expecting this. “Why?” Mr. Murphy inquires.
Mark
answers. “The Arapaho have invited
you to their home, which is a great honor.” Annie appreciates Mark’s response with a warm smile.
“Shall we?” Mark motions to the awaiting
buggies. Mark helps Annie up into
the buggy, even now, during this important time, the touch between them and the
longing it inspires consumes both of their thoughts.
A company of
cavalrymen on horseback, led by Mark, along with two buggies holding the
commissioners and Annie, ride into the village. The group comes to a stop.
Chief Red Hawk
is right there, dressed in his most noble outfit. He helps Annie out of the buggy. The commissioners observe this. They hop out of the buggies. Annie motions to the chief to shake hands.
Picking up on
the silent suggestion, Chief Red Hawk extends his hand to Mr. Murphy, the first
of the commissioners. “Hello, I am
Red Hawk. Chief of the Arapaho.”
Mr. Murphy
shakes Red Hawk's hand. “I’m Mr. Murphy.”
Red Hawk shakes
the hands of the other commissioners introducing himself as he does. When the introductions are finished,
Chief Red Hawk motions to the commissioners to follow him. “Let me show you our village.”
The chief offers
his arm to Annie. She takes it as
he escorts her through the village. “We have lived on this land for as long as our stories have been
told.” The chief tells the
commissioners.
Chief Red Hawk
leads the commissioners, Annie and Mark through the village giving them a
tour. He stops at various places
to explain elements of the Arapaho's way of life. He introduces the commissioners to various villagers. He has
the women give the commissioners samples of Arapaho food. He has the children give the
commissioners gifts of Arapaho homemade items. The commissioners seem impressed with the tour. Chief Red Hawk is doing his
earnest best to show how the Arapaho deserve to stay on their land.
Once the tour
has ended the group returns to the buggies and horses.
The chief
addresses the commissioners. “I am familiar with your founding fathers, George
Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson. I know their eloquent
words.”
Red Hawk proudly
recites from the Declaration of Independence. "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men
are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain
unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of
happiness."
Mark gives Annie
a look of admiration; he’s amazed by the teachings and progress she has made
with the chief. Their eyes lock as
he nods his respect for her.
The chief
continues. “I negotiate with you
to allow the Arapaho the same unalienable rights that you had fought so hard to
secure for yourselves from the Great Father across the Atlantic. Thank you.”
Not one of the
commissioners responds with a "You're welcome." Mr. Murphy looks guilt ridden.
Chief Red Hawk
tries again with more conviction. “Thank you.”
Annie knows what
Red Hawk is expecting and realizes the commissioners won't reply, so she
does. “You're welcome, Chief Red
Hawk. I hope we will see you this evening at the fort for the dance.”
“Yes, Miss
Annie, I will be there.” He
replies, grateful for her acknowledgement.
*****
It’s evening at
the fort. The courtyard is
decorated for a festive evening. A
live fiddle band plays a festive tune. The commissioners mingle with officers, ladies and gentlemen from town.
Chief Red Hawk
is the center of attention. Many
guests surround him, trying to talk to him. He handles it with grace and
dignity.
Annie arrives
with Chato. She is dressed in a beautiful gown and looks absolutely
stunning. Mark joins her. Now he's the one blushing, his breath
catching, his insides dancing with desire. “You're beautiful.” He manages to say.
“Thank you,
Captain.” Annie replies as her
cheeks
Mark
answers. “The Arapaho have invited
you to their home, which is a great honor.” Annie appreciates Mark’s response with a warm smile.
“Shall we?” Mark motions to the awaiting
buggies. Mark helps Annie up into
the buggy, even now, during this important time, the touch between them and the
longing it inspires consumes both of their thoughts.
A company of
cavalrymen on horseback, led by Mark, along with two buggies holding the
commissioners and Annie, ride into the village. The group comes to a stop.
Chief Red Hawk
is right there, dressed in his most noble outfit. He helps Annie out of the buggy. The commissioners observe this. They hop out of the buggies. Annie motions to the chief to shake hands.
Picking up on
the silent suggestion, Chief Red Hawk extends his hand to Mr. Murphy, the first
of the commissioners. “Hello, I am
Red Hawk. Chief of the Arapaho.”
Mr. Murphy
shakes Red Hawk's hand. “I’m Mr. Murphy.”
Red Hawk shakes
the hands of the other commissioners introducing himself as he does. When the introductions are finished,
Chief Red Hawk motions to the commissioners to follow him. “Let me show you our village.”
The chief offers
his arm to Annie. She takes it as
he escorts her through the village. “We have lived on this land for as long as our stories have been
told.” The chief tells the
commissioners.
Chief Red Hawk
leads the commissioners, Annie and Mark through the village giving them a
tour. He stops at various places
to explain elements of the Arapaho's way of life. He introduces the commissioners to various villagers. He has
the women give the commissioners samples of Arapaho food. He has the children give the
commissioners gifts of Arapaho homemade items. The commissioners seem impressed with the tour. Chief Red Hawk is doing his
earnest best to show how the Arapaho deserve to stay on their land.
Once the tour
has ended the group returns to the buggies and horses.
The chief
addresses the commissioners. “I am familiar with your founding fathers, George
Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson. I know their eloquent
words.”
Red Hawk proudly
recites from the Declaration of Independence. "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men
are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain
unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of
happiness."
Mark gives Annie
a look of admiration; he’s amazed by the teachings and progress she has made
with the chief. Their eyes lock as
he nods his respect for her.
The chief
continues. “I negotiate with you
to allow the Arapaho the same unalienable rights that you had fought so hard to
secure for yourselves from the Great Father across the Atlantic. Thank you.”
Not one of the
commissioners responds with a "You're welcome." Mr. Murphy looks guilt ridden.
Chief Red Hawk
tries again with more conviction. “Thank you.”
Annie knows what
Red Hawk is expecting and realizes the commissioners won't reply, so she
does. “You're welcome, Chief Red
Hawk. I hope we will see you this evening at the fort for the dance.”
“Yes, Miss
Annie, I will be there.” He
replies, grateful for her acknowledgement.
*****
It’s evening at
the fort. The courtyard is
decorated for a festive evening. A
live fiddle band plays a festive tune. The commissioners mingle with officers, ladies and gentlemen from town.
Chief Red Hawk
is the center of attention. Many
guests surround him, trying to talk to him. He handles it with grace and
dignity.
Annie arrives
with Chato. She is dressed in a beautiful gown and looks absolutely
stunning. Mark joins her. Now he's the one blushing, his breath
catching, his insides dancing with desire. “You're beautiful.” He manages to say.
“Thank you,
Captain.” Annie replies as her
cheeks
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