Sacrifice and Reward: Paha Sapa Saga Book One
Robin Deeter
Sacrifice and Reward
The Paha Sapa Saga Book One
Robin Deeter
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Which will be the victor: hatred or love?
Mid-18th century North America is a hotbed of unrest between many Native American tribes, who are feuding over territory. By this time, most of the Kiowa bands have been pushed west by the Lakota, who are on the move southward from the Great Lakes region. These invaders from the north want the game-rich, lush pasture lands of the territory for themselves.
However, one small Kiowa band is determined to remain in their early homelands in the region of what will one day be known as eastern South Dakota. These two enemy tribes are brought face-to-face through the vision of a young Kiowa medicine man.
Sky Dancer, a beautiful, Kiowa widow, and proud Lakota warrior, Dark Horse, are forced to marry in order to create an alliance between their peoples. Right from the beginning they clash in a tests of wills, loathing each other on sight, making a happy marriage seem out of the question.
Will the sacrifice that is asked of them save their tribes? Can these two enemies overcome their initial hatred to find love in unlikely place or will distrust keep them from the reward they both crave?
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Dedication
A Special Thank You
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Epilogue
About the Author
Dedication
This book is dedicated to all you brave readers who continue to accompany me on this adventure. We still have new characters to meet, exciting events to share, and new places to explore together. I hope you enjoy reading this story as much as I enjoyed writing it. As always, your faith, friendship, and kindness are so very appreciated. Happy reading!
A Special Thank You
To my Essie, you are my rock and my biggest fan. You’re always there to cheer me on and give me a kick in the caboose when I need it. I treasure your love and loyalty and I couldn’t do this without you.
Other books by Robin Deeter
Chance City Beginnings
(Prequels to Chance City Series)
Part One
Part Two
Chance City Series
Mail Order Mystery
On the Fence
Crossroads
Gray Justice
When the Thunder Rolls
And the Lightning Strikes
A Very Decker Christmas
The Paha Sapa Saga
Sacrifice and Reward
Winter Moon
The Bear, Part One
The Bear, Part Two
The Phantom Horse Bridge Series
Phantom Origins Book 0
Phantom Heat
Wolf Junction Series
Silver Bell Shifter
Prologue
In 18th Century North America, bitter wars raged between some of the continent’s Native American peoples, many centered around the area the Lakota called Paha Sapa, the Black Hills. The powerful Ojibwa nation had forced the Sioux tribes from the Great Lakes region to the south. The Kiowa, Crow, Cheyenne, and Arapaho, (along with others) warred with the invaders from the north, who wanted the game-rich, lush lands in what would later become known as South Dakota for themselves.
It was a time of great unrest, with fierce clashes among proud, strong peoples. Alliances were made and broken, battles won and lost. Heartache, victory, and defeat—all were a part of their everyday lives. But even during such chaos and uncertainty, these people found love, hope, and joy despite the seemingly insurmountable odds that lay in their paths.
These are their stories.
Chapter One
Sweat glistened on his body as Lightning Strike, a Kiowa brave, walked through a vast expanse of fields on a hot late summer day, but he paid no attention to the searing heat. His destination rose in the distance; his village lie several miles ahead, tucked into the lee side of a small mountain. He had important information for his chief and time was of the essence, so he didn’t slow his pace as the sun beat down.
Fang, his brother-in-law, walked beside him, keeping a sharp eye out for danger.
“I am glad that we were successful in finding bison, but I wish they were closer,” Fang said.
Lightning Strike grunted. “Me, too, but perhaps Chirping Cricket can call them closer. There is water close to our village. It may attract them, too.”
“Let us hope so,” Fang said.
Lightning Strike broke into a jog, eager to reach home. Fang kept pace with him, and they soon reached the cool shelter of the trees among which their camp was located. They were greeted by a few of the children, including Lightning Strike’s nephew, Spotted Pony.
“Did you find them?” the ten-year-old asked, his black eyes shining. Lightning Strike gave the boy a small smile of confirmation before hurrying on to Chief Growling Wolf’s tipi. The old man sat outside it, whittling a new pipe. He looked up as the two braves approached.
He smiled at them. “I see from the looks on your faces that you had good luck.”
“Yes, Chief,” Fang said. “There is a small herd a half a day away from here.”
Growling Wolf frowned. “Hmm. Nothing closer?”
“No, the Lakota have taken most of the bison for themselves,” Lighting Strike replied, speaking of their hated enemy. “Perhaps Chirping Cricket can call them closer.”
Growling Wolf grunted his doubt. “He could not call a dog closer let alone bison.”
“We will take our horses and drive them closer,” Fang said. “If we are in position tomorrow morning at dawn, we can cut the distance in half.”
Growling Wolf nodded. “Yes. That is a good plan. It is lucky that you were able to steal those trappers’ horses. They will come in handy. Gather the men you will need. I will ask Chirping Cricket to call the bison, but I do not hold out much hope that he will be effective. He is too young, but with our last medicine man dying, he is all we have.”
Growling Wolf missed his old friend, Singing Water, who had passed away two moons ago. He did not say the deceased medicine man’s name, as was the Kiowa tradition. This was one of the few things they had in common with the Lakota—a healthy respect for death and the deceased.
Lighting Strike said, “Maybe his power will grow as he gets older.”
With a sigh, Growling Wolf stood, his knees crackling with arthritis. “Perhaps.” His tone said that he didn’t believe such a thing would ever happen. “Go now and make your preparations.”
The two braves left him then, intent on picking out the best hunters from the rest of the braves.
With a glance at the heavens, Growling Wolf prayed to their supreme deity, “Sendeh, please give Chirping Cricket some power so that he can call the Bison to us so that our people do not starve.” Sighing, he went to find their young medicine man.
As Dog Soldiers, Lightning Strike and Fang were charged with keeping the younger braves in line to ensure that the hunt was carried out in an orderly fashion. A rash hunter could potentially ruin a hunt, bringing hunger or even starvation to their band. Keeping this is mind, they chose only the best marksmen who exhibited cool heads under pressure.
Once they’d picked out eight other hunters, Fang, the leader said, “This hunt is critical to our survival. Think of your wives and children who are depending on you to fill their bellies and give them hides for shelter and clothing.
“Do you want to watch them grow thin and sick? Do you want them to die? You must act carefully. This may be the last of the bison we see for a while since the Lakota are pushing us out and taking them for themselves.” He looked at Lightning Strike. “Do you have anything to say?”
“Only one thing,” Fang’s brother-in-law said. “We only have a few horses left. Do not make us shoot them because you cannot control yourselves.”
When hunting, the Dog Soldiers rode on the fringes, keeping an eye out for any hunters whose actions would cause the hunt to go wrong. If that was the case and the hunter didn’t heed their warnings, the Dog Soldiers would shoot their horse to prevent the hunter from interfering further.
Lighting Strike and Fang were very strict and tolerated no foolishness on their hunts. The lives of their tribe’s people depended too much on their success. Their meat supply was terribly low, and they needed the bison desperately.
Once the plans were finalized, the two Dog Soldiers went to the medicine lodge to talk to Chirping Cricket. Lightning Strike scratched on the tipi flap and Chirping Cricket gave them permission to enter.
He smiled upon seeing them. “You have come about the hunt.”
“Yes,” Lightning Strike said. “Do you think you can call them?”
