Bittersweet Ecstasy

by Taylor, Janelle

  “But I am trapped unless…” She halted and blushed.

  “Speak, Tashina, for time to save you is short,” Sun Cloud urged.

  Without meeting his probing gaze, she confessed, “Unless he fights the death challenge for me, as is his right by first possession.”

  Sun Cloud frowned in dismay, then began to smile. “It is good; it is Grandfather’s answer to our prayers.”

  Her head jerked upward and she stared at him. “I do not care if I am shamed for loving him, but I cannot let him challenge death.”

  “He would win, Tashina, if it came to a battle for you. But I do not think it will. If you confess all to your father, he will speak privately with Silver Hawk and they will agree to sever his claim on you. Silver Hawk would choose to reject you rather than have this information revealed, for he still could not have you afterward. No man of honor would fight for a woman who desires another man, who has given herself to this other man, who will show her choice of the other man during the battle. A man of wisdom would not risk his life to battle for a prize already lost, to risk jokes and taunts.”

  “But Silver Hawk is not a man of wisdom or honor,” she asserted.

  “Whatever happens, you must take this last chance. Agreed?”

  Tashina thought for only a moment, then said, “Agreed.”

  General Phillip Cooper, under the guise of “Captain Paul Willis,” had been observing the men and conditions at the fort since Tuesday night. Friday morning, tomorrow, half of his men would arrive and he would expose his identity and take charge. He had learned a great deal about the situation and soldiers soon to be under his command.

  He knew that Major Gerald Butler had not followed the orders which had been sent to him: keep the peace and stay out of trouble. He knew about the ambush on Gray Eagle and the Sioux, which alleged the infamous leader was dead. He knew how many soldiers had been slain because of that stupid blunder by a glory-seeking officer who was not fit to wear his uniform. He knew about the foiled trap earlier this week, and the death of the signalman. He had heard the rumors about the rivalry between Butler and Ames, who appeared to be a good man. Butler, he concluded, had been a fool to give the Indians such a superior martyr, if indeed Gray Eagle was dead. Butler had not stolen or reduced their spirit; he had given it new blood and purpose! Butler had been here a long time, but he had failed to assess his foe wisely or accurately. As with that idiotic trap, didn’t Butler know the Indians could hear him coming for miles with the fast and noisy riding his men had done to catch up to close the ridiculous trap? Did the man know nothing about strategy and surprise? Cooper decided his first act would be to reprimand and demote Butler and Smith. His second would be to defeat all Indians, once he taught the men their fears were groundless.

  Cooper realized the men were a mixture of cowardice and cockiness, and both flaws had to be corrected instantly. By the time the other half of his men arrived, the Indians would not stand a chance against them. He hoped the notorious Gray Eagle was not dead, for he wanted to capture him and study him; any great leader could teach another great leader many things. There was no denying that Gray Eagle had that special ability to band men together and to lead them into countless dangers and victories. But Gray Eagle’s day was past, and he would prove it. He did not want the American government to weaken before the Indians by offering them a truce; he wanted to prove the whites were superior and could defeat any foe.

  If necessary, he would drive these weaklings into the ground if that was what he had to do to whip them into proper soldiers. He had displayed his skills in the last war, and he would do so again in this one. America and the U.S. Army would not back down before savages! He would teach Butler how to set a real trap and spring it…

  Early the next morning, Captain Clarence Smith took a small detail to cut wood. While a few of his men stood guard over the cutters, he took a walk, he claimed to relieve himself. Knowing Silver Hawk could speak English, he did not take a scout with him to interpret. He reached the area where Red Band always met with the traitorous Blackfeet warrior and waited for the man’s arrival. Just as he was about to give up, assuming either Silver Hawk had not found his message or was not coming, the Indian joined him.

  “You are a fool to come alone, white-dog,” Silver Hawk scoffed.

