Zach rolled over holding his injured leg. He was embarrassed and upset with himself both at the same time. They could all see the bandage and the cut off leggings, then he noticed the tears running down Shining Star’s cheeks and the distressed look she had. He smiled up at her and said, “It is nothing! That is why I fell, I had forgot about it.”
Before he could say another word the report of a rifle echoed down the canyon. That brought another smile from Zach as he said, “Sounds like we’ll have fresh elk for dinner. Running Wolf and Buffalo Heart stopped to make meat. We passed a small herd in the upper meadow.”
Hearing those words, the relief was immediate for everyone in camp, but before anyone could speak a severe pain rolled through Shining Star. She would have collapsed if Sun Flower and Raven Wing would not have been on each side of her. They lowered her to the ground right where she was. White Feather grabbed a buffalo robe and laid it out on the ground next to her and they helped lift her onto it. Another contraction raked her body, she was taking short very fast breaths and Zach crawled and slid his way over to her.
White Feather said, “Your little one wants to come into this world right out here in the light of day.” There were beads of sweat all across Shining Star’s brow and Zach carefully took his hand and wiped them away.
She smiled at him and whispered, “We waited for you.” He reached out to kiss her just as another gripping pain raked her trembling body.
Zach had never seen a woman give birth before. He could remember his Ma telling stories of helping a neighbor woman give birth and what a rough time she had. He had witnessed animals give birth and knew the stress they were under. Yet none of that had prepared him to see Shining Star in this much pain and feel the trembling of her body as he held her hand.
Her deep brown eyes were locked on his as another contraction gripped her abdomen. Beads of sweat were now running down her cheeks and across her brow. The pain subsided and she took a deep breath and tried to smile at him, but just as she was taking another breath the next contraction started. He could see intense pain in her beautiful face and he was nearly as relieved as she was when it subsided. This went on for the next half hour or so with the contractions coming every two or three minutes.
He felt so completely helpless, he hated seeing her in this much pain. The next one started and he could tell this one was the most intense yet, her teeth were clinched, she gripped Zach’s hand on one side and Sun Flower’s on the other. She was squeezing so tight it was painful. She threw her head back and pushed with all her might. Zach was staring into her face as he heard the sound of the baby coming out. Then he felt Shining Star’s whole body relax.
He was mighty thankful that White Feather and Raven Wing were right there to care for the baby and Shining Star. He had never in his life felt so helpless.
Shining Star raised her head and they both saw for the first time their baby girl in the arms of White Feather. Raven Wing was tying the cord. Sun Flower smiled and was truly happy for Shining Star but she longed to have a baby herself. She wondered if something was wrong with her, for she had been with Grizzly Killer for two years now and still she was not pregnant.
White Feather brought this tiny little girl up and laid her in the arms of Shining Star. Shining Star looked first into the dark blue eyes of her baby then up into the smiling blue eyes of Grizzly Killer then she looked up at Sun Flower. She knew the feelings of Sun Flower for they were as close as any sisters. She smiled and what passed between the two wives of Grizzly Killer at that moment was something he himself would never fully understand. What he did understand was the three of them were a loving family and he couldn’t imagine his life without either of them. Now he was a father, he had a daughter right here in their arms. He could never remember any time in his life feeling this happy.
Red Hawk standing there beside Ol’ Red was still amazed at what he had just witnessed. Jimbo slowly walked over to Zach and he smiled at the big dog saying, “Well boy, now you have another baby to protect.” Not one person there had any doubt that this huge wild looking dog understood just what Zach had told him. They all knew that Jimbo would protect them all, but that he would be forever watchful of these helpless tiny babies.
Red Hawk pulled the saddle off Ol’ Red and saw the wound in his side. Zach saw him examine it and ask Raven Wing to mix a poultice for it. She looked at his leg and said, “After we see how bad your leg is hurt.”
