Chief Sagola’s Tomb
Chapter 1 A Bridge to Somewhere
I’d spent the day checking for migratory bird use of bridges and culverts along M-41. I’d been on this section of highway more than a dozen times in the past on my way to conducting surveys of wetland mitigation sites. One thing that working for the Michigan Department of Transportation meant for someone like me with statewide responsibilities was a lot of travel. I knew I was approaching a bridge over a rail line, the only one in the county, so it was unique and memorable.
I slowed as the bridge appeared and prepared to take the small dirt road I knew was there. Once on the bridge, I saw a small wooden sign attached to a tree, the white crude letters read ‘Chief Sagola’s Tomb,’ the lettering old and faded. I didn’t remember having ever seen it before. Pulling onto the dirt road, I found it ended a little more than a hundred feet away near the railroad tracks. There were no fresh tire tracks, suggesting it wasn’t used very often.
Opening the door of the van, I stepped out, and stretched. It felt good to be out of the vehicle again. I picked up my hard hat, binoculars, and data logger and started walking along the tracks to go under the bridge. I saw the bridge was perched between two hard rock outcrops that had been enlarged by the railroad to accommodate the tracks when the line had been built in the 1850s. The tops of the rails gleamed in the sunlight showing the line was being used.
Inspecting the steel girders, I found an Eastern Phoebe nest on one support and a mud nest of an American Robin on another. I leaned back against the rock ledge and started inputting the data. I felt the space behind me give and immediately attempted to regain my balance. I failed and found myself in a… well… I didn’t know… a crevice.
I struggled to stand and as I did the space seemed to grow larger. Once up I was confused, thinking I must have turned myself around as the light had disappeared. It was shaded under the bridge, but it certainly wasn’t pitch black.
Turning around I found my original path blocked. I felt fear fill me as confusion engulfed me. My heart rate shot upward as I used my hands to explored the hard rock. I couldn’t see a hint of light anywhere. It was completely dark, as if I were in a cave. I stood for a minute and composed myself. Then I remembered the small penlight flashlight I used for inspecting nest contents was in my breast pocket. I pulled it out, turned it on, and looked about.
The flashlight didn’t provide a lot of light, but as my eyes adjusted, I started to pick out details. None of them served to provide me any comfort and surely not something that calmed me. I searched for some indication of an opening and found none. I turned around and started down the passage way, my hard hat hitting the low ceiling with each step, my shoulders brushing against the sides. I’d gone about twenty feet when the room opened up into a larger space. I shined the light around and noted only an empty wooden bench with a wooden box sitting on it, petroglyphs on the wall behind it.
The box had writing on the sides and ends indicating it had once contained dynamite. I realized as I stood there the space wasn’t like a cave—I’d been in those before. Caves were damp and cold, this space was comfortable and dry. The space certainly didn’t have a musty odor.
Taking a deep breath, I’d seen petroglyphs before and knew such markings were ancient. I realized this space was known to Native Americans well before the arrival of European settlers. My hands were still trembling, and I took another breath to calm myself. I told myself if I’d gotten in, I would find my way out. I was thankful I’d put fresh batteries into my penlight the day before.
Stepping to the bench, I shined the flashlight at the box and found the lid was on tight, but there was no indication of its being nailed on. I placed the penlight into my mouth and used both hands to remove the lid to reveal the inside of the box. Inside was a large yellowed envelope made of heavy paper amid cedar shavings. The aromatic cedar filled the air. Picking up the envelope I opened the flap and saw what appeared to be a single photograph. I suspected it would be the image of the person the tomb was named for: Chief Sagola.
Pulling the photograph out, I was completely dumbfounded. It wasn’t of a man, it was of a young woman in long black braids. I inspected the back of the photograph to see if anything were written on it. There was nothing. Turning the photograph over, I studied the image. She wore a stoic expression, like those you see of most people taken during that time period. I tried to imagine what she would look like with a smile, and found myself smiling. She would be quite pretty.
I started to push the photograph back into the envelope and felt it meet resistance. I pulled it out and opened the envelope wider. There was a smaller slip of paper I hadn’t noticed. I pulled it out and found it was a simple note: She will be found when this is found.
I ran the words over in my mind and decided it didn’t make sense. Even if the photograph had been taken seventy years ago, there would be no way to trace the girl in the photograph. If it had been left for someone, they hadn’t found it. I pushed the note and photograph back into the envelope wondering what I should do with it.
Well, you aren’t going to do anything with it until you find a way out. In fact, you and she could spend eternity together if you don’t.
I decided to turn off the flashlight as I thought about what to do next. It was pitch black again and I strained to hear or feel something. Perhaps a hint of light, or air movement. I’d stood still for a minute and thought I saw a hint of light and started toward it.
I felt the pain as I rubbed my bared head. My hard hat lay on the ground a few feet away with a crack in it. I looked around from my vantage point on the ground. A large chunk of rock and a yellow envelope sat near me. I sat up slowly and focused my eyes. I was under the bridge. It took my eyes several seconds to adjust to the bright light. I placed the hard hat on my head and found it out of adjustment. It had done its job, even though I’d been knocked down.
Squinting as I stood, I heard a diesel horn. A train was approaching. I saw my data logger on the ground at the edge of the ballast and picked it up. I got to the van, opened the door, slid onto the seat, and placed the data logger and yellow envelope on the passenger seat. I looked out as the train passed, the engineer giving a wave.
I glanced at my watch, then checked the data logger time stamp. There was an eleven-minute difference, which shouldn’t have been as my watch had showed the same time as the logger that morning. I could only guess I’d somehow messed it up while trying to check the time earlier.
Looking at the envelope again, I found it contained the photograph. Had I found it before the rock hit me? I must have, as there was no other logical explanation. If I hadn’t looked at it then how could I have remembered it.
