Sweet Savage Surrender (29 page)

"I have heard talk that your people intend to settle us upon reservations
,” Blue Fox added
.
“
We are hunters, Major John. 
I
f  we settle down with  no activity we will grow pale and die." 
The chief’s son
was almost
imploring
John Hanlen to understand that they could never become
a stationary people, for the
need to roam
was a part of their very being.
             
"
I do understand. I will carry what you say to
my chief
.” John decided at that moment that he needed to go higher up the rank than Chivington. We have come to an understanding, and I want you both to know that I will do my best to relay your message to my chief so that he, too, may understand.”
John was
sincere in his feelings for
the c
hief
and his son. They deserved better than to be stripped of their ancient homelands by fair methods
or foul without their consent.

"Then l
et us smoke the pipe of peace together" 
Lean Bear
took his own personal pipe from its leather case.  It was a  long pipe beautifully decorated with feathers, strips of leather and beads.  He filled it with kinnikeneck and tobacc
o mixed with rye grass, then
raised it toward the sky , touched it to the ground  and point
ed it in the four directions--
east, north , west and south
--
while
chanting a low melodious chant. The eerie tones were echoed by Blue Fox and Black Kettle.
             

Chief
Lean Bear
took the first puff, passed it to John
,
who took a puff
.  John then
passed it
to black Kettle, who passed it
on to Blue Fox to complete the small circle.  When they had completed their smoking ,
Lean Bear
stood up and shook hands with John
in the white man’s manner..

"I am glad you have come to talk peace with us.  Tomorrow we will meet with other chiefs and
,
if all goes well, we will prepare for a council meeting with your people some time soon.
Your are right. The matter of the three men who have told lies must be concluded,” Blue Fox said. " 

"But I must let you know that we make no decisions without the vote of the others in our tribe
.”
  Chief
Lean Bear
explained.  "
Within the next few days we will send a runner to seek the meeting of the Medicine lodge council with The Arapaho
chief’s Left Hand and Little Raven.”

“I will tell my chief that we must wait,” John said, hoping Chivington would not be pigheaded on the matter.

From outside the tepee, drums could be heard, their staccato sound echoing the beating of John’s heart. Was he foolish to truly believe there could be peace and tranquility here on these lands without bloodshed?

"I hear the drums beating.
” Blue Fox declared.
“
We
must go now and
join my new son's celebration."

Lean Bear
stood up. As if dismissing John, he opened the flap. John took the hint and stepped outside, followed by blue Fox and the two Indian chiefs.
             

When they
returned
to Desert Flower's teepee the dancing had already begun .  The older people sat
at the edge of the flickering f
l
a
mes or reclined on thick, soft buffalo
robes, while
they shared a good story or
reminisced
about days gone by.  Many removed their moccasins and  danced in bare feet in order to be closer to the Earth Mother.  The younger people danced and played games.  Skyraven chose John for the
blanket dance
in which the women chose partners to share their blanket with them while they shuffled around the circ
le.  When the dance was over,
Skyraven and John pulled her blanket over their heads
so they could steal a quick
kiss.

"How did your council with
Lean Bear
go?"

"He lis
tened and talked about peace, b
ut I'm still uneasy."  He clutched at her hand.  "If anything happened to you
I don't know what I would do."

She smiled.  "Nothing will happen.  I will be safe.  That is why the great spirit sent yo
u to me.  I can see that now."

"Tell your grandfather to be careful
, nonetheless."

"You can tell him yourself, for even now he is m
otioning for you to join him."

John looked in awe at the old Indian. 
Whether he and Skyraven would live happily ever after or face heartache rested
in this man's hands
.
Squaring his shoulders
,
he walked briskly over to join him,
hoping to make a favorable impression.  "Good evening,
Buffalo
's Brother."

“
You have said you wanted to talk with me?"
The crackling flames of the fire cast eerie shadows on the face of 
Buffalo
’s Brother as he stood scrutinizing the man who might become his grandson-in-law.
             

“I have spoken about peace with Lean Bear and Black Kettle, and I want to speak with you about peace as well.” John reiterated much the same story as he had in
Lean Bear
’s tepee
earlier
, feeling more and more nervous under the medicine man’s piercing gaze.

“I have spoke with the chiefs. My people will also abide by their decision.”

“In the meantime be careful that no violence will be instigated. Any show of weapons might be misunderstood.”

“And that is all you want to see me about?” He looked for a moment like a bird with ruffled feathers.

“I want to speak with  you a
bout your
granddaughter
.  She must have told you how we feel about each other."  Dear God, the man's frown
wasn't making this any easier.

"Your attraction to each other has been as silent as the thunder.
” His granddaughter’s blood burned for the white soldier, that was clear to him.  “Yes, I know."

"Then I'm certain it isn't any se
cret that I want to marry her."  John decided to come right to the point.

Buffalo
's Brother nodded grimly.  "She has told me."  Crossing his arms across his che
st he looked very formidable.