An anxious expression passed over the sixteen-year-old’s face. “That remains to be seen. My mentor did not have much of a chance to teach me about calling. I will do my best.”
Fang said, “That is all we ask. You must have confidence in yourself. Your mentor would not have chosen you if he did not think you were worthy.”
Chirping Cricket sat down. “I suppose so. I know that Growling Wolf does not have much faith in me. He left right before you came.”
Sympathy for the boy’s plight rose in Lightning Strike. “Now is the time to show all of the doubters that they are wrong.”
“I will try,” Chirping Cricket said. “I am about to prepare myself to start calling. I will fast and call all through the night.”
Fang nodded. “We will give you privacy. We have faith in you.”
Chirping Cricket smiled his thanks and they left. With a heavy sigh, he began purifying himself for the task ahead.
Growling Wolf was usually one of the first people up in their village. He hadn’t slept much the previous night, so he was up even earlier than usual. Without disturbing his wife, Sleek Doe, he rose from their sleeping robes and went outside. He froze at the sight before him.
Two large bison stood near the edge of the camp, looking curiously around. As he stared at them, two more joined them.
How is this possible? Did Chirping Cricket actually call them? They are so calm. This is strong magic indeed.
Slowly, he ducked back inside their tipi, retrieving his bow and arrows. When he went back outside, another bison had appeared. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Fang slowly approaching.
In sign, Fang said, “I thought that I was dreaming when I saw them.” He also carried his weapons.
“As did I,” Growling Wolf responded. “We must act quickly.”
Fang said, “I have alerted the hunters.”
Even as he spoke, several other men joined them. As the group gathered, more bison wandered into the clearing. A prickle of awe spread over Growling Wolf’s body.
Raising his bow, Growling Wolf said, “Now!”
A barrage of arrows flew through the air, hitting their marks with deadly accuracy. The strangely docile bison fell to the weapons, groaning as they went down. The noises of their bodies falling to ground, and their last breaths being taken was joined by a new, shocking sound: Lakota war trills.
Growling Wolf shouted, “They have followed the bison! Fang, get the rest of the men!”
Fang had already gone. In moments their braves had fanned out, ready to do battle. As the first Lakota warriors appeared, they let loose their swift, sure arrows or rushed forward to meet their foes head on. While a battle raged, a lone, slim Kiowa brave walked unarmed through the melee, calmly moving around horses and men until he reached one of the bison that still stood in the clearing.
Reaching the bison, he held out his hands to it and began singing a song of thanks to Sendeh. He and the bison remained untouched by the arrows and other weapons. He stared into the bison’s eyes before touching its face and gently stroking it. Face to face, he inhaled the bison’s breath and then blew his breath into its nostrils.
When he resumed his song, the warriors fighting close to him stopped to stare at him. He lifted his arms to the sky and sang his song with such heart and conviction that more and more fighters halted. Lakota and Kiowa men stood in awe of the youth who had walked unscathed through the battle while others had fallen or had been injured.
Chirping Cricket finished his song and turned to the warring men, his eyes bright with power. In sign, he said, “The Bison Spirit has told me that there is plenty to share. There is no need to shed any more blood this day. Let us not make Him angry by ignoring His wishes.”
The men of the two enemy tribes looked at each other distrustfully, yet they could not ignore the fact that many bison stood quietly around the edge of the camp, obviously sacrificing themselves for the People.
Growling Wolf held up his arms before signing, “Our medicine man is right. There are enough bison to split. I would rather do this than to see our women and children die. We must honor the Bison Spirit by doing as He says.”
One of the Lakota warriors walked over to the chief. Still holding his knife, Fang protectively moved closer to Growling Wolf. They assumed that the Lakota warrior who faced off with Growling Wolf was the leader of the war party.
He signed, “I am Dark Horse. I agree that there is great power at work. We will honor Bison by being peaceful, but only for this day. There will be no more blood spilled by our hands.” He spoke loudly as he signed so that his men who couldn’t see his hands heard his decree. “But should we meet after this day, I cannot guarantee what will happen. Will you make the same vow?”
Growling Wolf nodded. “Yes. We are agreed.”
He extended a hand toward Dark Horse, and they grasped arms. If Dark Horse didn’t know any better, he would have sworn that he saw a glimmer of humor in the old chief’s eyes. Then they released each other’s arm and stepped away.
Growling Wolf walked over to Chirping Cricket.
“How did you do this?” he asked.
Chirping Cricket’s eyes were wide as he whispered, “I do not know.”
“What do you mean? Did you not call the bison?”
Chirping Cricket’s gaze dropped. “When I heard the braves shouting about the Lakota coming, I ran out of my tipi and saw the bison. I thought I was dreaming, but I saw a way that I could perhaps do something that would help us. I felt something tell me to sing and when I did, that is when I heard Bison speak to me. I have no idea why the bison came here. I fell asleep last night while I was meditating, so I do not think I called them.”
Shame settled in his stomach, making it ache as he waited for his chief to berate him. He couldn’t bear to look at the old man. To his great surprise, he heard Growling Wolf let out a snort of laughter. Chirping Cricket lifted his eyes and saw that Growling Wolf trembled slightly from the effort to keep his mirth in check. He didn’t know what to think.
Finally, Growling Wolf said, “I was wrong about you, Chirping Cricket. You will indeed make a fine medicine man. If you can call bison in your sleep and walk through the middle of a fight without one scratch being inflicted upon you, then you will do many great things. Your mentor knew that you had power, but I did not listen to him. I will listen from now on.”
He laid a hand on Chirping Cricket’s shoulder and squeezed it. Then he nodded and moved away to help with the slaughter.
Chirping Cricket shook his head a little. “But I did not do anything,” he whispered to himself. “I did not even dream about bison when I slept. How could I have called them? I do not understand what this means.”
With great confusion in his heart, Chirping Cricket pulled out his knife, turned to the nearest bison and slit its throat, thanking it for sacrificing itself so that his people might live. As a couple of women came to help with the skinning and butchering, Chirping Cricket prayed for the answers he sought to be revealed to him.
Chapter Two
Chief Soaring Falcon, leader of the Lakota tribe to which Dark Horse belonged, sat silently regarding the brave as they sat in his tipi. His wife, Day Star, served them tea, then quietly sat off to the side, repairing a pair of the chief’s leggings.
It had been two days since the strange encounter with the Kiowa and the shared slaughter of the bison. Since he’d heard the story from several of the hunting party, he knew that Dark Horse wasn’t lying to him. Dark Horse’s strict moral code would never allow him to lie. Besides, they had the bison meat and hides to prove that the event had truly occurred.
“How old did you say this medicine man was?” he asked.
Dark Horse said, “Perhaps fifteen or sixteen winters old. I spoke with a couple of the Kiowa braves. They said that the boy called the bison the night before.”
Soaring Falcon grunted. “A boy medicine man calling bison. I have been thinking about this, and I would like to meet this boy.”
Dark Horse’s eyes widened. “Meet him?”
“Yes. I am very curious. Did you speak with him?” Soaring Falcon asked.
“No. I was too busy with the bison and making sure we got out of there alive.”
The chief nodded. “I see. You will go to their village and ask this boy to come see me.”
Dark Horse inhaled a little of his tea in surprise and coughed. “What?”
Soaring Falcon played with the bear tooth necklace that hung around his neck. “You heard me. Take them some gifts and assure them that the boy will not meet with any harm.”
