Grizzly Killer: The Medicine Wheel

by Lane R Warenski

  Although they were hidden from view both Ely and Grub knew that Blackfoot chief was not going to lead his men into the narrows without knowing it was safe. As Grub looked across the canyon he saw Lame Deer was watching him, then he realized Lame Deer and his men could not see the trail from their position. They watched as the Blackfoot called some of his men up to climb above the narrows just as they had done making sure it was safe before they proceeded.

  Grub whispered ever so softly to his partners, “Ely, take out their chief, Benny take the one goin’ up t’other side whilst I signal Lame Deer to roll that big rock he’s a been workin’ on.” Ely and Benny each gave a barely perceptible nod as they both very slowly brought up the rifles.

  They fired at the same instant, and the echoing roar through the narrow rocky canyon was deafening. At that same instant, Lame Deer and his men got the big rock to move and as it broke loose and started down it brought more and more rocks with it. The dust was too great to see any of the canyon floor so they didn’t know if either of the shots had hit their mark. One thing they did know is they were on foot and there were upwards of three hundred angry Blackfeet less than a hundred yards from them. So while under the cover of the dust from the rock slide they made their way up the canyon just as fast as they could.

  They didn’t know how far behind the column they were; they didn’t know if they had rendered the narrows impassable. They did know they were a lot closer to the enemy than they were to their friends and they were determined to change that just as fast as they could.

  29 Medicine Woman

  Grizzly Killer walked back over to where Sun Flower and Shining Star had set up their lodge. He was deep in thought about what Stinky Johnson had told him and he wondered just how bad it would be. Would he even be able to sell his plews? Money didn’t do a man any good out here in these shining mountains, you had to go all the way back to Saint Louis to spend money and that was a trip he hoped to never have to make again.

  The Shoshone had sent hunting parties out all day long and were well supplied with fresh meat. They asked Grizzly Killer and all the Ute’s to join them for their first night at Rendezvous. It was a celebration that evening of friends and family that hadn’t seen one another in the last year.

  When Butterfly saw Raven Wing holding Gray Wolf she came right over and these two friends held each other’s babies and talked of the last year. Yellow Moon was several months older than Gray Wolf but the family resemblance was plain, everyone could tell they were cousins. Sun Flower was caring for Morning Star while Shining Star was bringing in an arm load of fire wood after making a trip to the bushes. She came over to see Butterfly and Yellow Moon. When Shining Star returned they all spent time together telling each other of the births and naming of their babies. Sun Flower was happy for her friends and family but still she felt empty inside and left out, for her desire to have Grizzly Killers baby grew stronger all the time.

  Grizzly Killer watched the four women talking and laughing together but even at this distance he could see the longing in the eyes of his first wife, his first real love. It hurt him to see her like this, he knew how bad she wanted to have his child. He wondered just like she did why she hadn’t. He was with her just a much if not more than he was Shining Star. All he could think of is what her mother had told her, her time would come. When the one above deems the time is right you will have a child, she had told her.

  These beautiful sandy beaches on the south end of this big lake brought back pleasant memories for Zach, it was not far from where he was now standing that he had made love for the very first time and that had been with Sun Flower. He thought just how much his love for her had grown over the last three years. He watched the high white clouds slowly moving across the sky and the gentle waves washing up on the sandy beach as his mind took him back to that June day in 1826.

  He had only known her for just a couple of days when they reached these beaches here on Sweet Lake. Butterfly had already fled back to her people but Sun Flower and Raven Wing had stayed with him and Running Wolf. They camped on the beach and he had watched in disbelief as these two beautiful sisters stripped out of the dresses and went out in the cool clear water to bath and swim.

  He couldn’t take his eyes off Sun Flower and then wearing nothing but a smile she had walked up out of the water right to him and pulled him out into the waters of Sweet Lake. She helped him out of his now wet buckskins and they made love over and over again throughout that afternoon.

  He was in such deep thought he didn’t even realize someone had walked up next to him. Sun Flower was staring into the face of her husband when she softy asked, “What is my husband in such deep thought about?” At the sound of her voice he jumped and she giggled softly that she had startled him. He just stared at her for a minute looking into her beautiful dark eyes, then he reached out and picked her up. She was small, almost like a child in his arms and he swung her around him and then hugged her tight.

  She had always loved the playfulness of Grizzly Killer and she always felt safest when she was in his arms. She could tell this was different and she pushed her head away from his check so she could look up into his sparkling blue eyes. Her smile lit up his eyes even more as she said, “You have not answered me, husband, what was you in such deep thought about?”

  He hugged her even tighter bringing her head back to his, then he said, “You, I was thinking about you and being here two summers ago. That is what I was thinking about. You being out in that cool clear water, naked.”

  She threw her head back and laughed then hugged him so tight he could hardly breathe. She stepped back away from him reached up and untied the shoulder lacings on her soft doe skin dress and let it fall to the ground. She then smiled and ran to the water.

  Zach had to admit this is what he had been hoping and dreaming for, but in his mind it was just the two of them like it had been two years ago. Right here and now they were virtually in the middle of an Indian village preparing for a diner and celebration. Even after all this time Zach couldn’t understand how she was just as comfortable naked as dressed whether others where around or not.

