Chapter
7

On her first day of school, Mercy observed Adam and his style of teaching. He was fun, despite her concerns that he’d be a strict taskmaster. The children, mostly girls, were giggly and sweet and adored him. More surprising was that he adored them. Mercy hadn’t been certain Adam had feelings for anyone other than Faith. After class, some older boys came to visit Adam. Mercy learned that they were usually busy with their fathers, learning to be men of the tribe, but on occasion they were allowed to meet with Adam for classes.

“We can meet tonight after supper,” Adam assured them while Mercy watched. The boys looked between the ages of thirteen and fifteen and obviously held Adam in high esteem.

The following day, Adam left Mercy to manage on her own. The class was far more subdued, and Mercy prayed she might somehow draw out the same joyful spirit she’d witnessed the day before.

Hoping to ease the tension, she allowed Faith to reintroduce her to everyone. She knew it would take time to learn all their names. She was grateful they had been given English names that reflected their Tututni names, which were much harder to pronounce.

As the day wore on, the children began to warm to her, and by the time they ended for lunch, Mercy had managed to win them over. The two women who joined them were more shy. The one called Red Deer looked about Eletta’s age and was more comfortable than the older woman named Bright Star. Red Deer, in fact, came with a gift for her new teacher. It was a small basket.

“Red Deer, this is beautiful,” Mercy said. “Thank you.”

The Tututni woman smiled and said something in her native language.

Faith jumped in before Mercy could ask for a translation. “She said you’re pretty. She especially likes your eyes.”

Mercy looked at the buckskin-clad woman and smiled. Red Deer was shorter than Mercy and wore her hair in two sections tied on either side of her face. “Thank you again. I shall cherish this gift.”

“You can use it for almost anything,” Red Deer said, surprising Mercy. “It can even hold water.”

Mercy looked again at the basket. “I can imagine that. The weave is so tight. You have made me feel most welcome.”

“You have come to help us—to help Sister Eletta. We thank you for that. She is . . . she is. . . .” Red Deer looked to Faith and spoke in Tututni.

“Precious,” Faith replied.

Red Deer nodded. “She is precious to us.”

“She’s precious to me as well.”

Red Deer didn’t waste any more time. She excused herself and made her way out of the school. Faith headed back to the house for lunch, leaving Mercy to take an account of the day. She felt that things had gone well overall. Adam and Eletta had set things up in such a way that it wasn’t at all difficult for Mercy to step in. She knew it would take time before the Tututni trusted her as they did the Brownings, but she was determined to win them over. She was determined to win Adam over as well. She wasn’t sure why he treated her with such discomfort, but she would find a way to change his mind. It would hardly suit either of them to go on with such a wall between them.

She put away her things, then headed back to the house for lunch. She was nearly to the door when it opened, and Adam stepped out.

“Hello,” she offered with a smile.

“Ah . . . hello.” His gaze didn’t quite meet hers.

“Did you have something to eat? I left a stew on the stove.”

He nodded. “I had some.” He started to move past her.

“Have I offended you?” Mercy hadn’t meant to just blurt out the words, but now that they were said, she was glad.

Adam stopped and looked at her with a frown. “No. Why would you think that?”

She shrugged. “It just seems that you’re all smiles and openness with everyone else. I realize I’m a stranger, but I hope we can be friends.”

He nodded, but his expression remained sober. “Of course we’re friends.” He offered nothing more before making a hasty departure.

Mercy frowned and shook her head. He was possibly the most vexing man she’d ever met.

The next day, she felt more confident of her teaching position. She greeted the class warmly and shared a little bit about herself before beginning their devotions.

“I’m very happy to be here with you. I’ve wanted to teach school for a long time, and I think our class here is just the right size.” She smiled at the students and continued. “I’ve known Brother Isaac and Sister Eletta since coming to this territory. We came west with hundreds of other people. I traveled with my sisters, Grace and Hope.” One of the girls raised her hand, and Mercy nodded. “Yes, you have a question?”

The little one nodded. “Did your mother and father come too?”

Mercy shook her head. “No. My mother and father died, leaving just us three girls.”

Another hand shot up. “Didn’t you have anybody else?” another girl asked.

“Our uncle lived out here. That’s why we wanted to come here.” She went to the small teacher’s desk. It was handmade by Isaac but served its purpose. “You can ask me more questions later. Time is getting away from us, and we should start our day.”

She offered a prayer and then opened her Bible. “Today I’m going to read from the one hundredth Psalm.” She looked up at the captive crowd and smiled. “‘Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.’”