"And do you approve?"

"I want my granddaughte
r's happiness above all else."

John breathed a sigh of relief.  Skyraven's grandfather had not told him no.  "She has told me ab
out the matter of the horses."

"Four
is what I ask for
."

"She is worth more than that.  I'll bring you six, just to show you how much I think of her.  Six of the finest horses the territory has to offer
and leather saddles for each of them.  Agreed?"
He'd nev
er thought it would be so easy.

"It will be as you say."  The gray eyebrows furled.  "And if Skyraven agrees to go with you to your world, what then, white
man?  Will you make her happy?
  Can you love her as deeply as I believe sh
e loves you?"

"You would allow her to go?"  John had been afraid that he would not and had wondered how he was going
to solve the problem.  He would hate
to abduct her, though he knew it had been done before
in other similar situations of mixed love matches.

"I would sacrifice my very heart if it would make her happy.  Indian ways are the only kind of life my granddaughter understa
nds.  The others will shun her--
those of your kind."  His face was so expressionless as to have been cut out of stone.  "You whites can be cruel in your treatment of those who are d
ifferent from yourselves."

John thought about the
South where men kept other men enslaved because their skin was black and about Mexico and the way part of the
Mexican’s
land had been stolen by those whose motive was greed. Now it was the Indians.
"I know and for th
at I am truly sorry, but...."

"Never would I want Skyraven to be wounded
by
such  sharp barbs
. And it is
thus I make my plea
, That you will join us."

John was taken aback, though h
e'd feared that such a proposition might be made. "Become an Indian?"  It was out of the question.  Although he truly liked these people
,
theirs
was a primitive way of life.  Interesting, soothing, uncomplicated, carefree, y
et a manner of living that was going to be surpassed by mankind's progress.  Times were changing.  Once he might have been content to fish and hunt and live as the Indian braves did, but now
so
many eyes focused covetously on Indian lands, it was impossible
to act as if the world could stand still.
And most important, he was a soldier who had sworn to serve his country. He couldn’t just up and leave the fort.
             

"It is a good life.  A life of freedom."  Buffalo Brother's eyes flickered in the firelight
,
yet the medicine man did not betray any emotion.  John started to speak
,
but waving his hand
,
Skyraven's grandfather silenced him.  "Do not answer hastily, John Hanlen.  I will give you time to think it ove
r.  That is how it must be." 

John
knew it would be foolish to argue now, that it would make it look as if he somehow scorned the Indian's way of life.  Instead, with shoulders straight,  he gave the medicine man a level look and nodded.  "I understand.  It will be as you ask."   What would happen when he give his answer
, an answer that inevitably had to be no?

The festivities lasted well into the night
and it seemed as if it were going to be an eternity before John had the chance to be with Skyraven again. Like the other women, she took her turn preparing the food that was to be partaken of at the feast. John was greatly impressed that the Indians were not at all wasteful. Whereas he had seen much food thrown away at the fort, the Indians made use of every inch of an animal, including the deer he himself had killed that afternoon. It gave him a feeling of pride to know that every bone and sinew would find a use. Perhaps his deer
would
end up as a pouch, its bones as eating utensils. He had, in fact, never seen a more ingenious and industrious people, taking from the land only what they needed for survival.

"Join us..." he remembered
Buffalo
's Brothe
r saying.  Strange that
tonight those words sounded so appealing.  He had to force himself to remember who and what he was before
he promised something foolish.

"John Hanlen...."  John turned around to see Blue Fox standing in the shadows, holding a bow and a quiver of arrows in his hands.  "You have been most generous in giving gifts to my family.  I would like to give you a token of friendship in return.  This bow is the proper size and weight for you."  With a smile he presented the bow and arrows.  "I heard the braves talk about the hunt.  They said you made an attempt to try and use ou
r method to kill your quarry."

"It takes great skill.  I'm afraid I made a poor showing."  His arm muscles  were still s
lightly sore from his attempt.

"After our fight I know that you have the strength.
  I will show you."  He drew John
into a well-lighted area of the camp and pointed towards a large knot in one of the trees.  "The curve and tension of bow and  string is very important.  These arrows are straight, the feathering just so, for accuracy."  He showed John how to hold the bow and draw the bowstring properly, the correct way to nock the arrow.  "The position of your arms and shoulders must be just right.  And you must practice.  Next time  you are at our
camp I will take you hunting."

John was deeply  touched by Blue Fox's show of friendship.  "Thank you."  Having watched the special hand grip the braves used as a gesture of friendship, one that looked a bit like arm wrestling, he initiated the handhold.  "From this moment on we are friends, Blue Fox.  I have asked for Skyraven in marriage.  I want you to know.  Perhaps that will make of us ev
en closer friends."

"I have heard."  Blue Fox smiled.  "Six horses is en
ough to have married an Indian p
rincess.  I fear that wiley old wolf made
a good bargain
for himself
."