Lakota Winds (Zebra Historical Romance) (12 page)

Chumani admitted to herself she was a little disappointed that he
did not lay full claim to her, as doing so would answer many of the
questions about him, their new life, and the contradictory emotions
which troubled her. She got little sleep, too aware of the temptation
nearby and the numerous uncertainties in her future.

As was the custom, Wind Dancer sought a private place at the river
for his morning ritual of bathing and greeting the Great Spirit. Clad
only in his moccasins and breechclout, he stood straight and still as he
faced the rising sun and mutely prayed to the Creator of all things. He
gave thanks for his blessings and asked for guidance and protection in
the days to come. He closed his eyes for a moment as he ended the
holy communication, then took a deep breath of invigorating air and
knelt to finish his daily task.

As he splashed water upon his face and torso, he noticed the flecks
and small nuggets on the shallow river's bottom which glittered like
the golden sun. He knew he could pull up clumps of grass which edged
its banks and find the same shiny mazaska zi clinging to their roots.
He also knew the white man would trade his very soul to collect them
and would encroach on this sacred site at any price of warfare to lay
claim to it. So did other bands and tribes, and all had agreed not to
reveal its presence in the sacred Papa Sapa or to use it for trade with
the wasicun. Yet, somehow and some day, he recalled with a resentful heart, the enemy would make that discovery and a fierce war would
ensue, for his grandfather had seen it happen in a vision long ago; and
Nahemana had never been wrong.

The Oglala warrior heard the splashing of water beyond a section of
dense bushes on the bank where the river curved behind them and did
not have to be told his wife was there bathing. As he closed his eyes
again and summoned her image to his mind, his loins sprang to life
with desire for her. He warned himself he must learn to control his
urges or they would consume him and he would seek her out on the
sleeping mat before she was ready to reach out to him. Patience was a
virtue and he must practice it, no matter how hard or how long his
quest for her required.

Chumani bathed in a hurry, as the water was still chilly even if winter
was past and the snow was gone. The sky was blue and almost clear of
white clouds. The winds from all directions were calm, and the day was
warm, warmer than it normally was for this time of the rebirth season.
Mother Earth had renewed her face. The grass and trees were green.
Flowers had bloomed. Nature had called out the the birds, animals,
and insects who were busy with the mating and reproducing season.
Perhaps, she mused, that was the reason behind her discontent; no, her
yearnings. Female urges and instincts buried within her were straining
to burst forth when she must hold them captive. Since she was so well
trained and well practiced in deceit and self-control, surely she could
dupe Wind Dancer about her feelings. If not, how would that influence
her future?

Chumani could not answer with accuracy, so she pushed those
thoughts aside to return to their campfire.

After sharing embraces and final words with her loved ones and
people, Chumani mounted to leave with her new family and to take
the next step along the path of her new destiny. The gifts had been
loaded upon two of the horses Wind Dancer had brought to her father,
who had given them to her to transport her possessions to the Red
Shield camp and to the grasslands for their summer encampment there. She had warmed when Wind Dancer had smiled and thanked Tall Elk
for his generosity, and had thanked her people for theirs. She recalled
she had told her mother during a private moment together upon their
return, that Wind Dancer was a good and kind man and a great warrior,
that the Great Spirit chose well for her. She had said those things to
give her mother joy and comfort; in her deepest heart, she hoped they
were true.

Their farewells finished, the couple departed with the other four
Oglala men riding slightly ahead of them and with Cetan flying high
overhead, his keen eyes on the strange sight below him.

As they journeyed in silence, Chumani thought about her best friend
who had not returned before she had to leave, so Wind Dancer had
not met Zitkala. She could not help but wonder if her husband would
like and respect her best friend in spite of her masculine demeanor. She
knew that even if she had been away with Zitkala instead of in camp
tending her ill mother when Wind Dancer arrived, he would have
awaited her return to claim and take her away. Despite her doubts, she
knew the inter-tribal alliance was necessary. She could not help but feel
proud to be the one chosen to seal it and to be a part of the sacred
visionquest. No matter her uncertainties in many areas, she must not
do anything to dishonor her parents, people, and herself; she must make
the best of this challenge and sacrifice.

Besides, Chumani told herself as she stole a glance of him, Wind
Dancer was being understanding and patient. Still, she worried that his
behavior might be nothing more than trick or a gentle ploy until he
got her away from her loved ones and under his control. Perhaps,
she fretted, his heart belonged to another woman whom he had been
compelled to sacrifice in order to obey the sacred vision. Or perhaps
he did not find her desirable, and mating with her would be a chore
for him. Maybe that was the true reason why he was delaying their
physical bonding. Do not think suchfoolish thoughts, she chastened herself.
You are smart, brave, and strong. The Great Spirit chose you for an
important task, so He will guide and protect you.

