by Rita Karnopp
"It's beautiful, Two Shadows." She handed it back to him.
He pressed it back into his bag, then continued brushing Sarah's hair. "My mother loved cattails. Every time I see one, I think of her." He pulled Sarah's hair back, working the thick braid.
"Did your people find these men and kill them? Did they kill your friend's mothers, too?" She listened to his silence, unsure how to comfort him.
"The man took my mother's necklace and tied it around his own neck. When he stood, he turned in our direction. I saw the hideous scars that covered his face. It looked like his skin had melted down into his neck. I still see those scars. I feel hatred. I watched that disgusting man take a stick from the camp fire and toss it into my tipi, it burned to the ground before my eyes."
Sarah physically shuddered at the images that came to life before her eyes. She felt grateful to have her back to Two Shadows. She sensed hurt and grief in his tone. To see the pain in his face would have been too much. "Did they see you and your friends?" Sarah asked, her tone hushed.
"I decided to come out of the bushes and go down and kill every one of them. My friends grabbed me, held me down, until I stopped struggling. I remained angry for a long time. My father explained they had done the right thing. If not for my friends, I would have been one more dead Indian. The time to find and kill them would have to wait until I became a man."
"But you were only eight. How could you have made such a decision?"
"I am Blackfeet. We know at an early age that a wrong must be punished."
"It happened so long ago. Those men are either dead or long gone. It's useless to try."
"You're wrong, little one. The Great Spirit has led me to you. Through you I have met a Sioux who wore my mother's necklace."
Sarah twirled around, stopped only by the pull on her hair as Two Shadows gripped it before she pulled loose all his work. "Eagle Shield," she asked.
"Yes, Eagle Shield. He told me he won the necklace rolling the white man's dice game. The man who lost was a big, ugly skinner with scars all over his face."
Sarah ventured to look at Two Shadows. She didn't miss how his eyes dangerously darkened. She studied him for a moment. "Two Shadows," she tried to soften her tone, "Did not the Great Spirit give you to me, and me to you? Have we not found love and happiness?" She watched him for a reaction. "If you go after these butchers, they could kill you. What will happen to me? I understand why you hate them. I even understand why you want to kill them. I'm asking you to turn your back. God will punish them in the end."
"Your God is a good God, Sarah. But when he teaches of turning the other cheek, I cannot. Napi has told me the time has come to avenge the deaths of my people. During the last Falling-Leaves Moon these skinners attacked a quiet Pikuni village who had been suffering from the white man's disease. They were getting well and soon would be joining the main camp by the First Moon of Winter. They never came. Many warriors struggled through the cold and snow to find out why. We found the village burned out. We found my father's sister, Amunis Ahki, hiding in the rubble. Otter Woman's feet were frozen and the crazed woman looked near starvation. Her eyes were wild with fear and her mind had been lost."
"But how did you know those who attacked the village had been the skinners of years ago? It could have been anyone. Another tribe or even white soldiers," Sarah suggested, trying to diffuse his anger and hatred.
"No. I am certain they were the same. Amunis Ahki said few words, but those words she did say, she repeated hour after hour. Ugly scars. His face is covered with ugly scars. Now, tell me I should forget these killers. If I don't find their hideout and kill them, they'll return to kill more of my people. These animals always strike when the warriors are gone hunting. They are cowards and not worthy of life." He lowered his gaze, as well as his voice.
Sarah watched him. She felt tears swelling. "I'm sorry about your mother and sister. I'm also sorry about all the innocent lives that these animals have killed," Sarah paused, then leaned over and placed her hand on his forearm. "I understand why you hate them. I agree they must be stopped. If we find their hideout, couldn't we go back to your village and get many warriors to help kill them all?"
He wound and tied off her braid with the eagle wing-bone. "No, Sarah. This is something I must do. I cannot ask my people to do what I must do. Many braves have tried to kill these men, each has failed. I believe the Great Spirit has led me on a great journey. Napi is showing me how to avenge the deaths of my people." He reached over and separated the hot rocks and embers of the fire. I have waited most of my life to find and kill this man. I will not stop now. Not for anything."
