Lakota Dawn

by Janelle Taylor

  * * *

  Hidden amongst many trees and with the light of a three-quarter moon, Chase saw Macha coming from a lengthy distance. He noticed and recognized the man who stealthily trailed her. He left his horse there and crept along the riverbank to flank him, using other trees and vegetation to conceal himself. When Two Feathers slipped behind a cottonwood nearby, Chase moved in soundlessly and rendered his target unconscious with a mild blow to the head with a small log. Using leather thongs he had brought with him, he secured his cousin’s wrists and ankles, bound him to a large tree out of sight of the camp, and gagged him with a bandanna. Satisfied Two Feathers could not free himself to sound a warning, and certain the man would be found by women when they came to fetch water, bathe, and wash garments, he hurried to join his beloved, made aware once more that his weapons—rifle, pistol, and ammunition—were in his father’s tepee; and he had only the borrowed bow, arrows, and his knife with which to protect them during their long journey to Fort Laramie.

  Macha gave a sigh of relief and joy when Cloud Chaser joined her. She hugged him and whispered, “I feared trouble had struck at you.”

  Chase smiled reassuringly at her and told her about Two Feathers. He saw her dark gaze widen. “What if another saw me and comes to halt us?” she asked fearfully.

  “I studied the camp well, so we are safe. Come, my love, we must go fast while darkness gives us time to get far away. What more troubles you?” he asked when he noticed her worried expression.

  “You take me with you because you love me and I was chosen for you by the Great Spirit, not because you seek to defeat your cousin and his quest for me, is that not true?”

  Chase realized she needed confirmation of his feelings and motive before she took such enormous risks for him. He caressed her warm cheek and looked deep into her eyes as he replied, “That is true, Sunshine of my heart, for I love you and need you in my Life-Circle; it is what I desire and believe is the Creator’s will. This is not how I wish our joining to take place, but it is the only way we can be together. I will never betray you or speak falsely to you. I must go to walk the Great Spirit’s path, but I could not leave you within the evil reach of my cousin.”

  “That is good, for my heart beats with much love for you.”

  “We will talk soon, but we must ride now. Do not be afraid, Dawn, for I will protect you with all the skills I possess and with my life if it must be.”

  “As I will do for you, He Who Chased Me and Captured My Heart.”

  They exchanged smiles and a brief kiss, which seemed to warm their very souls, before they departed to skirt the southern edge of the Black Hills and travel onward to Fort Laramie.

  Almost simultaneously in the encampment the following morning, Macha’s mother was approaching Rising Bear’s tepee to see if her daughter was with Hanmani, and Broken Lance was doing the same to see if his older brother was with War Eagle or in Wind Dancer’s abode nearby when women discovered the bound and gagged Red Shield warrior at the river, as Chase had predicted.

  As soon as he was freed, Two Feathers checked where Chase slept, grinned sardonically, ran to Rising Bear’s tepee, and revealed in a loud voice, “Cloud Chaser has fled, my chief, and taken Dawn with him.”

  Many men, including the shaman and Wind Dancer, had seen the excited Two Feathers racing into camp and—suspecting trouble was afoot—hurried to where he joined Rising Bear outside his tepee and began shouting the news. All listened as the agitated man exposed the tale of how he saw Macha sneaking away from camp during the night, trailed her, and was attacked; he declared the unseen foe was Cloud Chaser, whose camp was deserted and whose possessions and horse were missing.

  “We must pursue, capture, and punish them for this wicked deed. I will gather a war party to go after them.”

  “Why do you say Dawn escaped with him?” Ohute asked. “She would not do such a bad thing. If she is gone, she is his captive.”

  “I do not wish to pain your heart, Root, but she did so,” Two Feathers told her. “She took her horse and carried a bundle with her. She sneaked to the river where Cloud Chaser was camped. They are gone. You must move our camp, my chief, before he brings Bluecoats here to attack us.”

