But my brother was a proud brave and he would not lower his head or his eyes for anyone. The name Proud Eagle suited him well. After looking over our furs, the man that owned the store threw down ten dollars and said that was all he was going to pay.

My brother was surprised and angry for our furs were worth far more than what the man had offered. The man and my brother had angry words and my brother told me to grab some of the furs for we would go somewhere else to trade. He had taken the rest of the furs from the counter and started towards the door when I heard the man call out to my brother."

"You are nothing but a stinking savage! You can't talk to me like you did and get away with it!"

"I quickly looked up to see the man aiming a gun at my brother's back. He started to pull the trigger when suddenly my brother turned and threw his knife at the man. My brother's knife plunged deep into the man's heart and he fell to the floor. The next thing I knew, people were dragging Proud Eagle out the door and over to the sheriff's office. The crowd was so angry and everyone was yelling to hang him right there. I tried to tell the sheriff that Proud Eagle was just defending himself, but no one would listen."

Joe sat there quietly as he watched Singing Heart start tracing a circle in the sand beside her. All her hidden feelings began to surface as Joe watched the emotions play across her lovely face as she kept telling her story.

"After the man in the store died, they said my brother was going to hang the next morning. I could not let this happen so I waited until it was late and crept into the jail. The guard was asleep at his desk, so I got the keys and went to open the cell for my brother. We were almost to the door when the guard woke up. He grabbed his gun and was going to shoot. But when my brother saw that I was the one to be shot, he bravely jumped in front of me and then I heard the sound of gun shots as the deputy fired his gun twice."

Singing Heart paused and wiped at a tear that had slowly run down her cheek before she continued on.

"It was like time stood still as I watched my dear brother fall to the floor. I ran to him and sat on the floor beside his still body as I cradled his head in my arms and watched the life slowly go from his eyes...Brave Eagle was no more. My heart was empty as the sheriff threw me into a cell. The cell was dark and foreboding and all I could do was sit on the cold floor and think of how all my family was gone now. Eventually I wrapped my arms around my body and began to chant the death song for my beloved brother."

Joe sadly watched as Singing Heart wrapped her arms around her body as if she was reliving her story.

"They later told me that I would be taken to Reno to be hanged in my brother's place. I knew then that my life's path would be ending soon. So I have chosen to appreciate and be thankful for all the things around me on my last journey…until the life force also goes from my eyes."

As she was telling her story, Joe felt tears well up in his eyes. Men aren't supposed to cry he thought to himself as he swiped at a lone tear on his cheek. But he really didn't care if anyone saw him. All he could think about now was how life was so unfair. Why could a beautiful and kind girl like Singing Heart die just because men were so prejudice and cruel? Well, he wasn't going to let it happen. He didn't know how yet, but he would get her away before it could happen. Joe wiped away his tears on his sleeve and looked at Singing Heart as she gently placed her hand on his arm.

"Do not be sad, Joseph. This is the path that has been chosen for me and I am willing to walk it."

"But it just isn't fair. You have done nothing worth hanging for. And your brother was just defending himself. This should never happen!" Joe declared angrily, as he ran his fingers through his hair trying to come to terms with this whole situation.

"My sweet, Joseph with the kind eyes, every person has a path of their own to follow. My path has been chosen and I accept it. Your path has been chosen also. You just haven't found it yet, and hopefully someday when your path is shown to you, you will embrace it. My life has been rich with all the beauty that the Great Spirit has shown me and I have been blessed. Just look around you and you will hear the earth singing its song. How can we not be happy with all the splendor that is given to us each day to enjoy?"

Singing Heart easily moved her hand through the air around her and smiled contentedly.

"Listen to the breeze as it gently whispers to the trees. Do you hear it singing, Joseph?" She walked over to the stream and beckoned Joseph to join her.

"Look, Joseph, at the fish in the stream and listen to the song of the bubbling water as it glides along on the rocks. Do you see the fish on its journey in the cool stream? He also has a path that he is to follow. Everything and every person has a song of its own. The things that happen in our lives as we travel along that path are what teach our hearts to sing. You must listen to your heart song, Joseph. Only then will you know what path you must travel. And when you do choose to listen, then it will be up to you whether you sing a sad song or a joyful song as you journey through your life. I have chosen to sing a joyful song on what is left of my journey."

Kneeling down beside the stream, Singing Heart ran her hand through the cool water and then let the water trickle down her arm. The water made a soft sound as it hit the stream beside her.

"Do you hear the sound the water makes as it softly hits the stream? That is another beautiful sound that you can hear if you just try."

Singing Heart suddenly stood up and playfully grabbed Joseph's arm and led him further down the stream to where two butterflies were sitting on a flower as the breeze gently blew their delicate wings. The two friends stood there quietly watching these lovely creatures of nature as they gracefully flew up into the sky and started circling each other.

"See, Joseph, they are doing the mating dance that has been done for thousands of years, and soon there will be more of these magnificent butterflies to fill our world. Isn't it wonderful how life renews itself?" Singing Heart said, almost in a whisper, as she smiled while she covered her eyes while watching the two butterflies slowly disappear into the sky.

Then their quiet time together was abruptly interrupted as one of the soldiers called to Joe to bring her back to her wagon. Joe reached for Singing Heart's hand and gently brought it to his lips for a soft kiss.

"You are the most amazing person I have ever met, and if I could have half of the love you show for this world, then I would be a fulfilled man for sure."

Joe smiled down at her upturned face and then the two friends slowly walked back to the wagon hand in hand.

TBC

Wouldn't it be wonderful if we all looked at the world through Singing Heart's eyes!