"Thanks." Anton prodded the horse away with his heels.
"Your tickets are on me. Tell them your name at the main entrance tomorrow, and you'll have good seats."
"Much obliged." Anton skirted corrals and livestock tents, the enormity of the encampment taking him by surprise. The entire entourage-gigantic colorful tents, stagecoaches, covered wagons, buggies, excursion cars, housing tents and an Indian village complete with tepees and camp fires lay blocked out and sectioned off military style. "There they are, Pa! Over there!"
From their vantage point, Anton easily spotted her lodge by its identifying markings. Was she in there? He studied the hide structure he'd once considered an eyesore, and an unexplainable peace enfolded him. She was close. Close enough to see and touch as soon as the time was right. He nudged the horse on.
"Ain't we going down there?" Nikolaus craned his neck to look back at him and drew a puzzled frown.
"I told you I'll do this my way. In my own time when I'm ready."
Nikolaus sighed as if disgusted and turned to ogle the sights.
Tiered planks for seating had been constructed in a colossal oval shape, the entire space for spectators protected by canvas tenting. Workers hammered guardrails into place. Lowering Nikolaus, Anton slid to the ground and looped the reins around a brace beneath the stands.
Nikolaus raced into the enormous arena. An abandoned bulls-eye target on a tripod caught his interest. "I wish I'd brung my bow and arrows!"
"Brought." Anton climbed the planks, his boots echoing across the arena. Halfway up, he sat and studied the place where he'd see her tomorrow. The spot where thousands would watch her ride, shoot and eventually take on Annie Oakley.
What was she doing right now? How was she feeling? Was she nervous? Confident? Lonely? Did she think about him? Miss him? Or had she already dismissed him from her thoughts?
Across the way, two men strung a ponderous banner between tent poles. Annie Oakley's face appeared from the folds, a likeness of Rain Shadow following. She wore fringed ivory buckskin leggings and beaded tunic, two long black braids gracing her breasts, and her violet eyes gazed across the vacant arena.
Anton stared at her image and hoped what he had to offer was enough.
* * *
Two Feathers watched Rain Shadow's morning practice. While she cleaned her guns, he traveled to their lodge. From his belongings, he gathered tobacco, sweet grass, a tamper and his sacred pipe wrapped in red flannel. He walked some distance to find a private spot, never an easy task any more.
He sat, cleaned his pipe and rubbed the ash over his hands and arms.
Rain Shadow was better than little Sure Shot. Of that he had no doubt. But many factors would influence the outcome of the contest today. With one thumb closing the bowl, he drew on the pipe, lit the long strand of sweet grass, laid it on one knee and passed the pipe and tobacco through the smoke.
His daughter would probably win. If her white family sought her out as she hoped, what would become of his small family? He was an old man. She and Slade had their whole lives ahead of them. He wouldn't hold onto her. Two Feathers waved the sweet grass around himself, appealing to the spirits.
If her family didn't seek her, what would that do to her?
He cradled the pipe in his left arm, the stem pointing west. "Tunkasila wiyohpeyata, wacecicive. Onsimala ye. Omakiya ye. Grandfather where the sun goes down, I am praying to you. Pity me. Help me." Two Feathers dropped the first pinch of tobacco into the pipe bowl. He repeated the ceremony in each direction, then upward to Tunkasila Wakan Tanka, the Great Spirit, and finally down toward Unci Maka, the Earth.
Words became harder and harder to find in his second round of heartfelt prayer. "Grandfather, Great Spirit, You are all powerful and above all things. All things come from You. Let Your spotted eagle look down from the blue sky, which is above all storm clouds. Hear my prayer. I know You can do all things. Help my Rain Shadow in her needs."
A spotted eagle soared above, unseen by the Indian, who had touched one knee to the ground in supplication of Grandmother Earth.
* * *
The grounds had been transformed into a milling, pulsating crush of bodies. Holding Nikolaus' hand securely, Anton strolled along rows of wooden stands with red awnings. The throngs tried their luck at games. Wheels spun, shots were fired and balls knocked down cans and blocks while children squealed and dodged adults. Rollicking laughter exploded all around them.
