She suddenly realized if Running Wolf died, her husband would become chief of the Oglala. What should she do with such knowledge? God help her, for she did not know….
The chief sank into merciful unconsciousness, his confession to be forgotten. Shalee observed Running Wolf until the shaman returned. Unable to bear the weight of her ravaged heart, she fled to her own tepee. If he survived, how could she ever look him in the face again, knowing the damage of his selfish lie? Yet, he was right in many ways. He hadn’t known of his other son until shortly before her arrival, a time when she unfortunately stepped between the two men to increase their hatred and rivalry. How could any mother do such immense injury to her own son? Powchutu should have ridden at the side of his family. But it was too late to change matters, for Powchutu had been dead for years. The truth could give birth to so many new sufferings!
It was very late; so much had taken place on this fateful day. Bright Arrow was sleeping peacefully in Ramira’s tepee, so she did not disturb him. She stretched out upon her sleeping mat, pleading for mindless slumber to enfold her in its protective and comforting arms. At last, she could partially understand the shortcomings of the old man. Two hours before midnight, sleep finally claimed her.
“Gray Eagle,” Talking Rock called softly through the flurry of thoughts in the warrior’s mind. “The scouts have seen and heard nothing.”
Scout? his mind echoed, a curious feeling of resentment and coldness washing over him. He shook his head to clear it of such unbidden memories. Why should he recall such events tonight?
He forced himself to deliberate the white man’s thoughts. He suddenly sat up, inhaling sharply. “We must ride, Talking Rock! Signal the others! We wait for the Bluecoats in the wrong place; they will attack from the other side of camp!”
While the Oglala warriors hurriedly mounted up, another curious episode was taking place in their camp. Shalee was suddenly aroused by a large hand clamped over her mouth to prevent her terrified scream. Her hands had been seized and pinned to the ground above her head. She was at the mercy of her unknown assailant in rich blue and bright yellow. She helplessly and frantically awaited her fate.
Would her love return to camp to find all dead, all he knew and loved destroyed while he pursued his avowed enemies? Remember me, my lost love, she prayed fervently. Bright Arrow… forgive me for not protecting you, my son. Great Spirit, help us!
The masculine voice whispered in English, “I pray to God I’m not in the wrong tepee. You’ve nothing to fear, ma’am. I only need to talk with Shalee, Gray Eagle’s wife. They say she’s half-white and speaks English”. Are you Shalee?”
Her trembling halted abruptly as she stared at him more in confusion than in terror. She neither struggled nor responded. “Damnit, woman! Are you Shalee? Can you understand me? There isn’t much time before the soldiers attack here. You’ve got to alert your people or they’ll be massacred,” he softly alleged, fearing he had the wrong tepee and woman. Yet she appeared at least half-white.
Her look of horror told him she had indeed grasped his words. “I see you understand. You must be her. Hodges, the man who captured your son and husband, is planning to raid here tonight while your husband’s out chasing shadows. It was a trick to lure him away. They plan to slaughter everyone and burn the camp. Warn your people to flee into the forest,” he hurriedly advised.
When she attempted to speak, he prayed she would not betray him, not after the chance he was taking by coming here. God help him if it was a dreadful mistake, but he couldn’t allow wanton slaughter. “If you call out for help, they’ll kill me and nothing can save your people then. I’m expecting a promotion soon, which will grant me more power than Hodges. Then maybe I can end this senseless warfare.”
As his hands released her, she sat up and stared at him. “Who are you? Why do you come here under the cover of night?”
“I’m Major Sturgis from Fort Meade. I tried to halt the attack tonight, but Hodges has as much power as I do, at least for the time being. He’s determined to end the Eagle’s reign no matter how. I can’t permit the murders of innocent women and children. I hope you take this next statement the way I mean it, ma’am, but I can’t afford for anyone to know I’ve been here. If they view me an Indian lover, they’ll never obey me later. Truce can be very tricky. But I swear I’ll push for one. Hopefully your husband will see me as a friend for sparing his camp and people. When this matter’s settled, we’ll meet and talk alone.”
