Black Cloud watched Standing Bear closely. “If the woman is with child, then I will return to Running Elk with the news.” The man stated, not looking convinced Standing Bear was being truthful.
“We call her Alax. You may see her but may not speak to her. I do not want you frightening her while she carries my child.”
The Indian nodded in agreement and Standing Bear spoke again. “I will walk her through the camp at sunset. Remember, do not try to speak to her. She is my woman,” he warned, leaving Black Cloud before the scout could argue.
Chapter Twenty-Four
The first snow did not bring Running Elk’s departure from the village. Since the meeting at Medicine Lodge, there had been sporadic skirmishes almost weekly, and Running Elk volunteered for each mission. He found that as long as he was fighting for his life, he wasn’t dwelling on Two Fires.
The group of warriors sat around a fire, remembering those they’d lost and praising the ones who showed bravery on their latest mission. Running Elk wasn’t in the mood to join the other warriors. Until he’d met Two Fires, he had been considered friendly, but she had, by no actions of her own, managed to change his personality. After finishing the rabbit meat he’d cooked for dinner, he decided to seek the comfort and warmth of his hides.
“Running Elk, can we have a word?” Quanah asked as Running Elk was putting his small fire out.
“Of course,” Running Elk answered, looking to the chief to decide whether they would walk or sit.
“This won’t take long. We should be back at the camp in two days. You have shown great bravery over the last months, and I wanted to make sure you know how much the people value you,” the war chief declared as he retied a piece of leather around the otter fur that secured his braids.
“I have done nothing anyone else wouldn’t have if given the opportunity,” Running Elk argued. “But if you say all that as a way to keep me from looking for Two Fires, it isn’t going to work. If the scout isn’t back, then I will leave.”
Quanah shook his head before patting Running Elk on the back. “I will see you in the morning.”
The next two days were miserable. The snow was blinding, and the wind was brutal. Instead of stopping for the night, the warriors slept on horseback. Once they returned to camp, all Running Elk wanted to do was get warm and sleep.
When he woke the next morning, he found a clean, dry outfit placed beside his sleeping pallet. He knew Morning Star had been there but didn’t know why. After he dressed and ate breakfast, he went in search of White Wolf.
“Come in, brother,” White Wolf said when he saw Running Elk approaching.
“Yes, come. Sit and tell us of your bravery,” Kicking Bird suggested as soon as Running Elk entered the dwelling.
While he still felt uneasy around his brothers, he knew his feelings were caused by his actions, not his brothers’. Before he left, he had tried to make amends for his behavior and hoped the three could avoid all conversation that would result in harsh words.
“Thank you for the clothes,” Running Elk called to Morning Star before she walked out of the tipi. She blushed, nodded, and smiled.
Before the brothers could begin any conversation beyond greetings, Quanah spoke from outside the dwelling.
“The scout has returned and has information for you.”
“Has he seen her?” Running Elk asked hopefully, standing and walking outside without saying a word to his brother.
“I have not spoken to him. He has just now returned. As soon as he comes to my tipi, I will send him to you,” Quanah said, patting his friend on the back and giving him a hopeful smile.
“I will be waiting.”
For the first time in many months, Running Elk allowed himself to feel excitement. The warrior didn’t get to enjoy the feeling for long.
Black Cloud entered Running Elk’s tipi and began spinning an unbelievable tale. The warrior shook his head as the messenger finished the story.
“She is carrying the Kiowa’s baby? No, it was not her. She would not do that! She could not. I do not believe you!” Running Elk was on his feet, yelling at the man.
“Running Elk, she is with a warrior named Standing Bear from White Buffalo’s camp. If you don’t believe me, go see for yourself. I am sorry that I had to be the one to deliver this news,” the man said, walking out of the tipi.
Running Elk swallowed back the gut-wrenching pain and hurt, packed the necessities he would need, mounted his best pony, and rode to the front of Quanah’s tipi.
“I will return, but I have to see of myself. Do not worry, I will watch from afar. I have to know the messenger spoke the truth.” Running Elk informed Quanah when the warrior stepped out into the cold.
The war chief nodded his head. “Do not forget you are needed here.”
“I cannot go on if I do not see for myself,” Running Elk said through gritted teeth.
“Be watchful, my friend,” Quanah said as he pulled his robes tighter against himself.
The rage coursing through Running Elk’s body kept him from feeling the biting cold. He couldn’t believe the woman he had given up everything for was carrying another man’s child. The woman had plagued his thoughts, both waking and sleeping, and he wasn’t ready to accept the fact that she had betrayed him so quickly. Had he not promised her they would be together? Did she not have faith in his words? Being forced to consider the fact that the scout had spoken the truth, he was driven to see with his own eyes the Kiowa warrior who had caused his woman’s love to fade.
Running Elk rode his pinto as hard as he dared, sparing no time in finding the Kiowa camp where Two Fires was supposedly living. When he arrived, the camp was still sleeping, so he crouched behind a large tree and waited for the village to come alive.
