Abraham Fox sat his horse, surveying his domain as if he were an English lord of the fifteenth century. He had none of the pomposity endemic in the English but rather a sense of amazement that everything as far as he could see was his. He felt a twinge of betrayal that he should own a portion of Mother Earth but he was now living under the white man's way of thinking. When he had been "Indian" he would never have owned the ground or the animals. But because of the white man's power, the ways of the Indian had gone with the buffalo. It had been either die thinking as an Indian or live thinking like a white man. Abe and his clan had chosen to live and so he owned the land and the cattle. He did not know the exact size of his herd but both he and Wili judged it to be well over a thousand head.
He should have been pleased and to some degree, he was. He had made amazing social and financial strides in relatively few years. He was, even by white man's standards, now a wealthy man. He should have been pleased and proud. He was, however, ambivalent.
It had now been fifteen years since Sand Creek. Memories of that awful day still brought grief and suppressed rage. The mangled corpses of his dead parents and siblings haunted his memory. Had not John Reid come into his life, Abe realized that he would have hated, that he would either be dead or at Darlington, slowly wasting away from resentment, idleness and liquor. He tried to understand why most of his Arapaho and Cheyenne brothers had wanted to maintain the old ways - even now as they were penned up like his cattle on the Darlington reservation. The buffalo were gone and fighting was futile. Darlington Indians had to depend on government beef - hand-outs to survive. Many were sick. Many had died of the white man's diseases, of starvation, of broken hearts. Was it integrity or stupid pride that made them submit to subservience? Was it an honorable devotion to the old religion or superstition that kept them dancing rather than using the white man's medical knowledge, or was it that there were too few John Reids?
Yes, Abraham was ambivalent: about his people, about his son and even about himself.
His eyes were riveted on his son. He breathed a prayer of thanks to whomever might be listening: the Great Spirit or the white man's God that the boy had come into his life. Wili was fourteen now and as accomplished a cowman as Abe had known. He was young but he could handle a horse. He had learned long ago to know his limits and he now knew well that creativity when dealing with obstreperous cattle was much preferred to stubbornness. He was a wise, strong, good boy and Abe loved him dearly. And - it was that deep love that contributed to Abe's ambivalence.
As a ten-year-old the prairie had set the boy free, had been the boy's salvation. But Abe knew that at fourteen the same prairie was becoming an impediment for the boy. What had once been for both Abe and Wili joyous freedom, books and learning had made confining. The heart wanted this vast grassy haven but the mind demanded what the prairie could not provide. Abe knew that the boy's expanding mind would one day, perhaps too soon, take him from this prairie. Abe, in fact, was not sure that his own insatiable need to know would not demand that he too search beyond his heritage, his tradition, beyond grass, rippling creeks, cattle, and wide open spaces, beyond Mother Earth to that unknown thing, that thing he had heard called "a vast sea of knowledge", that thing that he had come to know was not so much a destination as a journey. Abe Fox loved this vast land that had been the only home he had known, but he was now afraid that it had become too small to hold even him.
John Reid had become his best friend. John had gotten him started in the cattle business. John had taught him how to invest money. It was John's teaching and Abraham's shrewdness, more than the cattle, that had made Abraham wealthy.
But John had given a more important gift. John had taught him to read. He had convinced Abraham that he had been given a mind that should be expanded - that should be used, filled with knowledge. John had brought books: history books, philosophy books, novels, the Bible, Plutarch's Lives, The Illiad, The Odyssey. Once he had started to read - to learn, Abe could not stop, nor could Wili. Abe had known for three years that Wili's quest for knowledge would take him to Germany. Billy Hawk would also go to Germany. Abe had found the boys' study of German fascinating. He had learned with them. He wondered ...."
The clank of chains and the rumble of wagon wheels pulled Abe from his reverie. Abe recognized the wagon and the driver. Cyrus Newfeld had expanded into the cartage business. Goodland had become a thriving town and with his stockyard and cartage business, Cyrus was busier than he really wanted to be. Two of his sons-in-law were now involved in Newfeld business ventures. The white man's civilization was invading the prairie and bringing with it business opportunities and possible riches.
Abe's attention was drawn to the carriage that had pulled up near his cabin. It was the size of a stage coach but much more elaborate. The driver seemed familiar but at this distance not recognized. The driver stepped down from the boot and waved. "Hey, Abe. I have some people I want you to meet."
