Spirit of the Sky

by Paty Jager

  He quickly shed his clothes and picked Sa-qan up, settling them both in the water.

  “I’ve never had a warm bath.” Her arms clung to his neck pressing her breasts against his naked chest.

  He eased her back and spun her, slipping her backside in between the vee of his legs. “Let me wash your hair.” He slid her down to wet her hair. Her large eyes peered up at him as she reclined in the water. The strands of her hair tangled around his growing arousal.

  His fingers combed through her long, blonde, straight locks. He poured hair soap on his hands and worked it through her hair and massaged her scalp. Her eyes closed and she moaned softly. He rinsed her hair and worked his hands down her neck, over her shoulders, and down both arms before cupping her breasts and gliding his hands down her body to her legs.

  She slipped from his grasp, spun around, and knelt between his legs. “I will clean you.” Her small hands started at his head massaging his scalp and tantalizing his skin as she moved over every inch of his body, becoming fascinated by his arousal. Her small hands rubbing up and down his shaft nearly shot his hips out of the water.

  “Angel, if you don’t take your hands from me, I’m going to make love to you right here in this big brass tub.”

  She tipped her head sideways as he’d witness her do as an eagle and peered at him. The heat burning in her eyes told him she was his for the taking. He gripped her waist, raised her up, and slowly settled her over his arousal. Slipping into her fully dissipated all the dreams that haunted him at their separation. He drew her body flush to his and kissed her, sliding his tongue between her lips and tasting her sweetness. The sensation of her tongue and her hot body holding him tight sealed the last scars on his heart and his conscience. She was his home. His family.

  He released her lips, allowing her to ride him as he raised his hips, plunging deeper and deeper until her eyes glowed and she whispered his name as her body gripped him. She collapsed on his chest and he released.

  Wade brushed the wet tangles from her face. Her eyes fluttered open. “I still owe you real love making.” He kissed her cheek. “Can you stand? The water’s getting cold.”

  She nodded and slowly rose off of him, stepping over the side of the tub. Water pooled on the floor, having splashed over the edges of the tub. He stood, grabbing cotton towels on the shelf. He started at the top of her head, drying every hill, valley, and nook of her body. Her face darkened as he spread her legs and dried her.

  “Put on the dress I bought you to walk to the room.” He dropped the towels on the floor and sopped up the water the best he could and pulled the stopper on the tub. With the floor drier, he donned clean drawers and denims, before gathering up their belongings in one arm and capturing her hand with the other.

  He nodded for her to open the door, and they stepped into the hallway. An older couple exited a room across the hall. They both scowled and the woman tsked.

  Wade ignored the two and stopped in front of room 103. He released Sa-qan’s hand and opened the door, ushering her in ahead of him. The room was large, clean, and well outfitted with a screened commode, dresser, large bed, and nightstand with a lamp.

  He tossed their clothing on the chair by a small table and slipped the key in the lock. Sa-qan wandered about the room, skimming her fingers over the wood furniture, smoothing a palm over the quilt on the bed, and pushing on the downy pillows. Her motions reminded him she’d never encountered these things.

  He caught her attention and together they sat on the bed. “I forget you’ve never lived in my world. Do you have any questions?”

  “Where are we going to live?”

  Mita áptit wax ná·qt

  (31)

  Sa-qan faced Wade placing her hands on his leg and stared into his caring eyes. She had enjoyed the warm bath. In her childhood she remembered bathing in the cold streams with her mother. Recently, the women had washed with cold water dipped from the rivers and streams they camped beside. Sitting in this room on a soft bed, she was afraid to not live as a Nimiipuu she could no longer fight for them.

  Wade continued to watch her, not answering her question.

  “Where will we live now that we are man and wife and you no longer are a soldier?” Her heart began to ache he took so long to answer.

  “I’d like to say in the camp with your people, but we won’t have the freedom we need to move about.” Wade placed a hand on her arm.

