by Stephy Smith
“How am I to support my wife in your white world?” Rising Wolf’s brow furrowed.
“By hunting game and helping me with my furs. Amelia, I mean, Falcon Woman, knows how to deal with the snide remarks. She can teach your children to hold their heads high and ignore them,” Silver Hawk said.
“Falcon Woman caught the worst of the teasing when we were younger. She also did most of the fighting. The men around the fort and the boys at school were cruel to her. I defended her when I could. She was a fighter; I don’t know how many boys she sent home to their mamas with black eyes.” Red Eagle shook his head and chuckled.
“You make it sound easy. I would have to go around these men to do business.”
“No. You could stay on the mountain and hunt. Pa can take in the furs.” Falcon Woman suspected they were making progress with Rising Wolf.
“You could take the furs too, Falcon Woman,” Bright Eyes said.
“Rising Wolf, can I speak with you a moment? In private.” Falcon Woman clasped her hand around his wrist.
They walked out to the front porch. Her gaze fell on the river. “This is a beautiful place, and I hate to leave it. You gave this to me as a present. You have told me many times it’s not our land, we were borrowing it.”
“Say what’s on your mind.” He laid his hands on her shoulders and twisted her to face him.
“We are going to have a baby.” She lowered her head. Her heart pounded as she fought to keep the tears in check.
“Then we must go with your parents. You will get the proper nourishment needed to help our child grow strong.” He walked back to the door and went inside to talk to Silver Hawk and Bright Eyes.
“We will go to your lodge. Our baby’s life depends on it.” Rising Wolf took down his pipe and passed it around. He glanced at the wide-eyed family sitting around him and smiled.
“I will prepare the papers for your removal from the reservation,” Red Eagle said.
“The journey will be long, Falcon Woman. Are you up to it?” Emma’s eyes burned bright.
“Yes, Mother. We have food for the journey, thanks to Grandmother’s bear.” Her words brought chuckles to the cabin.
“Then we shall leave in two days. Tomorrow I say good-bye to my family. Red Eagle can speak to the Indian agent and make our arrangements.”
Confusion swarmed Falcon Woman. She didn’t want to be the cause of Rising Wolf leaving his family. Nor did she want to leave the home he had built for her. As husband and wife, they lived near the peaceful river. Tears slid down her cheeks.
She gazed out the window. His arm went across her shoulders, and he pulled her to his massive chest. Her fingers traced the scars on his back and sobs shook her body. Memories of all they had done rushed around in her brain. She reflected on their lives together.
In two days they would leave and make another home in a place safe enough to raise their children without the threat of soldiers, a haven to build a new life. She knew it would be hard on Rising Wolf. He had never lived outside his village. He would hide his desires from her, and she knew it.
His decision to go was his own. She was relieved in a sense, and at the same time, she was torn apart from the only life they had lived together. How could she feel happy and sad at the same time? Or excited and scared about a move to change their lives forever. She could only imagine how he felt.
For hours after everyone fell asleep, Falcon Woman lay awake. At daylight, Rising Wolf would begin the hard task of good-byes. She didn’t know if she could handle the pain of letting go of the family she’d grown to love. They would wait outside the cabin in the morning to wish them farewell. She wasn’t sure if she could control her emotions. The crying spells were as fierce as the bear that had attacked Rising Wolf.
Chapter Fifteen
Jerome slammed his open palm down on the desk. “What do you mean you won’t release Rising Wolf from the reservation? You know as well as I do he is married to my sister.”
Gordon Colburn leaned back in his chair. The smug smile on his face beckoned Jerome to slap it from his cheeks. “That has nothing to do with removing him.” Gordon leaned forward and shuffled a few papers around.
“All you have to do is log his whereabouts, just like you do for the Dog soldiers.” Jerome pursed his lips. He didn’t like dealing with Colburn. The memory of the wretched man who tried to humiliate his sister was still fresh in his mind.
