Stolen Heart

by Rita Hestand

  "Do not weep so hard my sweet, the Creator will take care of him, when you no longer can."

  Her words soaked into Sasha and the tears ran like a river. "It's just I love him so." Sasha cried. "When my mother died, he became so close to me. He always had time for me, to guide me, to talk to me."

  "We all love him. But you have done all you can for him. Now it is in the hands of the Creator."

  She loved her father so deeply and she could not imagine life without him.

  But her aunt was a wise woman and said no more, for he was fast slipping away. Sasha spoke to him throughout the day too, hoping he could hear her deepest confessions and heart felt love.

  "You were wise father. At the time I could not see why you let me go to the Shoshone camp, and marry this man. But every day now, something grows within me. He is a wise man too. A good man. And… I miss his strength. I think I care for him father. He's been good to me. But it so soon. I wish I had your wise council."

  One day her father awoke and looked at her. His eyes were clear, and he smiled at her despite his misery. "My daughter, you are here?"

  "Yes father, I am here," Sasha said coming up to him and holding his hand.

  "I dreamed you were here beside me. I love you child and I am proud you have a good husband."

  "I love you too father. Do you feel any better?"

  "No child, I will soon go to the Creator. You must be strong for our people now. I am only sad I will not see your children. Nakota will be chief soon, tell him to always keep the peace so our people will live."

  "I do not want you to go!" she cried.

  "For everyone there is a time to die. Mine is near now and you must go on with your life. Be faithful and true to your husband, as he is a chosen one. I am sure of it. I love you … "

  His voice had weakened so. And suddenly he gasped and was gone.

  But when her aunt Minola came inside to help her, they hugged and cried together.

  "He is gone, now! In peace." Minola told her. "Weep no more for the Creator has him in his arms."

  Minola began to chant and Sasha joined her, their tears flowing freely now. In minutes there was a drumbeat to announce the death of the chief.

  All day they chanted and prayed.

  But the next day Minola had news. "Naomie has returned."

  "Returned? I cannot believe she would. But I cannot worry of her now. We need to prepare my father for his going to the Creator."

  "Yes, I will arrange it all. Your aunts chant for him and pray outside now, they know what has happened and they are very sad."

  "Thank you." Sasha said sadly.

  Sasha would think no more on Naomie at this time.

  Although Sasha felt a hate burning in her heart for her best friend and Big Knife, she carried out the duties as the Chief's daughter first. She would worry over them later. She would learn to forgive much later.

  There was much mourning and drums beat for three whole days. On the third day, they buried Walking Bear.

  There were chants and music to honor the chief and Sasha felt so lonely in her heart. Her aunt stayed with her, but there was something missing and Sasha didn't know what it was. Her father had been so much a part of her life, how could she let him go so easily? But her Aunt talked to her for some time about it, until Sasha felt more at ease of his death.

  On the fourth day after the burial Sasha decided it was time to face Naomie.

  Minola nodded, "Be careful, she lies."

  "I know, I have learned many things since I left." She smiled into the old woman's face with sympathy.

  "It is good." Minola smiled, pushing back her graying black hair.

  "I will be back soon." Sasha promised.

  She went to find Naomie. But Naomie was not hiding. She sat innocently in her tepee with her sister, Wasso. Wasso, unlike her sister was quiet and sweet.

  Wasso smiled at Sasha but left when she came in.

  "So you have returned?" Sasha asked staring into the deceiving eyes of her former friend.

  "I merely went to bathe," Naomie told her.

  "You were gone several days. Do not bother to lie to me. What did you give to my father, that made him so ill?" Sasha came closer now.

  "I did not give him anything! Why do you accuse me so?"

  Sasha slapped her face, "Do not lie any longer and disgrace yourself. I am a healer, and you know it. You cannot hide what you have done. Except for my aunt, no one else fed him but you. And I know my aunt would not poison him. If you do not tell me I will have you before the council this very day."