  The heat of his touch reminded her of the quick mating in the bath. Her cheeks burned with the memory.

  “I’ve talked with a man who writes for one of the largest newspapers in the East. He’s willing to let us—you telling me and me writing it down—tell the Nimiipuu’s story.” He captured her hands. “If we can make the government see they aren’t a threat they might treat the Nimiipuu better and send them home sooner.”

  Sa-qan started to shake her head. She had a duty to live with her people. She could not help them if she was not with them.

  “You won’t be able to help if you’re confined and not allowed to talk with the white leaders.” Wade ran a hand over his mustache and stared into her eyes. “You’ve seen how they allowed me to ride into the camp and back out with you. We can live in town and visit every day. We can write about the way the people are being treated and gain sympathies.”

  What Wade said made sense. But would the Creator believe her to be a traitor like her father if she lived with the so·yá·po? She would not be turning her back on her people or harming them as he had.

  “Sa-qan, angel, if I thought living with your people would help them I would. The only way we can help is by not being imprisoned and having the ability to move freely.” He captured her hands, again. “Like when you were a spirit. You didn’t live with the Nimiipuu. They didn’t even know you existed, but you helped them. It will be like that only they will know you exist and will talk with you about how they feel. We’ll put it down on paper for everyone to learn the strength and character of your people.” Determination darkened his eyes and her heart opened completely to his love.

  “And we will have the ability to travel to Washington and talk with the white leaders who give the orders.” The conviction in his eyes and words rivaled her own passion for the Nimiipuu.

  What he said made sense. She would be as her spirit, helping from the outer edges. “We can do this? Talk to the so·yá·po leaders? And have others learn of the Nimiipuu?”

  “Yes. We can meet the reporter tomorrow. He’s in town writing about how the army has moved the Nimiipuu farther and farther from their homes.” He put an arm around her shoulders. “You can give him a firsthand account of the journey here.”

  Wade had thought this all out. It would be better if they could talk with the so·yá·po leaders. The soldiers guarding the camp and the one who shoved Wade when he kissed her showed proof she could be of more help outside the camp than inside.

  She smiled at her husband. His intelligence and caring had first caught her attention. That he was pleasing to look at and made her body sing doubled her affection for him.

  “Show me how pleasing it is to make love in a bed.”

  Wade’s eyes gleamed like a big tawny mountain cat about to pounce. His hands slid into her hair, and he held her head gently, his face dipping toward hers. The softness of his hovering lips and tickle of his mustache rippled tremors through her body.

  “I plan to love you thoroughly and completely.”

  The whispered promise tingled her woman parts and hitched her breath. He captured her mouth with his, nibbling and teasing her lips until she squirmed wanting his hands on her, his maleness in her.

  He drew away, her body grieved the contact. She reached for him, but he took her hands, kissing the backs before releasing them and opening her dress. With each fastener he set free, he kissed her newly exposed skin. Each whisper of warm breath on her skin and moist kiss spun her senses. The slow delicious agony of his journey down to her belly quivered her legs, making her glad she still sat on the bed.
No one had ever treated her in such a cherished way.

  His rough-skinned hands slid between her shoulders and the dress. His warm palms moved down her arms slipping the garment off her shoulders and over her hands. Her bare upper body heated as his gaze drifted over her face, down her neck, and lingered at her breasts. Her nipples puckered and ached the longer his gaze lingered.

  When her breathing became ragged with desire and she reached out to him, he held her hands in her lap and leaned forward, suckling a breast. The sensation sparked a bolt of lightning to her toes. He continued to give equal attention to both breasts as she squirmed and his hand slid under the dress, holding her. The weight of his hand resting on parts of her that pulsed with need nearly shot Sa-qan to her feet. He stopped suckling and grinned. His eyes twinkled with the knowledge he had her body pulsing to the rhythm of ceremonial drums.

