by Rita Hestand
"He came before dawn." Nakota told him. "I see you found my sister."
"I am glad to see you my brother."
"As am I, but you should get inside, this is no place for you."
"She won't go, she's a stubborn one," Wolf smiled and kissed her lips.
"I have two repeaters, will you keep them loaded, my dear sister?"
"I will," she smiled.
"He managed to get a few more repeaters." Nakota told him.
"Where's the General?"
"He was hit early on."
"Bad?"
"No, but the Lieutenant managed to get him inside so they could tend his wounds. He was grateful for the warning, even if it was just a few hours warning."
One of Big Knife's braves was shooting fire arrows into the fort, and several small buildings were burnt to the ground.
"I'm going to go up on the scaffold and see if I can spot him. If we can get Big Knife, this could be over shortly. They will not be so eager to fight if he dies." Wolf told Nakota.
"I'll go with you."
"No, stay here, take care of Sasha. I must get him, for what he planned to do with my child."
Nakota stared, "You child. What had he planned?"
"He was going to raise him as his own." Wolf told him, a muscle flexing in his jaw. "It will be my pleasure to end this."
Nakota nodded, "Be careful my brother."
Wolf smiled.
"No, don't do this." Sasha cried.
"I must my sweet. I must."
Wolf climbed the scaffold and peered from the rafters.
He overlooked the small army of men and first he shot the one with the fire. Big Knife saw him and shot him in the arm. Wolf grabbed his arm, Sasha saw it and screamed.
"No!" she screamed louder.
But Wolf managed to aim his gun and fired at Big Knife several times, and he fell.
Wolf waited to see if he moved. He didn't.
"It is over!" Wolf yelled. "Your chief is dead Be gone. Your war is over."
The firing stopped.
The General came out of his quarters and saw what was going on. When he realized they had quit firing he went to see for himself.
Sasha and Nakota went too.
The small tribe had scattered into the woods, and Big Knife lay still almost at the front gate.
Wolf got down, nodded to Sasha and Nakota and opened the gate.
"He's dead, General!" Wolf cried.
"Thank God!" The General nodded.
Sasha rushed to Wolf. "You're hurt."
"It's not bad, it went through my arm. I'll be fine." He told her, draping his other arm over her shoulder now as they walked back with the General.
After Sasha patched him up, he met the General again. "I think your Indian uprising is over, General." Wolf told him. "And Nakota and I have pledged to keep this kind of thing from happening again."
"Maybe we can all get back to peaceful living once more." The General nodded.
The General had been shot in the leg. But he was getting around well.
"Will the ones that are left rebel?" The General asked them.
"No, but they won't be welcome back to their tribes now. They sought war on a peaceful reservation. They are no longer welcome here. They'll go further south now and join their brothers." Nakota told him.
"That's probably a good thing, at least for us." The General told them.
"Well, you can get some sleep in the barracks if you like." The General offered.
"I think if it's alright with you, we'll just go on home. We've been out hunting for him for well over a month now and we are very tired, sir."
"I understand, there's no place like home, is there."
"No sir, there isn't." Wolf told him and slung his arm over Sasha's shoulder once more.
"Well, I can tell you now that your people scouting for me, both your tribes have been a great help to this fort. And we want to see the peace kept too. But history has shown us that there are always more who want war."
"I'm afraid you are right about that sir!" Black Wolf said. "But, did you catch the scout that spied for Big Knife?"
"Yes, I am glad to say we did, it was a man named Logo, at least that was his name here. We aren't sure what is real name might be. He is dead, I'm afraid. We locked him up, and he tried to escape, a guard shot him. He died that night."
"Good, do you know what tribe he came from?"
"The Sioux." The General told him.
"We ran into a Sioux camp up the mountain, it was a large camp."
"Wind River Valley is a peaceful place, but I'm afraid there are many Sioux that are bitter from the way Custer treated them. My only hope is that they find some satisfaction in winning the Battle of the Little Bighorn."
"Custer was a hard foe, sir." Nakota agreed.
"Yes, it is strange isn't it. Some battles make heroes of people. Only the ones involved and people like us that are close enough to see what really happened will know the full truth of the matter." The General told them.
"Perhaps we can all learn from other's mistakes, General." Black Wolf told him.
"I agree. We can."
Chapter Twenty-Five
The ride home was peaceful, and all three of them seemed to appreciate that peace. They looked around them, enjoying the dawn of a new day. "It is good here on the Wind River Valley."
"Very good."
When they road into Nakota's village everyone gathered around to hear the story and welcome Sasha home.
But Wolf didn't linger long, he wanted to get home.
Sasha didn't argue, she was anxious too.
Bear Paw rode back to the Shoshone camp with them now and because they were so exhausted, Bear Paw told the village all about the great war with Big Knife.
As for Sasha and Wolf, they went happily to their tepee and she fixed him some food, and they ate in almost silence.
When she put the dishes away and joined him on the blanket by the fire, he pulled her to him. "I am glad we are finally home again, my sweet."
"Me too," she murmured.
"It has been a long few months, but it is over now. Are you sorry I killed Big Knife?"
"No, it had to be done. He would have kept causing problems for the soldiers and us. No, I cannot be sorry for that."
"I know you once cared for him."
