Children
White Medicine Woman
Chapter One
Irene Simpson wakes to the sound of rushing water, a hawk flying over-head and the pungent smell of pine. She looks up the tall green pine tree she is under. She has no idea where she is or how she happens to be lying under this tree with only an old buffalo robe for clothing. Realizing she is chilly she pulls the robe a little tighter around her self. She tries to think; the last thing she remembers is … nothing! Then she sees a young brave coming towards her. How does she know he is an Indian when she seems to know nothing else?
Expecting to encounter no one on his morning hunt Bear Claw is surprised when he sees a young red haired white woman lying under the old pine. He stops a short distance from her and looks around. Seeing no one else he approaches and asks, "Who are you? How did you get here? I am Bear Claw." Tapping his chest. Then pointing to the girl, he repeats.
She understands what he wants but not how to tell him she doesn’t know. She shrugs her shoulders and lifts her hands palms up trying to infer that she does not know.
Again he repeats what he said. Again she shrugs, lifts her hands and shakes her head in a way of saying, I don't know. Now he gestures for her to follow him. She shakes her head up and down and stands.
They return the way he had come. She has no idea where he is taking her. They enter an Indian encampment and into a tepee near where they entered the camp. In the tent is a white man. Her rescuer speaks to him and the man answers.
Bear Claw is saying, "Father, I found this young woman lying by the river.
I tried to talk to her but either she didn't understand or doesn't know."
White Wolf, Bear Claw's father asks, "Was anyone else around?"
Bear Claw replies, "No Father, no one. I listened before approaching her.
I heard nothing."
The white man is talking now in a language she understands. "Who are you?" he asks, "Where did you come from?"
Irene is unsure if she can speak but she tries. "Umm, umm, I don't know. I just woke up when he," pointing to the young warrior, "found me. Do you know me?"
"No. I have never seen you before." White Wolf says, "It seems that you speak English though. This is Bear Claw. I am White Wolf, his father. What do you remember? Your name, anything at all?"
Again she tries to remember something, anything, even her name, "No nothing, nothing at all. I don’t even know how I got to where Bear Claw, if that is his name found me. I knew he was trying to tell me his name and ask mine. I did not know how to tell him I understood but could not tell him who I was.”
"He understood," White Wolf says, "that is why he brought you to me."
Bear Claw says to her, "I did understand but did not know if you were trying to trick me or if you really did not know. That is why I brought you to my father.
I am sorry if I scared you."
"No, you didn't scare me." Irene says. "It is the not knowing that still scares me. Who am I? How did I get to the river and why am I dressed this way?"
White Wolf says, "I was going to ask if you knew anything about that skin? Is that all you have on? Nothing under it."
Knowing it is the only thing she has on she says, "Yes, it is all I have on. Why, does it mean something to you?"
"No," White Wolf answers. "It is not a good skin, though well treated. May I give you something to wear while I inspect it?"
"Yes, please," she answers, "I was chilly but am now quite warm. If you find anything you will tell me."
White Wolf goes to a peg on one of the tent poles and takes down a beautifully beaded dress and moccasins. "Put these on." he says handing them to her, "We‘ll be outside. Call us when you are finished."
White Wolf and Bear Claw leave the tent. Irene holds the beautiful buckskin dress and lets the robe fall to the floor, looking at her young naked body for what seems the first time. She has no idea of her age but can tell she is not a child. She puts on the buckskin dress and moccasins he gave her.
"White Wolf, Bear Claw," She calls, "I am dressed. You can come in now."
They come in and White Wolf bends to pick up the buffalo robe. "There is no distinguishable marks on it." he says, "I will take it to the chief, maybe he can see something I can not. He is an old warrior and my father-in-law."
White Wolf takes the buffalo robe, her only possession and leaves the tent. While he is gone the two young people look at each other. Both wanting to say something but not knowing what to say.
