Lakota Winds (Zebra Historical Romance) (37 page)

"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 warms 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.

For a short while, Wind Dancer and Red Feather left to conceal the
gunpowder, weapons, and matches in a safe location in the event they
had surprise visitors, especially Bluecoats or Crow.

Wind Dancer and Chumani had yearned for privacy and rapturous
contact for many days, and at last they had it. She sealed their tepee
flap and they eagerly stripped off their garments. He embraced her and
she savored the feeling of his warm flesh against her own. When he
kissed her, she nearly purred with satisfaction, and the sound of her
pleasure made him smile. As they kissed and stroked each other, they learned ever more about nurturing the passion that was always present
in their joinings. Chumani hoped it would always be so.

Shafts of moonlight played over her face from the ventilation opening
above them and revealed her beautiful features for him to enjoy. She
was awesome magic, and he was a willing captive to her spell, as she
was to his. When she arched against him, her hands clutched at his
shouders, and she moaned in bliss, he surrendered to his own release.

They kissed and caressed even after their journey was completed;
then they cuddled with her back pressed against the front of his body.
Soon, they drifted off to sleep, sated and serene.

Shortly after dawn, Wind Dancer, Red Feather, and War Eagle joined
the next group's hunt for buffalo to help with that seasonal task before
they left to carry out another raid on either the Crow or Whites.
Chumani and Zitkala went along with the women's party to skin and
butcher the slain creatures, taking their travois with them for young
braves to use for hauling those parts back to camp to their families and
others who would begin the meat-drying and tanning processes. As
customary, the men left first and the women trailed behind them,
watching and waiting and chatting until their arduous work began.
Both groups were filled with exhilaration and suspense, as the hunt was
such an important part of their lives-the main source of their shelter,
clothing, food, and items for daily use.

As the women topped a hill, Chumani saw the vast herd stretched
out before them as if it went on forever, the lush grass obscured in
many places by dense clusters of dark bodies. Although the animals
appeared slow in mind and speed, she knew they were smart and swift
and agile. She saw the hunters, including her loved ones and friends,
plunge into the midst of the outer fringes and fire their arrows at close
range, aiming for spots where the creatures were most vulnerable. The
warriors felled many buffaloes quickly and mercifully in a short time,
their horses working in deft unison with their owners, though they
would not slay more than they could use. Some of the animals scattered; others continued grazing as if no threat existed, and some lay in wallows
undisturbed by action, especially old males.