Whispering Sun

by Rita Karnopp

  A flash of wild grief rippled through her. She didn't want to lose Two Shadows. She didn't understand why she felt this great loss, but her heart ached in despair.

  Something grabbed her hair. Sarah jumped! The bear wasn't dead! She bolted upright, staring into the black depths of Two Shadow's eyes. His head fell back, unconscious.

  He wasn't dead...yet! "Thank you, God. Thank you, Great Spirit," Sarah cried. She jumped to her feet and rushed to the bear. Pressing her foot against its bloodied chest, she pulled Two Shadow's knife free.

  Running to the ashes of the campfire, she snapped several branches and piled them in a mound. She grasped a handful of dried leaves and spread them over the twigs. Searching through Two Shadow's leather bag, she found a flint-and-steel strike-a-light. Within minutes the fire blazed.

  Sarah laid the knife into the orange/blue flames. While it heated, she stripped the shredded elk skin shirt from Two Shadow's body. Tearing several strips of cloth from her petticoat, Sarah washed the blood from his chest, shoulders, and arms. The deepest gashes were on his upper chest and they bled freely. She cleansed the wounds.

  Removing her underskirt completely, she tore strips of material, until she had several rolls of bindings. She only hoped she had enough for his brawny frame.

  Once Sarah had watched Doctor Bentley cauterize a young soldier's wounds, after he'd been tortured by Crows. Never in her wildest dreams did she imagine she'd be faced with the task herself. She knew it had to be done. Two Shadows would die if the bleeding couldn't be stopped. She set about the task with forced cold indifference.

  Swallowing hard, she gripped the knife handle, raising the hot blade. Dabbing the cloth across the bleeding cut, she pushed the gaping skin together with her fingertips on one side, thumb on the other. Clenching her teeth, she lowered the knife, laying the side of the blade against his skin. It sizzled, melting the raw flesh into a smooth, reddened line. She placed the blade back into the flame, wiped oozing blood away, and then followed it with the blazing knife, cauterizing the skin together. She worked in a flurry, not thinking, just doing. Sweat rolled down her back and between her breasts. She pushed on, until the stench of burned flesh became so vulgar, she had to rush from his body to vomit in the bushes.

  Sarah worked endlessly, swabbing, cauterizing, and wrapping, until Two Shadow's wounds had all stopped bleeding. She covered him with every available blanket, then sat momentarily...surprised at what she'd just done. She leaned forward, brushed a lock of hair from his forehead. She inhaled a prominent scent, one only too familiar to her, earthy cinnamon. Could this man really be the hero? She stared at the handsome, still face. She shook the pressing thoughts from her mind. How ridiculous! More than one man could smell of earthy cinnamon, surely they could.

  Busying herself, she kept the fire going. He still hadn't regained consciousness, but his breathing appeared surprisingly steady and strong. She feared he'd be in great pain once he woke.

  She busied herself with gathering wood for the upcoming night. Within a few hours she'd piled enough branches and bark to keep a fire going for several days.

  The time had come for Sarah to do something with Eagle Shield. She couldn't just leave his mauled body tied to a tree. The smell of blood alone would attract other predators. She thought about burying him in the ground, but remembered Trail Walker had told her that an Indian must be buried so their spirit can travel eastward to the Sand Hills.

  Taking a deep breath she approached his bloody corpse. Taking a horse blanket, she laid it on the ground beside him. Then, swallowing hard, she cut the ropes that had trapped him, like a wild animal. His body crumpled onto the blanket. She rolled him until the blanket wrapped Eagle Shield in a safe cocoon. Using the rope that bound him to the tree, she secured the blanket around his body, under his arms and also at his feet. Hoisting the remainder of the rope over a sturdy tree branch above. Leading both horses to Eagle Shield's body, she tied the rope in a makeshift halter around Cloud's head, then guided the animal forward. Eagle Shield's body rose from the ground, making it possible for Sarah to move the black horse under it. She secured Eagle Shield to the horse, then mounting Cloud, led them away from camp.

  She'd pressed on a good mile before spotting two lodgepole pines on top of a ridge. The first branches didn't seem too high. It just might work, Sarah told herself.

