Fireblossom

by Wright, Cynthia

  "Father, you can explain all of this to me another time. Whatever it was that you did when you were away from us, I shall understand," Maddie reassured him, fearing that he might have another spell that would render him incapable of speech.

  He sighed deeply; a resolute expression appeared on his haggard face. "I... had other lives when I was away. I was sometimes lonely, but..."He looked away from Maddie and sighed again. "When I was returning East from the Nevada silver strike in '59, I encountered surprise snowstorms that forced me to seek shelter not far from here with a band of Teton Sioux Indians. I traded with them, began to feel at home with them, and stayed so long that I had to wait out the winter."

  Fox sat forward at this news but said nothing. Maddie looked slightly bewildered.

  "Life among the Indian people is impossible to describe. We whites have woefully misjudged the depth and richness of their culture. I was happy there." Stephen's eyes misted for a moment, then he recovered. "There is a purity and harmony in their way of life that we have lost in our constant striving for progress. But you must not misunderstand me, Maddie. I did not forget about my family, and when the thaws came in spring, I was anxious to return to you and your mother."

  "Is that your secret?" she whispered, hoping against hope.

  "What I have just said is... the box that holds the secret."

  Her heart began to beat very fast then, and she held tighter to her father's hand. "Dr. Sick may arrive at any moment, Papa. You must take the secret out of the box."

  Looking at them, the oft-absent father and the daughter who strove for security and order, Fox felt an unexpected wave of sympathy. A box, indeed, he thought.

  Stephen was nodding. "I'm not ashamed, you know, but I don't expect you to understand, my girl. The truth is... that I had tender feelings for a young maiden in the Sioux village—or Lakota, as they call themselves. Her name was Yellow Bird, and she was very kind to me that winter. I think she loved me, but she understood that I could not remain among them." He began to take shallow breaths. "The day I left, Yellow Bird told me, quite sweetly, that she carried my child."

  "Father!" Maddie gasped, unable to disguise her shock.

  "You certainly were not the first white man to have a child with an Indian woman," Fox said in a firm voice. "The Indians say that Custer himself had a Cheyenne wife, perhaps even a child, yet he deeply loved his wife, Elizabeth. You were human, sir, as are all of us." He gave Maddie a warning stare. "I might venture to suggest that even your daughter, whose fine qualities we all admire, is human."

  "Well, of course I am!" Her eyes were brilliant as she looked from Fox to her father. "What happened then? Did Yellow Bird have the baby? What has become of them?" The notion that she might have a half-Sioux sibling was more than she could comprehend at that moment.

  "Yes, Yellow Bird had a baby daughter, whom she named Sun Smile... but I didn't know this until I came out here last autumn. As you doubtless remember, Maddie, I never went West again after the war and Benjamin's birth. Your mother's health was failing, and she needed me... and I suppose I felt guilty. It wasn't until Colleen died last year that I felt I could return to the Dakota Territory and search for news of Yellow Bird and the child." The difficulty Stephen was having in telling his daughter the truth was now evident. A droplet of sweat—or a tear—trickled down the side of his cheek. "Not that I raced off and failed to grieve. You know better than that, Madeleine. But I heard about that first gold strike on Whitewood Creek in August of '75 and felt that old thrill... and to be honest, I welcomed the chance to escape my pain, and my regrets...."

  "How did you find Yellow Bird?" asked Fox, steering him back to the subject.

  "She was visiting her father at the Red Cloud Agency south of here. I went there to look, to ask about her, and by chance she was there. She was married, of course, and had other children. We spoke as old friends, which was oddly comforting to me. Yellow Bird was a kind and gentle woman."

  Maddie had to swallow hard before she could find her voice. "And... Sun Smile? Did you see her as well?"

  "No. Yellow Bird told me that Sun Smile was never fully accepted by her husband, so when she was old enough to marry, she did so. Sun Smile married a Miniconjou Sioux who shunned the efforts of whites to herd Indians onto the Great Sioux Reservation. They were among the disconnected bands who had chosen to throw in their lot with Crazy Horse and continue to live freely, roaming and hunting where they chose."

