by Rita Hestand
"Yes, my brother, it will, at least after we get Big Knife.
"Aw, yes, Big Knife. He lurks in the back of our minds all the time. Do you think he's hold up in the mountains for the winter?"
"Yes, that's what I figure. I only hope we can catch him before he does real harm."
"Yes, it won't be long now, and we can go after him."
"We probably should check with the fort first and see if they have found him yes."
"I agree." Black Wolf nodded. "Although I don't think they have, as it would take a very good tracker to find him right now. He won't be moving around until it thaws."
With a glad heart Black Wolf and Sasha went happily back to their tepee.
As they were preparing to leave for the Shoshone camp her aunt came and wished her well. Sasha hugged her.
"I will miss you," her aunt told her.
"No you will not. For I will return when Black Wolf goes after Big Knife to visit a while."
"Good. I want to make some baskets for the harvest."'
"I will be glad to help. You know how I love to weave them."
"Yes, I remember well, child. I will look forward to your return."
Sasha was so happy that Black Wolf was home and now they could start their new life together. The first time she walked into his tepee, she was surprised at all the things he had there, musical instruments he had made, bows and arrows he had fashioned himself. Hides he had made as rugs and blankets and coats, and tools he used to fashion these things with. He had tools of all kinds, and she turned to look at him. "You made all of this?"
"No," he smiled. "Some of it was handed down from my father and grandfather. But I did make some myself."
"I am impressed."
He had made her a coat for the winter so she wouldn't freeze. It was from a buffalo. "Where did you get the hide?"
"My father took me to the north country, and we brought back several buffalo hides from there, last year. It was hard for him to ride, but he wanted to hunt the buffalo one more time, so we went. My mother insisted years ago I should fashion a coat for my wife so that she would always be warm."
"It is lovely." She told him as he put it on her.
"Only because you wear it." He smiled sexily at her.
She never knew that love could be this good between a man and a woman. They made love every night, and sometimes during the day. They were both eager to be with each other.
But one day, before spring came, Sasha came into their tepee to find Black Wolf gearing up to leave again. She hated to see him go, but she knew he had to.
She made him an especially big supper that night and afterwards she made love to him. She stared up into his eyes as he leaned over her, kissing her.
"I have something to tell you," she said.
"Then tell me, my love." He smiled and propped himself on an elbow, smiling down at her and touching her in places that made her squirm.
She sat up and looked him up and down. "What would make you happiest right now?" She asked.
"Making love with you, of course," he smiled sexily at her.
"Is there not something else you need to be happy?"
"I cannot think of anything that makes me happier than making love with you, Sasha." He smiled.
"I'm with child, my love." She said softly, cuddling into his arms.
He had heard her words, and his hand stopped, his breathing stopped, and his eyes became big. "Are you sure?"
"I am." She smiled. "Does it please you?"
"Please me?" He asked incredulously. "My love, nothing could please me more."
He laid her down and his hand ran around her tummy, gently stroking her there. "You carry my child?" he asked still a bit stunned.
"Yes, it will come in the dead of winter, December." She told him.
And then he kissed her so tenderly she swooned. He kept kissing her and touching her and when his head shot up, he smiled so tenderly at her. "You could not have brought me better news, than this."
He bent to kiss her belly. "To think we will have a child from our love, we must thank the Creator."
"Yes, I have prayed for one, just for you."
That evening they made the most rapturous love. Wolf had been so tender with her, thinking only of her and the baby he sought to please her in every way.
She could not believe a man so powerful as Black Wolf could be so gentle, but he was. And their lovemaking was even better than before, somehow. Instead of hot thrusts, he made love to her very slowly, enjoying every moan from her lips as he was bent on pleasing her.
He kissed, teased and took her so slowly, that she gasp at the pleasure it brought between them. She had never known such a pure and giving love as this and the pleasure it gave thrilled her.
As the orgasm came, he kissed her breasts tenderly, and sustained himself for a long time inside her. She sighed with such contentment, as he continued to kiss, lave and touch her. She had never felt this loved before and it overwhelmed her to see him treat her so gently.
"You give me so much, my love," she cried. "How could a man so big and powerful, love me like this?"
"I have loved you from the first, I will always love you. And now you gift me with a child." He said tenderly as he ran his hands through her hair.
"Do you feel alright?" He asked her.
"Yes, I am fine." She told him.
"I will hate to leave you like this, though." He frowned.
"All I ask of you is that you come home to me, safely." She said in a whisper.
"I must go to the sweat lodge and pray that the Creator watch over you, while I am gone." He told her.
"And that he watches over you too, my love." She said.
Chapter Twenty-One
But spring came and Black Wolf and Nakota geared up to leave.
"You will be here when I return?" he asked.
"Yes, or over at my aunt's." Sasha told him, staring at him from the fire.
"Fine, and if you have any trouble at all, Anya will help you."
"Yes, I will be fine. Just promise to be careful."
He smiled sexily at her, "I will, as I have a child and a wife to come home to."
