“We will leave soon. I find it increasingly difficult to wait the proper amount of time,” Running Elk confided in his brother.
White Wolf’s lighthearted expression did not match the tone of his voice. “The soldiers are coming, brother. We will have to fight again soon.”
Running Elk could tell White Wolf hadn’t wanted to dampen his spirit and only spoke the words to prepare him for his meeting with Quanah.
Running Elk sighed loudly. “As soon as we return, I will again go into battle. I have given my people everything they have asked of me, but this will be postponed until she is with me again.”
“I wish we didn’t have to continually fight, and I know you will be here when we need you. Our outcome is so bleak, brother,” White Wolf said, sounding melancholier by the second before looking at Running Elk and forcing a smile. “We will see each other before you leave, right?” White Wolf asked, standing in preparation to leave.
“I will make sure of it, and don’t worry, brother, we are in the hands of the gods,” Running Elk said, patting White Wolf on the back as he followed his brother outside.
“Is that supposed to calm my concerns?” White Wolf asked.
“You know, I am beginning to believe what you and Kicking Bird have been foreshadowing. I had held onto hope that they would simply stop needing more land, but now it seems the white man will stop at nothing to have all the land. They already have most of it. What is to stop them from taking more?”
“I don’t know,” White Wolf admitted with defeat in his tone. “I hope to have an answer to your question soon, if the gods are merciful.” White Wolf finished his thought and turned in the direction of his home and Morning Star. Running Elk was glad the woman was a great comfort to his older brother.
Running Elk walked to Quanah’s lodge, hoping the discussion they were going to have would not dampen his mood even more than his talk with White Wolf had.
He understood that they were living through difficult times, but all he was asking was to be able to spend time with the woman he had been separated from for almost a year. He wanted to get to know his son and hold his woman in his arms. Running Elk found himself wishing once again for times to return to the way they were when he was a boy.
Before entering Quanah’s tipi, he did his best to calm his mind. The war chief was sitting by his fire, filling his favorite pipe.
“Come in, sit down,” Quanah invited when he saw Running Elk in the doorway.
Running Elk did as he was directed. “What is it you wanted to speak to me about?” he asked, thinking the direct way was the best.
“We have reports that the white soldiers have left the fort and are heading our way …”
“What?!” Running Elk shouted as he stood and found a place to stand at the back of the tipi, near where Quanah slept. He suddenly needed distance between the two. Quanah’s words felt more like a punch in the stomach than words. “Let me guess. You and my people are in need of me. Right?”
Quanah stood and walked to him before placing his hand on Running Elk’s shoulder.
“Calm yourself,” he said, smiling. “If you had let me finish, you would understand there is no reason for your outburst. I am not going to try to keep you from your woman. I understand how important she is to you. I do ask that you keep an eye out for the soldiers’ movements though. We may have to move quickly. I will not allow them to attack our village. Our women and children mean too much to me for that. You know as well as I do that the soldiers care not who they kill, as long as they are Indians.”
Running Elk heard the same concern he had heard in White Wolf’s voice. “I don’t need to take Kicking Bird and Gray Eagle if they are needed here,” he quickly decided.
His anger had subsided as quickly as it rose.
“You should not go alone. Just keep your eyes open for signs of the soldiers’ movements. We have scouts out now.”
“We will leave for the Kiowa camp in three sleeps. Will the scouts be back by then?”
“They should be, and if so, I will let you know what they report. Stop by and let me know when you are leaving.”
“Quanah, what are our children going to have to look forward to? Are they ever going to know about hunting and freedom? Are they even going to know the true meaning of freedom?” Running Elk asked, growing serious with his friend.
“The question weighs heavy on my mind. I wish I had the answer, but all I can say is we will have to wait and see,” Quanah said, walking away from Running Elk and back to the pipe he had been smoking when Running Elk arrived.
