Stolen Heart

by Rita Hestand

  "What is wrong with him?" Sasha asked with great concern as she quickly struggled to her feet.

  "I do not know, but from the way he said it, and his expression and the fact that he came inside without calling to me, it must be serious. Get whatever you might need to doctor him with."

  "Yes," she tried to adjust to the intrusion, and almost fell. Black Wolf caught her to him. She grabbed her head.

  "I'm fine, just a bit dizzy."

  In no time they were riding toward the Arapaho camp.

  There was all manner of commotion, and Naomie came running up to her. "It is your father." She looked almost guiltily at her. "He has taken ill." The way she said that, had Sasha staring. Naomie hung her head. She didn't look her in the eye either.

  Sasha had no time for greetings, she ran to his tepee with Black Wolf by her side.

  Her father lay on a blanket, covered and she knelt down by his side. "Father, what is wrong?" she asked, as concern laced her words.

  Her father looked very pale and his lips were wrinkled as though he'd been too thirsty too long.

  "I do not know for sure. But I am glad you are here." He said as he opened his eyes and looked about.

  "Of course I am here. And so is Black Wolf."

  The old man's eyes drifted from her to him and he gave a weak smile.

  "It is good you both have come. Something is very wrong, and I do not know what. But now that you are here, you must listen."

  "Of course," Black Wolf nodded coming closer.

  "I am happy you have taken my daughter as your wife. It is as it should be. And I know now you are protected." He glanced at Sasha and his hand touched her cheek softly. "There is much unrest here now."

  "But father what is wrong. I have not been gone that long?"

  "Big Knife has been encouraging the people to war against the blue coats." the old man looked from her to Black Wolf. "I have objected, but he persists. It is the first time he has said so aloud to our people. I fear he will start a war, and our people will die. We must do everything to stop him. I was wrong to ever encourage you to care for him. You, Black Wolf have encouraged peace here in this Valley. It is a good place, and we must do everything we can to remain here. Will you help me keep the peace here?" he took hold of Black Wolf's hand.

  Black Wolf smiled, "I will do everything I can, to do so. For as you say it is good here."

  "Thank you." The old man closed his eyes while Sasha examined him.

  When she was through, she turned to Black Wolf with a distress he'd never seen on her beautiful face.

  "What is wrong with him?" he whispered so the old chief did not hear.

  "He has been poisoned."

  "Poisoned?" Black Wolf bristled. "Who would do such a thing?"

  "There is only one brave enough to try such a thing. Big Knife. I must find my brother and tell him of what I have discovered."

  "Yes, I can find him while you help your father."

  "Thank you!" she laid a hand on his arm.

  "Do not worry." He smiled.

  "I am not sure I have come soon enough to help him, but I will try, and I will pray. He is very weak."

  "As will I." Black Wolf assured her.

  Suddenly without thought she touched his cheek softly, then kissed him there. Black Wolf stared into her eyes and saw the tears she would not shed.

  "Do not worry my sweet," he told her.

  Black Wolf left then. He asked an old woman where her brother was, and she pointed to a lodge not far away.

  Nakota came out and stared at Black Wolf, he grabbed his arm and shook it. "We must talk."

  "Come in." he invited Black Wolf.

  Black Wolf came inside and saw Matooka his wife and two children finishing their supper. The third child came bursting inside.

  "You may speak freely," Nakota said with a slight grin, rustling his young boy's hair as he spoke.

  "Sasha informed me that your father has been poisoned." Black Wolf said quietly.

  "Poisoned, you mean he ate the wrong thing?" Nakota asked with a concern.

  "No, he was deliberately poisoned, I am afraid." Black Wolf explained.

  "So," Nakota bristled, "he has done it!" Nakota stood up straight, his hands fisting as he spoke.

  "Who?" Black Wolf asked, noting the anger flowing from the man.

  Nakota banged his fist on the rocks around the hearth.