It always amazed Dark Horse how their chief issued seemingly impossible orders as though carrying them out was the easiest thing in the world.
“They will not let us enter their village again. Their sentries will be even more watchful now. If it were not for the bison distracting them, they would have fought much harder,” Dark Horse said.
His dark eyes sparkling with mischief, Soaring Falcon said, “You and Rushing Bull will go by yourselves. Two braves are not very threatening to fierce Kiowa warriors. Take gifts for their chief, his wife, and the boy. What did you call him?”
“Chirping Cricket.”
Soaring Falcon chuckled. “Sounds more like a girl’s name. Is he winkte?”
Dark Horse fought down his frustration, knowing that becoming angry wasn’t the way to handle Soaring Falcon. “I do not know. I know nothing about the boy.”
Soaring Falcon aimed a hard look at the war leader. “Then you will bring him here to me so I may speak with him.”
The stony expression on the chief’s face told Dark Horse that the matter was closed and that he was expected to successfully complete the mission. There were some days when he almost wished that he wasn’t one of his vast tribe’s most trusted war leaders. This was one of those days.
“Yes, Chief.” He gave Day Star a brief smile as he rose. “Thank you for the tea.”
“You are welcome.”
Dark Horse ducked out of the tipi, mentally grumbling to himself as he went in search of Rushing Bull. He wove his way around tipis and children, heading for the horse racing fields beyond their camp. If he knew his best friend, that’s where he’d be.
The scents of savory stews and roasting meat wafted on the air as he walked along. Children laughed quietly and conversation flowed all around him. He greeted people, stopping here and there to exchange pleasantries or to answer a question.
His temper cooled as he socialized, and he saw a few maidens send demure, appreciative glances his way. He pretended not to notice, but he smiled inside, enjoying their admiration. Dark Horse knew that his high status and good looks made him very desirable, but he hadn’t come across a maiden who completely captivated him yet.
If he didn’t within the next couple of years, Dark Horse would have to pick a maiden and start a family, but he preferred to find love if possible. Picking up his pace, he jogged out to the racing field. Horses of all colors galloped past a large group of braves, who yelled encouragement to their favorite riders. The thunder of their pounding hooves grew fainter as they raced farther away under the pale blue sky and bright sunlight.
As Dark Horse had thought, Rushing Bull was there, not racing, but negotiating bets and keeping track of them. Although Rushing Bull was a skilled horseman, he preferred taking and keeping track of bets instead of competing. He was addicted to the rush of gambling, even if he wasn’t betting at the time.
Dark Horse caught his friend’s eye and waited for him to finish a transaction. He did a double-take when he saw his sister, Three Deer, gallop by on one of his finest ponies. Before he could shout at her to stop, Rushing Bull jumped in front of him.
“Leave her be. She has been winning all morning. Very nice things, too. Things that your mother will enjoy,” Rushing Bull said, grinning.
Dark Horse pointed at his sister’s retreating back. “She is not to be out here! Why do you encourage her? She should be with the other women, not racing!”
“Why do you try to push her into doing those things when she is not good at them? I thought her venison stew last week was going to kill me. I had diarrhea for three days after I ate it,” Rushing Bull said.
Dark Horse couldn’t contain a laugh. “I remember. I was wise and did not eat any. She will never become good at these things if she does not practice. How will she ever find a husband if she cannot keep a home?”
Rushing Bull said, “Perhaps there is a man out there who appreciates her just as she is.”
His tone of voice made Dark Horse’s gaze sharpen on him. “Has someone expressed an interest in her without consulting me? They will answer to me! With our father gone, it is my responsibility to see her properly married and to make sure no man behaves improperly towards her.”
“No, no. No one has said anything to me,” Rushing Bull said. “What did you want? You looked like you had something on your mind besides your sister.”
Dark Horse let the matter of his wayward sister go for the moment. “Come with me. Soaring Falcon has a mission for us.”
“Right, now? I am in the middle of this.”
“Yes, now. It is very important,” Dark Horse said.
“Fine, fine. You are much too tense. I think you need to go see your special friend.”
Dark Horse laughed. “Perhaps you are right. Meet me at my tipi as soon as you can.”
Rushing Bull smiled and started finishing up with the bets he’d been working on.
“This is suicide,” Rushing Bull said as they rode from camp just before dawn the next morning. “How are we supposed to convince these Kiowas that we are peaceful and that they should let their medicine man come back with us? They will think that we are trying to take him captive.”
“Yes, I know,” Dark Horse said. “It is ridiculous, but there was no changing Soaring Falcon’s mind. I tried last night, but he would not listen. He said that Smoking Fire had meditated about it and that there was a reason that both the Kiowa and us were brought together by Bison Spirit.”
“Well, I hope he prayed to Wakan Tanka especially hard to help us succeed. We will need it just so they do not kill us.”
Dark Horse gave him a sharp look. “You are afraid to die?”
“No, but I would like to die in battle instead of simply trying to walk into an enemy camp. I would like to count some more coup before going to the next world,” Rushing Bull replied.
“I understand. I wish the same thing,” Dark Horse agreed. “We should reach their village by morning if we ride hard enough.”
Rushing Bull said, “Let us hurry and get this over with then.”
He put his heels to his mount, urging it into a canter. Dark Horse smiled and followed him.
Rubbing sleep from his eyes, Chirping Cricket left his family’s tipi and headed for the river to bathe. It was late morning, not the usual time for his people to be waking, but his father hadn’t been able to rouse him earlier. That was common for him, and one reason that he’d most likely never make a good hunter.
He yawned as Lighting Strike fell into step with him.
“Our great medicine man has finally woken from the sleep of the dead.”
Chirping Cricket smiled. “Why are you harassing me? I am not even awake enough to defend myself.”
“Then it is good that I am with you so that you have protection,” Lighting Strike said.
Suddenly, the woodland trail to their stream wavered and changed to the sort of hard-packed earth path found between tipis in a camp. Looking up, Chirping Cricket saw a camp the size of which he’d never witnessed before. An unending vista of tipis stretched out before him, and unfamiliar people watched them walk through the camp.
Men wore their hair in braids wrapped in fur and women wore slightly different dresses than the Kiowa did. Lakota. We are in a Lakota camp! How did we get here? He looked over at Lightning Strike, who now wore a fierce expression that warned others away.
Lightning Strike looked at him. “Do not worry. No harm will come to you.”
Chirping Cricket reached out to touch him, but, although solid, what his hand encountered was covered in rough ridges. Recognizing the texture of bark, he looked up at Lightning Strike, who now just stood staring at him.
He was startled by a hand descending on his shoulder. Spinning around, he saw that he still stood on the trail to the stream. Lightning Strike’s eyes held concern and questions. Chirping Cricket looked back the other way, but the Lakota camp and the other Lightning Strike had vanished.
Lightning Strike’s concern grew into worry when he felt Chirping Cricket tremble beneath his hand. His dark eyes met his young friend’s. “What is it?”
It took Chirping Cricket several moments to answer. “A camp. We were in a camp. Right back there.” He pointed over his shoulder.
Lightning Strike looked behind the boy, but all he saw were trees and the path that disappeared into them. “A camp?”
Chirping Cricket nodded. “Yes. A Lakota camp. I think I just had a vision and that we are going to a Lakota camp.”
“What?” Lightning Strike smiled. “You are playing a joke on me.”