Abe knew the voice. What was John Reid doing out of uniform?
By the time Abe reached John, eight others had joined him. Abe knew Mrs. Bartlett and Declan but the other two women and the four children were strangers. Actually, children may not have been the proper term for one of them. He was a very handsome young man who bore a strong resemblance to John.
"We invited ourselves for a visit."
"You're always welcome here, you know that. What's the wagon?"
"I brought some tents, cots and food. Several more people from Denver are coming. We're going to have some ceremony."
"And just what are we celebrating?"
"I'd like to tell the story only once. Have we grown to the place that the women can sit at the council circle?"
"You're joking. Since you white men civilized us, the women have taken over."
"I see Wili and Billy are still with the cattle. Can we get Jay and your girls to tell everyone to come to the circle when they hear the tom-tom?"
"Ruth, you and Mary get Jay and tell everyone to come to the council circle when they hear the tom-tom."
The girls ran off toward the Schwartz cabin and Abe stood looking at John, a mischievous grin on his face. After a pause of several minutes, Abe said, "I thought civilized white people introduced strangers."
"And I thought Indians were stoic and patient."
"We were until you white people taught us to be impatient and rude."
"Just wait until everyone gets here. It's all part of the story."
Abe and John chatted for several minutes, just catching up. All of the children but Marty were fascinated by this big Indian who was joking with their Pa. Marty wandered off toward the cattle. She'd never seen so many in one place. They were kind of far away but you could tell they were not like Pennsylvania cows. These had long horns, not like some she had seen in pictures - Texas Longhorns - and didn't have big bags like their cows in Strasburg. There were no fences and Marty wondered what kept them from running away. Actually, they did occasionally wander off but their ear markings and brands usually got them back to their owner. The dogs generally kept them out of the village and the occasional coyote kept them with the herd. Instinct told them there was safety in numbers. There was occasional danger from a rutting bull that wandered too close to the village but the varying cycles of the cows generally kept them busy enough that they stayed with the herd away from the village.
Not having seen each other for several months, it took John and Abe a while to catch up. "I expected you here as soon as the thaw."
"I would have been and Declan wanted to come but we got sidetracked.
"What sidetracked you and what happened to that fancy suit of yours?"
"Goodness, Abe, you're getting just like that boy of yours. That's part of the story too. Can we get Wili and Billy and Buck and John to the circle?"
"It's about time for them to come in. I'll get them."
Abe reined his horse toward the herd. He heard Wili shout and saw the boy riding hard toward him just as he saw the smallest girl who had come with John petting a calf. Range cows are very protective of their calves and this one's mother was charging at the little girl.
Wili arrived before the cow and he reached down, took Marty by the arm and pulled her onto his horse. In typical Marty fashion, she was loudly protesting that she just wanted to pet the calf. She had no idea the danger she had been in. Wili rode toward the Fox cabin and when he saw John, he somewhat roughly deposited Marty, jumped from his horse and wrapped his arms around John. "Where's your soldier suit?"
Marty was loudly complaining to her mother, "That Indian was going to scalp me."
Marty and Declan had come to love each other deeply over the last month but occasionally that love was difficult to detect. They saw no problem with speaking harshly or disparagingly to each other but if either perceived the other to be maligned in any way, they were quick to come to the defense. Declan hugged the girl. "You dummy. That Indian ain't gonna scalp you. That's Wili. He saved you from them cows."
"I was just petting that calf."
By now, John had extricated himself from Wili. "Honey, these cows are wild. They are not like the cows at home. These cows are used to protecting their calves from wolves and other things that might hurt them...."
Marty was frightened, "Are there wolves around here?"
John picked the girl up. "Not many anymore but there used to be and the cows are just being careful.
"Everybody, this is Wili Fox. Before Declan came, this boy saved my life."
Katie wondered, "How did he save your life, Pa?"
"You need to be patient too, Katie. I'll tell the whole story at the council circle.
"Abe, who's got the tom-tom?"
"It's in Keechee's cabin. He's on his route. I'll get it."
John Hawk and Billy heard the tom-tom. They came galloping in thinking something grave had happened. No council had been called for more than a year. They knew that Keechee was out huckstering and that Paul Mann was in Denver buying supplies and could think of nothing of import to the clan that would call for a council. Actually, Paul Mann and Echo had just arrived at the village with the Chesters. Two more carriages could be seen arriving from Goodland. They contained some of John's Denver friends. The Hawks saw that there was no urgent problem. They were told that a "council" would be held in about a half hour. Billy went to the creek and John Hawk went to his cabin to clean up.
