Stolen Heart

by Rita Hestand

  She froze, then turned slowly to see a Blackfoot man and woman.

  "He almost had you." The man said, coming closer.

  The woman followed.

  "I am Sasha, I am Arapaho. I'm trying to get back to the Wind River Valley Reservation." She told them. "Thank you for killing that cat, for I had nothing but a small knife, he would have had me sure."

  "Arapaho, huh?"

  "Yes."

  "What are you doing up here alone?" the man asked.

  "Big Knife took me captive in the high mountains, and I escaped."

  "Big Knife, I have heard of him. Isn't he the one trying to war with the blue coats?"

  "Yes, he is!"

  "Well, I am Wachooshi, and this is my wife, Little Kettle."

  "I am pleased to meet you. Can you tell me if I'm headed south or not?"

  "You are headed south west. If you want to come with us, we will take you down the mountain in a couple of days as we go to trade soon." Wachooshi told her.

  "Oh, that would be wonderful." She said and smiled.

  The woman smiled and they talked a while then she followed them to their camp.

  "Where are you going to trade?" Sasha asked.

  "Fort Hall."

  "Good. I am ever so grateful."

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Black Wolf and Nakota finally found the camp. They weren't sure at first, but there was smoke coming from the cave, so someone was in there, they just didn't know who.

  They decided to get on both sides of the entrance.

  They waited. They heard someone moving about, but only one person. Deciding they would have to rush whoever was in there, they both took their bow and arrows for the ready.

  As they both hollered and whooped, they pointed and aimed the arrows for the man who looked a bit startled.

  "Where is she?" Black Wolf asked.

  He drew his big knife and threw it at Black Wolf. Black Wolf dodged it. "Where is she?" he bellowed.

  "His name is Mantuckoo, I know him. But I didn't figure he would be with Big Knife." Nakota said.

  Black Wolf came up to him lowered his bow, and took out his knife and put it under his chin, "Where is Sasha?"

  Mantuckoo tried to back away, but Nakota came to stand on the other side of him.

  "She got away!" He shouted at them.

  "Got away?" They choired.

  "She killed Claw Foot, and got away. She must have run away while I fed the horses." Mantuckoo exclaimed. "Big Knife will be angry, when he see she has escaped."

  "That's too bad!" Nakota smiled.

  "He had plans to keep the child she carries and raise it as his own." Mantuckoo said.

  "Where did she go?" Black Wolf asked him as he gritted his teeth through his words.

  "I do not know. I tried to follow when I saw she had killed Claw Foot, but she left no tracks. But there is only one way and that is down the mountain."

  "You are right about that?" Black Wolf nodded. "Did he hurt her?"

  "No, just pushed her around a little. But she was fine. She killed Claw Foot."

  "Good for her!" Nakota smiled. "My sister is a smart woman."

  "Yeah," Mantuckoo nodded. "That's why the men of the tribe never liked her. She was too smart."

  "Big Knife liked her at one time," Nakota corrected.

  "Big Knife loved Naomie, now she was a woman to behold." Mantuckoo smiled in memory.

  Black Wolf put the knife back to Mantuckoo's throat, "Where is Big Knife now?"

  "He went to get more men and more rifles if he can."

  "How long ago did he leave?"

  "Three days ago."

  "What is he planning to do?" Nakota asked.

  "I don't know."

  "Yes, you do. Tell me or I will cut the protruding parts of your body off. Starting with your nose." Nakota told him.

  "There's another train coming with some rifles on it. He's gonna raid the train, get the rifles then attack the fort with more men this time."

  "Let's tie him up good and get out of here." Black Wolf told him.

  Nakota got the rope from his horse and tied both of Mantuckoo's feet and hands. He tied it tight, so it would take hours for him to get loose.

  "You are fighting a lost cause, my friend," Black Wolf grinned at him now, as Nakota tied a bandana around his mouth. "The soldiers weapons outnumber yours, and more men will come to replace the ones you kill. It is a bad thing to do for your people."