  He watched her run out into the water then turn and motion for him to come to her. This was a sight he couldn’t resist and walked down to the water’s edge. This seemed to be an invitation for everyone and within minutes there were over a dozen naked bodies in the water enjoying the gentle waves and clear water.

  Sun Flower knew very well this is not what her husband had in mind but she enjoyed teasing him as well. Soon Shining Star and Raven Wing were in the water with their babies and for the next hour more than half of the Shoshone and all of the Utes were out in the cool waters.

  Even Lame Deer, although still weak, slipped off his breach clout and moccasins and waded out into the water. When he was in water just up to his knees he sat down and soaked his painful, swollen and feverish arm in the cool water.

  Zach took Star from her mother and played with her in the water, he would gently lay her on her back letting her float on her own. His large strong hands always only inches under her waiting to scoop her up at the slightest hint of trouble. He would gently bounce her in the waves and lift her above his head then laugh as she would smile at her father. Jimbo watched them in the water but from a safe distance, he was not going to let them bath him again. He figured he got clean enough with what swimming he did on his own without any help from his humans. Luna was right at the water’s edge, but when a wave would come in and hit her paws she would run back away from the water.

  It was a pleasant and peaceful afternoon for all of them and as they came up out of the lake and dressed. Zach saw the look on the face of Sun Flower that told him this day was not finished.

  As the sun set that evening and the gentle breeze shifted off the lake, it was another spectacular sunset in these shining mountains. The rays of the sun beaming off the clouds over the western mountains and reflecting on the now calm waters of the big lake made a picture any artist would love to be
able to paint.

  In the Shoshone camp the meat was plentiful and the aroma of it roasting on several different fires made Zach’s mouth start to water before he ever got there. As Zach and his wives walked over they saw Running Wolf and Raven Wing were already there with Spotted Elk, Butterfly and their babies. Bear Heart and White Feather were just approaching them as well.

  It was a pleasant evening with friends and family, Zach looked around as the Shoshone and Ute warriors, both proud and brave mingled with one another most using sign language to communicate. Although their spoken tongue is similar it is not the same. Just two short years ago this couldn’t have happened for they had been bitter enemies. In fact, Zach himself had fought and killed Shoshone warriors and it was Shoshone that had attacked Running Wolf and killed his horse when he and Running Wolf first met. Zach smiled at the fact that was in the past, he respected both the Shoshone and Ute people and he was glad to call them all his friends. He hoped he never saw the time again when they would consider each other enemies.

  He knew other tribes would probably always be enemies, the hated Arapaho whom he had fought many times himself and the Blackfeet who seemed to be enemies with everyone. He had also fought the Crow as they stole horses from General Ashley’s party as he was coming out here with them that first brutal winter of 1824-25 and on that same trip shortly after they left Fort Atkinson they had a small skirmish with some Rees.

  He knew there were other trappers like himself that were making friends with some of the tribes. Jim Beckwourth had spent a lot of time with the Crows and for the most part says they are friendly with the trappers. He had heard the Lakota and Cheyenne didn’t like the crossing of their hunting grounds and could be mighty deadly warriors if they took a notion to be. So he figured there would always be plenty of enemies in this wild wilderness to worry about. He was just glad the Ute and Shoshone were now friends for they were his only family now.

  They ate and danced well into the night and everyone seemed to be having a great time. He figured it was near midnight when Shining Star took their baby and went back to their lodge for the night. Sun Flower said good night to her parents and brother then came and took Zach by the hand to go back to their lodge. About half way there she pulled him toward the lake shore and they walked hand in hand along the beach.

  The moon wasn’t full but it was up and between the moon and stars and the light colored sand the night was very light. She led him right to the spot where they had camped the very first time he had been here on their way to Willow Valley and the Rendezvous that was held there in the summer of 1826. She then pulled her dress up over her head and stood there naked in front of him again, then took his hand and led him out into the water.

  At first the water was cold but it only took a few minutes and it was comfortable to be in. She jumped up on him putting her legs around him and kissed him long and passionately, just as she had done the very first time. She stepped back and unlaced his buckskin shirt and then his leggings and breech clout. They spent the next half hour bathing each other then she took him by the hand and led him up onto the sandy beach and then the soft grass.

  Jimbo was off in the distance just out of sight. He had developed a sense when to stay away but he was not going the leave the two of them without a guard. He quietly circled this place as silent as a ghost making sure his family was safe.

  Zach laid with Sun Flower in his arms remembering the first time he had made love to her in this very spot and how much more he loved her now than then. He loved Shining Star too, but Sun Flower was his first true love, she was the first he had ever made love to. As he held her tight up against him he thought how different his two wives were. Sun Flower was bold and brash, even a little flamboyant. She enjoyed making love and was wild and passionate about it. Shining Star was more reserved, oh she enjoyed making love but she preferred a slower, more gentle approach.

  He looked up at the moon and stars and thought the same thought he had so many times before, “I have to be the luckiest man in the mountains.” Just then Sun Flower rolled back up on him and they made love again under the canopy of the stars.

