by Adair, Mary
"Why?"
"Why!"
"What is the purpose of our communications?"
James mentally counted to ten. "The purpose of our communication is to keep peace between our two nations. To prevent needless death and pain through understanding on both sides."
"I see," Dancing Cloud smiled widely, "The health and happiness of both our nations is the purpose of your mission. It is the same with every Cherokee warrior. The health and happiness of our women and our children are all that we live for."
James watched Dancing Cloud closely. Never before had he been at a loss for words, but what the Chief said about a warrior living only for his people was true.
Unlike the civilized nations that conscripted their sons into their armies to fight their wars for protection of their privileged classes, an Indian warrior died protecting his family and his people. He gave his life out of love. All Indians were the same in this.
It all was so simple when you looked at life that way.
James knew he would never be able to explain the interdisciplinary society he was bound by oath to serve. He did not believe he even wanted to try.
"I see nothing that goes against that purpose in what he young warrior did," Dancing Cloud continued. "He was very brave to follow his heart and go against the white man's custom.
He was very careful to do this according to our custom. You have done the same. If New Moon does not accept him, he will bring her back. Then you may kidnap her if you like," he looked hard at James, "But she will marry who she chooses. Her heart is her own.
"You must shed this cloak of anger from your heart, my friend," Dancing Cloud said as he rose to his feet. "Only then will you be able to hear what your heart is telling you." Dancing Cloud walked away before Red Panther could respond. James stood and kicked the dirt in his frustration. Damn Smythe! Damnation to a mission that required him to follow the way of the Indian!
James massaged the back of his neck. He'd never been a man to lie to himself. It had not been dictated to him to embrace the Indian way of life any more that it had been forced on him to become a blood brother or to fall in love with New Moon. He'd made his own choices fit snugly inside the framework of the mission. So why did he feel so out of control?
James stood still and looked about him with a strange sense of detachment. Everyone in the village went about his business, the women were weaving their baskets or shaping clay pots, others scraping hides or chasing after children.
The men with their long scalp locks and tattooed bodies that struck such fear in the hearts of the colonists gathered in little circles before this lodge or that. Some were playing and gently teasing the children, some knapping flint, some just smoking and talking quietly.
The sounds of the village faded into a quiet hum as he thought about his destiny unfolding around him and all he could do was wait…wait for the birth of a child who held the power to affect the outcome of his life.
At that moment James saw the village's old Beloved Woman, lead by Akachee, hurrying in the direction of his lodge. His feelings of displacement fled as the sweet face of Gentle Rain racked with pain loomed before his mind's eye.
He shook himself and tore off in a dead run. Soon he passed the women who called out frantically for him to stop.
Dancing Cloud stepped from his lodge, Thomas close on his heels. The shrill screeching of the women shattered the tranquility of the village. Half the warriors were running after Red Panther who was about to break one of their most sacred taboos, while the other half made quick bets on his likelihood of succeeding.
The children were whooping and jumping around like water frogs while the camp dogs ran in all directions barking and chasing anyone that caught their attention.
For the most part the villagers were having a wonderful time.
Thomas laughed joyfully and Cloud turned his attention to him. "I see why Spotted Dove is so pleased by your return. You are truly a man with a happy heart."
"That I am, Chief, that I am, 'specially right now. Ever notice how proud that newest member of your tribe is? Ever seen him struttin' like a game rooster? Well, he's 'bout to run head long into a bevy of old biddies." Thomas screwed up his face in excitement like a young one about to receive a gift. "I can hardly wait."
Cloud smiled in spite of himself. "I see Deer is catching up with him. Do you still think Red Panther will be able to reach the birthing lodge?"
"You can bet on it, Chief."
James heard Gentle Rain's wail of pain and pushed his legs harder, stretching the distance between him and the warriors. A warrior darted into the path but James roughly shouldered him out of the way. Silent Deer stumbled over the sprawled body and was slammed into by Gray Fox, who was close on his heels. They both went down.
Before Deer could push himself up, he felt a brisk crack to his skull by the cane carried by the old Beloved Woman. She had no time to wait for him to move out of her way and so trod over him like he was so much dirt beneath her feet.
James dashed through the doorway and paused to let his eyes adjust to the dim interior before stumbling to the cane platform where Gentle Rain strained and withered in her agony.
"Gentle Rain, my little darlin'. It's goin' ta be just fine. You'll see," he cooed gently and took one small hand into his two larger ones. "I'll take good care of ya, and the wee one too. You have not a thin' ta worry about."
Gentle Rain looked into his face and he was shocked to see the fear reflected in her eyes. Hastily she withdrew her hand and shied away from him.
"Red Panther!"
James turned to see Akachee standing in the doorway with a large wooden spoon in her raised hand, the very one he'd carved for her and shown her how to use. She advanced on him rapidly and made use of it in a way he'd never intended.
The mighty warrior scrambled on hand and knees toward the door while trying in vain to protect his head from the sudden and vicious attack. Once he'd stumbled through the doorway, he was quickly snatched up by one arm and found himself half-dragged, half-carried toward the creek.