“The Dog soldiers are with the army. Rising Wolf will be in the company of you and your family. A family, if I may remind you, who has fought the army in everything we’ve tried to do for these Injuns.” Colburn’s words slid through his clenched teeth.
Jerome straightened. “How would you like your superiors in Washington to find out about your attempt to defile my sister six years ago?”
Colburn’s face flushed. “That’s in the past. Why can’t you just let things lay quiet?”
“Are you going to release Rising Wolf from the reservation?” Jerome leaned over the desk, meeting Colburn eye to eye.
“No. I can’t have Injuns running all over the place. You want one now, then you’ll come back and want more. I won’t take that chance.” Colburn straightened his shoulders.
Jerome paced the interior of the small office. The wooden walls were white and grungy now with curled flakes from the cracked paint. A couple of wooden chairs set in the corner with a tiny round table holding a lantern. Blackened soot formed a line up the wall behind the lamp. The fireplace on the opposite side of the room framed a small, but effective fire.
“Then we will see what Washington has to say about your actions. I think they would be interested in hearing all the details. I will write Donley and let him know how you had intended to take Amelia that day and lay your grubby hands on her. He will be very concerned with your threat to turn her into a strumpet for you and your men.”Jerome watched the man’s eyes grow wide. Beads of sweat popped out on Colburn’s forehead.
“What makes you think Donley would believe you? You are nothing but a half-breed liar.”
“Am I? I think he would be fascinated in knowing how you and your men spat on me after you smashed me in the face and kicked me in the ribs. I was twelve years old at the time, and it took three grown men to stop my attack on you. Your position in the army would at least be questioned if you, yourself couldn’t control a scrawny little boy, don’t you think?” Jerome walked around the room as he spoke.
“Look, Tucker, what happened back then has no bearing on my decision now.” Colburn shifted in his chair.
“Maybe, maybe not. It does show a reflection on how you handle the Cheyenne. The outcome will leave doubts in the minds of the government.” Jerome pushed his hands in his pockets. “Good day Colburn. I must be off now.”
“All right,” he scribbled a note and handed it to Jerome.
Jerome smiled to himself. He had told his grandfather Donley many things when he was in Washington, including Gordon Colburn’s treatment of his sister.
****
The ruthless fingers of winter blew off the snow. White-covered trees and mountaintops burned his eyes. Rising Wolf glanced at his wife all wrapped up in the robes and furs. The tipi slid behind her horse on the travois. Tears trickled down her cheeks.
His chest pounded. He was moving into a world of the unknown, but he was a warrior and accepted his decision. It was best for his wife and child. Hope burned bright in his mind. The move meant a good life where his family could grow without cause for alarm from the soldiers. He straightened his shoulders. Inner peace strengthened his courage with renewed vigor. A strange and long overdue freedom touched his soul.
The uplifting calm of the mountain didn’t subdue his concern from the chill in the air. He shuddered to think of how the weather robbed Falcon Woman of her energy. Even with her parents and grandmother who traveled with them, he kept an eye on her. He doubted she would be able to handle the loss of another child.
Silver Hawk stopped and nodded his head toward his daughte
r. “We will make camp here tonight. Falcon Woman needs to rest.”
Rising Wolf nodded his agreement. He left for a wooded area in search of dry wood for the fire. When he returned, the tipi stood with the women inside. Bright Eyes set a pot of water near the stone circle in the center and waited for him to light the fire.
Once the flames roared, Bright Eyes placed the water and a slab of the dried meat on the fire. The family ate with little talk and then rested for the final leg of the journey.
Rising Wolf lay awake until the sun came up and the family began to stir. The change in the air kept new life in his mind. There would be no more restrictions or boundaries for hunting. His spirit lightened. From here on out he could provide a living for his family.