The next two weeks were spent learning all she could. Mercy set up her own routine, and at Eletta’s suggestion, taught the children in the morning and left Adam to teach on Tuesday and Thursday afternoon. She liked this schedule because then she had the rest of the day to tend to the household chores.

Eletta grew stronger and was eating regularly. Seeing her doing so well, Mercy decided she could get up and sit rather than just stay in bed. Eletta didn’t protest the change at all.

“I’m glad to be feeling better. I knew your sister’s cures would help. I firmly believe God has given her a special talent.”

“I agree.” Mercy was peeling potatoes and reached for the final spud. “I’ve learned so much from Grace. Hope too. Hope taught me to spin.” She paused and looked up. “You taught her to spin when she was staying with you, right?”

“I did.” Eletta looked away, as if uncomfortable.

“Are you having pain?” Mercy asked.

“No. I’m fine.” Eletta glanced back and smiled.

“Then I’m going to put these potatoes on to boil and give these peelings to the chickens. I’m sure they’ll be delighted for the treat.”

“I’m sure you’re right.” Eletta picked up her knitting. “I’m going to work on this baby bonnet. March can be cold around here, and I’ll need to ensure my child stays warm.”

Mercy put the potatoes into a pot of water on the stove. Since the water was already boiling, she didn’t figure it would take long for them to cook. She pulled on her coat and picked up the bowl of peelings. “I’ll be back soon. Will you be all right?”

“I’m fine. Please don’t worry.”

Mercy headed outside and surveyed her world. The sun shone bright overhead, and the sky was a brilliant blue. The weather seemed so changeable, but Eletta had assured her it was generally temperate.

The village itself was unlike anything she’d ever known. It was nestled among the trees, whereas the Whitman Mission had been far more open, and if she climbed the hill not far from the Emigrant House where she had lived, she could see for miles. Here the trees shrouded everything with long limbs that stretched like protective arms. It made things much cooler in their shadow, and no doubt that helped a lot during the summer months.

“Mercy!” Red Deer called and waved. She crossed the yard and joined Mercy at the chicken coop. “You come to make baskets with us today?”

“Not today. I promised I’d watch the boys play shinny ball. I was promised a very entertaining time.” Mercy smiled as she tossed the potato skins to the grateful hens. They hadn’t been laying well, but with the return of the sunlight, Mercy hoped that might change.

She surveyed Red Deer’s buckskin dress and woven basket hat. “You do such beautiful work. That dress is lovely with its fringe and shells.” Winter dress for the natives included a generous portion of animal skins. Eletta had told her that in the summer the Tututni wore very little, but in the damp cold of winter, everyone dressed for warmth. Even their moccasins were fur-lined.

Red Deer smiled and lowered her head shyly. “I can teach you how to make one.”

Mercy nodded. “I’d like that. There’s a great deal I need to learn.”

The Tututni woman nodded. “I will teach you soon.”

Mercy longed to ask Red Deer about the significance of the three tattooed lines on her chin as well as the piercings in her ears. Perhaps it would be better, however, to ask Eletta. She certainly didn’t want to offend Red Deer when she was just getting to know her.

They walked back toward the center of the mission clearing. Mercy looked toward the far side, where the Tututni houses were located. She hadn’t yet ventured inside one of the lodges.

“Are your houses warm?”

Red Deer nodded. “They are. You should come see. The earth keeps us warm in the winter and cool in the summer.”

“I would like to visit sometime.”

“Come today after you finish your work. I will show you how we live.”

“If time allows, I’d like that very much.”

Red Deer headed back to her house, and Mercy gazed after her. When she passed the building where school and church were held, Red Deer turned and waved. Mercy waved back.

After making sure the chickens had water, Mercy started back to the house. Again her gaze went to the school. In the days since her arrival, she’d seen very little of Adam. He sometimes took his meals with them, but other times he ate with the Tututni. Mercy wondered if he was avoiding her. He didn’t even want to discuss the students, and she found that very puzzling.

Perhaps he thought Mercy was beneath his concern. Maybe he didn’t like having her help with the school—after all, she wasn’t college educated. This thought brought a frown. Would he be so petty as to snub her for her lack of education? It wasn’t as if she hadn’t wanted to go to college, but it would have required money, especially if she’d returned east.

Mercy decided to leave off further contemplation. She could easily work herself up into taking offense where none was needed. She hurried into the house, eager to put her mind on something other than Adam Browning.

