Lakota Winds (Zebra Historical Romance)

by Janelle Taylor

  Wind Dancer kept his gaze on the chief, as looking at the beautiful and tempting woman beside him would be most distracting. "That is true, Tall Elk. I will become her mate, hunter, protector, and father of her children."

  "Dewdrops, my daughter, you agree to become Wind Dancer's mate, mother of his children, and sacred quest companion?"

  Chumani was all too aware of the handsome and virile male beside her, and she dared not even glance at him and risk exposing her mixed feelings for him. "That is true, my father; I will obey the Great Spirit's commands."

  Tall Elk smiled. "It is good. We will feast before you go into the forest to seal your bond."

  As the group ate food provided by many White Shield families, the joyful people mingled and talked and placed gifts for the couple in a pile near the chief's tepee entrance: blankets, clothing, work and decorative items for their new tepee in the Red Shield camp, beaded jewelry for both people, pelts and hides, rush mats, pemmican and other foods for their journey home, leather pouches of healing and cooking herbs and plants, and adorned parfleches in which to carry their belongings.

  As Wind Dancer roamed amidst the crowd and Chumani stayed near her parents' dwelling to accept and give thanks for the gifts, Rainbow Girl-wife of her brother, Fire Walker-joined her.

  Rainbow Girl looked at the hawk nearby. "He is uneasy."

  "Yes, he does not understand why strangers come near me and why he must be tethered to protect them from his sharp talons and beak. Soon he will learn to accept them." Chumani stroked the anxious bird's head and neck with the backs of her fingers and spoke in a gentle and loving tone to him. As if the creature understood her words, the large hawk rubbed the top of its head against her open palm many times, its round and shiny eyes focused on her face.

  "You will take him with you?"

  "Yes, he is my friend and we have been together since I was ten. He has not chosen to leave me and take a mate. Perhaps one sun he will do so."

  "Your new garments are lovely, Dewdrops. Are you uneasy about what lies ahead on this moon and during the suns to follow soon?" the other woman asked in a whisper.

  She nodded, but did not explain, as two people halted within hearing range as they admired Wind Dancer's horse and its markings. "I will not be here to see the face of your first child when it takes its first breath of the Great Spirit's air, my sister," Chumani said, as the mates of siblings were often called "sister" or "brother." She touched Rainbow Girl's protruding stomach and sighed. "I will not be here to tend you while you grow strong again or watch the baby while you do chores or help you teach your child. I will miss you and my brother and such special events."

  "We will miss you, Dewdrops, my sister. You will be in our thoughts each sun. We will pray for your happiness and safety."

  "As I will pray and work for yours. It is good my brother chose you for himself; you will be a good chief's mate."

  "Your words are kind and your heart is good, Dewdrops."

  "As are yours. When my brother and the hunter-warriors are out of camp, keep your child close and watch over it with eagle eyes, for the Crow and Whites grow bold this season."

  "I know this, my sister, and I will guard my child each sun and moon.'

  Fire Walker joined them. He embraced his sister. "My love and pride are great for you, Dewdrops, and I will miss you. Wind Dancer will be a good mate for you. When the time comes, I hope I will be riding with you two on the sacred task."

  "If that is to be, my brother, it will make me happy. You are brave and skilled; you would drive fear into the hearts of our enemies."

  "Soon we will see each other again when we hunt the buffalo."

  She touched Fire Walker's arm. "That sun cannot come fast enough for me, my brother. I will miss my family, friends, and people."

  "You are sad because Zitkala is not here to share this sun with you?"

  "That is true, Rainbow Girl."

  "I will tell her all that happened when she returns to camp."

  "Thank you, my sister."

  Wind Dancer arrived then. "It is time to seek privacy," he said.

  "I am ready to go," Chumani responded with faked courage. "See to Cetan until my return," she asked her brother, who nodded agreement.

  They mounted the prepared horses, waved farewell to the stillcelebrating group, and rode out of the White Shield camp to spend the first night of their new life together.

  While riding slightly ahead of her in silence so he would not become distracted from his guard duty, Wind Dancer guided Chumani over a gently rolling terrain of grassland which edged the Paha Sapa and traveled toward the rising sun. That verdant landscape was dotted with solitary trees and scrub bushes and with scattered clusters of intermingled pine, spruce, and hardwoods. Multicolored wildflowers and other plants wafted amidst the lush green covering and added beauty to the serene setting. They sighted buffalo, deer, and pronghorn grazing, and two wolves loping across a low hill, though none took much notice of them.

  In one area, they had to skirt a prairie dog village where countless furry creatures fussed and scampered into their burrows and a few stood tall and brave while staring at them. Both knew the perils of entering such a location, as stepping into an unseen hole could cause serious injury. In addition, those underground dwellings were often inhabited by deadly snakes and other creatures which could strike out with no warning. As the wakankiciyuzapi journey continued, their movements flushed out startled doves, quail, and rabbits.

  Small birds flew and larger ones circled overhead, reminding her of Cetan and of the brown hawk painted upon his new war shield. She was nervous about what lay ahead tonight and wondered where he was taking her, but she refused to ask him. She wished she were riding in the lead, as it was a constant struggle not to watch his loosened black hair blowing in the breeze, to seek glimpses of his profile when he turned his head in either direction to check their surroundings, and to quell the unbidden desires which crept into her body.

