Cheyenne Moon (4 page)

“I will show you where you can bathe.  The dress might be a problem.  You are taller and a bit fuller than my mother or sister,” he answered.

Abby colored at his reference to her body.  Was he meaning to say she was fat?

“I am sorry. I did not mean to embarrass you.”

“It’s okay it just sounded like you were saying I am fat.” She said with a smile.

“I do not think of you as fat. I just meant that you are bigger in the…, “

“I know what you mean. Please don’t say anymore.”

“Come back inside with me and we will see what we can find for you to wear.”

Inside the lodge, the Chief lay sleeping. The homey atmosphere again made her think of home. There were weapons, cooking utensils, extra sleeping mats, and back rest stored neatly out of the way. The fire ring was in the middle of the lodge, with seating arranged around it. One of the seats had a beautiful piece of doeskin lying over the backrest. Tears welled up in her eyes, she missed her father; she missed taking care of him. She knew her kidnapping had probably been almost as hard on him as her mother’s death had been. She wondered how long he had searched for her before realizing that it was hopeless. The tears flowed freely now, she couldn’t stop them.

“Why do you cry has someone said something to upset you?” Shadow Spirit asked.

“Wouldn’t you cry if you had been snatched from your home and thrown into a world that is completely alien to you?” she sobbed.

He took her in his arms and once more tried to sooth her pain. He was becoming more aware of the feelings growing in his heart for this woman. He knew to love her would be easy. 

Abby was a stranger in a strange world, but knowing Shadow Spirit was there with her helped to ease the pain in her heart.

Green Eyes entered in time to witness their embrace. “Well, my son seems to show unusual tenderness for this beautiful captive,” she thought. She coughed quietly acknowledging her presence. Shadow Spirit stepped back from Abby.

“Mother we were waiting for you,” he said in a slightly husky tone.

“I see that you were anxious for my return,” she said with a knowing smile.

Shadow Spirit ignored his mother’s apparent pleasure at finding Abby in his arms. “Abby needs clothing Mother, until she can make something for herself.”

Abby wished the ground would open up and swallow her. Green Eyes was looking at her as if she knew what she was secretly feeling for Shadow Spirit.

Green Eyes walked to the back of the lodge where several large parfletches were neatly stacked.  She brought Abby a cream-colored dress made of soft doeskin with long fringes around the neck and hem.

“This should fit you nicely dear. It is not new, but it still has a lot of wear left in it.”

“It’s beautiful, thank you.”

“You are welcome; I will help you to make some clothes that will be for you and you alone.” Green Eyes remarked.

“Come, I will show you where you can bathe,” Shadow Spirit said.

She followed him along a well-worn path leading away from the village to the stream. It ran sedately between two huge boulders to form a pool in a secluded area. There was a large weeping willow sweeping gracefully over the water forming a canopy.

The water looked peaceful and inviting.

“It looks wonderful Shadow Spirit, but is it safe for me to bath her in broad daylight?”

“Yes, I will wait for you.”

“No! You can’t stand there while I take a bath,” she cried.  “I may be your captive but please leave me a shred of modesty.”

“I did not intend to watch you. I will go behind a boulder and wait until you say you are finished. Please do not think that I would ever lie to you. No harm will come to you as long as you are with me.”

Abby bathed quickly. The cool water was bringing color back to the skin. She lathered her hair with the soap that Green Eyes had given her. It smelled faintly of lard and flowers but at least it was soap. She washed and rinsed her hair and body and timidly got out of the water. She began to dress and realized that there was no underwear.

“Shadow Spirit don’t come out,” but it was too late. He stepped out from behind the boulder just as Abby turned toward him. She quickly held the doe skin dress up in front of her. She knew she was blushing from head to toe. Shadow Spirit acted as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened.

“Turn around so I can talk to you,” she pleaded

“Is there a reason you cannot look at me and talk to me at the same time?” he asked with a smug grin on his handsome face.

“Please Shadow Spirit.” He turned so that she was speaking to his back. “I can’t wear this dress without under clothes. Please go tell your mother that she forgot to give me any.”

“Indian women do not wear such things,” he announced with a hint of laughter in his voice.

“I am not an Indian woman, and I do wear such things. I can’t go around with nothing on under my dress. Please, Shadow Spirit, I just can’t,” she pleaded

“Put the dress on Abby and just see how it feels against your bare skin.”

