Lakota Winds (Zebra Historical Romance) (11 page)

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. The 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 will 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.

He looked down at her and, though aroused by the sight of her
naked body and almost aching to possess it, said, "There is no need to
rush."

"There is no need to move slowly. Do as you must to seal our joining
bond, just as you smoked the pipe to seal the alliance bond with my
hand.,,

"Such matters must not be done in haste. First, we must talk more."

"There is no need for words when such a task must be done."

Wind Dancer could not suppress a grin at her own words, but as
suspicions soon filled him that she had not enjoyed her nights with her
first husband. Perhaps Dull Star had never given her pleasure on the
sleeping mat; perhaps the foolish man had been neither gentle nor
generous with her.

"It is unwise and unkind to laugh at another in pain."

"Why does it pain you to become my wife? Am I not worthy of
you?"

"I did not wish to join with you and leave my people. I will do my
duty, but it brings sadness to my heart."

"I will do my duty soon, but our tepee will be a happier place if we
become friends first. To do so, we must learn much about each other."

"What more do you desire to know about me?"

"All things," he responded as he held a blanket out to her.

Chumani wrapped it around her. "Why does a great warrior, a future
chief, like Waci Tate choose a woman he does not know?"

"I did not choose Dewdrops to become my wife," he reminded her.
"The Great Spirit chose you. If we are to love each other, He will put
such feelings in our hearts. If not, we must find our happiness in obeying
His command, for He knows all things and has a purpose for our union.
Since you had a mate and child in the past, you know how to tend a
tepee and do a woman's work. But you also possess warrior-hunter
skills, so I will not fear for your safety or that of our childrens' when
I am away from camp. I know it is hard for you to leave your family
and people, but you will see them again soon. Sleep, Dewdrops, for on
the new sun we will return to your camp, gather our possessions and
my family, and ride for my camp. After we have come to know each
other and have become friends, we will become mates."

"Your words are wise and your heart is kind. It will be as you say."

"That is good, mitawin, for we must have trust and acceptance
between us to face the dangers and challenges which loom ahead for
us.

After Wind Dancer was lying beside her and they were covered by a warming hide, Chumani listened to the pops and crackles as new
wood caught fire and feasted in delight. She heard nocturnal birds,
creatures, and insects as they foraged and spoke with their mates, or
warned rivals away from their territories. A shiver passed over her, as
if she were lying naked in the snow; yet, her flesh itched as if she were
staked over an anthill. The nights were still chilly and the wind was
brisk that moon, and she was enclosed naked in a blanket, so she tried
to blame those conditions for her sensations, though she knew they
were not at fault. Her heart and body had warmed when Wind Dancer
gave her the blanket, gave her a mating reprieve, and called her, "my
wife."