After the train had passed, I walked back under the bridge to inspect the rock on the ground. It had fallen from above where I’d been standing. When I checked for an opening in the rock face, I found none. I walked back to the van feeling as if I were missing something. No matter, I had to get going as it was nearing time for me to check into my hotel room in Baraga. Then, I would go for dinner and afterward relax outside where I could check for birds on Keweenaw Bay.
But, the memory of the tomb had seemed so real and the envelope had to have been with the chunk of rock that had fallen from the rock face.
I’d planned on eating at the hotel restaurant, but it was closed. There was the casino in Baraga, or I could drive into L’Anse, five miles distant. I’d done enough driving for the day and decided the casino restaurant was closer. I didn’t like the idea of parking an MDOT vehicle there, but there weren’t a lot of places to eat. I decided to take my chances.
I parked as close to the restaurant doors as I could, and walked in. The casino parking lot wasn’t but a quarter full, so the van stood out more than I wanted it to. I walked inside and the hostess greeted me warmly, and immediately took me to a table. There were only three occupied tables as business was slow. It took but a minute before a waitress appeared. I was looking out the window at the time, and when I turned to look at her, I couldn’t believe my eyes.
She was holding out a menu, a smile on her face. I sat looking, not moving. “Sir, are you alright?”
I pulled myself together, sure I was hallucinating. “Yes, sorry. I’m kind of lost in my thoughts.”
She went over the daily special after setting a cold glass of water on the table. I decided the special sounded good and placed my order. I was surprised when she lingered.
“Have we met before? You look familiar.”
I laughed. “You know, that should be my line.”
She blushed. “Funny, but you do look familiar.”
“I’m from down state and I’ve never been in here before. But, I need to ask you a question if you have a minute.”
“Okay. We’re not busy as you can see. Let me put your order in, and I’ll be right back.”
I watched as she walked away. She was trim and slim, her long, braided black hair, hung down her back. The resemblance was striking, but maybe that knock on the skull had scrambled more than I wanted to admit.
When she returned, she was smiling as she stopped at my table.
“Okay, what’s your question. I don’t give out my phone number.”
“What do you know about Chief Sagola’s tomb?”
Her smile disappeared. “How do you know about that?”
“I saw the sign at the M-41 railroad bridge this morning that said it was there.”
“That’s impossible,” her face firm.
“How can it be impossible if I saw it this morning?”
“That sign was removed by my family members more than sixty years ago, and has never been replaced.”
There was a long pause. Then I decided to ask. “I have a photograph in my vehicle you may be interested in seeing. I can go and get it.”
“What good would that do?”
“I don’t know. I’ll let you decide if its meaningful, or not.”
“I guess it won’t hurt,” she said frowning.
I got up from my chair. “Be right back.”
I walked in and sat down, placing the envelope on the table. She walked from the one of the occupied tables to rejoin me. I’d decided not to say anything until she looked at the photograph. I pulled it out of the envelope and laid it on the table. I heard her gasp.
“That… that’s got to be my great grandmother. Our oral history says she was photographed, but we have never seen it.
“Oral history?”
“Yes, it came to us from my grandmother. We have since recorded what she has told us, so there is a written record. How did you come across this?”
“I’m afraid if I told you the truth, you’d think I was crazy, and call the police.”
She took a chair across from me. “I won’t, I promise. I can’t. I look exactly like her. You see that, don’t you?”
“Yes. When I first saw you, that was the first thing that came into my mind.”
I watched as she wrung her hands. “Would you be willing to meet my parents? If you will, I’m going to take the rest of the evening off.”
“If you’d like me to. But, I can’t take a state vehicle and use it for personal business. I would have to leave it at the hotel, and have you drive me.”
“Not a problem. It looks like your order is up. Let me get it, and I’ll tell them I need the evening off.”
I ate my meal, not in haste, but I didn’t dawdle. I found my waitress especially attentive and I was sure it wasn’t entirely due to having but a few people at tables. I paid my bill and left a sizeable tip.
“You didn’t need to leave that large of a tip.”
“Why not? The service was the best I’ve gotten in a long time.”
I drove the van back to the hotel as she followed me in her car. I got into the passenger seat and it didn’t take but a few minutes before we went off the main highway to a small house on a side street of Baraga. It had been a quiet ride, both of us in our own thoughts. I followed her to the front door, and then as we stepped onto the porch, we looked at one another.
She laughed. “I know your name from your credit card, but you don’t know mine. I’m Dawn Morningstar.”
“Pleased to meet you. It’s such a pretty name. It fits you well.”
We stepped inside the living room where I saw her parents were sitting. The look of surprise on their faces showed they weren’t expecting to see a man with their daughter. I grasped the yellow envelope in my hand firmly as if it were a life ring.
Her father rose with a smile. “An unexpected guest. Please. I’m John Morningstar, and this is my wife Nancy.”
“Dad and Mom, this is Daniel Thorn, he works for MDOT. We met while I was working and found we have something we share in common. It also involves our family, so I invited him to come and meet you.”
I saw the look of puzzlement on her mother’s face. “What would we have in common with someone working for the highway people?”
“He asked me about Chief Sagola’s tomb.”
I watched as her parents traded glances. Then her father motioned to the sofa.
I sat down and Dawn sat next to me. She explained what had happened at the restaurant. I didn’t wait to be asked to show the photograph. I took it out of the envelope, and handed it to her father. He studied it, looked at his daughter, and handed the photograph to his wife. She looked at it and murmured something in words I didn’t recognize.
“So, you believe you have been inside the chief’s tomb?”
“Sir, I don’t know. What I remember for sure was walking under the bridge, waking up on the ground with a cracked hard hat, an aching head, a large rock, and this envelope. I didn’t see any evidence of an opening in the rock along the railroad tracks. I was hoping perhaps someone could tell me more about what I found.”