"No, not him. This Big Knife was a different man." She told him.
"Yes, you are right about that. He had to be put down. And in some ways, I am sorry, in others I am glad. For him taking you, I could not forgive him. For what he said about our child, I would gladly kill him again." Wolf told her.
"I know, my love." She smiled and wrapped her arms around him now. "I understand, as I felt the same way when he told me his plan. But somehow, I knew that would never happen. For the Creator would not allow it!"
But before she could argue more, he was asleep, in her arms.
She sighed with happiness. She cuddled herself against him and slept peacefully.
Exhaustion had claimed them.
Before dawn they awoke and looked into each other's eyes. "I want you my wife." He told her. His expression was very serious.
"I was hoping you would say that."
"I have rested and feel much better today. And nothing would please me more than making love with you." He smiled.
"Take me, I'm yours." She giggled.
He played with her, wrestled her lightly on the floor and began kissing her all over. She swooned with happiness.
They made love for hours, playing, touching, talking and feeling the oneness that only their love could bring.
When winter finally came, Anya was there to help Sasha through her labor. Sasha was in pain for hours and Wolf was making a trail in their tepee he was so nervous. He hated to see her in pain. And when she screamed, he came to her and held her hand and spoke soft words to her.
It was nearly midnight on Christmas Eve when her boy child was born. He was a strong and healthy young man.
Wolf stared at him in total silence as she nursed him.
Then she handed him to him. "This is your son, Wolf, your first son." She told him with such gladness.
Wolf took the child in his arms and stared at his little fingers. The baby took hold of his finger strongly.
"He is strong."
"Of course he is. He's your son." She smiled contentedly now.
Wolf talked to his son somberly then he took him outside to the waiting crowd and showed his son to the world. "Welcome to the Wind River Valley son, and these are your people."
The crowd was in awe and happy celebrations went on all day. Drums beat, dances were held, and food abounded.
"How many children do you want, Wolf?" Sasha asked him later that same day.
"I am not sure, after all, you were in such pain."
"That is normal. I hope I didn't scare you. I figure we will have five or six more, so get used to it, my love."
Wolf smiled into her eyes. "I love you Sasha."
"That is a good thing, as I love you right back, my love."
"What shall we name him?" Sasha asked.
"I like the name from the bible of the great chief. We will call him, David!"
"It is a good name," she smiled.
He kissed her softly on the lips.
The Wind River Valley Reservation remained peaceful for many, many years. The Shoshone and the Arapaho remained happy and successful.
Sasha and Black Wolf had nine children and David became chief when he grew up. His brother Daniel followed him years later.
Sasha studied medicine at Ft. Hall learning how to help cure some of the white man's diseases for her people. She was the Shaman for both the Shoshone and Arapaho for many years.
Nakota led his people well and held council many times for the Shoshone.
Black Wolf had stolen the heart of an Arapaho woman and lived happily for many decades in the Wind River Valley Reservation. They lived to be very old and were buried side by side by her father, Walking Bear.
The End
About the Author
Rita has lots of books for your enjoyment. Rita has spent her life writing stories that come into her head. She loves writing and spreading romance around the world.
She's a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She lost her soul mate back in 2006, but she keeps on writing.
Whether it is contemporary or western, or even historical, Rita loves to write romances. She's tried her hand at writing western thrillers, and she writes children's books too.
Rita's Other Books
The Travers Brothers Series:
Chief Cook & Bottle Washer
Courting Abby
Hannah's Man
Along Came Love
Avalanche of the Heart
The Amory's
Heart of the Wild
Sweeter Than Wine
Mail Order Nanny
The Dream Catcher Series
Beyond the Dream Catcher
Just One Kiss
Ask No Tomorrows
Be Free My Heart
The Red River Valley Brides
Heart of a Lady
Dancing with the Preacherman (coming soon)
Last Bride, Last Man
Winning the Lady
Maggie's Dreams (coming soon)
Brides of the West Series
Heart of a Family
Delivering the Bride
Heart of a Woman
Wanted: Bride
This Side of Forever
Shotgun Bride
A Love as Big as Texas
Heart of a Captive
Wherever My Heart Roams
In the Arms of an Angel
Bride from Shenandoah
Falling for the Bride
An Unexpected Welcome
Desperado's Bride
The Filly & the Gambler
The Lady Train
Comes a Hero
Single Titles:
Nick's Baby
Pretend Mom
Strictly Business
Suspicions of the Heart
Wandering Heart
Here Comes Trouble
Historicals
Always Remember
Jodi's Journey
Contemporary:
The Connor's Series
Cinderella Nanny
Guarding Red Riding Hood
Finding the Fairytale
Saving Sleeping Beauty
Beauty's Beast
Wester Serial Killer Series:
Better Off Without Her
Good Day for a Hanging
Bad Day for a Killing
The Ghost of Victor Frank
Cowboy Lovin' Series:
Broken Hearted
His to Hold
All My Yesterday's
Stalker Series:
Afraid in the Dark
(coming soon)
The Car Stalker
Beyond Scared
Hidden
Eye of the Beholder
Coming Soon:
The Armstrong's
Forever in Love
(coming Soon)
A Rebel's Heart
Remember Me
Plunder My Heart