“I’ll try it on, but I don’t think that I can walk back to the village like this.”  She slipped the soft dress on over her head and was surprised at the feel of the doeskin on her skin. The dress was heavier than what she was used to, but so soft and supple, and really fit very well. “You can turn around now.”

When he saw Abby in the dress that belonged to his mother, his heart turned over. The dress fit each curve of her body as if it had been designed just for her.  She was positively beautiful with her exquisite blue eyes and her long blond hair falling in wave after wave down her back. 

He moved to stand in front of her. “You are stunning, none of the maidens of my village or any other village can compare to you!” 

He put a hand on each side of her face and slowly lowered his head to hers. The kiss that started out soft and gentle soon became more intense.  Abby felt as if she was being drawn into some incredible dream. Before she had time to think she had brought her arms up and lovingly wrapped them about his neck. When she strained to get still closer, he groaned with pleasure. Her lips parted to grant him access to her mouth. When he began to stroke her tongue with his she felt a quickening sensation in the juncture of her thighs. Her lungs had no air left in them and she felt as if she were drowning in a passion like she had never felt. Shadow Spirit slowly ended the kiss. He left his arms around her for support. She laid her head against his chest; she could hear his heart beating wildly. Abby knew that if he let her go at that precise moment that her legs wouldn’t hold her up. They stood like that for several minutes before either one could breath normally again. He eased her back so that he could see her face.

“It will be all right Abby. I will see that you are not hurt by anyone including myself.

“I know that you won’t hurt me Shadow Spirit,” she said still shaking from the emotions of the kiss.

“I am sorry if I upset you, but I could not seem to stop myself”

She looked up into his eyes and thought what a very handsome man he was.  “I’m not very experienced in these things, but I think that I was kissing you back. Let’s just not talk about it anymore right now.

“Yes that would be best. Mother will think we have been attacked because we have been here some time. Let us go back and show her what a beautiful Indian maiden you make,” Shadow Spirit said.

“Thank you,” she said. “The dress feels wonderful. I guess I can wear it without under things until I can make some for myself.”

The walk back to the village was made without conversation. They had called a silent truce. Abby had decided not to pester Shadow Spirit about taking her home anymore until his Father had recovered from his illness. Shadow Spirit would have enough responsibility as acting Chief without her causing him any more trouble. 

As they neared the Chief’s teepee in the center of the village, Abby noticed a young woman watching them from behind a tree. Abby smiled at the girl but she received a cold hard stare in return that to Abby could only resemble a look of pure hatred. She looked at Shadow Spirit to see if he also saw the girl but he was looking straight ahead.  When Abby turned to look back at the mysterious girl, she was gone. How strange, the young woman hadn’t looked at Abby with curiosity as the other women in the village had. She looked at Abby as if she were her worst enemy.

That afternoon Abby met Shadow Spirit’s sister, she was a beautiful girl. She had been visiting with her friend when Abby and Shadow Spirit had arrived at the village. Abby was sitting outside the Chief’s teepee when Yellow Dove came running up and took her mother by the hands turning her around and around.

“Yellow Dove you stop this right now. You are acting as if you are a child instead of a beautiful young woman who is about to be wed.” Green Eyes scolded.

“Oh Mother I am going to marry the man I love. I am happy. I am not dead. Should I not be excited? Yellow Dove exclaimed with laughter turning her head toward Abby. “Hello.”

“Yellow Dove, this is Abby Anderson. She was brought to our home by your brother.”  Green Eyes explained. “Abby this is my daughter Yellow Dove.”

“Hello.” Abby said with a smile.

“Mother is Abby to be a captive?”

“No, she will live in our lodge as a member of our family.” Green Eyes stated.

“That is good. I will have someone to talk to and to help me prepare for my wedding.” Yellow Dove said while going to sit next to Abby.

“I would be happy to help you prepare for your wedding Yellow Dove.” Abby replied.

“There is so much to do and only a short time to do it in.”

“When are you going to marry?” Abby asked.

“We are to be wed in three days.” Yellow Dove answered. She turned to her mother.  “We have our lodge prepared Mother,” she said turning to Green Eyes. “Have you finished the beadwork on my dress?”

“I was beginning to believe you two had forgotten that I was here, but yes your dress is finished.” Green Eyes said with a smile. The two girls appeared to be destined to become friends.  “Come, I will show you.”

