Savage Autumn (18 page)

It was very late when Windhawk returned. The stew had gone uneaten and the cook-fire had died down when he lay beside Joanna. He knew she was awake and he wanted to take her in his arms.

“Jo-anna, tell me about this thing that pulls you back to the white world.”

Joanna turned to face him. “I doubt that you would understand, so I will explain it this way to you. What if a stranger came to your lodge and moved in, taking it as his own. Suppose
he threatened Morning Song’s life, as my uncle threatened my brother’s life?”

“There is no question that I would have slain the man,” Windhawk said with conviction.

“Suppose the law said that this man had the right to do as he wished with your property and with your life?”

“That is not the Indian way. If it is the white man’s way, then the law is wrong.”

“You and I both know that our worlds are different. I don’t know why I couldn’t have been born into your world or you in mine. I only know that I must find my father.”

“If you must go, then I will go with you,” Windhawk said, pulling her into his arms. “You are my wife, and it is my duty to protect you.”

Joanna laid her head against his shoulder. “No, you cannot go with me. This is one road I must walk alone. Please try to understand.”

Windhawk could not understand. He knew he would never allow Joanna to leave him. “The things that happened to you before we met no longer have any meaning. One day we will send word to your father, and he will know you are safe.”

Joanna knew that nothing she could say would change Windhawk’s mind. She would just have to take what happiness she could for now. In the near future when the opportunity presented itself, she would leave. Would it be wrong of her to want to have this short time of happiness with the man she loved? she wondered.

Joanna’s arms slid around Windhawk’s shoulders, and she raised her face to receive his kiss. No, it was not wrong to steal a little happiness before the real world came crashing down around her.

Windhawk’s lips settled on hers and Joanna was soft and yielding in his arms. As his hands moved over her body, she knew that when the time came to leave, she would leave her heart and her happiness behind.

Joanna was extremely happy as the golden days of autumn settled over the land. The giant ponderosa pines, the cedar, the fir, and spruce trees retained their greenery, while the oak and Cottonwood trees dominated the countryside with their glorious autumn colors. The majestic mountains rose above the valley and their tallest peaks were awash with sparkling white snow.

Joanna’s days were filled with hard work as Sun Woman continued to instruct her in the work of the Blackfoot woman. Her nights were filled with love as she lay in the arms of Windhawk.

At times Joanna would almost forget that there was another world outside the Blackfoot village; at other times she could feel that other world beckoning to her.

Windhawk often allowed Joanna to accompany him on a hunting expedition. Those times were the happiest of all for her. She loved to ride alongside her tall husband, feeling as if time had forgotten her when it had placed her in this land as an adopted daughter.

The men of the Blackfoot tribe seemed to have readily accepted her, but that was not true of the women. She was forced to feel like an outsider by Sun Woman and her friends. Windhawk’s mother was still as disapproving and distant as she had always been. Joanna had begun to respect the older woman, and wished desperately for Sun Woman’s approval and acceptance.

By now Joanna spoke the Blackfoot tongue, if not well, at least understandably. She never spoke in English unless she didn’t know a certain word in Blackfoot. It was as if a whole new world had opened up to her. She loved to talk to the young children. They did not seem to share their mothers’ distrust of her. When the young girls were playing ball, they would often ask Joanna to join them.

Joanna had ridden out with several of the women to a nearby valley where there was an abundance of chokeberries growing beside a small stream. The berries would later be dried and mixed with meat for added flavor.

The day was sultry and hot. Joanna could feel rivulets of perspiration running down her back. The berry-picking process was slow and tedious. She dropped a handful of berries into the leather pouch which she wore about her neck. Looking down at her hands, which were now brown and rough, she wondered if they would ever be soft and white again.

Sun Woman gave Joanna a disgruntled glance. “Your hands are no longer soft, white woman. Do you find the Indian ways hard?” she asked in her usual haughty tone.

“Yes, Sun Woman, the way is hard, but the rewards are great,” Joanna answered, wishing she could find some way to reach the older woman’s heart.

“You are not one of us, nor will you ever be,” Sun Woman told her. “Nothing you can do will make your white skin darken, or your white heart beat as that of a Blackfoot.”