When Running Elk saw her open the tipi flap and walk outside, all the memories of their time together came flooding back. He fought to keep his body in a crouched state; the desire to stand was almost uncontrollable. Over the last months, he had thought of nothing but her, and promised all others who would listen that he and Two Fires were meant to be together. But watching her calmly stand in front of another man’s tipi was almost more than he could bear. After straining to see if she was hurt or showed signs of abuse, he realized she was most probably being treated well. She was obviously not seeking a way to escape and appeared to be almost serene.
He couldn’t look away even though somewhere, deep inside, he knew he should. She turned and pulled the blanket tighter against her body. The roundness of her belly proved the scout had spoken the truth but was devastating to Running Elk nonetheless.
He knew the intelligent thing to do would be to leave, yet he stayed and watched as she returned inside the tipi. Even when she was gone, he fought with the notion of staying put. But the longer he was there, the angrier he got. So he slowly backed up.
As he was moving back, he saw Two Fires open the flap once again. She stepped outside and looked directly at him.
Running Elk didn’t fight the need to stand any longer. Just as he prepared to show himself, he saw a man gently place his arms around the woman who held his heart, and pull her back inside. The warrior felt his chest tighten and a knot grow in the pit of his stomach. Not caring if he was seen any longer, he rose and ran back to his waiting horse. He half hoped one of the Kiowas had spotted him. Then he would at least be able to get some of his aggression out.
He was consumed with rage as he rode to his camp. Running Elk knew the only thing the fury was good for was to make him a better warrior. He also accepted the fact that he would never love again. The woman he called Two Fires had made sure of that.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Alexandria woke in the morning feeling restless. She had been more likely to stay in the warmth than venture outdoors lately. But she felt a strange compulsion to step outside and breath the fresh, crisp air. When she began carefully pulling out of Standing Bear’s embrace, he woke.
“Where are you going?” he asked, pulling her
closer.
“I need some air. But I promise I will be right back.”
“Then I will keep the bed warm,” he mumbled as he closed his eyes and rolled over.
Alexandria ran her hand over his exposed shoulder before standing up. Before stepping into the frigid morning, she wrapped herself tightly in a blanket and walked outside to greet the new day. The day had not begun but the birds were awake, and their song was a warm greeting.
While she was enjoying the musical cool morning, she had the strangest feeling someone was watching her. It had been a long time since anyone tried to look at her without her knowledge. After pulling the blanket closer, she took a deep breath and returned to the warmth of the tipi.
As soon as she was back inside, she felt the overwhelming desire to look back outside one more time.
There were three trees to the east that held her gaze. Just as she was about to put her hand above her eyes, to get a better look, she felt Standing Bear’s arms reach around her and gently pull her back inside.
Standing Bear swooped Alexandria up in his arms and carried her to their sleeping mat. After laying her down gently, he climbed in beside her.
“You shouldn’t be out in the cold for so long,” he said, snuggling close to her.
“I am here,” she spoke in a whisper, but smiled at Standing Bear even though inside she was feeling numb.
Alexandria couldn’t shake the feelings she was experiencing. Her heart raced and her palms sweated just like they had every time she’d found Running Elk. For a split second, she allowed herself to hope her feelings weren’t deceiving her. She had even gone back outside to have another look. Whether she wanted to freely admit it, she had given up hope the man would come for her. But this morning, the feeling was so strong. She also knew bringing Running Elk’s name up would only upset Standing Bear. The knowledge was not enough to deter her from questioning the handsome warrior who was cradling her in his warm arms.
“Have you still had no word of Running Elk?” she asked timidly, not sure the level of anger she had caused.
Standing Bear pulled away from her and stood. She didn’t move from where she was lying.
“No. I told you that I would tell you if anyone was looking for you. I will not hear the man’s name again!” he yelled.
Standing Bear stormed out before she had time to roll over. Instead of praying that she and Running Elk would soon be reunited, Alexandra said a prayer that one day Running Elk would know she had given him a child.
Alexandria learned how angry Standing Bear was when he stayed away for the next two days.
His absence gave her time to finish beading the cradleboard she was making for the baby and to gossip all day with Abigail.
Standing Bear returned the afternoon of the third day to find Alax hunched over, holding her stomach, and sweating.
Alexandria didn’t notice his appearance until she heard Abigail shout an order at him. “Standing Bear, go get Willow!”
***
“You had an easy birth. The boy wanted to come into this world. He is healthy and big for coming so early,” Willow said as she handed Alexandria her son.
The labor might have been easy according to Willow, but the pain had been so great that Alexandria made up her mind not to ever go through the ordeal again.
The elder smiled a toothless grin and handed Alexandria her baby. Alexandria took her son and held him close to her heart.
“Standing Bear will be so proud,” Abigail gushed, joining the conversation. “Willow, why don’t you go and get him? They need to give their son a name.”
“Abigail! Can I have a word?” Alexandria demanded more than questioned.
Abigail knelt down by her friend. “They need to believe the child is his. It is best this way, believe me. Your son will be raised by the Kiowa people. Now calm yourself and let me see him,” she whispered hurriedly, hoping Alexandria would say no more on the subject.