  "Big Knife, he rode out of camp last night with several others from the tribe. He announced his plans to make war, against my father's wishes. He gathered a few men who wanted to go with him. I will kill him for harming my father!" Nakota promised.

  "Wait," Black Wolf called to him as he strode outside.

  "I agree he has done much wrong to your father and his people and he must be stopped, but between your tribe and mine, perhaps we can get this under control before it becomes a war."

  "Is my father awake?" He asked him.

  "No, but Sasha treats him. However, I must prepare you that he might not live." Black Wolf informed him. "She's not sure when or how he was poisoned."

  "I will see my father first, then will you go with me to speak with Big Knife. As I think he will have a harder time explaining it all to us if someone that is not from this tribe speaks too."

  "If you think he'll listen." Black Wolf said, although he saw already that this Big Knife was preparing for a real war with the blue coats, and he, like Nakota wanted to put him down before it went too far to stop.

  "Good. You are a good husband for Sasha, I can see that. I am glad you have come. There are many in this Valley who would join Big Knife. We must stop him before it gets out of hand."

  "Yes, even in my village there are some that would war if they got the chance."

  "We have lost many lives through the wars and since the blue coats came, even more. When they made us live on reservations there were still wars. But for five years now we have kept the peace. Now it is with us again."

  "We will stop it!" Black Wolf assured him, laying a hand on his shoulder. "We have a good treaty this time and we don’t want to be moved off the Wind River Valley.

  "We are of one mind, it is good." He shook Black Wolf's hand.

  Chapter Eleven

  "Are you sure it is food poisoning Sasha?" Nakota asked, as he hugged her tightly, seeing the distress on her face. He moved to stare down at his father, who was pale and almost lifeless.

  "Yes, I'm afraid so. He has all the symptoms. It must have happened within a short time ago. To be this sick this soon, means the poison was powerful and the only thing I know that kills so quickly is the toad stools. How long has he been sick?"

  "I do not know when he became ill. I have been on a hunting trip, and not been home. He has been frail for some time. He stays in his tepee most of the time now and he's seems to have been getting weaker, more every day. How long ago do you think he was poisoned?"

  "I cannot be sure. It could have been just days, unless they used a slow poison, then it could take weeks for him to show any signs of it. I suspect toad stools. They work quickly and discreetly. But I must tell you, a woman would know what they look like and not pick them. Any woman at all. He was deliberately poisoned by someone here in this camp. He would never have known it unless he was looking for it. It is hard to distinguish when it is cooked. We need to find who did this and get answers."

  "Have you treated him with anything?"

  "I gave him some sumac tea for his fever, it is coming down now. I will give him blackberry and ginger tea when he wakes for his stomach. He has diarrhea and cramping, but it is best not to stop this as it empties the stomach of the poison. It is hard on him at his age. I want to warn you brother, he might not survive this. Had I caught it sooner, he might make it, but I don't know how long ago this happened. And he is very weak right now."

  "To be sure of who is responsible we will need to know what he ate, who prepared it and who served him." Black Wolf insisted.

  "That is easily found out." Nakota insisted and
strode out of the tepee with a purpose his fist clenching and unclenching as he spoke.

  "How is he?" Black Wolf asked Sasha as he stood close by her side.

  "Not good I'm afraid. If he'd been younger and healthier, he might be fine in a few days or weeks, but he is not. The diarrhea, cramps, fever, dehydration. He has been weak for some time and this could easily kill him."

  Her brow furrowed from worry.

  "What can I do to help?" Black Wolf asked.

  "I need to be here with him. I can treat him the best I know how and hope it is enough, but I don't know how long it will take to tell. If it is the bad toad stools, he could die at any time. They are very deadly. Unless I know for sure what they used on him, I cannot predict his health. But I am worried."

  "Do not worry so much. I will stay with you. I will send someone back to my camp to tell the people where I am if they should need me. I must gather some of my men too."

  "You do not have to stay, unless you do not trust me to come back." She looked at him strangely.

