Rating: T<\/p>\n
Word Count=4960<\/p>\n
Summary:\u00a0<\/span>WHI for The Savage. Was Ruth Halverson real? Did Adam propose marriage to her? This story attempts to explain some of the events in this episode.<\/span><\/p>\n Disclaimer: I do not own Bonanza or the Cartwrights. No copyright infringement is intended on the script by Joe Stone and Paul King. All original plot elements are property of the author. This story is for entertainment purposes only.<\/span><\/p>\n Reviews from the Old Library are on the last page.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Fevered Dreams<\/strong><\/p>\n Adam rode through the shimmering heat, thinking about the argument he\u2019d had with his father about Ira Fairbanks\u2019 windmill. To have his curiosity treated as an indulgence was galling. At least his father had finally realized that the windmill did have practical applications and that perhaps it could be used on the Ponderosa. Pa\u2019s argument that it was too close to roundup to spare him was ridiculous; there were plenty of hands as well as his brothers to do the work for the next week. Besides, he wasn\u2019t asking for a month off to dawdle in San Francisco. He had only asked for the chance to see Ira\u2019s windmill so he could make some sketches and then design something similar for their land.<\/span> <\/p>\n
He\u2019d been so lost in thought that he hadn\u2019t realized where he was until he saw the crossed spears marking the boundary of the Mountain of the Dead, a no man\u2019s land held sacred by the Shoshone. The stories told by whites and Indians said that any living person who ignored the warning and crossed the spears would be doomed to wander among ghosts for eternity in a living death; no one would ever know what had become of the person because there would be no evidence to mark their passage beyond the boundary. He briefly thought of how much time he\u2019d save if he passed through the Mountain of the Dead as a shortcut, but, even though a skeptic, he wondered if the stories held any truth. On the verge of turning to leave, he caught sight of a dead man and decided to investigate.<\/span>
Two white men had been killed with arrows just inside the boundary, evidence that the stories were just that. The arrows were very real and most likely had not been shot by spectral sentries intent on keeping trespassers out. He was examining the men for clues to their identity when he heard a masculine voice calling on a spirit for help. He drew his gun in case he needed to defend himself. Not wanting to be observed, he climbed onto the rocks and maneuvered until he was in a position to see what was happening.<\/span>
The sun\u2019s reflection from the rocks caused a glare that made seeing difficult. A light-haired woman had appeared to speak to the Indian, who made an offering to her as he pleaded for her to come help his people. The woman spoke in a strong voice as she refused to go with the man; Adam detected an accent that reminded him of Inger. Moving on his perch so he could better observe what was happening, he was surprised to see the Indian grab the woman\u2019s arm and the struggle that then began when the woman was revealed to be flesh and blood instead of a spirit.<\/span>
Seeing the Indian pull a stone axe from his belt to kill the woman, Adam yelled out, \u201cPut it down! I said, put it down!\u201d Instead, the Indian threw the axe up at him and ran for his horse; Adam\u2019s shot caught the Indian in the back and he fell dead.<\/span>
Trying to find a way down from the rocks to help the woman, Adam felt an intense pain in his right calf and looked down to see a Shoshone arrow in his leg. He shot his pistol as he lost his balance and his bullet caught the Indian, killing him. Even though he windmilled his arms to keep from falling from the rocks, Adam lost his balance and plummeted to the ground; a portion of the arrow\u2019s shaft snapped off on impact, leaving the point embedded in his calf.<\/span>
