The Magnificent Seven
Tales From Four Corners
Josiah's Saga
Josiah shifted in his saddle as the fort came into view. It had been a good 5 years since he had been to this territory. The last time he was here, feeling the need to retreat into a more quiet and serene environment, he had trekked into the mountains to seek enlightenment and to flee his fathers' overzealous religious demands. But he was ill prepared, and he soon found himself half frozen in a freak storm, the gale force winds so powerful it made the redwoods bend and crack, branches flew to the ground, biting rain stung his skin as hail the size of marbles pelted him. Taking refuge under the trees provided little protection from the pounding ice. The thunder cracked overhead so loud he could have sworn God himself had drove his mighty fist into a stone mountain top. Lightning bolts cut through the air dancing across the darken sky opening the heavens for one split second and closing them again just as quickly, relinquishing its power back to the darkness. To make matters worse he had little to no provisions. Had it not been for the French-Canadian trapper Pierre Pasquinell finding him and offering him refuge in his cabin Josiah knew he would have died on that mountain. From that time on he and Pierre had become fast friends. Josiah remembered that day as if it were yesterday. - He had attempted to build a lean-to for shelter from the elements, but the strong aggressive wind had swept away all efforts. The torrential downpour had soaked Josiah to the bone, and the assaulting hail stones had scratched and cut his skin. His only food was some berries he had plucked from a nearby bush. Any game that he might have hunted were all nestled in their dens, waiting out the storm as well. Overtaken by exhaustion and hunger, Josiah closed his eyes and curled into a tight ball at the base of the tree, covering himself with the only protection he had with him, a wool blanket. His four-day trek into the mountains for enlightenment and peace had turned into a four-day nightmare.
"Allo! Allo, monsieur!"
Josiah felt himself being shaken awake and yelled at in some foreign language. He slowly came out of his slumber and propped himself up on one arm to face his visitor. The man that stood over him looked like the quintessential trapper. He wore a long buckskin coat with trousers to match. His face was mostly covered by his thick black beard. Yet, his brown eyes showed kindness and what seemed like concern for the lost soul he had discovered.
Josiah, weakened considerably, sat up slowly shading his eyes from the bright sun that had chosen this moment to peek out from the clouds, finally chasing away the maddening storm, bursting forth to once again reign as victor despite the still drizzling rain.
"Hello. My name is Josiah Sanchez. Do you think you could give me a hand?"
The man gave Josiah a puzzled look, indicating that he had not understood a word Josiah had just said. The man then, with a regretful tone, replied, "Monsieur, Je ne parle pas anglaise."(sir, I do not speak English).
Great, Josiah thought. His prayer had been answered, but by a man who could not understand his situation. Josiah suppressed a chuckle at the irony of it all, pondering his situation for a brief moment, he decided he was not going to let a language barrier keep him from his emancipation. He looked the man straight in the eyes and with his right hand motioned to himself. "Josiah." He said slowly, then pointed to the man, hoping he would understand that he was asking for his name.
The man was a quick study and gave Josiah an understanding smile nodding his head. He then mimicked Josiah's motion on himself and said, "Pierre.'" To this Josiah nodded to indicate understanding. Well, he thought to himself, now that the introductions are done, how do I make him understand that I need to get out of here? Again, he pondered the idea. Hand signals had seemed to be effective up to this point. Josiah decided, when in a sticky situation, to go with what you know. Once more he looked the man straight in the eyes. Josiah motioned to himself, then signaled away from his present position as he said, "I need to get out of here." He knew the man had no use for his words, but old habits die hard. A perplexed expression came over the man's features. Josiah began to fear that he would never get his point across. Yet, after a moment, a light seemed to go off in the man's eyes.
"Ah! Oui, oui. Tu vas."(Ah, Yes yes. You go.) The man said as he mirrored Josiah's earlier actions. With that he bent over to help Josiah to his feet. He was not an overly large man, but his size betrayed the solidness of his structure. With one motion Josiah was on his feet and ready to be led wherever the kind man was willing to take him. As long as it was someplace dry and warm, Josiah thought. Pierre' had taken Josiah to his cabin, nestled in a clearing not more than two miles from where he had found him. There he had supplied Josiah with dry clothes, then motioned for him to take a spot near the raging fireplace. As he did a young lady, who must have been Pierre's wife, cautiously approached him, bearing a steaming bowl of rabbit stew. She handed Josiah the bowl and smiled as the two young boys who could not have been much more than 3 and 4 stared wide eyed at him.
"Jacques, Marcel" Pierre scolded, sending the two young men scurrying away and up into their loft.
Josiah was brought back to the present by the cawing of two crows as they argued over the small insect that would undoubtedly become someone's dinner. The sound did not keep Josiah from his thoughts as he rode, he leaned back in his saddle thinking about the past.
Pierre had been trapping these mountains for years and had made friends with most of the native tribes about, The Arapaho, Sioux, Cheyenne and Pawnee.
The trapper had taken it upon himself not only to teach Josiah the ins and outs of trapping and surviving in these mountains but when and where to trade with the tribes as well as learning the languages, and in turn Josiah taught him English.
