Lakota Winds (Zebra Historical Romance) (31 page)

A vast expanse of rolling landscape stretched out before the band of
Red Shields on the move. At first, their pace was leisurely to get the
people's stamina and muscles in condition for traveling. Soon the sacred
Paha Sapa would be left far behind, along with its cooler air and dense
forest. Eventually, most trees they would encounter would be lining
river and stream banks.

As each day passed without trouble, the people's excitement and
anticipation increased, as the summer buffalo hunt was a vital part of
their existence. The farther they traveled, the warmer the weather and
the flatter and more repetitious the landscape became. Soon only solitary
low hills would appear in certain spots and there would be nothing to
shade them from a blazing sun except tepees.

A variety of intermingled grasses covered the terrain in lush abundance; some flourished in singular stalks and others in snug bunches
or separate patches. Sunflowers, segolily, pasqueflower, mariposa,
goldenrod, beeplant and other blossoms were plentiful. Plants with
edible leaves, stems, roots, or bulbs thrived here and there. Also growing
along the route were many varieties of berries and weeping willows for
making flour. Some of those fruits, plants, and berries were ready for
gathering and others would be ripe during the next full moon and the
two following it. Herbs for seasoning foods or tenderizing meats cropped
up in certain locations.

Scattered groups of antelope and deer, and an occasional coyote were
seen. Small herds of buffalo roved the area, their massive and dark
shapes easily sighted even at a long distance. But what their people
sought were the large herds which spread over the green surface farther
than the eye could see and roamed eastward of their current position.
They had hunted before their departure, so the animals were left in
peace to graze. Later, when a need for fresh meat arose, the group would
halt for the men to hunt and the women to gather plants and berries.

Cetan was allowed to take flight and hunt for a while each day, as
his injury had healed. Otherwise, he perched upon Chumani's travois
and also observed the scenery in passing.

The sky was clear and blue, but storms could strike swiftly and
violently during early summer. Once in the center of the Plains where
nothing obstructed the view, an impending storm could be seen a long
way off as it moved toward them, though some jumped upon them
with little warning. Rains could be heavy and perilous, but were needed
to quench Mother Earth's great thirst during the growing season.
Lengthy and vivid rainbows often followed that awesome event, their
colors, according to legends, stolen from flowers on the Ghost Trail.

As they journeyed forth, days appeared longer because there was little
to nothing to block out the sun's light in any direction. The distance,
between destinations was deceptive, the journey was always longer than
it appeared; so knowledge of the territory was imperative, as was knowing
when and where to halt to camp for safety and fresh water, a responsibility
which fell into the hands of the Shirt Wearers.

One evening at dusk after a long day on the move, Wind Dancer
and Chumani took a stroll after their meal. They did not go far away,
just walked enough to give them a short time of privacy to enjoy each
other's company.

As Wind Dancer gazed across the open terrain, he was reminded of
one of the biggest differences between the Whites and Indians: the land
and its creatures belonged to the Great Spirit and were to be used by
man, not owned or abused or destroyed by him. He looked at his wife. "You must teach me more of the white man's tongue, mitawin. It is
good and wise to know the words and ways of our enemies so we can
defeat them. I know a little English, and a few words in French and
Spanish, for trappers and traders with those tongues have passed through
our lands and my people accepted them before they realized the great
perils in doing so."

"While we camp on the grasslands, I will teach you all I know of
their tongue," Chumani promised, then asked her husband, "Have you
ever made friends or blood brothers with a wasicun?"

"No, I have been close in body only to White-eyes when I went with
others to trade at Fort Pierre in past seasons. I no longer do so, for it
encourages them to remain in our territory and for more to come. I
try to get others to avoid them, but that is a choice each man must
make for himself."

