During the day
,
the new baby would be strapped to his mother's back on a skin cradle, a gift which Skyraven had made. She had embroidered it with black cattail roots and porcupine quills dyed red and yellow. She had also made a pouch in the shape of a turtle, a special gift for
Lean Bear
's grandson.
It was now just mid day. Since the new family needed some time alone, Skyraven decided to take another walk down by the river to look for milkweed, or at least that was the excuse she gave to the other wo
men. In truth she hoped to encounter
John Hanlen
. She was certain
his heart
would
lead him her
e as hers h
ad? It was the only spot secluded and far enough away from the Indian camp where they could meet
safely
. And the hunt should be over by now. She remembered yesterday
,
and felt a hot shiver flash through her at the remembrance. Bending down to cool herself off in the stream
,
she looked into the river, combing her hair with her fingers, trying to make herself pretty
just in case he came to her.
She was enjoying the water when she thought she heard the sound of horse's hooves in the distance. Putting her ear to the ground
,
she listened intently. One horse. She knew even before the horse and rider came to w
ithin sight that it would be her soldier.
"Skyraven!" Slipping from his horse's back, securing the animal tightly to a tree
,
he moved towards her. In his hand was a large leathe
r pouch from which he pulled
a length of brightly colored blue clot
h. "I was going to give
you this cloth yesterday but we...we had other things on our mind, and then last night we had
such a short time alone."
"Cloth?"
"Calic
o. Blue, to match your eyes."
Skyraven ran her fingers over the material, then smiled. "It is very pretty. So
me of the Indian women who live with the traders wear
such colorful cloth. And I have seen your white women in long, fine dresses mad
e of its lengths. Thank you."
"And I have other presents as well. Reaching in the bag
,
he carefully brought forth a piece of glass, painted with black paint on the other side. "A mirror. So that you can see how ve
ry beautiful you are."
"A mirror. I have also seen such things at the trading posts." She laughed softly, holding
it up, peeking at her
image.
“Much
better than a pool of water, is it not?" Seeing a smudge of dirt on her nose
,
she wiped it away. "Once we were fearful of such a thing, for it was said that the glass stole away the soul and held it captive. But now I know that it is just my reflection,
like I see within the stream."
"I would have brought you flowers were it the season, " he said, "but there just weren't any blossoms left at this time of year. But come spring I will bring you a bouquet of the brightest colored flowers." He explained, "in my world when a man is paying court
to a lady he brings flowers."
"Then we are "courting", John Hanlen?" She smiled her gratitude, pleasured by his gesture. "I
truly
like flowers, but I like this cloth and the mirror too." She took his hand and led him to the secluded spot among the trees where they had made love before, drawing him down upon the ground. The leaves of the trees formed a leafy
canopy
high overhead. Dead leaves and velvety moss formed a bed. For a long while they did nothing but sit b
eside each other, holding hands. She thought what a fine Indian he made, bared to the chest, the only evidence of his being a soldier his boots, blue trousers, and leather belt. Her admiring appraisal completed, she asked,
"how was the hunt?"
He laughed. "I'm afraid I'm not very good with bow and arrow. I had to cheat and use my gun
, but I did get a small deer."
"Then you can bring it
to the special feast tonight."
"
Feast? What is the occasion?"
"Desert Flower had her baby. A son." She lowered her eyes. "It made me think of how much I would like
to have your child, John."
"Skyraven..... are you....?" he asked, thinking that perhaps their night together at the cave might have taken seed. "I must waste no time in giving y
our grandfather those horses."
"I'm not with child, t
hough when we are married...."
"It will
be our first priority,” he finished, his
lips moved to hers, his mouth warm and soft. He did want to marry her, to fall asleep with her slim body cradled in his arms, to wake up beside her, to know she would always be with him. She was everything he had always wanted. "We were meant for each other, do you know that my pretty Skyraven?" he breathed huskily. "I knew it the moment I saw you bending over me. My flesh, my heart, my soul, belong to you.