Cyrus and his men were pitching tents. There were six of them. It almost looked like a military bivouac. John knew that there would not be enough sleeping accommodations for the number of people he wanted to share this important moment in his life. The renewal of their vows ceremony in Denver had been a small, private affair. Most of the people John knew in Denver were military associates, not really friends. Before Declan, John had intentionally not cultivated friendships. People his age had young children. John didn't even want to try to see if he could cope with that, with happy families. He had poured himself into his work and into books.
Declan had changed things but he also consumed John's life. He finally had a child to love and so that's what he did. Early on, Declan had needed John to guide him into a life other than that of the New York streets. Then there was the remedial education to be done, but most of John's family time was spent just loving and being loved.
John could tolerate the village family life. He had come to see Abe as a brother and he loved Wili. He was proud of the entire White Buffalo Calf Clan and had come to see them as his extended family. These were the people he needed with him during this happiest time of his life. John had become good friends with the Chesters but most of those invited from Denver were more protocol than proclivity. They were his fellow officers and their families who were more acquaintances than dear friends. Decorum demanded that they be included.
Marty and the Fox girls were making tentative overtures toward each other. The twins were a little put off that no girls their age seemed to live in the village. They decided to explore a bit. They were quickly back with the women, tittering and embarrassed. They had gone toward the creek and come upon a naked Billy bathing. This definitely was not Strasburg or even Denver for that matter. Johnny was deep in conversation with Abe.
Without really saying anything to each other, John and Wili had moved away from the group for some private time. "It's over for you, isn't it?"
"And how would you know?"
"Your eyes. It's not there anymore."
"What's not there?"
"That sadness, that hurt, those tears every time you first saw me.
"I knew you loved me but something made you sad every time you saw me. You're happy today. That boy is your real son, isn't he?"
"What makes you think that?"
"I'm an Indian. We see things you white eyes don't see. If you were like sixteen like he is or if he were like a hundred like you are, you'd look just the same."
John grabbed the boy and tickled him. "A hundred is it?"
Wili squirmed away. "Well, you never told me. I just know that you're real old. You're so old you can't hold on to me anymore."
"Oh, I think I could. I just didn't realize how much you'd grown and how strong you've gotten.
John was no longer playful. He again had tears in his eyes. He took Wili in his arms as if the boy were still ten years old. "You know that I love you, Wili. If it were not for you and finally Declan, I think I may have died. You were right. I was always sad. Seeing you made me sad because of what I had lost. But you also helped. Declan helped but you two could not take away all my sadness. I love both of you but there was still my loss.
"I have had a good life. I have your Papa for a friend. I have the whole clan for friends. I'm very proud of the clan. They have become what all Indians could have become if given a chance.
"I have some very powerful friends in Washington. I became a General Officer - things that make most men proud and happy. But I also had too many losses. Do you remember when I told you that you made me remember some things that hurt me?"
Wili nodded.
"Well, I can tell you what they were now. Yes, Johnny's my son and Dora is my wife. I will tell the whole story when everyone in the village gets to the circle. I want you and your pa to stand by Johnny and me when I tell the story. You are a very special boy to me, Wili, and I should tell just you but it is a very emotional story. Do you understand why I don't want to have to tell the story twice?"
"I think so. I'm just glad that your eyes are happy now. I can even tell that those are a different kind of tears.
"I love my mama and papa. Love my sisters and brother. After my first daddy died, I needed them but I needed you too. You let me stay. You let me have a good life with people I love. I love you too. I am proud that you want my Papa and me to stand with you. I can wait until you tell everyone. But hurry up. I need to know what finally makes my third papa happy."
Paul Mann had vowed never again to hold a clan council so he took no part in the event. He sat in the circle with the others. Although the village had never been legally organized, it was generally recognized that Paul was the titular mayor. For all of the clan now, problems of a legal or civil nature were referred to county, state or national officials.
John knew that this would be very emotional for him but even he was surprised at the depth of his feelings. He had not even started to tell his story and was on the verge of breaking down. He stood several moments before he could speak. That pregnant pause drew the solemn attention of the group. Finally, John was able to speak. "Please forgive me. This is a very emotional, happy day for me. All of you thought you knew me and I suppose that you did, but you did not know all of me. Some parts of me I could not tell you. I want to tell you those things now and why I could not tell you until now.
