Lakota Justice

by Melinda Williams

  Chapter Twenty

  Hours later, Hawke sat in the middle of sacred lands near Eagle Nest Butte. He sat on the ground, hard and rocky like life so often mimicked, while Mother Earth enfolded him with her invisible arms. These pre-dawn hours had brought him to the sacred butte where Abby’s remains had laid until her spirit drifted for somebody to find her. He needed this time with her spirit and those of his ancestors. The sun would rise upon Mother Earth soon. He stared off into the glimmer of daybreak on the horizon.

  In an open field, quite a distance away, a herd of buffalo grazed, moving to greet the morning sun, too. This scene reminded him of the story of the peace pipe told to him many winters ago, by his grandfather. Anger filled him, for he wanted justice for the young woman, who had been killed so viciously.

  The voice of the wise elder filled his mind. “Two young men were out meandering one night, talking about numerous things. They passed a hill and came upon a ravine. Suddenly, a beautiful woman appeared before them. She captured their hearts with her breathtaking beauty.

  One of the men could not control his foolish outburst, “You are beautiful. I love you and want to make you my wife.”

  The other young man turned quickly and said, “No. She may be divine.”

  The young woman came closer. In her arms, she held a pipe. The young men watched as she offered it to the sky, then to the earth, and then offered it to them.

  “I know what you have been saying. One of you is good, the other one evil.”

  Then she laid the pipe upon the ground and turned into a buffalo cow. The cow stomped the ground, stuck her tail out behind her, and then picked the pipe up with her hoofs, then turned back into a young woman again.

  “I have come to you to offer this gift. I give you this gift for your people. It is the peace pipe. After all ceremonies, the peace pipe must be smoked, and it will bring peace into your minds. The peace pipe must be offered to the Great Mystery and to Mother Earth.”

  The two young men could not wait to tell their village, so they ran as fast as they could and repeated what they had been told by the young woman who followed them. The entire village came out to witness the young woman.

  She spoke to the entire tribe, saying, “You must have a white buffalo cow skin when you set the ghost free.” Then she then gave the peace pipe to the medicine men of the village. She turned into a buffalo cow, once more, and ran away to the land of the buffalo, where she remains today.”

  Hawke thought hard about this story. As he watched the mighty herd, grazing along in the distance, he recalled the end of the teaching from his grandfather:

  “My grandson, remember all animals upon Mother Earth, are sacred, but in many traditions, the white buffalo is the most sacred. The appearance of the White Buffalo is an indication prayers are being heard, and the sacred peace pipe is being honored. The White Buffalo signals a time of profusion and wealth. Please, grandson, remember the Buffalo Medicine is a sign you achieve nothing without the aid of the Great Spirit, and you must be humble enough to ask for assistance and then be grateful for what you receive.”

  A hawk flew overheard, its shrill cry echoing throughout the valley of the butte. His anger diminished as he took in the hawk swooping gracefully to catch its prey.

  He stretched his arms and yawned. “Grandfather, thank you for reminding me about the peace pipe and the White Buffalo. Chills ran down his arms, for he sensed his grandfather sitting beside him. “I must always remember to be thankful for all things I have received in life. I can never let anything come before my prayers to the Great Mystery.”

  Hawke realized just how much of a connection he shared with his grandfather and his ancestors. He welcomed it and rejoiced in this special closeness. Then his thoughts went to Melina, so he whispered, “We are destined for one another. Time will reveal our path. Our journey began with our birth. Now we have many paths to walk. Soon, we will learn more, and then we shall be wiser.”

  A flicker of lightning lit up the sky. As he glanced at its beauty, he realized he better head toward the station where Melina waited for him. He had been there since the wee hours of the morning. Maybe he had come to make a promise to Abby, or maybe her spirit had called for him during the night.

  He felt calm settle over Eagle Nest Butte as he stood, brushed the dirt from his pants, and headed for his vehicle. Abby’s spirit, along with all her ancestors, roamed the area, which meant she still needed his help.