Zach held up his hand stopping her, then said, “He saved me, tend his arrow wound first and let him go to the meadow, he needs to eat and rest.”
Sun Flower helped Shining Star undue the laces on the shoulder of the doe skin dress and fold it down exposing her plump swollen breast. Then Shining Star brought her baby up to start nursing. Raven Wing mixed a poultice from her medicine kit, cleaned off the now crusty wound where the stone arrow head had stuck through the hide in the big mule’s side. She packed the wound with the warm greenish brown paste then Red Hawk took him out to the meadow.
Raven Wing and White Feather both came to Zach saying, “Now Grizzly Killer, let us see what you have done to your leg.”
He smiled at them and said, “I didn’t do nothin’ to it, but that arrow them Arapaho’s stuck into Ol’ Red’s side went clear through my leg first.”
Just as White Feather got the dirty legging strap off of his wounded leg. Jimbo jumped up and took off, Luna was trying her best to keep up as they headed up the trail. Just a few minutes later Running Wolf came into view, leading his chestnut and holding Luna in his arms. Right behind him came Buffalo Heart leading his Pinto. There was half of an elk on the back of each horse.
Raven Wing picked up her baby boy from the cradle board that White Feather and Sun Flower had made and walked to the edge of camp waiting for Running Wolf, leaving White Feather to care for Grizzly Killer’s leg.
It had been five days now since she had given birth, she was gaining strength but she still looked pale and her eyes still had dark circles around them. As Running Wolf approached, the smile on her face and the sparkle in her eyes made her look much stronger than she actually felt.
Zach’s leg was swollen and the wounds had started to crust over. White Feather, now with Sun Flower helping, got some water nearly boiling and used it to soften the scabs forming over the entrance and exit wounds. White Feather rubbed the swollen leg until it started to bleed again. It was painful, at times nearly taking Zach’s breath away. She rubbed and probed until she was sure there was no dirt or other objects inside the wound.
Sun Flower had taken the poultice Raven Wing used on Ol’ Red and added a little of the hot water to it then she packed the hot paste into the wounds on each side of his leg. His hands were gripped into tight fists and when she worked the poultice in she looked up into his face and winced as she could see the pain she was causing. He looked back at her and through gritted teeth he nodded for her to continue.
When they had a clean bandage wrapped tightly around his leg he just slid up onto the buffalo robe that Shining Star and the baby were laying on. He laid there watching his new daughter sleep at her mother’s breast. Shining Star was so exhausted after just giving birth and so relieved to have Grizzly Killer back she too had dozed off.
Running Wolf, Buffalo Heart, and Red Hawk got the elk off the horses and then removed the saddles. Running Wolf and Sun Flower skinned the elk and got several pieces roasting on the spit over the fire while Buffalo Heart and Red Hawk rubbed down the horses with clumps of dry grass and took them out into the meadow with the others. When they returned they helped cut up the rest of the elk and got it hanging in the smoke house.
Zach felt both excited and terrified about being a father. He was exhausted after what he had been through over the last couple of weeks but he couldn’t rest. He sat there next to Shining Star and just stared at the tiny baby in her arms. Sun Flower ask them both if they needed anything and Shining Star handed the baby to her and then sat up and told them all she had to go to the bushes. Zach tried to
help her but his leg would still not support him. That stone arrow head had really torn up the muscle going through the calf of his leg.
Her brother was right there and helped her up then smiled and said, “Grizzly Killer seems to attract Arapaho arrows, but after killing the entire war party alone I think he deserves to rest a few days.”
Zach looked up at Running Wolf and replied, “Told you before, I weren’t alone, Jimbo got nearly as many of ‘em as I did.”
A smile passed between the two of them and then Red Hawk couldn’t stand the wait and said, “You killed an entire war party by yourself, you must tell us of this great feat.”
Running Wolf told him, “The meat will be finished cooking soon and we will tell of our journey around the fire after we eat.”