It wasn't long before Josiah too was accepted among the tribes just as well as Pierre. In the Lakota camp Josiah was even given his own tipi as Pierre's cabin was barely big enough for himself, his wife and their two sons Jacques, then 5, and Marcel 4.
It was here among these people that Josiah first fell in love. Her name was Prairie Moon. She was a Lakota girl, the sister of Pierre's wife, Snowbird. Josiah was awestruck and the two fell madly passionately in love. Josiah spent that year with the Sioux, studying with the holy man Stone Calf, helping Pierre with his traps, and spending every spare minute with Prairie Moon. She had helped to teach him Lakota and in turn he taught her to speak English. It seemed the two had been meant for each other. Again, Josiah's mind went back in time to the day he first met Prairie Moon.
Josiah and Pierre' had brought Snowbird to visit her Lakota family while they did some trading. Prairie Moon had walked into camp with several other women from a day of gathering roots, berries, and firewood. She had a load of wood in her arms and a bag made from rabbit skins over her shoulder filled with the things she'd gathered throughout the day. She'd glanced at him as she passed by giggling and talking with the other girls. Every movement she made seemed as if she floated like an angel in the clouds. Her long jet-black hair was braided into two braids secured with thin pieces of softened deer skin. She wore the simple doe skin dress adorned with beaded accents and shells that chimed as she walked. Her dark brown eyes seemed to pierce through his chest straight to his heart. He remembered how his heartbeat like a drum just at the site of her. And when she smiled it was as if the heavens had opened up and he could see nothing but the sparkling of the stars.
He had been afraid to approach her then but the next season-
Pierre and Josiah bundled their furs and placed them on the travois. Josiah tightened the rope over the furs, securing the bundles of beaver, fox, badger, bear, deer, and elk, making sure they were covered from the elements and would not fall off should they encounter rough terrain or have to cross a river.
"We will do well this year Josiah." Pierre' remarked proudly. "We first trade with the Sioux then we go to St. Louie this year."
"St Louis? Why so far Pierre?"
"The fancy white men in the big houses, they like the beaver hats. They pay very well for the furs to decorate their fancy clothes for the ladies." he chuckled. "And there is a man there, I have heard he will finance good trappers for a portion of the profits, I want to talk to him."
"Think I might want to stay with the Sioux for a while. Do some more study'in' with Stone Calf, that is unless you need my help in St Louis?"
"No, my friend, I can handle the furs and the trading myself this time." Pierre' smiled. "I think maybe it is not just Stone Calf you wish to study though, eh." his smile His accompanied by a jovial wink. "I think maybe it is Prairie Moon you wish to learn more about, no?"
Josiah's face turned a bright crimson, and he averted his eyes tending to his work as if Pierre's statement had not fazed him. "Your sister-in-law? Yes, well she is very pretty but I've only seen her a time or two when we've been in the camp."
"Now Josiah, I have seen the way you look at her, I have also seen the way she looks back."
This brought a smile to the ex-preachers' face as he finished his task and looked over to his friend.
"Do you think? Maybe she… would… I mean we could talk…Do you really think ...?"
"I think maybe you should ask her." Pierre chuckled as he led the horse to the travois and called for his wife and sons. "Come, we will go to the Lakota camp first."
Josiah remembered how nervous he was as he walked into that camp with Pierre' and his family that day. He hadn't shaved in a while and his rugged features were masked under a bush of thick stubble. Josiah rubbed his bristly chin somewhat embarrassed. Then he saw her-
Prairie Moon stepped out of her father's tipi a few paces behind the chief and his wife. The moment he laid eyes on her Josiah felt as if the whole village had disappeared and all that remained was the beautiful angel who had glided from the dwelling into his line of vision. Josiah felt his heart flutter as he gazed at her and his hand went to his chest, a captivated sigh escaping from his lips. He was unaware of Pierre's chortle as the trapper helped his wife to dismount.
Prairie Moon smiled joyfully when she saw her sister and immediately moved to greet her with a warm embrace. The two quickly struck up a conversation. Josiah was oblivious of course to what it was about, but the giggling and glances from Prairie made him blush. He was thankful his face was hidden behind his mangy beard. As the girls headed over to greet their father and mother. Josiah made himself busy helping Pierre.
A few days later, Pierre' had left to do the trading leaving Snowbird and the boys to visit with their Lakota family.
It had taken a few more days of Josiah talking with the holy man Stone Calf, even though his attention was more on Prairie Moon, before he finally got up the nerve, with Stone Calf's encouragement, to even talk to the object of his desire.
"Why do you not speak to her?" the older Lakota man asked as he painted drawings that told the stories of the Lakota people onto the cured and softened hide, he had stretched before him. It had not gone unnoticed that Josiah's interests were more on the young maiden Prairie Moon than on his teachings.
"Speak to who?" Josiah quickly pulled his attention from watching Prairie Moon as she worked alongside her mother and sister in front of their teepee scraping at a deer hide, back to what the village elder was showing him.
Stone Calf nodded toward Prairie.
Josiah smiled "Oh, I, well, I don't want to interrupt them," he stammered glancing over at the girl once more then again quickly looking away.