"You should know that it is bad medicine to see a woman at childbirth," Silent Deer hissed angrily.
A loud wail rent the air and James again reacted with fierce struggles which Silent Deer soon put a stop to as he bounced the butt side of his tomahawk off Red Panther's head.
James woke to cold water splashing on to his face. He spit and sputtered and then grabbed the shattering pieces of his head. James looked over at Silent Deer who was obviously irritated.
"Did you not hear me tell you it is bad medicine to look upon a woman in childbirth?"
"With my people the medicine man is there to help women give birth. With my people I am also a medicine man."
"You are not with your people. You are with mine. It is not necessary for a medicine man to help a woman do what is natural for her. There is no place in it for a man, even a medicine man."
Silent Deer turned his head toward James. "You will never be a medicine man with my people. Warriors are not medicine men," he added peevishly.
James squinted his eyes and looked hard at Silent Deer who quickly looked the other way.
"What happened to you?" James asked as he roughly poked at a rapidly swelling lump on the shaved side of Silent Deer's head.
Silent Deer flinched at the prodding touch, "That woman you call mother!"
James laughed then moaned as the effort sent a new stabbing pain through his skull.
"You should not laugh at me!" Silent Deer puffed up even more. "I saw you run from her when she made war on you with that weapon you made for her."
James grinned but he knew better than to laugh again.
"That was no weapon, Silent Deer. That was a spoon," he said the word in English because he knew no word in the beloved tongue to use.
"Her spoon," Deer struggled with the strange sounding word, "is broken. Do not make for her another one."
James sat quietly, knowing this was not the time to tease his friend about a
n old lady's war cry on his head. There would be time enough for that when his wounds healed.
"Come," Silent Deer said as he hauled James to his feet. "You must go to the Old Beloved Man. He is in the Asi."
James obediently followed Silent Deer. Perhaps it was best to allow Gentle Rain to have her young the way her people have been doing since the beginning of their existence.
When the two mighty and battered warriors reached the Asi, Silent Deer turned and left James alone. James stripped himself of his meager clothing and raised the flap of the Asi.
"Come in Red Panther," the old Magi ordered. In the hours that followed, James spoke freely to the old man of his love for New Moon and his obligation to Gentle Rain and his blood brother.
"No sacrifice is too great for love," the shaman told him. "It is because of this love for the people and for all the brothers and sisters in nature and of the spirits in nature that a warrior becomes great and is a protector. It is the way. It is as it must be for our people to survive."
James listened to the tales of the spirits in nature and how the Principal People, by living as brothers to all around them, were protected and nourished by the spirits.
By the time it reached James' ears that Gentle Rain was delivered from her labor, he felt more at peace with his life than he had for a very long time. Stepping from the Asi, he dressed hastily and hurried to the Village Square.
Standing in the center of the large circle created by the villagers stood the old Beloved Woman. In her arms was a tiny bundle wrapped in soft doeskins, the acceptable wrap for newborn girls.
The circle parted as Red Panther walked toward the old Beloved Woman. He looked down at the child in her arms that, for all intent and purposes, was his daughter. The villagers crowded in just as anxious to view the new life as Red Panther.
James unwrapped the child and made a quick examination of her fingers and toes while the warriors cheered and slapped him on the back. Before the old woman knew what he was about, he snatched the infant from her arms and cradled her protectively.
A hardy wail was heard above the whoops and cheers and sudden silence settled over the gathering. As the crowd parted, James saw Akachee pushing her way toward him. In her arms was another bundle, this time wrapped in panther hide.
James hurriedly handed the tiny infant girl to the old woman and gently accepted the child from Akachee. All was quiet. It was not a good omen for twins to be born, and James knew that where Gentle Rain would have been accepted with one child, she would never be allowed to stay with twins.
James took the boy from the hide and raised him high above his head. "A tsu tsa," he called out in way of introducing the small child to the village. Then placing the child in the bend of one strong arm, he took his daughter from the old woman in the other and again addressed the crowd, "A geyu tsa."
Leaving the crowd, the babies still cradled in his strong arms, he made his way back to his lodge. By naming the infants he'd accepted the twins for the time being.
He knew there would be a meeting. It would be decided that the children and their mother would have to leave the village. But with any luck, he would be able to hold them off until Gentle Rain was better prepared to withstand the journey back to her father's village.
James stepped into the lodge and walked over to Gentle Rain where she rested on fresh furs. Her large doe eyes reached his and he saw the fatigue and also fear in them.
"The babies are strong and healthy," he said to her. "You must not worry about them; they will be fine. I will not let any harm come to them."
Gentle Rain smiled weakly and then let her eyes travel to the faces peeking from their skins. She had faith in Red Panther and in everything he said. If he said she could keep both babies, then she knew it was true.
James placed A geyu tsa in her arms and she smiled at her tiny daughter. He then placed A tsu tsa in her other arm and rubbed a large finger against his soft cheek.
They both laughed as the tiny mouth chased after his finger. He adjusted the tiny bundles so each could latch upon a breast.
