Nearby are Indian reservations that Aunt Polly used to take her to during her photography and painting expeditions. She donated a percentage of the proceeds from her art to the school on the reservation. Polly had never had children of her own, and the children here held her heart. The desperate poverty proved a need that she could not walk away from. Her photographs were seen all over the world, drawing attention to the desperate plight of the Indians on the reservation.
Coming to visit now as an adult, Elina needs the peace of the landscape and people to rejuvenate her spirit for the fight ahead. Jake had traveled with Elina to see his sister Elsbeth, and Elina was coming home to see her Aunt Ruby and Uncle Ronnie. They adopted her when she was twelve. They arrived yesterday and it was a happy reunion. Aunt Polly and Ruby are sisters. Ronnie loves picking on his wife’s sister, almost as much as she loved picking on him.
Her log home sits on twenty two acres. It is built for comfort, privacy, and seclusion. The living room is the gathering spot with a large, wide rock fireplace, big windows, and beautiful gourmet kitchen. It is a five bedroom home with over four thousand square feet in the main house. There is also a smaller log cabin home closer to the creek that runs through the property. Polly moves through the now quiet house holding a tray with three cups of herbal tea and teapot. She knows where to find her guest; it’s the same place she always finds her. Elsbeth loved the large deck with the views of the Black Hills Forest on the back of the house. The nightmares would not let her rest. She tried not to wake them, but Polly seemed to know when she was up. Smiling at the sound of her friend stepping out, Elsbeth continues staring up into the trees.
“I thought I heard him call me, my eagle. Sometimes I feel him close, but he does not come,” sighing Elsbeth turns to greet her. She is surprised to find Elina with her. “Did I wake you both? I am sorry, I tried to be quiet.” Elsbeth says to them.
“I was up. Aunt Polly and I like to sit out here at night and drink our tea. I love listening to the sounds of the owls in the woods; it soothes my soul” Elina tells her as she walks to the table and accepts a steaming mug.
“I wanted a chance to talk to the two of you alone” Polly tells the two young women as she sits at the table with them. “I would like to tell you a story, but I ask that you not stop me until after the telling.”
“When I was fourteen, I met a man, fell in love, and made him my world. He asked my parents’ permission for us to marry and of course they said yes. With nine children at home, the girls were married off quickly back then. I was young, and thought I knew love. So I married him. He was twenty four, and so handsome. After a few years it became apparent that I could not have children, and work was scarce in the mountains. He began to drink and became abusive. I loved him, so I stayed. I hid the bruises and learned to heal myself. The more I learned the more fascinated I became. My grandmother was a German healer and I started spending as much time with her as possible. I told my husband that she was sick and needed my help. One night after the abuse was too much for me to hide, I went to my grandmother and she took me in, healing my wounds and my spirit. I left him a note saying I was seeking a divorce. It was unheard of in those days, and he was furious.” Standing up, she steps to the edge of the deck placing a withered hand on the log railing she continues.
“Later in the night, he came for me; screaming about demons, devil worshipers, pagans, and witches. I don’t know how he got in the house, but he came for me first. I was already weak, and being wounded it didn’t take much for him to stop me. He beat my granny to death while I watched,” she says, her voice breaking. Elsbeth rises and goes to her, putting an arm around her shoulder. “I can do this,” she tells them. “He lit her little shack on fire. I knew I was going to die; maybe part of me wanted to. I had blamed myself for so long. So I prayed for my family, and accepted my fate.”
Walking towards the table, she sits back down waiting for Elina to rejoin them. “That is the first time I saw him. I heard the hoot of an owl. Flying straight through the flames towards me was an enormous owl. With his powerful wings, he lifted me and everything went black. I woke up lying near the river. The smell of the pine trees filled the air and over the rush of the water, I heard him call. He was beautiful with his large yellow eyes, tiger striped wings, body, and pointy black ears. Again, he hooted at me and I struggled to get up. I thought I was dreaming, but I realized I was in the woods behind her house. I started to run. I had to get back to my granny! I could see the smoke and flames and smell it in the air. I was too late to save her. Crying, watching my refuge burn, I did not hear my husband behind me, but my owl did. He called out and flew straight at him, digging his claws into his shoulders. He lifted him above the burning house, and dropped him right into the center of the flames. The last