  Mantuckoo muttered, but they didn't understand him.

  They took some food and water with them and left.

  "Now what?" Nakota asked as they mounted up to leave.

  "We need to find Sasha!"

  Nakota shook his head. "My brother listen to me. My sister is a wise woman. She has escaped and is probably halfway down the mountain by now. If we find her now, we'll have to take her to find Big Knife, and she doesn't need to be in that war."

  "You speak the truth, but she could die on the mountain afoot. A cat or bear either could take her. And the Sioux are all over the mountain too. I must find her."

  "I know that, as well as you. But if we waste too much time Big Knife could start a war."

  "I know!" Black Wolf's face was contorted in pain just thinking about the consequences of their actions.

  Nakota saw the distress on Black Wolf's face, "My brother, you are right, Sasha is more important than Big Knife. But perhaps we can help still. We can try to find her going down the mountain, and take her to Ft. Hall, and alert the General there of Big Knife's plans.

  "Yes, then let's hurry."

  Nakota smiled, "I agree!"

  They knew Sasha had a head start but she was on foot, and she'd head south no matter what.

  "I am proud of Sasha," Black Wolf murmured.

  "So am I. She has learned much. My father and I taught her a lot to keep her safe all these years. Mantuckoo spoke the truth. The men of my tribe ignored Sasha as she was very smart, and they knew it. They didn't see the beauty within her like you did so quickly."

  "She learned well, then." Black Wolf smiled. "And to me she is the most beautiful woman I have ever known."

  Nakota smiled.

  When they camped that first night, they had made good time coming down, but something occurred to Black Wolf.

  "We cannot spend a lot of time looking for her, though or the war will begin, and we cannot stop it." Black Wolf told Nakota. "But my friend, Sasha comes first to me."

  "Yes, this is true."

  "I know I promised to help you get Big Knife, but Sasha is more important to me. You must understand, I would die for her."

  "I know, I don't like doing it either. But there is one way to do both. We will split up and I will go to the fort to warn the soldiers and you must find Sasha."

  "I agree, this way we can accomplish both. It is a good plan, my brother. I cannot believe Big Knife thought he would take my child and raise it as his own."

  "I know, that is incredible. Well, we will stop him one way or another."

  "Perhaps when you get to the fort you should stay there, as that's where Big Knife will come first. I will join you as soon as I find Sasha."

  "It will still mean bringing her to the fort."

  Black Wolf smiled, "Yes, but she will be a big help to us. We both know that. To think she killed Claw Foot, it makes me so proud of her."

  "She is an unusual woman, and we both know that." Nakota smiled in reflection.

  They ate what they had brought from the cave and went to bed. They got up before dawn and started down the mountain once more.

  They passed the Sioux camp very quietly, walking their horses through the thick cover of woods.

  "You don't think she was with them, do you?" Nakota asked.

  "No, she knows the Sioux are more like Big Knife than us. She would stay away. I must say though, walking down this mountain, in her condition, it is a feat not many men would accomplish. But I worry about whether she eats and rests enough."

  "I have a feeling t
he Creator is seeing after her now."

  "Yes my brother, he must be."

  Six days they traveled down the mountain, and no sign of Sasha. "I will go on to Fort Hall. Be swift my brother."

  "When I find her, I will meet you at Fort Hall."

  "Good. May the Creator be with you brother."

  Nakota headed for Fort Hall, waving to Black Wolf.

  Black Wolf became silent now, his heart was heavy with pain. Could Sasha have survived. Would he find her alive or dead? But they had found no signs of her even coming down the mountain. She hid her trail well, again he felt proud of her, but his heart ached to hold her in his arms once more to comfort her. He began to wonder if a bear or a cat had gotten hold of her. He feared for her life and he weighed going to the fort. How could he leave her there? It tore at his heart like a knife. He could not help both Nakota and Sasha, but to him she and the child were more important, he could not abandon her now. He had to find her. He whispered a prayer to the Creator to protect her and help him find her.