“The story we have been told comes from my grandmother. She lived to an old age and told us her sister was waiting to be married to the chief. He never showed and no one knew what happened to him. She was an identical twin, something that was very rare. The chief was very respected, and when a natural cave was found the clan members decided to dedicate the cave to his spirit, as it had the markings of the early people painted on the rocks. A photograph of his intended bride was placed into the tomb, so his spirit would find it someday, and complete their life together.”
Dawn looked at her mother. “So, that is why Great Aunt Lucy never married. She was spoken for.”
“Yes, she believed her spirit would be satisfied someday.”
“Was there ever mention of a message being left with the picture? I mean a written message?”
Her father thought for a few moments. “I would have to look at the written stories to know for sure. Our people did not know how to read or write in that generation. But, it seems to me there was mention that the person who took the photograph was asked to write on paper some words.”
I took the piece of paper out of the envelope and handed it to Dawn. She read it and looked at me, her eyes wide.
“Daniel, this note could apply to any time. Even now, today.”
“Yes, that was my impression.”
She handed the note to her father and watched as he read it and handed it to her mother. Her mother looked at her. “We have called this genetic memory, this has been passed down to you over generations.”
Dawn sat silent, wringing her hands. Then she looked at me. “I think I should get you back to your hotel.”
Chapter 2 Sorting Things Out
We bade her parents goodbye and left. The ride back was as silent as the ride there had been. I didn’t believe in the kinds of explanations that came into my mind. I kept looking for logical answers for what I’d experienced. The only thing that seemed real was the photograph, and Dawn. We pulled into the parking lot and I prepared to get out. I wasn’t sure of what to say, or do at this point. I punted.
“Do you want to come up to my room for a few minutes before you go home?”
She looked at me, her lips set firm. “I don’t know. This feels awkward.”
“If it makes you feel any better, I feel the same way. I haven’t ever offered to take a girl I just met to my hotel room. You’re the first.”
She smiled. “That’s a precedent I hope you won’t repeat if I say yes.”
“Look, maybe it’s not a good idea. I’m here for two nights before I head back. I think maybe we both have a lot to think about.”
“Daniel, I don’t know why. But, I trust you. It’s myself I don’t trust. I’ve never opened up to a guy the way I’d done with you. Can we revisit this tomorrow? I want to see you again.”
“Yes, of course. Dawn, I understand, this is just plain weird. What I do know is I want to know more about you. I think I could talk with you all night, and that wouldn’t serve either of us very well given we have to work.”
“I don’t work tomorrow night. If you call me after you finish for the day, I’ll pick you up, and we can go to L’Anse for supper. Here’s my phone number.”
She handed me a piece of paper after she wrote the number down. I took it and saw her smile.
“I know. I told you I don’t give my phone number out.”
I grinned. “I hope this isn’t a precedent you’ll regret.”
She frowned. “Very funny.”
I got out and watched as she drove off. What a day! My head was still sore as I walked into the lobby and pressed the elevator button. It was getting late and I decided to take a shower, and then go to bed expecting I wouldn’t sleep well. After my shower, I walked into the room and sat down on the bed looking out at Keweenaw Bay. Since the very first time I’d worked in the area, I’d been attracted to it. It had a natural beauty and a long history of human occupation that appealed to me. I always looked forward to returning. Now, I wondered if there were more to it than that.
***
I picked up breakfast in the only fast food place in L’Anse, headed south, then west on the major highway. I reached the first wetland mitigation site, and spent the next three hours making wildlife observations. Dawn kept coming into my mind, her smile and dark eyes seemed to be everywhere. The next site was over sixty miles away and I knew there was a place where I could pick up a sandwich and drink. Nothing fancy, but that wasn’t unusual for me when I worked. Most would call it junk food, but I did try to find something fresh to eat when I could.
At the end of the day, I’d covered almost three hundred miles, stopping once, to chat with an MDOT crew working on one of the bridges I stopped to inspect. After I parked the van in the hotel parking lot, I called Dawn and told her I would be waiting. She sounded cheerful, making me feel better, as I was wondering what her mood would be like.
She pulled into the parking lot and gave me a wave and friendly smile. I got into the passenger seat feeling not the least bit awkward, even though this was only the second time we would spend time together.
“Hi,” she said cheerily.
“Hi, thanks for picking me up. Are you hungry? I’m hungry as a bear.”
She chuckled. “I’m hungry enough, but not that hungry. You aren’t thinking of paying for my meal are you?”
“I hadn’t given it any thought. Why? Would that make a difference?”
“Well, you know there aren’t many options. We can go to the one fast food place in town, or to one of the two restaurants. One of them is fancy, the other casual. And no, I don’t want to eat at the casino. I have enough of that place every day.”
“I ate at the fast food place this morning for breakfast, so that doesn’t sound attractive to me. One of the restaurants sounds better. Since I get reimbursed for my meal paying for yours isn’t a problem. Your choice, you probably know what’s on the menu at each of them, so pick which sounds better.”
“I can pay for my own you know. I already have enough saved to pay for my books and tuition for both fall and winter semesters, and I have a few weeks to work yet.”
“Now I know for sure I want to pay. Students can always use a little extra cash.”
“This isn’t a date is it?” she asked looking at me.
“It isn’t for sure if you have a boyfriend. Otherwise, I don’t know what it is. Still the weird kind of thing going on.”
“No. No boyfriend. But, yeah, you’re right about the weird thing.”
She picked the ‘casual’ restaurant. We enjoyed a good meal, and our conversation was relaxed as we told each other about ourselves. She was a senior at Northern Michigan University, majoring in English. We didn’t talk about the photograph, or the tomb. I didn’t mention it as it seemed like water over the dam. We both knew the basics and having time to get to know each other seemed more important. As we talked, her quiet nature and good humor were infectious. It seemed incredible she didn’t have a boyfriend given her personality and attractive features.
After I paid for our meals, we left and headed back to Baraga. We were approaching the entrance to the state park and she looked over to me.
“Shall we stop at the roadside park for a while?”