“No, I am not. We were in a camp. The men all looked at us with hate in their eyes and some of the older men wore their braided hair wrapped with beaver and otter hides. I did not know these people. It is a huge camp. Ours could fit inside it many times, it is that large.”
Lightning Strike’s eyes widened. Chirping Cricket’s description was too detailed and too accurate to be made up. He and several of their braves had come across the camp of which the boy spoke, and they had wisely retreated from it. They had gone back several times, scouting out the best way to get to the horses so they could steal them, but there had been too many sentries.
Lightning Strike asked, “You saw this just now?”
“Yes. Right now. What is happening to me? First I call bison in my sleep without trying to and now I am having waking visions,” Chirping Cricket said fearfully.
Lightning Strike said, “Your mentor knew you had power. Perhaps calling the bison has set it free. We must tell Growling Wolf about your vision.”
Chirping Cricket shook his head. “No. Not until I have bathed and prayed. I need to see more. Something very important is about to happen, Lightning Strike. I must find out more. Please say nothing about this.”
“All right.”
Chirping Cricket gave him a tight smile of thanks and continued on shaky legs down the trail to the creek.
Chapter Three
Chirping Cricket sat in the medicine lodge. He’d purified himself with sweet grass and cedar smoke and had given praise to Sendeh for sending him his vision. He’d asked for help seeing more and had done his best to clear his mind and relax.
He found himself fighting sleep. His eyelids didn’t want to stay open, and he jerked a couple of times when he felt himself starting to slump over. Even though it was hot out, he’d put cross-sticks outside the tipi entrance and shut the flap so that he wasn’t disturbed. Not even the chief would bother him unless it was a dire emergency.
Since the day the bison had come, Chirping Cricket had gained status and respect, something that was hard to do in Kiowa society. Their strict hierarchy rarely changed except through marriage. Low-born people rarely moved up in ranking unless they did something very impressive.
The young medicine man was one of the few exceptions. Singing Water had sensed something different about him and had taken him as an apprentice, despite Chirping Cricket’s parents’ low status. Chirping Cricket hadn’t received quite two years’ worth of instruction before Singing Water had passed on, placing a heavy burden on the young man’s shoulders.
Although he excelled at the medicinal side of his position, he’d lacked in the more spiritual aspects of it. He knew all of the rites and ceremonies, but until a few days ago, performing great acts of power had eluded Chirping Cricket. His people now looked at him with more respect in their eyes and spoke a little more deferentially to him.
As he drifted in and out of slumber, Chirping Cricket concentrated hard on the Lakota camp from his vision. The village didn’t come into view, but two Lakota braves on horseback did. They galloped their horses straight at him, their expressions set in grim lines.
His spirit-self protectively covered his head and closed his eyes as they rode by on either side of him. The wind they created lifted his long hair and dirt from under the horses’ hooves peppered his body. Opening his eyes, he waited for more warriors arrive, but the forest back the way they’d come remained quiet and empty of other riders.
With a start, he awoke, looking around the lodge in confusion. He was disoriented and incredibly hot. Getting up, he threw open the tipi flap and went out into the glaring sunlight. He put the cross-sticks to the side and wiped sweat from his brow with his forearm as he contemplated the vision. A few people walked by, nodding to him, but he barely responded to them.
Slowly, Chirping Cricket made his way to Growling Wolf’s tipi, gathering his thoughts before arriving there. He wanted to be prepared for any questions the chief might ask of him. Upon reaching the chief’s tipi, he encountered Sleek Doe, who was busy scraping a deer hide.
She smiled up at him. “Háːcho, Chirping Cricket. How are you?”
“Háːcho, Sleek Doe. I am fine. Is Growling Wolf here?”
Sleek Doe noticed Chirping Cricket’s anxious expression and felt sympathetic towards him. Her husband could be intimidating, and Chirping Cricket was still so young.
“Yes.”
“A-hou.” Chirping Cricket gathered his courage and walked past her to the tipi. The flap was open, so he scratched on one side of the entrance.
“Hébe!”
Receiving permission to enter, Chirping Cricket ducked into the tipi and allowed his eyes to adjust to the darkness before moving forward. “Háːcho, Growling Wolf. I have news.”
Growling Wolf motioned for him to sit down. “I thought something important must have happened when I saw the cross-sticks outside the medicine lodge.”
Chirping Cricket nodded and tried to quell his nerves. “Yes. I had two visions today. Well, one vision and one dream.”
Growling Wolf grew curious at the excited light in Chirping Cricket’s eyes. “Go on.”
In great detail, Chirping Cricket told the chief about them. Growling Wolf watched and listened both with astonishment and amusement as the boy gestured expressively and gained confidence the longer he spoke.
In closing, Chirping Cricket said, “I do not know if others will, but at least myself and Lightning Strike will go to the Lakota camp. Those two warriors are messengers, coming to get us.” Finished, he fell silent and waited for Growling Wolf’s response as nervous sweat trickled down his spine.
Growling Wolf’s mind spun with the implications of this information. Would this bring trouble to their tribe or be an opportunity to create an alliance? While the idea of Kiowa and Lakota tribes creating an alliance was absurd on the surface, they were off to a good start. Shouldn’t their generosity with the bison count for something?
“When will they come?”
Chirping Cricket’s spirits rose a little. The chief believed him.
“No later than the day after tomorrow.”
Growling Wolf frowned. “That does not give us much time to plan.”
“Plan what?”
Growling Wolf didn’t answer that. “Do you know why you are going there?”
“No. That was not revealed to me,” Chirping Cricket replied.
Growling Wolf smiled at him. “You have done well.” An idea occurred to him. “Please call an emergency council meeting to start in one hour.”
Chirping Cricket’s eyes grew round, and his anxiety returned. “Me?”
“Yes, you. You are the medicine man and have the right to call meetings. You must get used to fully assuming all of the authority that has been bestowed upon you. I know that is hard because you are young, but you must.”
Chirping Cricket realized that Growling Wolf was right. He was the medicine man, and it was time that he started acting like it. “I will call the meeting.” He rose and left with purposeful strides.
Growling Wolf chuckled to himself. Singing Water had known that Chirping Cricket was the right person for the job. He shouldn’t have doubted his friend’s judgment. Then he sighed. His next task wouldn’t be pleasant, but if his plan was going to work, he needed to succeed.
“No! I will not agree to this!”
Growling Wolf crossed his arms over his chest and glowered at his daughter, She Sings. “I am not speaking to you as your father. I am your chief, and you will treat me as such.”
She Sings’ midnight eyes glittered with anger. With her angular features and slightly hooked nose, she was the spitting image of her father. She’d also inherited his stubborn nature.
“You may be the chief, but this plan is insane, and I will not sacrifice my daughter to those animals!”
“Be reasonable,” Growling Wolf said. “Sky Dancer needs a man to take care of her. We only have a few eligible men and none of them are of high enough status. Nor do the other men want her as a second wife because of her temperament.”
She Sings stirred the stew she’d been making. “She lost her husband and child last year. She has a right to grieve.”
Growling Wolf nodded. “Yes, but not to constantly snap at people who only want to befriend her.”
Singing Water sighed. “I know. I have talked to her about it, but it has not done any good.”
“Many people have tried, but she turned a deaf ear to them,” Growling Wolf said. “Think of the good this will do for our band. The Lakota tribe will eventually want this land. We are fierce, but we are no match for their great numbers. If we create an alliance with them, they may allow us to stay here in our homeland instead of being forced west with some of the other Kiowa bands.”
