Free River's Song - The Inn at Shining Waters Series by Melody Carlson

burning inside her today. "It is through you my stories live, child. I write them on your heart." Anna sighed. Where were those stories now?
    "I know I can come on too strong," Hazel said abruptly.
    Anna turned back to the old woman, almost surprised to see she was still there, still waiting patiently in her little rowboat, her hands on the oars, looking up with a hopeful almost childlike expression. Her glasses had fogged up again.
    "My father always told me that my enthusiasm would get me into trouble," she said a bit woefully. "And I must admit that it has from time to time. But enthusiasm has its benefits too. In fact, it has helped me to reach this stage in life. Not many women, especially those born in the previous century such as I was, have achieved their doctoral degrees. I plan to have mine by winter. Then you can address me as Dr. Hazel Chenowith." She chuckled as if this was amusing.
    Anna considered this. To be fair, it was rather impressive. Anna knew few women with that much education. She herself had only made it through one semester of college and she never even took her last final exams. Oh, it was true that she read—almost insatiably. Just one more thing her mother-inlaw liked to tease her about. However, Anna felt it was her only way to enlarge her world, and the small public library in Pine Ridge had been a welcome refuge from Eunice's sharp tongue and constant complaining.
    "Why are you so interested in Indians?" she asked Hazel." Specifically the Siuslaw?"Anna watched her carefully as she answered, almost as if this was a test.
    "Oh, didn't I mention it? My grandfather was half Suquamish and that makes me one-eighth. Of course, I never heard a word about this until I was a grown woman. Even then, my mother—it was on her side—denied it a few times. But I did my own research and discovered that it was actually true. Suquamish means "clear salt water." My ancestors, similar to yours, were coastal, dwelling near the Puget Sound in Washington. They are most famous for their Chief Seattle."
    "Of course, I've heard of him."
    "You and plenty of others too. When it came time to do my dissertation, I found that numerous academic papers and books had already been written on the Suquamish and Chief Seattle. Information on my people isn't nearly as scarce and untraceable as it is with yours."
    "Why do you think that is?"
    "It has to do with geography. This area, the Siuslaw region, was very difficult for early settlers to get into. With the rugged Coastal mountains on one side and no easily accessible port on the other side—since the jetties around the river weren't in place back then, your people were somewhat protected, at least for a while. As you probably know, when the white man finally did get here, in numbers, things changed quickly."
    Anna said nothing now, just studied Hazel, trying to discern her true motives.
    "Perhaps that still doesn't answer your question . . . why I chose this topic. Because I'm completing my doctorate through the University of Oregon, I wanted to study a tribe nearby. Also, I absolutely love this part of the country—where river meets ocean with forest and mountains nearby. I find it enchanting. Don't you?"
    Anna nodded.
    "So here I am. Although I must admit it's been most frustrating trying to connect with people who might be of help. I was about ready to give up." She looked longingly at Anna now. "Is there any way I could possibly entice you to speak to me, just for a bit? You must understand that anything you tell me will be highly valued and esteemed and I will see that it is well preserved in history—something for your children and grandchildren and all the future generations of your family to look back upon someday."
    Although she liked the sound of that, Anna shook her head." I'm afraid my daughter has as much interest in Indian history as my mother did. However. . ." She remembered her grandma's baskets on Mother's coffee table . . . what did that