  "Crazy Horse!" Maddie repeated in surprise.

  Stephen glanced at Fox and caught the glint in his eyes. "I know, I know... Crazy Horse's warriors demolished the Seventh Cavalry." He paused to rest, accepting another sip of brandy when Fox offered the glass. "It was enough for me, at first, to know that Sun Smile was alive and happy, according to her mother. But, as matters with the Indians worsened, I began wondering if I didn't owe her something as her father. Before the news came about Custer, I went back to the Red Cloud Agency, hoping against hope that she and her husband might have returned there to be safe. When I heard the news about Crazy Horse and Custer, my heart sank. And..." Stephen closed his eyes for a moment, then murmured, "I learned, from Yellow Bird's father, that she and her own husband and one of their sons all died this past winter of cholera—another of the white man's gifts to the innocent Indians."

  Maddie felt her heart opening as she began to understand the sadness and conflict her father had suffered. She warmed his cold hands in hers and gave him a tremulous smile.

  "What is it you want me to do, sir?" Fox asked.

  "Well, this may sound quite mad to you.... It probably is, but never mind. When I was returning north from the agency, I encountered a village of Oglala Sioux camped a few miles east of the Black Hills. They gave me a meal, though there isn't much food now that the buffalo is nearly gone and the rations distributed at the agencies are so pathetically inedible." He was breathing harder, and Maddie squeezed his hands. "At any rate, what they told me hit me like a bolt of lightning. They were going to strike the village that next day and head south... because word had reached them that Crazy Horse and his people were in Dakota Territory!"

  Fox rose at this news and began to pace at the foot of Stephen's bed. "It could be a rumor," he said, trying not to betray his own excitement.

  "I don't think so. These people were deadly serious; one of their young warriors had seen Crazy Horse himself, and after riding back to inform his own people, he announced that he was going to join the renegades. The others in this band are convinced that Crazy Horse will bring the 'bluecoats' to this area like a swarm of bees and that all Indians who happen to be nearby will be slaughtered. That's why they are hurrying to the safety of the agency."

  Fox's brown hands coiled into fists as he stood at the bottom of the bed and stared at the older man. "Did they say exactly where Crazy Horse and his people are?" he asked carefully.

  Avery nodded, unable to suppress a smile. "Yes. Bear Butte—or very near. Do you know the place?"

  "Quite well." He rubbed his jaw thoughtfully.

  Maddie looked quickly from Fox to her father and back again. "What are you two planning?"

  "I planned to go myself," Stephen said. "I ought to do this myself, but it seems that by the time I am well enough, Crazy Horse may have moved on and I may have lost my only chance to find Sun Smile."

  "You aren't suggesting that Fox should appear in the midst of a camp of hostile Indians who have just massacred General Custer and more than two hundred of his men? That would be suicide!"

  "Why, Miss Avery, it almost sounds as if you care!" Fox arched a brow at her. "Actually, on a more serious note, it would not be suicide. I spent time among various Lakota tribes myself, including the Oglala, Miniconjou, and Hunkpapa. I do not think that even the Crazy Horse people will kill me."

  "Excellent!" Stephen smiled with undisguised joy. "You'll go, then?"

  "It would be an honor, sir, to do this favor for you."

  Avery saw that an offer to pay Fox would not be welco
me. Instead he murmured, "I cannot express what a sense of relief I feel. If you can only find Sun Smile and convey to her my concern and good wishes, that would be enough. But if she is in need of a safe haven, I hope that she will consider returning to Deadwood with you. I have no doubts that my family—her family—would open their arms to her. Would it be so wrong for Sun Smile to learn more about the other half of her heritage?"

  Maddie's mind was spinning with a million confusing thoughts while the two men continued to make plans for Fox's journey to Bear Butte. As she thought about the half-sister she had never met, a feeling began to come over her that she had never known before. Suddenly she realized that she wanted to go with Fox. Yet, watching the two men, she knew without doubt that neither would consent if she asked straight out to go to Bear Butte. Even if she and Fox were more congenial, he would scoff at the notion of taking her on such an adventure.