  Wind Dancer fought the same battle against irrepressible passion as he wondered what she was thinking and feeling, as he sensed her potent gaze on him. It was difficult, impossible at times, to keep his mind on his guard duty. Just knowing she was close by and she now belonged to him ignited a hungry fire in his loins.

  They passed through tranquil meadows, near-dense forests, and beside mountains with tall pinnacles and steep sides in a shade as dark as a moonless night. They crossed several streams and one winding river. As dusk neared, they followed the latter's banks until they reached the canyon Wind Dancer had chosen for their campsite, a place with towering jagged cliffs on three of four sides so no enemy could sneak easily up on them.

  Before Chumani could dismount, Wind Dancer grasped her by the waist and lifted her down. As her moccasins touched the ground, their gazes fused and they stared at each other for a short time. Her hands, which had gone reflexively to the tops of his shoulders, slowly slid down his chest and halted near his heart.

  Wind Dancer trailed his left forefinger across her cheek and over her mouth. He found even this light contact with her stimulating. It had wounded his pride when his first wife never reached out to him of her own volition, only yielded to him out of submissive duty. He had taken her as his mate out of a similar sense of duty, thinking and being told it was time for the future chief to seek his own tepee and begin a family. He did not want to repeat that unpleasant experience. He had to discover if passion for him dwelled within Chumani's body, however deeply concealed. He wanted her flesh to burn with the same fiery desire which scorched his. He slid his finger under her chin to raise her head when she lowered it; he was glad she did not jerk away from him. His thumb drifted over her parted lips and felt her warm breath upon it, then his hand roamed into her dark and shiny hair.

  The yearning to respond to this stranger was so great it almost overwhelmed Chumani. Yet, those urgent longings for him alarmed her. He seemed to take possession of her soul and emotions just as he claimed her mouth and ruled her destiny. Th
e kiss was both intimidating and exciting. Never had her first husband evoked such feelings within her. If Wind Dancer continued to tempt her so, it would be impossible to resist him. Had it been only this morning, when he appeared in her camp and declared a bold and shocking claim to her? So much had happened since the sun arose that it seemed much longer. Soon darkness would blanket the land and they would ...

  When Wind Dancer felt her stiffen in his embrace, he separated their lips and gazed down at her. He read disquiet in her dark eyes, and felt her tremble. "Do you fear me?" he asked gently.

  "No," she forced herself to say. It was true she was not afraid of him as a man, only of his enormous effect upon her and her life.

  "Does contempt for me fill your heart?"

  "No."

  "Do you fear what happens between a man and a woman on a sleeping mat? Do you scorn such touching with me?"

  Chumani felt her cheeks grow warm at those unexpected and intimate questions. "You have not touched me in such a manner, so how can I speak of that which has not happened?"

  "If all you say is true, why do you shake as a leaf in the wind? Why does your gaze reveal such sadness and unrest? If a kiss and embrace so repulse you, how will you endure the union of our bodies?"

  "We are strangers, and such touching is special. It should take place between a man and woman who know and love each other. We have not shared walks or been around each other for many seasons. You have not played the flute for me or ridden me upon your horse. We have not shared the talking blanket. We did not choose to join each other."

  Wind Dancer knew if they were to have a peaceful tepee and to accept each other, he could not force or trick her into surrender, or allow her to learn this soon how much he hungered for her, as that powerful secret could tempt her to take advantage of him. Even male birds and animals courted their chosen ones, and the female would not accept a mating until she was ready; so, should he not, as a man, do the same? "That is true," he answered bluntly, then sought a change of topic. "While I tend the horses, gather wood for a fire," he instructed.

  Chumani watched him unload their belongings and lead the horses away to where the two animals would graze and drink. She was confused, and relieved by his restraint. She had sensed his hunger for a union and felt the hard proof of it against her body. Yet, that need might be nothing more than physical, as with Dull Star.

  As she gathered wood and arranged rocks in a circle, she told herself it was good fortune her woman's blood flow had ceased two moons before his arrival so she would not have to deal with it for a long time. As was her people's custom, she had spent three suns and moons in the separated shelter-the cansakawakeya. Following a purifying sweatbath, she had washed herself in the river, donned fresh garments which had been smoked by her mother over a fire of evergreen leaves and wood, and returned to her parents' tepee. That thought brought forth unhappy memories from her past.

  When they first joined, she recalled, Dull Star rolled atop her to thrash wildly and grunt out his needs almost every moon until she was soon with child. Then he had ceased until long after their son's birth; and she had rejoiced in that lengthy reprieve. When he returned to taking her upon the sleeping mat, it was only for one time between each blood cycle and on the first night immediately following her stay in the cansakawakeya and ensuing purification, as if it were the only time she were pure and clean enough for him to enter her body. She had been glad he reached out for her so rarely, as those unions were unpleasant and sometimes almost painful. Yet, with Wind Dancer, her body urged her to respond to his touch. She could not help but hope it would be different, be good, with him, as she did not want to spend her nights being invaded by a rough and selfish mate.