  He came up to her, took her in his arms, and held her close. "I do trust you, Sasha. But I do not think you need to be alone in this. He is your father and if something happens, I need to be here for you! However I promised your brother we would go together to find Big Knife."

  She looked up and suddenly he kissed her warm and lovingly on the lips. She clung to him. The kiss seemed to feed her the strength she needed. She stared into his eyes as his head lifted.

  "I am afraid."

  "I know, but we must stop Big Knife before he creates a war." He smiled into her hair. "He has already done much damage."

  "I am glad you are here," She said softly. "And I want you to go with my brother to find him. But be very careful as Big Knife is very clever. He is not wise, but he is clever in other ways."

  "We will get to the bottom of it."

  Nakota came back and he looked a bit startled. "What is it?" Sasha asked him.

  "His sisters served him the last two days, but a week ago, Naomie made him a special meal of his favorite food. She insisted on serving it to him herself."

  "Naomie?" Sasha gasped. "Oh dear God. It was she, that was why she looked at me so strangely. Question her Nakota, I want to know… "

  "I cannot, she is gone!"

  "Gone, but I just saw her!"

  "Minola saw her leave. I am sure she has gone to warn Big Knife. It is obvious they are responsible."

  "My God, she did it! How could she do such a thing?" Sasha shook with both anger and fear! "I cannot believe it! She actually tried to kill my father. And probably at the urging of Big Knife. I came back once to talk with father, and saw them in the woods, making love. He spoke of father not agreeing with his views. He spoke of leaving the camp and taking others with him."

  "Yes several went with him, I am told." Nakota told her.

  Black Wolf cuddled her to him, "Do not fret Sasha, as we, your brother and I will get to the bottom of this. You just continue healing him, if you can. We will return as soon as we can."

  She nodded, "Yes, of course." She shot him another glance and a smile.

  But the look on her face upset Black Wolf. He could see so many emotions playing upon her expressions.

  Nakota and Black Wolf went outside to talk.

  "She is very upset. Her best friend has poisoned her father, the man she thought that loved her is responsible. It is hard to bear." Nakota shook his head. "It is always hard when someone you know and once trusted can turn on you so easily."

  "Yes, I agree." Black Wolf nodded. "Where do you think they went?"

  "They are either still here on the reservation, or they have left the Wind River Valley to plan the attacks." Nakota told him. "They probably took refuge in the mountains if they are not on the property."

  "Then we must find them before the attacks begin. If the soldiers spot them first, the war could start before we get to him."

  "I agree. I will round up some of my men, can you do the same, to search for them."

  "Yes, we need a signal if one of us find them. I do not want to leave her alone too long though. As I fear your father will not get better. Especially if she is right about the toad stools."

  "Agreed. We will gather at the same place, if one of us finds them, we will send one of our men back to the meeting place to leave a man to report to the other. I want to bring him back here to face his own people."

  "Sounds good. You know, if Big Knife is killed during this search by one of us, Sasha will be distraught." Black Wolf commented.

  "Do not fret over that. I have seen the look in her eyes, it is not for Big Knife any longer, it is for you. She may not know it yet, but my sister is no fool, and you are a man who loves and takes care of her. She is falling in love with you."

  Black Wolf grinned, "I hope that is true."

  "I have seen it, and you will too, soon."

  "I look forward to that moment." Black Wolf smiled now.

  "You love her, that is good. You will be my brother now."

  "It is agreed. And between the two of us we can keep the Wind River Valley a peaceful reservation." Black Wolf smiled and shook arms with him.

  "Yes, my brother, it will take much work to find him. You know, I knew he was making love with Naomie. But the way my sister acted I could not tell her at the time. Perhaps I should have. I didn't want to see her hurt. Right now, I want to kill him!" Nakota exclaimed vehemently.

  "I can understand that. He has hurt her and your father too. He must be dishonored by his tribe."