Sun Flower was slowly walking back and forth holding the sleeping baby when Shining Star came back. Shining Star smiled at them both and said, “She is a fortunate little girl to have two loving mothers.” Sun Flower smiled at that but everyone could see the longing in her eyes. She wanted to have a baby herself. White Feather walked over to her youngest and told her that her time would come.
Shining Star wasn’t in labor nearly as long as Raven Wing had been and she hadn’t lost much blood. Zach was amazed at how strong a woman she was. She walked over to the stream and bathed herself in the ice cold water then came back over and sat down by Zach.
The elk on the spit over the fire was ready to eat, it was dripping fat into the glowing coals below and the aroma was making everyone hungry. They ate as a large happy family and afterward Zach told of his running into the Arapahos. How the arrow had passed through his leg and into Ol’ Red and even then the big mule out ran the faster Indian ponies.
The story went on for some time with Running Wolf and Buffalo Heart adding bits and pieces to it that they felt Grizzly Killer was leaving out. Red Hawk was in awe of the battle with the warriors, even being wounded, Grizzly Killer and the great medicine dog had killed them all.
Bear Heart talked about the medicine wheel, asking how they knew the spirits of the ancient ones would not be angry for what they had done there. Zach very solemnly told him how they had asked the ancient one’s permission with their prayers. That they respected the sacred stones and hadn’t disturbed any of them. That he knew by the way he felt the ancient ones accepted their respect and gave them permission to use the sacred site for their own protection. Running Wolf then added his dream of the white wolf leading them to the exact spot then seeing the white wolf right there in the center of the medicine wheel.
Bear Heart said, “This is a very powerful thing you have done. For the ancient ones to send these signs to you, show you are good men, worthy of their protection. You all have powerful medicine. Each and every one of you, Grizzly Killer, Running Wolf, Buffalo Heart, and Red Hawk Thank you for keeping all of us safe.” The two boys beamed with pride at this compliment from one of the elders of their village.
Then Shining Star looked at both Zach and Running Wolf and asked, “What will we call our little ones?”
Running Wolf was the first to reply, “My son who came to us in this moon of summer starting is a part of me and will be called Gray Wolf. He will learn the ways of a Ute warrior, but he has the soul of the Shoshone people and he will be raised to honor both.”
Raven Wing then held the baby up so everyone could see. Bear Heart walked over and took him from his daughter. He took the robe off his grandson and held him high over his head chanting a prayer. He held the baby to the four directions then the sky above and the earth below, telling all that this is Gray Wolf, his grandson, that he will be a great warrior, that he carries the blood of two great peoples the Shoshone and the Ute. Then he handed Gray Wolf to his father, took an eagle feather from his own hair and laid it across the baby’s chest saying, “Take this eagle feather, little one, until you are old enough to take one of your own.”
All eyes were now on Grizzly Killer, but he did not have a name for his daughter and told them that she would have to wait for a name until his heart told him the right one for her. They all accepted that as being wise. For it is important for every individual to have the name they were meant to have and sometimes it took many moons for the right name to be known.
16 Morning Star
It was still dark when Zach first opened his eyes the next morning. He wasn’t content just to lay there between his two wives this morning which was unusual, he felt he needed to get up. The women had made a bed for the baby right next to their own bed where Shining Star could reach her without getting up. The baby woke up every couple of hours hungry and Shining Star would nurse her. He knew she must be exhausted as she laid there with her head on his shoulder. He hated to disturb her but he felt he needed to be outside to watch the day arrive.
Sun Flower felt him move slightly, she opened her eyes and smiled up at him. He gently moved his arm out from under Shining Star, she opened her eyes just briefly then went right back to sleep. He struggled to get to his feet, his leg was stiff and sore. He still had to be careful the way he moved or the broken ribs would move and cause even more pain. With Sun Flower’s help and his crutch stick he got up. Sun Flower helped him dress in a set of new buck skins her and Shining Star had made him.