  Chumani forced those worries to leave her mind as she knelt by the stone enclosure and withdrew two sticks from a thong-bound bundle of them. She poured sand from a pouch onto the larger one with a depression cut into one side, placed dry leaves and grass atop it, and used the smaller round one to roll between her hands until sparks ignited a tiny blaze. She blew upon it as she slowly added more leaves and sticks. When it was burning sufficiently, she added wood.

  After Wind Dancer returned, they sat together on a thick hide, ate leftovers from their joining feast, and drank water from a buffalo bladder bag. Darkness was approaching at a swift pace as the last rays of sunlight faded on the western horizon and a half-moon made its presence known in the eastern sky. Each was aware of the other's close proximity and seductive allure. Neither could imagine what lay ahead for them on this momentous night.

  As he eyed two scars from mourning cuts sliced upon her forearm, he said, "Your father told me about the loss of your husband and son two winters past. It was the same for me. Perhaps those who killed our families will fall prey to our knives or arrows during our sacred quest."

  Chumani touched the faint lines which represented the two circles of seasons of her child's short life. "That would please me, for my son has not been avenged unless that Bird warrior has fallen prey to another's arrow."

  "How did you capture and train the hawk who lives with you?" he asked, her words reminding him of that feathered companion. "I have never known another to have a giant bird of the sky as a friend."

  "I found Cetan injured when I was a child. I took him to our tepee and tended him until he was healed. We came to love each other, so he did not leave me. He often flies away for one or two suns to hunt and search his territory, but he always returns to me. He has never taken a mate, but surely he will do so one sun, for hawks mate for life. Sometimes he brings me rabbits, squirrels, or other small animals he has captured. I cook part of his gift and he feeds on the other. It pleases him to hunt for me and watch me eat his offerings. He endures the presence of others, but no one can touch him except me. He does not claw or bite those close to me, but he attacks when I battle enemies. Many times he has swooped down on concealed foes and warned me of their approach. He has grabbed bows, knives, and lances from the hands of enemies. He is very smart and wise, and very protective of me. He was hunting when the Crow attacked me in the Brave Heart forest, or he would have helped me defeat them. I will take him to your camp with me unless you forbid it."

  "There is no reason to forbid it, Dewdrops, unless he becomes a danger to the children of my camp. They will be told not to approach or touch him, and will be punished if they do not obey. But he will not be allowed to attack without reason. If he cannot accept his new surroundings, you must release him for the safety of others." He watched her nod in agreement. "Since he is well trained and loyal, perhaps there is some way he can help us on our sacred quest." He looked deep into her eyes before seeking an answer important to him. "Why did you speak false words to me in forest? You are not called Morning Mist and you are not a Brave Heart."

  Chumani noticed that he changed the topic. She surmised he was not ready to discuss their coming challenge together or perhaps did not want her to ask about the vision hawk he had painted upon his war shield. "I am Dewdrops, which is the morning mist; and I did not say I was of the Brave Heart Band. I did not intrude upon their land to be bad. My thoughts had roamed as I enjoyed the rebirth of Mother Earth and I walked too far before my mind cleared. I did not tell you my name and band or accept your offer to escort me, for I did not wish for you to ride to my camp with me. To hear of my bad deed and danger would not please my father and brother. I thank you for not exposing such things to them."

  "How did you vanish?" he asked, and listened in amazement while she explained her actions that day. "Your skills are many, Dewdrops. We have walked the same path many times. We were both born of a chief's seeds. We have both lost our mates and sons. We have fought the Crow together. Perhaps that reveals we are well matched as mates and quest companions."

  Chumani allowed his last statement to pass without her remarking on it. "What is the task which lies before us and why were we chosen for it?"

  "I do not know; the Great Spirit has not revealed those answers to us. When the time comes, He w
ill tell our shaman and perhaps tell yours."

  "How will we defeat our enemies? We are only two people."

  "I do not know," he answered frankly. "That lies in the mind of the Great Mystery."

  "Why do we not plant the war lance between the Bird People and the White-eyes? There are many ways we could do so. That would halt a truce or alliance between them, then each force alone would be easier to defeat."

  "How would you cause trouble between our enemies?"

  She was surprised that he asked her opinion, and was pleased he had done so. "There are many cunning ways to cause trouble between them. Do you not possess Crow war prizes in your camp?" After he nodded, she said, "They could be left behind when we harass the White-eyes to lead them to believe the Bird People are to blame. We could steal the white man's horses and picket them near Crow camps. The hard moccasins their animals wear will leave tracks even the wasicun or their Bluecoats can follow. When we attack Crow hunting parties, we can leave behind possessions we have stolen from the White-eyes. Such things will cause suspicions and hostilities between them."

  "Your words are wise, and I will not forget them." He looked to the sky. "Night has come and it is time to rest. I will return soon."

  Chumani wanted to get past the impending awkward moment fast. While Wind Dancer went to check on their horses, she unrolled the sleeping mat, undressed, and lay on the soft buffalo hide, naked. "I am ready," she told him upon his return in a voice hoarsened by apprehension.