Stone Calf grinned as he continued with his drawings. "You have no courage; I think your name should be mouse and not Big Bear."
His comment brought a hearty guffaw from Josiah. "I think maybe your right." Josiah agreed, until his tone changed to a more disappointed one. "But, every time I try to talk to her, I get all tongued tied."
This time it was Stone Calf's turn to laugh as he gave a tilt of his head toward where Prairie had stood and was walking alone toward the river with two empty water bags.
"Perhaps it is time your tongue became untied."
Josiah turned and watched her. Then suddenly stood. "Maybe your right Stone Calf if you'll excuse me." With that Josiah strode toward the river.
Prairie Moon smiled to herself as she reached the river and stooped near the bank filling her bags with water. She sensed more than saw the man behind her as he was careful not to startle her.
"He-here." he stuttered. "Le—le-Let me do that." He reached to help her fill the bags when she refused.
Shaking her head, no, she told him in her own language. "Woman's work."
"Nothin says a man can't help." He smiled. "Sorry, I'm, Uh, not very good, at speaking your language,"
Prairie glanced over, giving him a small grin and handed him one of the water bags to fill. "Not too bad"
Josiah's eyes stayed fixed on the girl before him as he took the bag from her, then reached to place it into the river. At the same time, he stepped on an unstable stone causing him to trip. He toppled toward the river but caught himself just in time. Instead of falling forward as he crouched down, he bent backwards and ended up on his rear. This brought an outright laugh from the girl and Josiah felt his face heat with embarrassment before he too fell into a fit of laughter. -
Josiah looked back fondly on those days, remembering them as if it were yesterday. How he stumbled over his words when he talked to her, the way she smiled at him and laughed when he tripped. He remembered so clearly the days of long walks into the forests, and prairies. Sitting with her around the fire listening as Stone Calf told stories of Coyote and the white buffalo, the artichoke and the muskrat, and the Faithful Lovers. He remembered their many walks along the river, the day of their first kiss and the night their love and passion overcame them and could not be silenced. They had loved under the stars, a more beautiful night he had not experienced since.
When spring finally came Josiah had made up his mind to make Prairie Moon his wife. She was the daughter of a chief, so he gathered what furs he had collected, and a couple of good ponies then summoned the courage to confront Chief Standing Bear.
Unfortunately, the meeting had not gone as planned. The Chief abruptly refused the gifts and said no to Josiah's proposal. He did not want his daughter to marry a preacher's son for fear one day she would turn against her people and her beliefs, he was unsure that Josiah could provide for his daughter properly. He'd made it clear that he had nothing against him as a man, but he did not want his daughter in the white world, It was then that Chief Standing Bear admitted that he had already Promised Prairie to another.
Prairie Moon, being the obedient daughter, although heartbroken, regrettably accepted her father's ruling.
Josiah still remembered to this day the chief's words… "You are a good man Josiah, but you are not the man for my daughter. You are not like Pasquinell, you are still too much in the white world, you have said yourself you will one day go back there, I do not want my daughter to live in that world. One day our two peoples will have war, it will be soon I fear, then where would she be. I have promised her to another."
Josiah had been gutted, he implored Prairie to run away with him, but she had refused. She knew her father would send the worriers after her, and Josiah would be killed, that was a fate she could not bear.
So Broken and forlorn Josiah left the mountains and the Sioux never to return.
Now at the request of his friend Pierre, Josiah was going back, well at least to the fort. Pierre had sent him a letter and it had taken nearly two years for the message to find him. He'd asked Josiah to meet him at Fort Defiance. He missed his old friend and had something important to discuss with him. There was a rendezvous held outside the fort every spring. Pierre had always made it a habit to attend. Josiah hoped that he would be there again this year.
As Josiah reached the outskirts of the fort, he could see the tents and tipis scattered about. Small makeshift trading areas were strewn throughout, smoke from the cooking fires billowed into the air. It was as if a small town had sprung up in front of the fort.
Looks from trappers and Indian alike shadowed him as he followed the single trail leading into the garrison. He dismounted once he reached the general store. The fort had only a few soldiers to watch over the gathering. It was mostly used for trading now. But there were rumors more soldiers were coming.
Josiah tied his horse to the hitching post and started to go inside the trade goods store when two young boys came bursting out of the door. Both were obviously of Indian descent, long dark hair that reached to the top of their shoulders and clad in buckskins. An older man came out behind them shouting in French.
"Yes Papa" the older boy called back as he ran off toward the open gates.
"Pardon sir" he greeted Josiah. "The garçons they are wild and discourteous sometimes, but they are good boys' He apologized in his thick French-Canadian accent. "Come, I can get you something? Have you come to trade?"
As the two men laid eyes on each other sudden recognition hit them in unison.
"Josiah?"
"Pierre?"
Both men let out a hearty laugh and embraced each other.
"Josiah my dear friend!" Pierre shouted, "I hoped beyond hope you would find us again!"
"I'm sorry," Josiah quickly apologized. "I just recently received your letter. I've been traveling a lot the last few years."
"Snowbird!" Pierre called to his wife. "Come see who has found us."