Different sounds from the mountain wildlife filtered through the walls of the tipi. This mountain was full of life, and his mind beamed with the possibility of more game to hunt. His hunger for buffalo meat twisted his stomach. It had been a long time since the taste lingered on his tongue.
“Silver Hawk, will I find buffalo?” He searched his father-in-law's face. Everyone mounted their horses and started down the trail.
“We will find some when we get home. It may be a few days’ ride from the cabin. I know of a place where the buffalo keep cover, and the white man hasn’t found them yet.” Silver Hawk gleamed. “You know the women are going to want to go on the hunt with us.”
“No women this hunt, just men. Falcon Woman should rest and grow the baby strong. She will be angry, but she will get over it.” Rising Wolf glanced at the women. He would wait until she grew stronger before he allowed her to hunt. The thrill and excitement lingered in his soul. The desire to feel the freedom sent his heart to racing.
If there was one thing he missed, a buffalo hunt was it. Nothing could compare to the feel of the wind in his face, thundering hooves beating across the earth and the kill when the spear hit its target. He smiled.
“Not much further now. A few hours and we’ll be at the cabin.” Silver Hawk called over his shoulder.
Bright Eyes called out for a stop. She walked to the edge of the river. Rising Wolf and Falcon Woman followed Silver Hawk down to the edge.
Falcon Woman caught her breath. She recognized the spot. It had been described to her so many times throughout the years. But no one ever mentioned the roar from the waters.
“This is where your father found me. I thought I was dead. The chill of the river froze my chest and the pain from Morgan’s gun. I had never been so cold. When Woman With Small Voice, poured the turpentine on me, I knew I was still alive.” Bright Eyes shook her head and laughed.
“Your mother was a good patient. If it hadn’t been for Grandmother, I would be a lonely man. I haven’t regretted taking her home with me that day. This spot here is a reminder for us how precious life is. The Great Spirit looked down upon me that day and soon he’ll watch over my grandchildren,” Silver Hawk said.
“Grandchildren? Don’t you mean grandchild?” Rising Wolf furrowed his brow.
“Red Eagle and Little Snowbird are expecting a little one also. That is why she stayed to help at the trading post.” Bright Eyes faced Rising Wolf. “Another addition to the family and to the tribe.”
Rising Wolf escorted his wife back to the horses, and they mounted up to move on. In a few months, the ground would turn green with spring in the air. The rush of the river would lull them to sleep. His chest filled with happiness and relief.
Falcon Woman pulled her horse to his side. “You’re not a coward, if that’s what you are thinking.”
“I don’t know what to think. Too many babies are coming into this world, and I have to be the one to teach the boys the ways of their ancestors. Little Snowbird will teach the girls. It is important they carry on the proud tradition of the Cheyenne.”
“Yes. It’s also important to teach them love.” She glanced at Rising Wolf.
****
Rising Wolf advanced toward his wife. His chest seemed fuller, broader. The move from Pine Ridge to Colorado calmed his fears. The wrinkles from his face dissipated. Once again he looked like the warrior she had married. Her breath caught in her throat. Her world brightened even with the gray skies overhead. Her body began to warm despite the icy cold whips of winter. The nostalgia of going home again spread cheer throughout her body.
The change would be good for Rising Wolf. He would now see and experience the things she had all her life. Before the baby arrived, he would know what kinds of battles their unborn child faced. If he picked his battles wisely, he could help educate the ones left on the reservation.
Silver Hawk stopped in front of them. “We’re home.”
Falcon Woman glanced back at the trail. Her mind had somehow missed the places she used to play with Red Eagle. She knew where she wanted her cabin built when it was time to construct it.
“Ma, Pa? I think we are going to stay in the tipi until we get our own lodge built.” She glanced around for the perfect spot to pitch it.
“Little Snowbird and I are on the other side of Ma and Pa. Don’t get a notion you’re going to pitch next to us, little sister. I got used to having my own privacy without a meddling sister.” Red Eagle shot her a glance that made her heart dance.