  Nevertheless, she was determined to go. Somehow this seemed to be a part of her destiny, and not even Fox could be permitted to stand in her way.

  * * *

  Dr. O. E. Sick arrived that night with Benjamin and Titus. He administered an "elixir" that smelled strongly of gin, and Stephen lapsed into a deep sleep that lasted until the next noon. Maddie, wandering in from time to time to see if he had awakened, thought that her father wore an expression more peaceful than any she had seen since their arrival in Deadwood. Unburdening himself had probably been a more effective treatment for his ills than any medicine Dr. Sick could prescribe.

  And Stephen had no more cause for worry about Sun Smile. If she was anywhere near Bear Butte, Fox would find her. Of this her father was certain, and in truth, so was she.

  Over the next three days Fox made careful preparations for his journey. He was in and out of the Avery house because Stephen had frequent suggestions to make. They argued about whether Fox should take a wagon along in case Sun Smile decided to return to Deadwood. Fox believed that like all the Indian women he'd ever known, Sun Smile was not used to being spoiled and would be perfectly willing to ride a pony. But, Stephen fretted, what if she didn't have one? What if Crazy Horse's people couldn't spare one? Sun Smile, who was bound to have doubts anyway, might lose her nerve. Stephen was determined to make it as easy as possible for her to come to him.

  Fox simply didn't want to be bothered with a wagon, especially on the mountain roads. And it would slow him down. Only when Stephen began to embellish his plans did Fox listen seriously.

  "You can take supplies to the Indians," Avery declared, sitting up in bed and eating one of Susan's delectable Cornish pasties. "Imagine how quickly they must have been forced to strike the village at Little Bighorn! And they haven't been able to go near the agency for rations in months. If you take a wagon, we can pack it with dried beef and eggs and fruit and... everything they might need. Why, a few pounds of sugar and coffee and they'll treat you like a king!"

  "Sir, you know that I'm not interested in being lionized by the Sioux," Fox replied evenly. However, the plan appealed to his humanitarian instincts, and his eyes flickered thoughtfully.

  "Of course you're not." Stephen was earnest. "I only meant that if you brought some of the things the Sioux need most and they are grateful for your help, they may be more inclined to encourage Sun Smile to go with you when you explain about... me."

  Fox raked a hand through his hair and sighed. "I'll think about what you've said, Mr. Avery."

  "You know, we haven't much time. Today's the first of August. I think you should go tomorrow night. Let me make one more proposition that may help you decide. Why not take along a crate or two of rifles and an ample supply of ammunition? If Crazy Horse and his followers are going to be hunted down and punished for prevailing over Custer and his men with such apparent ease, they will surely need every assistance to make this a fair fight...."

  "All right, all right!" Fox raised his hands, laughing. "I give up! I'll take a wagon, I'll take food, and I'll take guns and ammunition. And if I'm going to leave tomorrow night as my commanding officer has planned—"

  "I only thought that it would be wiser if all of Deadwood didn't see you go," Stephen hastened to explain. "I mean, it seems that a few precautions would not be out of order. Do you agree?"

  "Obviously, sir, you have given this entire situation a great deal more thought than I, so I shall defer to you. However, if time is short, there's a lot for me to do. I'll send Titus to hire a wagon and have him look into purchasing some rifles."

  "Good thinking, my boy," Stephen said approvingly, and beamed. "It would be better if you aren't seen making any of the arrangements for this journey—just in case. Isn't there an itinerant miner we could pay to procure the guns? And perhaps you know a woman who could buy foodstuffs...?"

  "I may." A wry smile played over Fox's mouth. "I'd better be on my way then, sir."

  "Let me know what the costs are and I shall reimburse you."

  As Fox stepped on a squeaky floorboard near the open door leading to the parlor, Maddie scampered quickly into the kitchen. Rounding the doorway, she bumped straight into Gramma Susan, who had been leaning to one side with a hand cupped to her ear. At eighty-three she had better hearing than Benjamin.

  "Oh!" cried Maddie in surprise, then clapped a hand over her own mouth. When she heard the front door close and peeked to see that Fox had departed, she turned on her grandmother. "What on earth were you doing, Gramma?"

