Lakota Winds (Zebra Historical Romance)

by Janelle Taylor

  After they emptied one keelboat, they rushed to the second to do the same. As so much time had passed during their previous task, Wind Dancer assigned Zitkala to watch for any approaching threat. Without her, it required longer for them to dump that load; and they were aware of the gradually vanishing night and slowly subsiding storm, along with the fact they were afoot and had a long way to retreat across ground with little to conceal them and the horse. They saved one small keg of gunpowder, a few weapons, and some of the supplies to use during future raids on the Crow.

  While War Eagle, Zitkala, and Red Feather hauled those items to the lone packhorse and secured them in place, Wind Dancer lingered to plant possessions they had taken from Four Wolves and his small band in places where the traders would find them and hold the Apsaalooke to blame for this daring and destructive deed. Chaheechopes's bow and another's quiver-since Four Wolves's wanju had not been recovered from the Spirit Dog's cunning theft-were placed near the stillunconscious guards as if those weapons had been forgotten or left behind in a rush to escape. He placed the Crow hatchet atop the other boat's center structure, then hurried to join his companions behind dense scrub brush. With their bold deed completed, they knew that all they had to do was get away without encountering trouble.

  Chumani waited in mounting dread and suspense. She knew the raid would take a long time, but she thought they should have returned by now. The weather had worsened after their departure, though it appeared to be improving as the night slipped away. She worried they had gotten captured or been injured, and struggled against the thought of a worse fate. She had heard many booming sounds but was certain it was only thunder, not the noise of the wasicun's weapon. She was sure they could find their way to and from the locations even blindfolded, so they could not have gotten lost. Yet, they had gone afoot and near weaponless. She knew she could not bear it if anything dire had happened to her beloved husband and her best friend, and she would grieve over the losses of War Eagle and Red Feather. How could she, Chumani fretted, carry on with daily life and with the visionquest without them? Surely the Great Spirit would not demand such horrible sacrifices from them, from her, in order to obtain peace and survival for their people.

  More time passed, and her tension grew. The violent lightning and crashing thunder decreased, and gradually the rain slowed its pounding force and ominous clouds dispersed. A half-moon peeked from behind them, yet its light was not enough for her to locate her loved ones at the river.

  She knew she could not stay where she was to greet the morning sun and what it brought with it. Besides the discovery of her companions' daring deed and the ensuing uproar over it and search of the surrounding area for those responsible, Bert was sure to send his men after her for the horses and trade goods. She had to confront and accept the bitter truth: if they were alive and unharmed, they would have returned by now. With the moon in occasional view, she could not lie and say she did not know it had reached the location in the sky where her husband had told her to leave; and she had promised to obey him.

  With clothes and hair soaked and her spirits low, Chumani descended the almost slippery hillside after scanning the area one last time. She gathered their possessions and loaded them. She had never imagined she would be making the return ride alone. She told herself she must not lose faith and hope; she must believe they would catch up with her soon, even though she had their horses and weapons. She mounted, grasped the other four horses' tethers, and headed toward the Sica River to follow its bank toward their summer camp.

  As she journeyed over the rolling landscape, the gentle rain halted. The storm was gone, and would not conceal her departure tracks. The wind still blew forcefully, but the air warmed steadily. The sky cleared and brightened as dawn approached from her rear; now she would be visible from a distance until she reached concealing trees. Yet, she knew she was leaving a trail even a small boy could follow. She kept her weapons ready to use, as she was certain they would be needed when the post trader's men eventually pursued her.

  Every few minutes, Chumani glanced over her shoulder to see if Zeb and the other man were galloping up behind her, and sighed in relief each time the terrain was clear of attackers. Then, without warning and close upon relief, came the dreaded; she sighted two riders-white men-galloping in her direction. She urged her horse onward at a swifter pace and pulled on the other four's tethers to coax them closer and faster. If she could make it to a section of trees and scrubs not far away and dismount before they reached her, she knew she had a better chance to defend herself. She almost did not care if they stole the packhorse and trade goods, but she did not want them to take the horses and weapons of War Eagle, Zitkala, and Red Feather, and especially not the possessions of Wind Dancer.

  Chumani glanced over her shoulder again and realized the men were gaining on her fast. As her destination drew nearer, she was certain she could reach it before they closed the gap between them. As soon as the horses' thongs were secured and her husband's weapons were protected, she would give the two enemies a surprise they would never forget, for they would not expect an attack or ever imagine her to be so skilled with a bow and arrows.

  She rode into the trees to use them as shields for herself and the winded animals. She bounded from her horse and tied all leashes to sturdy bushes. She grabbed her bow and quiver and darted behind a cottonwood where she jabbed the sharp tips of several arrows into the rain-softened ground, readying them for hasty retrieval. She made a daring plan of attack as she nocked the first chokecherry shaft. She knew she had to shoot fast and accurately once she showed herself and before they could take aim and fire their weapons. At least there were only two of them. She heard them approach and halt several tepees' length from her. She stayed still and quiet and listened to their offensive words.