  "I would rather kill him with my bare hands." He glanced at Black Wolf. "I am sorry, I have not hated this much in a long time. My father has taught me over the years the wisdom of peace, and for his sake I will not kill Big Knife if I can help it. But the wanting to, grows in my heart."

  "It is hard to bear such betrayal." Black Wolf agreed.

  "Like you, for hurting her, I am angry, but for hurting your father, the chief, I can feel the anger growing inside me too. But, to merely kill him won't accomplish much. We must make the others see that his way is the wrong way, and that he has caused this grief on your people."

  "You are wise beyond your years Black Wolf."

  "I had a good teacher, my father." Black Wolf smiled.

  "How soon can you be ready to leave?" Nakota asked.

  "Within the hour, I will go now, so we can return to help here."

  "Good."

  Black Wolf went back to his camp and called the people to listen. "Chief Walking Bear of the Arapaho is ill. He has been poisoned by one of his own. The one responsible is Big Knife who has left the tribe with some of his tribesmen. He intends to make war with the blue coats. This will break our treaty and we cannot let him do this. This is our home and we want to stay here. We must stop him, as there will be much killing if we don't. I ask my people to help me fight him and bring him to justice in front of his own people. How many will go with me?"

  The tribe mumbled unto themselves for only a moment, when half the men raised their spears that they would go.

  "Good, we must hunt him down and take him back to his tribe, if we don't, our own people could be in trouble. For making war they could move us to a bad place where nothing grows, and hunting is bad. As we are his enemy too. We must go quickly and get this done."

  Several raised a war hoop and Black Wolf was glad that most of the men wanted to help.

  One of his closest friends, Bear Paw came forth. "Our chief is right. This Big Knife can cause us all much trouble. We must find him! He has been here once already trying to stir up more people to join him in this fight."

  The others whooped and hollered.

  The elders agreed too it was bad medicine to let a man like this run wild on their reservation.

  The oldest of the elders stood up and nodded, "Go and put a stop to this troublemaker!"

  "Thank you!" Black Wolf smiled.

  They rode to the Arapaho camp and met up with Nakota. Black Wolf introduced him to his men. "This is t
he son of Chief Walking Bear, who lays helpless now because of Big Knife. Remember his name, Nakota as he will be chief one day of the Arapaho."

  There were more whoops, and Nakota nodded to them and raised his spear.

  After Black Wolf went inside the tepee and told Sasha of their leaving, she came up to him and kissed him softly on the mouth, "Be careful, Big Knife is very cunning. Come back to me, safely."

  Black Wolf smiled, "I have every reason to come back, now. Tell your father, we will seek justice."

  She nodded, "I will." She let a tear slip down her cheek.

  "He is no better?"

  "He is worse." She cried. "I fear I cannot save him. He is quite frail and does not have the energy to fight this."

  He pulled her chin around and stared into her eyes, "Have faith. I will return soon, I promise. I hate to see you cry."

  "I'm not sure I can save him," her voice cracked with emotion. "And I love him so."

  "Speak to the Creator." He advised. "I must go now!" He said throatily, but his eyes warmed on hers.

  She nodded, another tear slipping down.

  He would hold that tear in his heart until he returned.

  Chapter Twelve

  Sasha stayed with her father night and day. She kept her thoughts on how to treat him, trying one thing then another, never seeing any improvement. Minola her youngest aunt helped her with everything and stood by her side when she cried. Her other two aunts were too old to realize what was happening, but they chanted outside the tepee and they would pray. Sasha went to the sweat lodge one evening and prayed for his recovery. She let herself cry for her father now, where no one could see her. She knew she couldn't save him and hoped maybe the Creator would intervene.

  "Great Spirit, hear me, as my father is dying, and I have tried everything to help him. I love him so, and he is a good leader. Please, do not let him die. Give him my strength to recover from this that was thrust upon him."

  She spent the night there, then went back to her father the next day. She felt better, but there was no improvement with her father. One day Minola came in and found her crying. She sat down beside her and took her into her arms.