Cheyenne Moon

by Cathy Keeton

  “No my son this is your nephew. I am so sorry but Abby has not returned.”

  “Is Yellow Dove well Mother?” Shadow Spirit asked with sadness in his voice like she had never heard before.

  “She is fine. I see the disappointment on your face. I was praying that when you returned Abby would be by your side.” Green Eyes rose with the grace only she possessed and took the baby and placed him in a cradle that had been carved for Yellow Dove by her father when she was a tiny baby.

  Shadow Spirit remembered that Jacob stood near-by and was waiting to be told where he should be or what he should do.

  “Mother this is Jacob we have traveled together for several weeks and have become friends. He is on his way to Kentucky.”

  “Hello, it is nice to have you here. You will be welcome by the entire village because you are a friend of my son who is also our chief.”

  “Thank you ma’am,”

  “You seem to be taking a very out of the way route to Kentucky young man. Would it not have been a much shorter trip if you had not come by way of the Black Hills?”

  “Oh I know I just wanted to help Shadow Spirit find his wife, I just wish we’d a found her.”

  “Well you may stay here as long as you want.” Green Eyes got the impression that the young man had come to respect her son and maybe was just a little bit in awe of him.

  “Mother I am going to call a meeting of the council I need to find out what all has happened in my absence. Jacob you are free to look around no one will harm you.”

  “Thanks Shadow Spirit,” he said as he walked away looking every which way.

  “Where is Yellow Dove, Mother?”

  “She is with Gray Wolf down by the creek I was giving them a little time alone, but I am sure she would be glad to see her brother.”

  Shadow Spirit announced himself before he reached the creek as a courtesy. His sister came running to him flinging herself into his arms.

  “Oh Shadow Spirit I have waited so long for your return!” Yellow Dove exclaimed. “Is Abby in your lodge? I cannot wait for her to see Little Wolf. He is the most wonderful child.”

  “I have held your son and he is truly handsome. I am glad that you are so happy and I do not want to dampen your spirits but Abby is not her. I have searched everywhere that I can think of and cannot find her.”

  “Oh, I was so hoping you would bring her home in time for the baby to be born among everyone who loves her.” Yellow Dove cried.

  “I am going to call a council meeting, Gray Wolf we will go and gather the others we have much to discuss. I am going to take a small group of warriors and search for my wife I will not give up until I know what has happened to her.”

  Yellow Dove returned to Green Eyes lodge to get her son but when she entered to lodge, he was sleeping. Her mother sat close by working on a pair of moccasins. She looked up as Yellow Dove came in.

  “Hello darling,” Green Eyes said when she looked up and saw Yellow Dove come in. “You look so very worried I assume you have spoken to your brother.

  “Yes Mother I have and he is the most exhausted that I have ever seen him. I admire him for not giving up on finding Abby. He said he has looked everywhere and it is as if Mother Earth just swallowed her up.”

  “He has not found any sign of her since he found the bead and I am beginning to think that it may be hopeless. She has been gone for such a long time. The time for her baby to make its way into this world has come and gone. Abby and Shadow Spirit child should be only a couple of a week or so younger than Little Wolf and he will soon be a month old.”

  “Oh please Mother, do not say anything negative about this where Shadow Spirit could hear you. He still has hope.”

  “Do you think that he truly is still hopeful or is it too painful to acknowledge that she could be lost to him forever?” Green Eyes said with a sigh.

  “I refuse to believe that my beautiful friend will not return to us, I feel it in my heart that she is somewhere safe and cared for. I dreamed of her last night and in my dream, she was smiling. I think that is a sign that she is alright.”

  “I do hope you are right dear, I have grown to love Abby also.”

  “Mother, I have met Shadow Spirit friend, he is a strange man.”

  In the council lodge, Shadow Spirit sat with several of his warriors he was telling them of the destruction he had seen during his search for Abby. He told them of the family that had been murdered and their home burned. He suspected that Black Heart was to blame.

  “There were signs of the encroachment of the whites along the trail. A toppled wagon lay at the bottom of a ravine split into pieces as it tumbled down the ragged side of the hill. A lost doll or a small hand- carved horse that had been dropped as the children walked beside a wagon. It is a heart rendering sight to find the bones of a child that an animal has dug from a shallow grave. I know that these are white children but in my eyes a child is a precious gift of any race.”

  “Chief Shadow Spirit, how can you feel anything for these people after what they have done to us and others of our kind?” Moon Rising a warrior of eighteen summers said with resentment.

  “I have seen all that has been done on both sides, I would like for our tribe to remain a people of peace for as long as we can. I know that that will not always be possible and that other tribes are already talking of war, but for the safety of my people I will always vote for peace.”

  “Well some of us might not want peace.” Moon Rising spoke up again.

  “Do as you like but once you leave this tribe for a renegade war party you are no longer welcome here. That is all I have to say on the matter.”

  Shadow Spirit stared at Moon Rising for several seconds before the warrior sit back down. He would not be pressured to go to war by anyone especially a few rouge braves.