He lowered his gaze for a moment, then looked at her and divulged,
"Long ago, a white woman lived in our camp, in my father's lodge.
She was a gift to him from a Cheyenne ally for helping his band defeat
Pawnee, who craved their hunting grounds. He did not wish to have
a white slave, but it is not our way to refuse a gift from another chief.
She was called Omaste, for her hair was the color of the sun. When
my mother was captured by other Pawnee and taken far away twenty
summers past and was believed lost to us forever, Omaste took care of
me, for I was but four winters old. She was good and kind and accepted
her life with us. One dark moon when my father's hunger and sadness
for Mother were so great, he allowed Omaste to comfort him. She gave
birth to a baby before the next summer. Father named him Cloud
Chaser, for the wind blew so hard and fast that the sun and clouds
above his birthing spot raced swiftly across the sky as if being chased
by a spirit. She died when I was fourteen winters old. She was buried
as with her kind, her body placed within Mother Earth."

Chumani was shocked to learn that a great and proud leader like
Rising Bear had placed his seeds within the body of a white woman
and created a child with her, but she masked her reaction to avoid hurting
her beloved. "What happened to her son, your half-white brother?"

"Cloud Chaser vanished as the morning dew when I was fifteen.
Father believes he was found and stolen by whites, for the trail of their
wagons was nearby. He and his band followed the deep cuts across the
face of Mother Earth for many suns, but they could not catch up to
the cloud-covered wagons and rescue him. He was forced to return to
camp and to accept that sacrifice. Omaste died of winter-in-the-chest
six full moons before my brother was lost to us. It is good she was not
here during that time, for it would have broken her spirit to lose her
child."

"It must have saddened your mother's heart to share her mate with
another woman, one who was not even Lakota. I could not share you."

"She did not have to share him," Wind Dancer explained. "Father
mated to Omaste only one time and it was while he believed my mother
was dead. After she escaped the Pawnee far beyond our lands and
returned to us after two circles of the seasons, his heart was filled with
joy, and only she lived within it and within his embrace. Omaste
remained in our tepee and helped with chores until she died, for my
mother understood and accepted what happened while she was gone.
After Omaste left us, my mother raised her son as if Cloud Chaser were
her own. She grieved over his loss, for he was more Indian than white
in looks and spirit, and he carried my father's blood and seed."

"Perhaps the Great Spirit will return your second brother to your
family one sun."

"I do not believe that will happen. If Cloud Chaser still lived and
our ways still burned in his heart and mind, he would have returned
to us by this moon, for he has reached nineteen summers and could
find his way home."

"There is an unknown reason why Wakantanka sent him away and
there is another for why he will be returned, or for why he will not be
allowed to return. We do not grasp the thinking of the Great Mystery
until such things are revealed to us."

"That is true, mitawin. Those were hard times for our family, so we
do not speak of them. But that is how I know a little English; Omaste
taught me as a game, as we taught her our tongue."

Chumani realized he wanted to cease talking about that painful and
perhaps embarrassing episode. It had occurred long ago and during a
hard time for Rising Bear. She had no doubt that the chief loved Winona
and would not turn to another woman as long as his wife lived. Although
her husband had another brother and a sister by his parents, it was
obvious from his expression and tone that he loved and missed Cloud
Chaser. "I will teach you more English," she promised gently.

"That is good, mitawin. " He caressed her cheek as he said, "I do
not see and touch you enough while we travel and this short time alone
fills me with joy, but we must return to camp and sleep."

"My heart and body yearn for you in those same ways, my beloved
husband. Do not forget, after we reach our new location, Zitkala will
return to the lodge of her parents and we will be alone in our tepee
once more." She saw Wind Dancer's smile broaden and his gaze gleam
with anticipation and desire, the same feelings which flooded her.

"How can it be I come to love and want you more each sun and
moon when you already fill me with such emotions? How does more
water go into a hag which already overflows with it? Yet, I know that
is true."

"I do not understand such a mystery, but I also know it is true. I
never grow weary of seeing your face, of hearing your voice and laughter,
of smelling your familiar scent, of feeling your touch and tasting your
lips, of mating with you. They are as food to me and I must have them
to survive. I thank the Great Spirit each morning and night for sending
you to me."