  Without hesitation, she hoisted her skirts between her legs, then tied the long end of the rope around her waist. Wrapping her legs around the tree, pulling and struggling, Sarah moved her body upward. Pine sap stuck to the palms of her hands, legs and dress. She refused to give up. Finally, she'd reached a high, sturdy branch. Hugging the tree with one arm, Sarah struggled to untie the rope from her waist. She pushed herself, hoping to finish and hurry back to Two Shadows, in case he needed her. Finally she looped the rope over the branch, letting it fall to the ground.

  Lowering herself a short distance from the sturdy limb, Sarah pulled hard on the rope. With each pull, Eagle Shield's body moved upward. Once his feet pressed against the tree limb, she looped the rope several times around the branch, securing Eagle Shield in place. She pulled herself up to the limb height, then sat on it, her back to the tree bark. She reached across to the other pine and gripped it with her right hand. Quickly she clutched the rope around Eagle Shield's underarms, lifting him until his body rested on the two sturdy branches. She tied the ropes around the base of the tall, thin pines, then back around Eagle Shield.

  Every bone in her body ached. She didn't have time to dwell on them. She eased herself back to the ground. There, Eagle Shield could make his journey to the Sand Hills. She owed him at least that much.

  A pine squirrel chattered a squawky bark and Sarah marveled at the sound of it. She watched as it made its way up the pine, scurrying until it reached high above Eagle Shield. This was a good place.

  She looked down at her raw hands. Since all her petticoats were used on Two Shadows, Sarah decided the ruffle of her dress would have to make do. She yanked on the material and it easily gave way. Within minutes she had both her hands wrapped. She'd pull off the blistered skin and clean the sap from them later. Now she had to hurry back to Two Shadows.

  She mounted Cloud and led the Black. Glancing back she viewed Eagle Shield among the pines. "Thank you, Eagle Shield," she whispered. "I will always remember your kindness and your protection. Thank you for your love. I do love you in my own way. Maybe not in the way you wanted me to, but I do love you." She tore herself away with a choking cry.

  She rode back to Two Shadows with speed and an undefined urgency. She'd taken far longer than she'd expected. Anything could have happened to him, left alone. The scent of fresh blood lingered everywhere. Her heart pounded as she entered camp. The fire still burned. Two Shadows remained as she had left him. Sarah wasn't certain if that was a good or bad sign.

  She quickly hobbled the horses, then rushed to his side. She laid a fresh, cool cloth to his forehead. Her main concerns now...food, water, and shelter.

  Her gaze settled on the bear. She suddenly realized one of their problems was quickly solved. She had no idea how to gut, skin or prepare bear but grasping Two Shadow's knife, she moved toward the beast. She'd figure it out...she had to.

  * * *

  Sarah kept a silent vigilance over Two Shadows as he slept. Her lips were still swollen and a bout of nausea attacked her on and off. Lingering effects of too much sun. She couldn't dwell on feeling poorly.

  Two Shadows spoke on and off in English, occasionally in Blackfeet. She watched his eyelashes flutter, then he gazed at her, eyes wide and searching.

  "Whispering Sun, my love. You are too beautiful for words," he said, taking Sarah's hand in his. With his free hand he reached out and pulled his fingers through her shiny, golden hair.

  She allowed him the delusion that she was his Whispering Sun. In his delirium he called her his Whispering Sun and love many times. She hated admitting the declaration of his feelings for this woman grew tiresome. Sarah wondere
d what this woman looked like. She must be quite a maiden to have captured the heart of this great warrior. Realizing Two Shadow's heart belonged to someone else created a strange response in Sarah. She didn't understand why it should matter to her, yet, somehow it did.

  Using several pine boughs against a web-work of sticks, Sarah created shade for the resting warrior. She fanned biting insects away and protected him with a watchful eye.

  Managing to sleep only a few hours since the bear attack, Sarah grew increasingly tired. At night she kept the flintlock in one hand, a knife in the other.

  It had been two long nights and one full day and already Two Shadows showed signs of improvement. The bear meat gave him nourishment and strength. Resting allowed his wounds to heal. Sarah turned her worries to their water supply. She needed to go in search of fresh water, but to leave Two Shadows unprotected seemed chancy, nearly foolish.