Joanna felt the sting of Sun Woman’s criticism. Windhawk’s mother had a very powerful influence over the other women. Joanna knew she would never be accepted by any of them until she won Sun Woman over.

Joanna picked a wine-colored berry and popped it into her mouth. It was mostly seed with very little juice.

Her mind began to drift as she looked toward a small cove and spotted a lone elk with its great antlers pointed toward the sky. She watched as the animal moved its head as if to test the wind. The elk had either detected the women or the presence of something else.

Joanna glanced at the other women, but they seemed unconcerned by the animal’s fright, so she returned to her berry picking.

Suddenly there was a rustling in the nearby bushes and a hideous sound which Joanna had never before heard split through the stillness. The other women heard it too, and
Morning Song called out. “It is the wild boar, run for cover! Climb a tree if you can!”

Joanna looked about in total confusion. She saw Gray Fox’s infant son propped against a tree in his cradleboard. The thrashing and grunting from the wild boar was getting closer. Joanna stared in fear as the animal came out of the bushes, charging straight ahead. Gray Fox’s son was right in its path!

With no thought of the danger she was in, Joanna ran toward the baby. There was no time to pick the child up and carry him to safety for the crazed beast was too near.

The boar had long tusks and was using them to root up the dirt as he charged toward Joanna. She was surprised at how swiftly the animal could run on its short stubby legs. The boar was now near enough that she could see its beady little eyes and the dirt that clung to its snout.

What could she do? she wondered in a panic! She couldn’t abandon the child, the boar would kill him for sure. Without thinking, Joanna placed her body in front of the child and reached for the spear that one of the women had leaned against the tree earlier.

With no time to consider, Joanna grabbed up the spear, and thrust it forward, bracing her back against the tree. The spear entered the animal’s body between the shoulder blades, and pierced its heart. The impact slammed Joanna sideways and she dropped to her knees. Gasping for breath she fell to the ground. It all happened so quickly that the other women had no time to react.

Gray Fox’s young wife ran to her baby and picked him up in her arms. Sun Woman knelt down beside Joanna and lifted her head onto her lap.

“Are you hurt?” Sun Woman inquired.

Joanna was still in a daze. “The child…?” she asked.

“The child was unharmed because of your brave deed,” Windhawk’s mother assured her.

By now the other women had gathered around and were exclaiming their excitement.

“Look, Joanna has killed the boar!” Morning Song cried out.

Sun Woman helped Joanna to her feet and they all gazed at the dead animal. The boar was grayish-black and its hair was stiff and prickly. Blood ran from his mouth and from the wound that had pierced its heart.

Sun Woman looked at Joanna and smiled widely. “My daughter, Windhawk’s wife, has done what only a brave warrior could have done. She had no fear when she put herself in danger to save Gray Fox’s child.”

Joanna caught the look of pride on Sun Woman’s face. She had called her daughter! Sun Woman placed her arms about Joanna. “Everyone shall hear of my daughter’s brave deed. She is truly a woman worthy of my son, Windhawk.”

Now that the incident was over, Joanna felt her knees go weak. She had not set out to be brave, she had only followed her instincts. “I am feeling very weak, Sun Woman,” she said, leaning on the older woman for support.

“You have done well, my daughter. It is only right that you should feel frightened now that the deed is done.”

Gray Fox’s wife hugged Joanna tightly. “You are very brave, and I can never show my gratitude to you for saving my baby.”

All the other women came up to Joanna to either touch her or to praise her for her bravery. She caught the gleam in Morning Song’s eyes and saw the joy reflected there. Morning Song was pleased that her mother and the others had accepted Joanna at last.

Windhawk would be pleased also, she thought.

Joanna was learning that no meat was ever wasted by the Indians. The boar was butchered and loaded onto one of the horses to take back to the village.

When the women reached the village, Sun Woman went from lodge to lodge proclaiming her daughter’s bravery. By evening everyone knew of Joanna’s daring deed.

Joanna sat beside the cook-fire, feeling her body tremble. The others wouldn’t think her so brave, she thought, if they could see how sick she felt inside. Her body was sore, and she couldn’t still her hands, which shook in spite of the fact that she clutched them tightly together. She was glad that Sun Woman
and the others had finally accepted her, but she didn’t agree with them that she was brave. She had acted on instinct, nothing more.