  He captured her lips, caressing her tongue with his and leaned, lowering her to the bed. Settling into the softness, she wrapped her arms around his neck, but he slipped out and grasped the dress, pulling it over her hips and tossing it across the room. Again, he sat beside her, his gaze traveling the length of her before he placed his hands on her thighs and spread her legs.

  Mischief flickered in his eyes, and he leaned down, kissing her curls. Stunned by this action, she moaned as he took her into his mouth as he had her breasts. Having been still too young to experience the menstrual lodge or the women’s lodge before being made a spirit she had not learned of the ways between a man and woman as other maidens. She wondered if Wade’s magical touches were something other women experienced or if only the connection between she and Wade made her body sing, exalt, and yearn for more.

  She clutched the cloth under her in her fists and rode the body shaking sensations, calling out his name as a clap of thunder jerked her body and lightning scorched her limbs.

  “That my wife is being thoroughly loved.”

  The sensations ebbed. She opened her eyes and found an unclothed Wade holding his body over hers. His wonderful lips quirked in a wicked smile, and his eyes gleamed with desire.

  “I wish to make our bodies sing together.” She rose up kissing his neck and wrapping her arms around his solid middle, pressing her body to his.

  “My duty as your husband is to make your wishes come true.” His legs spread hers wider and he entered, taking her to greater heights than before. Making love with her husband brought as much freedom and joy to her heart as when she soared in the sky as an eagle.

  ****

  Wade lay on his side watching Sa-qan sleep. They’d eaten a cold meal he’d brought up from the dining room before falling asleep. While waiting for the food to be prepared, he’d telegraphed Colonel Gibbon telling him of his location so the colonel knew where to forward the release orders. He hoped it didn’t take much longer. He didn’t like the thought he could be thrown in jail if someone labeled him a deserter. If Gibbon didn’t extend his leave until the release papers arrived, he could be a wanted man. He didn’t see the need to explain all this to Sa-qan. She didn’t need anything other than helping her people to worry about.

  Sa-qan stretched. He stopped his hand as he started to reach for her. She needed her rest. Her condition when he found her yesterday tore at his heart. She wasn’t eating enough, and the dark circles under her eyes proved she hadn’t been resting either. When she woke, he planned to feed her well and insist she rest during the day. He knew Indian women were more resilient when it came to birthing, but he planned to make sure Sa-qan and their baby wanted for nothing.

  He’d not let his new family down.

  She scooted across the bed and flung her leg over his, pressing her naked body against him. Her lips skimmed across his chest and her small soft lips nibbled at his nipple. His body, already aroused from watching her, throbbed.

  “Are you sure? I don’t want to hurt you or the baby.” He’d do everything in his power to make sure neither one ever came to harm by him or anyone else.

  “You would hurt me by refusing my wish.” She ran the tip of her tongue around his rigid nipple and grasped his shaft in her hand.

  He groaned and slid down to capture her teasing lips. In one fluid motion, he rolled her to her back and entered her slick, hot, waiting body.

  ****

  Sa-qan stretched as the sound of splashing water invaded her sleep. She opened one eye and spotted Wade, fully dressed, pouring water from a vessel into a large bowl. She rolled to her side and watched him scrape the scratchy hair from his face, leaving the hair above his mouth. She had wondered how so·yá·po men’s faces could be smooth and have hair growing on them.

  He turned from drying his face and caught her watching him. His eyes lit and the mouth that had taken her to great heights the night before tipped in a welcoming smile. “I’m glad you’re awake. I’m hungry and I didn’t want to leave you to go eat.”

  Hunger had become a constant companion since she became mortal. She had learned to ignore the pains and gurgles. But as his caring gaze scanned her face her stomach rumbled.

  “Come on. I’ll help you dress, and we’ll grab breakfast in the dining room before getting you more clothes and meeting the newspaper man.” Wade crossed the room, grasped her hand, and tugged her to her feet beside the bed.

  “I can dress myself,” she said, glancing about the room for the clothing he gave her the day before.