  The voice of the eagle screamed as it circled above the jagged rocks, giving a sign of the spirits, which lived in Eagle Nest Butte. He was relieved the anger had left him and cleared his mind. “Thank you, grandfather for your wise teachings,” he whispered.

  The road back to town led his mind down many paths as clouds formed in the distance. Snow would arrive soon upon Eagle Nest Butte. He would marry Melina. The spirits would be there, watching them unite as one. A respected elder would do the ceremony, and it would be Joe Whitehorse. He would hold the ceremony at the site of Wounded Knee.

  The clouds bubbled into a large form overhead as the sun tried to squeeze through. Father Sky awakened, and Mother Earth opened her arms for him.

  As Hawke turned onto the paved road, he glanced back at Eagle Nest Butte. He wiped his eyes as a glimpse of Abby’s face appeared in his rearview mirror. She smiled at him, revealing her complete trust in him.

  As she faded away, he realized why he was drawn to Eagle Nest Butte this morning. Abby wanted to make sure he understood she believed in him.

  Hawke thought about Joe wanting him to become the next medicine man. Melina agreed. Was this his calling? His heart believed the voices he heard in his head . It was his calling. He would step down as detective and become the medicine man for his people. His grandfather had told him he would be the next one to achieve this great honor.

  Would Melina give up her job with the FBI and come back to the rez? He would not ask her to, but he prayed she would. The worst-case scenario would be he would have to do without her for weeks at a time, but that would be okay. Their life together was worth the sacrifice. If she would become his wife, then he could withstand everything else. He would stand beside her no matter what she decided to do. He had faith she would make the right decision. He smiled as he thought of her stubborn streak. He guessed for this reason she captured his heart a long time ago .

  He sped toward the station, thinking about sharing his life with her. She was a very special woman. Some of the people on the rez could not understand her leaving the way she had after her parents died in the accident, but Hawke understood perfectly. Her heart was torn from the loss, creating a fear of losing everything . Worry consumed her and her thoughts. Her eyes revealed the pain of losing her parents; they’d been so close. She was the only child, and her father had spoiled her.

  Her parents walked with her every day. The path she chose was the right one for her at the time. She felt it was something she must do.

  He would remind her on the day they married that her parents stood beside her, guiding her, just as they had when they meandered upon Mother Earth.

  He turned on the radio. The songs of love echoed throughout his truck. His heart belonged to Melina, and he would protect her for the rest of his life.

  “Nagi tanka, Great Spirit, pilamaya, thank you, for blessing me with Melina. She holds the light to my soul. I will be the man she deserves, and I will honor her every day.”

  He felt a sense of pride and honor as with the woman who gave her heart to him and the hand of the wise elders guiding him on his many paths and journeys.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Melina scanned the mountain range. She imagined her ancestors walking upon Mother Earth. How exciting the thought of them walking on the exact land. Her mind drifted off into the land of her ancestral spirits.

  Over the ridge, she could see Crazy Horse standing with his arms outreached to his people. He wa well known as a chief and war leader. His Lakota name was Ta Sunka Witko. She pictured him sitting bravely
upon his horse, his face painted with white spots. The paint protected him in battle. When Crazy Horse fought the white people, he carried his medicine in a small leather bag worn on a string around his neck.

  “Melina, the mountain speaks to you, does it not?” She startled at Hawke’s whispered words. She hadn’t heard his footsteps.

  “Yes, it does.” She stepped into his arms, and he held her close. He smelled of soap and the outdoors, his chest hard and strong. She could hear his heartbeat and imagined the lub-thub was saying, “Love you…love you.”

  Two fingers touched her chin and lifted her face for his kiss. “Good morning, love.”

  “Good morning to you, too. Give me a second to get my things and a thermos of coffee I made for us. I’ll meet you at the truck.” Melina stepped into the police station. Hawke remained outside, staring at the mountains, known as the Black Hills.

