Forever Ecstasy

by Janelle Taylor

  Joe felt it was his responsibility as a man and a suitor to face Sun Cloud with the truth. He comprehended Tom’s concern over damaging all their work with the confession, but he knew he must take that risk. He had to have faith in the chief’s character and honor, in himself, and in God.

  He approached Sun Cloud’s tepee, knelt at the open flap, and called his blood brother’s name. It was only moments before the chief responded and called him inside. Joe ducked and entered. His gaze widened and showed confusion when he did not see his love inside so late at night. He sensed a strange and alarming tension in the air. In the fire’s small glow, he read expressions on the Indian couple’s faces that worried him. Astute, Joe asked, “What’s wrong, Sun Cloud? Where is Morning Star?”

  “She is gone,” Mahpiya Wi replied to the white man his child loved and had sacrificed all to have, the sacred vision warrior, the trickster, the power taking away his beloved daughter, his blood brother. Which—if any or all—of those things should rule his emotions and behavior tonight?

  “Gone? Did she follow us to Bear Butte and get into danger?” Please, God, don’t let her be hurt. Don’t let her be somewhere else. I don’t have more time to spare. Help us get out of here quickly and painlessly.

  “No, she was banished this sun. She camps alone nearby. She is dead to us. We cannot speak her name or look upon her face again. It is our law.”

  Joe did not have to be told why the action was taken, but it shocked him. His gentle love was alone and in anguish. “My people will not banish me for choosing her. How could you do this to your own child?”

  “It is our law. I could not break it for her.” As the angry white man stared at him, Sun Cloud related all that had happened. “She is downstream waiting for your return. Why have you come tonight? Why did you halt your ride to the peace council?”

  “A scout from Fort Laramie caught up with us that first night. He delivered an urgent letter from my mother. My father is dying. I must hurry home. Even now, I may be too late to see him. I have to ride fast and hard, Sun Cloud, but I had to come for Morning Star first. I wanted to be the one to explain everything to you. I wanted you to hear from me how sorry I am for having to deceive you about being Tanner. From what you told me, I can tell you think it was wrong, but that you understand my motives. I’m glad, because I don’t want you of all men to think badly of me. Tanner was my best friend, like a brother to me. How I miss him. He wanted to help his father; they both wanted to help their Indian kin. At first, I took over his place to find his killer, but I became attached to Morning Star and her people. I really care what happens you and the Red Hearts; you must believe that. In all honesty, I took those risks more for your people than to keep the whites out of a war. This is Indian territory, and I wish it could remain that way forever. We both know it won’t, and I’m sorry.”

  Joe related the talk that had taken place in his camp after the urgent message reached him and Stede’s offer to escort his love to Virginia. “It wasn’t right to let him be the one to face you about our secret. Stede and Tom, Broken-Hand, told me not to come here because they were afraid you’d be angry about my deceit and it would stop you from attending the treaty talk. I don’t believe that, not of a man like the son of Gray Eagle. You might hate me and distrust me, but from what I’ve seen and learned about the Red Heart chief, you have too much honor to sacrifice peace for your people. You know this treaty is genuine, and signing it is vital to years of peace. What I’ve done wrong can’t stop you from signing.”

  Joe was relieved when the chief allowed him to have his say before taking his turn. “I love Morning Star, Sun Cloud; I need her. She’s a part of me now. I want to marry her. I want to share the rest of my life with her. I want her children. God knows we tried to prevent this from happening. We battled our attraction to each other as long and as hard as we could. It didn’t work. We realized how difficult a mixed marriage would be. We knew what trouble and pain it would cause many people, especially her family. She’s the most wonderful woman I’ve ever met. You raised her to be strong and skilled. She’s my friend, my helper, all I want and need in a woman. I swear to you I’ll make her happy. She’ll be safe and free at my home. I won’t let anyone mistreat her or harm her. You have my word.”

  Sun Cloud was pleased by Joe’s confession, though he couldn’t let it show. Yet his voice was not harsh when he informed the man, “I do not need your word, and you do not need my permission. She has chosen you; she has been banished. All you must do is go after her and leave. And you must never return to our land and camp.”