“The soldiers will attack tonight and slay all?” she asked in alarm, pondering whether she could trust this brazen soldier.
“Yes, at midnight. I’m sorry, but I can’t stop them. You’ll have to warn your people. For now, that’s all I can do. I’ve got to leave before I’m discovered here and my word won’t be worth a tinker’s damn. Do you understand what I’m telling you?”
“Yes, Major Sturgis. I was raised white until six years ago. I understand. How can such immense hatred exist? I will tell my husband of your generous deed tonight. He also desires peace and happiness returned to his lands. He misses the singing, hunting, and joyful living which the advancement of the white man has denied for years. Life is too short and precious to waste with endless warfare. I will take you to the edge of camp. You must go quickly. If peace is to be more than a dream, we will need a just man such as you. I shall never forget your kindness,” she softly murmured, then smiled cordially.
“I can see Gray Eagle chose a worthy woman as his mate. She is as wise and gentle as she is beautiful.” A genial smile relaxed his features and brightened his skyblue eyes.
“I must give you something to protect your life if you face danger,” she offered, retrieving a wanapin from a pouch. She walked to him and handed the necklace to the man whose generosity would save her people.
Sturgis took the proffered amulet and gazed at it. It was a small stone arrowhead suspended from a leather thong; a tiny yellow feather was tightly secured to the end where it was attached to the thong. “It will declare you koda to Gray Eagle. If any warrior confronts you, show him the wanapin and tell him, ‘Shalee, koda, wookiye.’ It says we are friends and share truce. Even if they doubt your claim, you will be brought to Gray Eagle himself. My husband will never slay a man who shows such courage and honor as you do tonight.”
“I am honored to be called koda to Gray Eagle and Shalee. The soldiers will attack from the east at midnight. Prepare to defeat or to flee them. Goodbye, Shalee. Perhaps we will meet again with peace between us.”
“I pray it will be so, Sturgis. Go in peace and safety.” They shook hands, then Shalee escorted him to the edge of the camp. She watched him slip into the concealment of darkness. She glanced up at the full moon; it was around ten-thirty. Could she trust Sturgis? Was he drawing them into a trap? Something told her he was not. She must warn the others.
She hurried to the medicine chief’s tepee and called his name. He came to her almost immediately. “A messenger came to warn us; the soldiers will attack here soon. You must summon the braves. We must flee for safety and hide until our warriors return.” Shalee did not tell the baffled Indian leader that the messenger was white. He wondered why the warning was sent to her, but did not question her words or this unusual action.
Kaolotka instantly complied with her urgings. Within minutes, the braves were making plans to evacuate the camp. It was decided to head for the nearby hills, which offered more protection from weapons and enemy eyes. There, they could offer their people a better chance for survival.
The camp was awakened and cautioned to silence. The elders, women, and children were hurriedly sent toward the hills, which loomed dark and distant before them. Time short and valuable, most possessions were left behind. Horses bore the weights of the aged and weakened. Running Wolf was placed upon a travois, the danger of moving him known to all.
As the armed braves brought up the rear, the fleeing group halted suddenly. Furtively and rapidly approaching them was a huge band of dark riders! Shalee pal
ed and shuddered. Were they betrayed?
Both groups were stunned by their unexpected meeting between camp and the hills. Almost simultaneously, the two groups recognized each other. Gray Eagle urged his horse forward to question this confusing desertion of camp. If there was an attack in progress, why was their flight so gradual and tranquil? They were not running swiftly! There was no sound of battle from the camp or treacherous fires lighting the darkness. Why did they seek the cover of the nearby hills?
Shalee left Running Wolf’s side to rush to meet her returning husband. “The soldiers will attack at midnight, my love! You have returned in time to protect us!” She hastily threw the panicky words at him.
“How do you know such things?” he questioned in puzzlement.
“A messenger came to warn me. I told Kaolotka and the braves. We were heading for the hills to hide until your return. He said the soldiers lured you away. They wish to destroy our village and people.”
“Who came to you? I sent no one,” he reasoned aloud.
