by Karen Kay
But if not that, then what?
Night Thunder shrugged. It mattered little to him. He supposed he would find out what it was about in due time.
Walking back to his own lodge, he pulled back the tepee flap and bent to enter, moving forward to his own side of the lodge. He sat to await the summons from Old Lone Bull, the medicine man. He knew it would come soon.
His soft robe couch comforted him and he picked up his pipe, filling it with sacred tobacco. Lighting his pipe absentmindedly, he put his attention onto other things.
A few days had passed now and he was becoming more and more anxious to be done with the pledge. He ached to tell Rebecca of his newest intentions, to set her mind at ease over Blue Raven Woman. He needed his own mind free to ponder the mysteries of other things—the ghosts, for instance. Why did they follow him? What did they want? Was it only to tell him he should have only one wife? He didn’t think so.
However, he had not been able to think of anything else but Rebecca, the pledge, this puzzlement over why he could not simply end it.
And though his need was great, he could not speak of these things to Rebecca. Not until he had settled things with the medicine man and with Blue Raven Woman’s parents.
Such was the way of tradition since “time before mind.” He could not change it.
He heard a movement outside and Rebecca, stooping down, stepped into their lodge. He grimaced. How was he to explain his presence in the lodge at this hour of the day? Hadn’t his wife become accustomed to his being out, either on the hunt, or with the other men, preparing for the secret ceremonies of the Sun Dance? Wouldn’t she become curious?
He could only hope that Rebecca didn’t recognize his ponies, hadn’t spotted them in front of the medicine man’s tepee. He did not know how he would explain that.
Coming farther into the lodge, she said, “Blue Raven Woman tells me that two of your ponies are tied in front of the medicine man’s lodge. Is there a reason for this?”
He froze. “Aa, yes, there is.”
He could perceive her eagerness to have him continue, to have him enlighten her about what he did, but he deliberately kept his silence, drawing a long puff upon his pipe instead.
“And…?”
He glanced toward her as innocently as possible and repeated, “And…?”
“Why have you given the medicine man your ponies? There isn’t anything wrong, is there?”
He stuck out his chin and set his lips together. “There is nothing wrong.”
“That is good.”
She made her way to the women’s part of the lodge and sat down, taking up a buffalo bone to stir the soup which sat stewing over the altar’s cooking stones. She asked, “What are you doing here in our lodge at this time of day?”
He cringed, though he kept his features carefully blank. What could he tell her that was the truth, yet did not go against custom?
“I await a conference with the medicine man. He has said that he will talk to me on a matter of great importance.”
“I see,” she acknowledged. “Do you know what that matter is?”
He shrugged, hoping she would cease her questions. But it was not to be.
“Is it about your pledge to Blue Raven Woman that sends you to the medicine man?”
Night Thunder almost choked, so great was his shock. Had she taken to reading his thoughts? He repeated, though somewhat lamely, “Pledge?”
Rebecca gave him the “look” woman has given man since time immemorial, when she perceives that he is, perhaps, stalling—which of course he was.
Night Thunder tried to ignore her.
She reminded him, “Pledge? Yes, Night Thunder. The vow that keeps you and me from being happily married?”
He supposed he should not have tried to evade her questions, even though he still could not tell her what he intended to do. Yet he also did not want Rebecca to anguish any more over a marriage that would never take place. Not after he had shared so much of himself with her. Still, he must say something and so, taking one last puff on his pipe, he confessed, “I would do all I can to make you happy.”
“Even give up your honor?”
He gave her a curious glance. He said, “Aa, yes, even that.”
“Humph,” said Rebecca. “Is this wise?”
“Do not worry. The medicine man will tell me the best way to make you happy. I promise you this.”
“What if I tell you that I do not believe you should give up your honor?”
Night Thunder couldn’t have felt more puzzled if Rebecca had suddenly sprouted horns and pawed at the ground like an angry bull.
Still, he recovered enough to say, “You wish me to marry Blue Raven Woman?”
Night Thunder watched as a delicate pink stole across Rebecca’s cheeks. She said, “No, I do not wish that. It’s only that…I know that you have a responsibility to the people, as their next medicine man. What would happen if you did something that caused others to think bad things of you?”
“A man cannot live his life in fear of other people.”
“No,” she said, “you are right. But still, one must be careful of tradition, mustn’t one?”
Night Thunder nodded, more than a little cautious. Where was this talk leading?
She said, “I have been thinking.”
Haiya, thought Night Thunder, this sounded serious.
“Blue Raven Woman is a wonderful person and I can understand why you would want her for a wife.”
“Aa, aa.”
“But I stand in your way, don’t I?”
It took him some little time to say, “I would not put it that way.”
But Rebecca went on as if she hadn’t heard him, “And Blue Raven Woman was, after all, expecting to be your sits-beside-him wife.”
He shrugged.
“Have you wondered if perhaps it might be better, if I…if you…if we went back to the fort now?”
