Thunder on the Plains by Gary Robinson Read Free Book Online Page A

pull Charlene up hand over hand by the rope.
    Meanwhile, Robert worked his way down the rope chain just in time to help me pull Charlene back up onto the path. She was shivering, cold, and scared. She hugged me. I hugged her back. That was a close one.
    â€œAre you all right?” Robert asked. Charlene was too shaken to speak. She nodded her head and stepped back from me. She looked down at her legs. One knee of her jeans was torn. There was blood on it.
    â€œWe’re almost to the top,” Robert said. “Come up to the front with me. We’ll finish the path together.”
    He disconnected her section of rope from me and attached her hook to his.
    â€œGood work, Danny,” he said, and gave me a pat on the back. Charlene said thank you with her eyes as Robert escorted her away.
    In another hour, we made it to the top, just as the rain stopped. It was getting dark, so wequickly set up camp in a clearing at the top of the mountain.
    We were soaking wet and shaken by what had happened. It was like we were taking life seriously for the first time, because danger and death had seemed so close.
    That night, dinner was made up of protein bars, dried fruit, and water. We were glad to have that stuff as we warmed ourselves around a small fire. Robert bandaged Charlene’s injured leg with supplies from the first aid kit.
    After dinner, I left the circle and went to my tent. I rummaged around in the bottom of my backpack until I found what I was looking for. I went back and sat down beside Charlene and slipped her a candy bar.
    â€œYou’re not the only one with a secret stash,” I said with a smile. We laughed as we enjoyed our little treat.
    The next morning I woke up and stepped outside my tent. Spreading out in front of me was most awesome view I had ever seen. The sky was clear. I could see for miles. Hills, valleys, mountains, trees, and meadows wereall spread out before me. Now I know why people call the state “Big Sky Country.”
    After breakfast, Uncle Robert performed the same blessing ceremony for us that Grandpa had performed for me. With my help, Robert bathed the kids in the smoke with the sweet smell. He explained the meaning of the ceremony. And he told us about the four gifts that Grandpa had told me about: sage, sweetgrass, cedar, and tobacco. Some of the kids had never heard of these things. Their families had stopped doing traditional activities.
    He told us we could perform this ceremony whenever we needed to cleanse ourselves, our minds, or our homes. Then he held up a sprig of prairie sage.
    â€œSage is a special gift used in the sweat lodge and during the Sun Dance. Its smoke doesn’t burn your eyes or bother your nose.”
    He put the sage back down. “Now I have a special treat for you,” Robert said. “Follow me.”
    He led us over a little rise to an open area. There was a beautiful field of wild sage.
    â€œThis is a secret field of sage, known only to a very few members of our tribe. It’s where the great medicine men and warriors of our nation have picked their sage for generations.” We walked into the field.
    â€œNow it’s your turn, as modern spiritual warriors, to pick your own sage to use when you need it.”
    We spent the morning picking the plants and relaxing in the field. Charlene stayed close to me as we picked our sage. We helped each other tie the long stems together into bundles.
    Robert said we had finished the hardest part of our survival experience. He said that picking the sage was our reward. It was time to head back down the mountain.
    On the way down, Robert pointed out Yellowstone National Park. I looked where he was pointing and could see it in the distance. I knew that nothing in L.A. could match this view or give me this feeling.
    The rest of the week was downhill all the way. We hiked back to our horses. Then we rode back toward our starting point.
    On Saturday, we rode back into Buffalo Gap. Robert