As he stepped out of their lodge he could see the first hint of day along the eastern horizon. The stars along the eastern half of the sky were starting to fade. He breathed deep of the cool pine scented air and with the aid of his crutch went down by the creek with Jimbo right by his side. Sun Flower watched him walk away and she wondered what had his mind troubled this morning. He was up very early and she could tell he was in pain so she knew whatever it was must be important but she let him be, she felt he needed to be alone.
He sat on a log facing east as he watched the sky get lighter and lighter. The rushing water from the spring thaw drowned most other sounds. He could see Sun Flower as she got the fire started then go down to the stream for water. The stars were almost gone now from the sky except the bright sparkling morning star. It was the brightest point in the sky and he knew then the name of their baby girl, she will be Morning Star. He said the name over and over in his mind Morning Star Connors. Then he thought again, her name will be Morning Star but he will call her Star, yes, Star Connors.
Zach felt content, yet excited to tell the others that he now knew the name of their baby girl. By now everyone was up and moving, he saw Buffalo Heart and Red Hawk cross the stream to go out and check on the horses. He could see Sun Flower and her mother White Feather starting breakfast. Running Wolf carried his new son over to say good morning to his grandmother and aunt with Luna right at his heels.
He looked up into the heavens and said a silent prayer, “Thank you lord for giving us another fine day. Thank you for giving us these two strong babies. Bless them and protect them and help me be the father I need to be.” He watched the activity around the fire for a little while longer. Then rubbed Jimbo on the head, stood and made his way to the fire.
His leg was still mighty sore but the deep throbbing ache was not there and he found with care he could put some of his weight on it. He was met with smiles from everyone as he approached the fire. He sat down on the log and Sun Flower brought him a cup of coffee. He was thankful they still had coffee in their supplies from last year’s rendezvous. In fact, they still had a little flour, baking powder and salt but the cornmeal and sugar were gone. He felt grateful to still have what was left, last year they had run out of it all by now. Rendezvous was still a month or more away.
It was to be held at Sweet Lake again this year, in the same place as last year. He looked forward to seeing old friends and felt bad all over again about Henry Clayson and his men going under.
Shining Star stepped from the lodge, their infant in her arms. She stopped there and smiled just as the first rays of the sun touched her. Her shining black hair, sparkling eyes, and radiant smile warmed his heart. Sun Flower went to her, took the baby and kissed her and Zach thought what h
e had thought many times before, “I am the luckiest man in the mountains.” He waited to say anything to any of them about the name of their daughter. He wasn’t sure why, but he felt he needed a little more time before he announced she would be Morning Star.
They spent the next week just staying around camp. Red Hawk, Buffalo Heart, and Running Wolf went out to make meat for a couple of the days but they were back by late afternoon each time. This time of year the deer, elk, and even the mountain sheep were plentiful in these upper meadows all along Black’s Fork, so the hunting had been successful each time they went.
Zach’s leg and ribs were healing fast, he was still young and mighty strong and even Bear Heart was surprised at the speed his wounds were healing. Zach would smile when they would comment about it and tell them it was all in Raven Wing’s healing plants.
Two weeks after their baby was born, on a beautiful calm and clear June morning, Zach got up well before the light had started to chase the darkness from the sky. He built up a big fire and made the large pot full of coffee setting it on some coals he had scraped off to the side. Red Hawk and Buffalo Heart came from their lean-to to see what he was doing, but he just asked them to go back to bed until he called them. With puzzled looks the two went and crawled back under their sleeping robes.
Sun Flower and Shining Star were up and dressed wondering what Grizzly Killer was doing outside this early in the morning but when Sun Flower tried the step out he told her to stay inside ‘til he was ready. Sun Flower turned to Shining Star with a questioning look but Shining Star was just as puzzled as she was. They sat back down and Shining Star took the time to nurse their baby, while they listened to the sounds being made by their husband around the fire.
Grizzly Killer: The Medicine Wheel Page 13
