Tiopa Ki Lakota (47 page)

The warrior's eyes closed and she pressed against the blonde's hips with a groan. "
Ohan
,
mahasanni ki
," she panted as the attention continued, a rush of wetness between her thighs.

It was Kathleen's turn to marvel at the effect of her touch. She lost herself in the wonder as her hands crossed heated flesh, watching her lover's reactions to the different touches. Straying down, she brushed the curly hair between them, feeling moisture. Surprised, reached further, scooping Anpo's essence onto a finger and brushing the sensitive bud.

Anpo was on fire, her body automatically bucking as the blonde touched her. She opened dark eyes to slits, watching as Kathleen studied the liquid on her finger.

"You are wet," the blonde said, holding the digit up to show the warrior.

Panting, Anpo couldn't help but chuckle. "
Ohan
, Ketlin. It is what happens to
winyan
when they are aroused." With a sly grin, she brought her own hand down and returned the favor, her smile widening at the gasp of surprise as she caressed Kathleen's sex. Bringing her finger up, she showed the blonde that it glistened with wetness, as well.

The jolt of pleasure from her center startled the blonde. While there'd been some amount of feeling with her husband, it had never been so intense with just a touch. She watched as Anpo licked her own finger clean, eyes closing with enjoyment. Kathleen peered at her damp finger, a maddening curiosity overcoming her.
What does she taste like?
The resulting explosion of saltiness on her tongue amazed her.

Anpo opened her eyes to see her
winuhca
repeating the action, finger in mouth as she sucked the warrior's essence. Her hands returned to the pale skin, pulling Kathleen's hips closer until their centers mingled. She heard a moan that drove her on and her hands massaged the firm muscles of the blonde's buttocks, moving slowly south.

As long fingers played in her wetness, Kathleen's hips began to move, pressing herself against the warrior. Not wanting to be left out, she reached between them and caressed Anpo's silky folds, her body on fire at the immediate and carnal response.

They moved together, soft moans punctuating their touches as they thrust against each other. Lips and tongues clashed together in breathless excitement, fingers reaching into places that hadn't been touched in too long. The pair rode wave upon wave of ecstasy until they cried out in a final spasm, bucking against firm skin in mutual climax.

Anpo was physically exhausted but her heart was filled to bursting. She eased backwards onto their robes until she lay with her woman splayed across her body. Her fingertips idly traced patterns on Kathleen's back and sides.
I have found my path, as Inyan told me many winters ago.

The blonde relaxed under the stroking, her body sluggish. A hundred thoughts rampaged through her active mine, foremost being,
Good Lord! What else have we been missing!?
She listened to the steady beat of her
winuhca's
heart, slowing to normal after their exertions. Another sound filled her ear, the croon of her warrior singing a love song.

When it was finished, Anpo hugged her woman close. "I will never leave you again,
mahasanni ki
. Not even in death."

Though the words sent shivers down her spine, Kathleen lifted her head, falling into deep pools of brown. "And I will never leave you,
mahasanni ki
. Not even in death."

Epilogue

1784

The spring morning was chilly and a little overcast. It had rained pretty steadily for the last month and Stewart was happy for the break in the weather. He tightened the cinch on his saddle and readjusted a stirrup. Certain that he and his gear would stay on the animal, he turned to his family with a smile.

As usual, Teca was in Anpo's arms. The boy was five winters old now and becoming more and more distracted by the
hoksila
who ran wild through camp. Beside the pair was Kathleen, her dark blue eyes shining with tears despite the happy smile on her face. It was to her that the blond man went first.

Kathleen's breath hitched as she was gathered into his arms. She reined in her rampant emotions and bussed his cheek. "You take care of yourself, Stew," she insisted, pulling back to dust and straighten his homespun shirt.

"
Ohan
, sis, I will," Stewart responded. He tilted her chin with a finger and stared into eyes that were so like his own. "And you take care of yourself and your family."

Despite her best intentions, the blonde burst into tears and pulled her little brother into another embrace. "I will," she promised in a fierce whisper.

After a few moments, Stewart pulled away, his own eyes suspiciously damp. "Here now, lass! No tears!" He helped her wipe her face before turning to Anpo.

The warrior stared at him for long seconds. Her face was unreadable as she set Teca down and reached for a pouch at her feet. Anpo handed the leather to her
sic'e

, a slight smile gracing her face. "Thank you for bringing my
winuhcala
and
cinksi
back to me."

Blinking in surprise at the gift, Stewart opened the pouch and pulled out a fur bundle. Inside was a bone pipe, yellowed with age. Small animals were carved on it and a second piece of bone had been fashioned into the bowl, its interior blackened from use. Stewart looked up at the warrior.

"That is my best pipe," Anpo explained. "It is made from the bone of
tatanka ska
and is very sacred."

Stewart fairly gaped at her, knowing the importance of this item among Anpo's personal belongings. He automatically reached out to hand it back but Kathleen intercepted him.

"Never refuse a gift," she murmured.

Swallowing, the man nodded. He pulled back and looked at the warrior. "Thank you, Anpo. You do me a great honor with this gift." His mind raced as he considered his own belongings. "I have nothing to give you in return."

Anpo's smile widened. She picked Teca up again and held out her arm, draping it around Kathleen's waist. "You have given me a great gift, Stu'et, one that I can never repay. You have brought my family home to me."

Unable to top that, Stewart accepted the compliment and gift with grace. he bundled the pipe up carefully and stowed it with his gear. Final good byes were said and he mounted his horse.

"Give my best to mum and da," Kathleen said.

"I will, sis."