  “I know it’s your law and I understand why you have to keep it, but I want you to understand our feelings. I want you to forgive us for tricking you. I want you to be happy about our love and marriage. I don’t want to lose your respect and friendship. And I don’t want the woman I love to suffer because of me. She doesn’t deserve cruel treatment like this; she was the vision woman. She only obeyed it. Banish her if you must, but don’t deny her; don’t say she’s dead to you and that her family is dead to her.”

  Sun Cloud studied the white man with blue eyes and blond hair. Joe’s tone said he was sincere and honest. “It must be this way; laws are for every person. You must understand why we cannot change them. I believe your words, but they change nothing for her.”

  Joe took a deep breath, then released it. “You’re right, but your decision hurts many people. I guess it was foolish, but I was hoping this wouldn’t happen to Sky Warrior and the vision woman. Maybe I never believed it would, not even when Morning Star kept warning me of the grim consequences. What I don’t understand is why you banished her before I spoke to you and made a claim on her. Until we exposed the truth, why was she sent off alone? What if I’d done as Stede urged and left for home? She could have been in great danger until Stede saw you at Laramie, then rode here for her.”

  Sun Cloud looked at the insect bite that had saved Joe’s life from Knife-Slayer’s treachery and the bruise from Zeke Randall’s blow to his cheek. “She revealed the truth and forced me to act on it. By choosing you, she is your wife in our eyes. The Great Spirit brought you here tonight to rescue her and to take her home with you. She is a skilled warrior; I knew she would be safe until you came for her. I did not want you to come to our winter camp to claim her. I did not want my people to see my daughter—bloodline of Gray Eagle—ride away with a white man. I wanted them to remember you as Sky Warrior, not as the sly paleface who tricked us and took her from us. You have done much for me and my people. I thank you and honor you for this. But you have stolen my daughter from me; understanding and forgiveness will take time to fill my heart. But when they come, it will change nothing. You must understand this and not battle for what can never be again. You have been my friend and blood brother; never return as my enemy with my enemies. Keep her from harm and give her much joy, but never return,” he stressed.

  Joe perceived clues in the chief’s speech: love and concern between the lines of it, the anguish Sun Cloud was experiencing, and the strength of this great leader to carry out his heartbreaking duty. “It will be as you say. We’ll be gone at first light. But I’ll contact you in the future to see if your feelings have changed. I won’t tell Morning Star about my message until they do. If things are ever different, I’ll bring her home to visit.”

  Sun Cloud used all his willpower not to reply in the way his heart begged him to do so. As chief he must not weaken. He did not.

  Joe grasped the turmoil in his love’s father. “I understand, and we’ll obey,” he murmured. “There’s one last thing, Sun Cloud. I didn’t reveal all of Orin’s motives at Bear Butte.” He related the last one, probably the most important to the greedy villain. He cautioned the chief to keep whites out of the sacred hills as long as possible. “I won’t tell anybody about the gold, not even Stede. I don’t want him to mention it by accident.”

  Sun Cloud clasped wrists with Joe. “You are a good and honorable man, Joseph Lawrence. I will long remember you and y
our coups. When you hear that the treaty is broken and war has come, do not return. It cannot be stopped next time; the sacred vision warned of this. Do not risk your life to challenge what is our tribal destiny; it cannot be defeated as you defeated Snake-Man. Do not bring her here to witness the sufferings and deaths of her family and people. If you love her, keep her there forever.”

  Joe noticed how Sun Cloud obeyed his law by not once speaking his lost daughter’s name. How he wished it didn’t have to be this way for all of them. Maybe things would change in the future; he hoped so, for his wife’s sake. “I love Morning Star, sir. We’ll obey your words and laws. If you ever need to reach us, contact the President, our Great White Chief; he can tell you where we live.” Joe glanced at the older woman who looked in great pain. “Good-bye, Singing Wind. I’m sorry we’ve hurt you. Don’t worry about Morning Star. I promise to take good care of her.” He turned to the chief and said, “Good-bye, Sun Cloud. I’ll never forget you and my time here. And I won’t forget all I’ve learned.” Joe looked at his love’s parents one last time, and left the tepee.