When dusk approached, the small group halted to camp. As was the
custom, while the men tended the horses and talked, Chumani gathered
wood, built a fire, and fetched fresh water from the nearby river. As
she waited for the men to eat before she consumed her own meal and
put everything away for the night, she listened to their talk and observed
their actions.

"It is good the Great Spirit chose Dewdrops to become the wife of
my son," the chief said. "He has told me of your courage and skills in
the forest with the Crow. My heart is proud to look upon you and to
call you my new daughter. You will be a good sister for Hanmani and
War Eagle."

Chumani was touched by his comments, but surprised that Wind
Dancer had exposed their past meeting to his family. "Your words are
kind, Rising Bear, and I thank you for them. I will do my best to be
a good wife, daughter, and sister to my new family." She looked at War
Eagle as he spoke. At seventeen winters he was a handsome and virile
male and a skilled warrior, who had great pride in his family and older
brother.

"You will have a place of great honor in our camp and upon our
tribal buffalo hide. Our people and my family will rejoice at your
coming, and sing happy songs that my brother has finally taken another
mate. He will become a great chief as our father is. It is good to have
you in our family."

"Your words are also kind, War Eagle, and I thank you for them."

"All he said is true, Dewdrops," Nahemana concurred with his young
grandson. "Your coming was foretold in my sacred vision and soon you
will ride a glorious trail with Wind Dancer to save our two peoples and
lands."

"I pray I am worthy of that challenge, Wise One, and I will not fail
in my duty to the Great Spirit, my husband, and our peoples."

Red Feather grinned. "Do not worry, Dewdrops, for my best friend
has seen your skills and courage and has boasted they are a match for any warrior's. I pray to be chosen to journey with you two on the
exciting task ahead."

"As do I," War Eagle added to Red Feather's remarks.

"When will the Great Spirit reveal what that task will be, Wise One,"
Chumani asked the shaman, "and when we will depart to begin it?"

"Soon, Dewdrops," Nahemana told her, "for the signs I saw in the
vision are close to those which cover the face of Mother Earth this sun."

"Will the hawk who lives and travels with Dewdrops be a part of
the sacred quest, Grandfather?" War Eagle asked.

"I do not know, but a hawk was in the visions and Wind Dancer
was told to paint one upon a new shield to carry."

After Red Feather questioned her about Cetan, Chumani answered
him with the same details she had revealed to her husband last night.
She glanced at the large bird who was perched in a pine tree nearby,
smiled, and finished with, "He is my friend and he will obey any
commands Wakantanka gives him."

"We have far to ride on the new sun, so you must eat before we
rest."

Chumani did as Wind Dancer suggested while the men continued
their talk about past battles with the Crow, then put away the remaining
food and added more wood to the lowered flames. When she returned
from excusing herself in bushes cloaked in shadows, she took her place
beside her husband upon their sleeping mat. Her feelings were mixed
when Wind Dancer cuddled up to her from behind, arranged a blanket
over her shoulders, and allowed his arm to rest over her waist. Between
the cover, his body heat, and her reaction to contact with him, she was
warm and cozy in many ways. Yet, she was tense from suppressed desire
and from wondering if his gentle behavior was genuine or only a pretense
before his family to dupe them about their relationship being a happy
one. She prayed another sleepless night would not follow the previous
one, and to her delight, it did not.

The five men and one woman approached the Red Shield camp late
the following afternoon.

Chumani's heart began to drum within her chest at the thought of
meeting the rest of his family, relatives, and people. As if he sensed her
apprehension, Wind Dancer moved his horse closer to hers, looked at
her, and smiled as if to encourage and comfort her. For a moment, she
felt lost in his captive gaze. Then she returned his smile before focusing
her eyes on the large encampment spread out before her where her new
home, new people, new life, and unknown destiny awaited her.

Chumani was elated by the genial welcome she received, as War Eagle
and Red Feather had ridden ahead to announce their approach. It was
as if the entire band enclosed their horses to greet them, to study her,
and to gaze in fascination at the large hawk which sat upon her shoulder
on a wide and thick leather strip to guard her flesh against accidental
pricks from his sharp talons. Several times she lifted her hand to stroke
Cetan's chest and to speak soothing words to him as he flexed his claws
and jerked his head about, as he was uneasy amidst the unfamiliar
crowd. As their gazes shifted from her and Cetan to the two symbolsa yellow dewdrop and brown hawk-painted upon Wind Dancer's new
shield, she overheard several of the Big Bellys remark on the accuracy
and "big medicine" of the sacred vision. She met countless people in
a rush and realized there were many names and faces to learn: his family
of five, his mother's parents, Winona's brother and his family and her
sister, the sister of Rising Bear and her family, and their many friends.
It appeared to her that she was accepted and respected as the mate of
their chief's son and future leader, and as the "vision woman." She
told herself that even if she had lingering doubts about what their
shaman and her husband saw during their peyote-induced dream quests
and how Nahemana interpreted those signs, they, his family, and his
people believed they were messages from the Great Spirit; and she, a
part of them.