The Mandie Collection (44 page)

The Indian boy pulled a piece of wood and a knife out of his pocket. “I do not claim to be cousins with a white girl,” he said, beginning to whittle.

“You know I am one-fourth Cherokee,” Mandie reminded him. “Your grandfather accepts me as his niece. Why can't you forget this hatred you have against white people? We are all what God made us, and there's nothing and nobody who can change that.”

Tsa'ni whittled away on his wood. “Oh, but you are talking about your God,” Tsa'ni returned sharply, without looking up.

Mandie wanted to ask what he meant by that, but just then Riley O'Neal wandered into the yard from the road. Instantly, Tsa'ni took off running without saying a word.

The missionary watched him go, then shrugged. “I trust you have recuperated from your journey now, Amanda,” he said as they walked back to the house.

“Yes, thanks. I feel much better,” she replied. “After all, I was pretty dirty.” She laughed and smoothed the folds of her long skirt. “Did you go far on your walk?”

“I just went into the woods a little ways,” he told her. “The woods have always fascinated me. All of God's little creatures hide in there, and you never know what you might find.”

Hearing the sound of horses and a wagon, Mandie glanced behind them. “Here comes Uncle Wirt,” she said. Mandie and the missionary walked toward the barn where the old Indian took the wagon. As Uncle Wirt pulled in, they stepped inside the barn and the young missionary reached into his own rig for his valise.

As Uncle Wirt unharnessed the horses, he said, “Cherokee Powwow when sun at top of sky tomorrow.”

Riley O'Neal looked puzzled.

“At noon tomorrow,” Mandie explained. Then she turned to her uncle. “May I go, too, Uncle Wirt? Please?”

The old Indian shook his head. “Must go home when sun up,” he replied, starting toward the house.

Mandie tried to catch up to his long strides. “Oh, Uncle Wirt, please let me go to the council house,” she begged. “Besides, if all the Cherokees are at the powwow, who will take me home?”

“Humph!” was all the old Indian would say as he continued on to the house.

Mandie and Riley O'Neal followed him into the cabin.

Inside, Aunt Saphronia was sitting at the table, knitting some indigo blue yarn that lay on the table.

Mandie passed by her without saying anything. “Uncle Wirt, please let me go to the powwow tomorrow,” she pleaded. “Please.”

The old Indian turned. “Bed,” he said sharply. “Time Papoose go to bed.” He pointed to the ladder leading to the loft where she would sleep.

Knowing there was no point in arguing anymore that night, Mandie sighed, picked up her sleeping kitten, and headed up the ladder. “Good night everybody,” she said sullenly. All she could do was try again in the morning.

CHAPTER EIGHT

“I CAN'T GO HOME!”

For a long time Mandie lay awake on the cornshuck mattress in her loft sleeping quarters. Although she was worn out from her long journey, she was too wound up to sleep.

As the cool night air blew through the window and Snowball prowled around the tiny room, Mandie thought about home. In her mind she could hear the baby screaming. She could see her tired mother trying to hush him. Dr. Woodard had said her mother didn't have to tend the baby every minute, but she insisted on taking care of him all the time.

I hope Mother's sorry about neglecting me to spend so much time with that baby
, she thought. Mandie loved her mother so much that she didn't want to share her with anyone else.
But
, she thought,
evidently Mother doesn't love me enough to spend time with me
.

Mandie wiped away a tear and rolled over on the corn-shuck mattress. Somehow she would have to convince Uncle Wirt to let her stay. Otherwise, she would have to find somewhere else to go.
I'm not going back home
, she cried to herself.
I'm not going where I'm not wanted
.

When Mandie finally drifted off to sleep, she was so upset and exhausted that she tossed and turned for a long time with horrible nightmares. Tsa'ni was chasing her down the mountain, and her mother was calling to her from somewhere in the woods.

Mandie rolled over onto the kitten, and he squirmed and meowed loudly in protest. Startled, Mandie woke and found the bright sunlight already streaming into the loft from the window.

“Oh, Snowball, it must be past breakfast time!” she cried, jumping up to look out the window. There was no one in sight. She swiftly pulled on her dress. Smelling the aroma of coffee, she grabbed the kitten and opened the door to her room. “Come on, let's go downstairs,” she said.