Wind Dancer was consumed by happiness at her words. His LifeCircle was complete and wonderful with her sharing it. "I do the same,
mitawin, for He has rewarded us greatly. My love and desire for you
are larger than the sacred mountain, and I would challenge any force
which tried to steal you from me."

"As I would challenge any force which took you away from me, even
if it claimed my life to save yours," she vowed as a strange and powerful
chill swept over her and caused her to shudder.

"You are cold?" he asked, and rubbed her bare arms with his hands.

Chumani sighed deeply to shake off that eerie feeling. "We must
return now," she said, "for it grows dark and cool and there is little
moon to light our path to camp. We must not linger here and risk an
injury by returning in near blackness."

"Come, mitawin, a blanket and fire await you."

"All I need for warmth is your arms and body, mihigna. "

"And you will have them," he said as he guided her toward the
others.

At last, before the radiant sun was overhead, they reached their first
temporary encampment on the lush buffalo gapland near the Sahiyela
River which branched off into streams and creeks along its winding
course as it headed southwestward. Trees, bushes, and other vegetation
lined its bank, including the sacred cottonwood. Everyone knew the
badlands area-Makosica-was located in a long stretch running east
and south of them.

The Red Shield women went to work setting up their tepees, and
Chumani was delighted to have Zitkala's assistance. While females were
busy with that task, young girls and grandmothers watched babies and
toddlers or played with small children. Boys too young to help their
fathers romped together under the watchful gazes of grandfathers.

Winona and Hanmani erected their highly decorated tepee in the
spot assigned to the chief, its entrance facing the rising sun as was their
custom. On either side of it was Wind Dancer's as the future chief,
leader of the Shirt Wearers and Strong Hearts, and the Vision Quest
Man; and Nahemana's, as their shaman. Across from it was Blue Owl's,
their war chief. The dwellings of other Big Bellys-Nacas, past leaders
and great warriors who no longer went on the warpath and hunting
trail and now formed the head council-completed that inner ring. A
large area was left unobstructed amidst its core for an eventual campfire
where meetings, dances, and rituals would be held. From that large
hoop which established the center of camp, the people's lodges were
situated in ever-widening circles by rank of honor in the band. Ample
space for seasonal work and movement of travois was left between every tepee and each row. Afterward, the women unloaded their family's
possessions, gathered scrub wood, fetched fresh water, built fires beneath
three-legged stands, and put food-mainly stews-on to cook.

While women performed their chores, the men carried out theirs.
Horses were watered and grazed before being tethered beside their
lodges. Huyamnis were set up at the entrances and weapons were placed
upon them to soak up powers from the sun and earth, ready to be
retrieved in a hurry if needed. They went to the river where trees and
large bushes grew to gather and cut sturdy limbs with which they would
construct drying racks for the game they would soon pursue and slay.
They returned and erected many frames on their sites, tall enough to
be out of the reach of wild animals and small children. Afterward, most
sat on rush mats to whittle sharp pegs for staking out buffalo hides they
would send or bring home. As they did so, some talked with friends
working nearby and taught sons how to do male tasks. Others left the
area to scout for signs of enemies and to locate the nearest herd's
position; amongst those small groups were Wind Dancer, War Eagle,
and Red Feather.

It was late afternoon when the White Shield band was sighted in the
distance as it approached. News quickly spread of their imminent arrival.

An excited Chumani and Zitkala checked the fire and simmering
food to be sure it was safe to leave them unattended for a brief span.
Hanmani said she would watch the flames and kettle and Cetan for
Chumani, as the hawk sat on his T-shaped perch nearby. The Brule
women leapt upon their horses and galloped to greet their families and
friends. They passed and waved to men who rode ahead to select their
campsite. They slowed their pace as they neared the lengthy column to
prevent stirring up excess dust. Chumani trodded alongside Tall Elk
for a short time to speak with her father, while Zitkala proceeded to
find her parents and do the same. The men who had been riding with
the chief dropped back slightly to give them privacy.