“You mean you haven’t had too much of me yet?”
“No. You’re leaving in the morning and I don’t know when, or if I’ll ever see you again.” The expression on her face changed as if the words had dire consequences.
“Then I guess we’d better take advantage of the park to sit and talk for a while longer.”
She pulled into a parking space facing the bay and turned off the engine. We sat silent for a minute. It didn’t seem awkward, more contemplative than anything. I finally turned to her.
“Dawn, I have a trip planned for October and I’ll be staying here. I’ll be passing close to Marquette, so I could meet you for lunch, or supper.”
Her face brightened. “That would be nice. It would be something to look forward to.”
I hadn’t told her about the quandary I was in about the photograph. It was within the right-of-way, technically under MDOT control, but the presence of the petroglyphs, if they were there, would involve our staff anthropologist, and a slew of state and federal regulations. As important, it was a potentially sacred site that would have tribal involvement. This would be a bureaucratic mess of the highest order. It would surely endear me to a great many people. I cringed at the thought.
“Daniel. What do you plan to do with the photograph? If it is what we think it is, it belongs to my family. Something that fits our oral family history and would be greatly treasured.”
The conversation that followed took over an hour. I covered all of the concerns I’d identified, and told her I wouldn’t be surprised there were things I hadn’t.
“We need to talk to my parents again. I hope they haven’t mentioned this to anyone yet.”
Twenty minutes later, we knocked on the door, and waited for it to open. We had stopped at my hotel and I was holding the yellowed envelope in my hand. It took half an hour to provide a quick overview of our concerns. We were relieved to see they hadn’t told anyone, rather they had pulled out the written history and had been reading it.
“Daniel, I am afraid to say this, but I’ve dealt with our tribal leaders for many years. I don’t’ care to have them involved in what I consider a family matter. I know there are many that would disagree with me. But, that is the way I see it. I would like to know what you are comfortable with. Do you have a solution to suggest you can live with?”
“Sir, the photograph, in my view, is family property. You have history that shows it is, and I don’t dispute its authenticity. I think the best thing is to give the photograph to you and your wife.”
He smiled. “For such a young man, you have great wisdom. We will treasure it for all our time. No one will be told until a generation passes. It will remain only between us.”
I handed the envelope to Mr. Morningstar with a smile. “Your word is all I need.”
We stayed for a few minutes more before leaving, and fifteen minutes later Dawn pulled into the parking lot at the hotel.
“Thank you for being so understanding. You’ve made my parents and me very happy.”
I opened the door and prepared to step out, then felt a hand on my arm.
“Daniel, I want to see you in October.”
“You will. I promise. Study hard and keep your grades up.”
I gave a last look as she drove off. It was done and I was pleased the problem had been solved to the satisfaction of all involved. I walked into my room and sat watching the bay as a front moved over the water, lightning flashing from time to time. Half an hour had passed and I was preparing to take a shower when a knock came on the door. I wasn’t expecting anyone, or anything. I stepped to the peephole, looked out, and then opened the door.
“Hi, glad I remembered your room number.”
“Dawn, what are you doing here?”
“You gave up a photograph and I thought I should give one back. It seems the right thing to do. Remember, October, don’t forget.”
She smiled and walked down the hall. I watched as she turned the corner and realized my heart was racing. I was going to miss talking with her. I looked at the envelope in my hand and opened it after closing the door. Dawn was looking at me, her smile framed by long dark hair, her dark brown eyes seemed to sparkle with life. She was a beauty.
***
It was a long drive back to Lansing and I’d had plenty of time to reflect on Chief Sagola’s tomb. I’d stopped at the bridge on my way back and looked for the sign on the tree. There was none, only two large rusty nails showed where it may have been. I looked on the ground below the tree and saw nothing. I walked beneath the bridge again, and inspected the rock face on both sides. It was solid rock, the large rock that had cracked my hard hat lay where I had seen it last.
After getting home to my apartment, I threw my dirty clothes into the washing machine, and finished unpacking my bag. I put the picture of Dawn on my dresser, not knowing exactly what to do with it. I felt strange, it wasn’t the photograph I’d found that had historical significance, but it held significance nevertheless. Do I place it into a frame, or put the picture into my file cabinet for safekeeping? As soon as the thought entered my mind, a mental comparison between the images appeared. The differences were so slight it hardly mattered. They were both beautiful women. I left the picture sitting on top of its envelope on the dresser. I’d make a decision later.
It had been a three hundred sixty-four mile trip to get home. I fixed a microwave meal and looked over my accumulated mail as I ate. After eating, I threw the wet, clean, clothes into the dryer, closed the door to the laundry room, and undressed for bed.
I decided to wait to call Carol to see if she wanted to go out. We’d gone out three times before, and there was chemistry between us. But I’d felt that way about how many other women over the years? I just couldn’t seem to make a firm commitment when the time came. There always seemed to be something preventing me from becoming too emotionally involved.
The comfort of being in my own bed with my favorite soft pillow under my head felt wonderful. I pulled the sheet up to my neck, and closed my eyes. I had one more day of work before the weekend. I’d earned nine hours of comp time over the four days I’d worked in the Upper Peninsula. I was supposed to use it before the month was out. I knew it wouldn’t happen, as August was just as filled with work as was July.
I was busy enough the next day. There was always a lot of email to go over and I entered all of my field observations into the wetland monitoring database, ran the report for the trip, and checked for errors. I finished the day after talking with my supervisor. I told him about the migratory bird nest survey and he was pleased to see I’d managed to gather the data for the environmental review database without having to make a dedicated trip to accomplish the task.
I’d called Carol on my cell during lunch and found she was open for Saturday evening. We made plans and I was looking forward to seeing her. I didn’t mind attending a party with her after being in the field all week alone. That left me with this evening to relax, so I elected to go birding to fill the time.