"But let me start with how I came to know my friends, the White Buffalo Calf Clan. After the Civil War, I worked in Washington D. C., first as an aide to General Ulysses S. Grant while he was General-in chief of the army and then as an aide to General William Tecumseh Sherman when he became General-in chief after the election of General Grant to the presidency.
"President Grant knew me to be a voice of moderation, of negotiation and keeping promises in dealing with Indians. Promises that were not kept led to the Sand Creek massacre. My friends of the White Buffalo Calf Clan know that after Sand Creek, most Arapaho and Cheyenne were forced onto the Darlington Reservation in Indian Territory. Tall Man, chief of the White Buffalo Calf Clan, and several members of the clan petitioned to be allowed to stay in Colorado, on their traditional hunting grounds. People in Colorado wanted all Indians sent to Darlington but General Grant did not want anymore fighting with the Arapaho and the Cheyenne. After what Colonel Chivington did at Sand Creek, many people in the East were very angry.
"After Colonel Custer murdered Black Kettle at the Washita, President Grant sent me to Denver with orders to persuade the White Buffalo Calf Clan to go to Darlington. A meeting was arranged with Tall Man and his advisors. Among those advisors was a man about my age. His name was Red Fox. When he spoke I heard intelligence and wisdom. He said that he knew that the way of the Indian was past. He wanted a chance to learn and live under the ways of the whites. He wanted to learn the white man's words. He wanted to learn of the Great White Father in Washington. He wanted the White Buffalo Calf Clan to live on the prairie they loved.
"What he asked was what I wanted also. I could not persuade President Grant to allow the clan to remain in Colorado. As the Indians say, Colorado blood was too bad for the Indians. I was able to convince the President to allow the clan to stay on government land in Kansas.
"My friends from Denver, look around you. See what the White Buffalo Calf Clan has done here. You see prosperous ranches. You see a thriving general store. You see a busy, successful furniture manufacturing company. You see educated people and happy children. You see patriotic Americans. Many of the Arapaho on the Darlington Reservation could have done as well. Perhaps there have not been enough men with the determination of Red Fox and Tall Man. I want you to meet my friend, Red Fox. He has chosen the name of the man he admires most. Abraham Fox, please come and stand beside me."
John told of his childhood, of his education at West Point, of his marriage, of his going to fight at the second Bull Run and of his capture. He told of his experiences as a prisoner and of Andersonville. As he told of Paddy he wept.
John told of going home to Strasburg and of finding that his family had thought him dead. He told of his wife having married and having a new family. He told of not being able to bring himself to make her grieve another husband and break up a family. He told of choosing to go back to the army.
He told of Wili and asked that the boy stand with his papa. He told of Declan.
He then told of the day that Johnny walked into his office. He asked Johnny to stand by his side. He told of Isaac's death and of Dora coming to Colorado. He told of the girls and of their renewal of their vows. He asked Dora, the girls, and Declan to come stand with them.
"Several of you have asked me why I am no longer in uniform. I have asked for indefinite leave from the army. Colonel Chester will assume my command. He is my friend and he is a friend of the Clan. I will go with my family back to Pennsylvania. I will come back to visit but I cannot tell you now if I will ever come back as a soldier."
There was a general murmur of dismay but Wili clutched at his Papa's arm as if Abe might leave him too. Wili than ran to John, hugged him and pleaded, "Don't go."
"Don't worry, Wili. We have to talk, Wili, you and your papa and Billy and his papa, but first I want to have you and Billy go to the other clan families and ask them to come to the ceremony tomorrow. You two can decide who rides north and who rides south. And, Wili, while you're gone, please don't worry."
By the time the sun rose the next morning several people had been busily engaged for several hours. A six-foot deep hole had been dug several miles from the village so that the blood and offal of two slaughtered steers could be buried and not attract coyotes, possible even a rare wolf, stray dogs or other vermin. Prairie stews in large cast iron kettles were simmering over outdoor fires. Bread baking in the ovens of the cooking ranges in several summer kitchens had the women both intoxicated by the aroma and exhausted from the heat. Indian flat bread was baking on hot stones in the same fires that were simmering the stews. The spits had been built and those steer halves were beginning to contribute to the general smell of plenty that permeated the village.
