Several warriors made noises of anger and others cleared their throats.
“I agree we need to keep them from our women, children, and the old, but this is only a temporary patch. Even if we turn them back towards the fort, they will return,” Standing’s Bear old friend, Sleeping Wolf, declared.
Most of the warriors nodded their heads in agreement.
“We either fight them or we surrender. I, for one, am not ready to give up our way of life yet,” White Buffalo explained. “But we do nothing if all are not in agreement. Before we vote, you need to know we will not be alone in our fight. The Quahadi band will fight by our side.”
The news appeared to lift the mood in the dwelling, but Standing Bear wasn’t pleased to hear the news.
“My vote is to fight,” he stated as he stood and left the tipi without looking at his father.
After leaving the council meeting, Standing Bear took a walk to clear his mind. He knew the Quahadi band was Quanah’s, and Running Elk was one of his warriors. Along with that knowledge came the understanding that he would once again be forced to lie to Alax. There was no question about his participation in the upcoming battle. But there was no way he was going to tell Alax he would be fighting beside Running Elk.
His deepest desire was that the woman would give her whole heart to him, but as much as he hated knowing it, Alax still remained in the Comanche’s steel grip. She might have given him her body, but her soul still remained with the father of her son. Standing Bear knew if he had any chance of keeping the news from Alax, he would have to ask for Abigail’s help once again. He didn’t relish demanding more from his cousin but saw no other option. He had to keep Alax, because he would be nothing without her. The woman had opened his heart to love after he’d lost all hope. His decision didn’t mean he wasn’t wracked with guilt.
***
During the two months before the warring party departed, Standing Bear stayed close to Alexandria and Little Eagle.
Between his constant presence and Abigail’s help, the two managed to keep Alax in the dark about the reason Standing Bear was actually leaving. He decided to tell her he was going on a scouting trip just to watch the blue coats’ movements.
Since Alax had given birth, her mind was centered on only the child so the lie was not difficult to keep on top of. The days flew by, and each night Standing Bear thanked the gods for keeping Alax and Little Eagle healthy and fed.
The day of departure seemed to catch Alax by surprise.
“I will return as soon as I am able,” Standing Bear said as he reluctantly pulled the furs from his warm body.
“I know you will,” Alexandria said, reaching for his waist.
Standing Bear’s heartbeat quickened at her touch but he knew there was no more time. He could hear the snorts and neighing from the horses and knew he was already running late.
Instead of crawling back in bed, he leaned down and kissed her deeply before standing and quickly dressing.
“I will see you off. Give me a second to dress,” she said, following him.
Seeing her naked was a picture he hoped to hold onto for the duration of his trip.
Alexandria stood outside their home with Little Eagle in her arms and watched Standing Bear depart. His heart filled when he saw tears form in her eyes. Once he’d learned of the warring party, he’d decided to put off asking her to be his wife until he returned. But as he rode away from the camp, he wondered if he might have made a mistake.
Standing Bear’s group rode alone until midday when Quanah’s band joined the ride. He recognized Running Elk immediately. His nemesis was riding between Quanah and another man. The man carried a look of determination and anger. Standing Bear knew it was only a matter of time before the two were sharing a pipe and planning the attack. He was glad he’d thought ahead and told his band he didn’t want to be called by his name. After explaining his reasoning—if Running Elk did know of him by name, then his presence would surely cause trouble—the others in his camp agreed. If everything went as planned, the Kiowa warriors would call him by his son’s name.
Although he thought he’d done everything in his power to remain anonymous, Standing Bear hadn’t been prepared for the guilt he felt when he remembered Abigail’s words. “Little Eagle has a father, but he will not know him because of our lies and deception.”
After seeing to his horse, he walked towards the fire. There were a hundred battle-hardened warriors sitting close by and all were listening to Quanah talk about his childhood.
Standing Bear was relieved when he spotted a space across from Running Elk. He found himself interested in the man. For the next hour, he listened to stories of hunting and reminiscing but nothing of the upcoming battle and nothing from Running Elk. The Comanche remained silent during the meeting.
Running Elk smoked the pipe when it was handed to him and appeared to be deep in thought as he memorized the faces of all those gathered.
Before the meeting broke, a scout returned with information that a small party of soldiers was only half a day’s ride ahead. Standing Bear was relieved by the news, but he noticed Running Elk’s steely expression didn’t change. If everything worked out right, he would be home within two days’ time. He hadn’t left Alexandria alone for a night since the baby was born, and sitting in such close proximity to Running Elk only made him more anxious to return to her.
***
When Standing Bear crested the hill the sound of the gunfire was deafening. The battle had only just began but smoke hung thick in the air. The horses’ swift movements only added to the poor visibility.
The weapons the soldiers fired had more power than anything the Indians carried. They were also deadly accurate at a distance. The raiding party was taken aback by their power.
Standing Bear rode into the heat of the battle just in time to witness Running Elk fall from his horse. Standing Bear clenched his legs, rose up from the back of the horse, and took aim quickly, not having time to aim properly, and fired at the prone soldier whose gun was responsible for killing Running Elk’s horse.