What he said made sense, but She Sings couldn’t imagine her daughter living alone among the enemy, even if it was for the good of their band. “I do not want to leave our home, either, but I also do not want to send my only daughter with them.”
Growling Wolf put a hand on her shoulder. “I know, but it may be the only way we will be able to stay here and avoid being wiped out completely.”
Meeting her father’s eyes, She Sings said, “You want me to convince her that this is the right thing to do.”
He squeezed her shoulder. “Yes. Will you do this for the good of the people?”
As the chief’s daughter, She Sings was held to a high standard and expected to act on behalf of the tribe. She was also expected to show solidarity with Growling Wolf. Even though her heart hurt over the situation, she saw the wisdom of her father’s plan.
Blinking away tears, She Sings said softly, “Yes. I will talk to her.”
“Thank you,” he said. “You are a good woman, and I am proud of you.”
She Sings gave him a small smile before he exited the tipi, but, once he was gone, she let the tears come.
The council meeting grew contentious, with ten of the members split down the middle over making an alliance with the Lakota. Some viewed it as Growling Wolf did while the others thought the idea was preposterous. They didn’t trust the Lakota to hold up their end of the bargain. There had been too much bad blood between them.
After much discussion, they took a vote. It was evenly divided, the deciding vote coming down to Chirping Cricket. All eyes turned to him and at first, he was scared because no matter which way he voted, someone was going to be unhappy with him. Then he thought about their tribe, their recent losses from skirmishes with the Lakota, Cheyenne, and the Ojibwa.
Fighting was no longer an option for them, and everyone hated the idea of leaving to go west, where the land was inhospitable and harsh. An alliance was risky, but there was much to be gained from it if they were successful. They would be able to keep their land and also have protection from other enemy tribes.
Marriage between the tribes would be a good step in that direction, but how could he decide the fate of a woman who still suffered from trauma? Chirping Cricket knew he had to say something and sent a quick prayer to Sendeh to send him the right words.
At length, he said, “The visions I told you about show that I will go to this Lakota camp. I do not know why, but it is important that I do. I believe that Growling Wolf is right. There is a reason why Bison brought the Lakota to our camp that day, and perhaps it was so that we could create an alliance.
“Marriage would make us relatives and it would be hard for them to go back on such a deal without losing much face. I do not want to go to this camp, but I will for the good of our people. That is what is important here: the survival of our people, and as the medicine man, it is my responsibility to help ensure the wellness of our tribe. I vote for the alliance. I have spoken.” With that, he made the hand gesture indicating that he was finished and fell silent.
Growling Wolf said, “It is decided. We will negotiate an alliance with the Lakota. Chirping Cricket and Lightning Strike will go with them, along with my granddaughter, Sky Dancer. I have spoken and this meeting is over.”
Grumblings of discontent rose as the men began leaving. Growling Wolf ignored the pointed glares that a few of them sent his way, sitting proudly as they departed the council lodge.
Once he and Chirping Cricket were alone, he said, “I know that this is a heavy responsibility for you, but you must convince their chief to agree to a council with us. We will meet them at a neutral place to discuss this alliance, but only if they agree to find a good man to marry Sky Dancer. We will take it as a token of agreement and honor if they do.”
Chirping Cricket’s stomach burned as though a hot stone lay inside it, but he tried to sound confident. “I will get them to agree. I will show them the wisdom of an alliance. We might be a small village compared to them, but we have more to offer them than they might think. As far as marrying Sky Dancer, I think one of the braves coming here should marry her if they are eligible and agreeable.”
A smile crept over the old man’s face. “You are much trickier than people think.”
Chirping Cricket feigned innocence, but his eyes gleamed mischievously. “I do not know what you mean.”
“Yes, you do. If one of those men goes back already promised to a woman, there will be little choice but for them to agree to an alliance,” Growling Wolf said. “That will be our bargaining leverage. The only way you will go with them is if one of them marries Sky Dancer. I hope She Sings can convince my granddaughter to do this without much trouble.”
Chirping Cricket said, “It is a lot to ask of anyone, let alone a woman who still grieves. But Sky Dancer is strong, and we will watch over her.”
“Thank you.”
Chirping Cricket nodded and rose. “I have some things to do. I will see you later.”
Growling Wolf raised a hand in farewell and Chirping Cricket left the lodge.
Chapter Four
Most of the women preferred to wash clothes in the morning, but Sky Dancer usually waited until no one was down at the creek before doing hers. As she scrubbed a dress with soap root and the rock she always used, the memories of all the times she’d performed the chore while her daughter had played nearby came to her.
Sky Dancer smiled even as tears stung her eyes. Everyone had told her that she should try to find peace with the losses of her daughter and husband, but she just couldn’t. Sendeh knew she’d tried, but she just couldn’t move on. Solace didn’t come to her no matter how hard she prayed or how much she immersed herself in work.
Bitterness and grief were lodged in her heart, and she couldn’t get them out. She wished that she could wash the negative feelings away as easily as she removed spots from her clothes, but it seemed as though her soul was permanently stained.
Finishing the last of the dresses, Sky Dancer spread it out on a bush to dry in the hot evening sun. Then she sat down on the bank and watched the creek. She and her husband, Badger, had liked to sit by the water, talking about all sorts of things. Before Minnow had been born, they’d often run off into the woods to make love.
They’d been childhood friends and that friendship had turned to love shortly after they’d become teenagers. Some of her friends hadn’t understood her attraction to Badger, even though he was the son of a higher-ranking war leader. He hadn’t been the most handsome man, but Badger’s kindness, sense of humor, dependability, and intelligence had made him beautiful to her.
Closing her eyes, Sky Dancer thought about how good his kisses had felt and the way his hands on her body had excited her. He’d been as generous and loving in their sleeping robes as he had been at any other time. They’d enjoyed a passionate relationship, which had quickly resulted in her becoming pregnant.
Minnow had been a beautiful four-year-old child with a mischievous nature. Like most men, Badger had been indulgent with her. Perhaps even more so than other men. He’d spent as much time as possible playing with her and telling her stories when other husbands were participating in the evening gambling or other pursuits. He hadn’t minded when people had teased him about it.
Minnow had adored her father, often following him as he went about his business as long as it was appropriate. Sky Dancer loved watching the father and daughter together and had never begrudged them their closeness. All too soon it would’ve been time for Minnow’s training in womanly pursuits to begin and her time with her father would be limited. She’d wanted them to enjoy each other as long as possible before that had happened.
The appearance of She Sings startled her from her reverie.
“Háːcho, daughter. I see you are washing.”
Sky Dancer smiled. “Yes. It needed to be done.”
She Sings looked out over the water. “I have something to tell you that is going to be hard for both of us.”
Sky Dancer’s pulse rate rose in alarm. “What has happened?”
Wanting to get it over with, She Sings plunged ahead, telling her about Chirping Cricket’s visions and Growling Wolf’s plan, which included marrying her off to one of the Lakota braves who would be coming to their village.
As she’d expected, Sky Dancer became incensed. “I am not a possession to be passed off to someone. Especially to the enemy!”
She Sings said, “It is not like that. This is for the good of the people. If Chirping Cricket and Lightning Strike feel that you will be mistreated in any way, you will come back home with them.”
“But I will be alone with strangers who hate me!”