Even though blood and sweat were dripping into his eyes, he saw the woman who had been threatened by the Indians crouching near him. As he reached for her and asked, \u201cWho are you?\u201d she stood and backed away. \u201cHelp me,\u201d he pleaded as he reached towards her but the woman ran off. \u201cCome back!\u201d he demanded as she disappeared from his sight. Even though the pain was intense, he managed to stand, yet when he tried to put his weight on the leg, he fell against the rocks and passed into blessed oblivion.<\/span>
He regained consciousness as he felt a cool, wet piece of cloth pressed against his lips. He gratefully tried to suck the water from the cloth. Opening his eyes, he saw the woman. \u201cWho are you?\u201d he asked. Seeing her hesitate as she drew a large knife, he said, \u201cI couldn\u2019t hurt you if I wanted to.\u201d<\/span>
\u201cIf I wanted your life, I wouldn\u2019t have returned,\u201d she answered before cutting open the leg of his jeans.<\/span>
\u201cWill you tell me who you are?\u201d he asked.<\/span>
\u201cI\u2019m called White Buffalo Woman.\u201d<\/span>
\u201cWhite Buffalo Woman? The spirit woman of the legends of the plains Indians?\u201d She continued tending to the arrow wound without answering his question. Watching her about to remove the arrow from his leg, he said, \u201cI hope you know what you\u2019re doing.\u201d<\/span>
She placed the damp piece of cloth in his mouth and told him, \u201cDon\u2019t move.\u201d<\/span>
He tried hard to not give into the pain and scream as she removed the arrow from his leg. Just as he thought he\u2019d pass out again, the arrowhead came free. \u201cThanks,\u201d was the only word he could get out through the intense pain as she bandaged the bleeding wound.<\/span>
The woman helped him to stand and support some of his weight as he hopped over to the nearby travois. He felt her tying his arm to it but gave into the pain and passed out before he knew if he\u2019d been secured or not.<\/span>
*
Adam slowly became aware of the heat from the sun beating down on his face. He sluggishly opened his eyes and became aware that he was lying on a bed of animal skins and his head was supported by a log for a pillow. His head was pounding with the beat of his heart and he tried to remember what could have happened to result in so much pain. Lying still yet looking around, he tried to remember how he got to this place. He\u2019d been on an errand, hadn\u2019t he? For Pa? Or for himself? There was someplace he\u2019d been trying to get to, but where was it? Placing a hand over his eyes, he tried to think through the pain. He\u2019d been on his way to look at Fairbanks\u2019 windmill when he\u2019d reached the Mountain of the Dead. But what had happened after that? Two men had been dead. He\u2019d been checking their bodies when something happened. Had he been bitten by a rattlesnake? Or shot? That would explain the pain in his leg but not the pain in his head. His fingers, still over his eyes, felt along his forehead and made contact with a leather headband holding some cloth in place. Had he been shot in the head and the leg? Had he been shot while riding Sport and thrown against a rock? He couldn\u2019t remember and decided to rest more before trying to think.<\/span>
Finally deciding to sit up, he almost instantly regretted it when he began seeing flashes of light; shutting his eyes tightly didn\u2019t make the flashes end. Taking a deep breath, he sat up again and scooted his back against the log. Looking down, he saw the bandage on his leg and tried to remember how that had gotten there. Putting his hand to the white linen, he felt the heat radiating from his calf. Somebody must have shot him, but who dug the bullet out?<\/span>
\u201cAh\u2026you\u2019re back among the living,\u201d a feminine voice said.<\/span>
Looking around, Adam wasn\u2019t sure where the voice had come from. He tried to stand, but his wounded leg wouldn\u2019t allow his body to use it as a support. He was reaching for a pile of sticks to select one as a weapon and cane when a knife whizzed past his head and embedded itself in the log he was leaning against.<\/span>
\u201cWho are you?\u201d he asked.<\/span>
Drawing herself up to her full height, she replied, \u201cSome call me White Buffalo Woman.\u201d<\/span>