  Rising Bear knew the time had arrived when he must admit the truth to himself and others and speak from his heart. He could not allow Cloud Chaser to be hunted down and slain, or permit Two Feathers to rile the people against his son. “There is no need to move our camp,” he said. “If soldiers come to seek us, they would only follow our tracks to where we go. We will keep guards posted to watch for trouble, but I do not believe my son will bring it. There is a purpose to his actions and he will tell it to us when he returns, for he will do so. When that sun rises, I will embrace him as I should have done when he first came. He carries two warring bloods because the Creator and his father gave them to him, but he has done all he can to prove his Lakota blood is strongest. It was wrong and cruel of me to turn my back to him and to influence my people to do so, even for this many suns. I will not do so again, for he is being used and guided by the Great Spirit. I beg you to accept him, my people.”

  “How can we, my chief, when he is evil and has fled to our enemies?”

  “If Cloud Chaser is evil, Two Feathers, he would have slain you,” Nahemana refuted, “for you have challenged him many times. I was coming to Rising Bear’s tepee to tell him of another dream which came to me last night. I believe Cloud Chaser’s return is important to our survival. I believe his words to us are true and wise. In my dream, I saw our chief standing with only two sons and watching our people’s defeat. Next, I saw Rising Bear standing with three sons and watching our people find victory. It is a sacred message telling us to accept him as one of us. Perhaps this message was not sent to me sooner because our reluctance to trust him was meant to push him toward the path the Great Spirit chose for him to walk. I believe he has gone to find a way to help us and to prove himself to us, not to betray us.”

  Rising Bear nodded gratitude to the shaman for his generosity and wisdom. “Nahemana speaks the words which also fill my heart and mind. I believe the Great Spirit took away my second son, taught him many things about our enemy, and sent him back to us for a good purpose. I have much love, pride, and respect for him; he has been patient, brave, strong, and wise while we tested him. I say he is a Red Shield. Who speaks otherwise?”

  “If that is true, my chief, why did he steal the woman I was to join?”

  “You have not spoken for her,” War Eagle refuted Two Feathers. “Is that not true, Root?” He watched Dawn’s baffled mother nod agreement to his question.

  “I was to do so on this very sun, my cousin. He took her to injure my heart and honor and to punish me for speaking against him many times.”

  “How can that be so, Two Feathers, when he cannot see into your thoughts to know your plans?” Wind Dancer reasoned, as elated as War Eagle appeared to be by this astonishing turn in events. “He is my brother, son of my father; to speak badly against him, speaks badly against us. Why do you seek to injure and destroy him?” He noted a strange but brief gleam in Two Feathers’ eyes before his cousin concealed it, and when the man answered, Wind Dancer was convinced it was not the truth, or all of it.

  “I do not believe as your family and our shaman do; I believe he is evil and will call down great dangers upon us. It is my duty to challenge him.”

  “If you challenge my son upon his return, you must also challenge me, Two Feathers,” Rising Bear said.

  “And challenge me,” Wind Dancer added.

  “And challenge me,” War Eagle echoed his older brother’s words.

  Two Feathers looked at the three men and scowled. “There should be no conflict in our family circle, my chief and cousins.”

  “There is conflict only if you cause it,” Rising Bear replied. “We have much to do, for our hunting time is short this season. If no other man wishes to speak against my second son, we must seek the buffalo.”

  When there was
silence, Hanmani asked, “May I speak, Father?”

  Rising Bear looked questioningly at his daughter and nodded.

  “I am good friends with my second brother, for I have served him and talked with him many times since he came to us. Many moons past in our old camp, he told me of the sacred dream which called him back to us. He spoke of a part to me and Dawn which he did not reveal to others, but it is time to do so.” After she related that information and explained why she had kept it a secret, she said, “As it was with Wind Dancer’s sacred vision about Dewdrops, the Great Spirit chose Dawn for Cloud Chaser.” Hanmani knew she must not further antagonize Two Feathers by mentioning Macha’s distaste for him. “On the past sun, Cloud Chaser told me he must leave to prove himself and must take Dawn with him, for she possesses his heart. By now, they are joined in the Old Way. They were secret friends as children and love each other deeply. After I came to know him, I believed he was good and true, and the Great Spirit spoke to my heart to help him. If I was wrong to do so, I will accept my punishment.”