“The leader from Fort Meade, Sturgis. He tried to halt them, but they would not listen. He desires peace; he does not wish to see women and children slain. He sneaked into our tepee and told me this.”
“He warned of their attack knowing we would ambush them?”
“My heart said he spoke the truth. I warned the others.”
“I do not understand his ways, but he speaks the truth. When we saw their trick, we returned quickly. We have been camped in the hills since Wi showed his face.”
“But he said they were attacking from the other side,” she promptly informed him.
“This thought came to my mind. We were heading to defeat them. Go to the hills and remain there until this battle has ended. We will speak of this matter later.”
“Please be careful, Gray Eagle. I love you,” she whispered softly.
“Where is Running Wolf? Why does he not lead his people?” he demanded, suddenly realizing the chief’s absence.
“He is ill, my love. I have watched over him,” she reluctantly answered, wishing she didn’t have to distract his mind with such evil.
“How so?” he instantly demanded, sensing her hesitation.
“Leah tried to slay me and escape. Running Wolf’s body accepted the knife wounds meant for mine. He is very weak, but I think he will recover.”
Astounded by this news, he snarled, “I will slay her!”
“She is dead. She fell upon her knife as she tried to kill me.”
“Why did such evil and daring fill her this sun?” he pressed.
“This was the moon that proved all her words were lies, my love. She feared their exposure,” she stated meaningfully. “She wished me dead before fleeing. The Great Spirit punished her. It is over now. Running Wolf will live.”
“We must talk, for there is much to hear. Guard your life and our son’s. You are my heart. I love you,” he vowed, then rejoined his band to inform them of the impending attack. New plans were made.
One group headed for the hills and one for the darkened camp, one preparing for safety and the other for attack. All waited tensely.
Chapter Twenty-One
“Damn, what I wouldn’t give for a cup of black coffee!” a nervous soldier snapped irritably.
“Me, too! This waiting chews on your gut, don’t it?” responded his edgy companion.
“You think we’re fools, like Sturgis said?” he asked uneasily.
“Any man who challenges Gray Eagle has to be! If we had any brains at all, we’d get the hell outta here pronto! I’d be shaking in my boots if I didn’t know he was miles away.”
“Whatta you say we ride back to the Ohio Valley when this is over? I didn’t join the cavalry to kill women and children.”
“Me neither! You ever done it before?” his friend asked.
“Yep! Once during a raid on the Cheyenne camp. Hodges said we weren’t to leave no one alive. She was a pretty thing, young and scared. Turned my stomach. I ain’t so sure I can do it again,” he admitted.
“Don’t you think it’s a wee bit late for disobeying orders?”
“Hell, Josh! You don’t know what it’s like! You ain’t never slit a woman’s throat while she’s casting them doe eyes on you! You ain’t never seen a baby’s head smashed into a rock! It takes weeks to stop seeing red ever time you shut your eyes, to stop hearing those screams. I watched old people too weak to move run through with sabers. The stinch of blood and guts stays with you a long time afterwards. If Hodges is so set on butchering the redskins, why don’t he try it one time!”
“You’re crazy, Pete. We’re at war here. If we don’t kill them, they’ll kill us,” Josh argued weakly.
“Am I? War is with other fighters, not their families. I got to get away from here when this is over.”
“Don’t ride off without me,” Josh hinted genially.
“Why we doing this? I bet there ain’t ten men who want to be here tonight. Sturgis is right; we’re all bloody fools!”
Collins strolled over to speak with the two guards near the horses. “Won’t be long now,” he murmured, sadistic anticipation lacing his voice. “I’d give a month’s pay to see the look on Gray Eagle’s face when he rides into that camp after we finish there. We’ll be famous, men. Collins and his daring band who wiped out the notorious and invincible Gray Eagle,” he wistfully alleged.
When Pete’s gaze flickered to the groups of men sitting around silently with their weapons forming conical stacks before them, Collins sneered scornfully, “You running scared, Pete?”