Adam thought for a brief moment and tried to remember where he\u2019d heard that name before. Wasn\u2019t White Buffalo Woman only a legend? He squinted as he looked at her and saw a kindly face and light hair. With the sun at her back, he couldn\u2019t determine its color but thought it might be blond. He finally asked, \u201cAre you a spirit?\u201d<\/span>
She came over to him, knelt down, and placed a hand against his forehead; he was hot with fever. Picking up a nearby water bag, she placed a hand behind his head and pressed the mouth of the bag against his lips. He drank greedily for a few moments before she lowered it and set it aside. She reached towards the bandage on his leg and felt her arm gripped strongly by his hand.<\/span>
\u201cAre you a spirit?\u201d<\/span>
Gently removing his hand from her arm, she replied, \u201cSome would think I am.\u201d<\/span>
\u201cWhat should I think?\u201d<\/span>
\u201cThat you\u2019re very lucky.\u201d<\/span>
\u201cLucky to have a pounding head and throbbing leg?\u201d<\/span>
\u201cLucky to have your life.\u201d<\/span>
Adam was sure he\u2019d heard her voice before and he tried to think of where they might have met. He lay back against the log and placed his hand over his eyes to block out the light. Pain\u2026.there\u2019d been pain in his leg. A stick was in his leg causing the pain. Why would a stick hurt so much?<\/span>
\u201cI\u2019m going to put another poultice on this wound,\u201d he heard her say.<\/span>
Wound. The stick hadn\u2019t caused the wound. Removing his hand, he looked over and saw the knife in the log. That\u2019s what had caused the pain! He\u2019d been stabbed! He was about to reach for the blade when he felt a pressure on his chest and arm. \u201cOh no you don\u2019t,\u201d was all he heard before falling into the black void again.<\/span>
*
A woman\u2019s voice was reading aloud. The voice had a sing-song quality and an accent that his fevered brain could almost identify. The word for that accent was almost on the tip of his tongue, if he could just capture it and say it. Maybe thinking about the person\u2019s other aspects and not just the voice would help him remember. The face that went with that accent was framed by blond hair and had eyes as blue as a mountain lake, rosy cheeks, and a warm and generous smile. Those features he was thinking of began to coalesce into an actual face. There–he could see it now. Mama! That was Mama\u2019s voice reading aloud! Swedish. The accent was Swedish. Mama was from Sweden. She was here and watching over him now, making sure he was well-cared for as he healed.<\/span>
Cracking open an eye, he hoped to see Mama nearby. Instead, he saw a different woman and she was reading aloud from a large book.<\/span>
\u201cYou\u2019ve come back. I was beginning to worry.\u201d<\/span>
\u201cWhat happened?\u201d<\/span>
\u201cYou passed out trying to grab my knife.\u201d<\/span>
Adam covered his eyes with his hand and tried to think of why he would have been trying to take her knife. Maybe he had wanted to cut the pain out of his leg? Looking at her, he asked again, \u201cWhat happened?\u201d<\/span>
\u201cDo you not remember the arrow?\u201d<\/span>
He frowned and furrowed his brow as he tried to remember anything to do with an arrow. He\u2019d found two dead men with arrows in their backs. Did that mean he\u2019d been shot by an Indian while trying to help those men? \u201cWas I shot while trying to help someone?\u201d<\/span>
\u201cIn a way. You thought you were helping me by shooting a very powerful medicine man\u2019s son. His companion shot you in the leg.\u201d<\/span>
He\u2019d been trying to help her? There had been a woman who appeared when an Indian called for a spirit to help his people. \u201cAre you flesh and blood?\u201d he asked her.<\/span>
A laugh was her only response. \u201cI\u2019m a living person, not a spirit who haunts these mountains.”<\/span>
\u201cAre you Swedish?\u201d<\/span>
A look of surprise crossed her face. \u201cWhy would you ask that?\u201d<\/span>
\u201cYour voice reminds me of my mother. She was from Sweden.\u201d<\/span>