  Susan O'Hara smiled impishly. "I was listening, just as you were, darling."

  Maddie didn't know how to respond.

  "I know you want to go with him, and I know the reasons why." Pursing her lips, she nodded in a way that brooked no argument. "All the reasons. Don't worry, and don't waste energy on a debate. I think you ought to go, Maddie dear, and I shall help you devise a plan."

  Chapter 12

  August 2, 1876

  Fox folded his last clean shirt and stuffed it into the bag along with the rest of the clothes he was taking to Bear Butte. The cabin was still bare, almost sad-looking, and he told himself that he would make an effort to turn it into more of a home after this journey was over. Glancing at the crates of rifles, ammunition, and foodstuffs that were piled in one corner and covered with a woolen blanket, he realized that part of the reason he had volunteered so readily to leave Deadwood was because it gave him an excuse not to confront his own life and future. Some nights, lying on the floor on top of his bedroll and brooding about the debacle at Little Bighorn, Fox felt so torn that he thought he'd never be able to enjoy life again. At such moments the chance that he might not return from Bear Butte rather appealed to him.

  Fox didn't think the Sioux would kill him. He didn't even fear Crazy Horse, who was only fighting for his freedom. However, the West was fraught with dangers; men died accidentally all the time....

  "What the hell's wrong with you?" he muttered. Sighing, he pulled on his boots, buttoned his faded blue shirt, and started for the door. Titus was off making arrangements for the wagon, which he would bring that night. Then, once it was loaded, Fox would leave Deadwood and go in search of Stephen Avery's daughter Sun Smile. It was an awfully peculiar world, no doubt about that.

  Opening his new front door, Fox inhaled the warm morning air an instant before his gaze fell upon Madeleine. She was standing in front of the border of flowers she'd planted without his permission. This time, holding a watering can, she was frozen in midair like a statue. Only the slow flush that crept into her cheeks betrayed her nervous anticipation.

  Inexplicably, Fox felt a surge of rage every time he saw her. She was another of those questions in his life that couldn't be answered.

  "What are you doing?"

  Stung by his stone-cold voice, Maddie bit her lip and continued to water the blossoming zinnias and daisies. "I don't want them to die."

  "You are trespassing," he heard himself say. It sounded like a stranger's voice, and a part of Fox wondered if there had ever been a worse bastard.

  "And you're ridiculous, to put it polite
ly," she replied. "I have done nothing to deserve such unkind treatment from you."

  He felt a pang of admiration for her spirit. Her little chin was lifted proudly. Why was she so stubborn? He hurt every time he saw her, and now that pain made him long to rip her precious flowers from the ground.

  Instead he wrested the watering can from her. "Go home, Miss Avery. I don't want to be near you!"

  Fox's voice was ragged with suppressed emotion, and Maddie's eyes flew up to search his face, sensing a little of the truth, the only part that mattered to her right then. "You give yourself away," she whispered.

  When she touched his hand, reaching for the watering can, a strange shiver traveled up his arm and followed his spine downward. It was hard to breathe, and his eyes burned. Dear God, how glorious her hair looked in the morning sunlight! He remembered how it smelled.... And then dozens of memories assailed him—of the freckles that dusted her milky skin, the inexpressible sweetness of her mouth, the astonishing beauty of her breasts...

  "I—" His voice was barely audible. He released the watering can and stepped backward. "I have to go."

  Maddie's legs trembled as she watched him disappear through the pine trees. A moment later Fox had mounted Watson and the sound of hoofbeats could be heard on the sloping lane leading to Sherman Street. A secret smile curved her mouth before she walked back to her own house to enlist the aid of her little brother.

  * * *

  Fox went straight to the Gem Theatre without even making a conscious decision. A mule train blocked most of Main Street, and bullwhackers were either unloading goods or drinking in the saloons.

  Garnet Loomis stood a few feet inside the Gem's front door, apparently striking a deal of some sort with a disgustingly filthy bullwhacker. When she glimpsed Fox, she smiled broadly. "Hey, honey!"

  He paused beside her. "Thanks again for ordering that food for me, Garnet. I appreciate it."