  Rising Bear smiled at her, relieved to learn Cloud Chaser had found kindness in their camp and family. “It was a good deed, my daughter; my heart feels great love and pride for you. There is no punishment.”

  “He will return, Father, and will do great deeds for us as did Wind Dancer and Dewdrops.” To Macha’s mother, Hanmani said, “Do not fear, Root, for they share great love and a glorious destiny together. He saved your son from the badger’s attack and he will protect and make Dawn happy. He will be a great warrior among our people, for the blood of our chief and many past chiefs runs within him. Be proud he has joined your family.”

  Ohute smiled. “You speak wise for one so young, Hanmani. It is good my daughter has you as her friend. We will accept our new son.”

  “That is good, Mother,” River’s Edge said from beside her. “When he returns, we will ride again as friends, and as brothers.”

  Far away that night, Macha cuddled in Chase’s arms upon his bedroll and shared tender kisses with him. They were tired from riding almost all of the past night and day, for they’d only made short stops to rest the horses and allow them to graze and drink. Both had been on constant guard against pursuers and that fierce concentration, added to their physical exertions, had nearly drained them of all energy. Yet, they felt enlivened for a time as they kissed and caressed and whispered words of love and endearment to each other. Kisses which had begun gently and playfully soon waxed slow, long, deep, and ardent.

  “Do you know how much I love you and how much joy you bring to my heart and life?” Chase murmured near her ear as his lips nibbled her lobe.

  “If your feelings match mine, your love is as large as the sky and your joy as broad as the grasslands. I quiver with great need for you.”

  “As I do for you, Sunshine of my heart.”

  Their mouths fused again in a soul-stirring kiss as they entwined their soaring spirits forever. Each explored the other’s body with eager caresses that teased and tantalized. One kiss melded into another and another until they were breathless.

  Chase tried to think of other things to distract himself from his enormous carnal urges, for Macha would soon tempt him beyond a point of retreat. He wanted them to be married at the fort before they surrendered to such passions. He leaned back, gazed into her eyes, and cautioned in a ragged voice, “We must stop these actions, my love, before we are consumed by them. We cannot join our bodies here, for an enemy or Red Shield party could intrude. We must not have our union spoiled by the encroachment of others or rush such a special event. Soon, we will become as one when we are safe and can think only of each other.”

  Macha looked at him and smiled. She took several deep breaths to help her gain control over her rampant emotions. She knew he was right, but it was difficult to cease such exquisite delights. He was the only man who made her feel this way, but she cherished him for his thoughtful restraint. “You are wise and strong, my love, for I am weak and dazed by you.”

  Chase smiled. “My body also is weak and my head is clouded with great love and desire for you; that is why we must leave this dangerous path and walk another one for now. We will speak of other things to cool our bodies and change our thoughts.”

  “That is wise, but hard, my love. What will we speak of to help us?”

  “Do you know what large secrets my cousin feared I would learn and reveal to our enemies?” he asked.

  Macha did not hesitate. “He feared you would tell Whites about the shiny yellow rocks they hunger for and will slay to possess, for there are as many in our sacred mountains as stars which fill the night sky. The two Whites who found them were slain and their bodies hidden forever so they could not tell others about them.”

  That revelation stunned and worried Chase, as gold could be an obstacle to lasting peace and hazardous to the Lakotas’ survival. As he sat up and removed the locket from around his neck, he said, “That was wise, Sunshine of my heart, for many Whiteskins will do anything to have those yellow rocks. They are called gold and have great value to the Whites. This wanapin is made of gold; it belonged to my mother and holds the images of her parents. It was given to me when she died. I want you to have it and wear it as a show of my love for you and commitment to you. Turn your back and lift your hair and I will put it on for you.”