The woman looked down at the book and closed it. \u201cMy father was from Norway. He came to America as a young man and settled in Connecticut, where he met my mother. She died when I was a little girl and he raised me alone.\u201d<\/span>
\u201cHow did you get from Connecticut to here?\u201d<\/span>
She looked down at the book again and caressed its worn cover. \u201cDaddy wanted to come West after Mother died, so he sold everything he could to buy a wagon. We made it as far as St. Joseph where we stayed a few years. When Daddy decided we should continue on, he was told it was too late and we\u2019d be trapped by the snow. He only laughed. He said that winters here in America were nothing compared to those in Norway.\u201d She paused in her story. \u201cDaddy was wrong, though.\u201d<\/span>
\u201cI\u2019m sorry,\u201d Adam replied.<\/span>
\u201cThat was a long time ago and a world away,\u201d she whispered in response.<\/span>
\u201cWhat\u2019s your real name?\u201d<\/span>
\u201cMy real name?\u201d<\/span>
\u201cI know your name can\u2019t be White Buffalo Woman. Surely you have a Christian name.\u201d<\/span>
\u201cRuth. My parents named me Ruth.\u201d<\/span>
\u201cThat\u2019s a pretty name.”<\/span>
\u201cMy father had traveled alone to a foreign land and fell in love with a foreign woman. Mother\u2019s favorite book in the\u00a0<\/span>Bible<\/em>\u00a0was the\u00a0<\/span>Book of Ruth<\/em>. When I was born, Mother said I should be named for Ruth since my mother\u2019s family had become my father\u2019s family. When Daddy talked about coming West, Mother used to say,\u00a0<\/span>\u201cWhither thou goest I will go.\u201d<\/em>
\u201cHow did Ruth become White Buffalo Woman?\u201d<\/span>
\u201cThat\u2019s a story for another time. You should get some sleep.\u201d<\/span>
\u201cI\u2019m not tired.\u201d<\/span>
\u201cI\u2019ve lived among the Bannock and the Shoshone. Since I could recognize and treat the illnesses that plagued their peoples, they called me White Buffalo Woman after one of their greatest spirit helpers.\u201d Going over to a bag supported on a tripod above a small fire, she dipped a wooden cup into the bag and returned to Adam. Kneeling down with the steaming cup, she supported the back of his head with one hand and held the cup to his lips. \u201cDrink this tea. It\u2019ll help you rest.\u201d<\/span>
He did as told and soon found his eyes feeling heavy. Dreams of a wagon journeying West played behind his eyes. A man and a young girl shared the reins to keep up with the other wagons. They encountered Indians, both friendly and hostile, hunted for food, buried their fellow travelers who died, and prayed together for the strength to continue on to their destination. One of the wheels on Ruth\u2019s wagon began to come loose and her father had to stop to make repairs; the rest of the train continued on since he said they\u2019d catch up. Several men circled back from the wagon train and hid in the sparse brush, waiting for a chance to jump the lone man and his vulnerable daughter. Seeing an opportunity, they killed the man and grabbed the girl, tearing at her clothes; the girl struggled and fought as hard as she could to get away. Just as she broke free and started to run, one of the men grabbed up a rope and swung the lasso to trap the girl. The rope caught her around the waist and she fell the ground; the men were upon her in seconds, tearing at her clothes again. She screamed and screamed but no one heard her cries for help. Adam wanted to kill those men for what they were doing to the girl but he couldn\u2019t move to save her.<\/span>
\u201cRuth!!!\u201d<\/span>
\u201cSssshhh, you\u2019re having a bad dream.\u201d<\/span>
Adam startled awake to the feel of a cool cloth pressed against his face. He looked around the camp in bewilderment for a few moments; the dream had seemed so real. Placing a palm to Ruth\u2019s cheek, he said, \u201cYou\u2019re all right.\u201d<\/span>
\u201cOf course I am. Just try to get some rest.\u201d<\/span>
He lay back against the log and tried to relax but he couldn\u2019t stop thinking about that dream. It seemed so real, as if he\u2019d actually been there. Feeling hands on his chest, he craned his neck to see what was happening; Ruth was unbuttoning his shirt. \u201cWhat are you doing?\u201d<\/span>