  It was just an hour or so before dawn when they made their way to their lodge. Zach put on his still wet breechclout but just carried his leggings, shirt and moccasins. Jimbo was right in front of them and Zach asked, “Hey boy, where ya been?” He smiled knowing his dog well enough to know he had been standing guard all along.

  As they stepped into the darkness of their lodge they could see just a shadow as Shining Star threw the Buffalo robe aside so the two of them could lie down. As Zach lay down between the two women he felt Shining Star shiver then she snuggled even closer to him and whispered, “You are cold.” He smiled again just to himself as he enjoyed the warmth of Shining Stars body pressed up against him and he thought once again that he had to be the luckiest man in the mountains.

  When he opened his eyes the next morning Shining Star was gone with their baby. Sun Flower was still sound asleep by his side. He could hear the gentle crackling of the fire outside and then heard the soft low whine from Jimbo and the whisper from Shining Star telling him to be quiet.

  When he stepped out he was surprised to see how far the sun was up Shining Star smiled and said, “I thought you two was going sleep all day.” Jimbo was wagging his tail and Zach just looked at the big dog, smiled and rubbed his ears. Shining Star smiled a smile that would melt any man’s heart as she handed him a cup of coffee and told him to enjoy it for it was the last they had. He took the cup and walked over to the cradle board and picked up Star. He held her above his head into the sunshine and told her to look around at this beautiful day.

  Sun Flower stepped out of the lodge and Zach noticed the smile between the two women. He figured last night was planned out between the two of them and the look that passed between the two confirmed that. He went to set Star back down but Sun Flower came over and took her. She sat down there by the fire and bounced her on her knee as she sang to the baby a song in Shoshone that her mother had sung to her.

  Zach looked over at Running Wolf’s lodge just as Shining Star told him that Badger had come by early to get Running Wolf and they are hunting over on the Bear and Raven Wing had taken Gray Wolf to visit the Shoshone.

  Since they had arrived at Sweet Lake the only other trapper he had seen was Stinky Johnson. So after they ate he saddled Ol’ Red and their horses, then the three of them headed toward where last year Ashley had done his trading.

  Stinky’s was the first camp they came to and they stopped to say good morning. His Flathead women was just as plump as ever and looked like she was taking mighty good care of him. As they rode on Jimbo was still quite an attraction. Both the men that had seen him before and the ones that hadn’t looked and pointed at the huge dog. However, the biggest attraction of all was Shining Star and Sun Flower as these two beautiful women rode alongside Zach. Many of the men just stared, most of them had not even see a woman in the last year let alone ones of such beauty.

  They stopped and talked to Jim Bridger and Black Harris, a little further along they met Ezekiel Abels and Bill Williams. As they approached another group Hugh Glass had his buckskin shirt off showing the group the scars from the grizzly attack that very nearly cost him his life. It was only his own strength and determination that had made him survive the vicious attack after being left for dead by those that had stayed behind to bury him.

  Zach could hear several axes at work just a short distance away and Joe Meeks looked up and told him, “They’s buildin’ a cabin to do the tradin’ in over yonder.”

  Zach asked, “Have they got enough to trade? I heard no supply train is comin’ this year.”

  “Well it ain’t like last year but they brought out all the supplies last fall. The lucky ones got to them then, but I s’pect they’s enough ta get us by and theys another trader here this year. Names Joshua Pilcher, he says he’s got a little ta trade, but he lost most of his over the winter in a bad cache, American Fur is his
backer.”

  Zach thanked them for the information and rode on. When he got to where the trading was done last year there was indeed and cabin being built. It wasn’t large but the walls were up to around eight feet high. There were poles laid across the top for a roof, all with the leaves still on providing a shaded area for them to work. They were in the process the splitting logs to make tables as Zach and his wives waved and rode away.

  As they rode back into camp Running Wolf was there skinning an elk. Zach smiled and hurried to help his partner, but Sun Flower and Shining Star jumped right down and told the men to care for their horses and build a rack and let the women do their jobs. They were just putting the first of the thin slices of the elk on the drying rack when Raven Wing came back from the Shoshone camp. She sat Gray Wolf’s cradle board down next to Star’s and Luna laid down right between them. Raven Wing then set up a spit over the fire then got a big elk roast over the coals cooking.

  As the aroma of the elk roasting spread across their camp, Zach realized just how hungry he was, although he knew it was still going to be a while before the meat was ready to eat.

  Just as they were finishing getting the elk on the rack to dry, Running Wolf turned to his sister and said, “It looks like the rest of our village is coming in.” They all looked up as twenty or thirty Utes came into the cottonwoods and headed straight for where Two Feathers had set their camp up. Running Wolf and Shining Star each picked up their babies and headed over to the Ute camp. Raven Wing then grabbed her medicine kit and looked at her sister saying, “I will check on Lame Deer’s arm while the others meet our little ones.”

  When Raven Wing got there she was met with reverence and respect. Lame Deer was standing with his father, Swift Arrow. His arm was still swollen and Raven Wing could tell it was painful. She walked over and greeted them both and told him she had brought some more of the plants that would help with the pain. He smiled at her and his father asked, “How is it you have the power to heal the bite of Snake?”