The Denver women were fascinated by the primitive facility of the prairie women. They watched and then eagerly helped as they learned or were instructed in the necessary activities. Most of the Denver men found themselves entranced by the Bough Furniture Company. Bob had built several wind mills and had created ingenious devices to transfer that energy to his machines. They were also agreeably amazed at the quality of the product Bob produced. Before those families headed back to Denver, Bob had more than a dozen orders. His sideboards were particularly popular.
By mid-morning, the north and south members of the clan began to arrive. The Martin twins were pleased to discover that Indians did, indeed, have daughters and with Wili's help had struck up amiable relations with several girls of similar ages. Older teens tended to pair off with that person of interest of the opposite gender. There was a general sense of joie de vivre.
Only at the creek bank was the mood somewhat serious. John Reid, John Hawk, Abe Fox, Horst Slatz, Wili and Billy were in deep discussion. John Reid had offered a proposition: Wili and Billy would go with his family to Pennsylvania. They would attend school there for a year so that they would have experience in a more formal kind of education. They could also hone their German skills since the residents of the Strasburg area were primarily German. After a year in Pennsylvania, they would go to Germany to complete their secondary school and their university education. They would live with Wili's grandparents.
There would be no problem with Billy attending school in Pennsylvania. He might have to deal with occasional harassment early on, but John assured both the boy and his father that he had been in communication with the school authorities in Strasburg. They were more than willing to accept an Indian child and he said that the Reid family clout was such that he doubted that anyone would cause too much trouble for a guest of the Reids.
The plan excited Billy. He had never even been to Denver and the thought of the long train ride and the East that he had read about too much consumed his thinking. Only after the original burst of excitement waned did it occur to him that he would be leaving his family. That part hurt but he knew that he needed to go.
Wili, however, was horrified. He had been east. He had seen cities. Nothing in the east interested him. The otherwise mature and hardy fourteen year old began to cry. He embraced his Papa, looked at John and said, "I won't go."
Abe, also shedding tears, said, "You know that you will not be happy on the prairie when you are a man. You know that you need to learn. I love you, Wili, but I love you enough that you must go. You will go someday and with John is the best way for you to go. Please don't be sad. This must be a happy day for John and his family. I will talk to John and then we will talk later."
And then rather sternly Abe continued. "You are Arapaho. You must act Arapaho today."
Wili didn't like it but he knew that his Papa was right.
It was a good day and Wili got so caught-up in the celebration that for most of the day he forgot his angst. Occasionally it would come to mind and he would go to his Papa and ask if it was time to talk. Abe, each time, told him, "Tomorrow. Now be an Arapaho!"
All of the Clan was there. Many of the neighboring ranchers who had become Paul Mann's regular customers were there. The clan had grown. Bob Bough had convinced the Bureau of Indian Affairs that he needed people from Darlington whom he knew to be good craftsmen. Ten families had moved from Darlington. Almost two hundred people watched as the parson from Denver again had John and Dora renew their vows. They watched as Keechee preformed the ancient Indian marriage ritual. Many of the Indians joined him in his celebratory dance and song. What the parson did confused the Indians. What Keechee did confused the whites but this is how John and Dora wanted it. They wanted both of John's families to celebrate their happiness.
When Keeechee finished his dance and song, Paul Mann stood. "Two years ago, I vowed never again to hold a council of the White Buffalo Calf Clan. We have not forgotten our old ways. We honor our old ways but they are gone. We will not get them back. When I made that vow I could think of no reason for the White Buffalo Calf Clan to hold another council.
"But there is a reason now. We honor the old ways but the new ways have made our lives good. Most whites still would rather that all Indians were on reservations. John Reid wanted Indians to have a chance to learn the new ways. Our lives are good because John Reid fought for us. John Reid is our brother.
"I want the members of the Clan council to get their council lances. I propose John Reid and his family be adopted into the White Buffalo Calf Clan."
Jack Raven spoke. "For many of us our council lances are miles away. I do not even know where mine is. I thought we would never use them again. I have kept it to honor the old ways but it would take time to go to my cabin and more time to find it.
"Our ways are new. Let us vote by standing."
"You are right. If you will make this white man who has been our father and our brother, John Reid, and his family members of the White Buffalo Calf Clan, stand up."
Not only the male members of the council but every Indian present stood. John was moved to tears. He went around the council circle and did the traditional Indian elbow grab and said to each, "I'm honored, my brother."