  "I do not know what you are talking about. You are not making sense, Sasha. I know Chief Walking Bear is dead and I am sorry, but you cannot blame me for it."

  "It is true you fed him a meal not less than a week ago, and he's been sick ever since?"

  "I gave him his favorite meal. Quail with savory gravy."

  "And did you not put toad stools in it?" Sasha asked.

  "I put mushrooms in it, like I always do, don't be silly."

  "You lie. You have lied to me for two years, Naomie your treachery will be punished." Sasha insisted.

  "Prove it!" Naomie hollered then smiled wistfully, raising her chin in defiance.

  "I will, somehow. The Creator himself will help me." Sasha told her. "And Big Knife is in trouble for trying to cause an uprising. Where did he go Naomie? I know you know as you are his lover."

  Naomie smiled sarcastically, "Aw, so finally you know! It took you long enough to figure it out."

  "Yes, I know. You are right. But I have the habit of trusting people and expecting the truth."

  "That is good. I have wanted to tell you many times about that. But I am glad you know." She walked around her now. "But you are wrong. The council will do nothing to me."

  "How can you be so certain?" Sasha asked with a sneer.

  "I am pregnant with Big Knife's child, that is how. They will not kill an unborn, innocent child. That is where I went to see him and tell him of his child."

  Sasha went white with disgust. Not only had she betrayed her and lied to her, now she flaunted her love affair with Big Knife at her.

  Somehow her feelings for Big Knife seemed to ebb away like a bad dream. Even she was shocked at how easily she could dismiss them both from her life.

  Naomie laughed at her white looking face now. "Poor Sasha. I cannot help that he fell in love with me and wanted me so. I could not refuse what I myself wanted. Yes, we were lovers. And one day I will be his wife."

  "Good, evil deserves evil." Sasha told her. "You disgust me."

  "If you had not been so prudish, he might have loved you too."

  "I no longer desire him in any way." Sasha told her.

  "Why did he leave here?"

  "He will lead his own tribe now." Naomie declared boldly. "He will rid us of the blue coats, and he will be a hero to his people. Better for your father to have died now, than in shame when Big Knife wipes out the blue coats from this Valley and takes his people away to the high country."

  "There are too many blue coats, he will not win this war."

  "Go home Sasha, we have nothing to say to one another." Naomie told her.

  "You will leave this camp forever Naomie as you are no longer part of this tribe." Sasha declared. "The elders of the tribe will shame you and make you leave. You are right, they will not kill you, but they will make you leave." Sasha told her and stalked out of her tepee.

  "Big Knife will come and take me away. Of that I am certain." She yelled at her.

  Sasha turned to look at her. "They are after Big Knife now. He will face the elders and maybe even my brother."

  "Nakota is a coward. Big Knife will show them all. He is strong and not afraid to face the blue coats."

  "The soldiers are stronger in number and have the guns to win any war." Sasha told her. "Has he not learned this after all this time. How many must die before he understands that the blue coats are here to stay. Their weapons are stronger than ours. Custer will kill t
hem all."

  Naomie raised her chin, "Even if we die, we will raise our heads in victory, as we will not die cowards to our people."

  "The only ones that will survive are the ones that fight for peace, Naomie, not war."

  "You have listened to your cowardly father and brother too long. You speak up for the blue coats that have murdered our people and taken away our honor."

  Sasha came toward her, "Do not speak of my father again Naomie, for it is his blood on your hands, and you will never wash it off."

  "For his death I am sorry, but it is good that our people will raise up and fight once more."

  "You sound like Big Knife now. I am sorry for you Naomie, for one day justice will prevail. You are a beautiful woman, but you have no sense."

  "It is you that I should feel sorry for. For your innocence is like a child. Don't you realize we will never have peace until we wipe the blue coats from the face of the earth?" Naomie shouted.