Rushing down the ladder, she found Aunt Saphronia alone in the big room, still preparing the morning meal. Relieved that she hadn't missed breakfast, Mandie put Snowball down and offered to help.

The old woman smiled and shook her head. “No, no. Dishes on table. Food in pan. Men outside. Soon eat.”

Mandie looked out through the open front door. Uncle Wirt and Riley O'Neal were standing near the road, talking.

As Mandie watched, another wagon came up the road and turned into the driveway.
Uncle Ned
! She shrank back inside the doorway. He would tell her mother she was here.
That's silly
, Mandie told herself.
Mother knows where I am. When I left the note that I was going to visit my Cherokee kinspeople, she knew that meant Uncle Wirt and Aunt Saphronia
.

But Mandie knew Uncle Ned wouldn't be happy with her for running away from home. She had promised to try to be happy with the baby. Now all she could do was wait for her old Indian friend to come in.

Suddenly she realized Uncle Ned wasn't alone. His granddaughter Sallie was with him.

Sallie jumped down from the wagon and straightened her full red skirt and white waist.

Mandie rushed out to meet her. “Sallie!” she cried, embracing her friend. “I'm so glad to see you.”

Sallie smiled and returned the welcome. “I am glad to see you, too, Mandie.” The shell necklace around her neck jingled.

Mandie noticed Uncle Ned talking to the other men. “Did my mother send your grandfather to find me?” she asked.

“I am afraid she did,” Sallie told her. “Mandie, your mother is worried for you.”

Mandie sighed and plopped down on the fallen log nearby.

Sallie sat down beside her. “Dr. Woodard is also looking for you,” Sallie continued. “The hospital is ready. And he wants you to be there for the opening.”

Mandie brightened. “It is? At last!” she exclaimed. “Oh, Sallie, that's wonderful!” She clasped her hands in delight.

“You should not be so happy when your mother is so worried,” Sallie rebuked her gently.

Mandie calmed down and looked at her Indian friend. “I'm just happy about the hospital finally being finished,” she explained. “I
am
sorry my mother is worried, but I left her a note.”

“But, Mandie, that was a dangerous journey for you to make alone,” Sallie scolded, shaking her finger at her friend. “Terrible things could have happened to you.”

“But they didn't.” Mandie refused to think about the close calls she had encountered.

“Your mother did not know that. Oh, Mandie, I am afraid you have been so foolish,” Sallie accused. As she shook her head, her long black braids swished in the air.

“But, Sallie, I couldn't stand that baby crying all the time,” Mandie told her, her eyes misting. “And my mother didn't have any time for me. I figured she wouldn't even miss me.”

“Mandie!” Sallie gasped. “You know better than that! Your mother loves you so much. You are lucky to have her. I wish my mother were still living.”

Mandie reached for Sallie's hand and held it tightly. “I know,” she said on the verge of tears. “I love my mother, and I guess I know she loves me, but it just doesn't seem like it right now. She spends all her time with that noisy baby. Maybe I'll go back home when he's grown up and stops all that howling.”

Mandie looked up to see Uncle Ned standing over her. The old Indian gave Sallie a little nudge so he could sit next to Mandie on the log. Sallie got up and went inside the house, where the men had just gone.

As Uncle Ned put his arm around Mandie's shoulder, she tried to speak, but nothing came out.

Uncle Ned looked directly at Mandie with sadness in his dark eyes. “Papoose bad,” he told her bluntly. “Must go home to Mother.”

Mandie tried to shrink back from him, but he held her firmly.

“I don't want to go home, Uncle Ned,” she finally managed. “I want to stay here.” Again she poured out her hurts and frustrations.

“Mother of Papoose send love, say please come home,” the old Indian told her, watching her face closely.

Mandie looked up at him sadly. “Uncle Ned, I love you. I always will, but I can't go home.”

Uncle Ned tried to convince her, but Mandie wouldn't give in. Finally the old Indian rose stiffly. “Then I go back. Tell mother of Papoose,” he said.

Mandie's heart melted a little. “And would you tell her I'm just fine?” she asked.

The old Indian said nothing but held out his hand to her, and the two of them went inside for breakfast.

