General Whitlock has finally decided that it would be prudent to incarcerate them with their fellow Mescaleros on the reservation.”
His smug expression and the way he emphasized “finally” led Meade to conclude that Collingswood had been lobbying for this action for some time.
It didn’t make much sense to Meade. “Have they made any trouble, sir?”
“They’re Apaches, Major. That alone makes them trouble,” the colonel replied, giving him a withering look that might have sent a lesser man scurrying for the door. “Of course, your perspective may be a little different, Ashford. Your sister is married to one of them, isn’t she?”
“That’s right, sir,” Meade said pleasantly, though inside he was seething.
“And I’m happy to say that my brother-in-law is one of the finest men I’ve ever known.”
Collingswood clearly wasn’t impressed. “How fortunate for you. Have you any other questions?”
“No, sir.”
“Good. You will accompany Captain Greenleigh and subdue the Mescaleros. Offer any medical assistance to the hostiles that may be necessary, but in the event that they resist, I trust you will remember that tending to our own wounded men comes first?”
The sarcastic question went through Meade like a hot poker. “Having served for eight years in the Apache war theater, Colonel, I can assure you that I know my duty.”
“Good. Dismissed.”
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Meade offered a brisk salute and departed quickly, reminding himself that in three months he’d never have to smile at another pompous ass for as long as he lived.
After hours of standing in the miserable July sun, the shade offered by the cottonwood looked like heaven to the Templetons. Rayna had been eyeing it covetously through most of the last maiden ceremony ritual, and as soon as Mary Long Horn disappeared into her lodge to rest, Rayna tried to usher her mother and father toward the tree. Raymond hung back, engaging in conversation with Consayka and several other Mescalero ranch hands, but Collie and Rayna headed directly for the shade.
They were only midway through the third day of the ceremony, and though Rayna had done very little but watch, she was exhausted. For Skylar’s sake she had been on hand for every ritual from sunup to sundown, and tomorrow she would do her best to stay awake during the final event, a dance that would last all night long. She had attended other maiden ceremonies, but only in bits and pieces because Skylar had not been a major participant in those events. Since this was such a special occasion for her sister, Rayna felt it was important to support her.
At least once a day Collie also came out to watch the ceremony. For the past two nights she and Rayna had given Raymond an account of the rituals his daughter was participating in, and he had decided this morning that he would attend, too. Had it not been for the intense heat, they all would have been enjoying themselves tremendously, but Rayna could tell that her parents were getting tired. She couldn’t imagine how Skylar was going to survive the ordeal; yet from all outward appearances, she was thoroughly enjoying herself.
“How much longer today, dear?” Collie asked as they settled onto a blanket under the cottonwood.
Rayna spread her skirt out around her, leaving her ankles exposed, then unpinned her wide-brimmed straw bonnet and used it to fan herself.
Neither effort cooled her off even a little. “If I remember Sky’s description correctly, there’s only one more song this afternoon. Then there will be feasting until sunset.”
Collie’s smile was strained as she closed her parasol and laid it aside. “Do you think Skylar would be very upset if Raymond and I skipped the feast?”
She glanced at her husband, and her smile faded altogether. “I don’t like your father’s coloring, Rayna. He would never admit it, but he hasn’t been feeling well lately. I think I should get him out of this sun.”
Though Rayna had always viewed her robust father as invulnerable, she had to agree with Collie. He hadn’t been looking well for quite some time, 38
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and she was beginning to worry. “Mother, if you and Papa want to leave now, I’m sure Skylar would understand. Having you here has meant a lot to her, but she wouldn’t want either of you to suffer.”
“Then I think we’ll ride on back to the house. I’ll have one of the hands bring the buggy back for you.”
“Oh, don’t bother with that. I can walk.”
Collie patted Rayna’s arm in her most motherly fashion. “Not in this heat, dear.”
Rayna was too hot to argue. She glanced around, looking for her father, and was surprised to see Skylar coming toward them. Though this was the third day Rayna had seen her sister in her ceremonial dress, she was struck again by how beautiful Skylar looked in her costume. As Mary Long Horn’s attendant, she wore a buckskin dress very similar to the celebrant’s. The waist-length cape and calf-length skirt had been tanned and bleached in the sun until they were nearly snow white. Layers of fringe adorned with tin cones and beads hung from the waist of the cape and down the sleeves, and the fringe of the skirt dangled to the tops of her beaded moccasins.
As she walked, the fringe swayed gently, creating swirls of motion around her. Her unbound hair hung to her waist, adorned only by a single feather that had been braided into her hair so that it fell onto her right shoulder.
What had surprised Rayna most about her appearance was that she had also donned the necklace she had made years ago. The bone, silver beads, and turquoise choker fit her throat snugly, and the crudely carved Thunder Eagle medallion that hung down between her breasts swayed lightly as she walked.
Whatever its significance to her, whether real or imagined, it was a lovely adornment. In this native costume, Skylar was stunningly beautiful. She was also thoroughly Apache.
The strained smile on Collie’s face told Rayna that her mother was thinking the same thoughts. “Is something wrong?” Rayna asked as Skylar knelt on the blanket in front of them. “I didn’t think you were supposed to leave Mary’s side.”
“White Painted Woman is resting,” Skylar said, careful to follow the pro-scription that during the ceremony Mary be referred to only as the Apache deity she represented for these four days. Skylar looked at her mother. “I am concerned about you and Father. I know that you came to show your support of me, and that means more than you can ever know. You mustn’t feel obligated to stay, though. It’s much too hot to stand in the sun all afternoon.”
Collie reached out and brushed a lock of hair over her daughter’s shoulder.
“It’s hot for you, too, dear.”
A radiant smile lit Skylar’s face. “I’ve hardly noticed the heat, Mother.
Attending White Painted Woman has kept me too busy. And besides”—she gestured toward a tall ceremonial lodge that was open at the bottom but cov-39
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ered with brush and yucca leaves at the top—”I spend most of my time in the shade. You and Father are suffering far more than I.”
“What about me?” Rayna asked, affecting a teasing pout. “Don’t I get any credit for suffering, too?”
Skylar laughed and took her sister’s hand. “Not a bit. If you weren’t here, you’d be out scouting the herd, and you wouldn’t feel the heat, either.” Her look of gratitude was enough to tell Rayna that Skylar understood why she was here and that she appreciated the sacrifice.
“Actually, dear, I was thinking of taking your father home after the next ritual,” Collie said.