“Killing women and children while they sleep don’t sit well with me, sir. But I ain’t no coward,” he panted in unleashed anger.
“What about you, Josh? You squeamish, too?” Collins disdainfully challenged, eyeing both men who were obviously not relishing this thrilling victory over their worst enemy.
“We’ll obey orders, sir, but we don’t have to like them.”
“Then take a little reward for yourselves.”
“What reward, sir?” Josh asked in confusion.
“There’s some mighty pretty females in that camp. No need to kill all of them right off,” he coldly insinuated.
“You can actually diddle a female, then slit her throat?” Pete shrieked in amazement, shocked by the heartlessness of his leader.
“Why not?” Collins indifferently stated. “Ain’t many females around here who don’t have husbands or fathers. I got to find some relief somewhere. They’re there for the taking, men.”
“You make me as sick as this raid does!” Pete thundered before he could control his outrage. What would his mother think if he committed such savage atrocities?
“Cowards have dulled wits, Pete. You best get control of yourself, or you’ll be a dead man afore morning,” Collins warned. “Settle your nerves and have some fun. Least we can do is get a nice piece of tail for all our trouble.”
Pete glared into the retreating back of Collins. “Let’s get out of here, Josh. You know what’ll happen after we enter that camp.”
“You mean desert?” Josh inquired, the precarious thought having already entered his mind.
“That’s exactly what I mean,” came the easy reply.
The two men studied each other for a time. Josh cast a speculative glance toward the troop, which was beginning to prepare for the impending raid. He grinned boyishly at Pete. “Let’s go,” he agreed.
The warriors were befuddled when Gray Eagle signaled them to permit two young soldiers to sneak through their circle around the Bluecoats’ camp. Having great confidence in their war chief, they allowed his curious act to pass unchallenged. He knew the white man’s tongue, and evidently the two men had said something to earn their lives. To leave their people at such a time surely indicated they did not wish to war against innocent women and children, as cowardly fear did not expose itself in the two vanishing figures.
Deciding to head for Fort Meade to explain their motives to the commander there, Pete and Josh would
eventually learn of their close call with death at the same time Sturgis would discover that his daring action had not resulted in the destruction of Hodges’ troops. He would be relieved to learn that Gray Eagle had reasoned out their ploy and foiled it himself. In spite of the attack, his courageous and generous act of mercy would inspire future talks for peace. In light of Collins’ defeat, Pete and Josh would be viewed as lucky survivors of a tragic act of violence, their secret known only to Sturgis and the Indians. The two youths would be delighted and confused when Sturgis didn’t press desertion charges against them.
“Listen up, men,” Collins called out softly. “It’s time we take that red bastard down a notch or two. Keep any souvenir or horse you want, but don’t leave a single savage alive. Enjoy yourselves before you burn that camp to the ground. Might be a long time before you find a handy female around.”
“You mean we can save some of the females for last?” one lecherous soldier asked for clarity.
“Only the pretty ones, Tankersly,” Collins merrily joked. “Any questions?”
When no man queried or commented, Collins grinned. “Well, men, let’s ride. We’ll take ‘em by surprise if we’re careful. Take whatever action necessary, but don’t leave a sign of life when you’re done. We ain’t taking no female captives with us, so have your fill here.”
The instant the last word left his sneering lips, a war whoop that could have startled the dead rent the air. The surprise attack stolen from them, the soldiers were denied the chance to successfully defend themselves. Fierce hand-to-hand combat ensued. Their flintlock rifles of little use at this close proximity and desperate speed, soldiers grabbed for their deadly sabers and pistols—weapons that could only fire once without reloading with ball and powder. The few shots they managed to get off missed their agile targets in the flurry of action.
Knives, lances, and arrows made deadly weapons that could be used quickly and easily. The Indians had bodies well-trained and developed, and keen instincts wellhoned. The soldiers never stood a chance against these masterful fighters. One by one, the lethal blows were deftly and relentlessly delivered. The roar of voices shrieking in pain and defeat filled the air. As if sensing the ominous meaning of this event, Mother Nature appeared to hold her respectful silence.
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