“We will talk later. Maybe I will go hunting for small game. It may keep my mind busy with something other than my upcoming trip. Would you like to join me?” Running Elk asked before walking into the heat of the beautiful summer day.
“I would like to, but I have many matters here to keep me busy. I remember the days when our lives were our own. You were able to be a hunter, and not a warrior, before the whites moved closer. You were a fine hunter, if I remember right.”
“I still am. Now I am gifted in many areas. I have a son, you know,” Running Elk said, joking with his friend, attempting to lighten Quanah’s mood.
“I believe I had heard that you are a father,” Quanah said, smiling. “Do not stand half in and half out. Go about your day, and good luck with your hunt.”
“I will seek you out before leaving for the Kiowa encampment,” Running Elk assured him before walking back towards his home.
***
Quanah watched his friend walk away and realized he was looking forward to meeting the woman who had eaten away at Running Elk’s heart. He prayed that Running Elk would be at last reunited with Two Fires. But couldn’t help wondering if Running Elk had given any thought to what life on the run would be like with the white woman in tow. Quanah knew the soldiers would take her if they reached the Comanche village. Just like they had with his mother. His mother had begged the soldiers to leave her with the people she loved. But they had not listened to her. The soldiers had forced her inside the wagon and taken her back to what they called civilization. He prayed events would work out better for his friend.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Abigail moved into Alexandria’s tipi the night the war party returned with Standing Bear’s body. Her family didn’t fight her on the idea, White Buffalo even seemed to think the two white woman were good for each other.
Being able to share her grief with Alexandria made her sadness more bearable. In the month that had passed since Standing Bear died, Abigail stayed close to Alexandria, not leaving for more than a few minutes at a time.
Alexandria filled her days and nights taking care of Little Eagle. Abigail helped with the baby when asked but found working helped calm her mind the most. Watching Alexandria’s reaction to losing Standing Bear forced Abigail to confront her true feelings.
Abigail slowly realized she had loved Standing Bear, and not in the way one loves their family. He was the first thing on her mind every morning and the last person she thought of before falling asleep. He was the reason she had lied to Alexandria so easily. Abigail had lied to her best friend so that the man she loved would be able to hold onto a woman who was unable to return his love. As the days slowly passed, Abigail was realized the wisdom she had imparted on Alexandria the first day they met was not far from being the truth. Pain lessened with each passing day. As her agony subsided, Abigail realized the best thing she could do for her friend would be to work up the courage to tell Alexandria everything she knew about Running Elk. But Abigail was too afraid to tell Alexandria anything that might cause her to lose her only friend.
Every night, Abigail would listen as Alexandria called out to Running Elk. The necklace somehow caused Running Elk’s memory to grow stronger. Abigail still couldn’t understand why Alexandria couldn’t love Standing Bear, but she was convinced the Kiowa warrior had done nothing but dull Alexandria’s memories of the Comanche.
***
Alexandria tried
desperately to delay opening her eyes as long as possible. When she slept, she was with Running Elk. They were riding across the prairie with the wind whipping their unbound hair. She held him tightly as their bodies moved in unison with the rhythm of the horse. The images were so real, she could smell the musky aroma Running Elk’s body naturally gave off. She rolled over and imagined laying her head against Running Elk’s bare back while clinging to him tightly.
“Alexandria, you can’t stay in bed all day! Get up. We have work to do,” Abigail expressed loudly.
Alexandria shut her eyes tighter and pulled the fur over her face in an attempt to block out Abigail’s voice.
“Alexandria. Get up! Maybe you should go to sleep earlier tonight,” Abigail repeated, walking to her sleeping friend and shaking her body gently.
“Go away,” Alexandria barked.
“No. We have work to do, and Little Eagle is awake,” Abigail said, walking to the cooing boy. “Good morning, Little Eagle. Your mother does not seem to care that the day has begun. She is becoming lazy,” she informed the child, making sure her voice was loud enough for Alexandria to hear.