Abby did not know if she was to go with them or if she was supposed to wait here outside while the mother and daughter went inside, so she just stood in one spot.

“Abby,” Yellow Dove called. “Come inside.”

Abby went into the teepee as Green Eyes was unfolding the most beautiful garment Abby had ever seen. The dress was made of doeskin that had been whitened by many hours of handwork. It was fringed at the sleeves and hem, with beads strung from each fringe. Porcupine quills had been attached in a v pattern around the neck.  Fine beadwork circled the waist and sleeves. Abby could only stare in disbelief at the dress. Her knowledge of Indians up until now was only what she had heard from others. This was not something that she had heard about. She was not aware of the lovely clothing the Indians could make or any of their customs. All she had heard about were the war party raids and the savage behavior of Indians.

“This is beautiful Yellow Dove. You will make a beautiful bride.” Abby said.

“Thank you Abby. I have put a lot of work into this dress,” Yellow Dove said with a loving look at her mother.

“We must finish the evening meal before the day grows dark,” remarked Green Eyes.

They ate a meal of some kind of stew that Abby found appetizing. Shadow Spirit ate with his family as he usually did. He was in a quiet mood. He did not speak unless he was directly spoken to. Abby wondered what he was thinking about. He was probably thinking about how happy he was to be well rid of her. She knew he had a lot of responsibility while his Father was ill. Abby wasn’t the only one who had noticed Shadow Spirit’s mood.

“Come, Shadow Spirit.” Green Eyes said. “Let us walk. I would like to talk to you, my son.”

“Yes, Mother.” He answered without hesitation. He was hoping this would not be one of his Mother’s long lectures about him still being unmarried.

“Shadow Spirit, your Father is not getting well as fast this time. I fear he will not survive this latest bought with the illness that has plagued him for some years now,” she said.

“No Mother, Father is strong. He will overcome this sickness.” Shadow Spirit stated rather brusquely.

“You have been away for two weeks; you have not seen him through my eyes. He grows weaker with each passing sun. He has told me that his last dying wish is to see you with a wife to care for your needs, and to give you fine strong sons, so that you will be as happy as we have been through the years. Is there not one of the maidens in our village that has caught your eye,” she asked?

“Mother I want a love that is as strong as the love you and Father have. I have strong feelings for a woman, but I fear she does not return my feelings.” He said.

“Who is this woman and have you asked her Father for her?”

“I do not know her Father,” he said.

Green Eyes knew immediately of whom he spoke. “I have seen the way you look at Abby and I have also seen that she looks at you in much the same way.”

“I believe perhaps it is only gratitude that you see in Abby‘s eyes, Mother.”

Their walk had taken them to the edge of the village, where sentries stood guarding the people from intruders. The full moon had come out to light their way and smells from the evening meal still lingered in the air. It was quiet and peaceful this time of night. 

Green Eyes considered what Shadow Spirit had said. She thought of when she was first married his Father. “When your Father first rescued me from the Crow village, I was grateful but that gratitude soon turned onto genuine love. It is a love so great that the stairway of time could only strengthen it.  I am white on the outside, but at heart, I am Cheyenne. I am the wife of a Cheyenne Chief and mother of a future chief. I think what Abby feels for you is more than gratitude.” Green Eyes finished.

“We will see. Soon we will move to our winter camp in the Black Hills. It will be a long and tiresome journey for someone who is not used to the ways of the people” he said.

“She is stronger than you believe. Otherwise she would not have withstood her ordeal with Black Heart,” she said as they arrived back at Green Eye’s teepee.

“We will see how she adjusts to this life Mother. I must go to my lodge now. We are going on a hunt at sunrise and I have had a long couple of weeks away. Storm is improving. He can walk around a bit now,” he said. “You know Mother, Abby was quite frightened by Storm at first but she seems to accept that I am a friend to a wild animal now.”

“Goodnight Son. Have a good hunt. We will need all the food we can store to see us through the winter,” she remarked.

“I know Mother, goodnight.”

As Shadow Spirit prepared to leave, Abby ventured outside. She had been talking to Yellow Dove for some time and needed to stretch her legs before retiring for the night.

“Hello Abby,” said Green Eyes. “I am going to bed. I made you a bed beside of Yellow Dove’s. Goodnight dear” she said.