  After a time, Sun Cloud joined his wife on their sleeping mat. He pulled Singing Wind into his arms. “He is right; do not worry. Payaba says she walks the path Grandfather planned for her. We must accept this.”

  “I will be strong, my husband, but it will be hard for a time.”

  “I love you, Singing Wind,” he murmured against her lips.

  “I love you,” she replied, then kissed him to ease her torment.

  Sun Cloud did not relate the rest of Payaba’s vision for it would hurt and frighten his wife. What the past shaman had revealed in private about his daughter had given him the strength to banish her: “Let her go with Sky Warrior or she will die in the dark days ahead, as will many others.”

  The old man had spoken of a time when another great warrior—a legend larger than himself and Gray Eagle— would ride the Plains and war against the interloping whites. Payaba had spoken of another child in their tepee, a boy who would become a great warrior, whose prowess would blaze as a bright star in the darkened sky. But the old shaman did not know if the two men were the same. Payaba had warned of an arrow, dripping in blood and firing over the land, that must be watched closely over the years; and Sun Cloud suspected his identity—his unruly grandson.

  “When dark shadows blanket our land once more, the bloodline of Gray Eagle and Sun Cloud will become strong again,” Payaba had said. “Do not resist what must be, or the vision will be defeated and all will perish.”

  Sun Cloud wondered if those parts of the prophecy—told only to him—meant they would have another son and the chief’s line would not pass through Night Stalker and Bloody Arrow. They were no longer young, but the Great Spirit had the power to do anything. Until he was shown the meaning of those parts, he would keep them to himself.

  The Red Heart chief accepted the Great Spirit’s words and warnings. He closed his eyes and thought, Good-bye, my beloved Morning Star…

  “Morning Star, it’s me, Joe!” he called out to prevent startling her and getting shot in the process. “I’ve come to get you, love.”

  The overjoyed woman tossed down the bow and arrow. “Joe!” she squealed and raced into his arms.

  He covered her face with kisses and held her tightly. His mouth covered hers, feasting in delight as she responded and clung to him.

  When their lips parted and he nestled her head against his chest, he murmured, “I’m here now, love. Everything will be all right.”

  Morning Star leaned her head back, straining to see his handsome face in the light of a half-moon. “Why did you return early?”

  In a hoarse tone, he related the grim news about his father and his decision to come for her before leaving the territory. “We have to get home fast, love. We ride at first light. I’ve seen your father; he told me what happened today. I’m sorry you had to face this alone. That won’t ever happen again, I promise you.”

  “What did Father say? How was he?” she asked, worried.

  Joe told her everything they had said to each other and his impressions of her parents’ feelings. “What about Clay, love? Why didn’t he help you? Why isn’t he here to protect you?”

  “I told him not to speak or act. There is nothing he can do about our laws, except cause trouble for himself and Buckskin Girl. No one must look at me, speak to me, or help me. If he disobeys, he must be banished. That is how the law makes all obey it. He did as I asked, what was best.”

  “Sometimes a person has to do what he feels is right, not obey unfair laws. I’m disappointed he would leave you in danger.”

  “Do not be angry with him, my love. He seeks a new life with a mate and with our people. This is our decision, our problem, not theirs. Soon, we will be far away forever; they will not.”

  “You’re right, but I can’t help feeling a little angry.” He changed the subject. “We’ll take a big boat, called a steamer, at Fort Tabor. We’ll travel down the Missouri River to St. Louis. We’ll buy horses and ride overland to my home. It’ll take a few weeks.”

  “What will happen when we reach your home and family?”

  “We’ll take care of my father until… For as long as he’s with us. I hope we make it in time. I want you two to meet each other. You’ll like him, Morning Star, and he’ll like you. We’ll get married as soon as possible; I hope we can do it at Fort Tabor before we sail. We’ll buy you some clothes there, so you won’t feel different from other women we meet along the trail.” The talk distracted and soothed them, so he continued with it for a while. “We’ll live at the plantation. It’s beautiful and quiet, and away from town. Mother and I will teach you all you need to know before we visit Alexandria; that’s where our shipping business is. With Father ill, you might have to stay with Mother at the plantation while I check on things at the firm. You’ll love her, Morning Star. She’s a wonderful lady. She’ll be so happy about our marriage. She’ll enjoy her lessons with you; it’ll take her mind off… Father’s loss. Then, there’s Sarah Beth, my sister, her husband, Andrew, who works with Father, and their little boy, Lucas. They’ll all love you and accept you. With me gone so much, at least Father had Andrew to run the business for him. If we’re lucky, we’ll give Lucas some friends to play with real soon.”