  “You have things all wrong, Silver Hawk. Me and Butler didn’t have anything to do with the attack on your war camp. That was Major Ames’s doing. He’s been trying to outshine Butler before our new commander arrives. He knew our ambush would work and we’d be ranked higher than him. Don’t worry, Butler won’t let Ames leave the fort again, not until we find a way to get rid of him. How about we set up a trap for him? He’s trouble. We all need to be rid of him, and his friend Daniels. Hell, we hope you can trap Cooper when he arrives and get rid of him too. We’ll make it worth your while.”

  “How so? I do not need your help. I will be chief soon.”

  “Not if your people and the other tribes find out you’ve been helping us defeat them,” Smith boldly refuted.

  “If I slay you, no one can learn the truth,” the warrior parried.

  “You’re wrong. I’m not the only one who knows about you. If I don’t return safely, Butler will order the scouts to expose your deeds.”

  “Who would believe you?” Silver Hawk debated coldly.

  “Come on. You know that ambush smells of treachery. With a little help, they’ll figure it out. Besides, we don’t need to be threatening each other. We need each other.”

  “How so?” the Indian asked skeptically.

  “We need you to get rid of our enemies for us, and you need us to give you supplies and protection for your people. What good is it to become chief if we harass you so much you can’t do your buffalo hunt or make weapons or defend your camp? We can make sure you have all of those things, Silver Hawk. Once we’re rid of the troublemakers, Indian and White, we’ll form a truce with your tribe. You can come and go as you please. Isn’t that what you want?”

  “How can Silver Hawk trust you again?”

  “The same way we can trust you. You’re forgetting, you know the truth about us. If we fail, we all go down together.”

  Silver Hawk eyed the soldier wearing the red bandana and knew he could not trust this man, that the bluecoat was only trying to use him to get what he wanted. Yet, that was exactly what he was doing to them. Perhaps he could use them a while longer… “I will trust you until you prove false once more. Give me your weapon. I wish to use it to slay Medicine Bear to make it appear the doing of a white man.”

  “I’ll trade you the gun for a girl in your camp,” Smith countered.

  “Which girl?” Silver Hawk inquired quickly.

  “The one called Singing Wind. I want her.”

  “Do you know who this girl is?’ Silver Hawk demanded.

  “Red Band said she’s the daughter of Medicine Bear. You won’t need her around after you become chief.”

  “She is the sister of Silver Hawk,” he informed the soldier.

  “Your sister?” Smith echoed incredulously.

  “But you can have her later. I do not like the way she watches me. The next time we meet, I will bring her to you. She is wild, so you must tame her,” he said with a chilling laugh.

  Smith licked his lips in anticipation, rubbed his hands together eagerly, and chuckled. “Good. Here,” he offered, handing Silver Hawk his gun. “You know how to use it?”

  “I know. We will meet here again in four moons, and she will be yours.” Knowing Smith and Butler might be angry with him after the impending attack on the soldiers’ camp far away, he slyly warned, “Your leader has angered the others and they will be nipping at your heels for the next few suns. This will not be my doing, but I cannot stop them. Watch your life and men closely for surprise attacks. When we meet again, you will tell me of the trap planned for your enemies.”

  “I will, Silver Hawk. You’re a smart man.”

  “That is how I have stayed alive so long. D
o not trick me again.”

  “You’ve got my word. I’d best get back before they come looking for me. Here, in four days.” Smith left the grinning man standing there.

  “You are a fool. I will use you, then destroy you,” he vowed before slipping away as secretly as he had arrived. As he rode, intrigue filled his mind: “Trap Cooper when he arrives…”

  Silver Hawk would not learn until much later that Smith and his detail never made it back to the fort. Flaming Bow, chief of a Cheyenne band, attacked and killed all but one man. As Smith had shouted in panic, “Throw me your gun, Clint,” the chief had realized who the other man was, the one mentioned at the war council.

  As planned, if possible, Flaming Bow spared Clint’s life and gave him a message, “We let you live, bluecoat, for you battle a war which is not of your making. Your name and deeds are known to us. The sons of Gray Eagle say you are to live. Take these words to the bluecoat called Ames: his life is in danger; the one called Butler wishes to slay him secretly so he cannot speak the words of truth to the new white leader. Tell the one called Butler he is a walking dead man, for the spirit of Gray Eagle is seeking his life. Go, and leave these lands before you are slain without our knowing.”