"Was that?" Josiah pointed toward the two boys who had run past him.
Pierre nodded proudly. "Jacques and Marcel, yes, they have grown, no?"
Josiah shook his head. "They weren't more than babies the last time I saw them."
Josiah's comment no sooner left his mouth than Pierre's wife walked out of the door.
"Josiah!" She greeted him with a smile. "It has been much too long."
The big man turned to her then pulled her into a fond embrace. "Still as beautiful as ever Snowbird." He smiled, holding her out at arm's length so he could look at her. "You haven't changed a bit."
Snowbird blushed. "Nor have you."
Josiah's attention was suddenly pulled from his friends to the little child who stood near Snowbird tugging on her skirt. She could not have been more than 4, dark hair that reached just passed her shoulders and bright blue eyes that looked up at him from behind her mother as she chewed on a piece of licorice.
Josiah crouched down in front of the little girl. She looked vaguely familiar, as if he should know her, but that was impossible. "And who do we have here?" He smiled.
The little girl immediately stepped farther behind Snowbird who laid a comforting hand on the top of the little girl's head.
"This is Cheyenne." Snowbird answered. "Say hello Cheyenne."
The Shy little girl hid her face behind her mother's skirt.
Josiah smiled understanding and stood, as Pierre' reached down and scooped the little girl up in his arms.
"Now, now Cheyenne, Josiah is not going to bite you, be polite and say hello to our friend."
Obligingly the timid little girl looked over at Josiah. "Bon jour." she greeted him in a small quiet little voice then quickly hid her face in Pierre's shoulder.
"Brave' fille Cheyenne, Good girl, now go play, alle'." he smiled as he set the little girl down and watched as she ran back into the store.
"Cheyenne is the reason I have asked you to come Josiah. She is the something important I must discuss with you." Pierre' admitted seriously.
Josiah looked over at his old friend confused.
Pierre' laid a friendly hand on Josiah's shoulder, "Come my friend we have much to talk about" he said as he led Josiah inside, through the trading post to the back of the store, where the living quarters were. The accommodations were small but cozy, the main room doubled for both cooking and eating area with a stove, a sink with a water pump, cupboards on the walls and a place for a counter underneath where Snowbird prepared the meals. In the middle of the room was a kitchen table with four chairs. At the other end of the room a double bed, a few steps in the other direction from the table, stairs led to a loft where the boys slept. Under the stare case a small room just big enough for a child sized bed for the littlest one. Pierre' motioned for Josiah to sit at the table, as he pulled a jug from the top of the cupboard and retrieved two tin cups.
Jerking the cork from the jug with his teeth Pierre' then set the cups down on the table and filled each one before returning the cork. He put the jug on the tabletop and handed Josiah one of the cups full of the robust liquid.
Pierre' took a drink from his mug then looked across the table at his friend.
"It has been a long time, no? tell me Josiah, what have you been up to all these years? Have you settled down? A wife maybe?"
Josiah took a drink then set the cup down with a sour look, the liquid burned sliding down his throat. He coughed then grinned approvingly. "Been a while since I had anything that stout." he laughed before answering.
"No, no I haven't settled anywhere, and haven't found a woman, to tell the truth I haven't been looking. I'm not ready for that."
"You were once." Pierre' pointed out looking over his cup at him waiting for his reaction.
"That was a lifetime ago." Josiah said sadly, instinctively knowing what Pierre' was referring to and he wasn't anxious to talk about it.
"I am sorry old friend, I know this is not a subject you wish to look back on, But I am afraid you must."
Josiah stared into the cup in front of him. "How is she? Prairie. Is she well?" he asked, not meeting his friends gaze, a melancholy expression crossing his rugged features.
Before Pierre could answer he looked up as Snowbird entered the room.
"Where is the little one?" he asked.
"She is with Jacques and Marcel."
Pierre' nodded approvingly as Snowbird walked over putting an encouraging hand on her husband's shoulder.
"Have you told him?"
"Not yet, I was waiting for you."
Josiah looked at them both, curiously. "Just what is all this about you two? And what did you mean that your daughter is the reason you asked me to come here. Just what is it you're trying to tell me Pierre'? Or not tell me?"
Pierre looked up at his wife as she smiled nodding reassuringly. "Go on, tell him."
Looking back to his friend, Pierre' took another drink and ran his sleeve over his mouth.
"Cheyenne is not our daughter Josiah." He hesitated before he finished. "She is, was, Prairie Moons child."
"Was?" Josiah asked warily as if he was afraid to hear the answer.
"My Sister died in childbirth." Snowbird began, as she sat next to him putting a comforting hand on his. "I was there when Cheyenne was born. I laid the baby in Prairies arms, she named her, asked me to care for her and before she died, told me who Cheyenne's father was, she is yours Josiah, Cheyenne is your daughter."
Josiah was in shock as he stared at her. "My? My daughter? How is that possible? We, I mean she married someone else."