His stomach dropped and it was all he could do to keep the shock of what she had suggested from showing upon his countenance. Even knowing that their return had always been a possibility, to hear her voice it…
“Is it this that you desire?”
She stole a glimpse at him, then quickly looked away. “No,” she said, “it is not. But I also would not want to cause anguish to you and your people. Also,” she added, “I have come to care for Blue Raven Woman.”
He took a deep breath, held it momentarily, then let it out slowly. He said, “I do not wish to lose you.”
“Nor I you.”
“Then we must wait.”
“But I do not want to cause you or anyone else concern or grief.”
“If you left me, my heart would become frozen and my life would be as barren and cold as the land under a winter storm.”
She hid her eyes from him. She said softly, “But what would happen to you, to Blue Raven Woman, if you took back your pledge? Would not you lose your honor and she her means of protection?”
He didn’t answer.
“And yet,” she continued, “I cannot stay here if you marry her.”
His breath caught in his throat. But he forced himself to say, “There will be a way. I promise this to you. Be patient for a few more suns, or days. Can you do this?”
She appeared noncommittal. She said, “I am uncertain, Night Thunder. I feel I am only causing you and others problems.”
“Perhaps we require these ‘problems’ in order that we be happy.”
Silence, until at last she said, “I do not know.”
He cut a swift glimpse at her and said, “Stay until the end of the Sun Dance. Share my life with me until then. And if, by that time, I have become unable to find a way to make you happy, I will return you to the fort. This I promise you.”
She stared off away from him.
He jut out his chin, waiting.
At last, she said, “All right. I will wait, Night Thunder. But I think it will end in the same way.”
He bent his head and closed his
eyes for a moment. At least she had agreed to stay long enough for him to disentangle himself from this thing. But with all possible speed, he knew he must hasten to the medicine man, that he present his problem.
Night Thunder put out the fire in his pipe and came to his feet. He must act.
It was not his place to seek out the medicine man. The wise old one knew he needed an audience. But Night Thunder could no longer wait.
He didn’t dare look at Rebecca as he took a step toward their lodge’s entrance. He did not wish her to see the emotion he could not easily hide.
He looked at her from over his shoulder, however, before he left the lodge. He said, “You know that I love you.”
She nodded. “Aye. And I love you.”
He set his features to show nothing. Then he said, “There will be a way. I promise this to you. You must be patient.”
Again she nodded and said, “I will try.”
He drew a breath of relief. It was something.
He stepped outside and stole a look toward Sun, which shone directly above him. Shaking his head, he was about to turn away when out of the corner of his eye he caught a movement. He turned his head, then, only to run directly into the tortured—the jealous—stare of another man within the camp…Singing Bull.
With some apprehension, Night Thunder scrutinized the young brave, wishing he could give his blessings to the young man to go ahead and court Blue Raven Woman.
From what he knew of the young Singing Bull, the man was honest, honorable, and brave. Singing Bull would make Blue Raven Woman a good husband. If only Night Thunder could convince the young man and Blue Raven Woman’s parents of this, his task in putting the pledge behind him might be considerably quicker.
Hmmm…
Singing Bull, courting Blue Raven Woman, with his, Night Thunder’s approval? If Blue Raven Woman’s parents were to realize that Night Thunder approved the match? Whimsical thought, or sudden inspiration?
It might or might not work, but it would give Night Thunder something he could do until he was at last able to counsel with the medicine man.
Putting determination into his step, he approached the jealous young man.
“You need to give more than horses, if you want to win her hand.”
Singing Bull made a face. “She said that it makes no difference. She must do as her father says.”
“It will still make a favorable impression, and this is important. This I promise you. But you are right, we must think of some reason why her parents cannot refuse your suit.” Night Thunder frowned. “There must be a way.”
Night Thunder stood with Singing Bull just outside the Sun Dance encampment. The two of them had been hunting together that morning, having captured a fine-looking elk. Singing Bull had given it to Blue Raven Woman’s parents, as he and Night Thunder had agreed.
“She is promised to you,” said the young suitor, “and says that nothing can change it.”
“Something can be done about it, I am certain. We only need to find an act that you do that will be so wonderful, her parents will have no choice but to accept you. You have her approval?”
Singing Bull gave Night Thunder a veiled gaze, looking as though he were uncertain he wanted to answer. He responded cautiously, “One can never be certain with a woman.”
“That is true, my friend, that is true. But, come now, I have seen her looking at you. A young woman does not cast her eyes in a man’s direction unless she is interested. You know this.”
The other man shrugged.
“Have you met her at the stream when she goes to collect water?”
Again Singing Bull looked wary. Noncommittally, he answered, “Many of the young men go to the water to meet their beloved. I would not ruin her reputation.” Singing Bull frowned, his expression becoming grim, and he commented, “I know what you told me about yourself and Blue Raven Woman. I know that you think she favors me. But what I do not know is why you do not simply tell her parents that you wish to end the marriage plans. It would make my own suit easier.”