  His whole future was with Sasha and their child. He couldn't imagine going on without her. Still, he would find her, one way or another.

  It was a hope, but only a hope.

  "Where have you gone my love. I cannot face life without you!" He cried but moved on.

  He made camp that night alone, hearing a wolf in the distance howling at the moon.

  "I will think good thoughts. I will not allow myself to think of bad things." He told himself.

  About that time he heard a noise, he couldn't make it out, so he followed the sound. In only a matter of minutes he realized he had come upon a village.

  They were Blackfoot! Blackfoot were good people, usually very peaceful and quite jolly than most tribes he had met with.

  There was all manner of talk and a beating drum.

  He entered the village with a vague curiosity.

  A brave saw him, "You are Shoshone?"

  "Yes, I am. I am looking for my wife. She would be traveling in this area. I heard your village drums and followed the sound. Is something going on?"

  "Yes, we are having a wedding for the chief's son and his young bride. You are welcome if you come in peace."

  "I do and thank you."

  He followed the brave to the place where the ceremony was taking place. There were all manner of food, and dancing.

  Black Wolf didn't want to disturb their celebration, but perhaps they had seen Sasha, he had to know.

  When the chief spotted him, he came up to him. "I am Long Nose, Chief of the Blackfoot." He told him.

  "I am Black Wolf, chief of the Shoshone." He replied.

  "My son has just married his sweetheart. Won't you join us?"

  "Well I, yes, of course." Black Wolf smiled.

  He sat around the fire and watched the proceedings, as the young couple were together and laughing and eating.

  He was offered a plate of food and accepted.

  "You come from the Wind River Valley Reservation?" The chief asked him.

  "Yes, as a matter of fact, I did. I am looking for my wife. She would have come this way, I'm sure."

  "Your wife? What is her name?"

  "Sasha!" he told him.

  "Sasha!" he stood up. "Come with me." The old chief told him.

  He took him to a tent and inside was a sick young girl, and beside her was Sasha.

  "Sasha?" he called to her.

  Sasha turned around and saw him and smiled, then got up and ran to him, kissing him.

  For long moments they hugged and kissed. "You found me."

  "I did! What are you doing here?"

  "Well, it is a long story. I met a couple of Blackfoot Indians on my way down the mountain and they offered me a ride to Ft. Hall tomorrow, so I took it. As I was exhausted from my trek down the mountain. But… how did you find me?"

  She practically jumped into his arms, as he held her and smiled, he answered, "I heard a noise and followed it. Me and Nakota have been searching for you for some time now."

  "What is going on here?" he asked.

  "The little girl, Little Fox is sick, and I'm nursing her back to health."

  "I can't believe I found you," he cried and kissed her again.

  "The Creator knew we had to be together." She sighed with happiness in his arms.

  "Are you alright?" he asked.

  "I am fine now. I have had a day of rest, and food and I bathed. I feel fine now."

  "I was so worried when Bear Par came with the news that Big Knife had you."

  "Yes, he took me from the berry patch. Have you found him then?"

  "No, when we got to the cave, he was gone. Nakota went on to Fort Hall to warn the soldiers."

  "That's good. Why did you not go with him?"

  "I had to find you. I couldn't leave not knowing what happened to you." Black Wolf told her holding her close to him.

  "I have done all I can for now for her, she should heal now." She told him.

  They walked outside and she led him to a tepee. There was an old woman inside, but she left them alone when she saw them.

  Black Wolf took her into his arms and kissed her solidly on the lips. "I'm so glad I found you. I was so worried. And I was proud to hear you escaped too, but I really wasn't sure I would find you."

  "Then show me, I need to be close to you. I was worried too. I thought I'd never see you again. I had to try to escape when I realized what Big Knife was going to do."

  Black Wolf stared into her eyes now, "What was he going to do?"

  She shook her head and cried a tear. "I told him I was with child, thinking he would be gentler with me. And he told me he would take our child and raise it as his own, to replace the child he and Naomie would have had."

