CHAPTER 2



 

CHILD, IT BE time to wake up."

Grumbling, Dakota burrowed deeper into the warm body beneath her.

"Go away!"

"In time, but yah need to wake up, hon. We need ta jaw a bit."

Opening one eye sleepily, she stared at her great, great, spirit grandmother, Maopa. Although her real name was Dakota, the spirits chose to use the name given to her by her adopted people, the Lakota.

"Hi Granny. It's been awhile."

"Thangs been mighty quiet lately. No need for us'ns to be a botherin you youngins. We just be glad yah got some time together for relaxin and gettin to knowed each other better."

"Yeah. It feels good. Seems like every time we get a few weeks of peace and quiet, something happens to ruin it."

"That be the way of thangs"

"I suppose. Granny, Pasha is dying! Mom says she doesn't have much time!" Dakota sobbed, unable to hold back her sorrow.

"I knowed, chile. That be why I’s here. She done had a good life. Her mind be as sharp as bear claws but her body is tarred. She done earned her rest."

"But what if she dies before I see her again? You have to do something!"

"It ain't mine ta do. When yer time comes, it comes, but Pashna is a stubborn old coot. She won't go without bidden goodbye to her favorite granchile. The devil, hisself, couldn't win that thar battle."

"I hope so. I need to tell her how much I love her and to thank her for being there for me."

"Patience, youngin. Don't go frettin over somethin yah can't do nothin about. Won't do you or her no good to go work yerself up over this, but if'n it make yah feel good, I give my word, Pashna will be awaitin for yah, even if I has to drag her cantankerous ole soul back to that withered carcass of hern and shove it back inside, mahself."

Laughing at the image, Dakota hugged her ancestral spirit.

"I believe you would. You said Grams was one of the reasons. Was there something else?"

"Well, I hate for yah to be a passin bad news on to Yemaya, but she needs ta know Dalnos bez dead. He done gawn and kilt himself."

"Dead? What happened?"

"He hanged himself. Made a noose from his beddin and done it durin the night."

"Damn! Yemaya's going to blame herself for this."

"He done what he wanted. Twern't no way he was gonna live with himself wonst he knowed what he become. His dyin thoughts were of his mama and the magic woman so she don't have nothin to be feelin bad about."

"I know, but she'll still think she could have done something to stop him. We haven’t been able to spend much time at home lately. She already thinks she should have been in Teraclia for the trial. You know how she is?"

"That I do! Yah gonna have to make sure she knowed there weren’t nothing she coulda done. He knowed what he were and were grateful to her. She gived him back the only one who ever loved him. He died knowin that."

"I hope so, Granny. I can't say I'm sorry he's dead. Killing and raping those girls and then trying to do the same to me doesn’t exactly endear him to me, but I still feel sorry for him. No child deserves a father like he had."

Maopa nodded.

"Thanks for letting me know, granny."

"Twern't nothing."

"It means a lot to me. Anyway, how are you and Mari doing?"

Grinning sheepishly, Maopa turned a strange shade of pink.

Must be a spirit thing, thought Dakota.

"Doin fine. She be somethin else, that Mari. I ain't never come acrosst anyone with so much... energy. She done keeps me busy and she's puuurrre honey."

"I think I get the point. I'm happy for the two of you but I'd better go before you give me too much information. Besides, it's going to be a long day tomorrow."

"Not to worry, chile. Yah just get yerself home pronto and it'll be fine. I'm just wantin yah ta knowed not ta worry. Now yah say hello ta that thar magic woman, and Mari sends her love tah the both of yahs."

Feeling drowsy, Dakota closed her eyes and drifted into a restful slumber. Two arms drew her close to a warm body.