His arrow found its mark and hit the soldier in the neck. As soon as he was sure the white man wouldn’t fire again, he steered his bay in the direction of the fallen Comanche. When he reached Running Elk, Standing Bear grasped for him and pulled the Comanche onto the back his horse before quickly riding out of range of the big guns.
Standing Bear didn’t say a word until Running Elk dismounted from the back of his horse.
“I have heard stories of your bravery. It is good to know they were not falsehoods. It is an honor to fight beside you.”
Running Elk looked uncomfortable with the praise. “You showed bravery as well. I owe my life to you,” the Comanche said as he extended his hand to the Kiowa warrior.
“I did what anyone would. You owe me nothing. Do not give it a second thought,” Standing Bear said, releasing the grip he had on the Comanche’s arm before kicking his horse and returning to the battle.
When the battle was over, the Indians camped for the night. Instead of taking part in the celebrations, Standing Bear sought solitude. He wanted to take some time to reflect on the day’s events. It was obvious that saving Running Elk had been the right decision, but he soon realized that in doing so, it had caused his guilt to grow to an unmanageable level. His only comfort was thinking that saving the warrior might have counted in some small way as repaying Alax. He had kept the man she loved breathing; that had to count as something. His confused thoughts were interrupted when he heard someone approaching.
“They tell me you are called Little Eagle,” Running Elk greeted. “I have come to sit and smoke with you,” he continued as he took a seat beside Standing Bear.
The two men smoked and talked for hours. Standing Bear found Running Elk to be a proud, intelligent man. The guilt that had momentarily subsided crept back the longer they talked. When the visit became torture, Standing Bear stood, patted Running Elk on the shoulder, and prepared to lie down.
/> “We will meet on the next raid, Little Eagle. It is good to know you,” Running Elk said as Standing Bear was turning his back.
After a fitful sleep, Standing Bear mounted his bay and rode in the direction of home and Alax. He rode through the night, not wanting to delay their reunion any longer than he had to. There was an important question he planned to ask her, and his guilt wouldn’t not stop him from doing so.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
As soon as Quanah’s party returned to their camp, Running Elk sought the solitude of his tipi. Almost immediately, he heard a familiar voice outside.
“Running Elk, it is White Wolf. Can we talk?”
Running Elk’s muscles tensed. “Brother, I would rather be alone,” he spoke, his blunt answer devoid of emotion.
“I would like to speak to you about Two Fires,” White Wolf continued talking, totally ignoring his brother. “I know it is still a rather prickly subject for the two of us, but there are things we need to discuss. They are a great burden to my mind.”
Running Elk didn’t want to talk about Two Fires with anyone. He had to force the woman’s memory to the back of his mind in order to deal with his everyday life. Talking with his brother would not aid him in accomplishing that goal.
“Your burdens are your own,” Running Elk said.
“Running Elk, please. My heart is heavy. We are brothers; we should be able to speak of anything,” White Wolf spoke into the closed flap of his doorway.
“I need time to myself. Come back later,” Running Elk said after a long pause. After taking a deep breath, he stood and opened the flap. “Come back later,” he said, looking White Wolf in the eyes. “You must know how difficult it is for me to talk about her after all that has happened.”
“We got past you anger over Morning Star. You accepted the fact that Morning Star is happy. You said over and over you didn’t love her. I do, and probably always have. I do not want you to lonely and bitter. Please talk to me. What I have to tell you will settle your heart as well as mine.” White Wolf said, trying his best to persuade his stubborn brother.
“Later. Come back later. We will talk then. I will be ready to listen later,” Running Elk said, touching White Wolf on the shoulder before reentering his home.
Pushing White Wolf away didn’t give Running Elk the peace he sought. His mind was full of questions about what White Wolf thought so important he dared to risk his wrath. They had not had a conversation about Two Fires since he’d returned to the village after seeing the woman pregnant.
Instead of being angry when he heard the footsteps return, he was almost relieved. White Wolf couldn’t have walked more than twenty steps before he returned.
“Running Elk, I will not be put off. We need to speak immediately.”
“Come in,” Running Elk said as soon as his brother sought permission to enter a second time. “Sit,” he said, pointing to the ground beside him.
“Thank you,” White Wolf smiled as he sat beside his little brother. Running Elk couldn’t remember seeing his brother more at peace. “We have much to talk about.”
“Then you start talking while I load the pipe,” Running Elk suggested, attempting to not sound desperate for the conversation to begin.
“The visions I received when you met Two Fires were not true visions.” White Wolf stopped talking when he saw the change in his brother’s expression. “Now, before you interrupt, let me speak, and all of your questions will be answered. I believe now that I was misinterpreting the visions because of my feelings towards Morning Star. The thought that I could have allowed such a thing to happen is intolerable. I now feel that I was to know of your meeting and nothing more. I am responsible for your separation. And I am truly sorry for that. But I have seen her again,” he added at the end of his thought, hoping it would calm Running Elk’s rising anger.
Running Elk stood quickly and began pacing back and forth. “So what I am hearing is it would have been fine to bring her here when I wanted to? Is that right?” he asked, trying desperately to control his rage.