My date with Carol had gone well and we’d spent most of Sunday together. We shared our first kiss and a little more as we snuggled together on the sofa. She hinted at staying the night and I’d felt hesitant, finally telling her perhaps the next time as I wasn’t prepared. I was surprised at my reaction as I had condoms— something I couldn’t identify had influenced my decision.
I was in and out of the office all week, most of it spent driving to scattered wetland mitigation sites across the Lower Peninsula. At the end of each day, I was ready to sit down and relax by reading a book, or a journal article. Each night as I prepared for bed, I’d glanced at the picture of Dawn on the dresser and told myself I’d make a decision as to whether to frame it.
The next Friday evening, Carol and I elected to watch a movie at my apartment. We ordered subs and drinks and ate while watching the movie. We snuggled and were soon gently wrestling lying down on the sofa, her breath hot on my neck. She sat up, gave me a kiss and smiled.
“Be right back.”
She disappeared down the hallway and I was flipping channels with the remote when she returned. She sat next to me with a sour expression on her face as I reached for her.
“What’s the matter? The bathroom is as clean as can be.”
“Whose picture is that in the frame on your dresser?”
I was surprised at the question. But realized I hadn’t considered putting Dawn’s picture in a frame that it might be seen by someone else. I wasn’t exactly sure how to answer and hesitated. Carol pressed.
“You don’t have a sister, only a brother.”
I elected to tell as much of the truth as I could figuring it would be easier. “That’s a girl I met in the Upper Peninsula a few weeks ago. She gave it to me.”
“A girl you met gave you a full-sized picture of herself?”
“Well, yes. But it’s complicated. I didn’t want to refuse it.”
She glared at me. “So, you have a girl in every port, just like a sailor. I might have known with you being gone so much.”
“No, It’s nothing like that. We met under unusual circumstances and spent some time talking. Like I said, its complicated.”
“I’m going to uncomplicate things. Don’t call me for another date. You can look at her picture and do whatever you want with yourself.”
She walked to the door and was gone. I thought about going after her, but stopped. What could I tell her that wouldn’t reveal more than I wanted to? Relationships are built on trust and this one had failed the test early on.
I walked into my bedroom and looked at Dawn’s picture.
Well… it looks like it’s just you and me tonight. I hope you will enjoy it.
I returned to the living room and turned the TV off, frustrated. Carol had really turned me on and I’d been prepared this time. It could have been a good night for both of us. I considered calling her and picked up my cell phone.
It chimed in my hand, indicating I had an incoming call. Well, maybe she had reconsidered. When I looked at the name, I fumbled to answer it, feeling a sense of excitement, Carol forgotten.
“Hello. Are you alright?”
“Yes, I’m fine. Sorry, I didn’t mean to alarm you.”
“I’m not alarmed, just surprised. Do you want to talk?”
“Daniel, I know this sounds crazy. But, I miss you. I know I shouldn’t, but I do.”
My entire body had hummed to life at her words and at that moment she was the only person in the entire universe who mattered. It was the two of us again.
“Dawn, that’s fine. It’s not like I haven’t thought of you. I have. It’s the timing that seems odd. Aren’t you working tonight?”
“No, I’m back at school. I arrived today and none of my roommates are here yet.”
We talked for almost two hours. I was glad I was on an unlimited call plan. We talked about the most mundane things, but we talked. When I hung up, I walked to the bedroom and looked at her picture.
Thank you, Dawn Morningstar. Maybe, I should have called you first.
Chapter 3 Second Coming
The next few weeks passed, not all of them quickly. I found I felt better if I called Dawn midweek to see how her classes were going. She was always so cheerful and vibrant on the phone, and when we finished it was always with the realization that October was drawing closer, and I would see her again. Not that she hadn’t mentioned it a few times, as if she were anxious it wouldn’t happen. I was beginning to think I was falling in love with her.
***
I picked up the MDOT van, threw my gear in, and headed north. I was in Manistique late in the day after having stopped to make observations at one mitigation site. I checked the weather for the next day and found a front would be moving in after mid-day.
The forecast was for colder temperatures and precipitation in the form of heavy rain and perhaps some sleet. Weather in the U.P. was always a topic of discussion as it was decidedly different from below the ‘bridge’ where we ‘trolls’ lived. I wasn’t worried, I’d been in just about every kind of extreme weather at one time or another over the years, and didn’t feel particularly anxious.
There was a small mitigation wetland on M-94 north of Manistique, where I’d spend some time. Then, I’d head for Shingleton where I would pick up M-28, and head west toward Munising, then on to Marquette. Each mile brought me closer to Dawn’s wonderful smile and voice.
I’d tried hard not to rush by making cursory observations, or by driving faster than the speed limit. I’d found it challenging, and when the cloud cover grew dark with strong winds, I knew I was in for a blow. It was an hour later when the rain pelted down and my progress slowed. At this point, I was closer to Lake Superior than before, it was going to get worse in all likelihood.
I arrived in Munising an hour later than I expected in a driving rain. I stopped to fill the gas tank and picked up some hot food. The van rocked as I sat eating. I picked up my cell and tried to call Dawn, the signal was weak, then no signal at all. I would have to call her later and elected to send a text message instead telling her I was on my way.
I hit heavy sleet at Au Train, and decided to pull off into a roadside park. It was miserable outside, but I made a run for a bathroom anyway. It was about forty degrees out, I was in a short-sleeved shirt, and I appreciated the warmth when I got back into the van. The strong winds were whipping the white caps on Superior, making it look dark and threatening. I knew there were far too many people who hadn’t made it off the lake in such weather, and had perished. I wondered for the first time if Chief Sagola hadn’t been one of them.
It was a slow crawl at thirty-five miles an hour towards Marquette. Traffic was light, but I was soon stacked up in a long string of slow moving vehicles. I saw the sign for Harvey, I’d made the forty-three miles in two hours. The sleet had turned into hard driving rain and I pulled over into the parking lot at the DNR regional office. I called Dawn and told her I was in town and was going to my hotel to check in.
