“I don’t want to think about that. I can’t bear to have either of you hurt.”
“It has to be. I will not let you go. I want you. I love you and need you with me. Not just when the moon is dark, but always. There is no other way. It must be.”
“There is something big going on here with my people. Our Chief Running Bear was speaking with our lookout rider. He sees many, many strange people coming toward our land. They are coming with what they call wagons with covers over them. There are children with them and their mothers and fathers. They are coming to cut trees and make homes with them on our traveling territory and here. We can not give our land to them. They must be stopped. Our warriors are going to leave to stop them.”
“And Straight Arrow is going with them?”
“Yes, of course. He is their leader at war times.”
“How far are these new people?”
“On horseback, they are seven moons away, but they are coming straight to our people.”
“They must stop them before they get too close. I do not want you hurt. I do not want new people on our land either. I will talk to my Chief and see if he heard about it from our lookout rider. Now let’s look at our Spirit Stone.”
She undid the draw string pouch and took out the stone. “See it is still warm with our hearts beating together and it is the color of fire like you said. I am very proud of it because it is ours.”
“Yes, I feel it. I want to share my love with you again. Now.”
“Yes, I am ready for your love.”
Chapter Five
“Where have you been?” Long Snake whispered to him.
“What is that to you?”
“After what you told me, I wonder when you leave if I will see you again.”
“You are my true friend. I have a plan. I want your help.”
“I have been expecting that. Tell me?”
“I know where Straight Arrow will be in seven moons. I want to be there ahead of him and get him alone even though he will be with all his warriors. They are going to make war with new people coming north of us to Apache land. I will kill him then if I can get him alone.”
“And you want me to help you kill him?”
“No, I fight my own battles. I want you there if he kills me to bring my body home and place me high in burial ground. You will do that for me?”
“I will bring your body home. I will not let you rot in enemy territory.”
“Good. We will leave in three moons. We must make sure we have our throwing knives and tomahawks sharp. We must tell of our need to have travel food.”
They left as they planned. As they neared the new people, they traveled by night not to be seen. They tied their horses in a field far enough away and out of sight. They were by water and lush grass. They would not abuse their horses who they felt was part of them. Then they got closer to the new people, but out of their sight. They laid on their stomachs and watched the new people. Strange people, they thought. All their covered wagons were in a circle when they stopped. In the middle, women were cooking. It made them realize they needed to eat, too, and reached for their traveling food.
Long Snake was watching the lady in a gray dress and gray shawl thrown around her shoulders. She sat sewing. It reminded him of his mother for she was always sewing. Even when they went to sleep, several men stayed guard watching while holding their guns. One more moon away from the Apache war party, and they would be there. He wondered what Night Hawk had planned. How did he expect to get Straight Arrow alone if he was coming to lead his warriors? He didn’t want to bring his friend home dead. He didn’t even want to think about that.
The night was cool enough now that they were wearing their legging and buckskin shirts. Moccasins, they always wore, were covering their feet. The waiting was getting to him. He was a man of action, not to be still.
The people still had their wagons in a circle the next morning. They were cooking again. Night Hawk and Long Snake placed their ears on the ground. Even though the war party was coming quietly, they heard them. The new people did not. They were too busy cooking and eating and talking. The two Comanche could watch, but could not be seen.
Quietly, Straight Arrow led the Apache warriors to attack. They swarmed down on the people all at the same time. Plates, pots, seats went flying in the air from the people while arrows were flying in their direction; most hitting their targets. There were dead bodies sprawled out on the ground while the earth was covered with blood. Straight Arrow did not attack, but just led his warriors to battle.
That left him alone. Night Hawk was on him in an eye blink. It took him by surprise and unexpected. Night Hawk had his tomahawk out and ready to sink it in his enemy’s heart, but not fast enough. Straight Arrow grabbed his wrist, twisting it until he dropped the tomahawk. It was now a battle between the Comanche and the Apache and also the battle for Raven, but only Night Hawk knew that. Night Hawk grabbed him by his throat and threw him on the ground while digging his knees into his chest. Their strength was equal. They threw each other down. Straight Arrow reached for his own tomahawk while Night Hawk retrieved his own. The battle became more violent with tomahawks swinging from both and dodging from both; their fighting ability equal. Both tomahawks flew in the air as they wrestled each other down. Night Hawk jumped and kicked Straight Arrow down, but not for long. He bounced up and threw Night Hawk down, while he grabbed his enemy’s tomahawk and sunk it into Night Hawk’s stomach.
“Death to you for no one can beat me. Now die for trying.”
Straight Arrow saw that his men had killed the people that wanted his territory. He saw no one alive; only his warriors helping themselves to everything they could find that they wanted. Food was taken along with medal cooking pots. It didn’t take them long to clear the wagons out and flew off with their horses and mules and a few of the wagons to haul everything with them. Again Straight Arrow led them in the direction they came from. He still wondered why the Comanche was alone and attacked him.