\u201cYour shirt is filthy and could use some laundering. Plus you smell a bit and could do with a bath.\u201d<\/span>
\u201cI can\u2019t walk. How am I going to bathe?\u201d<\/span>
Finishing with the buttons, she helped him sit up so she could remove his arms from the sleeves. \u201cI\u2019ll bathe your chest, arms, back, face, and wounded leg. Don\u2019t worry; I won\u2019t remove your pants.\u201d<\/span>
Adam blushed a deep crimson. He had a deep dislike of feeling completely helpless.<\/span>
Getting the shirt free from his body, she took it over to a kettle suspended over a low fire. The red shirt and several of her own garments were placed in the water to soak before scrubbing. Picking up a fresh cloth and a water bag, she returned to her guest and knelt beside him. Dampening the cloth, she began with bathing one arm. He turned his head so she wouldn\u2019t see the shame in his eyes; being at another person\u2019s mercy wasn\u2019t something he was comfortable with. Finishing his arms, she gently pulled him towards her to bathe his back. With his chin supported on her shoulder, he couldn\u2019t help but breathe in the scent of her hair and skin.<\/span>
Finishing, she gently pushed him away so she could help him lay back down. He held her upper arms, looked into her eyes, and leaned in to kiss her. Instead of kissing back, she gently pushed him away and back against the log. Embarrassed by his boldness, he again looked away as she bathed his chest; how could she want him after those men had tried to have their way with her?<\/span>
Removing the bandage from his leg, Ruth crinkled her nose at the smell coming from the wound. Knowing that cleaning it was going to be extremely painful for Adam, she began a one-sided conversation in a soothing tone. \u201cI\u2019m going to have to make some repairs to my hut before winter comes on this year.\u201d His moans tugged at her heart strings yet she continued her work. \u201cSome of the thatch needs replacing and the smoke hole needs to be enlarged a bit. Straight saplings for poles are getting scarce around here, so I suppose I\u2019ll have to look further than before. You might not think so to look at my home, but it\u2019s very sturdy and warm on cold nights.\u201d<\/span>
Finally finishing, she wrapped a new bandage around the oozing wound and cleaned her knife on her skirt. Going over to the kettle, she began pulling the garments from the water to scrub them.<\/span>
*
He was walking along a path that was going down slope towards a lake. Hearing splashing water, he decided to investigate. Several items of a woman\u2019s clothing were hanging from low tree branches. He considered walking further to investigate when he suddenly realized she must be bathing. If he ventured forward and she saw him spying while she was unclothed, she might kill him. She might mistake him for one of those men who\u2019d tried to hurt her so long ago. Footsteps in the brush startled him and he turned to walk back up the path.<\/span>
\u201cDid you need something?\u201d<\/span>
\u201cUm\u2026.not really.\u201d<\/span>
\u201cWhy don\u2019t you turn around to speak to me?\u201d<\/span>
\u201cBecause\u2026because\u2026\u201d<\/span>
\u201cYes?\u201d<\/span>
Shyly turning his head, Adam was surprised to see Ruth fully clothed and he let out a chuckle.<\/span>
\u201cWhat\u2019s so funny?\u201d<\/span>
\u201cI let my education interfere with my thinking for a minute.\u201d<\/span>
\u201cCome down to the lake with me. The view is spectacular.\u201d<\/span>
The two walked down the path, hand in hand. Stopping on the toe of the slope, he drew in a surprised breath at the beauty he saw before him. \u201cNow I know why my parents gave me my name. My folks must have known I belonged in the Garden of Eden.\u201d<\/span>
Ruth let out a delighted laugh and asked, \u201cI wonder if they knew about me?\u201d<\/span>