She Sings drew herself up. “Are you not alone now? You have shut almost everyone out of your life except for your immediate family.”
Sky Dancer stood up and paced. “Yes, I know, but it is only because they all want me to be happy, to forget those I lost. I have tried, but I cannot. I dream of them every night. I can feel my daughter in my arms and hear her laughing. When I wake up, they are gone, and it is like losing them all over again.”
She Sings said, “You are not the only one who lost them. We all loved them. I know that it is hard to lose loved ones, but we cannot allow it to make us hard and jaded. Your husband would not be happy with your behavior. You have turned into someone I do not know. I miss my sweet, kind girl.”
Guilt rose in Sky Dancer’s heart at the pain she saw in her mother’s gaze. “I am sorry, Mother. I miss her, too, but I do not know how to bring her back.”
She Sings sighed. “I will keep praying that you find her again. Now, back to the matter at hand. As much as I hate it, this is going to happen, as long as the Lakota agree. It is hard being a woman because there are times when we have no say in what happens to us.
“However, you are the chief’s granddaughter and must act accordingly. You are strong and smart. You must represent us well. I do not want you to go, but our chief and the council have voted and there is no way out of it.”
Sky Dancer seethed with anger and indignation even as she knew that railing at her grandfather would do no good. Men and women were forced to marry all the time in order to form an alliance between families.
The only difference in this situation was that she would be marrying the enemy and leaving her homeland, the place of so many memories. Memories that caused her pain. Perhaps going to a new place would be good for her. Somewhere that wasn’t a constant reminder of all that had been taken from her.
Stoically, she said, “Very well. I will do it for our people and make a good impression on them. I do not wish to marry, but I will try to be a good wife. I still love my husband and cannot imagine being with another man. Whoever this man is will need to understand that I will do my duty, but no more.
She Sings smiled at her feisty statement. “That will be between you and him. According to Chirping Cricket, these men will come in the next couple of days.”
Sky Dancer asked, “Do you think he is right? Do you think he really called the bison?”
She Sings nodded. “Yes, I do. Father is certain that our young medicine man is coming into power now. He is a very good healer, too.”
“Yes.”
Sitting down on the bank by her mother, Sky Dancer said, “I sometimes wish that I was a little girl again. Things were so much simpler, and I still had my husband.”
She Sings smiled. “He was such a cute little boy. Always laughing and teasing you. We knew even then that you would fall in love with him.”
“You did?”
“Yes. You were always together. He was a good man.”
Sky Dancer swallowed her tears. “Yes, he was. How am I going to stand another man touching me? A man I do not love?”
She Sings put a comforting arm around her. “I did not love your father when we were first married, so I understand. I will pray that this new man will be patient and kind with you.”
“You and Father seem so close. I did not know that you were not in love before you married.”
“We respected each other and knew each other would make a good mate, but there was no love. It took some time for that to happen, but it did,” She Sings said.
Sky Dancer leaned her head on her mother’s shoulder. “But were you not scared on your wedding night? I was nervous even though I had known my husband for so long. I cannot imagine how nervous you must have been.”
She Sings patted her hand. “Terrified, but I was lucky to have married a man as kind as Broken Bow. He did not rush me, and he was gentle.”
“As was my husband.” She chuckled. “And funny sometimes. Does Father know about Grandfather’s plan?”
“Yes, and he already argued with your grandfather about it.”
Sky Dancer snorted. “I am sure he did not get very far.”
She Sings laughed. “No, he did not. I waited to tell you to see if Broken Bow could change his mind.”
“I wish he could have, but I will do what is being asked of me,” Sky Dancer said.
“Thank you. Finish your washing and come have something to eat.” She Sings gave her hand a final pat, rose, and left her daughter.
Sky Dancer fought against the anger that simmered inside. Her mother couldn’t control the situation, so she hadn’t wanted to keep shouting at her. She didn’t want any other man except Badger, but now she was being forced to marry a man of the enemy.
Her grandmother, Sleek Doe, had always told her that a woman bore many burdens, and it was true. However, she’d also told her that the love of a good man made those burdens lighter. She blinked back tears as she looked at the far side of the creek.
My good man now walks with You, Sendeh. I do not know why You took him and our sweet little girl. Could this be the reason? Am I an instrument in whatever plan You have for our tribe? Help me understand, Sendeh, and please watch over me when I go to this foreign place.
Finished praying, she gathered her dry garments, and started back along the path to the village. She met Chirping Cricket along the way.
“Háːcho, Sky Dancer,” he said, smiling hesitantly. “I was hoping to find you.”
“Why? So, you could tell me that I am being forced into a marriage that I do not want? That I am to go to the enemy, where I will be treated no better than a camp dog? There is no need. My mother has already told me,” she responded.
Chirping Cricket nodded. “I know that this is distressing. I do not want to go, either, but I must. It is what Sendeh wants me to do, and I believe that it is what you are meant to do, too.”
“Distressing for you? You will be coming back. I will not. It is much more than distressing to me,” she said.
Chirping Cricket frowned. “I know it is. I am sorry, but it may be our only way to stay here.”
“Why should we stay? What do we have to stay for?”
“There are many reasons to stay,” Chirping Cricket said. “I believe that we are meant to stay because there is something greater at work and it is important that we remain in this place.”
Sky Dancer knew that Chirping Cricket was only fulfilling his duty, but he was part of the reason she had to leave her home. It was hard not to take out her frustration on him. “Well, while you remain here, think of me while I am so far away from my people.”
With regret in his heart, Chirping Cricket watched the beautiful woman walk away. When he turned back towards the creek, he was startled to find his little sister, Moonbeam, standing on the trail.
“Stop doing that!” he scolded. “What are you doing here?”
“It is hot, so I am going for a swim. Come with me?”
He sighed in frustration. “How many times do I have to tell you that you cannot speak to me directly? You know it is not proper.”
The twelve-year-old girl frowned. “I miss doing things together. Please, come with me?”
Chirping Cricket barely suppressed a smile. “No. I am the medicine man, and you must start thinking of me more like that than your brother.” That thought pained him. They had always been close, and it was hard for him not to do things the way they had as children.
“You will always be my brother.”
“You need to go home. You cannot speak to me alone like this,” Chirping Cricket said.
Undeterred, Moonbeam turned to face the nearest tree. “Good tree, please tell my brother that I miss him and only want to swim like we used to. He is going away soon, and I will perhaps not see him for a long time.”
Brother-sister avoidance once both siblings had reached puberty was mostly adhered to, but there were times when they needed to interact when no one else was around. An inanimate object could be used so that if someone came upon them, they would still be seen behaving appropriately.
Chirping Cricket smiled and turned to the tree. “Good tree, please tell my sister that I miss her, too, but we are both growing up and must follow adult customs now.”
Moonbeam said, “Good tree, tell my brother that we can still be children once in a while. Besides, he is more grown up than me and perhaps doing this one childish thing before he goes away will be good for him.”
Chirping Cricket raised an eyebrow over that. His sister was right. Years of heavy responsibility lie ahead of him. Surely, he could be forgiven for indulging his sister’s request, and enjoying himself before embarking on the coming journey.
Grinning, he said, “Good tree, please tell my sister that I will give her a head start to—” He broke off before finishing, running down the path.
“That is not fair!”
She chased after him, and for a little while the siblings forgot their age as they swam and played in the water.
