Once it was done, the rest of the tribe followed those who carried Little Bird on their shoulders, out to a large tree, where ropes were used to hoist the body up and place it across the fork, the head against one branch and the feet against the other, tying it securely to the two branches, so a strong wind would not cause the bundle to fall. There it would remain, until the elements took hold and sent the body of Little Bird back to nature where it came from. Once the ceremony was over, Little Bird’s name would not be mentioned by any members who knew her, to keep her name sacred forevermore.
Mackenzie and Eagle Eye stood together looking on. Plenty Proud seemed transformed by his lack of long hair, and the haggard expression on his face. All that beautiful, long hair… gone. He didn’t seem like the same person she had met all those many months ago at the trading post. He did not glance at them even once. Mackenzie had Brave Eyes on her back in his cradleboard and held Plenty Proud’s daughter in her arms. White Wing came to her with Little Bird’s cradleboard and handed it to Eagle Eye, so Mackenzie could put the infant inside of it. Then Eagle Eye put the cradleboard on his back. Even though it was not a brave’s customary chore to carry a cradleboard on their back, he would humble himself for his friend.
The tribe dispersed, except for Plenty Proud, who remained at the tree, wailing his remorse for Little Bird, which was heard well into the night and even the next morning.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
The days slowly began to pass, as village life started to get back to normal again. For a month, Plenty Proud could be heard morning at Little Bird’s burial tree. He came daily, and looked upon the face of his daughter, who had been given the name Kitala, Wakta (Kee-dahn-lah Wah-kdah) meaning A Little Hope, but never spoke to Mackenzie during his visits. The buffalo was called back with song and dance, and Plenty Proud and Eagle Eye rode off together, side by side, for the first time since the first buffalo hunt when Mackenzie had skinned the white buffalo.
The hunt was a great success, and now many days would be dedicated to preparing the meat, in the new, spring camp, giving the village enough food and material to use for future ceremonies and celebrations until they moved to the next camp as they followed the buffalo.
The sacred golden eagle was snared by hand, by those braves who had counted coup and needed the tail feathers for their headdresses or decorations in their hair and horse’s mane. This was done by going to a high place and sitting in a hole where bait was placed on sticks over the hole. When the eagle landed, the brave would reach up and grab it by the feet, and then pull it into the hole, twisting its neck, because it was too sacred a bird for them to allow it to shed blood at its death. The golden eagle was used because a bald eagle was much too large for a brave to handle and kill in such a manner.
Bothe Brave Eyes and A Little Hope grew and thrived under Mackenzie’s careful protection. They grew so attached to each other, that if they were not close enough to see the other, they would begin to cry. Although it was not called for, or expected, Mackenzie made A Little Hope infant clothes to wear as she had for Brave Eyes. Sioux children seldom wore clothes, until they were close to four years old. Even when the mothers tried to dress them, they would end up pulling their clothes off because it seemed to encumber them in some way. Once the two got older to toddler stage, Mackenzie gave up trying to keep them clothed, as she watched them tumble and crawl in the soft grass, or try to use their legs by running short distances and then falling down, entertaining both her and Eagle Eye, and sometimes Plenty Proud when he was there.
A Little Hope seemed to know that Plenty Proud was her father, even though she accepted Eagle Eye as well. She always squealed with joy, when Plenty Proud came to visit her, reaching her arms out eagerly for him. As he ran through the grass playing with the two, While Mackenzie watched them, it made him recall his dream, and his heart started to heal, believing that even if he could not have Firelight for his wife, he had the future of his daughter to enjoy.
However, he seldom spent any time at the village, except when he was playing with his daughter. It was too painful to watch Firelight and Eagle Eye together, enjoying both the children more than he ever could. He would take long hunting trips, or track wild horses to catch and add to his already large supply of ponies. Then his time would be occupied with training the horses, so he wouldn’t have time to think about that empty place in his heart that he was sure would never be filled again. Now he not only felt like a widower to Little Bird, but vowed to remain one forever, since he could no longer have Firelight either, and had broken his earlier vow to do so.
Somehow Plenty Proud made it through two winter seasons trying to keep a positive attitude, because the Sioux people were expected to remain happy and thank the Great Spirit for the joy of living, even if living may be hard.
He was walking along the river, on a bright, spring morning when he noticed Firelight in the river, bathing the children, who were big enough to walk around on their own by then. She seemed to be having trouble keeping them together, because they were so curious about everything around them. Plenty Proud chuckled to himself and went to the edge of the river, grabbing A Little Hope up in his arms, when she had started to scamper away from the river, while Firelight was bathing Brave Eyes.
Mackenzie turned and looked, enjoying the happy expression on Plenty Proud’s face as he cuddled the squealing child to him.
“Where is Eagle Eye?” he asked, as he approached the water.
“Haven’t you heard? The braves are getting ready for a raiding party. They go to the tribe of our enemy to steal horses.”
“Yes, only they do not leave until just before nightfall, when it will be easier to come upon the horses without detection,” he informed her.
“Then he must be busy doing something else. He rose early to bathe, and then said he had tasks to do. I assumed it was to get prepared for the raid.”