Dora, Johnny and the older girls realized the depth of the honor the clan had bestowed on them but Marty began to cry. John lifted the girl into an embrace. "What's wrong, Honey?"
"I'm a Indian now."
"Yes. The clan has given us a great honor."
"But I liked being Pennsylvania Dutch."
Declan, exasperation in his tone said, "Silly. You can't stop being Pennsylvania Dutch even though sometimes I wish you could. You're both now - Pennsylvania Dutch and Indian."
"Well, smarty, I wish you weren't Irish too."
"Irish is better...."
Before this got out of hand with these two nemeses, Dora interceded. "That's enough! Just stop now."
They ate. The adults chatted; the Denver people were enchanted by the prairie way of life. The younger girls played some hoop and lance and the boys played lacrosse. As usual in lacrosse games, occasional fights broke out. Wili got into a fight. Declan got into a fight. Johnny was, at first, dismayed at the roughness of the game but he was a tough young man and soon entered in with gusto. He even got into a fight with Ulysses Raven. Dora was appalled but John just shrugged and said, "He's an Indian now. That's how Indians play lacrosse."
Actually it was a kind of liberating experience for Johnny. There is a bit of the primeval in every male that the march of time has suppressed but not extirpated. The games Johnny had played in Pennsylvania had been "rough" in terms of the civilized east but they were too refined to allow out that beast that resides in every boy. As new as he was to the Indian mindset, even while they were fighting, Johnny understood that it had to do with honor, not anger, and it felt normal and free.
Johnny and Ulysses found the other to be good company for the remainder of the day. Several times their camaraderie was interrupted by some teenage prairie siren, Indian or white, flaunting her feminine charms. They were handsome boys. Such attempts, however, were futile. Ulysses was already in love with Marilee Benson whose father ranched just north of the Republican. Johnny could appreciate the scenery but he could think only of West Point and Laura Graber.
The local ranchers began to leave in the middle of the afternoon. Evening chores demanded that they be at home. The evening meal was an informal affair. Food leftover from the noon meal had been put in waterproof skins and placed in the creek to provide some level of refrigeration. It was made available and people helped themselves at their whim.
After dark, a fire was kindled in the council circle and clan members in traditional attire performed their ancient dances and ceremonies, congratulations and good fortune. It had been a good, multi-cultural day. Just the way John and Dora had wanted it.
Wili was sent to the teepee with Johnny and Declan. He again tearfully cajoled his Papa not to make him go. He knew that he could not do as he had done as a ten year old: refuse to go. He was not dealing with John now. It was his Papa who was making him go. Wili understood what his Papa meant when he said that it was his love for Wili that was making him send the boy away. He understood that he had come to love learning more than the prairie. He knew that he would one day leave the village. He just didn't think it would be so soon.
While sleep was eluding Wili, John, Abe and Horst were sitting at the council circle in serious conversation. John was surprised but pleased with what Abe had to say. Abe was questioning both John and Horst. He wanted to know if he would be accepted in German Culture; would he be accepted in a German university? Would the fact that he had no formal secondary school - actually no formal education at all - prevent him from entering university? Neither John nor Horst knew the answers. John was extremely excited to know that Abe even harbored such thoughts. The man was brilliant and should be encouraged. Both John and Horst would investigate the possibilities.
Abe suggested that he would remain in Kansas for the next year while Wili and Billy were in Pennsylvania. He thought it important that the boys have the formal educational experience. He also thought that his idea of going to Germany with the boys would ease Wili's mind. During the next year he would divest himself of his Kansas holdings, probably selling to Buck Schwartz. Would Horst manage his other financial holdings in the Denver area? Would he have to carry cash to Germany? He had enough money to finance several years of education but he would also like the experience of working, possibly in the area of finance. Did Horst think that was possible?
Most of Abe's questions could be answered. Money could be transferred by certificate. He need not carry cash. Horst was sure that his family had the necessary contacts to find Abe the type work he wanted to do. Abe had proven himself well versed in finance. He had invested in the Golden cooperage. He had discussed investments regarding Wili's money with Horst. Horst knew Abe to be more adept at investing than he was. Abe would find very little, if any, racial hostility in Munich. The Slatz estate had several houses which would be made available to the Fox's at no cost. The family felt they owed Abe and Fern much for the love and care they had provided Wili. Billy would be more than welcome. He could live either with Horst's parents or with the Foxes. The only question that remained unanswered was Abe's lack of formal education. There was no question that Abe was extremely well educated, perhaps better educated than many who entered university from formal training, but neither Horst nor John would venture an opinion as to any university policy.