  Morning Star smiled, but knew from her woman’s flow last week that she carried no child at this time. Perhaps children, grandchildren, would be the path back to her family. How could anyone not want to see the continuation of their bloodline? Joe’s words about her laws changing one day gave her hope to pray for that occurrence.

  As they snuggled on the buffalo mat and shared endearments, Joe murmured, “Do you want to be called Morning Star, or do you want to take a white name after we’re married?”

  “I will live in a white land with whites, so I will follow your customs.”

  Joe had pondered this several times and was ready with a suggestion. “What about Marie Lawrence? Marie was my grandmother’s name.”

  Morning Star tested it upon her lips, “Ma-rie. Marie Lawrence. Marie Lawrence. Yes, it is a good name. I will take it.”

  Joe embraced her. “I love you, woman. Don’t worry; everything will work out fine. Let’s get some sleep. We have a long hard trip ahead.”

  They cuddled and closed their eyes, imagining what lay before them.

  Light and the horses’ movements awakened Joe and Morning Star. Both instantly noticed the man sitting at the meandering stream: Clay. Joe tossed aside their cover, and joined him.

  “I didn’t expect to find you here, Joe,” Clay remarked. “I brought supplies and extra horses. I was planning to bring Morning Star to you at Fort Laramie. I figured by changing mounts back and forth, we could beat Sun Cloud’s party there and let you know what’s happened.”

  “Sun Cloud told me last night; I reached camp late.” Joe explained why he had come, and he thanked Clay-Sky Warrior—Thorne for his help.

  “I’m sorry about your father. I’ll hel
p you two get to Tabor fast.”

  “You’re a good friend, Clay; thanks,” Joe said again. “But you’ll be in big trouble. I understand what an awkward position you’re in. If nobody knows you’re here, get back before anyone finds out about your action.”

  “It doesn’t matter now. I can’t leave friends in trouble. I’m afraid I had to change my mind about joining the Red Heart Band. I don’t agree with their law that banished Morning Star, not after all you two have done for them and for peace. Since I look more white than Indian, it could give me trouble down the trail. I don’t want that to happen. I decided it was best to return to my family and people; the Cheyenne don’t have that law. Buckskin Girl is helping her parents move to the winter campground. When I return, I’ll take her home with me. She’s agreed it’s for the best.” Morning Star was relieved his change of heart didn’t include giving up her best friend. She did not defend or speak against the law in question that demanded so much from her. Though it seemed cruel, it protected her people against diluting their Indian blood. That was important and good.

  “Sun Cloud is riding in an hour. The others are breaking camp today. Don’t worry about the treaty; it’ll be signed. You two did a good job, and I’m glad I got to help out a little. Be proud of yourselves. Don’t suffer over what it cost Morning Star. Get married, have a good life, and be happy.”

  “That’s good advice, my friend. I hope you do the same. Let’s eat and get moving. We’ve got a long ride ahead.”

  Five days later, the three entered Fort Tabor, having camped outside the previous night after a late arrival. Joe and Morning Star went to the sutler’s store to purchase her several white woman’s garments for their impending voyage and new life. Clay left them to check on the next steamer heading down the Missouri River. All three knew they must hurry, so tensions were high.

  Fortunately the sutler’s wife, a kind and plump woman, was present. Joe explained their needs. The gentle-spirited female walked around Morning Star and eyed her up and down to decide what sizes were best. She searched through stacks of ready-made dresses, undergarments, and shoes, then guided the Indian beauty into the back room to find her judgments were accurate. The two females exchanged smiles. Morning Star kept on the prettiest cotton dress and went to show it to Joe who was pacing nervously.