He turned towards her, cupped her face in his hands, and kissed her gently. They briefly separated and then Ruth put her arms around his neck and drew him in for a more passionate kiss. When they separated, he steeled his courage and spoke his mind. \u201cRuth, I love you. When a man loves a woman, he gives her a token of that love.\u201d He reached into his vest pocket\u2026<\/span>
*
He awoke to a gentle pressure on his shoulder. \u201cI\u2019m going down to the creek to catch some fish. Your stomach tells me you\u2019re hungry.\u201d<\/span>
Adam tried to sit up; he didn\u2019t want her to have to go to the lake alone. \u201cJust lie down and rest.\u201d<\/span>
\u201cI\u2019m tired of resting.\u201d<\/span>
\u201cIt\u2019s what your body needs. I won\u2019t be too long. I keep a trotline in the creek so I\u2019m guaranteed a meal.\u201d<\/span>
Before she left, she placed a hand on his face to check for fever. He was hot and his cheeks were flushed. His leg wound would need to be cleaned again to keep infection from taking hold and spreading.<\/span>
As she drew her hand away, he caught her wrist and kissed her hand. It was then that he noticed she wore a simple wooden ring on her left hand. Had that been there? Where did she get it?<\/span>
She gently removed her hand from his and stood. \u201cJust relax and get some rest. I\u2019ll be back.\u201d<\/span>
He listened as her footsteps faded away. Hadn\u2019t they been to the lake? Why didn\u2019t she catch some fish when they were there before? Had he given her that ring?\u00a0<\/span>
Hearing footsteps, he assumed she was returning. He sat up to see how many fish she\u2019d caught but was startled to see four Shoshone braves and a medicine man in a buffalo headdress. Fearing for Ruth, he tried to stand but one of the braves rushed to his side and held him down.<\/span>
\u201cRuth! Where\u2019s Ruth!”<\/span>
Another brave rushed forward as he saw his comrade struggling with the white man. Between them both, they were able to subdue him. The medicine man stepped into view and asked, \u201cWhere is White Buffalo Woman? What have you done with her?\u201d<\/span>
\u201cWhy? Do you plan on killing her? I won\u2019t let you!\u201d<\/span>
Adam began struggling again and the braves had a hard time holding him down. The medicine man, noticing the bandage, kicked the man\u2019s leg. Adam let out a scream and passed out.<\/span>
*
He had to warn Ruth! Racing down to the lake, he desperately looked and called for her. The Shoshone braves had tracked him and now he had to stand and fight. They probably thought they had the advantage since his leg was wounded, but he wouldn\u2019t let the pain distract him. One of the braves charged at him with a knife and the two men fought for control of the weapon. Adam managed to roughly shove the brave away and the warrior slipped and fell on the knife, dying instantly. Fearing for his own life and Ruth\u2019s, Adam rushed up the slope and straight into the medicine man. Two other warriors appeared and grabbed his arms, pinning them at his side. He tried to struggle and break free, but their grips were too strong.<\/span>
\u201cTie him to a tree. We will use him to bring White Buffalo Woman.\u201d<\/span>
\u201cYou\u2019re using the wrong bait. She won\u2019t come!\u201d<\/span>
He felt a sharp pain against the back of his head and the world briefly dimmed. Rough hands tied his arms behind a tree trunk. The braves shot him menacing looks as they waited for Ruth to come looking for him.<\/span>
*
\u201cShe is here,\u201d the medicine man announced.<\/span>
Opening his eyes, Adam was surprised to see Ruth speaking with the medicine man.<\/span>
\u201cYou must come with us, White Buffalo Woman. Many of our people are sick.\u201d<\/span>
Noticing the warriors standing near her guest, Ruth asked, \u201cDo the Shoshone make war on the wounded?\u201d<\/span>
\u201cThe Shoshone need the medicine of White Buffalo Woman. We will not harm him if you will come with us.\u201d<\/span>
\u201cRuth, don\u2019t,\u201d pleaded Adam.<\/span>
She knelt down and gently caressed his cheek. \u201cEverything\u2019s all right, Adam. They will not coerce me.\u201d Going over to the fire pit, she picked up a cup and dipped it into the bag of tea that was warming over the coals. Returning to Adam, she pressed the wooden cup to his lips and told him, \u201cDrink.\u201d He obeyed and wrinkled his nose at the bitter taste. She returned the cup to the fireside and went into the lodge.<\/span>