  "Come on out, woman, 'cause you cain't git away from us!"

  Zeb laughed. "You're wasting your breath, Harry, 'cause she don't speak no English. Keep alert, man, 'cause she might try to jump us. I don't plan on getting bit, scratched, or stuck with no rusty knife today."

  "You said she was a real looker, Zeb, so I'd like a piece of her afore we slit her throat. You know we can't leave her alive to go a tattling to her people about us stealing her horses and goods. You said there wuz two of 'em, so where's the other one? And where did she git more horses?"

  "Probably stole them near the post. I guess the other one's riding ahead for some reason. You can't ever tell with them dumb Injuns. I guess we got to dismount and look for her. Just keep your eyes and ears open.

  Chumani took a deep breath and invoked the Great Spirit's help. She leapt from behind the large cottonwood, prepared to fire at the one named Harry. She was releasing the arrow just as Wind Dancer and Red Feather jumped the two white men from tree limbs above them, sending forth war whoops as they did so. With sharp reflexes, she jerked the bow toward the left and altered its path before it could wound or slay her beloved husband. As her widened gaze watched the hand-tohand battles, she thanked Wakantanka for allowing her to save Wind Dancer's life. Taken by surprise and pitted against warriors with superior prowess, the white men were slain quickly.

  Wind Dancer's dark gaze left his conquered foe's body and focused on his wife. He smiled at her. "Your skills grow larger each sun, mitawin, and your courage and wits are great. We were forced to wait until they walked beneath us," he explained. "We did not reveal our presence to you, for your reaction may have exposed us."

  "Why did you slay them?" she asked as he walked toward her.

  "They saw our faces and horses and would remember them. We did not let you fire your arrows at them, for we have no Crow ones to put in their places. We will hang them by their feet from the trees with their throats cut, as is the way of our enemies who will be blamed for this deed."

  Chumani spoke into his chest after he reached her and held her close. "My arrow almost struck you."

  "It could not do so," he said, "for your skills are large and the Great Spirit protects us. It war
ms my heart to look upon your face again and to touch you. It is good you obeyed my words to leave before the sun appeared. We found great victory during the storm, and will reveal all things to you while we travel to our camp."

  As if his words awakened her from a daze, she asked in a rush, "How did you reach this place first and hide in the trees? What happened at the river? Why did you not return to me? Where are Zitkala and War Eagle and your horse?"

  Wind Dancer chuckled as questions spilled from her lips like gushing water over a rock fall following a heavy rain, but he quelled his reaction, realizing how worried she had been. "The storm was traveling away and sunrise was approaching fast and it was near your leaving time when we finished our deed, so it was too late to return to where you waited for us," he explained. "We knew which path you would ride, so we ran as fleeing deer along the riverbank to reach this place before you did. War Eagle and Zitkala go on ahead for a short distance; they are unharmed. From the last hill, we saw you coming and saw the White-eyes tracking you even before you sighted them. I knew how and where you would confront them, so we hurried here and our companions rode onward to conceal themselves and our raid goods. We must prepare these enemies to trick their people and leave this place fast. Others will come soon to search for them and to search for the Crow who attacked the boats."

  Chumani smiled. "You know me as I know myself and the Great Spirit knows me. It is good we have lived and ridden together for many suns and moons and we have no secrets between us. I am filled with joy to see your face and feel your touch again. I will water the horses and gather my arrows while you and Red Feather do your task."

  Unmindful of their friend's presence, they embraced and kissed, then exchanged another loving smile.

  Red Feather handed her the arrow he had pulled from a tree nearby while the couple shared a short but special time together, the kind of moment he longed to share with Zitkala.

  "Thank you, my friend, and it is good to see your face again."

  "As it is good to see yours, Dewdrops. Your skills are large and many, and so are those of your best friend. The man who captures Zitkala's love and becomes her mate will find great happiness and victory in his Life-Circle."

  "That is true, Red Feather, and I hope he is a good friend to me and my husband, for it will give us great joy to have her live in our camp."

  The warrior grinned at her and Wind Dancer before he replied, "My joy will match yours only if I am that good friend and she shares my tepee. But that is the only path she is slow and fears to walk."

  "Then you must share with her the courage and desire to take the first step along that wonderful journey."

  "If I hold out my hand to her, Dewdrops, will she take it?"

  "All I can say to you, Red Feather, is to do so; for until she learns of your feelings, there is no choice to be made."

  By the time they halted to camp at dusk, Chumani's head was filled with revelations about the successful episode last night. They had told War Eagle and Zitkala about the confrontation with Zeb and Harry, and how they had laid a false trail toward Crow territory to mislead the Whites who came looking for the two missing men and the boat raiders.

  As the women excused themselves in bushes a short distance away, Chumani told Zitkala about her unexpected exchange of words with Red Feather. "Did I speak too soon and too bold, my friend?" she asked.