He knelt down in front of his brother, looked him straight in the eyes, and clenched his teeth together firmly. “Well? Is that what you are telling me? All of the pain I’ve experienced was for nothing?”
“I cannot express to you how sorry I am,” White Wolf stated, holding his brother’s glare.
“Sorry?!” Running Elk yelled before rising and pacing again. “Is that all?”
“No. There is more. But first I have a question for you. Why did you not attempt to find Standing Bear when you were with the warrior from White Buffalo’s camp?” he asked, picking his words carefully.
“She has another man’s child now. She is no longer thinking about me,” Running Elk answered, avoiding his brother’s gaze. Admitting she was gone was difficult for him.
“How do you know these things?”
“I have seen it with my own eyes. Not through some vision. She was clearly with child and quite comfortable there. Now tell me what you came to say.”
“Running Elk, the woman haunts my visions,” White Wolf said, standing to face his brother. “Your time with Two Fires is not over.”
Running Elk laughed painfully. “I think your visions are wrong. I am tired. You should leave now,” Running Elk suggested as he walked towards the exit.
“I will leave, but how can you be sure the son she bore was not yours?” White Wolf asked as he left the tipi, leaving Running Elk standing alone, unable to speak.
“White Wolf!” he yelled after his brother.
White Wolf stopped and turned to face his brother.
“She had a son?” Running Elk questioned quickly.
“She did, and the vision I was given showed me he will be important to our people,” White Wolf said, smiling, before turning and continuing to his home.
Running Elk went back inside, filled his pipe, smoked a bit, and allowed the blocks he had placed to drop. Two Fires was, once again, front and center in his mind. He hadn’t allowed himself to even consider the child Two Fires carried was his. He was angry that he had so easily allowed himself to accept the woman had forgotten him, and livid that his brother hadn’t come to him earlier.
After much thought, he decided the next time he saw Little Eagle, he would question the man. Even though he knew the next skirmish wouldn’t be too long in coming, he was still impatient. The small battle that had just taken place between the twenty soldiers and themselves wouldn’t stop the blue coats for long. It was becoming clearer and clearer that nothing would.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Standing Bear had every intention of asking Alax to be his wife the minute he rode into camp, but when he realized the earliness of the hour, his plans changed. He wanted to surprise the woman he’d missed so badly but didn’t want to wake her, so he slipped into the bed beside her and gently kissed her forehead. She rolled over and murmured something in her sleep.
“I am here,” he whispered.
“Running Elk,” Alexandria mumbled, smiling a smile Standing Bear had never seen before.
Anger and guilt coursed through his veins, but he knew he was to blame for the emotions so he carefully left their bed and went fishing until the sun rose. He understood the woman had been sleeping and was unaware of what she had said, but acceptance did little to calm the anger he experienced. Still, he wasn’t going to find Alax and offer to return her to the man she loved, so he swallowed his emotions, picked up the three fish he’d caught, and returned to his tipi.
“I am back,” he stated as he dropped his catch in a woven bowl by the door.
“It is good to see you,” Alexandria said, moving towards him.
“Is it? I am needed elsewhere.” Standing Bear found it impossible to stay in the company of the two women and maintain his sanity.
After grabbing a blanket, he began walking towards the exit.
“What is the matter with him?” He heard Alexandria ask Abigail.
Abigail’s response was polished a
nd well-rehearsed. “He has many pressing issues on his mind. I am sure his anger will pass.”
Standing Bear again experienced mixed emotions when he heard Abigail lie for him. He wanted nothing more than to be happy and live life day by day, but all he seemed to be doing in his search for happiness was causing everyone else involved grief.
Since he knew there were no easy answers to his situation, he found his best horse and began combing her mane.
He had almost been able to stop his pounding head when he heard Alax.
“Standing Bear, have I done something to upset you?” she asked as she walked closer to him, gently resting her hand on the horse’s neck.
“No,” he answered, not looking away from his work. “Why do you ask?”
“You know why I am asking. You’ve been gone for days, and when you return, you are angry and cold,” Alexandria stated as she moved her hand from the horse to cover his.
Her touch made liquid fire course through the warrior’s veins. He turned and took her into his muscular arms, before gently cupping her face in his hand and leaning down to kiss her. When he felt her fall into him, he picked her up and carried her to his tipi.
Standing Bear watched as Abigail scooped up the baby with a smile before vacating the home quickly.
Standing Bear undressed her swiftly and laid her on their bed.
“Your body would bring any warrior to their knees. I cannot help but love you,” he said, his voice thick with need.
He leaned on his elbow to look at her closely. His heartbeat quickened when she lazily ran her hand down his well-defined chest.
“Tell me you want me. Alax, call me by my name,” he begged before leaving a trail of fire down her stomach until her reached the top of her thighs.
She lifted her head and pulled him to her. His hair fell over his shoulders and fell across her face and breasts. “Standing Bear, I want you,” she said breathlessly.
He took no more time in granting her wish.
Alexandria lay on his chest afterwards and traced the muscles on his stomach.
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