Woman Who Stands Strong stated in no uncertain terms that River required a healing ceremony to cleanse the spirits that clung to him before she could remove the bullet.
She waited for Maskwa, his wife, and others of their tribe to gather all that was needed before she began. Ellie watched with fascination as a ceremony of chanting, drums, and songs began.
For the ceremony she used the Scared Hoop, embodying the four directions, as well as Father Sky, Mother Earth, and Spirit Tree, all of which are symbols of the cycle of life.
River lay in the center of the room as she moved around him in a clockwise motion. Maskwa told her that this would help to align the forces of nature and harness them to heal him.
As the chanting and drumming continued, Woman Who Stands Strong ground-up mushrooms and herbs making them into a concoction which she fed to River. She removed his bandage before cleansing her hands and setting a thin pair of metal tongs to the fire.
Ellie nervously clenched the armrests of her chair as she watched. The healer cooled the tongs before digging into the tunnel of River's wound. He bellowed in agony.
Ellie clenched her fist and bit her lip until she could taste blood. Anything to keep herself from leaping from her seat and ripping the healer away from him.
An excruciating few moments went by as Woman Who Stands Alone dug in the wound. Men held him fast to keep his arms and legs from flailing. His screams eventually stopped and he collapsed from exhaustion. Finally, she fished out the jagged ball of lead.
She dropped it into the washbasin. It fell with a plink. After cleansing it she lathered his wound in an agave salve and wrapped his chest in cotton muslin. By some miracle, River was still breathing.
Woman Who Stands Alone washed the blood from her hands, "I have removed the offending object. If he survives the next few days, then there is hope. Give him this medicine." She handed Ellie a jar. "Twice every day for ten days. Send for me again if his fevers return."
Three days after the ceremony, River's fever was gone and the wound was healing but he did not awaken. As she had done for the previous week. Ellie kept vigil at his bedside. Maskwa stayed to assist her with the care of the children. Eventually, they joined her at River's side as well.
Wilting from exhaustion in the wee hours of the morning, Ellie crawled into the bed curling up to River's side. Aureate sunlight streamed through the small window, casting its warm glow on her face, Ellie's eyes reactively blinked open.
"River," She whispered with a gasp.
He sat with his back against the headboard, the sunlight shone behind him like a halo.
"I fuckin' love you too, Ellie." She leaped from the bed pressing her lips to his.
"I saw Clyde Ellie." His sunken eyes appeared greener surrounded by dark circles.
"What?" She pulled back, aghast.
"He was here in my room asking me to go with him." River answered, "It was as real as you are now." He clasped her hand but with only half his normal strength. "I could see myself lying in this bed. I could see you by my side. He said things to me, Ellie." River's voice broke. "Things that made me feel so Goddamn guilty about all the thing I've done. It nearly made me want to go with him, I deserved the hell that awaited me but it was you and the girls that kept me here. When the medicine woman came, it forced him to leave."
Ellie grimaced, "Even beyond the grave, he couldn't let you go." She gently turned his face towards hers, "You can't go back and change the beginning, but you can start here where you are and change the end."
River squeezed her closer, "And that's exactly what we gone do."
River stood in the field clutching Annie and Essie in either hand watching the stagecoach as it rolled up the dirt road. Ellie stood behind him with her arms defiantly folded.
"I don't know why you invited your momma to live with us River." She huffed.
Maskwa stood at Ellie's side to lend her his strength. He knew she was nervous about meeting River's mother. After all situations like theirs didn't happen every day.
"Try to have an open mind, Mistanask. If she agreed to come knowing what she knows then she has already accepted you." He tried to reassure her.
"humpf" Ellie responded with a huff.
"It'll be ok, Mama." Essie turned around, "She's like daddy. Nana told me so."
This should have quieted Ellie's fears but they would not give way to reason. The carriage approached over an ornamental bridge and passed through stone walls to pull to a stop in front of their home.
River somehow managed to finish the house in record time. Ellie found its charm lay in the immediately apparent-beautiful wood floors and grand fireplace. Once a person stepped through the doors they were welcomed by the large living room that opened to an equally large dining area and despite its vastness had a cozy feel.
Her favorite was the sunroom, she would sit there most mornings bathed in light as she enjoyed her coffee. The other place she found herself most often was the kitchen at one end of the house. River made sure she had every modern appliance since she refused any added help in the upkeep of the home.
She wanted to tell him they had no space for his mother but in truth, the home boasted five roomy bedrooms, surrounded by a wraparound balcony. She was tempted to place her in the one she found most disagreeable so Marie would be encouraged to uninvite herself and go back to North Carolina.
Ellie's attention returned to the carriage when an elegantly dressed woman with pale blonde hair and bright green eyes stepped out.
After assisting Marie from the carriage, Maskwa stepped gingerly around her to fetch the luggage. Meanwhile, Marie let her eyes wander over them and the house taking in everything with the faintest smile.
"Mama," River stepped forward placing a kiss on her cheek.
"Oh, my darlin' boy. So glad to see you looking so healthy and strong." Her hand cupped his shoulders as she looked him over once more. "The letter I received sent me into a panic. I was shocked to hear about your ordeal. It's taken you a lot to get this far River. The last few months ain't been good to you I can see that, but, you're on the mend."
Her eyes fell to the twin girls at his side. "Oh, my word, who are these angels I see before my eyes?"
"I'm Annie," The child stepped forward.
"And I'm Essie." She gave a shy look as she too stepped up.
"My name is Marie Collins but you may call me grandma. Now come here and give your ole grandma some suga!" She smiled throwing her hands open to embrace the children.
When their greeting was concluded, Marie turned to Ellie. "Oh my," she said with a studious gaze. "Ain't you just a sight. Beautiful as the day is long. You must be what all the fuss was about."
Ellie gave a tight-lipped smile. "Yes, ma'am." She eyed Marie directly and straightened her posture.
"It's so very good to meet you, Ellie." Her arms closed around Ellie's shoulders taking her by surprise and soft lips pressed to her cheek.
"I do hope you'll allow me to join this family. River is all I got left." River slipped his hand into his mother's offering her a reassuring smile.
"No ma'am-" Ellie started but Marie interrupted.
"You mustn't call me ma'am. Please call me Marie or Mama." She gave a hesitant smile.
Ellie felt her heart squeeze in her chest. She knew Marie would never replace her mother but just to have someone filling those shoes again meant the world to her.
"Of course, Mama." She reached forward taking Marie's free hand. "River ain't all you got. You have me and the girls."
Marie lived with River and his family until old age took her in 1915. River and Ellie lived together forty-six years in unmarried bliss till consumption took River in 1935 at the age of 69. Unable to cope with life without him, Ellie succumbed to her grief just one year after his passing.
Essie and Annie returned the land to the Cree Nation. Both marrying men of Cree origin and becoming the seers that Maswka sought on his spiritual journey. He died some years after seeing them settled in their new lives.
Essie continued not only to see her grandmother but her mother who guided her through her life. A gift she passed on to her twin girls with Annie endowing her gift to female descendants as well.