Long Snake had to work fast. His close friend lay bleeding to his death. All the Apaches had gone. He remembered the lady sewing and went to look for her hoping she was not among the dead. She wasn’t. In the last covered wagon, he saw her and the man and the boy. They were hiding in bushes from the Indians. He ran to her saying, “Come. Help, Hurry.”
“She was frightened to see another Indian when she thought they all left. But then she noticed he had different clothes than the others; different markings on them, too. Maybe he is from a different tribe.
He pulled her from the bushes making motions that meant sewing. “Fast, Hurry,” he kept repeating. He yanked her up. “Hurry.” He yanked her husband and son up, too. “Come.”
They had no choice, but to do as he was trying to tell them with motions. They went up the trail, and they saw his friend lying bleeding, an open wound on his stomach. Long Snake kept motioning to his friend and made motions for her to sew. She finally understood what he meant. In her pocket she always kept her sewing kit. Her husband was there by her side. “Here he told her. Pour this on first.” as he pulled his whiskey bottle out of his jacket. She held the wound open and poured the alcohol in to clean the wound. Then working fast as she could with shaking hands, she sewed the skin together. Then she poured more alcohol on the outside to make sure all germs were killed. She tore a piece off the bottom of her long dress and wrapped it around the wound. That is all she knew to do. Night Hawk was unconscious.
Long Snake motioned to the man and boy to help him carry his friend to their wagon. When they got him there, they laid him on the bed. He was still motioning to them to go with him to get the two horses they came with. The man understood and strapped them to the wagon to pull. These horses were use to pulling the travois when loaded with fresh kill so they did not resist. Motioning to the man to drive the wagon and with him understanding, he sat in
the seat and got the horses moving.
Pointing to the wound on his friend and pointing to the woman, he pushed her down by his side to let her know he wanted her to take care for him. The boy sat by his mother. He sat on the bench with the man, pointing the way to go. They took a shortcut hurrying to get Night Hawk to the Comanche Medicine Man. He had to hurry. He was still bleeding, but not as much. Long Snake reached the woman’s dress and tore a long piece off while pointing to the wound. She was frightened, but she did what she thought he meant.
After traveling all day, the horses had to rest and they needed water. The man knew what needed to be done. He had taken care of his horses, too, before they were stolen. He untied the horses and led them to the flowing, shallow stream. The woman dug in a sack and took traveling biscuits, and beef jerky out and handed it to Long Snake. The man and boy reached for theirs. Night Hawk was still unconscious. They laid down and slept while Long Snake watched. He was used to going without sleep. He was too worried about his friend. He had to get him to their Medicine Man, soon.
At first light they were traveling again with the two horses pulling the wagon. They were soon approaching their home. A large group of Comanche warriors were swarming down on them. They recognized the horses as theirs, but wondered why they were pulling a wagon that they had never seen before. Long Snake stood out from the wagon and speaking to them, told what was going on. Three of them took off fast on their horses and headed for help. When they arrived to their land, the Medicine Man was there waiting. Three warriors carried Night Hawk to the tepee for help.
They were in luck because while they were gone, a Black Robe came to visit. He came to speak with the people about becoming Christians. This Black Robe had been a doctor before turning to the church and doing the Lord’s work of spreading the word of Christianity.
Now they had to decide what to do with the people. The woman and boy they decided to keep, but arrows flew out killing the man on the spot.
Chapter Six
Raven had an uneasy feeling. Something was wrong. But what, she wondered. Just then the warriors came in with two wagons filled with gifts for everyone, food, cloth dresses, funny looking bonnets and all unusual things that they never saw before. All there were happy to see the things they could use like iron cooking pots, and lots of food. They were excited about the clothes. Everyone was laughing and happy except Raven. She saw Straight Arrow with his battle wounds he was proudly showing off. He was not hurt that bad to be giving her this gut feeling that something was wrong. Then she thought of the Spirit Stone. She hurried into her tepee and grabbed the pouch she sewed to hide it. She was afraid to look or to feel it, but she needed to know. When she did look, one side was turning the color of a rain cloud. The fire color was fading and starting to change colors. She held it in her hand and while she held her breath, the heart beat was faint. She dropped it on her lap while crying. Night Hawk was dying, somewhere. What can I do? Should I go to his people and tell them he is in trouble? Why is Straight Arrow so cut up with injuries? Did they battle for me? She was so afraid. She couldn’t look at the Spirit Stone any longer. She hurried and put it back in the pouch not to look at it again. She couldn’t bear to see it when his spirit left her. When the moon turned dark, she sat in the forest alone, crying, while lying in their spot. She waited and waited, but he never came. He is dead. His spirit left me here without him. I want to go with you, Night Hawk. Come back and take me with you, she was thinking.
As weeks and a month passed, he never came to her when the moon was dark. She gave up all hope of him being alive. She would not look at the stone. She could not bear to see it discolored and still. Every one noticed the change in her, but when they asked her, she said nothing. How could she speak of her great love that she lost? She couldn’t. She wouldn’t. To herself she said, wait for me Night Hawk. Please wait for my spirit to join with yours.