Since Alexandria was unable to summon her dream back, she moaned and kicked the covers from herself. “All right. I was having a dream and didn’t want to wake. I’m sorry,” Alexandria said, finishing her thought with a note of irritation.
“You have been dreaming a lot,” Abigail observed.
“I have been,” Alexandria agreed. “I don’t mean to be cruel to the memory of Standing Bear. He was a wonderful, giving, brave man. And I know Running Elk has gone on without me. I do wish I knew why he gave up on me so easily though. He is the father of my son, and wrong or not, I will always love the man. I will forever ache for him to hold me in his arms. I can’t help it. See,” Alexandria explained as she opened her hand to show Abigail her palms were damp, “My heart beats quicker when I talk about him too. And if Standing Bear couldn’t make me fall in love with him, I am certain no one else will take his place. My problem is deciding where we belong.”
Abigail’s eyes widened. “What do you mean, where you belong?” she asked, walking to her friend and handing Alexandria her son.
Little Eagle’s hand reached for the necklace his mother wore.
“You both belong here. Where else would you go?”
Alexandria watched as Little Eagle began chewing on Running Elk’s necklace. “I don’t know, but I know we can’t stay here. Before long, I will be taken to another tipi. I hold no special place in the tribe,” Alexandria reasoned.
“Little Eagle is a great warrior’s son,” Abigail objected.
“Little Eagle is a Comanche’s son. Not Standing Bear’s,” Alexandria corrected gently.
“Our people believe he is Standing Bear’s. You will always have a place here. You aren’t thinking of going to the soldier fort, are you?” Abigail asked, not wanting to believe her friend would consider doing something so disastrous.
Alexandria placed Little Eagle in his carrier and strapped him to her back before leaving the tipi without answering Abigail’s question.
“You can’t be considering that. Alexandria, they will never let you teach Little Eagle the ways of his people in a city. You can’t do that to him. I am white but would prefer to die than live amongst those people again,” Abigail said, following Alexandria into the unyielding sunlight.
“Abigail, I am not sure what to do. I want to do what’s best for my son. I want him to have the best life has to offer,” Alexandria explained, trying to make her friend understand.
“Promise me you will think on this long and hard. And please don’t do anything without talking to me first,” Abigail pleaded.
“I do very little that you don’t know about,” Alexandria reminded her friend. “After the work is done, why don’t we go for a swim? Does that sound like a good idea to you?” she asked, changing the increasingly frustrating subject.
“That sounds like a plan. We can begin teaching Little Eagle to swim. Everyone needs to know how,” Abigail said, also glad the conversation had changed course. She would do whatever she had to do to keep Alexandria from going to the fort. Even if that meant telling Alexandria the truth about everything. She only hoped the truth could be avoided. Because the longer Abigail held onto the lies, the surer she was she would lose her friend.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Running Elk woke early the morning of their impending departure. Forcing his brain to slow was nearly impossible. Knowing once the three warriors departed for the Kiowa camp, it would take three sleeps to get there, wasn’t aiding in his anxiety. He knew he wouldn’t be able to push his horse as hard as he wanted because he didn’t want to take any chances that the reunion with Two Fires would be postponed yet again.
While he waited for the camp to awaken and begin the day, he busied himself with packing the supplies he would need for the journey. After he could find nothing else to do, he packed his horse and hoped it wasn’t too early to seek out Quanah. When he turned to begin his search, he saw the war chief approaching him.
“You are awake early,” Running Elk smiled as he greeted his friend.
“I am an endlessly busy man,” Quanah said with a hint of humor in his tone. “The scouts haven’t returned,” he continued. His tone grew more serious. “I know the soldiers are closing in, yet my scouts can’t tell me where they are. You must be watchful for any signs. On your return, watch for our movements. We will be forced to move, I am sure of that. I just don’t know when.”