  Clint could not believe this second stroke of luck, and he promised to relay the two messages. He looked at Flaming Bow for a moment before saying, “Be careful; the new white leader is not a good man. But another white man is coming soon, called Sturgis, a friend of Gray Eagle’s and all Indians. If peace can be made, Sturgis will do it. Tell your people and the other tribes to make sure he lives long enough.”

  “We know of this man and wait for his coming. It is good.”

  Flaming Bow removed the red bandana and scalplock of Clarence Smith to give to the Oglalas; Gray Eagle was avenged at last.

  Bright Arrow’s band returned as the rest period was beginning to prepare for the attack on Moore’s camp tonight. Soul-of-Thunder and Windrider had arrived an hour ago and were waiting for him with Tashina; they had discussed the predicament and decided how to handle it, based on Sun Cloud’s advice to Tashina. All looked at Bright Arrow as he entered his tepee and halted to gaze at them, one at a time.

  Before she lost her courage, Tashina hurriedly confessed, “Father, it is past time for the truth. I cannot join Silver Hawk. I belong to Soul-of-Thunder in all ways. If you cannot convince Silver Hawk to release me, my love must issue the death challenge for me.” If necessary, Tashina was prepared to claim she was pregnant.

  “It has gone this far between you?” Bright Arrow inquired.

  “Yes,” Tashina and Soul-of-Thunder replied simultaneously, holding hands tightly to give each other support and encouragement.

  Bright Arrow looked at Windrider and said, “I cannot believe my tepee faces dishonor through the family of my best friend. My heart suffers from this pain and betrayal. I did not know your son was weak and cruel. I should not have trusted him alone with my daughter. Did you know of their secret love and shame, Windrider?”

  A surge of protective loyalty and vexation charged through the Cheyenne war chief. “My son told me of their love and trouble two moons past. I asked him to wait until the war council ended and we could come to speak with my friend.” Windrider carefully related what he knew and how he believed the problem should be solved.

  “You know of the visions, my friend. How can this be right? Does Evil seek to harm me through the son of my best friend?”

  Windrider replied softly, “Silver Hawk said he saw Tashina standing at his side; he did not say they were joined. Is this not true?”

  Bright Arrow recalled Silver Hawk’s words and nodded. Windrider suggested, “Explain this matter to him, and give him another female of high rank. Surely he will agree when he knows all. It will spare your daughter and my son of shame before their tribes.”

  Bright Arrow glared at Windrider’s son. “If you love her, why did you do this to her?” he accused with fatherly instinct. “A man does not dishonor his true love; he does not take her before a joining.”

  “As Windrider did not take Sky Eyes before their joining; as Gray Eagle did not take Shalee before their joining; as you did not take my mother before your joining,” Tashina reminded him, her eyes misty and her heart aching. “Love is not dishonor; love is impatient when times are filled with evil and dangers, when your love could be dead that sun or the next. I am to blame, Father, for I enticed him beyond his strength to resist me and our desires.”

  “No,” Soul-of-Thunder interjected. “I am to blame. She is young and innocent of mind. I swayed her thoughts and feelings.”

  “But what will others say and think of this flaw in my vision?” Bright Arrow argued. “To cast doubts on one part may cast doubts on others, and on me. How can I resist the vision’s commands?”

  Windrider pulled him aside and asked, “Do you recall how I once blinded you to the truth when we shared a vision over Rebecca? Men can be misguided by their greed or desires, and trick others.”

  Bright Arrow looked at his friend and remembered that day long ago when Windrider had controlled his vision and tried to steal his love, but with good intentions. He remembered Sun Cloud’s words about a traitor in one of the camps. He remembered how suspicious the deaths of Medicine Bear’s sons were. He thought of everything that had taken place recently. He recalled his past. Was it possible that Silver Hawk had duped him? Was this Grandfather’s way of revealing the truth to him? No, it could not be, for that would make him a fool! And all was going as the vision had said! No, all was not going that way…

  “Your son is a sash wearer and goes into battle this night. If it is the will of Grandfather for him to survive and return, I will accept it and they will join before another moon passes. If he is slain, she will join Silver Hawk as the vision commands. I will tell Silver Hawk the truth, and I will give him another mate. We must prepare for battle.”