  ***

  The Paha Sapa, Black Hills, is our home, Hawke thought. It is the spot the Lakota performs sacred ceremonies. They are so sacred that any animal, which comes from them, cannot be killed. He drifted into a realm of the unknown, as if he seeing what would manifest in the future . The vision came, clear and vivid.

  Hawke crouched down, behind a boulder, waiting patiently as two men stood outside their truck. They argued . Then Ian raised his fist and hit the other man, knocking him off his feet.

  Ian took off running toward the butte. Hawke ran after him. He disappeared behind the towering boulders. Which way had he gone? Knowing this was a waste of time, he closed his eyes and began to sing. He performed the ceremony to locate lost objects. He had lost Ian, so he knew this would reveal which way he went.

  As his flight came into focus, he could see Ian running toward him. He had no place to hide, so he must change his appearance. Ian headed back down the path, searching for him. Hawke waited, disguised as a rock.

  Ian drew closer. Once within arm’s reach, Hawke reappeared.

  Ian stumbled falling backwards, hitting his head on a small rock. Hawke stood over the criminal as he came to.

  Melina walked toward him, her arms full. “I’m ready to go.”

  Her voice jolted him back to the present. He ran a finger down his face as if to wipe away the some of his mental fog. “Okay, I will be there is a few. The sacred mountains speak to me.”

  He trusted Melina knew this was his moment, and he must be left alone.

  His eyes focused on the sacred mountains, which had provided him a vision of the future. Ian’s involvement in Abby’s murder made him realize he had to prove this man guilty.

  Just as he turned to go inside, a hawk flew in his path. The hawk is the messenger of things. He teaches you to be alert, take time to look at all the parts of the puzzle you are seeking to solve.

  It sent its magic to him, for the hawk felt the stress in his heart. The hawk served as a messenger from his ancestors. It revealed how to walk the red road. The hawk’s cry was a sign for the beholder to be open to receive a message. It was time for him to take his flight from the hawk and deliver Abby into the spirit world.

  Calm over him. He wrapped his arm around Melina’s waist and led her to his truck. They needed to get to Amy Winters’ house and wait for Ian, Pete, and Amy to leave for Las Vegas. They would follow at a safe distance, watching Ian’s progress on their GPS monitor.

  They rode to Amy’s house in the early morning silence. In the distance, Eagle Nest Butte towered high. This white man thought he could fool everyone. Ian’s demeanor revealed he thought he was very smart. This thought reminded him of the story of the Coyote and Wasichu. It was told to him many winters ago, by his grandfather at the local powwow. Great storytellers of each tribe told the stories.

  Long ago there a white man who was a keen business dealer. He was so well known for his deeds, nobody could outdo him.

  Then, one day, a man confronted this wasichu saying, I know a man who can out cheat you at any time.

  The wasichu was stunned. “That’s cannot be possible,” said the wasichu, “I have owned this trading post for many, many years and I have cheated nearly every person that has walked through those doors.”

  “Maybe you have, but my friend, Coyote can beat you not matter what.”

  “Okay then let’s see what he can do. Where is Coyote?”

  The man glanced around until he saw Coyote then, pointing, he said, “He is over there, that cunning-looking guy.”

  “Okay, I will show him a thing or two.”

  The wasichu businessman walked over to Coyote. “I hear you can outwit anybody. Well let’s see you outdo me.”

  “You have heard right, but I am sorry to say I cannot do it without my cheating medicine,” Coyote said.

  The wasichu laughed, “Cheating medicine? Go get it, if that is what you think you need to win over me.”

  “I live a long ways from here, and I would need to borrow your horse. Once I returned, I would prove it to you.”

  The wasichu thought for a minute. “Well, okay. I will permit you to borrow my horse. Once you return, then we shall see who is the smartest.”

  “My friend, I am not a very good rider. It appears your horse is as afraid of me as I am of it, but if you would be so kind as to lend me your clothes, he may think I am you.”

  The wasichu was uncertain at this point but hesitantly replied, “Well, if that is what I must do to prove I am the smartest trader around, then okay, here are my clothes. Now, you should be able to leave.”