  "Old ways die hard for the ignorant." Sasha told her. "The blue coats will not be defeated Naomie, there are too many of them, and more will come to replace their dead. It is time to learn to live with them in peace. Put away the old notions, learn from them and hope they learn from us."

  "Leave me, I do not wish to hear any more." Naomie hollered.

  "Remember one thing, the Creator will not let you go unpunished for your deed." Sasha told her.

  "Get out!" Naomie shouted.

  "You will not be with child, always!" Sasha shot her a last glance.

  Sasha went back to her aunt and cried. "I don't know why I ever befriended her."

  "She has lost a great friend in you and someday she will see it, and it will be too late." Minola told her.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Black Wolf and his men scoured the mountainside several times finding tracks but always it led to circles. Frustrated he stopped and spoke with his men. Then Nakota showed up.

  "Anything?"

  "He is leading us in circles."

  "Yes, I agree." They camped together to figure out how to best Big Knife.

  "He's very clever," Black Wolf acknowledged.

  "He's been a great tracker for years now." Nakota admitted. "One of our best, I'm sorry to say."

  "We're just going to have to outsmart him." Black Wolf told him.

  "I agree. I must think on some of his tactics he has used before. He's in these mountains, we know that. And we'll find him."

  "What do you think his plan is?" Black Wolf asked.

  "To confuse us and keep us off his trail. But at some point, he will have to stop and make plans for this war he wants so badly."

  "Do you think he influenced Naomie to kill your father?"

  "Yes, I'm sure of it. Sasha believes this too. But at some point, Naomie will come after him. She is insanely crazy about him. I am sure she knows where he is and will go to him. Since we know she poisoned our father, she will flee the tribe and come after him. For the more that know of her deeds, the more the others of the tribe will hate her and scorn her and want to kill her for Walking Bear was much loved by his people. They will not soon forget." Nakota seemed to be thinking all the time he was talking.

  "It is true. Then perhaps we should await her arrival, for it shouldn't be long… "

  Nakota broke a stick in his hand and frowned, "You are right, we are wasting our time. She'll lead us right to him, I’m sure of it."

  "I agree." Black Wolf nodded. "I am sorry about your father."

  "Yes, as am I. From the look on Sasha's face, I could tell she could do little to help him. Perhaps make him comfortable for the end. But that is not all, there is many lies between her and Naomie. It is not a good thing."

  "I hated leaving her to take care of her father, knowing he probably would not live." Black Wolf hung his head.

  "Perhaps you won't have to." Nakota said.

  "What do you mean?"

  "There is no telling how long Naomie might hang around down there. She is safe for the moment and knows it. She has a few friends left there, though. If you went back to be with Sasha, maybe she would take it that you gave up looking for him and come sooner. Sasha needs a cool head around her right now. She suffers from the same thing I do, a growing hate for Big Knife and Naomie. She needs you. If you could leave your men and they could stay and help me watch for Naomie's arrival, maybe you could flush her out and she'd come up here to be with him."

  "You are right. She could lead you right to him. My only concern is can you keep yourself from killing him?"

  "Yes, I want him shamed before our people. I want them to see that he hides, and he runs from what he has done. That he is responsible for the death of my father, the betrayal of my sister, and that war will not help our people, but harm them. But, I'll admit, it will be hard for me to restrain myself. Each passing day I feel the anger growing stronger inside me."

  "Yes my brother, for I too wish to put my hands around his lying neck and take the life from his body."

  Nakota stared then smiled. "We are of like minds, I see."

  "Beings she's your sister, you may not have noticed. But Sasha is the daughter of a great chief, and he belittled her, betrayed her, and hurt her, for that I would gladly kill him myself. For your father, who loves peace as much as I, I would do the same. Sasha is the most beautiful woman I have ever known. To be treated as though she is nothing, makes me very angry."

  Nakota smiled, "You're in love with her, aren't you?"

  "Yes, I have been since the first day I laid eyes upon her. But you don't understand. Her beauty radiates from within. It comes from her very heart. And he has tried to destroy that. For that I would gladly wring his neck."