He reached out and pulled her back against his chest, hugging her to him. He bent his head and nuzzled his face into the side of her warm neck. "I'm grateful Napi brought you into my life, Whispering Sun. I will cherish you in my heart always."
Sarah turned in his arms, reaching up she drew his head down toward her. She kissed him, lingering, savoring every movement.
His lips parted hers, drew upon her love and her soul. They clung to each other in comfort and understanding.
Chapter Twelve
Sarah sat, resting her back against a rock. She looked down at the rugged canyons and alpine plateaus that extended as far as the eye could see. The thin, brisk mountain air made breathing difficult. She tired easily and it irritated her to have to stop and rest so often.
Yet, each day she felt stronger, getting use to the altitude and hoping to be less of a burden to Two Shadows. Still, she found no matter how hard she pushed herself, keeping up with his powerful gait seemed impossible.
Having walked the soles right off her slippers, Two Shadows used the flap and leather strings from his quiver to make new ones. Even though her feet still hurt, she felt grateful every stone and pine needle didn't stab into her raw feet. She refused to let her pain show. She didn't want him to know her back and legs ached mercilessly from the continuous upward climb.
She couldn't help noticing these hardships didn't seem to affect him in the slightest. His body moved with nature. His bronze muscles rippled, causing her discomfort when she thought about it. It'd become embarrassing to admit she thought of his love making to her more than seemed proper.
She glanced over and watched Two Shadows search the landscape ahead. He pointed, and she searched to see what had him excited. She spotted a killdeer alighting from a cluster of buffalo berry bushes. It's noisy, loud, insistent kill-deeah, kill-deeah, made them both jump.
"That is Kit-se-pit-se-koye."
She attempted repeating the Blackfeet word. It felt strange on her tongue, but she enjoyed the feeling.
"They say that if its nest is robbed of the eggs or young birds, it grieves so deeply and cries so hard, it will fall upon the ground."
Sarah noticed the white-bordered, reddish tail and two black breast bands. "He's a nice looking bird."
"A bit too noisy. I'm surprised to see one this high in the mountains. Usually he scavenges the mountain meadows and―" He grabbed Sarah's arm and squatted behind the thick brush. "Look just past the bird."
Sarah's now-trained eyes spotted the intruder within seconds. A burly looking man, with a large buffalo coat hung over his shoulders, made his way along a washed-out stony path, sending the noisy killdeer into flight. Then, like magic, he disappeared into the massive boulders that reached straight to the sky.
"The Great Spirit has sent Kit-se-pit-se-koye to show us the way to the skinner's camp. I feel it in my heart." Two Shadows said.
She watched him look up and offer a prayer to the four directions, then down to Mother Earth. He glanced back up at the sky and Sarah searched to see what he found of interest this time.
"Look," Two Shadows pointed, "Pa-tse-ksis-acom flies above to warn us there is much danger.
"What do you mean, he warns us?"
"He is the fish hawk and the most dangerous hawk of all. It is said that an Indian once climbed to a fish hawk's nest, on a high cliff, to secure the young birds.
When he came to a dangerous place on the cliff, the old bird swooped down at him with such force, that we was thrown over the cliff and killed. Ever since that time, we have called them mistake thunder, meaning that they are powerful and as dangerous as the thunder or lightning."
Sarah felt her heart beat hard and fast. She closed her eyes, her mind's eye brought back images of Junior climbing to the nest. She watched the bird flapping her wings and clawing at his head. She saw the nest coming apart and before her eyes Henry Junior was falling. Several short, nervous breaths brought her back to reality. She felt Two Shadow's hand on her arm, she opened her eyes, meeting his gentle gaze.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have told you that story. I'm sure it made you think of your brother," Two Shadows said, pulling her into him.
She'd noticed his eyes were kind and apologetic...wait, her brain screamed. "How would you know about my brother?" she asked, pulling back to see his face. She noticed Two Shadows hesitated, only a moment.