Snowbird smiled. "Yes, but it was you she loved, she was with child when you left Josiah, but she said nothing, she did not want to worry you, and our father had already refused your offer of marriage and promised her to another man. Isaiah Hondo was not a kind man; he did not treat her well. He brought her back to her people for the birth, then he left to trade with the crow. He was killed for cheating one of their worriers and trying to take his woman. The birth was hard, there was nothing that could be done. Prairie Moon was too weak. Before she died, she asked that we care for Cheyenne until we could find you. She has your eyes you know."
Josiah finished what was left in his mug in one big gulp. Reaching over for the jug he took out the cork and filled his cup again then quickly taking another swallow.
"Easy my friend," Pierre consoled him. "I understand this is much to take all at once, but you must face it with a clear head."
"Why? Why didn't she leave with me? Why didn't she tell me then? Why didn't you? How could her father let her marry another man when she was carrying my child?"
"No one knew Josiah," Snowbird explained. "Not until Isaiah brought her back. She did not even confide in me until that day."
Josiah guzzled the last of his drink as if it were as smooth as water. He set the tin cup on the table and stood. "I need some air."
Snowbird motioned for her husband to follow the ex-preacher as he went back out to the front and stood on the board walk leaning against the hitching post. He watched as the children played ball. The little girls' two brothers protectively watching over her, making sure she got her turn to throw the ball.
Cheyenne laughed and giggled as the older boys chased her in circles. Only once did she stumble, and the boys quickly went to her side helping her up and brushing the dust from her buckskin dress.
"They watch over her."
Pierre' nodded. "To them she is their sister. They love her. They will miss her."
"Miss her?" Josiah turned to him.
"She is your daughter, surely you will want to take her with you. After you come to know each other first of corse."
Josiah shook his head. "Pierre' I can't take her with me, what would I do with a child, a little girl? I never know from one day to the next where I'm going to lay my head. I live by this now." He rested his hand on his gun. "That's no life for a child."
"Are you saying you do not want her my friend?" Pierre's concern echoed in his voice.
Josiah spun around almost angrily. "Of corse I'm not saying that. I-" his tone softened "I just-My daughter-" his voice trailed as he turned back to watch the little girl at play, he knew now why she had looked so familiar to him when he first saw her, she looked like her mother, the woman he had loved so fiercely for what seemed like a generation ago. "She looks like her you know, Prairie Moon."
"Oui, Josiah, but she has your eyes." Pierre' put a comforting hand on his friend's shoulder.
Josiah's disbelief had turned to amazement as reality began to set in. He had a daughter, a beautiful little girl. So much time had already passed, he'd missed so much. Her birth, her first step, her first smile. Her first word. His thoughts turned to the child's mother. How he had loved Prairie Moon's smile, how he'd missed her, how much he had cared for her, loved her. If he had only known, he would have come back for her. What would this child think of him when she was old enough to comprehend, the man who deserted her mother, would she understand, would she comprehend why he could not stay with her now.
"Does she know Pierre'? does Cheyenne know about her mother? About me?"
"No." Pierre' stood next to his friend looking out as they continued to watch the children play. "She knows only that I am papa, and Snowbird is mama. We had planned to tell her when she was old enough. But now that you are here."
Their conversation was interrupted as the three children came running over to them.
"Father" the eldest, eleven-year-old Jacques spoke first. "Can we go outside the fort and visit White Feather? Cheyenne wants to play with Little Fawn."
"Can we papa? Please?" nine-year-old Marcel begged.
Pierre' looked down at his children.
"Go on then, mind Cheyenne, and do not stay long, your mother will have your dinner ready soon."
Josiah watched as Jacques and Marcel took Cheyenne by the hand and hurried off to play.
"Are you sure it's safe out there Pierre'?"
Pierre' smiled at Josiah's concern. "They will be fine." He assured him. "They have done this, many times. Come inside my friend there is still much to discuss."
Josiah took one last look as the children hurried through the open gate and out among the tipis. he tipped his hat off his head letting it hang behind him and ran his hand through his short thick dark curls, a thoughtful sigh escaped him as he turned and followed Pierre' back inside.
Inside the small home adjoining the trading post. Snowbird stood at the counter kneading out the bread dough.
"Tell me more, about Prairie Moon. What happened after I left?" He urged them as he pulled the chair out from the table and sat down.
"There is not much to tell." Snowbird said as she put the bread dough on the pan and covered it with a cloth to let it rise. "She was sad, very sad after you left. Even when Isaiah came to claim her, she begged our father not to make her marry him. But he had struck a bargain and would not go back on his word. Our father believed Isaiah was a good man, his mother was Arapaho. He was well known among the tribes, a trapper like Pierre. It was not until later that he learned he was not the man we thought he was. He liked the fire water and drank from morning until night when he would sleep. He was mean when he drank. He had begun to cheat many that he traded with; and he kept Prairie Moon away from her family. When we did see her, she was very quiet, afraid to talk. We knew he was beating her. She had the bruises. It was a miracle she did not lose the baby. My father regretted his decision, but it was too late."
Josiah hung his head leaning over, he rested his forehead in his hands, and his elbows on his knees. Anger grew deep inside him, mingling with his anguish. "I should have stayed." He growled under his breath. "I should have stayed and fought for her."
Snowbird and Pierre shared a knowing look as Pierre stepped over and patted Josiah on the shoulder before taking a seat across the table.