”
He reached up to caress her and found that she was stripping away her garments. She held the length of calico up to her bosom, fashioning it around her body like a dress. "D
o you like it, John Hanlen?"
"You look very pretty." There was a woman at the fort, one of the officer's wives. He would see about having it made into a dress for her. "Although you look
just a lovely without it...." he added, s
lowly
reaching up to pull the
calico from her body, then let
ting
his eyes caress her softly curved form. Her body glowed in the hazy afternoon light with a golden hue. Slowly, leisurely, he traced the lines of her body, then pulled away as he r
emembered. "The braves.....?"
"Are busy preparing their kill for the evening meal." The warmth in his eyes made her feel beautiful. She didn't want to go back. "And there will be much excitement with the birth of Blue Fox's son. I do not
believe we will be disturbed."
"I hope not
,
and yet at this moment, I can't
even
think of being cautious." He leaned against her
,
caressing every part of
her, his lips devouring hers. T
hen
,
in a heat of anticipation
he
stripped off his own clothing, longing to become one with her and knowing there was little time before they had to return. If they were gone too long someone mi
ght come out to look for them.
Skyraven's eyes and heart, her very senses, were filled with him as he lay naked beside her. Flames of desire consumed her and she reached for him
. "I love you, John Hanlen."
"And I, you," he said with deep emotion. "Someday I'll have you all to myself so that we can make love for days in a row and not have to think of the time." He stretched his tall form to his full
height
as he lay beside her. He
branded her flesh
with his lips, kissing
her stomach and thighs. Skyraven reached ou
t to caress him, moving from
his hard-mus
cled shoulders to his taut, firm
buttocks. They were swept up in the fire which ignited their desires. John remembered that Skyrav
en had told him that the Arap
a
ho
and the
Cheyenne
was
a sensual people, making love day or night when ever it seemed right.
Moving over her, seeking entry,
he glided into her, welding her tightly against him. When he entered her
,
it was as if she felt her heart move. She sighed as she arched herself against his hardness, delighting in the feel of his flesh expanding inside her, filling her with flame. He penetrated to his full length, moving with her in a rhythm that brought forth exquisite sensations, supreme pleasure. She strained against him, anxious to take him even deeper inside her. A gust of passion surged up and ro
cked them like a mighty wind, enveloped them.
When at last their passion was spent, John placed a whisper of kisses on her brow and snuggled against her. Sky
raven's hands moved down to
the apex of their thighs where they were joined and breathed a sigh. "I think now I will always feel empty when you are not there," she said. Languidly she stroked his smooth back, answering his lips as they sought hers. Lying face to face, they held each other,
with closed eyes,
feeling, fulfilled and content
.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
When Skyraven and John Hanlen arrived back at the village, the preparation for the bab
y's feast was under way. A
fire blazed in front of the tepee of Blue Fox and Desert Flower. The aroma of food drifted through the air, foretelling the celebration. The
couple’s
female relatives were busy cooking or scurrying about doing whatever they could for Desert Flower and the new baby, just like any aunts and cousins
from
Missouri
might have done, John thought. People were already beginning to arrive from their own tepees bringing gifts and food for the festivities. Everything from horses to smaller personal items had been brought for the new infant, grandson of their Chief,
Lean Bear
.
Desert Flower sat outside the tepee upon a finely embroidered buffalo robe with a woven willow branch back rest behind her. She held the sleeping infant in her lap. From the radiant expression on her face, no one would have ever dreamed that just a few hours before, she had been in great pain and had delivered a nine pound baby boy. The Indian women had wonderful recuperative powers
, as well as
good medicine to help them through such trying times, Skyraven said. They had been taught to be strong. Still, a trusted medicine woman was most necessary
, and h
er good friend, Skyraven had given her much strength and encouragement
, which
had helped her through her first birthing e
xperience.