In Comanche Medicine Man’s tepee, Night Hawk was still healing, but was not able to leave. The Black Robe removed the sewing thread that the woman from the covered wagon sewed him with and cleaned the area again. He sewed it back, but with sinew that was stronger. His wound was deeper than originally thought. He was not able to be moved for a while. To have the wound reopened would only let germs in and he would leave this world. The times he was awake was hard to keep him down. He felt the need to see Raven again. She must know that I am still alive, he told himself. The Spirit Stone, yes, it will tell her that I am still alive and to wait for me. He didn’t want her to think he was dead and mate with Straight Arrow. I would face him again as soon as I am able to go to him, he thought. You have not beaten me yet, Straight Arrow. I will fight you again only this time you are the one that will be laid up.
The season was changing. Game was hard to find. Nuts, seeds, berries, roots were not to be found by the women anymore. It was time for them to move to another location. Raven dreaded when this time would come. If he is alive will he find me at a new place? If his spirit has left him then I know he will be with me no matter where I go.
The women are the ones that took the tepees down. The poles were used to make the travois to attach to horses to haul many of their belongings to the new location. They had to do most of the moving because the warriors could not carry anything in case they came under attack. They had to get to their weapons quick and defend everyone in their tribe. They were moving in a southeast direction; which was bringing them closer to their enemy, but not too close. Raven hated each step she took away from her secret loving place with Night Hawk. Move with me Night Hawk. Come with me to our tribe’s new homeland. We will find us a new loving place. The thoughts kept pounding in her head.
Another thing she was worried about was with the seasons changing, her mating to Straight Arrow would be getting closer. Then she remembered about the meaning of the Spirit Stone. It was that the one that dies first, his spirit waits for the other to die and their spirits are together again, but if the remaining one mates then the spirit drifts away and waits no more.
Oh no, she thought. Night Hawk’s spirit will wait for me; but if I mate with Straight Arrow then he is lost to me forever. What am I to do? How can I refuse to mate with my promised? I can’t disobey my father. He is the one that wants me to mate with him. And now who would tell Straight Arrow that I can’t mate him because I don’t want to; or that my Spirit Stone spell would be broken.
She was so deep in thought that when her mother spoke, it startled her.
“Daughter, what is troubling you so?”
“Nothing I want to talk about.”
“Not even to your own mother? We use to speak about everything. Now that you are aging, we don’t have our long talks anymore.”
“Mother, I can’t tell you or anyone what is troubling me.”
“Your wedding is coming soon. Do you want to speak about that? You are happy about that aren’t you?”
“Please don’t ask me questions I don’t want to answer.”
“When I was to mate your father, that’s all I wanted to speak about. Something is wrong if you not excited about it. Tell me my precious one.”
“Father arranged this mating. I do not want it. I never wanted it. Now I told you. I didn’t want to speak of it. What can I do to get out of it?”
“Nothing. There is nothing you can do. If it was to any other one maybe then, but not to the Chief’s son. If you had spoken to your father when he first promised you to him then maybe, but not now.”
“Raven, what is the reason you don’t want to mate him. Do you long for another?”
No answer came from her.
“That’s it. Who is it you have given your heart to?”
“I can’t tell you or anyone ever.”
“There are a lot of braves that would want you. I wonder which one it is. Straight Arrow would have him killed before the sun disappears.”
“Please, Mother. I must not
speak of this anymore.”
“You will speak of this! I demand to know who is making you so sad!”
“Do you promise not to tell anyone? Not even Father. It is only for your ears that I speak.”
“I give you my word.”
“I will show you something that is very rare and very special.” She reached inside of her buckskin dress and with her back to her mother opened the pouch and pulled out the Spirit Stone. She still hadn’t looked at it, so sure that it was the color of death. She now held it in her close hand and held it in front of her mother. When she opened her hand and looked she saw both sides were the color of fire. She held it in her closed hand again and closed her eyes. She felt the heartbeat from both sides. Without meaning to, she said out loud, “He is alive! He lives!”
Her mother still hadn’t seen the stone. She still didn’t know what her daughter was so excited about. Raven clutched it to her heart. And to herself she thought. He lives, he lives!
“Raven, what is going on with you? What do you have in your hand? Show me.”
“Remember you have given me your word.” She then opened her hand while still excited. She still looked at the color. It is the color of fire on both sides.
“Do you realize what you are holding? I have heard about that special stone from generations back as far as I can remember, but I have never seen one.”
“Yes, Mother. I do know what it means. It is holding the spirit of my love one and mine together.”
“Can I hold it?”
“No! I don’t want anyone to touch it. It is ours. It is our love that makes it beat in time with our hearts.”
“Who is it that you have given your heart to?”
“Remember your word was given.” Her mother knotted her head, yes. “He is a Comanche warrior.”
Her mother gasped and placed her hand over her mouth.
“Raven, you can’t mean it? How did you meet this enemy of ours? How do you think you will ever be with him? Don’t you know if Straight Arrow knows of this he will kill him? Then where has that gotten you? He will be dead and you will be to blame.”
1- The Glass Room 2- The Spirit Stone -3-bear Hugs-4- Believe Page 11