Windhawk swept into the lodge. When he saw Joanna lying on the buffalo robe he rushed to her, and lifted her into his arms to cradle her gently against him. “Are you unhurt?” he inquired, looking her over carefully.

“I am but shaken up, nothing more.”

“When I heard what had happened, I came at once. The whole village speaks of nothing but your bravery today.”

“I’m not brave, Windhawk. I was very frightened when it was all over.”

He smiled and touched her lips with his finger. “The most courageous man thinks not of his own safety while in battle, but will sometimes tremble when it is all over. There are many things that separate the valiant from all others.”

Joanna basked in his praise. “I do not know what you mean, Windhawk?”

He laid his cheek to hers. “The coward will run in the face of danger. The courageous will stand and fight. A coward can very seldom become brave. The brave will never become the coward. It is something that one is born with, I believe.”

“I am glad that the child was unharmed, Windhawk,” she said, not knowing what else to reply.

He raised her face and his eyes roamed lovingly over every beautiful feature. “Do you know what they are now calling you, Jo-anna?”

“No, what?”

“They are calling you Flaming Hair. Your name will be sung around the campfires for many years to come.”

Joanna felt tears in her eyes, and laid her head over on Windhawk’s shoulder. Never had she felt so good about herself. Never had she cared so deeply about the opinion others had of her. It was wonderful to have the approval of Windhawk’s people, but most important of all, she had won Sun Woman’s respect.

“May we enter?” a familiar voice called from outside the lodge.

Windhawk stood up and helped Joanna to rise. “That will be Gray Fox wanting to reward you for saving his son,” he told her.

Gray Fox entered with his two wives, and Windhawk solemnly motioned for them to sit beside the fire while he and Joanna joined them.

“I wish to speak with your wife, my chief,” Gray Fox said.

Windhawk nodded.

“Joanna, I have no words to say that can show my heart’s gladness that my son still lives. I think there are no earthly goods which I can give you that would reward you for saving my son.”

“I do not wish a reward,” Joanna said.

Gray Fox’s youngest wife stood up and placed a beautiful white doeskin gown in Joanna’s lap. It was elaborately embroidered with beads and porcupine quills. “White Dove wishes you to have her finest gown, while I give to you my best horse,” Gray Fox said.

“No, I could never accept…”

Windhawk interrupted Joanna, knowing she was about to refuse the gifts, thus insulting Gray Fox. “My wife accepts with gratitude, my friend,” Windhawk said.

“I thank you for the gifts,” Joanna said, not knowing how to react to their kindness.

At that moment Sun Woman and Morning Song entered carrying a big pot of food. They had cooked the boar and were bringing it to Windhawk’s lodge to celebrate.

There was merriment and laughter inside the tipi as many people came in to join the festive occasion. Joanna smiled as she felt the strong bonds of love encircle her. At last she was being accepted by the Blackfoot tribe.

To everyone’s surprise, no one sang Joanna’s praises louder or longer than Sun Woman.

The hour was very late when the last guest departed. Joanna was so exhausted that she curled up in Windhawk’s arms and fell asleep.

Windhawk gathered her close to him, thinking of the danger she had been in today. If anything had happened to her, he
would have died as well. He stared into her sleeping face, feeling as if he held the greatest gift Napi had ever given a man. Today she had proved her worth to his people. No one would ever challenge her right to be a member of the Blackfoot tribe.

Joanna was his woman and nothing could change that. How was it possible to feel so much pride in such a small girl, he wondered, laying his face against her hair.

Picking her up carefully, he carried her to their robe and laid her down. He removed her clothing and covered her with a soft robe. Yes, she was but a small girl, but inside her beat the heart of a brave warrior.

Windhawk removed his clothing and lay down beside her. His mind wandered ahead to the time when he and Joanna would have children. What exceptional children they would grow to be, with a mother like Joanna to guide them. They would have the blood of chiefs in their veins, and the brave heart of their mother.

Joanna sighed in her sleep, and Windhawk gathered her closely to him. He watched as she slept, knowing she had earned the right to sleep deeply.

In her sleep Joanna moved closely against Windhawk and curled up to his body. His eyes flamed for a moment as he felt his desire fan to life, then he smiled.

“Sleep, little wife,” he whispered as he kissed her eyelids.