"Once Trail Walker came to our village for a visit. He told us about a young woman who suffered a terrible loss and became deaf. Her brother had fallen from a cliff and died, she blamed herself. He told how he'd been working with her, teaching her to speak with her hands, and hear with her eyes. He told of her temper, yet of her quickness to learn. I could tell he held a lot of feelings for this girl." Two Shadows paused, then rushed on. "You mentioned Trail Walker several times. I decided you had to be this girl...woman."
Sarah watched Two Shadows. She sensed he held back. "Why didn't you tell me you knew Trail Walker?"
"He is Blackfeet. Why would I not know him? I took for granted you would know this."
"I see," she said, watching his expression, wondering why it seemed he still wasn't telling her everything. It seemed he shifted uncomfortably under her gaze.
"The fish hawk is a sign from the Great Spirit. I have found my destiny. He will guide me. I will find their camp before the sun sinks behind the mountain tops. This night I will kill my most hated enemy."
A shiver ran the length of Sarah's spine. Would she lose Two Shadows this night? "What will we do when we get down there?"
"We? You are coming only a short way with me. This is my fight. I will not ask the woman I love to help me. The Great Spirit has not given me a sign that you are a part of this quest. You must wait for me."
"There must be something I can do to help. How can you expect me to sit around and wait, wondering what's happening to you?"
"You will do as I say," Two Shadows released her. "There is no room for discussion this time."
Silence fell between them. Two Shadows worked his way down the steep, rocky incline. A solemn Sarah followed.
Two Shadows found himself absorbed in thought. He should have some sort of plan. Weighing heavier on his mind and heart, what will happen to Sarah if the skinners should win the fight? He had done her a grave injustice by offering her love and protection before he fulfilled his quest. He wanted to share his life with her. She could be carrying his seed this very moment. But, what if his life ended today? She'd be a scorned white woman, with an Indian bastard to raise.
He watched as a horse-fly buzzed around Sarah's ear. She slapped at it, then lost her balance. He grabbed at her, only to miss, then watched her descend in a downhill slide, scraping across stones, dirt, and finally landing on a large boulder in a motionless heap.
He rushed after her, nearly losing his own balance. "Sarah? Sarah, love. Can you hear me?" he asked, whispering near her ear. He leaned over to inspect her, placing a tender kiss on her forehead.
She reached up and grabbed him around the neck, bringing him on top of her. The gesture took him by surprise. She smiled up at him.
"That wasn't funny, Sarah. You could have broken your neck!"
He read her surprised that he sounded upset. He allowed her to pull him closer. Parting her lips, she raised herself to meet his lips, he couldn't refuse her. He felt his anger melt in a fiery, possessive kiss.
He rose above her, looking into her shimmering blue eyes. "Are you hurt?" he asked in a husky tone, aware that her mere kiss had excited him. She shook her head in response.
"We must be careful. They could have a look-out posted. Any sudden movement, like this, and I...we...won't have a chance."
"It was an accident," Sarah whispered back.
He watched her pout like a spoiled child. "I am sure it couldn't be helped. I'm not blaming you. I just want you to know we need to be extra careful from here out." Two Shadows pulled himself up. He held still, listening, watching, searching the land. He slipped out of the rope that held their blanket rolls, water and travel bag to his back, then slid them under the low hanging boughs of a nearby pine. He grabbed Sarah's hand, helping her to her feet.
"I'll be careful," she whispered.
She gripped his hand with her small one, the gesture surprised him. With slow and careful movements they worked their way toward the large boulders. How clever this hideout was, Two Shadows thought. The smooth, bare, rocky ground nearly made it impossible to see any tracks. He noticed two small rocks had been turned over recently. They had found the right place. His breath caught in his throat. He had waited most of his life for this moment.
Two Shadows followed a narrow trail that had been grooved in the rock by water at peak melting seasons. The thin, eroded path led them to a place where the boulders ended.