Running Elk saw the concern etched in Quanah’s face. His friend was a brave and wise man. The kind of man who still wanted to fight to maintain their way of life. Yet as of late, the war chief seemed to be bending towards peace. He was thinking more of the children. The worries Quanah shouldered were more than enough to bring a normal man to his knees.
“We will be on guard. Remember, I won’t be alone. Do not worry for us. I won’t allow anything to get in my way this time.”
Quanah nodded. “When you return, come to my tipi immediately and tell me everything you have observed,” Quanah gently ordered as he watched Running Elk mount his pony.
“You are my friend, and I would do almost anything for you, but I believe I will send my brother to give you the report when we return. I plan on being occupied,” Running Elk said, smiling.
Quanah stood with his arms crossed and shook his head. “Be careful, my friend,” he stated as Running Elk steered his pinto away from the smiling chief.
When Running Elk arrived in front of Kicking Bird’s tipi, everyone was already gathered outside.
“Running Elk, I am pleased you will be bringing Two Fires home,” Sparrow said as she petted the side of the horse.
“I can hardly believe this is finally happening,” Running Elk admitted as he smiled down at his sister-in-law.
“Kicking Bird and Gray Eagle have talked of nothing else since yesterday,” Sparrow whispered.
“I have thought of nothing else for almost four full seasons. I am pleased they are accompanying me. Pleased they wanted to.”
“They are your family, and they love you. They would do anything to help you. Do try not to keep them away too long. You know, I believe I miss them already,” Sparrow said lovingly, patting her brother-in-law on his leg.
“I will be in a hurry to get home, sister,” Running Elk informed his brother’s beautiful wife.
When they returned, there would be two white women in the camp. Both loved by Comanche warriors and both with children. He felt comforted knowing Two Fires would be welcomed by his family.
“Wife. Come and tell me how much you will miss me,” Kicking Bird said. Running Elk heard his brother’s attempt to be stern with Sparrow. He couldn’t hide his amusement when he realized his big brother had failed miserably.
Sparrow smiled. “First I will tell my son to be careful and that I love him. You, I will get to in a moment,” she said playfully.
The love and tenderness his brother’s fam
ily so easily displayed tugged at Running Elk’s heart. “Come, Gray Eagle, we will ride ahead. Your father can catch up,” Running Elk suggested once Sparrow had said her goodbyes. “I am getting no closer to Two Fires sitting here.”
“I will see you soon, Mother,” Gray Eagle said, reining his horse and following his uncle.
***
The first day’s ride held few surprises. There was no sign of soldiers’ movements. The trio saw a miserably small herd of buffalo. Not a word was said between the three men for hours after witnessing the scene. They were all deeply affected by the sight.
Gray Eagle finally broke the silence. “I am beginning to believe my children will not be able to hunt the buffalo. They will surely all be dead by then. I cannot understand why the whites kill them and leave them to rot in the sun.”
“I don’t understand many of the white man’s ways, son,” Kicking Bird confided.
“Mother doesn’t understand either. I am half white, yet I know I could never fit into that world,” the young warrior declared with vengeance in his voice.
“Gray Eagle, remember the circle. We are all part of a bigger event. We will survive as a people, that is the one thing I am sure of. We are too proud not to,” Running Elk told his nephew.
Running Elk was familiar with the emotions that were awakening in the young man and tried to comfort him as much as he could.
The second day of the journey wasn’t as peaceful as the first. The three were awoken by thunderclaps. The sky was gray and menacing. The thunder seemed to shake the earth. Running Elk knew they would not be able to cover much distance but insisted they keep moving.
Gray Eagle rode ahead to scout the terrain.
When the young warrior rejoined his father and uncle, Running Elk immediately noticed Gray Eagle’s expression; it was one that led him to believe that something had happened.
“What is it?” Kicking Bird asked his son as soon as he reached them.
“Soldiers are camped not far from here. They have many guns. They must be afraid of getting wet though, because there was little movement,” Gray Eagle informed the two as he attempted to keep his emotions in check.
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