  “But I’ll take pleasure in helping you dress.” He led her to the table holding the vessel and bowl. Wade poured water on a small cloth and ran the cloth over her face, down her neck, all over her body, and even between her legs.

  His detailed washing heated her body and started the pulse in her woman parts. The heat in his eyes proved he was aroused by his actions as well.

  Sa-qan grasped his head, pulling him down to kiss and turn his thoughts to climbing back into bed.

  He drew out of the kiss, shaking his head. “We’ll never accomplish anything if you try to seduce me. And you need food. Your stomach told me.”

  “What does seduce mean?” She ran a hand down the front of his breeches.

  He hissed and removed her hand. “Exactly what you’re doing.”

  He led her to the chair and her clothes. “I’ll help you layer on the undergarments. We’ll also buy you a warm cloak as soon as we finish breakfast.”

  She stood beside the pile of clothes. “Why must I wear all of those?”

  “Since we’ll be spending a good part of today in town getting settled and meeting Baker, it’s best you dress to not draw attention.”

  She started to protest and he kissed her lips. “When we get a place of our own and folks have become used to the idea you’re Nez Perce and we’re married, you can wear whatever you like, but for now we have to make sure people don’t have a reason to shun us.” He tipped her chin up and gazed into her eyes. His pleaded with her. “I’m not doing this to take away who you are. I’m doing this to help people accept and listen to us.”

  He handed her white puffy breeches. She slipped them on. Then he pulled a white flimsy dress over her head and tied it at the neck.

  “This is worn under the dress. And one of these. They’re petticoats. They help to keep you warm.”

  He held up the dress she wore briefly the day before. She ducked under it and slid her arms into the sleeves. The layers helped warm her, but she wondered how a so·yá·po woman wore all these clothes during the hot days of summer.

  Wade fastened her dress and stepped back. “You can wear your moccasins. The long skirts will hide them.” He handed her a comb. “Run that through your hair. We’ll purchase pretty combs for you to pull it up out of your face.”

  She combed her hair and stared at her reflection in the large oval. She swallowed. With the so·yá·po clothing she no longer saw a Nimiipuu. Would her people still accept her dressed like a white woman?

  Wade stood behind her, his hands on her shoulders, and his head above hers. “It’s what a person feels on the inside that makes the person, n
ot what they wear on the outside.” He kissed the top of her head. Her stomach rumbled, again. “Come on. After our night we deserve a large meal.”

  Hand in hand, they descended the stairs. Wade nodded to the man behind a half wall and they passed through a large door. Inside the room, many tables and chairs filled the space. People already seated at tables glanced their way and returned to talking or eating.

  Sa-qan scanned the room, taking in everything. Until yesterday, she had only witnessed so·yá·po ways from a distance in the sky. They had many things that while pleasing to look at and comfortable would make traveling hard. That would explain their need for the large wagons she watched enter the Nimiipuu territory.

  A man walked up to their table. Wade asked him to bring them food called by names she did not know.

  Wade watched Sa-qan. Her piercing eyes scanned the room, the people, and she listened intently. She cocked her head several times giving away her unease. He reached across the table and grasped her hand.

  “You’ll get used to these things. We’ll only be in the hotel until we can find a house.”

  “How many horses does it take for a family to move from season to season?” Her wide curious eyes stared at him.

  “We don’t move like the Nimiipuu. Once a man and woman get married they move into a house and often live there all their lives or may only move one to two times in their life time.”

  She continued to stare at him. “Never move? Is this because they fill their dwellings with so many things?”

  Wade couldn’t stop the laugh bubbling in his chest. “I hadn’t thought of that before. We do tend to collect a lot of belongings the longer we remain in one place.”

  Their food arrived. Sa-qan tasted it all with hesitancy, but in the end, she cleaned her plate.

  “Now to buy you a cloak, order more clothing, and meet Baker.” Wade placed his coat around her shoulders, tucked her hand in the crook of his arm, and set out for the closest dressmaker.