Adam felt his eyes becoming heavy. She must have drugged him! That meant she was going with the Shoshone! He turned to look at the lodge and saw her coming out, dressed in a garment worked with dyed porcupine quills and beads. His eyes were losing their focus as she approached and his brain was having difficulty processing the words he was hearing.<\/span>
\u201cI am ready, Chato.\u201d<\/span>
\u201cYou come of your own wish?\u201d<\/span>
\u201cYes, my husband.\u00a0<\/span>Thy people are my people. Whither thou goest, I will go.\u201d<\/em>
\u201cAnd this man?\u201d<\/span>
\u201cHis people will come for him.\u201d<\/span>
*
Adam felt himself being turned over by familiar hands and heard familiar voices calling his name. He opened his eyes and looked into worried brown eyes. \u201cPa?\u201d Looking around, he wondered where he was. Something was missing from this place. \u201cRuth?\u201d<\/span>
\u201cDadgone, Adam, you look like you tangled with a grizzly,\u201d said Hoss with a hand to his older brother\u2019s forehead.<\/span>
\u201cAnd got beat,\u201d replied Joe, looking under the bandage that covered Adam\u2019s leg.<\/span>
\u201cThe Shoshone took Ruth.\u201d<\/span>
\u201cWho?\u201d asked Ben.<\/span>
\u201cThe girl who saved my life. She lives here.\u201d<\/span>
\u201cA girl? Here?\u201d asked Ben.<\/span>
\u201cFever,\u201d said Hoss.\u201d<\/span>
\u201cShe\u2019s not imaginary, she\u2019s real!\u201d Adam said defensively. \u201cHer name\u2019s Ruth Halverson. There\u2019s a Bible in the hut.\u201d Ben nodded his head towards the hut and Joe quickly got up.<\/span>
\u201cHow come the Shoshone took her, Adam?\u201d asked Hoss.<\/span>
\u201cThey thought she was a spirit, a reincarnation of one of their gods. I\u2019m goin\u2019 after her!\u201d Leaping to his feet, he said, \u201cI\u2019ve got to find her!\u201d As a warning to his father and brother, he said, \u201cIf you try to stop me, I\u2019ll walk all over you!\u201d<\/span>
Inside the hut, Joe was looking for the Bible. Coming out of the lodge, he read aloud, \u201cOlaf Halverson; daughter Ruth born 1840. Hey, there\u2019s something inside marking a page.\u201d<\/span>
Adam snatched the bible from his youngest brother. He quickly opened the book to the marked page and saw a wooden ring; it marked the\u00a0<\/span>Book of Ruth<\/em>. Gently grasping it, he held it at eye level for a better look. \u201cI gave her this ring. I wanted to marry her.\u201d<\/span>
\u201cIf she left this ring behind, then she must have gone of her own free will,\u201d said Ben.<\/span>
\u201cShe did it to save my life, that\u2019s why I\u2019ve got to go after her.\u201d<\/span>
\u201cIf you do that, you\u2019ll sign her death warrant for sure. She\u2019s a girl, not a spirit woman. That\u2019s true, the Shoshone think she is. If you destroy that belief in her, you destroy her and destroy them, too.\u201d<\/span>
\u201cThat\u2019s right, Adam,\u201d said Hoss. \u201cIf they believe in her that strongly, maybe she can be of some help to \u2018em.\u201d<\/span>
Ben gently told his eldest, \u201cYou\u2019ve got to let her go for now, Adam. Maybe someday\u2026.\u201d Turning towards his younger sons, Ben said, \u201cLet\u2019s get some food.\u201d<\/span>
After eating, Hoss gently unwrapped the bandage from Adam\u2019s leg and checked over the wound. Someone had used a knife to cut something from his brother\u2019s leg. Hoss carefully bathed the wound with warm water and rewrapped it with a clean cloth. \u201cCan ya ride?\u201d he asked.<\/span>
\u201cYeah,\u201d was Adam\u2019s only reply.<\/span>
Hoss helped his brother mount up and then they headed back for the Ponderosa. Adam took one last look at the camp. Where was Ruth? Was she safe? Hadn\u2019t he proposed to her and she accepted? Reaching into his vest pocket, he took out the wooden ring and held it tightly in his fist. She\u2019d been real! Someday he\u2019d find her and she\u2019d again wear this ring.<\/span>
The End<\/span>
June 2008<\/span><\/p>\n