  The crisp, cool air of early morning worked its way through her threadbare dress, causing her to shiver. She felt tempted to use one of the horse blankets, but decided Two Shadows needed the warmth more.

  She tossed a handful of twigs to the low fire. She rubbed her sore back and neck, stiff from sitting against a tree all night. Stretching, she leaned the rifle against the bark, as she'd seen Two Shadows do.

  In her loneliness, Sarah thought hours about Melody. Worried if she'd made it back to the fort without mishap. Worried she laid hurt or worse—attacked by man or beast. "Oh, Melody. You're going to make it, I just know you are," Sarah said, under her breath.

  Thoughts of Trail Walker surfaced many times, too. Why hadn't he been able to track her down? She'd asked herself the question too many times. Even if Giles led the search party in the opposite direction, Trail Walker would have been able to tell. He could track a snail in the river. An uncomfortable feeling washed over her each time she searched for a plausible explanation.

  Two Shadow's chest rose and fell in a slow, rhythmic pattern. He'd soon regain consciousness. Sarah worried about the degree of pain he'd be in when he regained enough strength to stay awake. He'd lost a lot of blood. She worried about his recuperation.

  Rubbing her palms together and breathing some warmth into her fingers, Sarah gathered the empty water bags and the flintlock. She took another reassuring glance at Two Shadows, then mounted Cloud.

  Alone with her thoughts, she wrestled with the confusing images that threatened her peace. Several times she shoved these thoughts to the recesses of her mind, only to find them creeping back with urgency. Maybe the reoccurring thoughts weren't dreams but rather memories of the day she'd spent with the hero. She felt ill equipped to deal with these strange, new, exciting feelings.

  Closing her eyes, Sarah allowed the vivid images come to life. They were in a dark room...no, it seemed more like a cave. The flames of a fire cast shadows around them. He touched her hair with his fingertips, then brought his hand to cup her chin. The warmth of his fingertips seared her skin, sending shocks of excitement throughout her body.

  The man's eyes were dark like the night. But this night they shimmered with tenderness and love. His black hair brushed the top of his bronze shoulders. He unmistakably smelled of cinnamon and pine. A touch of campfire smoke spoke of nature and masculinity.

  He leaned forward, his lips brushing across hers. A strong burning desire demanded more. The image stopped...leaving her heart hammering against her ribs. She tried to ignore the strange aching, a longing, deep in her soul.

  More confusing than ever, this stranger, this man who invaded her thoughts, was Two Shadows. She despised his arrogance and indifference. Did he hate her because she ran from him to Eagle Shield? Does Two Shadows still believe she was Eagle Shield's woman? Her face warmed at the suggestion.

  Not once had she complained, determined not to be a burden to Two Shadows, yet his dislike seemed to increase with each passing day. Why did he continue to treat her with such contempt? Perhaps he didn't like women. No, he called out his love for Whispering Sun. Of course, why hadn't Sarah thought of it sooner? She was white. He had no use for a white woman.

  This is ridiculous, Sarah told herself. Why should I care what he thinks or feels? He's an Indian. No self-respecting white woman would even consider an Indian for a husband. Even though she'd faced the harsh truth, Sarah wasn't sure her heart would listen.

  Sighing, she pulled herself from her thoughts, snapping alert. Panic set in. She'd carelessly allowed the horses to rove wherever they wanted. She had no idea where they were.

  Sarah searched the terrain, hoping to find something that looked familiar. Anxiety built until she realized they'd gone no further than over the hillside of the campsite. Even more exciting, just beyond Cloud's feet, a wide, peaceful pond stretched before her. The mating honks from a pair of trumpeter swans convinced Sarah she hadn't dreamed it.

  She ran to the water's edge and dropped to her knees, immersing her fingers in the cold water. She noticed Cloud didn't waste any time getting himself a long, quenching drink.

  She bathed her face in the inviting liquid, then gazed up at the sky. Again it seemed she heard a voice whispering to her. Perhaps the Great Spirit did guide her, or was it just the wind?