“A pledge that has been in place for so long must be dealt with in the right way, lest bad luck befall all of us,” said Night Thunder. “A man does not wish to anger the shadows of those departed, nor does he wish Sun to shine upon him with disfavor, as you know would happen if one does not handle this with the proper ceremony. It will happen. I only await the medicine man’s decision on how to do it without risk to Blue Raven Woman, her parents, or my own relatives.”
Singing Bull nodded.
Night Thunder looked sullen. “There must be something here, something that I have not yet considered. What did you say happened when you brought the elk to her?”
“Her parents gazed at me as though I were an enemy creeping upon them in the night.”
“Humph. Mayhap I had better give the medicine man another pony that he might see me more quickly.”
“Perhaps.”
“There must be something I am overlooking.”
“If you are, my friend,” said Singing Bull, “then I too am unaware of it.”
The two men continued to talk, continued to plot, as Night Thunder placed his robe around Singing Bull—as friends will often do when in the Sun Dance camp. Together the men stumbled out onto the open prairie, where their conversation would be continued.
What was Night Thunder doing with Singing Bull? Was it true? Was he trying to make the other man court Blue Raven Woman, because of her? Was this what she had forced Night Thunder to do?
Rebecca lingered near the bushes where she had hidden herself, listening. Perhaps it would be better for all involved if she left quickly. Her heart missed a beat at the thought. Leave Night Thunder? Truly?
Aye, she thought. It was for the best.
But how could she do it?
Rebecca could not find her way to the fort on her own. She did not know the way, nor did she have the ability to survive on the plains for the length of time necessary to get there. Hadn’t she also agreed to stay here until the end of the Sun Dance?
But she did not want to be the ruin of those around her.
Besides, there was another reason that made her need to get away all the greater—a reason she had better hide from Night Thunder.
It was all much too complicated, and it made her mind spin to think about it.
Taking her shawl and placing it over the top of her head, she turned away from the sight of the two men, retracing her steps to her lodge.
Chapter Twenty-One
Evening had descended upon the village as Night Thunder entered the medicine man’s lodge. Immediately he was assailed by the scents of sage, sweet grass, and the incense of katoya, sweet pine.
Old Lone Bull sat toward the back of the tepee, his hands taking hold of his pipe, that he might ready it for the ceremony.
“Haiya, my son,” said the wizened old man. “It has been too long since we last talked.”
“Aa, my father, it is so.”
“Come, take a seat, and let me pass the pipe to you so that you will know that when we talk, we will speak only the truth to each other.”
Night Thunder nodded and took his seat on the old man’s left.
Though not truly father and son, many of the younger men called the old ones by the term “Father,” as was custom. Besides, this particular medicine man had been Night Thunder’s teacher in the medicine ways for many years, and the two were probably closer than the more formal relationship of father and son.
Nothing was said or done until the medicine man had prayed—first to Sun, then to wind maker, Ai-sopwom-stan, to the thunder, Sis-tse-kom, and to the lightning, Puh-pom’. The pipe was lit, smoked, passed to Night Thunder, passed back.
In due time, Old Lone Bull began to speak, saying, with some amusement, “I am the possessor of many fine gifts these days.”
“Aa, yes, I have seen that is true.”
Chuckling slightly, the old man said, “You know that the parents of Blue Raven Woman have given me many ponies?�
��
“I have seen that.”
“Do you know why?”
Night Thunder shrugged. “I do not.”
Old Lone Bull heaved a deep sigh. He said, “I have many quarrels to resolve between some of our people. A holy man’s work in a Sun Dance camp is great.”
“Hie, hie, it is true.”
“And yet all people must be seen, all things must be attended to.”
“Hie, hie.”
“You are to be the next medicine man of our people.”
“Aa, yes, that is as it has been planned.”
The old man gave him a wizened look from beneath his lashes before next he said, “Then it is only right, is it not, that I ask you what you would do about a particular problem between some of our people? Many are the mysterious tests that I have given you over several of our great suns, but I think it only right that I put to you another test and see how it is that you would handle a civil matter that is arising amongst our people.”
Night Thunder nodded, though he remained slightly surprised.
The elder continued, “In a camp of our allies, there is a family of some importance who made a pledge with another family, many, many great suns ago. So long ago has it been that many of the people who made the compact are no longer living. It is possible that both families may wish to resolve this vow. It is also possible that both do not know how to do it while still keeping their honor.”
Night Thunder bobbed his head.
“Each may hesitate to tell the other of his desire to end the pledge, afraid of offending or angering the other.”
Again Night Thunder nodded.
“What would you do to help these people? Do you think that they should keep the pledge, though many lives have changed since when it was made? Do you think they should dissolve the promise with little or no sacrifice? Would a mere few gifts bring about a great solution? What say you, my son? What would you do?”
Night Thunder stared into the old man’s discerning eyes. He grinned slightly. “Do you speak of my own problem?”
The old man raised his eyebrows. His eyes twinkled, but without answering Night Thunder’s question, he prodded, “Have you a similar difficulty?”