Chapter Five
Early the next morning, Sky Dancer rose, stretching as she went outside. Her parents still slept, so she quietly gathered some water skins and headed for the creek. She was startled by loud shouting that came from the opposite side of the camp. A sense of foreboding came over her, and, still carrying the empty skins, she walked towards the growing commotion. As she passed her tipi, her parents came out, having been woken by the noise.
Her father, Broken Bow, a tall, thin man said, “Stay here. I will find out what is happening and come tell you.”
She Sings said, “Why? It does not sound like fighting.”
His normally genial countenance was set in hard lines. “Stay here, wife. I will come for you if all is well.” He glanced at Sky Dancer. “Do not follow me.”
They heard someone call out to them and saw Fang approach. The war leader stopped in front of them, his eyes trained on Sky Dancer. “They are here.”
She gasped and her heartbeat jumped into an erratic rhythm. “So soon? Chirping Cricket said they would come in a couple of days.”
Fang said, “He was not far off. Come. The chief waits for you.”
Sky Dancer looked beseechingly at Broken Bow. “Are you sure that there is nothing you can do?”
His expression turned dark. “I tried. He would not listen.”
Sky Dancer looked at the ground as fear and anger swirled in her mind. Closing her eyes, she willed her heart to settle once again and prayed for strength to face what was to come. She wouldn’t cry or beg to be relieved of the sacrifice she was about to make. Thinking of her family and her tribe, she accepted her fate.
As she raised her head and opened her eyes, a light of purpose gleamed in their dark depths. “If this is what Sendeh has willed, so be it.”
Fang nodded approvingly. “Let us go.”
With her chin held high, Sky Dancer walked with her parents and Fang to the central fire area of the camp. As they arrived, she immediately saw the Lakota warriors, whose mode of dress was similar to the Kiowa braves. However, their hair was uncut, unlike the way the Kiowa braves wore their hair, with it cut short over their right ear. This was to prevent it from getting caught in bow strings.
The taller, more muscular Lakota brave wore his hair in twin braids. An eagle feather decorated each braid and turquoise and bone earrings dangled from his earlobes. He wore fine buckskin leggings with red and blue fringes and the front of his breechcloth had been decorated with matching red and blue quills. Resting upon his broad, bronze chest was a simple necklace of what looked like polished wolf teeth. Grudgingly, she admitted that he was a handsome man.
Then her gaze turned to the other brave, who wore his black hair loose. It flowed down over his strong shoulders. On the left side of it, two raven feathers had been woven into the thick strands. Also bare chested, he stood a couple of inches shorter than the other man. His leggings bore no fringes, instead graced with white and red beading down the front. A black horse raced across the front of his breechcloth.
Her gaze clashed with his as she came to stand by Growling Wolf. Instant hate for him blossomed in her chest and she glared brazenly back at him. Anger smoldered in his eyes, and his nostrils flared slightly, indicating his mutual feelings.
Dark Horse held her gaze, silently berating her for her improper behavior. Who was this Kiowa woman to stare at him like that? Her insolence highly irritated him even as he noted her uncommon beauty. Her gleaming black hair lifted in the breeze, a few strands fluttering around her high cheeks and full, sensual mouth. Her dark eyes were framed by long lashes. A red sash tied around the waist of her light tan doeskin dress hinted at lush curves.
The hate and disdain in her eyes set off a similar reaction in Dark Horse and he had a desire to punish her, something he’d never felt towards a woman before. Why did this woman not lower her eyes, as was Lakota etiquette for females? Did all Kiowa women act like that? Looking around, he saw that most of the Kiowa women cast brief glances at him and Rushing Bull.
So, it is not the Kiowa custom for women to stare. Just you. You are lucky that I am not your husband. Why is she not reprimanded?
His musings were interrupted when the old chief stepped forward.
Growling Wolf signed, “Welcome, esteemed war leader. We have been expecting you.”
Dark Horse’s eyebrows rose, and he and Rushing Bull exchanged surprised glances.
“You have?” Rushing Bull signed. “How did you know we were coming?”
Growling Wolf smiled. “Our medicine man, Chirping Cricket, dreamt that you would come here.”
This stunned the warriors, and it took Dark Horse a moment to respond. “You mean the boy who sang when last I was here?”
Growling Wolf nodded. “Yes. He had a vision that he would travel to your camp.” The shock in their eyes amused him. “One of my warriors is bringing him.”
Rushing Bull lifted a brow. “From where? Why does he need to be brought? Why is he not already here?”
Gray Wolf chuckled. “He is often up well into the night and sleeps late.”
As if on cue, the subject of their conversation walked sleepily into the central area, trying to smother a huge yawn. Dark Horse looked him over, finding it hard to believe that the thin boy with rather messy hair was this tribe’s medicine man. He noted that instead of black, Chirping Cricket’s hair was dark brown and slightly wavy. They had a couple of braves with brown hair in Dark Horse’s tribe, but it was straight.
The boy wore plain buckskin clothing with no symbols or decoration denoting his high status. Dark Horse’s curiosity about Chirping Cricket grew as he watched him yawn again.
Growling Wolf enjoyed the look of confusion on the Lakota braves’ faces as they looked at Chirping Cricket. He understood why they were dubious about the young medicine man. Until a few days ago, he had also doubted that Chirping Cricket could serve as a true medicine man.
Catching Chirping Cricket’s gaze, Growling Wolf signed, “Chirping Cricket, this is Rushing Bull and Dark Horse, the braves you dreamt about.”
Chirping Cricket came fully awake as he looked at the two men. “How do you say ‘hello’ in your language?”
His unusual greeting took Dark Horse aback for a moment. “The men say ‘hau’ and the women say ‘han’.”
Chirping Cricket gave them what he hoped was a confident smile. “Hau,” he said, then signed, “It is good to meet you both.” He held out his hand to Dark Horse.
Dark Horse smiled back, instantly liking the youth despite the fact that they came from enemy tribes. He grasped arms with Chirping Cricket. His hand completely encircled the boy’s thin forearm. “How do you say ‘hello’ in your language?”
“We say, ‘Háːcho’.”
“Háːcho,” Dark Horse said, releasing the boy’s arm. “Chirping Cricket, it is good to meet you.”
The greetings were repeated with Rushing Bull. More introductions were made before Growling Wolf brought Sky Dancer to stand beside him.
“This is my granddaughter, Sky Dancer.”
Sky Dancer still stared defiantly at the Lakota men, but especially at Dark Horse.
Rushing Bull noticed the way his friend and Sky Dancer glared at each other and thought that their obvious dislike didn’t bode well. He hoped that the somewhat sharp-tongued, temperamental war leader wouldn’t do anything to offend these people.
With a disarming grin, Rushing Bull signed, “It is good to meet such an esteemed maiden, Sky Dancer.”
A faint smile curved her lips. “I am a widow, not a maiden.”
Growling Wolf noticed the way she openly looked at the men. Leaning closer, he whispered, “Behave as a woman should and do not embarrass your people, granddaughter. There is much at stake here. Do your duty.”
Despite the hot anger that simmered within her, Sky Dancer swallowed the bitter words that she wanted to hurl at Growling Wolf. She gave Dark Horse one last hateful glance and lowered her gaze.
Dark Horse barely resisted a satisfied smile, pretending not to notice the reprimand.
Growling Wolf said, “Come to my tipi. We will eat and discuss why you have come.”