  Staring into the clear water, Sarah glimpsed at her own reflection. She didn't recognize herself. Brown skin and loose, askew hair looked nothing like hers. But more than that seemed different. The lonely, afraid little girl had disappeared. Staring back at herself she saw a spirited, happy woman. Here, out in the middle of nowhere, where she had no feather bed to sleep on. Where she didn't have a clean, spare, frilly dress to change into. Here, where danger lurked from every direction. Yet, deep down, Sarah felt alive. It had nothing to do with regaining her hearing, it had everything to do with being free. No longer caged inside the fort.

  She longed to strip off her filthy clothes and soak away the sweat and dirt that covered her. In her whole life she had never presented such an unkempt appearance. Tempted, yes, but knowing Two Shadows lay unprotected back in camp demanded she delay no longer.

  She filled the water bags, then pulled herself astride Cloud. Within minutes they rounded the crest of the hill, a peaceful camp came into view. The rising sun already warmed the crisp morning air. She took in the beauty of the chirping birds. A new chattering caught her attention. Sarah concentrated for a few moments, listening with intent. A pine squirrel shimmied up a tree next to her. It chattered again, glancing at her with small, nervous eyes. For a second Sarah thought it to be the essence of Eagle Shield, tell her thank you. She shook her head at the ridiculous thought, then slid off Cloud.

  A slight breeze picked up. Sarah heard it before feeling it against her skin. Closing her eyes, she listened to all the wonderful sounds around her. All those years she'd missed so much.

  Chapter Nine

  Two Shadows blinked twice, then slowly the world around him cleared. He immediately spotted Sarah. She stood, her eyes closed, face turned toward the sky, not moving, just smiling. She appeared one in harmony with nature. Gazing at her beauty rushed him with an avalanche of emotions, and desires.

  Her once pale skin had turned golden brown, enhancing the honey waves of sunlight falling down her back.

  How had he allowed this woman to capture his heart? It was much too late to escape. She had sneaked past his reserve and had reached inside, touching a part of him that no other woman had. She'd pulled at his heart the first day he saw her, perhaps before that...in his dreams. He had no right to want this white woman, knowing she could never love a man like him. Still, he wanted to hold her soft body in his arms—again—just one more time.

  His limbs ached. His head felt as heavy as an ax handle. And—he was alive! He recalled stabbing at the bear. He remembered feeling long, sharp claws tearing open his chest and his shoulder. He recalled hearing the blast of the flintlock. Yes, he did remember that. Sarah must have shot the bear. He shook his weary head in disbelief.

  Forcing his gaze from her face, he glanced around the camp. He didn't see the
ravaged Sioux tied to the tree. Would she have buried him in the ground? Two Shadows hoped not.

  He found himself staring at a large black bear skin, tossed over the low branch of a pine tree. He wondered why she hadn't prepared the valuable skin. He couldn't help chuckling over the image of Sarah scraping and preparing a bear hide. No. This white woman wouldn't know how, nor would she want to dirty her hands doing such an obviously distasteful task.

  In all honesty, Two Shadows had to admit most of the men in his village wouldn't touch a bear, it was against their medicine. Two women in the tribe had strong enough power to handle a bearskin. If others foolishly attempted it, some great misfortune would befall them, even death.

  This meant only one thing. Sarah's medicine must be strong. Not only did she handle the bearskin but she killed the bear.

  He realized the heat of the day beat against the makeshift shade. He tossed the blanket from his body, then winced from the effort. He realized his action snapped Sarah alert. She swung around, gripping the rifle in front of her. Two Shadows lifted his head, then couldn't help moaning from the effort. He sunk back to the ground. He watched as she searched the camp area making sure all remained secure.

  "You startled me. You should have told me you were awake. You're lucky I didn't shoot you," Sarah said, lowering the gun and walking toward him.

  "Didn't mean to. This stack of blankets is smothering me. I've been gasping for air."

  "Sounds like you've recovered some of your energy. At least your tongue has."

  He watched as she rubbed the side of her neck against her right shoulder. She looked tired. "How long have I been lying here like an old man?" he asked, raising himself up on an elbow. He drew his brow together, struggling to hide the pain. She crossed the distance between them and kneeled by his side. Her closeness bothered him. He held still while she busied herself with pouring fresh water into a cloth, then moved it across his sweaty brow.