“I cannot have these people think that. He is Running Elk’s son.”
Abigail sighed loudly before speaking broken English to her friend. “Standing Bear has been good to you. He has given you everything. It will hurt nothing for the people to believe he is the father,” Abigail repeated, a little more intensely than the first time. “Think of where you would be if he had just given you up once he learned you carried another man’s child. No one would have accepted you. You wouldn’t have had Willow’s birthing experience; you would have been a slave left alone in a field to have your child.”
When Standing Bear entered the tipi, he interrupted the scolding Alexandria was receiving from her friend.
“I have come to see your son. A healthy boy is something to be proud of.”
Abigail handed the bundle to the warrior. Alexandria watched as the man cradled her son. Her heart felt as if it were breaking. Standing Bear was being gentle and speaking lovingly to the child. Tears rolled down her cheeks. She wasn’t sure if they were tears of joy or tears of defeat. It was at that very moment that she gave up hoping for a different outcome and decided if Running Elk couldn’t be a father to his child, Standing Bear would be a fine stand-in. Knowing it was best if Standing Bear didn’t see her crying, she wiped her eyes with a blanket before looking at the two again.
“Does the boy have a name?” the warrior asked as he knelt down beside Alexandria with the child still resting securely in his strong arms.
“I would like to call him Gray Eagle. Is that all right with you?” Alexandria asked, watching Standing Bear’s expression change little.
“We will call him Little Eagle. This way you can hold onto your past and I can look upon the child with love,” he decided as he handed the child back to his mother.
Standing Bear placed one hand on his heart and the other on Little Eagle’s head. “Little Eagle, my son, you have come into this world in a turbulent time. You will be a warrior, like your father, but I am not sure how many raids you will ride in. By the time you have grown to manhood, all of this could be gone. You may never know the joys of roaming the prairie free, but you will always be proud of who you are. We are a proud and giving people,” he said, emotion thick in his voice.
Alexandria couldn’t stop the tears when she heard Standing Bear’s blessing.
Standing Bear sounded choked up himself as he knelt down and showed Alexandria her son. She pulled the robes from her baby’s face and really looked at him for the first time.
He was beautiful. He had Running Elk’s caramel-colored skin, a head full of jet-black hair, and her greenish-blue eyes. They even shared the strange yellow fleck in their left eye. She was sure Running Elk would have been proud of the child. And was grateful Standing Bear accepted him.
***
Standing Bear watched Alexandria place the babe to her breast before gently pulling Abigail nearer to the fire.
“Cousin, I am going to ask Alax to be my wife.”
He was still unsure of what Alexandria’s response would be, but Abigail was overjoyed with the news.
“When?” she asked excitedly.
“As soon as she has healed from the birth. I want Little Eagle to have a father.”
“He does,” Abigail said quietly. “And he will never know the man because of our lies.”
“Abigail, I will not lose her now,” Standing Bear vowed through gritted teeth. He pulled his cousin outside the tipi so that they could finish their conversation.
“I do not want to speak about the untruths we have told. Forget about them. What is done is done.”
Abigail nodded and looked to the ground. “I can’t help feeling guilty for what I’ve done, but I will do as you ask. Mostly for selfish reasons. I don’t want to lose her friendship,” she promised softly.
“We have done the right thing. Do not think on it any longer. Now go and help her with the child. I am needed at council,” he said, kissing her on the top of the head before walking away.
***
Alexandria had managed to sit with her back again the l
eather wall. It was painful, but her discomfort was lessening with each passing minute. She was curious about where Standing Bear and Abigail had gone but kept busy talking to her son as she held him to her heart.
“He will be over-proud if you aren’t careful,” Abigail teased as she walked into the tipi.
“No. He will never be over-proud. He will be good and fair and giving. Where did you go?”
“You will spoil him if you aren’t careful. In this world, a child learns from experience. You have a lifetime with the child. Do not fill his head with such things too early. Take your time. I walked to the river to fill another container,” Abigail said, taking the baby from Alexandria’s tight grip.
“I see Running Elk when I look at him,” Alexandria said tearfully.
“You will be spoiled. There seems to be no stopping your mother,” Abigail said, ignoring Alexandria’s observation as she laid the child on furs closer to the warmth of the fire.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Standing Bear would have much rather stayed close to Alax and her baby. He hadn’t expected her to be ready to birth the child when he’d sought her out earlier in the day. He had gone to find her simply because he didn’t want to be parted any longer. He just wanted to be in her company before attending the council meeting.
White Buffalo had not come right out and explained what the meeting was about, but he had managed to convey to Standing Bear that it was going to be trying for his son.
Before walking into the meeting, Standing Bear took a moment to be thankful Little Eagle’s birth was an easy one. When he entered the council lodgings, he was taken aback by the number of men in attendance.
His father had already begun speaking, so Standing Bear sat near the back of the tipi and listened.
“… to ensure the soldiers stay away from our camp, we will meet them as far from here as we can.” White Buffalo stated before going silent and stony faced as he looked around the area and waited for someone to speak.
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