Teca, who had remained fairly silent through the exchange, finally called out, "
Leksi

! You will return?"

Stewart's eyes took in the boy, his family. He turned a bit and studied the winter camp of Wagmiza Wagna with fond eyes. A smile crossed his face and he looked back at his nephew. "
Ohan
,
tunska
! I will be back to see you."

"Good." Satisfied, Teca asked to be put down and he scampered off to his mother's
ti ikceya
to play.

"Take care, sis. I love you." Stewart urged his mount away, threading through the camp. Once he was through the eastern entrance, he kicked the horse into a trot.

On a hill outside of camp, Stewart pulled up short. Turning around, he looked down and saw his sister and
hanka

walking arm in arm back to the lodge. Teca was dancing around the fire, pretending to be hunting
tatanka ska
.

"Aye, sis. I'll be back. You can bet on it."

He turned the horse for home.

Cast of Characters

Hca Wanahca (hajah wah-nah-hajah)
- (Cinksi/Anpo's sister) nicknamed Hca

He Osni (hee oh-shnee)
- (medicine man) nicknamed He

Hehaka Yatke (heh-hah-kah yaht-keh)
- owner of Kathleen from Mani's camp

Inyan Ceye (een-yahn cheh-yeh)
- (shaman) nicknamed Inyan

Magaju Ahi (mah-gah-joo ah-hee)
- (Anpo/Hca’s cousin) nicknamed Ahi

Nupa Olowan (noo-pah oh-loh-wahn)
- (Cinksi/Anpo's childhood friend) nicknamed Nupa

Stewart Franklin McGlashan
- (Kathleen's brother) nicknamed Stew

Tatanka Teca (tah-tahn-kah teh-jah)
- (Ketlin/Anpo's child) nicknamed Teca

Topeya (toh-peh-yah)
- (native who received the first steel knife from the white trader)

Wagmiza Wagna (wah-gamee-zah wah-ganah)
- Chief of Cinksi/Anpo's camp

Wanbli Zi (wahn-blee zee)
- (Cinksi/Anpo's father) nicknamed Wanbli

Waniyetu Gi (wah-nee-yeh-too jee)
- (Cinksi/Anpo's mother) nicknamed Gi

Wayawa (wah-yah-wah)
- medicine man of Mani's camp

Wi Sape (wee sah-peh)
- (Nupa's father)

Wicasa Waziya Mani (wee-chah-shah wah-zee-yah mah-nee)
- Chief

Wi Ile Anpo (wee ee-leh ahn-poh)
- (a.k.a. Cinksi) nicknamed Anpo

Yus'as'a Wicasa (yoo-she-ah-she-ah wee-chah-shah)
- son of Nupa and Hca, Anpo's nephew

Zintkala T'e Zito (zeen-takah-lah teh-eh zee-toh)
- Opposing Lakota chief in 1768 civil war

Kathleen Sarah McGlashan Stevens
- the white woman, nicknamed Ketlin

Jonathan McGlashan
- Kathleen's father

Rachel McGlashan
- Kathleen's mother

Stewart Franklin McGlashan
- Kathleen's brother

Franklin O'Neill
- Rachel McGlashan's father, Kathleen's grandfather

Kathleen O'Neill
- Rachel McGlashan's mother, Kathleen's grandmother

Widower Adam Stevens
- nearest neighbor and Kathleen's husband

Kathleen Sarah Stevens (nee McGlashan)
- daughter of Rachel and Jonathon

Lakota Glossary

ate (ah-the) -
father

cana (cha-nah) -
crotch area

ce (chee) -
penis

cinksi (cheen-kashee) -
son

cunksi (choon-kashee) -
daughter

cuwe (choo-weh) -
older sister

cuwekala (choo-weh-kah-lah) -
precious, older sister

cuwignaka (choo-wee-genah-kah) - dress

Hahatunwan (hah-hah-toon-wahn)/Ojibwe tribe -
'village by the falls'

han (Hahn) -
female greeting

hanka (hahn-kah) -
male to sister-in-law

hankasi (hahn-kah-shee)
- grandchild

hau (hah-oo) -
male agreement, yes / greeting

hehaka (heh-hah-kah) -
male deer, elk

hiya (hee-yah) -
negative, no

hoh (hoh) -
male negative, strong no

hokahe (hoh-kah-heh) -
"let's go"

hoksila (hoh-keshee-lah) -
boy

igmu (eeg-moo) -
cat, mysterious animal

ikceya (eek-jeh-yah) -
common lodge (a.k.a. tipi)

ina (ee-nah) -
mother

inanup (ee-nah-noop) -
mother two

jiji (jee-jee) -
fair complexioned

ki (kee) -
the

koskalaka (kosh-kah-lah-kah) -
young man

leksi (leh-kashee) -
uncle

mahasanni ki (mah-hah-sahn-nee kee) -
'my second skin', very intimate name for one's mate

maske (mah-shekeh) -
female to female close friend

misun (mee-soon) -
female to younger brother

mitan (mee-tahn) -
younger sister

mitankala (mee-tahn-kah-lah) -
precious, younger sister

nigesanla (nee-geh-sahn-lah) -
antelope

ohan (oh-hahn) -
female agreement, yes

oinikaga tipi (oh-ee-nee-kah-gah tee-pee) -
sweat lodge

pispiza (pees-pee-zah) -
prairie dog

san (shahn) -
vagina

Sicangu (see-gahn-goo) -
one of the seven tribes of Lakota

sic'e (shee-chah-eh) -
female to brother-in-law

ska (skah) -
white