Cougar of Spirit Lake. Linnette MDiv Eller

It is part of the mystery. Yet, you must also remember that there have been other times that the gifts have saved many. Perhaps they are only of use as warnings. If those that should heed the warning do not, then we are not able to change what is to be. I have come to believe that in order for the gifts to help, they have to be heeded. It is for each man to make his own decision. We cannot do this for them. We can only warn them.”

      Both sat quietly for a time, lost in their own thoughts as they looked into the flames. Both were troubled in their own way, yet not quite knowing why. Had they put their thoughts into words, perhaps they would have said they could sense there were things going on, things they did not understand. They knew that in a way, also unknown to them, that it was to greatly change both of their lives, and other lives in the future beyond them.

      Finally coming out of her thoughts, Winter Woman looked at her son. She dreaded to ask, but at the same time must know his answer. She drew in a breath and looked back to the fire. She would be glad to have this mystery done with. This was not her usual dream pattern at all.

      “Do you know this white girl from your days in their schools?”

      He looked long and hard at his Mother. He was mystified about the girl himself. He knew without knowing that his Mother had seen the same girl in her dreams. Still, it was a mystery to both of them.

      “I have thought about it many times. I do not know her, and I cannot recall having seen her before, not even so much as a passing glance.”

      “She is the same girl for you? The girl with the eyes of the Great Cat, only younger, in an innocent way, almost those of a kitten. Her hair is like a winter sunset with the colors of the Cat streaking through it, shimmering like water. This is the same girl is it not?”

      “Yes, this is the same girl I have seen. It seems that neither of us knows this girl. Nor can we comprehend how it is that we have both seen her. We do know, however peculiar it may be, we both do know. I have no idea why we are seeing her Mother. I wish I did! I find it frustrating, and at times I become very angry about these visions, but you know this too.”

      Again, he sighed deeply, feeling the odd sadness lingering about them in the room.

      “Mother,” he said in a gentle voice, “tonight the girl harmed in the dream was not the girl of your previous dreams, that girl still remains safe. She was still in the window when the other happened.”

      Winter Woman's head snapped up to look at him. Now she was surprised! She did not think he had seen so much of this hideous dream of tonight!

      “You saw all of this in the dream too! This dream of tonight?”

      “Not exactly. Again, just flashes of vision. Visions of unspeakable acts. I woke from the dream feeling rage and disgust! I had glimpsed the girl standing in the window. It was not what I saw. I mean, not what I was able to actually view, that gave me these feelings. It was more what I felt, a very menacing feeling. Evil was all around the girl, threatening her, and yet there seemed no imminent danger. I only saw her. When I spoke these words to you just now that it was not her, I didn't even realize I was saying them until they were spoken. No, Mother I do not fully know of the dream that has plagued you this night. I only knew I had to say the words to you that the girl is not harmed. Harm hovers near her, this, I do know, but the unspeakable evil that I felt did not harm her. At least not on, this night.”

      Winter Woman heaved a sigh of relief. She had been unconsciously holding herself very tense, since she had awakened from her dream. She knew her son was right as soon as the words were spoken. The unspeakable violence she had witnessed did not happen to the girl in the window. That was what she had thought when she had come awake though. When he said the words to her, she had visibly relaxed and let out her breath.

      “Cougar, it has been good to share this with you tonight. Thank you my son, for sharing that which has been troubling you also. I have dearly missed having Grandfather here to discuss my gifts and to help me understand them. Now that you have spoken with me, I feel much better.”

      “Mother, we will speak many more nights to come. Never fear bringing your need to talk to me. I am glad that I can do this for you and glad that I can now speak with you about my gifts. It has helped me greatly as well.”

      They both rose, and bade each other to sleep well and went back to their beds. Cougar had not brought all that had been troubling him to her. Perhaps he would, but not yet. He didn't understand it well enough to place into words, not yet. The girl troubled him greatly, more and more lately. She troubled him in a way that he could not share with his Mother. She troubled him as no woman had ever done, until now. He felt an odd emptiness in his chest, and at times a familiar ache in his groin when his thoughts turned to the girl. It was with very great difficulty that the young Chief, Cougar of Spirit Lake found sleep this night, as with many nights before. The green eyes, delicate features and the masses of tawny hair floating through his mind until sleep finally claimed him.

      Had Grandfather been still with Winter Woman and her son, he would be smiling in his robes as he watched them sleep. These two did not yet realize how their minds worked. Many words had not been spoken aloud tonight, but these two did not realize that, as they never did. Grandfather had seen this many times as the boy was growing. They knew each other's thoughts. No actual words had to be spoken for this to happen and many conversations between them were only half conversations, fewer words spoken than either realized. Grandfather would have known too that to some extent, Cougar had this gift with many people, whereas Winter Woman only shared hers with her son.

      Cougar had not totally realized his gifts yet. It had not yet been noticed by him that the words he heard often had not actually been spoken. There had been many times in the world of the white men that he had startled people by answering them before they voiced their question. None had said this to him however. There was something more than his size that kept them in awe of this man. Indeed, they knew they didn't want to bring anything to his attention that he didn't want to have done. He exuded a strength and presence that were not only impressive but known to have struck some with a little fear, women he had known included. The women did not fear his strength, rather they feared losing their hearts to him. Yes, Grandfather would have smiled at this. A gift such as that bestowed upon Cougar would come to serve him well in his lifetime of this, he could be certain.

      CHAPTER FIVE

      Jessica could not believe that soon they would be leaving the farm. It just seemed as though everything had happened so fast once Thomas had put all the plans into motion. She felt odd that she had no reluctance to leave the farm. After all, Jacob had been born here and Mama had died here. Yes, so much had happened here. All the happy times with Mama had been in this house.

      Well, she couldn't sit around here at the table drinking tea all day. She had much yet to do and this wasn't getting it done. She opened the back door to call Tommy to help her with her large hope chest from upstairs. Try as she might it was too much for her to handle alone. As she opened the door a cold blast of wind bit her in the face. She slammed the door and leaned against it with a shudder. This was ridiculous! She had to stop associating a silly thing like a cold breeze with sadness. Before she could stop herself though, she had begun mentally going through a list and ticking things off that had happened after she had felt that dread cold wind.

      First, there had been the day Mama died. She told herself she couldn't really count that. It had been a warm and sunny day one day but the next day dawned bone-chilling cold, it was after all in the fall of the year. That morning stood out in her mind and she sighed, knowing it most likely always would. This morning she had dreamed of the cat again, as on that morning. She couldn't keep associating the cold wind and the cat with bad things! She shook her head and busied herself in an attempt to dispel her morbid thoughts.

      Her mind continued its train of thought despite her busy hands. The next time she had dreamed of the cat was the day Thomas had come to speak with her about the wagon train. Even though she had felt that cold wind when she had stepped out on the porch with him nothing had really come of it, now had it? Well, just the news about the affairs of the farm. That was bad enough after all. Feelings of dread had haunted her all that day, before Thomas had