  "No, Dewdrops, for I have great love and desire for him. I will wait and watch for him to approach me with such words. I do not wish to think and hope until he speaks of his feelings and I know they are true."

  "It is good if you join with him, for it will keep us close in the seasons to come. There is much I wish we could say now," she said with a sigh, `but we must return to camp. We are tired and have a long ride on the new sun."

  Later, as they lay on their sleeping mats, Wind Dancer knew they were safe while concealed from view in the ravine; he also knew his horse would awaken him if anyone approached their location. He cuddled Chumani close to him and savored the contact with her. He was all too aware either or both of them could have been slain during this perilous journey. He was glad the Great Spirit had guided him to her before the white men reached her, though he did not doubt her ability to protect herself. He nibbled at her ear and whispered, "I needed you at the river to warm me after my swim in its cold water."

  "We will both need the use of cold water from melting snow soon if you continue to enflame us when we cannot join," she whispered in return. She felt his body move as he struggled to suppress the amusement which filled it. "Do not laugh, mihigna, for it is true; a fierce blaze burns at me now, and you might awaken the others."

  "If we were alone or in our tepee, I would put out your fire after I caused it to flame higher and hotter, for my love and need for you are large."

  "As mine are for you, but we are not alone or in our lodge. If you do not halt your gentle attack upon me, I will be too restless to sleep."

  Wind Dancer sensed how aroused she was, and knew her words were serious. "As will I, micante, so I will lie still and quiet."

  "Only until we reach our lodge; then, you must tempt me again."

  "I will do so, mitawin, "he promised.

  As they camped for the last night during their journey, Red Feather asked Zitkala to take a walk with him. They strolled a short distance away from the others along the bank of the Sahiyela River. The air was balmy and felt good on their flesh; the constant breeze, gentle and invigorating; the sky, clear of dark clouds and splattered with glittering stars. Mingled scents of wildflowers and grasses teased at their noses. The sounds of crickets, frogs, and nocturnal birds filled their ears. It was as if nature had created a romantic and enticing setting just for them.

  Red Feather stopped near a gently swaying willow and looked at her. "When you entered the white man's post and I feared you would be slain or captured and lost to me forever, I knew my love and desire for you were great," he revealed. "I want you to become a part of my LifeCircle. I yearn for you to join to me, Zitkala, when we return to our camp."

  A surge of contradictory emotions and thoughts assailed her. She had expected this to happen, yet his words surprised her. She believed him, yet, how could a virile and handsome male like Red Feather love and desire her and want her to be his wife and to live with him forever? Why was she both sad and elated? Trusting, yet, doubtful? Why was she so afraid to reach out to him? So afraid she was dreaming and would awaken soon?

  "Speak, Zitkala, so I will know what lives in your heart and head."

  Needing to be convinced a true bond was possible, she reasoned, "It is too soon after our first meeting to become mates, Red Feather. We must learn more about each other and test our feelings as we test ourselves upon the battleground and on the hunt. We must be sure that more than desire lives in our bodies and joy in our spirits as vision companions. Our bond must come from love to be strong and to last for our remaining suns."

  Red Feather captured her hands as he vowed, "My love is strong and true, Zitkala. The Creator crossed our paths for this purpose, as He did with Wind Dancer and Dewdrops. Join to me soon." When she lowered her gaze, he asked, "Do you not love and desire me as I do you? Do my eyes see and my heart hope for what is not there within you?"

  "My love and desire for you are large, Red Feather, but my fear is large as well. I have never been close to a man in the past, so the swiftness of our feelings frightens me and makes me wary. I could not bear it if we joined and you learned your heart and mind had misled you. Wait until the buffalo season is over; if you feel the same on that moon as you do on this one, I will join to you and forever be your mate.

  "I will wait until your fears and doubts are gone. But," he added with a grin, "I will pursue you every sun and moon until that time comes."

  Zitkala smiled. "That is good, Red Feather, for you stir my heart and body as no man ever has."

  "And you fill me with all things as no other woman ever has. From the first time I gazed upon you and heard your voice
, I was lost to your pull."

  "As I was lost to yours, Red Feather, when I first entered your camp and saw your face and heard you speak."

  "We are matched in all ways. I will be a good husband to you, and I will never seek to change you, for I love you as you are."

  "Speak those last words again," she coaxed as her heart pounded in joy, her spirit soared, and all doubts fled her mind.

  "I love you, Zitkala," he murmured before he kissed her, and was thrilled by the passionate way she responded to him.

  After the five reached their encampment, they were greeted by their people who were not away hunting and butchering buffalo on the Plains. Everyone halted their chores and gathered around to hear the revelations of their glorious tales. A celebration was held that night where eating, singing, and dancing were shared by all; and the five's coups were chanted as they were honored for their new deeds. Those who had donated furs, pelts, and hides for the women to use during their post visit were given the trade goods. Their parents and relatives beamed in pride and joy. Their friends and society members were elated. Their shamans sent forth prayers of gratitude for their victories and safe return.