Adam had done his best to keep clear of Mercy Flanagan, just as he had every young woman since leaving Boston, but in the small mission village it was nearly impossible. Especially since they were sharing teaching responsibilities.

He knew he couldn’t keep avoiding her. She was sure to realize what he was doing and be offended. If she wasn’t already. He had considered talking to Eletta and asking her to explain his past to Mercy, but then changed his mind. It was too painful, and there was no sense in sharing something so private with a stranger who would leave once the baby was born in the spring.

Still, at times like this he just didn’t seem able to shake loose from the past and Lizzy. Elizabeth Price, the beautiful blue-eyed, blond-haired daughter of the wealthy and very pious Oliver Price. Price was delighted to have his daughter marry a man of the cloth, especially one he admired as much as he did Adam.

Adam had met Lizzy through his classmate Marcus Price, her brother. When Marcus and Adam hadn’t been busy with their studies, they included Lizzy in their outings. The threesome were inseparable for the last two years of Adam’s time at Harvard, and despite his intention to remain simply friends with Lizzy, it seemed only natural that they should fall in love. Much to the frustration of other suitors who fancied an alliance with Lizzy’s wealthy father. Just before graduation, Adam asked Lizzy’s father for her hand in marriage, and he had quickly consented. Mr. Price even had a friend in Boston who headed up one of the larger churches prepared to offer Adam a position. Adam’s life seemed clearly mapped out.

But then it all fell apart. One of Lizzy’s former suitors took his jealousy a bit further by hiring a man to look into Adam’s past. He wanted any information that might discredit Adam and in turn put an end to the engagement. And the detective had found a very big, very unacceptable piece of information. Adam’s mother was half Cherokee Indian. The news had spread like wildfire, and the scandal was enormous.

Adam had never intended to be deceptive about his lineage, but he knew how difficult it could prove for him if it were common knowledge. He’d chosen to say nothing, given his mother had already passed away. He knew his black hair and hazel eyes could be seen as stemming from any number of ethnic origins, so he remained silent. He had always meant to discuss the matter with Lizzy, but the right time never seemed to come.

When the truth came out in the most damaging way possible—implying that Adam had been working to deceive everyone—Adam didn’t even get a chance to say good-bye or explain himself to Lizzy. Marcus and his father had come to Adam’s residence and told him in no uncertain terms that the engagement was over. He had misrepresented himself as a white man and shamed Lizzy, who at that moment was being whisked off to rest at some secluded spa. People he had thought of as good friends turned away. Adam could still remember the accusing looks in their eyes. Thankfully he’d already graduated from university, because otherwise he might have been thrown out of those hallowed halls just as he had been every proper Boston parlor.

Even the church position had been withdrawn. It seemed Boston was not yet ready to hear the gospel preached by an Indian. Adam had reminded himself that it wasn’t all that many years earlier that white men of God argued heartily about whether or not a man of red skin could even be saved.

Adam closed the book of mathematics he’d been using to teach the older children and leaned his chin against the top of it. How could people be so heartless—so narrow-minded? His mother had suffered greatly. His father too. No one understood a man taking a heathen for a wife when there were so many available white women of virtue.

He and Isaac and their sisters had lived with ridicule and alienation all of their youth, but God had been good. His sisters had eventually married upstanding, successful men who didn’t care about their quarter Cherokee blood. Isaac, too, had married a woman not so different from Lizzy. Eletta had blue eyes and blond hair, and yet the fact that her husband’s mother was a half-breed never caused her affection to waver.

Tossing the book aside, Adam got to his feet. It was nearly time for the game he’d promised the older boys. There was no sense in brooding. It wouldn’t change a thing about the past, but it did strengthen his resolve toward the future. He wasn’t going to lose his heart to another white woman. Not even one with eyes the color of an early morning sky.

“Adam!” five boys called out in unison when he emerged from the school.

He smiled, forcing the painful thoughts from his mind. “Are you ready for our game?”

“Yes. We set the goals,” the tallest of the boys declared.

“Very good, Samuel.”

Adam looked toward the open area where they often played rousing games of shinny. Two sticks had been driven into the ground on either end of the clearing.

“Here’s your stick,” eleven-year-old John said.

Adam took the slightly curved stick. “Which team am I on?”

“Ours,” John quickly replied. “You’re with me and David.”

Adam nodded and followed the boys to the center of the field. The goal was to work a ball made of deerskin down the field and past the goal post of the other team.