Desert Flower smiled knowingly as Skyraven and John walked down the path together and came toward her teepee. Nervously
,
Skyraven reached up to brush her hair back from her face wondering if the afterglow of love was visible for all to see. Sensing that someone was looking at her
,
she turned her head and met the eyes of her grandfather.
He knows
, she thought.
Somehow he knows
. But that was always the way with him, a certain sight.
Flushing
,
she turned away.
John Hanlen had spoken
of meeting
with
her grandfather much later. It would all be settled very soon and then
she need feel no such guilt.
Blue Fox kissed his wife's forehead and that of the sleeping infant and took his seat beside her. "I did not know where you went off to, Skyraven," he said. "I was afraid you would m
iss Big Bear's celebration."
Desert Flower lifted an eyebrow as he spoke for she knew full well why Skyraven had not returned promptly. The white soldier standing next to her was the reason
. Foolish man not to see and remember how it
was before they were married when they
had to share stolen moments
,
she thought with fond memory.
"I was out gatherin
g more milkweed," Skyraven said..
"More milkweed?" Desert Flower smiled slowly. "It will be a blessing, for th
e little one is very greedy."
John had been told at the fort how much the Indians enjoyed receiving presents. He had come prepared and now made an unexpected offering to the newly born child. Though he had intended to give Skyraven a leather horse's
bridle
for Running Antelope
,
he placed it before the baby instead. He would get her another one later. He had asked her permission as they had walked the path back to the camp
,
and she had agreed,
delighted at this kindness.
"For
your child, Blue Fox."
Reaching down into a leather pouch he was carrying, John pulled forth a beautiful string of beads for Desert Flower, an
d two
engraved arm band
s for Blue Fox and the c
hief. He had come well prepared with gifts for everyone to show his sincerity and good will. Placing the open leather bag upon the ground , he
informed the Indians gathered about that they could help themselves to
whatever
they wanted.
There was a flurry of excitement as the Indians, both men and women searched through the pouch. Much like over-eager children, John thought, touched by their
naiveté
in the matter of wordly goods.
Just as they had the night before
,
John and Skyraven sat beside each other by the fire,
relishing
every mom
ent of the time they could spen
d together.
As Skyraven explained the ministrations of the feast,
Blue Fox came to John's side. "Come
,” he said
.
“
You have said that you want to talk with my father. I will take you to him now. We will have time for eating, dancing and festivities later when we have learned more
about each other, my friend."
Blue Fox led him to the large tepee he had seen upon his arrival
at the camp
.
John wondered if he would be able to do some good in this situation between soldiers and the Indians or would his meddling be seen as
intrusion
? Well, he couldn’t back out now.
Blue Fox entered his father's teepee first
,
then beckoned John to enter also.
Lean Bear
sat cross legged in front of his teepee fire. He did not rise when the two younger men entered but
bid them sit down beside him.
"This is the man Skyraven to
ld you has come in friendship, F
ather. He would like to seek peace between our people
and his," Blue Fox explained.
"I too want peace." The chief
said lifting his head proudly.
"This is Chief Black Kettle, John Hanlen," he said, indicating the stern, dignified Indian who sat beside him, an Indian of medium height and physique
in the autumn of his years.
Major Hanlen had heard the names of Black Kettle and
Lean Bear
before. Both men
were well known and widely respected among the plains tribes and at the fort as well. Like the Arapaho chiefs Left Hand and Little Raven, it was said they were deeply concerned about peaceful relations with the white community but were having some
difficul
ty
controlling
the young braves.
Lean Bear
and
Black Kettle, John
thought. Two powerful chiefs in the Indian nation
!
Taking a deep breath
,
he began, telling the two men why he had
come. "The attack on the hunters
has caused anger. The soldiers are seeking to make retaliation and I fear they will take action endangering some of you who had nothing at all to do with the s
crimmage."
Lean Bear
spoke up at once. "I have
talked with the braves who are accused. The men you speak of
were hunting on Indian land."
"Then have them come forward,
” John suggested. “ and
travel to the fort to tell their side of the story. They must clear the matter up or there will be lives lost . Innocent lives
.