  Nakota stared now, "You are right, my brother. She is a beautiful person. Only a man in love would recognize that beauty so easily."

  "Not only her and your father he belittles the Wind River Valley. It is a good reservation. Much better than some. In peace we can accomplish some of the things we've always wanted. But once war begins it could all be lost. We cannot let it happen. If he escapes, we must keep him in our sites and not let him start this war. No matter what it takes. Even if it does mean his death. Do what you must do. And I will urge this Naomie's journey to find him."

  "Good."

  "I will ride out in the morning. I will speak with my men and they will help you find him."

  "Yes, that would be a good plan. We cannot find him riding in circles. And Naomie would lead us right to him. For I am sure she is anxious to be with him."

  "I agree." Black Wolf nodded.

  They hunted for wild game then cooked the deer over an open fire. While Nakota cooked it, Black Wolf spoke with his men. Some of the men dressed out the deer and made covers for their shoes with the hide.

  Black Wolf went to speak to his men.

  "I must leave you, as I intend to send this Naomie after Big Knife and then you will find him. Try your best not to kill him, as before that happens, he must face his tribe for what he has done. But do not let him escape as he will cause many problems for all of us. He must be captured or killed. And this Naomie is just as dangerous. We must try to bring them both back to the tribe. Wind River Valley is our home, and we must protect it with our lives."

  The men nodded, and he spoke with several of them before joining Nakota once more.

  "They agree and they will take orders from you, as I told them personally, that you are our brother."

  "Thank you, that will help."

  "Tell me, are you and my sister getting along alright?" he asked him out of curiosity.

  Black Wolf smiled, "Better than I hoped for. She is a woman of fire and well worth waiting for. But she has had a lot of distress lately and I am worried about her. I do not trust this Naomie."

  "Oh, what do you mean?"

  "I fear she might try to kill Sasha too."

  Nakota raised up from his knees, "Kill her?"

  "For one, they were in love with the same man. For another, Naomie fed her father a poison, at Big
Knife's urgings. If I were Sasha, I would want her dead!"

  "Yes, yes, I see what you mean. Then, it is good that you go."

  "I will look after your wife and children too." Black Wolf promised.

  "Thank you, as we really don't know what Naomie might try."

  "A woman that cannot be trusted is dangerous."

  "You are right. I was so intent on getting Big Knife I did not think about the dangers of Naomie. But if she could kill my father so easily, she could hurt others."

  "I will not let that happen. I will do everything to prod her away from them all. And as soon as she leaves, I will follow her myself. We cannot let them get away."

  "Good idea." Nakota nodded.

  "They will not get away with this. We will not let them." Black Wolf promised.

  "You are right about this Valley. It is a good place. We can live here and prosper in peace. If we war, we will not survive, as the blue coats have many more men and guns."

  "That is what Big Knife does not understand."

  "Big Knife does not use his head much. He is instead a man of action and conniving. He does not think before he acts. However, he is clever in other ways."

  "Yes, I can see this too." Black Wolf wanted to ask something, but hesitated. "I do not know how to put this without sounding unfeeling, but if your father is dead, do you want me to come get you?"

  "No! Right now, I have enough hate inside me to kill Big Knife with my bare hands, if I knew my father died, I might not give him the chance to face our people with his deeds. So no, do not tell me. I know in my heart he will die. I will leave that thought in a secret place and not face it until I know it for fact. If he is dead, console my sister and take care of her, for she was very close to my father after her mother died."

  Black Wolf nodded. "He raised her well."

  Nakota shot him a small smile, "Yes, he did. But she will need you now, more than ever."

  "Perhaps that is a good thing," Black Wolf smiled shyly.

  "Yes my brother. It is good. You are a good match for her."

  After a good night sleep, Black Wolf got up early to return to the Arapaho camp.

  Nakota grabbed his arm, shook it and smiled, "Go with the Creator."