“I’ll meet you there,” she said immediately.
I objected. “I don’t want you out in this weather.”
She laughed. “Are you forgetting I grew up here?”
“Geez, I’m sorry. I forgot how tough U.P. women can be,” I replied apologetically.
“Oh, we can be tough, but we can be other things too.”
“Hmmm, that sounds interesting. Like what?”
“Well… that kind of depends. I guess you’ll have to wait and see won’t you?” she replied teasingly.
“Okay, just be careful. I’ll meet you in the lobby.”
It took over fifteen minutes to reach my hotel. The parking lot was almost full and it took me a few minutes to find a space large enough for the van to fit. Vehicles were skewed all over the place as the lines in the parking lot were obscured by slush. The sleet must have been mixed with snow and had come down longer here.
I checked in and took my gear to my room, then went to the lobby to wait for Dawn. She arrived about ten minutes later, her car with snow on the roof. Yep, it had gotten cold enough for that too. I was undecided if I should walk out to meet her, or wait. I saw she’d found a spot close to the front doors as a car left.
I started out the door, and when she saw me came running, hugging me tightly when we met.
She looked up at me. “I’ve been waiting a long time to do that. It feels good.”
“Well… that’s enough to keep me coming back,” I laughed. I couldn’t help it, she seemed so utterly carefree.
She was wearing a NMU sweatshirt with a blouse beneath, blue jeans, and half-calf black boots. I was in my short-sleeved shirt with my lightweight jacket on over it.
“You look like the typical female undergraduate student out for a good time,” I chuckled.
She looked at me out of the tops of her eyes. “I am. Only I want it to be with you.”
“Really! So, you would be open to having supper with me.”
She latched onto my arm. “Is it a date? Or, something else?”
“A date suggests I’m paying. Something else could mean almost anything. I think I’ll play it safe and call it a date,” I chuckled.
She giggled. “I like a man that thinks logically.”
“I’ve been driving all day. Are you up to eating in the restaurant here?”
“I don’t care where we eat. I want to sit and talk.”
This was our second ‘date’ in a little more than three months. The first one was filled with discussion over the discovery of the photograph and all that went with it. After all of the phone conversations we’d had since then, it wasn’t a topic of discussion this time. The evening rolled out smoothly for the most part, we’d had a disagreement about the influence of the French in the region at first contact, but we found ourselves agreeing that in contrast, those who had followed had been worse.
After eating, we walked into the lobby and saw it was dreary outside, the cloud-cover heavy, though the rain had relented, and the temperature had risen into the low sixties, the slush was gone.
“How about I take you on a tour of campus? Not the most exciting thing to do, I guess. It’s just a suggestion,” she offered.
“That sounds good to me. I’ve never gone into Marquette proper. I’ve only gone as far as the ore dock once and turned around.”
I don’t know where the time went, but it was almost three hours later when we returned to the hotel. I was beginning to drag. The long, stressful drive was taking a toll. I didn’t want to ruin the day by saying goodbye too soon. It probably wouldn’t have been too bad if I’d gotten a good night’s sleep the day before, but I hadn’t. I’d been too keyed up thinking about her.
“You know, Daniel. It sounds as if your batteries are running down. As much as I want to see you more tonight, I think maybe it’s not a good idea. You have a lot of driving to do tomorrow and I would rather wait to see you again than have something happen to you.”
“Dawn, are you making a comparison with what happened to your Great Aunt and the chief? Do you think our relationship is the coming together of their spirits?”
“Would you think less of me if I did?”
“No, not for that exactly. But our cultures are different and frankly, I’m not sure about any of that. Dawn, I’ve looked forward to talking with you each week and I’ve enjoyed our visit together today. I… I… well… I want to make sure you’re not putting your life on hold for something you see in me. To be truthful, I don’t have a good track record of making commitments to women I’ve dated.”
“Yet, you’ve done your level best not to disappoint me in any way since we first met. I can’t explain my attraction to you. In fact, my parents have asked me about it. They see it. Please, don’t push me away. I need to discover why fate has brought us together this way. I don’t believe as my parents do regarding this, but my feelings are real, and I can’t ignore them.”
I took her hand into mine and held it. As soon as I’d done it, I knew I shouldn’t have. She was so soft and warm, the kind of touch my dreams were made of. But could I believe in love at first sight for either of us?
“I don’t want to push you away. But, I don’t want to hurt you. You should know my ability to commit, at least in the past, has been lacking.”
“Then, I will ask you to be as honest with yourself as you have been with me. If we continue past today, and you change your mind, you have to promise me you’ll accept it, that you will put aside those things that seem to separate us, and focus on those things that bind us.”
I nodded my promise.
“Good.”
I reached over and pushed several long strands of hair off her face.
“What is it you see in me? I know what I see in you and it thrills me. This is the hardest thing I’ve ever admitted to any woman, and I feel like a heel.”
She stepped to me and placed her hands around my waist. I couldn’t help it, I placed my arms around her and held her close. She felt heavenly. I felt her start to pull away and released her.
She smiled. “Sweet dreams. Call me whenever, I’ll be waiting.”
Chapter 4 It Wasn’t Really a Date
Perhaps Dawn had been right. I fell asleep and slept soundly until I woke in the morning having a dream I was holding her close. It seemed as if I could smell the fragrance of her hair and feel the soft press of her body against mine. The sensation was as real as if she were lying next to me.
I consumed a quick breakfast and started westward. Hours later, I passed over the bridge where Chief Sagola’s tomb was located. The mystery remained and I decided stopping to look again for an entrance to a tomb was futile. At some point, I had to accept what I knew to be true and what I would never know for certain. The photograph and note were real, the cracked hard hat had been real, and Dawn was real. The sign and the tomb itself… well, they were as real in my mind as anything, but there was no physical proof they existed. So be it.