Plenty Proud shrugged. Caring for children was left to the women, so it was not necessary for Eagle Eye to lend his help with bathing the children. However, women usually only had one child to care for at a time, and if they had more, the older child would help with the younger children, since children were usually spaced five years apart when a woman had more than one child. Otherwise, it was because there was more than one wife and both mothers would help each other with small children in that case.
Plenty Proud hunkered down beside A Little Hope and watched her as she continued to play near the edge of the river, grabbing up rocks and throwing them in the water.
“I never tire of watching you,” he said to Mackenzie. If you were my wife, I would be here helping you with the children.”
“Oh, I am sure you would tire of it, since it is supposed to be women’s work, and the braves would start to tease you about it.”
“I wouldn’t care. I was not attentive enough to my last wife. I have learned how crucial it should be. A brave’s family is the most important part of his life, and training his young brave or daughter in the way of the tribe is a privilege for the father.”
“I know Eagle Eye feels the same way, only sometimes a brave’s work keeps him from his wife and children,” Mackenzie mumbled, trying not to look at Plenty Proud because she was already trembling inside.
“You could divorce him. It is permitted and easy to do,” he said, shocking Mackenzie with the way he said it so matter of fact, as though he was talking about the weather.
She jerked her head up. “Why would I want to do that?” she asked, astonished. “He is my husband and has treated me kind.”
“Only you know I am the one you truly love,” he said, stabbing her with an accusing stare.
She lowered her eyes. “I would never hurt Eagle Eye like that,” she murmured in a shaking breath.
“Yet it is true, isn’t it? Admit to me it is true!”
“I love you both,” she said after a long pause.
“Only you love me more.”
“It doesn’t matter. Eagle Eye is my husband, and I have no reason
to want to divorce him, regardless of how easy it is to do.”
“I have kept silent for all this time, but I can see it in your eyes your heart is not with Eagle Eye the way it would be if I were your husband. I see how you show love to my daughter, and I am certain that Brave Eyes is also my son. You belong more to me than you could ever belong to Eagle Eye. He would understand if you…”
“I don’t want to talk about this. I came between you and Little Bird.” She paused realizing she was not supposed to mention Little Bird’s name, but then forged forward. “Then I came between you and Eagle Eye as friends. Now he is your friend again. If I left him and went to you, he would never forgive either of us, so I won’t do it, no matter how I feel about you!”
“You are an honorable woman, which is why I love you. It just makes my heart so sad when I know I am the one who was always supposed to be with you. I do not deserve you because of not keeping my vow, yet it doesn’t make my heart feel any better. I have tried to be strong, but if I cannot have you, I may decide to go join another Sioux clan so I won’t have the pain of looking on you while Eagle Eye has you. I must take my daughter with me if I leave.”
“Are you threatening me? You know you can’t take A Little Hope from me. I am the only mother she has ever known. It would be cruel of you to do that to her or me. Besides, she and Brave Eyes are practically inseparable. She would never get over it if you took her from him.”
“Her mother died. Whether it is you or some other woman in the tribe feeding her to keep her alive, it is the duty of that member to do so. She would forget Brave Eyes, eventually. However, she is my daughter, and no part of her even belongs to you.
“Except for her heart,” Mackenzie choked.
“You could always divorce Eagle Eye and come with me. Then you would not have to face him, once you are tied to me instead.”
“This is crazy talk! Brave Eyes could be his son as much as yours, and I will not take his son away from him! Go away and leave me alone!” Mackenzie cried suddenly, coming and scooping A Little Hope up in her arms. “If you have any love for me or your daughter, or your friend, Eagle Eye at all, you would never suggest such a thing!”
“Perhaps you are right, only my heart has been broken three times. Once by losing you, then by losing my wife and now having to give up my daughter for you to care for while you can never share your love with me again. You will still have our son and Eagle Eye if I take my daughter with me. Even though I believe Brave Eyes belongs to me as well, I will leave him with you. I will have nothing to live for if I do not take A Little Hope with me, though.”
Then he turned and walked back up the bank. As Mackenzie watched his strong back retreating away, she began sobbing into A Little Hope’s hair. He was right, she did love him more than Eagle Eye, yet she could never bring herself to turn Eagle Eye away because he had helped her when she needed it most. Now Plenty Proud was trying to force her to choose between them.
The whole rest of the day, Mackenzie was plagued with what Plenty Proud spoke to her about at the river. If she gave up A Little Hope to him, she would be giving up part of her heart. No matter what she chose, there would be no happy outcome.
She could not divorce Eagle Eye and take his son away from him to go with Plenty Proud, and she could not remain living happily in the same village with him, if she divorced him and went to Plenty Proud. She already had the problem of not being able to live happily in the same village with Plenty Proud, knowing he would never give up loving her.
Having Plenty Proud’s daughter helped her get through the pain because she always looked forward to when Plenty Proud came to play with A Little Hope, and then she could pretend he was the husband she had chosen instead. If he left the village and joined another clan, taking his daughter and leaving her behind, she didn’t know if she could survive it. She had survived so much so far. One more set back might be the breaking point, she worried.