  Tashina rushed forward to hug her father, but he held her away and warned, “You must obey the will of Grandfather. Do you agree?”

  She glanced at her true love and said, “I will obey, Father.”

  Before they could depart, Silver Hawk arrived, to accompany them to the meeting place. Bright Arrow called his friend into his tepee and related this turn in events to the astonished warrior. A quick thinker, Silver Hawk deliberated, “Perhaps I allowed my desire for her to mislead me. Perhaps she only stood at my side as a friend and family. If she loves Soul-ofThunder, she must join to him. Perhaps it is good, for another seizes my eyes and loins each time I visit you, Little Flower, the daughter of Dull Knife. Will she join to me?”

  “What if the son of Windrider is slain this night?”

  “Then I will join both, for I will need two wives. Shining Feather desires to return to her tribe and family. She is shamed by her lack of children and does not wish to live in the tepee with those of another woman. I will have the female I desire, and I can spare Tashina of all shame and help her find new happiness and love if he dies this moon. It is good, my friend and brother,” he lied cheerfully, artfully.

  Bright Arrow quickly sent for Little Flower who was soothing her anger at Sun Cloud for spurning her. When she was told of Silver Hawk’s desire and offer, she impetuously accepted it; for he was handsome, virile, and would soon be a chief. Dull Knife was summoned and he agreed, after he heard that Silver Hawk desired his daughter more than Tashina and Tashina desired another over the Blackfoot warrior. Dull Knife was anxious to get his daughter joined, for he was becoming aware of her fiery blood which would soon need appeasing.

  The men laughed and the joining gifts were agreed upon, to be delivered after the coming battle, when the Indian marriage would take place. Dull Knife and Bright Arrow left to relate this news to the others involved, as the tribe would be informed tomorrow of their misinterpretation of this vision point.

  Silver Hawk lowered the flap for a few moments of privacy with Little Flower. He guessed why the hot-blooded girl had accepted, but he did not care. All he w
anted from her was her helpless body and children. He would make everyone think he preferred her over Tashina. Later, he would deal with Tashina and Soul-of-Thunder! This girl was as ripe as a buffalo berry and he would pluck her from beneath Sun Cloud’s nose! One day, he would have Tashina too; she would pay for her betrayal with the death of her love and under his cruel hands.

  “I am happy and honored you will become my mate on the new sun, Little Flower. Each time I see you my heart races with excitement and my body burns with desire. I could not join Tashina when you are the woman who causes me to ache with hunger. I did not wish to hurt my friend of Tashina by refusing her, but you are the one I want and need. When I said I would take you both as mates, Windrider’s son took her off my hands. It is good. When a man has a woman of such beauty and fire, he only wishes to sleep upon her mat.”

  As he spoke seductively, Silver Hawk caressed her cheek and began to nibble at her ear, causing her to tremble and flush. He sealed their mouths and drove her wild with his skills. His hands boldly wandered under her top and teased her taut peaks between his fingers. Soon, his hand lifted her skirt and eased beneath her breechcloth to tantalize the throbbing peak there. He kissed her and fondled her feverishly. Laughing inside at her weakness for him and these sensations, he raised her top and suckled erotically at her breasts as his hand continued to stimulate her until she shuddered with a release.

  He kissed her once more, then said, “This pleasure is nothing compared to what you will enjoy on my mat on the next moon. Sleep while the sun is high, for we will work the moon away passionately.”

  Little Flower breathlessly replied, “I am happy and honored. I will be ready and eager for you, Silver Hawk. My treasure is yours.”

  Silver Hawk left her standing there, quivering and dreaming of tomorrow night, when he would show her what it was to have a man take a woman with savage pleasure. He vowed she would regret the many times she had offered her “treasure” to Sun Cloud and other men!