I’d been going over my last conversation with Dawn in my mind. I almost wished I hadn’t hugged her back, or at least as tightly as I had. The memory of her wouldn’t go away, my body remembered the sensation, my mind filled with her image. Her eyes and smile must have been spirits of her own invention, as they were with me constantly.
I didn’t want to hurt her, but I didn’t want to hurt myself either. If that was a break-up, it was the worst one I’d ever experienced. But how could it have been? We hadn’t even kissed. I’d done all of that and more, even Carol and I had shared more than I had with Dawn. To say I was conflicted was laughable. But it occurred to me. I was thinking of those things that could separate us, not what would draw us together. I’d promised her, hadn’t I?
I returned to Lansing early Friday morning after having put in a full forty hours, with an additional six hours of comp time earned. I’d put on over eleven hundred miles in under four days, my last trip to the U.P. for the year was now in the books. I wouldn’t see Dawn again while I was working until at least May at the earliest— seven months. Even the time and distance between us was a barrier, how do you possibly build a relationship with only phone conversations?
I arrived home and went through my usual routine. I was sitting on the sofa staring at the TV remote. I missed her voice so much. What would she be doing this weekend, then Monday, Tuesday, and the rest of the week?
Two dates and how many phone calls over a little more than four months? How many hours talking and laughing? I couldn’t even estimate, though pulling up the details of my call history would provide an accurate answer.
I walked into the bedroom and looked at her picture. What is it that binds us?
I like her, she likes me. We are honest with each other. I didn’t like the way she wrung her hands when she didn’t know what to say, or that she seemed indecisive when I thought the answer was in plain sight. But, we disagreed, argued, and in the end respected one another’s opinions. We complemented one another in small ways. She kept me honest and thrilled me with her feminine insights.
Yes, her culture was different, but it was making more sense to me all of the time. In fact, at times it made my own look unsophisticated when it came to the natural world. Not the science part, but in how it was held in reverence, how it was appreciated.
I’d told several girls I loved them, only to find out with experience I hadn’t really understood what it meant to a woman. It was a good thing they knew better. It seemed to me I knew now. Love was an ache in the heart, a longing to hold some one, and see the joy you could give them.
I looked at my watch. It would be earlier than usual if I her called now. My heart rate went up as I picked up the phone. I touched the screen and listened as it rung.
“Hello. I miss you,” came her voice crisp and clear.
“Not as much as I’ve missed you.”
“I’ll arm wrestle you to prove you wrong,” she laughed.
I laughed in return. “What would you say if I told you I’ll go along with it if we do it in our underwear.”
“Oh, trying to win by intimidation are you? Get your cute buns up here and I’ll be waiting. No bra, just panties.”
“Damn, you always call my bluff.”
“I’ve got years of practice calling guy’s bluffs. If men would simply say what they really mean it would be so much easier.”
“I want your body,” I shot back.
“Well, well. What a refreshing change,” she chuckled.
“Can you send me your class schedule?”
“I guess so, I can text it to you. Why? Are you going to lie in wait for me someday?”
“Dawn, I have two full days of comp time to use and annual leave too. I was thinking of coming up on a Friday, stay the weekend, and take two or three days off the next week. That would give me three or four full days to visit. That is if you want me to.”
I pulled the phone away from my ear as she gave a loud “Yoo-hoo.”
“I take it you approve of the plan?”
“Please tell me you can come up this coming weekend. Please, pretty please.”
“I have to have it approved, but I don’t think it will be a problem. I’m supposed to use up my comp time as soon as possible after earning it. With my field season at an end there shouldn’t be a reason for anyone to object.”
“I hate to say this, but I have to cut this short. I’ve got to finish going over this paper one more time. It’s due tomorrow and I don’t want to mess up my four point.”
“Get to it! I’ll call and let you know if it’s a go.”
“Daniel, we’re good aren’t we?”
“Yeah, we’re good. Now, get back to the books, and don’t expect to slack off on studying while I’m there with you.”
“Bye, I’m on it,” her voice cheery.
I knew what I wanted to say, but it wasn’t the right way or time to tell her.
As I expected, getting permission hadn’t been a problem. I’d started packing days before and decided I should take a gift with me. I’d never given a gift to a girl before and I felt ill prepared for the experience.
What do you get a girl that isn’t big on makeup and that kind of stuff? She’d worn the same necklace each time I’d seen her, so it seemed that base was covered. She did wear earrings, the pierced kind. I thought perhaps a pair would be a good choice. That evening it took me about half-an-hour before I made a selection from what I’d been shown. The woman working behind the sales counter took pity on me, at least that’s what I thought it was. In any event, I walked out with a pair I liked.
I left just before dawn on Friday and was at the Mackinac Bridge in record time, stopped for a bite to eat and arrived in Marquette in just over three hours. I’d never been in the U.P. this late in the year and the naked hardwoods gave way to pine as I moved inland from Manistique and Lake Michigan. Then as I approached Lake Superior hardwoods appeared as I left large stands of cedar, spruce, and pine.
After checking into the hotel, I called Dawn. I’d gotten a room with a kitchenette with the intention of cutting down on the expense of eating out. It had a large microwave oven and I’d packed a few frozen meals to get started with. I’d do some grocery shopping to get fresh fruits, vegetables, and milk after I got settled.
I heard a knock and the door and knew it was Dawn. I opened the door to see her holding a brown paper bag. She thrust it towards me with a huge smile.
“Welcome to sunny Marquette. I hope you enjoy your stay.”
I laughed. “No sun and it’s just above freezing. But, I really like the welcoming committee.”
She followed behind me as I walked to the small counter, and then looked into the bag.
“Hey, those muffins look great! And what’s this? Thimbleberry jam!”
“I made all of it myself. I do have a domestic side,” as she bumped against me playfully.
I reached for her arm and she stepped to me and we shared a long hug. “I might have guessed. I could grow to like that side of you.”