  "I would kill him with my bare hands if he tried such a thing." Black Wolf declared, fisting his hands.

  "That's when I knew I had to try to escape him. He went for more men and more guns. He plans to attack the fort when he gets them." She told him.

  "We've got to get to the Fort then."

  She nodded duly. "But… please, is there no time to be with each other first?" she asked.

  He shook his head, "I'd like nothing better than to make love with you all night, but… "

  "Yes, of course, you are right. It's just… it is so good to see you again!"

  "It could wait until morning, Nakota is there … " He smiled at her now.

  "No, I am being selfish, we must go." She murmured. "I just need your arms around me for a little while first."

  He took her into the darkest corner of the tepee, and He sat down with her, taking her into his arms he kissed her tenderly, until she swooned. "I have dreamed of you every night, my love."

  "I too have dreamed and prayed." She sighed with such contentment.

  Then his kisses became warmer and he was running his hand up her dress and touching her. "Forgive me for rushing this, but I will have you now. I want you too, my sweet." He told her. Before she knew his intentions, he lifted her dress from her and lay her on a blanket by the fire. His kisses were everywhere, all over her, and touching, caressing her in such a heated rush. She didn't mind, she was eager to be with him.

  Already she had grown wet and warm for him as he touched her sweet nest. He bent to kiss her there for a few moments, she squirmed and rushed to kiss him everywhere too. It was like they were lost in time, needing each other to go on.

  He removed his breechcloth and she guided him inside her with such a sigh of contentment. They were sweating with the hunger to be one with each other. She pulled him inside her with her muscles and strained to pull him deeper. Her kisses went all over his face, his neck and his arms. His hands were on her firm little butt, urging her onward to find the total bliss between them.

  "I have wanted you for so long now, my sweet," he murmured in her ear.

  "I know, I felt you want me." She sighed as the orgasm came and they were suspended in time as the wave of sensations made them melt into each other.

&n
bsp; "Oh my love," she cried out.

  "You are my woman, and I have found you once more." He cried as they seemed to hold the orgasm between them suspended in time too.

  She clung to him for long lingering moments as the feelings of their love washed over them. "Our child his happy that you found me. I have felt him move."

  He touched her belly softly, "Did I hurt you?"

  "No, it was wonderful, as wonderful as I remembered it. My husband pleases me so," she smiled and kissed him now.

  He stared into her eyes, happy eyes, "I have driven your brother crazy with my needs of you."

  He touched her belly once more then bent to kiss her there. "Grow little one, be strong like your mother, for I cannot wait to meet you." He spoke the words to his baby.

  "I never knew love could be so fulfilling, Wolf. Thinking of you, kept me strong. And I needed this. Forgive me."

  "There is nothing to forgive my love. I needed you too. To some, making love makes them weaker, but to me, it makes me stronger, for I have much to live for."

  After kissing for a while, they got up and went outside.

  They talked with the chief and Wolf told him what they had to do. He asked if he could borrow two horses and he gave him a promise to return them if they lived through the ordeal.

  The old chief nodded and sent a brave to bring two horses to them.

  "Ride with the Creator," the old chief told them. "For war means all of us are unsafe. You must stop them."

  Wolf nodded and they left.

  Knowing the urgency of the moment, Sasha said very little until they approached the fort. It had already begun, there were rifle shots already.

  They came through the back gate and Wolf told her to go to the room they had slept in before and stay until he came to get her, but she shook her head. "No, I will not leave your side. I am your wife, and we are one. If you die, I die!" she cried.

  "But sweet one, you carry our child!"

  "I will not leave you. I will reload your guns, or shoot the arrows, but I will not leave you!"

  "Sasha, I love you dearly."

  She smiled, "I know, and I am glad."

  They searched for Nakota. He was at the front. Parts of the fort were on fire. Acrid smoke curled in the air. Wolf shielded Sasha as much as he could, and they joined Nakota.