"It was not your fault Josiah, it was fate, and fate can sometimes be very cruel."
Snowbird crossed the distance to where Josiah sat and crouched down in front of him putting her hands on his.
"Prairie Moon loved you very much, and she knew you loved her. Let that comfort you in your grief. She has left you a great gift. Your daughter, a product of the love you shared. She, needs you now."
"Needs me? she doesn't need me. She needs you." He looked at each of them, his sorrow and guilt written in his painfilled blue eyes. "I mean nothing to her, you are her parents, you are the ones she knows and loves. Who would she see in me? The man of God who left her mother to be beaten and mistreated."
Snowbird squeezed Josiah's hands in her own. "Stop, this is not how Prairie Moon saw you, this is not how we see you. You have much to offer Josiah, you are a good man, a kind and generous man. My sister knew this, she loved you so very much, and she loved your child. Will this be how you repay her? By running from the beautiful product of your love? Cheyenne will learn to see you as we all do. She will know what her mother knew, the kindness in your heart. If you give her a chance. She is a little girl. She needs only love and nurturing. Stay with us, get to know her. It is what Prairie would have wanted, and I know it is what you want, in here." She touched his chest. "Give it time, and then decide."
Josiah's eyes glistened as he held back his emotions. Reflections of the woman he had loved and the little girl she had left behind consumed his thoughts until Slowly he nodded. "I'd like that."
**** One Month Later****
Outside the general store Josiah tightened the sinch on his saddle as Jacques and Marcel stood watching.
"I thought you weren't going to leave until tomorrow, Josiah?" Marcel asked disappointedly.
"I'm not, I'm taking your little sister for a ride."
"Can we go?" Jacques piped up.
"No, you cannot." Snowbird answered, in Josiah's stead as she stepped out from the general store a picnic basket in one hand and Cheyenne in the other.
"Josiah's taking me on a picnic!" Cheyenne told them excitedly, letting go of her mother's hand and running over to meet him.
"I helped make the bread Josiah and the sandwiches." The little girl beamed.
Josiah crouched down in front of her. "And I bet you did a very good job too." He grinned, gently poking her playfully in the tummy before gathering her in his arms.
Cheyenne giggled and hugged him around the neck before he set her on his horse. Josiah stepped into the stirrups and mounted on behind her.
"Can we go tomorrow, Josiah?" Jacques asked hopefully. "You said we could go fishing again before you leave."
"Boy's." Snowbird scolded. "Josiah has not had a moments peace without the two of you badgering him, go on now and help your father, he needs you to help unload the freight in the back."
"Ah mother." Marcel complained.
"Go now." Snowbird ushered them off then handed the picnic basket up to Josiah. "Have fun, and do not let her talk you into eating so many wild berries or I will be up with her all night with a stomachache again." She chuckled.
"I promise." Josiah grinned sheepishly before turning his horse toward the fort gates.
"Adieu mama." Cheyenne waved back excitedly.
The rendezvous over for another year. The tipis and lean-to's all packed up and gone, left the open prairie outside the confines of the fort desolate.
"Will you tell me the fairy story again Josiah?"
"Again?" he chuckled.
"Please? I like it."
"Alrighty,.." he agreed tickling her ribs then cleared his throat..
In Fairy Town, in Fairy Town,
Where Fairy folk go up and down,
Where Fairy children, wee and gay,
Frisk and romp in Fairy play,
Every day's a holiday!
And every night is sweeter still,
For when, behind the Fairy hill
The tiny Fairy sun goes down,
It's sleepy time in Fairy Town!
Sleepy time in Fairy Town!
Sleep, sleep–sleep–
While the stars of Fairy Town
Safe watch keep.
All the Fairy babies, so,
Off to Dreamland softly go–
Sleep–sleep–sleep!
In Fairy Town, in Fairy Town,
Each baby in a moonlight gown,
Lies and dreams the livelong night.
Fairy babies are so white,
White and pink and wee and bright!
Petals of a rose a-curl
Make a Fairy baby girl;
Autumn leaves, all dear and brown,
Make the boys of Fairy Town!
Sleepy time in Fairy Town!
Sleep, sleep–sleep–
While the stars of Fairy Town
Safe watch keep.
Like the Fairy babies, go
Off to Dreamland, softly, so–
Sleep–sleep–sleep!
"Now the other one!" the little girl urged him.
"The other one?" Josiah laughed.
"Uh huh, the one about the leeprcans."
"You mean the leprechauns?" he corrected.
"Yes, that one Please Josiah, tell me the story."
"Don't you get tired of my stories little one?" He smiled down at her.
"No, I like your stories, Papa doesn't know very many, but he sings funny songs. Mama tells us stories Grandfather told her when she was little, about the Coyote and Wakan Tonka and Wakinyan the sky spirit. I like those too, But I like your stories about the faries and princesses best."