Johnny was as excited as a ten year old to be sleeping in a real Indian teepee. He had the appearance of a strong, handsome man but seventeen is really not that "grown-up". Johnny was a responsible young man but he also was burdened with the emotional variance that is the lot of all adolescents. His general demeanor was the mature seventeen year old but, as is the wont of the adolescent, there is a ten year old in there that occasionally rears its excitable head. Johnny didn't act the ten year old but he certainly felt it.
Despite his excitement, Johnny had the mien of the older brother. He had developed a very protective sense toward his sisters and in the last month, toward his feisty little red-headed acolyte. He now sensed distress in Wili. "What's the matter, Wili?"
"Your dad and my Papa say I have to go to Pennsylvania with you. I don't want to go. I love my Papa and Mama."
"Do you want to go to Germany for university?"
"Yes, but not yet."
"Don't you think you have to get used to going to regular school?"
"I suppose."
"Wili, I lived without my dad for seventeen years. I had another dad but I just knew that my real dad was alive. It was hard but I did it. I will help you do it."
"But you won't be there."
"You're right but if I can do it, so can you and my dad will be there."
Wili couldn't think of an argument for that last statement. He loved and trusted John Reid and he knew that his Papa was right. He would have to leave the prairie eventually. There was too much he had to know that he could not learn on the prairie. Going with John and his family was probably best. He would go but he would miss his family. Yes, Wili would go but he wouldn't like it.
By noon the next day, the only guests left in the village were John and his family. Cyrus Newfield had removed the tents. The Denver people had gone to Goodland to catch the train and the north and south clan members had returned home.
Wili had gone back out to work the cows. Johnny was not the rider that Wili and Billy were but the cowboy milieu was fascinating. Declan stayed out for a while but he went back to the furniture factory and watched and pestered Amos.
Abe had not come to the herd that morning. Wili was anxious. His Papa said they would talk in the morning but he had no idea where his Papa and John were. His Mama said Abe was gone when she woke up. It was not like his Papa to go off and not tell anyone where he was going. Wili needed to know what his Papa was going to tell him today. Where was he?
Billy acted a little subdued also. Billy was fifteen and you could tell that he was thinking about having to leave the prairie and not liking what he was thinking. Wili wondered if he cried before he went to sleep last night. He probably did just as had Wili. That didn't make Wili feel any better. If fifteen wasn't big enough to leave your papa and mama, Wili was almost certain that fourteen wasn't. Even though he had decided that he should go with John last night, he changed his mind. He decided he'd tell his Papa that he'd just skip college if he had to leave home now. In the back of his mind he knew that he would have to go but he did feel a little better pretending that he wouldn't.
John and Abe had ridden to Goodland so that they could talk and John could make arrangements for the trip back to Pennsylvania. John was pleased that Abe wanted formal education. When asked what he might study, Abe thought medicine would probably work best for him. His race would probably prevent him from most professions. Medicine would allow him to both work his profession and help his people.
John agreed to look after Abe's investments and if not completed by the time Abe needed to leave, to handle the sale of his land. If Buck Schwartz wanted to buy out his partner, John would loan Buck any money he needed.
Mostly it was just a chat between two good friends: John exuding his happiness and Abe his anticipation. They walked their horses both ways. Their friendship would not end but their proximity would. Both knew that this would be the last intimate conversation for several years. They wanted to make it last.
That evening found John, Abe, John Hawk, Wili and Billy again sitting on the creek bank. Wili's mood was only slightly less dark. His Papa would be with him in Germany but he would still be away from his family for almost a year. He and Billy would come back at Christmas time but...."
The remaining five days before they left were busy. A kind of pall seemed to cover everyone. For almost five years Wili had been, in a sense, the soul of the village and Wili was leaving. Billy was leaving. Echo and Amos now spoke with the voice of a man but were too involved in their work to give the village the verve that the gaggle of happy, yelping boys had produced. The Fox and Schwartz girls were there but the only male children were Jay Schwartz and De Fox. The girls were more interested in learning to sew than rowdy play and Jay would have found it difficult to get up a rousing lacrosse game with a three year old. Village life would go on but it would be much less joyful.
There is no need to go into the maudlin details of the departure scene. Suffice it to say it involved long faces, long hugs, tears and heart-wrenching goodbyes.