She looked at me. “You seem different. More relaxed it seems to me.”
“I’m sure the company I’m keeping is making the difference.”
“Are you trying to butter me up?”
“Yep. And I’ve got something else to make sure it works.”
I walked to my suitcase, pulled out the small plastic box, and handed it to her. “Here, I hope it’s something you like.”
Her face lit up with a beautiful smile. “Daniel! You didn’t have to.”
She opened the box, looked inside, and gave a small jump of excitement. “They’re my birthstone. I love them. You are so clever.”
I need to stop by that store and give that saleslady a few bucks on the side.
“I’ve glad you like them. Now, I know it’s early yet, but I’m sure you have something in mind you would like us to do tonight. Or, am I wrong?”
“There are two things to pick from. There is a play and an art exhibit on campus. Since you’ve been sitting all day, I thought the art exhibit might be a better fit. Or, we could stay here and relax.”
‘I’m up for the art exhibit. Getting on my feet for a while to get my circulation back seems like a good idea.”
***
We were walking through the dimly lit exhibition hall filled with sculpture, some of it more modern than I cared for. Nevertheless, there were pieces that piqued my interest and kept me engaged as we shared our impressions with each other. We were admiring a stylized couple when I reached down for her hand. She responded immediately, the sensation of her soft skin on mine set my body humming with a mild euphoria. We walked easily among the works hand in hand. She hadn’t said anything, but when we stopped at another work, she moved ahead, then stepped back, and leaned against me. I squeezed her hand and felt her squeeze back. There was no one near us and she turned her head slightly and said in a low voice.
“I like this. I like you.”
I nuzzled my nose into her dark, rich hair. “Good, because I want to make you happy.”
She didn’t say anything, just gave me a smile, and tugged on my hand to move us along.
It took us two hours at the museum and when we walked outside the skies had cleared enough to show more blue sky, the sun had moved westward casting longer shadows. It was approaching supper time and I suggested we go out to eat. She agreed, and this time there was no need to quibble about who would pay—a sign we had settled at least that much between us.
After we ate, I asked if there was a bookstore we could visit.
“Do you think you’re going to have enough time to read while you’re here?”
“Don’t you have coursework to do?”
“Some, I guess.”
“Then I’ll have time to read. You can study and I can read. We can still be together.”
We spent two hours in the bookstore. I found a local flora and two science-fiction books I couldn’t pass up. Dawn came away with a book which she insisted I not pay for, saying it was not something a guy should pay for on a date.
I looked at her after she said it. “This is a date? I had no idea.”
She laughed. “Okay, maybe it isn’t a date. I don’t know what to call it, maybe it doesn’t make a difference anyway. We’re together, that’s what really counts.”
We went back to the hotel and sat for a while talking. I was as content and relaxed as I’d ever felt. This was our third time together and it made all of the other women in my past pale by comparison. We’d argued about what various pieces at the art museum had meant to convey, and again, found our experiences resulted in a slightly different interpretation. We’d laughed at the end and moved on.
It was getting late and she had to return to her apartment. We shared a long hug and I was tempted to kiss her. Something held me back, as I thought perhaps I was rushing things. She turned to me before stepping out into the hallway.
“Call me in the morning. I’ll be ready. You know there are birds just offshore we could go and watch while having something warm to drink.”
***
It was my last night and we lay on the sofa together relaxing. She’d wore the new earrings each day since she’d gotten them. I was rubbing her back as she lay on top of me, her head at mine. I had my eyes closed soaking up her warmth, her tenderness. I felt her move and opened my eyes to see her face mere inches from mine. Her eyes seemed to have a special glint and softness to them. I didn’t think, it just happened. I brushed her hair back from her cheek with one hand, and placed my other behind her head, then pressed gently until our lips met.
Her scent filled my nostrils, the only sound I could hear was the murmur of our lips as we sought each other, her lips caressed mine with a passion beyond belief. I felt her release slightly and expected her to break our kiss, instead, she took a breath and pushed back firmly while her body squirmed onto mine. When we broke our first kiss she pushed up and looked at me.
“Oh, my! We shouldn’t have done that. I mean… Daniel, I feel fluttery and warm inside, especially in one spot.”
‘What does that mean?”
“I think I’m horny,” she whispered.
“You think?”
“Okay, I am, are you?”
“How could I not be holding you.”
“I want to, right now.”
She sat up and started to unbutton her blouse. I watched as it came off, then her bra. I got up and started to undress. We started kissing again, both of us naked as we entwined, caressing, and rubbing until she said softly.
“Come on, let’s get into bed. I’m ready.”
I’d come prepared, just in case. I turned and pulled a box of condoms from my suitcase. Her face went dour as I pulled one out.
“Daniel, not the first time. We can’t.”
I looked at her thinking I hadn’t heard her correctly.
“We need one don’t we?”
“Not the first time. We can use them later. Just not this time. I promise, it won’t hurt anything as I have a foam I can use.”
I sat down on the bed still thinking. She pulled me down and kissed me long and hard as her hand went down to grasp me.
“I want our first time to be natural. There should be nothing between us, nothing to stop our spirits from becoming one.”
A haze seemed to settle over me, a calmness that sent my concerns and fears away. I remembered kissing, caressing, and fondling her lovely breasts. Then the sensation of being inside her. And finally, at the end, her repeated ‘oohs’ as I felt myself release after her pulses. We lay together, her warm, soft body on top of mine for long minutes afterward. I heard her murmur into my ear. I’d grown small, yet she’d not risen up from me. Finally, she rose and looked at me with a solemn expression.
“This felt like it was a long time in the making. Daniel, I love you and I know you love me. I am filled with the proof of your love. Though we will not bear fruit from our first union, it will come.”
On the drive home, her words came to me again and again. She was breathing deeply just before she climaxed. Her moist, warm words had come into my ear.
“You are my chief. It was always meant to be.”
And, so it was.