The ex- preacher wrapped his arm around the little girl hugging her to him. "Well, I like telling them to you. Let's see now, a long time ago in a far-off land -
As they rode Josiah did as the little girl bid. Telling her story after story, letting her take the reins of his horse, she was a fast learner and was a natural when it came to riding. He had found that when it came to Cheyenne, he could deny her nothing. As the weeks had gone by and he spent more and more time getting to know his daughter. He could not help but love her. He had enjoyed every moment he'd spent with her. And more and more, he saw in her traces of her mother. Sometimes it was the way she smiled, or her soft-spoken voice, or just the way she walked, her mannerism, even her fondness for animals, she had a gift, like her mother had had, a tender way with wild things. And she had, his, temper.
The days had gone by so fast, and he knew it was time he was on his way. But leaving her would be hard, it was one of the hardest choices he had ever had to make. But he knew it was for the best.
They had spent this last day together, laughing, playing, having a picnic near the lake, wading barefoot along the shoreline, and looking for pretty colored rocks, gifts for her brothers, mama, and papa. And one special rock she had found just for him. They were enjoying themselves so much that Josiah had lost all track of time. By the time they had returned it was nearly dark and Cheyenne had fallen asleep leaning back up against him, her head on his chest as he kept an arm wrapped around her so she wouldn't fall. He could not describe the feeling he felt holding his little daughter next to him. It warmed his heart and quieted his disgruntled soul.
Pierre and Snowbird sat outside the store enjoying the quiet night. Jacques and Marcel were sound asleep in their beds and there was no one at the fort now, the small group of soldiers had left and would be away for a few days. The couple looked up and smiled as Josiah rode in and stopped in front of them. Noting that the little girl was fast asleep, Pierre stood and moved to take Cheyenne while Josiah dismounted.
"I will take her to bed." He offered. When Josiah stopped him.
"No Pierre, please, let me."
"Of corse" the burly Frenchman smiled as he handed the sleeping little girl to his friend. he and his wife watched as Josiah carried the child inside. Both shared a knowing look.
Josiah carefully carried Cheyenne to her tiny room, he could barely fit inside, as he gently laid her on her bed and carefully pulled her moccasin's off, then covered her with a blanket. He stood there a moment watching her. Her braids were disheveled, a product of the play and fast ride she'd begged for. He thought back on the day- swinging her in his arms, playing chase and hunting for rocks. And the skunk. He chuckled inwardly remembering how lucky they were not to have been sprayed. In the end Cheyenne had tossed the critter a piece of bread, and it had been satisfied with that, and gone in another direction. He suddenly remembered the rocks and pulled out several from his pocket, laying them on the nightstand next to her bed. Before he blew out the oil lamp he glanced back at her once more. How beautiful she was. So much like her mother, how could he ever deny her? Yet how could he take her from the only home she had ever known. How could he give her such an uncertain future. Slowly Josiah bent down, laying a soft kiss on her forehead before he left her room and made his way outside where Pierre and his wife waited.
The solemness in Josiah's demeanor did not go unnoticed as they watched him emerge from inside, go over to his horse then lead the animal toward the stables without a word, it was obvious the man was in turmoil. When he'd finally returned, he handed Snowbird the picnic basket, then leaned back against a pole. He stared at the ground for a long moment until he finally looked over at them.
"I'm not taking her with me." He announced.
"But she is your daughter." Snowbird said partly relieved and partly in disbelief.
"I don't have a daughter, I have a goddaughter, that is if it's alright with you?"
"A god daughter?" Pierre asked mirroring his wife's puzzlement. "But we thought, you wanted her?"
"Oh, I want her, and I love her." Josiah answered, his emotion clearly coming through in his tone. "I am so proud of her, you don't know just how much she means to me. But she has a family here, she has a mother and a father, and brothers. I can't take her away from that. I won't. I have nothing to offer her, no home, no stability. But if it's alright I would like to come back and visit off and on? I can be her God father, a favorite uncle. I don't want her to know who I am, not yet, and I just can't uproot her now, maybe if I had a home, something steady. But I don't. I don't know when or if I ever will. So Like Prairie Moon, I'm asking you to keep doing what you are doing, being her parents, to take care of her. I'll send you money as often as I can- and I-I-" Josiah stopped as his voice cracked, he turned away as a tear crept out of the corner of his eye. Once he'd gotten his emotions under control, he turned back to face them. "I'd really like to come visit as much as I can?"
Pierre stood crossing the distance between them. "You are welcome anytime Mon-ami, and there is no need to send money, she is part of our family."
"I insist, I want to. Anything she wants or needs you just ask. I may not be able to be her father, but I will always be there if she needs me."
The next morning Josiah was up early, he'd had very little sleep. Not that he was anxious to leave, but why put off the inevitable. Gathering what little belongings he had with him he folded the blanket over the cot he had used for his bed inside the storeroom and made his way toward the livery.
"Josiah?" Marcel's sleepy voice came from the doorway.
Josiah looked over as he led his horse from the stall. "Marcel, what are you doing up so early?"
"Cheyenne had a bad dream, she's crying." He answered just as Jacques walked in holding the hand of the tearful little girl still sobbing.
Josiah dropped what he was doing and went over to the children, taking Cheyenne in his arms, carrying her over to a nearby hay bale. He sat down putting her on his lap as she buried her face in his chest and cried.