"
Lean Bear
replied
quickly
. "One of the braves has already been taken to the fort. That
is why Black Kettle is here."
"I see. H
opefully this will all be cleared up." Suddenly it seemed a simple matter. But then again that was
contingent on
Chivington's
acting rationally.
"He was taken as a
prisoner
, John Hanlen, n
ot given any chance for explanation. My scouts tell me that he has been locked in one of your jails. Hardly a show of just
ice."
"I will give you my assurances that the matter will be straightened out. I'll see what I can do about having those three m
en brought in and questioned."
"They will lie, like all white men. Lone Wolf and his
braves will be found at blame.”
"Lone Wolf?" For just a moment
,
John
had a flash of recognition at
that name, but shrugged it off to coincidence. "Colonel Chivington has made a gesture of understanding and peace by sending me here. It is a beginning. Perhaps the pres
ident himself will intervene."
"This medal I wear around m
y neck with a likeness of your White Chief Buchanan...... "
Lean Bear
took
off
the medal
and handed it to John
,
then continued
. "That w
as given to me
, as I
told
you, by this President you speak of.”
The chief turned and pointed at the teepee wall
"
and that American
flag was also a gift from the Great White F
ather.
But if such gifts are meant to e
ntice us to sell our bir
th right, that we cannot do. O
ur
land is not for sale.
And what land we have we will guard.
"
“I understand, but hear me, please. You must not take up arms. Tell your rampaging braves this as well. It only increases the chance for misunderstanding. Make a great show of peace and then there will be no fighting.”
"We already have, John Hanlen. My village and that of Black Kettle's is peaceful. For the young braves whose blood runs hot with anger I can not answer. It is out of my hands. But know that more than anything
in this life I do not want our mother the earth to tremble. I do not want trouble with the soldiers.”
John liked Chief
Lean Bear
. He was an affable and courteous man
who had made himself clear.
He liked his white brothers
, wanted peace but stood firm in his belief that the land belonged to the Indians. He could not control those braves who fought to keep their rights of possession of the buffalo hunting grounds.
"We cannot get used
to the white man's way of dealing with the land. To us this is the land of our ancestors. Their bones lie beneath its surface. This land belongs to the whole tribe
,
not to individual owners. A man can ow
n bows, arrows, horses or his t
epee but the land is not meant to be bought or sold. "
Black Kettle said, speaking for the first time.
"Yes, I understand that your feeling for your Earth Mother run
s
deep. Skyraven has
explained
some of your beliefs to me. I will try to make my white brot
hers understand how you feel .
We must do everything we can to stop the killing and the stealing and try
to live peacefully together."
Blue Fox was not convinced. “
Please hear me, my white brother. The white man is trying
to change our very way of life,
the proud life of a plains buffalo hunter.
We enjoy the exhilarating gallop after the buffalo, the dawn raid on an enemy camp, telling our young men of the brave coups while the
y
are all ears.
The women and children also listen to us and feel pride and admiration and respect for the way we live.
The whites would turn us into rabbits.”
"The soldiers have already invaded our land with their forts,"
Lean Bear
said sternly. "The buffalo hunting grounds are the only places that remain sacred. We do not want to
see them spoiled."
John could sympathize with the chief's point of view.
“I know that the army posts dotting the landscape throughout your ancestral lands are unpleasant sights to your eyes, but as you know, Chief
Lean Bear
, all
of
the tribes are not peaceful. The soldiers
watching from along the river banks are necessary to p
rotect the lives and property
of the white settlers." John
tried hard to protect the Army’s reasons for being there. After all, he was a soldier.
Lean Bear
’s eyes held sadness as he spoke. “You speak of
white m
an's
possessions
? These settlers and the soldiers cut down our timber, burn our grama grass, kill our buffalo, steal our horses,
fence
us out of our own territory, and even rape our women. When I see such things my heart bursts and bleeds for ou
r people."