Inside the arena, the band tuned up, and Anton shouldered their way to the ticket wagon. Center-front seats awaited them just as the cowboy had promised. Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show began with an impressive parade, Will Cody leading the cowboys, Indians, vaqueros, marching band, coaches, wagons and animals.
Anton and Nikolaus watched a stagecoach attacked by Indians. Nikolaus cheered stunt riders, jugglers and a buffalo stampede. Anton was impressed by South American gauchos, Black Elk and the Deadwood Stage. The famed Johnnie Baker exploded blue glass balls in the air with single shots, but none of it compared to the thrill of glimpsing her.
While his attention focused on one spectacular act, the next was set up and the last removed. Unprepared, Anton spotted Rain Shadow emerging from a tent behind her father. He stared at her, the center of attention, while he blended anonymously into the crowd. It pleased him to see her this first time without her seeing him. This was her world, and it took time to absorb.
Two Feathers, dressed in chief's feathered headdress, bartered with the shirtless Hank Tall Bear. The brawny- chested Indian paraded a dozen dazzling white horses past the stoic father. Two Feathers examined them and gestured.
Tall Bear motioned, and his fellow braves dropped bundles of colorful blankets, hats and clothing at Two Feathers' feet. "'Chief' Two Feathers poked a box with his toe. Tall Bear knelt and opened the box, holding beads and claw necklaces aloft. Two Feathers pointed to the ring on a brave's finger, and Tall Bear spoke softly to the brave. Apparently, the young man didn't want to part with the piece of jewelry, and the crowd tittered. At last Tall Bear convinced him, and Anton laughed with those around him when the brave made a pretense of being unable to get the ring from his finger. Tall Bear finally bit the ring off, the brave howling, and Two Feathers slipped the ring on his own hand, urging his daughter forward.
Rain Shadow stared prettily at the toes of her moccasins.
A flurry of activity changed the scene, tom-toms and gourd rattles creating a pulsing beat. The white horses galloped away, replaced by a crowd of celebrating Indians.
"There's Slade, Pa!" Nikolaus pointed to a group of Indian children taking part in the mock festivity.
Rain Shadow emerged from the tent once again, this time in full ceremonial garb-a pristine white fringed dress, her braids laced with feathers and beads. A strip of white banded her forehead. The crowd oohed and aahed, the women uttering a collective sigh.
Anton caught his breath. She made a beautiful Indian princess. But then she made a beautiful manure shoveler, too. He grinned.
Hank Tall Bear awaited his bride, his muscular body dressed in a loin cloth, leggings, knee-high boots and a quill vest. The medicine man presided over the ceremony, shook his gourd rattle and led the dancing. To a pulsing drumbeat Tall Bear and Rain Shadow danced a spellbinding primitive dance on their own, and the well-wishers formed a circle around the couple.
Anton could hardly breathe. Watching, a knot of apprehension formed in his chest. Would what he'd come to say make any difference to her? He had to talk to her before the contest. She would probably go back to her tent to change. Anton stood and towed Nikolaus through the crowded stands.
"Pa, where are we going?"
"I have to talk to Rain Shadow."
"Now? The show's still on, and I don't want to miss nothin'."
Away from the crowd and performances, a young voice carried to them. "Nikky! Hey, Nikky! Anton!"
Anton spotted the slender figure running toward them. Nikolaus yanked his hand from his father's and ran to meet Slade. The two boys stopped in front of each other, grins splitting their faces.
"What are you doing here?" Slade asked, and tipped his head back to study Anton.
"We came to see you," Nikky answered. "Pa wants to talk to your ma now, and I'm gonna miss the show."
"You can watch over here with me. Can't he, Anton?"
"That would be fine." Pleased to see Slade, Anton squeezed his shoulder. To Nikolaus he said, "You stay put until I come back for you, y'hear?"