"Hey now, what's all this?" He cooed as he held her close to him and smoothed her tangled hair "Hush now little Annie, Josiah's here." He soothed. "Can you tell me what's made you cry so?"
Cheyenne shook her head, not lifting it off the big man's shoulder.
"I can't help if you don't tell me what's wrong? Do I need to go wrestle a Leprechaun from under your bed?" He teased, tickling her side. "Or a fairy maybe?"
The little girl squirmed as she let loose a small giggle, then slowly looked up at him a frightened frown once more falling over her. "Bad men." Her small little voice cracked as she tried to catch her breath, fighting back the sobs.
"What bad men?" he coaxed as he took out his kerchief and wiped away the tears on her cheeks.
"They took you away." She sniffed.
"Took me away?" he chuckled. "Well, I'm a pretty big man, were they bigger than me?"
She shook her head. "They wore blue coats, like the soldiers here at the fort."
"Is that so? Well." He dabbed at the tears under her eyes. "I don't think those soldiers want to take me away, they have no reason to. Beside I'd give'em to much grief. I don't think they would want me around."
"They gave you to the wendigo." She stammered, her bottom lip trembling.
Josiah's heart melted as he held her close. He knew the story of the evil spirit called the Wendigo, from his time spent in the Lakota camp listening to the stories Stone Calf told around the campfires at night. "The Wendigo?" he looked over at the boys who had made their way next to him. "Have you two been telling her scary stories again?"
Both boys shook their heads no. "Well," Jacques admitted. "Not recently." He looked at the ground and shuffled his moccasin feet. Marcel jabbed his brother in the side as he too looked down at the ground ashamed.
Josiah looked at them both disappointedly. "You two."
"It was just a story." Marcel piped up defensively.
"Alright, go on back to the house, Your parents will be awake soon and be looking for you. I'll bring Cheyenne in a few minutes.
"Sorry Cheyenne.": Jacque apologized giving his sister a peck on the cheek, "We didn't mean to give you bad dreams, it's ok. We won't do it again." He looked over at his brother. "Will we Marcel?"
The younger boy shook his head. "Sorry Cheyenne." With that both boys ran out of the livery.
Josiah looked down at Cheyenne. "See now Annie, the soldiers are not going to take me anywhere, least of all to a mythical monster, There is no such thing as a Wendigo. "I promise, ok? All better now?"
Cheyenne sniffed then nodded.
"Alright. Then let's see that pretty little smile." He grinned as she complied, rewarding him with a big smile of her own. He handed her his kerchief, then lifted her off his lap and set her on the ground, "Come help me saddle my horse."
Cheyenne wiped her nose with the kerchief, then followed Josiah over to his horse taking hold of the reigns while Josiah finished up. "How come you call me Annie?" She asked.
Josiah threw the saddle blanket over his horses back, "Oh I dunno, just a nick name I suppose, kind of a short way to say Cheyenne, don't you like it?"
Cheyenne shrugged, "It's ok, but just you can call me that."
The big man chuckled. "Alright then, that's just for me, I like that." He picked up his saddle and set it easily on to his horse while Cheyenne held the horses reigns.
When Josiah was finished, he secured his saddle bags and set his rifle in the scabbard. Then he picked up the little girl and plopped her on top of the saddle before he led his horse out of the livery and over to the general store.
Pierre stood outside, a cup of coffee in his hands. Josiah reached up and taking Cheyenne from the horse. "Give me a big hug now, I have to leave."
"When will you be back?" she asked, a sadness hovering in her blue eyes as she looked into his.
"Might be a while, but I promise I'll come back and see you." He assured her giving her a hug and holding her tightly, as she wrapped her arms around his neck and returned the embrace.
"I'm gonna miss you, Josiah."
"Oh, and I will miss you my little Annie, more than you know." Finally making himself let go, Josiah set the little girl on the ground, She looked up at him as her eyes welled with tears.
Josiah crouched down and braved a smile, "Now no more tears alright?" he tapped her playfully on the nose.
Pierre walked over holding his hand out to Josiah. His friend took it as they shared a heartfelt handshake. "You are welcome here anytime Josiah, you are family. Do not forget that."
"I won't forget." He reassured him as their hands parted.
Pierre reached down and gathered Cheyenne in his arms as Snowbird walked out of the store followed by Jacques and Marcel. She gave him a hug as she reached him then handed him the brown box in her hands. "I packed you some sandwiches in case you get hungry, there's also some dried beef and fry bread."
"Thank You snowbird." he said as he gave her another hug before setting the food in his saddle bag, then mounted his horse. He took in a heavy breath then let it out as he looked over at his friends as if burning their images into his mind. Especially Cheyenne. He knew it was going to be hard to leave, but he did not expect the lump he felt growing in his throat as he took one last look at his little girl.
"You uh, take care of each other, I'll see you again." With that he turned his horse toward the open fort gates and headed out slowly at first, then as the lump in his throat grew, he kicked his steed into a run.
Jacques and Marcel ran after him waving madly. "Goodbye Josiah! Bye!" Cheyenne wriggled from Pierre's arms until he set her down and she began running behind the boys and shouting. "I love you, Josiah! I Love you."