Gentle Rain sighed contentedly and looked up at him. He expected her to question him on how he planned to keep the babies safe. His mind searched frantically for an answer.
"Where is Hunting Bow?" she asked.
James was confused. His brows furrowed as he studied her eyes. "What? Hunting Bow?" He was worried about how to protect her and her newborns and she was asking about someone named Hunting Bow? He spun toward the door just as Akachee, who was stopped in her tracks by the fierce scowl on his face, entered. "Take care of her, Mother," he said as he angrily strode past.
Chapter Eighteen
An unseasonably warm day cast the village into a lazy carefree lethargy. Occasionally a dog barked or a small child cried for his mother, but for the most part little activity took place.
"Damn!"
Dancing Cloud looked up from his knapping to see how badly Red Panther chipped his flint this time. The two sat quietly beneath the sprawling limbs of the old oak for most of the day. Dancing Cloud knapped flint into useful arrow and spear points while Panther ruined one piece after the other.
"You are ruining all my flint," Dancing Cloud grunted irritably.
James tossed down the ruined flint and antler tool.
Absentmindedly he raised a hand to caress the sore lump on his head. He didn't understand why Deer thought it necessary to hit him so hard with that tomahawk. Akachee had already battered him sufficiently about the head and shoulders with her blasted spoon.
"Beau and New Moon have been gone for two days. I thought you said you told him to bring her back if she wouldn't except him."
"Maybe she did except him," Dancing Cloud offered happily.
Thomas, who had just walked up, snickered.
James snarled as he dusted his hands by slapping them across one another, "I hope for his sake that she didn't."
Dancing Cloud cleared his throat and rubbed his nose vigorously as he reached for another piece of flint.
"That knife ya lost ta me in wager is a real nice piece, Chief. Would ya like to maybe make another friendly bet?"
Cloud's chuckle mingled with Thomas’ until they both looked up to see James scowling at them.
The chief quickly busied himself flipping through his flint while Thomas helped by picking up one piece after the other, asking if this or that piece would suit his needs.
A cry for entrance soon interrupted the peacefulness of the village. James leapt to his feet and turned toward the gate in time to see Smythe ride through. With him was New Moon, and she seemed quite comfortable relaxed against the scoundrel's chest!
Her eyes met his and her chin rose slightly. God, how he loved that spark of fire! He saw Smythe's arm wrapped protectively around her waist, and his stomach knotted as his worst fear came to mind.
New Moon must have seen the look of dread in his eyes and her expression softened. Their eyes met again and with them they spoke, without words, to one another of reassurance and understanding.
You are home, his heart spoke to her.
She caressed his every feature with her gaze. I will never leave you again, she seemed to say with her eyes.
A muscle worked in his clenched jaw. I will never let you go, he promised himself as well as her. He was answered by a smile that held promises of its own.
This mountain of communication between two like souls remained undetected by all around them, except Dancing Cloud who knew and loved them both.
Smythe swung down from his mount and then helped New Moon down. Not until he turned to face the two men that anxiously awaited their return did James finally notice the condition of the Lieutenant.
Smythe's right eye was swollen almost shut, the angry black bruise spreading from above his eyebrow to his misshapen cheek. He hugged his ribs as he approached James.
New Moon stepped up to Dancing Cloud and said solemnly, "I do not accept this warrior." Then without a backward glance she headed for her own lodge.<
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James reluctantly pulled his gaze from New Moon's swaying hips to Lieutenant Smythe's battered person. Knowing he looked no better, he said with grudging humor, "The natives have been unusually restless of late."
Thomas cackled out loud. Dancing Cloud grunted but said nothing.
"I assume that you are now ready to resume your duties?" James asked Beau.
Smythe looked with surprise at James. He'd done no less than desert his post with one of the Colonel's women and expected no less than an immediate execution. No trial, no considering the effect wilderness life can have on a man's reason, or that the Colonel had more women than any man had a right to. Yet it appeared that his superior officer intended to overlook his error in judgment.
"Come with me, Smythe. I have decided to turn your lodge into a clinic of sorts, not that any of the Principal People will allow me to treat them, but I'll see what I can do for you. You'll no longer be needing it."
Smythe followed James through the village toward the new established medicine lodge. As they passed James' lodge an infant began to cry and Smythe stopped. "I hear that your child has finally been born," he said with more bitterness than he intended.
"Yes. That is Gentle Rain's daughter."
James did not miss the fallen expression or the drop of his shoulders. Then another blood curdling scream, worthy of any warrior rose in volume to cover the first.
"And that is Gentle Rain's son," James added.
Smythe looked at James, "So are you keeping her or are you sending her back to her father?" he asked a bit too hopefully to suite James.
"The council agreed that she could stay until she is strong enough to travel back to her own village. Though, I don't see how that should concern you," James answered and pushed Smythe forward.
James worked quickly over Smythe's wounds and bound his ribs tightly. During the procedure, Smythe remained silent. He watched the muscle in the jaw of his superior officer work angrily. It was obvious to Smythe, though the colonel let his actions slide, any unofficial disciplinary action he planned was still up in the air.