Providence by Karen Noland Read Free Book Online Page B

I’m not mistaken.
I’ll give you seventy-five, and save you the trouble of hauling them all that
way.”
    “You sure you can afford to part
with that kind of money?”
     She knew she couldn’t, but
given the circumstances, she knew she had to. “You let me worry about what I
can afford, and what I can’t,” she stated boldly. “Is it a deal?”
    “All right,” he decided,
motioning for one of his men to loose the ponies. She reached into her pocket,
pulling out the money she hadn’t known would be hers, thinking once again how providentially
God always supplied her every need. She counted out the bills and handed them
to Matt, flinching inwardly as his hand brushed hers.
    She took the leads the cowboy
handed her, and watched as the men mounted their horses, wanting them gone quickly.
The cowboys struck off with the remaining horses in tow.
    Matt waiting until they had moved
off a ways, turned back to her, “Kate, there’s going to be a circuit riding
preacher in Fallis this Sunday. I’d be delighted if you and Jo would join me at
the meeting and the picnic after.”
    Taken aback by his invitation,
Kate flushed. “If there’s to be a preacher, then you can be sure that we’ll be
in attendance. It will be nice to see you there as well.”
    It wasn’t an actual acceptance,
but Matt nodded, tipped his hat, and rode off at a trot to join his men.
     Kate stood rooted to the
ground staring after the men disappearing beyond the distant horizon. Only when
she was certain they were gone, did she turn and start back to the house. As
she approached, leading the three quiet horses, the door opened and Jo dashed
out, “Oh, momma, wherever did you get those pretty ponies? Can I ride one,
please? Are we going to keep them?”
    Tochoway and Mahseet appeared on
the porch, amazement written plainly across their faces. “You truly great
puha.”
    “Puha?” Kate echoed.
    Tochoway shook his head, clearly
trying to find the English to express his thoughts. “Medicine - power - spirit - great in here,” he said placing his hand gently upon her chest, just over her
heart.
    “I do have a wonderful spirit in
there,” she replied, “but that Spirit is not my own,” her eyes glistened with
unshed tears.
    He nodded stepping away from her.
“We will leave now.”
    “Oh, but Nocona, he’s too
weak...”
    “We must go.” Taking the single
feather that adorned his braid, he tucked it behind her ear. “The hawk soars
above the earth and sees all, so my spirit will watch over you.” He brushed her
cheek lightly with the back of his hand before taking the lead ropes from her.
    Mahseet was already carrying
Nocona to one of the horses. He placed the boy gently on the pony, then deftly
mounted behind him. Tochoway took the other two ponies. Mounting one, he held
the other’s lead. She knew he was right. It was dangerous for them to stay any
longer. Her heart ached for the boy, praying for his safety, and that of the
others as well, the tears slipped unbidden down her cheeks.
     A quiet chanting filled the
still air:
    “Taa Ahpu tomoba?atu,
nansuwukaitu u nahnia.
    U tekwapuha pitaruibe siku
sokoba?a tomoba?atu nakwu waitusu.
    Numi maaka ukiitsi tabeni numu
tuhkarui.
    Nu tusuuna aiku numu hanipukatu.
Numi tusuuna.
    Keta aituku numi muhneetu.
Aitukutu numi
    taakonin/tsaakuan.
    Taa Ahpu nansuwukai suana.
    Suni yutui o.”
    Though the Nuumu words held no meaning
for Kate, she felt a stirring in her soul, as the significance of the prayer
reached deeper than mere words, “Our Father, which art in Heaven, hallowed be
they name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven....”
she began.
    Tochoway’s dark eyes held hers,
he nodded slowly. Raising a hand in farewell, they turned their ponies to the
south.

Chapter Four
    The small town of Rush Springs
sprawled before them. An early morning fog lay thickly over the prairie. Wet
droplets clung to the horses’ manes and dripped from the saddles, muffling the
sounds