She came up to him and kissed him firmly on the lips. He wrapped his arms around her and held her tight. "I love you Sasha," he whispered.
"And I love you my husband." She smiled at him sweetly.
She smiled and told her brother goodbye and her and Matooka spent the afternoon talking about their leaving.
"Does this trip bother you Matooka?" Sasha asked as they sat around her fire, watching the children playing just outside.
"Yes, it always bothers me when there is a threat to his life. Big Knife is clever, as you well know. I do not want to lose my husband to such a foolish man."
"I know. I feel the same. I only hope this time they get him. I am pregnant Matooka." She announced with a giggle.
"Oh that is wonderful. Did you tell Black Wolf?" Matooka grabbed her and hugged her.
"Yes, he is thrilled." Sasha laughed.
"Well, if you need me any time, just come over or holler or something." Matooka told her.
"Yes, I will. Well, it is getting late and I need to get home. So I will leave you for now, but I'm coming to visit my aunt soon, so I will see you before long."
"Why don't you get someone to go with you home."
"Oh, I'll be fine. Do not worry." Sasha assured her.
"Well, take care."
"Thank you."
She told the children goodbye and was on her way home.
It was time to make friends with Black Wolf's people now and she was anxious to learn all she could. But one of the children in camp contracted an illness and for a month she was busy keeping all the children of her new village well. It was what the white man called the mumps, and it seemed most of the children came down with it, one right after another.
She busied herself making a basket for her aunt, so when she visited, she could give it to her.
Anya came to se
e her, and they talked for a long while. "I am glad you are here. I am good with delivering babies, but I don’t have much medical sense about diseases. It is good that you are here."
"I am glad I am here. And I guess I should tell you Anya, I am expecting a child in the middle of winter."
"Oh how wonderful. Does Black Wolf know?"
"Yes, I told him. He was so very happy."
"He has wanted children for a long time. You and him make a good match. He smiles now. For a long time he did not smile. He sought a wife, and none suited him. Until he met you. Must have been love at first sight."
"Yes, in a way it was that way for us both. I thought him so very handsome, and quite bold."
"That's the word for him." Anaya laughed. "Now, if you need anything, please let me know."
"Thank you, it is good to know you are here, too." Sasha chuckled.
"How long do you think they will be gone?"
"I don't know. Big Knife is very clever at hiding. But they must catch him before he starts a big war with the blue coats. If he does that, then we will have a hard time keeping the peace on our reservation."
"Yes, that would be bad for everyone here."
"Yes it would."
"Do you know this Big Knife?" Anya asked.
"Yes, he was the one Black Wolf challenged for my hand in marriage."
"Oh my, and now they hunt him."
"Yes. To keep the peace."
Anya smiled.
"Well, I'm going to pick some berries and make a pie. I better get going."
"Oh, take the south ridge, they grow wild there." Anya told her.
"Thank you, I will."
Sasha took the south trail on foot, feeling a bit of the warm spring air. It was early May and wildflowers decorated the land. To one side of the way was trees, the other side rocks.
She found the berries easily and wrapped them in a cloth to take home. She was nearly done when a hand came over her mouth and someone was dragging her about.
She tried to scream but the dirty hand on her mouth kept her from it.
When they got to the horse, she was able to see it was Big Knife and she tried desperately to run, but he caught her by the shoulders and hauled her atop his horse, then rode away and breakneck speed. She hung on for dear life. He wore nothing more than a breechcloth and leggings and had cut his hair short. He looked different, and his anger made him ugly now, as often anger did that to people.
When he finally lifted his hand, she screamed, "What are you doing? Where are you taking me?"
"Nakota and Black Wolf killed my woman, now I will have you to replace her with."
"Replace her?" she gasped. "Big Knife you are already in enough trouble. Take me back and I won't tell anyone that you tried this."
"You are going with me, and you're never coming back." He told her with a grin.
"You can't do this. You know as well as I that I can't replace Naomie." She cried.
"No, you can't. But the satisfaction I will get by keeping you with me, will be enough." He chuckled.
"Satisfaction? How will it satisfy?"
"I take Walking Bear and you from your brother. I take you from your husband, Black Wolf. It is revenge."
"I thought you were after the blue coats." Sasha argued.
"I am."
"You are crazy. Do not do this, as it will mean your death."
"Maybe so!" he laughed.
"Black Wolf will kill you for this."
"He'll try, I'm sure of that. But he won't succeed. Now shut up, I must ride now." He told her.
She hung on as he whipped his horse into action. She glanced behind them but there was no one to see what had happened. No one would ever know.
"No one saw us, how will they know you have me?" She cried.
"Because if they show up, you will be my shield." He told her with a haughty laugh.
"I am with child Big Knife, if you don't care for me at all, please have mercy on my child." She cried out.
"With child," he almost stopped the horse at that news. "Well then," He thought a moment. "I have found another bounty. I will keep your child and perhaps throw you away. I will raise him to be like me."
At that remark Sasha shut her mouth, she had said the wrong thing now.
"When is this child due?"