Nodding, Dark Horse replied, “We appreciate your hospitality.”
As they followed the chief and his family to his large tipi, the Lakota braves looked around at the Kiowa camp. It was clean and orderly, as a camp should be, but it was much smaller than their own, no doubt because of the losses they’d suffered over the last few years.
Tension pervaded the air as they walked, flanked by Kiowa braves. The two who’d been introduced to them as Fang and Lightning Strike watched them constantly, ready to kill them at a moment’s notice. While this made Dark Horse and Rushing Bull uneasy, they never showed it.
Dark Horse, an artistic man, liked some of the designs on the tipis they passed, smiling at one rendition of a bison that must have been the handiwork of a child. He hoped that one day, he’d pass along his artistic abilities to at least one of his children.
Turning his gaze forward again, he noticed the way Sky Dancer held herself proudly with her spine straight. The blue-beaded fringes on the bottom of her tunic, which was worn above her skirt, swayed back and forth, clicking softly together.
The rhythmic way the fringes moved led his mind to think about how graceful and shapely her hips must be under the buckskin garments she wore. Abruptly, he reined in those thoughts. Beautiful though she might be, she was Kiowa, and he wanted nothing to do with her.
When they reached Growling Wolf’s tipi, Sleek Doe began preparing a breakfast of leftover rabbit stew from the night before and fry bread with black raspberry dressing. While she did that, Sky Dancer made tea, keeping her gaze averted from their visitors.
The meal was served and eaten in virtual silence. Their business would wait until they were finished. Sky Dancer forced herself to eat even though her stomach threatened to reject the food. She cast glances at the two men and hoped that they would refuse to marry her. Or that if they agreed, Rushing Bull would be the man to claim her. He seemed more genial than Dark Horse.
When the Lakota men indicated that they were done, the women cleared away the bowls and bone plates, taking them outside to be washed.
Growling Wolf signed, “We will go to the council lodge to speak.”
As they followed him to the lodge, Rushing Bull surreptitiously brushed shoulders with Dark Horse and flicked a glance over at Chirping Cricket. Dark Horse looked at the boy, smiling to himself at the proud way he walked beside Lightning Strike. It was obvious that he was trying to look the part of a medicine man.
They filed into the lodge, and the other nine council members were introduced to the visitors. Chirping Cricket prepared a pipe, presenting it to the Four Directions before taking a puff and handing it off to Growling Wolf.
Once all of the men had done the same, Growling Wolf asked, “Why have you come?”
Dark Horse said, “Our chief, Soaring Falcon wishes to speak with Chirping Cricket. He was very impressed with his calling of the bison and wants to thank the man who provided our camp with food and hides.”
Growling Wolf raised an eyebrow. “Has your own medicine man never called bison? Is this something extraordinary?”
Rushing Bull smiled. “Our medicine man has called bison and he is a good healer. He has performed many great acts.”
“Then why do you want ours?” Growling Wolf asked.
Dark Horse frowned. “We do not want to keep him. Our chief simply wants to thank him.”
Growling Wolf grunted. “Why should we trust you? How do we know that you will not kill him so that we are left without a shaman?”
Chirping Cricket looked at the Lakota warriors in alarm. His vision had led him to believe that they wouldn’t kill him on the journey to the enemy camp, but what about once he met their chief? Would they take him captive or kill him? How stupid of me not to consider that possibility. Still, this is what Sendeh wants, so I must go.
Dark Horse said, “We have no reason to keep him or kill him. He is no threat to us. Our medicine man says that Wakan Tanka, the Great Spirit, has brought our tribes into contact for a reason.”
Chirping Cricket sat up a little straighter as a chill of awe went down his spine. “I, too, have thought that. Bison Spirit heard my call and sent his relatives at the right moment to lure you here to our camp.”
Dark Horse nodded. “It would seem so.”
Growling Wolf cut to the chase. “He may go with you, but only if one of you agrees to marry my granddaughter and set up a council with your chief.”
Dark Horse couldn’t believe it. “What? Have you lost your mind?”
Growling Wolf chuckled. “No. If you marry her, we will be family and, unless you are dishonorable people, you will not make war on us. It is a token of trust between us that nothing will happen to Chirping Cricket or Lightning Strike.”
Dark Horse looked at the Kiowa warrior, who stared back with distrust and dislike in his eyes. “He is coming?”
Lightning Strike nodded. “You do not think we would let our medicine man travel alone with you, do you? Or Sky Dancer? Another warrior will also be going with us. They are hunting at the moment, but I will introduce you later.”
With a deepening frown, Dark Horse turned back to Growling Wolf. “So not only are you sending men with us, but you also want one of us to marry your granddaughter? What is wrong with her that you would give her away?”
Rushing Bull almost groaned at Dark Horse’s harsh words. The anger in the chief’s eyes made him jump into the conversation. “What my sometimes-blunt friend means is that he is surprised that you would be willing to give up your own granddaughter. She is a very beautiful woman, who obviously is skilled at keeping a home.”
Growling Wolf’s anger abated a little. “I am bestowing a great honor upon you by offering you the granddaughter of a chief. This is no small thing. It is a sign of respect and a gesture of possible friendship.”
Irritated with himself, Dark Horse remembered his manners. It was important to make a good impression on the chief. “While we appreciate it, this will not be necessary. We would hate to take such a valuable woman from you.”
Growling Wolf sat straighter, and his expression hardened. “Chirping Cricket does not go unless one of you marries Sky Dancer.”
In Lakota, Rushing Bull said, “If those are their terms, we must honor them. I do not want to go back emptyhanded, do you?”
Thinking of their fearsome chief, Dark Horse did indeed not relish the idea of failure. “Of course not, but marriage? I do not want her. She is insolent and rude.”
Rushing Bull smiled. “But she is beautiful. I will marry her.”
Dark Horse gave him a dubious look. “You will?”
Rushing Bull shrugged. “Yes.”
Growling Wolf watched the two braves closely as they discussed the issue. Whereas Dark Horse was displeased, Rushing Bull seemed agreeable.
Dark Horse signed. “It is agreed. Rushing Bull is willing to marry your granddaughter.”
Broken Bow cleared his throat. “She is my daughter, and I would have her marry a high-ranking man. Rushing Bull, do you outrank Dark Horse?”
“No. He is one of our war leaders. I am ranked directly under him, and I have enough coup to be eligible for marriage,” Rushing Bull said.
“Do you have any chiefs or medicine men in your lineage?”
“No.”
Broken Bow looked at Dark Horse. “What is your lineage?”
Dark Horse knew exactly what Broken Bow was up to. As much as he didn’t want to marry this woman, he couldn’t, wouldn’t lie to get out of it. “My great grandfather was a chief and my grandfather was a medicine man. My father had been a war chief, who was killed in battle.”
Broken Bow nodded. “And do you own ponies?”
Dark Horse ground his teeth together. “Yes.”
“How many?”
“Plenty.”
Broken Bow let out a short laugh. “Then you will marry Sky Dancer and you will send back five horses with Chirping Cricket and his guards.”
Dark Horse shook his head. “No. I have no wish to marry.” I especially do not want to marry your defiant daughter.
Broken Bow gazed steadily at Dark Horse. “Since you are the higher ranking brave and have wealth and status, you will marry my daughter. I have spoken.”
Growling Wolf smiled inside. “That is the price if you wish for our medicine man to go with you.”