  The happy Macha obeyed, murmuring, “I thank you for this gift and will wear and protect it forever.”

  As Chase fastened the locket’s chain around her neck, he explained, “Gold was found in the land far away in the direction where the sun goes to sleep; that is why many Whites cross this territory, to reach that area and search for yellow rocks. If news spread of gold being in our sacred mountains, Whites would flood them as a dry wash following a long and hard rain. Much trouble would come to our land and people. It is good that secret was buried, and I understand why Two Feathers would fear its discovery.”

  “He also feared you would tell the Bluecoats about the Big War Council to be held after the great buffalo hunt when all Oglala bands and other Lakota tribes meet to trade and talk as we do before each cold season.”

  That news distressed Chase more than hearing about the presence of gold in the Black Hills. He remembered the large trading fairs which took place at the end of summer when many of the bands of the Oglala branch and some of the other six Lakota tribes met to trade, talk, visit with friends and relatives, and discuss any important event looming ahead. “They are to speak about a possible war or to vote upon starting one?” he asked in dread.

  “I do not know, for that is all Hanmani overheard. News of the council came from Spotted Tail and Little Thunder; they are both Brule chiefs who hate and fear the white man. Brave Bear of another Brule band is to speak for peace, for he was chosen as Head Chief of all Lakotas at the Long Meadows Treaty Council; he says all bands must honor the truce words or all Lakota tribes will be punished.”

  “Two Feathers is right to worry about such news filling the soldiers’ ears at Fort Laramie. If the Army learned what was going to be talked about at the big meeting, they would be consumed by fear and would attack the encampment before a vote could be taken and warriors could prepare to ride against them and the settlers. Our people and other bands do not understand how powerful the Whites are, and how resolved they are to retaining a grip on this territory. They have weapons which can shoot hard balls at a swift and deadly pace and at a long distance, while warriors must make arrows and can carry only a few in their quivers and must be close to their targets to strike them. There are many soldiers at other forts who could be summoned here, while many tribes and bands refuse to fight together under one chief as one mighty force. The Army has many supplies to feed its soldiers and wagons to carry them in on the trail, while warriors can carry little on their horses and must halt to hunt and cook to keep their strength. A war so great would be bad for both sides.”

  “That is true, my love,” Macha agreed, “but they are the enemy and they challenge us by stealing
our land and animals; we have become as captives to them and must follow their orders or be punished or slain. There is no honor in such an existence, but there is honor in dying for what is right.”

  Chase caressed her cheek and smiled. “You are wise and cunning, Sunshine of my heart. What you say is true, but it will demand much. At the fort, I will listen and watch to learn all I can about our enemy. I must teach you their tongue so you can do the same.”

  Macha grinned and said in English, “Dawn know little English. Hanmani teach.”

  Chase chuckled and praised her effort in Lakota. “That is good, Dawn, and I will teach you more during our journey. There are words you must speak at the fort when we join in the white man’s way.” When she looked surprised and confused, he explained, “A joining ceremony, called a marriage, will give us a good reason for being at the fort so I can do my work there. And, if trouble comes to this land, you will be protected under their laws as my wife, since I was reared by Whites and am viewed by them as a white man. Now we must sleep, for soon we must ride again.”

  As they traveled for days toward their distant destination, it became increasingly difficult to restrain their desire for each other. Nights were the hardest to endure as they shared a bedroll since it had been impossible to bring hers along. They were awakened several times every night as their closeness aroused their passions even during slumber. Their constant longings and lack of sleep made them edgy, but excited with anticipation of what lay before them when they could surrender to great passion.

  The journey had been made longer as they were compelled to skirt camps, working groups, and scouting parties of other tribes or Lakota bands who were hunting buffalo on the extensive grasslands in that territory. Often they were forced to veer eastward for miles to elude human obstacles in their path before heading southwestward again. Staying on constant alert for perils that might be just ahead cost them extra time and energy. But they could not afford to be stopped and questioned by Lakotas or white men.