  “As you all know my wife was taken from this village some months ago and I have searched for her without success. In two suns I will resume my search. In my absence, Gray Wolf will continue to be acting chief as he has been. I will take only a three other warriors with me for I cannot leave our people unguarded.”

  “Who are you taking?” someone asked from the back of the lodge.

  “I have not decided, I will let the ones I have chosen know with the new sun. This council is no more,” Shadow Spirit stated.

  As the others were leaving he called to Gray Wolf. “I hope you do not mind that I did not talk to you about still acting as chief.”

  “No, I do not mind I only hope that you are not disappointed.”

  “I have no fear that you cannot fill in during my absence. Come let us go and have our evening meal and talk about which men I will take to find my wife.

  Shadow Spirit decided to take his two most trusted warriors, other than Gray Wolf, and he also choose Moon Rising. He felt that by taking Moon Rising it would give him a better chance to watch the warrior.

  Green Eyes watched as her son prepared to once again leave their village to search for Abby. She wanted to believe that Abby was still alive but it was hard after all the time that had passed. Her son was such a strong, powerful man and a wonderful chief. He would not give up until he knew one way or another what had become of his beloved wife. The love that Shadow Spirit had for Abby was a love that would weather all time and trials that would come their way, and nothing would stop him from looking for her.

  “Mother, I will be leaving now the village is in good hand with Gray Wolf.” He hugged his mother and sister.

  “I know that the village will be well protected under the leadership of Gray Wolf, it is Abby that I worry about.”

  “Do not worry mother I will find her and bring her home where she is destined to be,” Shadow Spirit said with conviction.

  He looked at Jacob who stood talking with a young maiden and smiled. The young man had developed an attraction for a young maiden in the village and had asked if he would be allowed to remain here for a while. “Mother, Jacob has asked if he may stay with our people for now. I wante
d to know if that would be alright with you since it would be you who must cook for him?”

  “I would welcome having someone else to feed. I have enough food for the both of us. Perhaps one of the young warriors will teach him to hunt.”

  “I believe that he hunted when he lived in Kentucky with his family.”

  “That is good.” Green Eyes remarked. “Who has he become smitten with in our village?”

  “It is Snow Bird the daughter of Short Nose. I thought that you could possibly explain our courting customs to him in my absence.”

  “I will but I had better do it soon before Short Nose catches them.”

  Yellow Dove walked up to them carrying her son in a cradleboard. “I have come to tell you goodbye and wish you a safe and prosperous journey. Please bring Abby home.”

  “If it is in my power I will do so little sister.” He hugged her and gave the baby a pat on his behind. “I must go now. The sun is climbing in the eastern sky and I am going to travel as far as I can before nightfall. I would like to retrace the route that I took home when I was alone. One morning when I woke, I could swear that I smelled food cooking but when I searched, I could find no campsites. The only thing I found was an old half burned barn. I will examine it a little closer.”

  By the time Shadow Spirit and the warriors left, it was mid morning. He had a feeling as he rode from his village, that this time he would find his adored wife and their child.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Summer was truly here the sun shined brightly in the afternoon sky as Abby returned to the cave for the last time. She was here to let the goats and hogs free. She hoped that they would be alright running free in the wilderness. They were going to attempt taking the nanny goat with them in the morning when they sat out for the Cheyenne summer camp. The twins needed the extra milk the goat provided. She didn’t seem to be able to supply enough on her own to keep them satisfied. They were growing so fast, it had been hard at first.

  Shadow Eagle who had been bigger than Morning Sky at birth, had not grown as much at first was now thriving. He had colic almost from the beginning but was finally able to eat all he wanted.

  She had given her babies both Indian names and white man names. Shadow Eagle was named for his father and his white name was Isaiah for her father. When Polly had first handed him to her Abby had heard an eagle cry on the mountain, so she had considered that a sign that she include eagle in his name. She had not even recalled hearing the eagle until her son was a few days old.

  Morning Sky had gotten her name from something that Polly said. She said that just as the little girl made her presence know, the sun peaked over the mountain, thus Morning Sky seemed appropriate. Polly and Abby had decided that her white name should be Sarah Judith for both grandmothers. She was dainty and smiled all the time and she had never had a problem eating. Her cheeks had filled out and she had little dimples in her knees.

  Abby hoped that she could remember where the summer camp had been, it had been a long time since she had been there. She had a horrible thought, what if they decided not to camp in the same spot that they had last year. Maybe they should stay put and hope that Shadow Spirit would find them before Black Heart figured out where she was hiding. She was sure that he had not given up on finding her. At least she did not have to worry about Lone Raven anymore. Abby decided not to turn the animals lose just yet.

  She found Polly sitting out in the sunshine with the babies in the cradle that she had made just for them. Out of the corner of her eye Abby saw the wolf hiding by the bush, she knew it was Storm but worried for a minute that he would not recognize her. She kept him in her sight as she slowly walked closer to where her family sat, oblivious to the possible danger.

  “Polly, don’t move, I don’t think there is any danger but I want to be sure.”

  “Danger….danger from what?” Polly asked just as the wolf strolled nearer to Abby. “Abby move a little to the left I think I can get a clear shot.” She was holding a rifle, pointed at Storm.