“I wouldn’t dream of interfering with Little Snowbird’s privacy. As for you, I can be persuaded to stay away. You always…”
“Children! Mind your manners. We have company now, and I would rather the two of you not run them off. Your father and I would like to spend time with your spouses without the two of you bickering all the time.” Bright Eyes pointed her finger, shifting between the two.
A heavy limb of falling snow welcomed Silver Hawk’s laughter. “Just like old times, wouldn’t you say, Mother?” Woman With Small Voice nodded her head.
Falcon Woman joined Rising Wolf by the river. The water from the melted snow raced across boulders and felled trees. His eyes held a faraway look.
“Mother and Father would like it here. How are you today?” Rising Wolf patted her swollen belly. The cool air whisked across her face.
“We are fine. I’m worried. What if the baby…”
His fingers touched her lips. “What if the baby is fine? We will have a screaming child when he is hungry, a laughing child when he is happy, and a healthy child from the nourishment his mama provides him.” He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her to his side.
“I guess you’re right. I can’t help but think about last year. I did all I could to keep our baby safe. It wasn’t good enough. What if I’m not a good mother?” She lowered her head.
“What worries you more? The goodness of the blessing, or the bad you’ve experienced? Falcon Woman, stop worrying.” Rising Wolf hugged her a little tighter.
He held his spear in his hand. “I fish now.”
“Don’t cross the river. I’m not as thin as I was the last time you showed me your fishing skills.”
He ran his fingers over the scars on his chest. The memory of the bear attack sent a shiver down his spine. At times when the big cats called from the mountainside, he remembered his wife’s screams. They echoed in his mind. Tales of her bravery earned her an enchanting legend throughout the village for saving his life. For as long as he lived, he would never forget the day Falcon Woman swam the river.
“Where would you like your new home built?” Rising Wolf cocked his head to the side.
“Come, I will show you.” Her steps were light, and she headed up the trail. When they topped a crest, she stood and looked toward the cabin. “Do you know of this place?” She gazed at him.
Rising Wolf pulled some crumpled papers from a pouch and handed them to her. Falcon Woman’s heart skipped a beat when her gaze fell upon her drawings from the past years. In an instant, she knew he had been watching her for quite some time before they married.
His bright smiled lit up his face. “This is where I stayed when I waited for your reply to become my wife.”
“This is where our lives toget
her started, and this is where our lives together will end.”
About the Author
Stephy Smith grew up in the Northwest Texas Panhandle and still lives within a few miles of her childhood home. She owns her own ranch and takes care of her mother. She shares her home with three dogs and a chinchilla. Other than writing, she loves to read, garden, ride horses, paint and do just about any kind of arts and crafts. Her love for history, museum's, historical markers and sites along roadsides, old houses and walking through cemeteries tempts her creative imagination. Where there's history there's mystery and ghost! She writes young adult, sweet historical romance and contemporary western romance. You can find her novellas, Lizzie and the Rebel, Rescued from the River, Shawnee’s Creek, Sanders Cross, Gentry’s Gallery of Angels and The Long Moon at Astraea Press, Barnes and Noble, and Amazon.
Also by Stephy Smith
Chapter One
It was Moon who ordered him to bring the two-year-old colt in from the pasture. Moon was the man who climbed on its back. Sixty-four year old Leroy Moon held tight to the saddle when the colt broke in an outrage. Carson gasped at each jump. The air whooshed from the old man’s lungs when the colt returned to the hardened earth. His head jerked back and forth before Moon flew through the air and landed on his side breaking a hip, an arm and acquiring a gash in his head.
Carson Long couldn’t control the pounding of his heart as it beat to the rhythm of thundering drums. He knelt down, and his shaky hand reached to feel for a pulse. With his thumb, he dialed emergency from his cell phone. His voice quivered as he talked to the dispatcher on the other end, he then flipped the phone shut and turned to Moon.