Both he and Sarah studied the solid formation.
"There has to be an entrance. We saw him go in there," she whispered.
Two Shadows move off to the left, checking every possible angle of the boulders before him. A cool gust of wind blasted his face. He followed the steady stream of air, then found himself against the boulder face. Its dark recesses gave no clues. Reaching out, he realized the black space wasn't rock, it dipped into a cool space. He glanced back and found Sarah merely a shadow away. He moved further down toward a bend in the high, rocky walls of the canyon.
They pushed deeper into the cave-like area, then walked through a cold, musty, rock tunnel. He spotted a speck of shadowy daylight at the far end, urgency brought him closer and closer to it.
Warm air and what remained of the daylight blanketed him as he slightly emerged from the entrance. He held back, pausing before exposing himself. He felt Sarah take a step forward, and he grasped her arm, pulling her gently back into the shadows of the cave, behind him.
"Never step out of an area before scouting it," Two Shadows whispered in her ear. He glimpsed her flushed face, and watched her struggle for control.
"You scared the b'Jesus out of me! A simple word―"
"Would have been too late. We're not going to a church social here. We have to be careful." He attempted to soften his words, he couldn't expect Sarah to know what it took him years to learn out in the wild. "I'm sorry. One mistake could get you killed. I don't want to lose you again." In the darkness, he search her expression for a hint of tenderness, a look of love. It felt foolish to admit it, but it seemed to give him strength.
"What do you mean, you don't want to lose me again?"
Two Shadows winced, realizing once again he had spoke his heart, instead of thinking first. "Sarah, I promise we will talk later. It gets dark quick in these parts. We don't have much time. Stay behind me and remain as quiet as you can. Understand?" He watched her nod, then moved beyond the cave opening. Already shadows were creeping in fast.
He concentrated on every rock, every shrub and tree before moving to the next boulder or shrub nearby. He listened. Silence. There, he'd heard the faint echo of several men talking. There, the off-key tones of a drunk man's song filtered toward them.
He wished Sarah waited safely for him in the village. He'd waited so long for this day. Sarah's being here complicated things. He didn't want to have to worry about her. If these animals got lucky and killed him, what would happen to her? He didn't even want to think about it. He couldn't let anything happen to him. He couldn't get careless.
He inched them closer a
nd closer to the voices. He felt her move behind him like a shadow, close and haunting. He stretched out on his stomach inching across a flat, exposed ledge, working his way to a short, sprawling growth of juniper. He edged his way through the brush, then froze. He felt every muscle in his body tense. He looked down into the rock-edged box canyon, knowing he'd found his destiny.
A hot fire blazed in the center of the dusk-shadowed camp. A black pot extended over the flames, a heavy, full-whiskered man stirred the contents. Another man sat on a pile of buffalo hides, his chin resting on his collarbone, his eyes closed.
Two Shadows moved his gaze toward two men playing cards. They faced each other across a flat-rock table. Their flickering lantern light danced across their ruddy faces. The man wearing a red stocking cap and a striped wool Capote looked to be French in appearance. The other man, smiling and exposing several missing teeth, appeared hard-featured and wiry. His expression revealed he took the game most serious.
Off-keyed singing caused Two Shadows to seek out the offender. From the shadows, an unkempt, filthy-looking man stumbled carelessly about the camp area, a bottle of whiskey bounced against his leg as he moved.
Two Shadows spotted a tattered army tent erected at the far end of the camp. There he would find the man that killed his family. Images and memories of this horrible man fueled Two Shadows mounting anger, his need to set things right.
"There are too many of them. You can't go down there and fight them all. They'll kill you," Sarah whispered.
Two Shadows felt her tremble and pulled her into his arms. "Shh. Napi has great confidence that vengeance will be served. I could not back down now, even if I wanted to."
He held her close while studying the situation below. How he wished Horse Racer and He Who Listens were with him right now. Their attack would have been swift and effective. But one against six would take some planning. The scar-faced skinner had to be in the tent.