  “No! Don’t shoot unless he seems aggressive.”

  “Aggressive, have you lost your mind? It is a big wolf not a puppy.

  Polly watched as Abby squatted and held out her hand to the wolf. He walked to with-in a few feet of her and lay down. Stunned Polly lowered the gun and stared in amazement as Abby spoke tenderly and sat down on the ground beside the animal. He rolled over on his back and she began to rub his belly.

  “Hi there old friend where have you been?” She asked as he laid his head in her lap.

  “Abby I’m still afraid even if you’re not. I want to get these babies in the house.”

  “Go on and take them in, I will be in shortly.”

  Polly took Morning Sky and Shadow Eagle inside just huffin and puffin as she shut the old barn door tight to keep out the wolf.

  Abby sat beside Storm thinking of the months that she had spent with Shadow Spirit, and how happy she had been during that time. Now she had to consider her children’s safety above everything else. She was coming to believe that they were much safer right here in this little cabin hidden by the old barn. They had worked on the inside of the barn when the weather was not bitterly cold this winter. It was as strong as a fort in the interior even thought it looked ready to collapse on the outside. She couldn’t protect them along a trail as well as she could here and as much as she longed to see her husband her babies had to come first.

  Suddenly Storm stood and crept to the edge of the threes that ran along the path to the cabin, the bristles the length of his back stood on end and his lip curled. He took off at a dash down the path. Abby ran to the cabin.

  “Polly! Someone is coming we have to hide now”

  They gathered up what they could carry and headed for the caves. The babies were quiet as they were carried the short distance to the cave. Inside they moved the animals and all to the back cave and prepared to wait for the intruder to either leave or to advance close to where Polly and Abby were prepared to fight if necessary.

  Abby rocked back and forth with Morning Sky in her arms trying to keep the baby quiet. She was a little fretful after being awakened from her nap, she was becoming a creature of habit, and any form of change upset her.

  Polly and Abby along with the babies and the animals huddled in the back of the cave, waiting for whatever was to come.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Shadow Spirit and the three braves rode toward the old barn and once again, he could smell food there had to be someone close by. He could see that the door was slightly ajar as he rode closer and a rocking chair and two small cradles sat in front of the structure. He knew that it had not been there the last time he had ventured here in his search for Abby. He motioned for his companions to dismount and gave the signal for silence. They walked to the door of the barn and peered inside in amazement at the neat little cabin.

  Creeping closer they opened the entrance to the lodge and listened for sound coming from inside. Shadow Spirit gestured to Moon Rising to look in the window. He shook his head that he did not see anyone. They stepped over the threshold to find a well-furnished dwelling. There was food on the stove, still warm from there morning meal. Someone lived here and whoever it was had a baby for there were diapers hanging up to dry.

  “Come let us look around outside,” he said.

  Once they were back in the yard Shadow Spirit saw Storm coming toward them just as Moon Rising raised his bow to let an arrow fly. Shadow Spirit grabbed his arm causing the arrow to miss the wolf.

  “This is my friend,” Shadow Spirit said as he rubbed the big wolf’s head.

  “I am sorry, I did not recognize him.” Moon Rising had changed in the days since they had left the village. He was much more respectful to his chief and to the other braves. Shadow Spirit had talked to the brave at length and had found out why he behaved in the manner that he did. He had been influenced by the dark exploits of Black Heart. His father had been one of the warriors that had joined Black Heart when he was bani
shed from the tribe. Moon Rising’s father had later been killed in a raid. Shadow Spirit believed that there was hope for the young man.

  “You two look around down by the creek, Moon Rising and I will look more closely around here.”

  They walked to the back of the barn, looking for footprints on the soft ground. Just as they were about to give up Shadow Spirit saw Storm go into a cave at the foot of the mountain that seemed to almost touch the barn. Weeds had grown up around the entrance which made it easy to miss. He followed the wolf inside. Narrow pathways led in different directions he decided to take the path that ran to left of the first cave.

  He came to a large cavern that was well worn on the floor. Moon Rising looked around seeing the bench along side of the cave wall he motioned to the chief.

  “Yes, I see it. This is not just a cave. There have been animals here like the ones the whites keep.” Shadow Spirit looked around for Storm who had disappeared down one of the passageways leading further back into the side of the mountain. He followed the wolf until he came to where a smaller cave housed a pool.

  “This place is a whole world into its self,” Shadow Spirit shivered at the cold air that circulated through the cave. At closer examination of the pool, he saw a rope coming out of the water. He pulled up the rope to find a jar of milk on the other end of the rope. Someone lived here. He remembered helping a woman that had been caught in a trap that she had set herself. He never thought about it anymore after that. It had been on the path to the old barn. The woman had looked oddly familiar like he had seen her somewhere before but could not remember where.

  “Shadow Spirit listen I hear something that sounds like a baby crying.”

  “It is only the wind that comes from where the water seeps into the mountain. Let us leave this place and go back to the outside.” Shadow Spirit was becoming discouraged he was so certain that he would find Abby this time.