When White Wolf returns he says, "Child, the Chief has heard of a tribe that leaves young white women wrapped only in a buffalo robe. These women had been taken as wife/slaves for young warriors. The woman has been so much trouble that she is drugged and left to die. They do not want to kill her because in a way they admire her courage. This way she is just gone. You must have been very brave and won their admiration even through their anger. The drug they gave you took all your memories. Some may return and others may not or none will. Chief Great Bear would like to meet you if you are up to it. He wants to see for himself if you are a troublemaker and what if anything you remember. If he thinks you will be trouble you will be taken back to where Bear Claw found you and left. You may not return here. Try to answer his questions to the best of your ability, truthfully and with respect. He will know if you are lying. I will translate between you."
They go out and across the encampment to a bigger tepee. White Wolf coughs slightly and taps the covering of the tepee. She hears something that must be enter.
In the dimness she see an old man sitting cross-legged on a bear rug. He is saying something. White Wolf translates "What are you called?"
She says, "I have no idea. I remember nothing until I woke up beside the river wrapped in a buffalo robe and the young warrior found me."
White Wolf translates this for her to the Chief.
The chief says something else, White wolf translates to her. "Is there any memory that has returned since you woke?"
"No," She says and shakes her head from side to side. White wolf translates this one word for her. She is getting apprehensive standing in front of this grizzled, battle scared old chief with White Wolf translating her words.
"How can I trust him to translate truthfully?" She asks herself but must have said it out loud.
White wolf says, "Because I am Great Bear's son-in-law and my son is his grandson and next in line to be Chief. I would not take the chance of lying for him or to him. I have said exactly or as close as translation will allow. The meaning is the same. Now I will tell Great Bear what I have said to you and why."
When he translates for the chief there is a big smile on Great Bear’s face, which changes the grizzled old face into one of compassion. Then he translates for her what the chief told him. "Great Bear says to take you back to my tent and feed you. You will be Bear Claws charge and my daughter unless you do something to prove you are a trouble maker. So I would advise you to be on your best behaviour."
As they cross the campground he explains who lives in each tent and who to stay away from.
"Stay as far away from Eagle Wing and his followers as you can. If you come in contact with any of them be very submissive. It may save your life. Magic Dove, Eagle Wing's wife is the medicine woman; she will be very kind to you but do not in any way approach her. Leave it to her to come to you if she wishes. It is for your own good to do as I have told you."
"Yes," She say, "I will do as you say. I do not want any trouble. Thank you for all you are doing for me. How long will I be living with you and what is going to happen to me?"
White Wolf says, "As long as you are here you will be treated as my daughter. You will stay as long as Bear Claw says, being as he found you. You will be his property but treated as a sister."
As we enter the tepee, Bear Claw follows and asks, "Sister, do you know how to cook? We will find the food and you will cook it."
"I don't know." Irene replies, "but am willing to find out. Why did you call me sister?"
Bear Claw replies, "Because that is what you are now. Isn't that right Father?
White Wolf says, "Yes that is right." Then to her, "There is venison in the pit. I will show you, then you will know. It is for our use unless I say differently. Right now everyone has enough to eat. It is only when food is scarce that it is shared equally."
He takes her to a pit behind the tent that has salted and dried bear, deer, buffalo and fish stored.
"Do I decide what to cook or do you?" She asks.
"If you are cooking, you decide." White Wolf says. "The grain and fruits are over there. Do not be afraid to ask questions, if you do not know something. I would rather show you than waste food."
She answer, "Yes, White Wolf, I will ask."
It doesn’t take long to find she is a good cook, and knows receipts they do not. Her memory does not return but nightly dreams of being a small child, with a mother and a father haunt her, then it turns into a nightmare with a wagon train and an Indian attack. Each night she wakes screaming in a cold sweat. White Wolf is fearful her nightly screaming will cause the tribe to want to get rid of her.
Magic Dove, the medicine woman, approaches White Wolf and offers to help with the nightmares. She says, "I will help you see the past, seeing it may relieve your nightmares. Are you willing to do as I say?"
Even though he is teaching her the language of the Bear Tribe, White Wolf still must translates for her.
She answers through White Wolf, "Yes, I will do anything to be rid of these nightmares."
Magic Dove says, "Me speak self. Me understand some. You teach, I teach, learn together."
"Of course," Irene says, "When do we start?"
"Tonight," Magic Dove says, "You sleep my tent."
"Is that alright White Wolf?" Irene asks.
"Yes," White Wolf answers, "After the meal you can go to Magic Dove's tent."
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