  Therefore, Coyote rode away with the wasichu’s horse and clothes, while the wasichu waited there, bare-butt. Coyote was the slyest of all.

  Hawke chuckled. This would turn out just like the story his grandfather told him. Ian Guidara had the attitude of the wasichu but he would not let Ian trick him.

  Melina laid her hand on his thigh when he laughed. “What were you thinking about?”

  He chuckled again, “Oh, just the story about the Coyote and the Wasichu.”

  A warm smile creased her face. “Oh yeah. Grandfather told me that one, too.”

  “Well, Ian will be like that wasichu in the story. He will try and lie but we must be like the Coyote.”

  Melina nodded. “I know he’s lying. Why would he kill Abby? That question bothers me.”

  “I’m not sure but I think she came across something she shouldn’t have seen or heard, so the only thing Ian could do was kill her.”

  Melina’s cell phone rang, and she glanced at the display. “It’s my boss, Special Agent Seitner, in Minnesota.” She pressed a button. “Hello, Wolfe here.”

  Hawke listened to every word but pretended not to. He did not want Melina to know his concern about what she would choose in the end.

  “Well, I don’t know how much time I’ll need. We still have this murder to solve. Can I get back to you ?”

  A pause then she continued, “I will call you in a couple of days.” Then another long pause. “Okay, yes sir. I will let you know soon. Good-bye.”

  She dropped her phone into the console and crossed her arms. Silent.

  He drove on, screaming on the inside. Finally, he broke the silence. “So, let me guess. He wants to know when you’re coming back.”

  Melina sighed. “Yeah, that’s right.”

  He drove by Amy’s house. The knot in his stomach loosened a few degrees. Ian’s van was still in the driveway. They’d made it in time. He drove up the street and down a narrow road, easing into the spot where they could keep an eye on the van. After he turned off the engine, he rested his wrist over the steering wheel and waited. Waited for the woman he loved to clue him in on her plans. Tension grew heavy and fierce inside the vehicle.

  Finally, Melina spoke. “You’re going to let me make my own decision, aren’t you? You’re not going to interfere.” His gaze slid to hers, and he waited. A muscle in his jaw bunched.

  She reached out and cupped his cheek . “You’re a good man, TJ Hawke. I respect you a lot. By remaining quiet instead of issuing me orders, you’ve proved your
love and respect for me. My heart swells with love for you.”

  “So, have you decided when you will return?”

  She winked at him, “I plan on sticking around for a while, if that’s okay with you?”

  “Of course I want you around.”

  “Everything will work out. Your heart beats on a good path. Please remember how my heart beats, too.” She kissed him, and he pulled her close. They would be together forever.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Hawke loved the feeling of her in his arms. What’s more, he loved her plan to stay in the area, near him. She shuddered a ragged sigh, and he pulled back. Twin tears forged a path down her cheeks. He wiped them away with the pads of his thumbs. “What’s this?”

  “Tears for Abby. Her memory weighs on me.”

  “Melina, we’re getting closer to the truth. Justice is just around the corner. We have to link all of this together and prove Ian is lying. Abby’s spirit is with us, and she knows how to lead us in the right direction.”

  She wiped the tears streaming down her face. “I know you are right, but the thought of what Abby went through is overwhelming.” She pulled out of the embrace and rummaged through her purse for a tissue. “This case is getting to me. I want it solved.”

  “We’ll get justice for Abby and her family. Don’t you worry about that…” His voice trailed off as he noticed a dog wondering around the neighborhood. As he watched it, he remembered what the animal was a symbol of: loyalty.

  To have dog medicine, the person usually serves others, like a police officer or humanity in some way. Both he and the dog served people. The dog trotted across the street and disappeared down the grassy hill.

  Then Hawke noticed a line of ants on the sidewalk. The ant is a sign of patience. He was like the ant. He knew to be patient, and all things would work out. If you have patience, then harmony will soon follow.