As the sun started to fall beyond the horizon, Mackenzie hugged the two children to her while she watched all the young braves riding away in excitement. Raiding an enemy camp was dangerous and tested their skills. It could all end wrong if they were not careful. However, the Sioux was the strongest tribe on the plains, and usually, their enemies were no match for them. Those, who were as strong or fierce as they were, eventually became their allies, making them even stronger in battle when the tribes joined forces with each other.
The tribe they had chosen to raid was just setting up a new camp as they followed the buffalo, and would be caught unaware, being occupied with the impending hunt and establishing their new village. By the time the raiding party reached the spot, the full moon would be high in the sky. Most raids took place during a full moon. Indians did not like traveling at night, and the only time they did, was when they were planning a raid. Because all other tribes knew that a full moon was chosen for raiding, they would often tie their most valued horse to their wrists, while they slept in their tepee on a full moon, to prevent it from being stolen.
The village was unusually quiet with most of the braves gone on the raiding party. There was some singing and dancing, but it was mostly the old men and young boys who were left behind to sing and dance. Women seldom took part in dancing during ceremonies, except for the Hair Kill Dance and honoring virgins, among a few other choice ceremonies, and the steps they used were different from the men. However, they often occupied themselves by dancing alone, by their campfire, while their braves were away.
The old men of the village took advantage of this quiet time to gather the children around them and relate to them the stories of days gone by before the white man began changing the destiny of the red man. There were only a few strong braves left behind to guard the village, while the others were gone on the raid.
As Mackenzie sat by her own campfire, the children sleeping safely inside their tepee, she hummed softly to herself. It was the song she had sung at the top of her voice when she was angry at Griz for his treatment of her. It happened to be her favorite hymn, and she realized she would never sit in a church again, singing that hymn with other members of the congregation.
Indians didn’t have any set songs, and usually just made up most of their songs as they performed them. It was the melody that was important, not any words that was sung to their Indian tunes. It was only in times like this that Mackenzie started to miss her old life before she ever came out there to join her father. Now, she would probably never embrace the culture of her old life again. She thought about when she was adopted into the tribe, and was expected to wash the old person away, so the new, Sioux, person could emerge. It made her feel a little confused, because she knew a part of that old person still remained buried within her, and kept trying to push itself back up during difficult times.
As she sat, staring into the fire, she was unexpectedly aware of the fact that the village had become unusually quiet. She could not hear any singing, or laughter, or even the drone of the voices of elders telling stories. She heard a small commotion, and saw people running to their tepees, as though to hide. It was then, she could see across the space, a group of horses approaching, only she knew it was not the braves returning from the raid. It was way too soon for that to happen. Besides, she recognized the horses as military horses, being ridden by Calvary men. What were they doing here, she gasped?
However, she saw they did not have their weapons drawn, and the leader seemed to be talking peacefully to the chief of the village, so she knew they had not come to attack the village. She stood still watching as the chief pointed in her direction where she stood at Eagle Eye’s tepee. The group of horses turned, and they were now riding towards her. It was then that she saw there were two men who were not dressed in a uniform, and a cry escaped her throat when she realized it was none other than her father and brother, Caleb. They were alive, her heart sung! Then it dawned on her why they were here. They had come to take her back with them!
A feeling of joy and dread washed over her all at the same t
ime. She was overjoyed to discover her father and brother were alive, but this would mean she would have to choose between her family and her life here with the Sioux. She started to tremble as the group got closer.
Her impulse was to leap forward in happy excitement to embrace her brother and father, yet her feet remained planted firmly where she stood. She couldn’t move. She couldn’t breathe. Her mind flashed into the tepee, where the children slept. She couldn’t leave the children behind, and yet, she couldn’t take them from their father’s either.
She made up her mind. Her only choice was to remain with the Sioux and her children. The thought of leaving her children and Plenty Proud, along with Eagle Eye behind, was too overwhelming for her to even contemplate. As much as she loved her family, she had become accustomed to the Sioux way of life. Besides, their home had been taken by the bank, and she refused to live as a trapper’s daughter again.
“Mackenzie!” Caleb exclaimed as he jumped down from his horse and grabbed her to him. “You are alive! We have been searching for you forever! This was our last attempt at finding you, and then we were going to give up.”
“I thought you had been killed in the avalanche,” Mackenzie sobbed, as she hugged Caleb tighter. “I went back in the spring, looking for your remains. Even though Griz and I couldn’t find anything, you never came looking for me. Griz knew we lived up the mountain from him. I managed to make it down the mountain and he took me in. I thought you would come looking for me at his place if you were still alive.
Now Mackenzie’s father had joined Caleb and hugged Mackenzie as well. “We were laid up for a bit over the winter,” he explained. Caleb broke his leg, and when I managed to dig him out, I had to sled him back down the mountain, after we had no luck in finding you. I escaped the avalanche because it missed where I was with my sled of furs. There was no way we could make it back up the mountain during the winter, and we feared you were dead since we couldn’t find any sign of where you may have been buried.
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