The subject of her returning home did not come up at the breakfast table. Mandie was surprised that Uncle Wirt didn't mention it. He was the one who had insisted she had to go home.

Mandie remained unusually quiet during the meal, and Sallie didn't say much either. The two girls listened quietly to the others' conversation, most of which centered around the forthcoming council meeting to make a decision about the missionary's school.

When breakfast was over, the men went outside and the girls helped Aunt Saphronia clean up the table. By the time Mandie and Sallie were free to go outside, the men had disappeared.

The girls sat on the fallen log talking for a while, and Mandie told her friend that she was not going to let Uncle Ned take her home.

Sallie shook her head. “Your uncle may say you have to go,” she reminded her.

“I don't think he will,” Mandie said. “He told me last night that I had to go this morning, and he hasn't even mentioned it. I believe he changed his mind.”

“I would not be so sure about that,” Sallie warned.

Just then a wagon pulled off the road into Uncle Wirt's driveway. The girls stood and shaded their eyes from the sun to see who it was.

“Dimar!” they exclaimed together, hurrying to meet him.

Their friend Dimar Walkingstick lived in the mountains. He was the one who had found the girls and Joe Woodard when they got lost one time. Today Dimar's mother, Jerusha, rode with him in the wagon.

Dimar was helping his mother down when he caught sight of Mandie and Sallie. His face lit up and he turned to greet them.

“Mandie! Sallie!” Dimar cried. “I am so glad you are here.”

Mandie smiled at the handsome boy. “I'm glad to see you again, Dimar,” she said. Then she turned to his mother and greeted her with an embrace.

After exchanging greetings with the girls, Jerusha smiled. “Nice day. See friends,” she said. “Vote.”

“Vote?” Mandie questioned. “Oh, I understand. Y'all came for the council meeting to vote on Mr. O'Neal's school.”

They all walked toward the house.

“He looks young to be a preacher,” Sallie remarked.

Mandie smiled again. “Yes, he does,” she admitted, “but I don't suppose there's any age limit to be one.”

As they entered the big log cabin, Jerusha exchanged greetings with Aunt Saphronia.

“Saphronia!” Jerusha exclaimed, sitting on the nearest bench. “This strange man stay with you?”

“Yes. Nice man,” the old Indian woman replied as she sat down beside her guest. “Make good school.”

The young people went outside again to talk. It had been quite a while since Dimar had seen Mandie, and now she noticed he couldn't take his eyes off her. He listened closely while she related the events of her journey to Uncle Wirt's house.

Although he didn't say anything, Mandie knew he disapproved of her running away from home. It seemed everybody thought she had done the wrong thing.

Soon another wagon pulled into the yard. This time it was Uncle Wirt's son, Jessan, and his wife, Meli—Tsa'ni's parents. And Mandie was delighted to see that they had also brought Morning Star, who was Uncle Ned's wife and Sallie's grandmother.

Mandie ran out to meet Morning Star. A big grin spread over the old woman's face when she saw Mandie, and she held the girl so close, Mandie could hardly breathe.

“Papoose!” Morning Star exclaimed. “Not lost!”

“No, I'm not lost,” Mandie replied. The woman knew Uncle Ned had come ahead to look for her.

“Vote,” Morning Star said as they walked toward the house.

“Yes, I know. You are here to vote,” Mandie said. “Mr. O'Neal is a nice man, Morning Star. He could probably do a lot of good for the Cherokee people if y'all will let him build a school for you.”

Sallie nodded. “Yes, my grandmother. He is a nice man,” she agreed.

At that moment the missionary, Uncle Wirt, and Uncle Ned came in from walking in the fields behind the house. All the Indians stopped to stare at the red-haired newcomer in his black suit and hat.

There were greetings all around, and everyone entered the house. The missionary smiled and repeated each name as he was introduced. The Cherokees didn't return the smile, Mandie noticed. They were a shy people.

As the adults visited among themselves, Mandie and her friends gathered in a corner of the big room to talk about what they had been doing since they last saw each other.

When Mandie glanced over at Uncle Ned, she saw him talking to Uncle Wirt and looking at her every now and then. She knew they must be discussing her. She hoped Uncle Wirt had decided to let her stay at his house.