"In the winter." She told him as hot tears stung her eyes.
"Good, we will lay low in the cold winter months in the caverns of the mountains, where no one can find us. And you can have your child. Once he is born, he will be mine! And yours no longer."
"And if it is a girl?"
"You better hope it's a boy." He told her.
It took nearly a week to get to the mountains and another week to get to the cave. But the place was buzzing with things going on. Somehow Big Knife had stolen more guns and was collecting quite an arsenal. Sasha could not believe he was so organized.
"What you gonna do with her?" Flat Head asked Big Knife when he saw Sasha.
"I have a use for her. She is my revenge on Nakota and Black Wolf." Big Knife explained. "And a shield no less."
"You don’t know if they killed Naomie!" Flat Head said.
"Of course they did, they recognized Naomie and killed her. Now shut up and get to counting the ammunition."
"We only took ten repeaters," Flat Head told him.
"Don't worry, we'll get more later." Big Knife assured him.
Sasha knew most of the men here, as they came from her tribe. Some smiled at her, others frowned.
How could her day have turned out so badly? It had been so long since she had word of Big Knife that she had quit worrying about him. But it was her child and Black Wolf that she worried for. Big Knife would take her child as his own? How could he do such a thing?
If she hadn't spoken up to tell him he'd have never known. But it was too late for what ifs. Still she had hoped by telling hm, that he would be somewhat less rough with her.
"You will cook for us. Now get back there and get something together." Big Knife told her.
The big fire and pot was waiting for her. Jute, an older warrior from her tribe was stirring the pot. She checked it. It was a stew.
"I will tend it." She told him.
He grunted and nodded.
Later that night, she laid in a corner with a blanket and cried. "Please Creator, help me and my baby get out of this safely." She prayed.
Chapter Twenty-Two
It was early June when Sasha's aunt Minola came to the Shoshone camp looking for Sasha. Others saw her and didn't recognize her, so they watched as she came into their camp. Minola was in her fifties, but she was a fine horsewoman. She spoke to several of the people. Some knew her, others didn't.
A woman sat in front of the tepee where Sasha lived.
"I'm looking for my niece, Sasha." She explained.
The woman stood up, a worried look on her face, "Come in."
Minola slid off her horse and went inside. Her eyes flitted around the room, but she saw no one inside but this woman. The place was big and had many things hung on the walls of the tepee. Minola was impressed at how clean the tepee was and how organized. Still, she didn't see Sasha. Her heart grew weary.
"She was supposed to come visit me and never showed up, so I thought I'd come visit her. Is she ill or something?"
"No, she isn't ill, as far as I know."
"She is not here?" Minola asked her brow furrowing.
"No, I'm Anya, her friend. She is gone."
The way she said that had Minola frowning even more now.
"Gone, gone where?" Minola looked a bit hysterical at her.
She eyed the woman closely, she dressed in a simple deer dress, no necklaces or beads, just plain. She was around fifty, Minola judged her. But there were tears in her eyes now and she suddenly knew the news would not be good.
"We do not know." Anya told her, shaking her head, as a tear rolled down her cheek. "In May was the last I saw of her. She came to talk about the baby she was carrying
and other things. I have delivered many babies and she wanted me to deliver this child. I was so thrilled for her. It would be our Chief's first child. Then she left to go pick berries on the south trail. I never saw her again. We are worried as when Black Wolf returns, he will be very upset, and we don't know what to tell him. No one saw anything. We searched for her but there was no sign of her except, well… the berries she picked were strewn on the ground. "
Minola's eyes widened. "What happened to her?"
"I do not know. No one knows. We wait for Black Wolf to return to find her."
"She's been gone nearly a month?" Minola gasped. "You should have come and told me. I am her aunt, and I have been worried about her because she always keeps her word to visit."
"Yes, and no word from her or anything. We are all so worried." Anya fidgeted with her hands. "she was so happy when she came to talk to me. She was happy about the baby. She would not have left on her own, we know that."
Minola nodded, "Yes, she was happy. It is Big Knife, I know it. He is bent on destroying our family. I must tell Matooka, as she might be next."
"You mean someone took her? You know this?"
"Yes! Big Knife!"
"How do you know this?" Aniya asked.
Minola sat down on the blanket and Anya got her some coffee. "Big Knife had her father killed, then when he tried to war with the blue coats, his woman was killed, that carried his baby. Now he has taken Sasha as a captive. He will likely kill her. If he finds out that she is pregnant there is no telling what he will do. I am afraid of what he might do to Sasha." Minola frowned, tears streamed down her cheeks. "He wants some kind of revenge for Naomie's death. But Sasha wasn't there when Naomie was killed, it is not her fault."
Anya fisted her hand and put it to her mouth. "We must pray that the Creator will take care of her."
"Yes, may we go to your sweat lodge as I have many prayers to ask for."
"Yes, we will go, now, if you like. I too worry about her."
Minola gulped her coffee down and nodded.
The two women sat in the lodge for a long time. Since Sasha was the only shaman, they had no one to pray for them but themselves.