Standing opposite twelve-year-old Samuel, Adam gave a nod. “Ready—set—go!”

The ball flew into play, and the game was afoot. They raced back and forth from one side of the clearing to the other—each team doing their best to either make a goal or prevent one.

The physical exertion was just the thing to take Adam’s mind off his trouble. Not only that, but he enjoyed the camaraderie he had with the boys. Here he wasn’t their teacher, just another player.

The ball shot across the clearing from John to Adam. Without hesitation, Adam worked his way down the field, scooting the ball back and forth with his stick. He was nearly in line to make a goal when Samuel charged in and stole the ball away, and everyone whirled around to head in the opposite direction.

To one side of the field, Adam spied Mercy taking a seat on a log. She wore not only her wool coat, but also a heavy blanket wrapped around her in Indian fashion. He smiled to himself. She had surprised him with her ease toward the native people. Isaac had told him about her ordeal at the Whitman Mission, and he’d been stunned to hear she was one of the victims. It was even more amazing that she would come to an Indian village after what she’d endured.

Despite his resolve to have nothing to do with her, Adam couldn’t help but admire her fortitude. He would have liked to ask her about her life among the Cayuse, but to do so would require an intimacy he wasn’t yet ready to give.

The game continued down one side of the clearing and up the other. Adam’s team got the first goal, and then Samuel’s team got the next two. They would play until one team reached five goals.

“Come on, Adam!” David yelled as the ball once again passed to him.

Adam quickly glanced at Mercy, who seemed to be daydreaming. He found himself wishing she would watch him, then chided himself for such thinking. Even so, his heart reminded him that he was still a man who liked capturing the attention of a pretty girl.

He made a goal, much to David and John’s delight. “Now we’re tied,” John declared.

Adam was curious what Mercy thought of the game. Had she ever seen shinny played before? He knew the boys had invited her to watch, but he wondered if she realized he’d be playing too. The women had their own version of the game, so perhaps Mercy would learn to play it with the girls.

Samuel shot past him, and Adam realized he hadn’t been paying attention. When Samuel made a third goal for his team, John and David chided Adam for not stopping the ball. He resolved to put Mercy from his mind and focus on the game, but it wasn’t easy.

It was when they were tied at four goals apiece that the boys grew intense in their focus. Competitions were encouraged in the tribe. The boys were always trying to best each other. They would soon become men and take on the responsibility of becoming leaders, husbands, and fathers. Of course, with the government determined to move the Indians away from their land, Adam wondered what it would mean for these precious young men.

Again he was lost in his thoughts when he saw the ball go flying in the direction of Mercy. She wasn’t paying attention to the game, apparently finding something on the ground of interest. If she had been watching, she would have seen the collection of boys charging her way.

Adam had to act fast. With long strides, he flanked the boys and reached her just moments before they did. Without thinking, Adam threw himself across Mercy, pulling her backwards off the log and to safety.

When they stopped rolling, she lay atop him, staring down at him wide-eyed and open-mouthed. For a moment neither of them moved. They might have stayed that way in stunned silence, but the group of boys were shouting and laughing at what had just happened.

Mercy bit her lower lip and lay motionless with her head lifted and her hands on Alex’s shoulders. Then all at once she seemed to realize what had happened, and a look of horror crossed her face. She attempted to jump up, but her foot caught in her blanket, and she plunged back down onto Adam, nearly knocking the wind out of him.

“Oh! Oh my!” she declared, pressing into his abdomen to boost herself up.

“Oof.” Adam couldn’t contain the groan that came from her pressure on his midsection. The moan made Mercy stop as she reclaimed her feet. She looked down at him.

“I’m—I’m sorry.” She cast a quick glance around her. Looking back at Adam, she frowned. “Why did you do that?”

Adam sat up, shaking his head. “You weren’t paying attention, and I didn’t want the boys to crash into you.” He got up and tried to wipe the mud and dirt from his pants.

By now the younger children who’d been watching the game from across the field had joined them and were laughing at their teachers’ antics.

Mercy’s face flushed red. She looked from the children back to Adam. Her mouth opened and closed several times, but not a single sound came from her. Adam could see that she was embarrassed. He smiled, hoping to ease the tension. “No need to thank me.”

This seemed to snap her out of it. “I wasn’t going to,” she declared and whirled around to leave.

For some reason, her response caused Adam to laugh out loud. She turned back and looked at him as if he’d lost his mind. The children joined in his laughter, which only made the matter worse.

Without another word, Mercy stomped off toward the house.