Grizzly Killer: Under The Blood Moon

by Lane R Warenski

  Running Wolf continued, “We will not kill you but we will take my arrow from your leg and let you live to tell all of the greatness of Grizzly Killer and Running Wolf and to stay out of Ute and Shoshone lands for you come here with many warriors and only you and a coward that ran way are left.”

  He then sliced up through the Arapaho’s legging to just above the arrow and with Grizzly Killer holding the warrior’s leg, Running Wolf sliced down alongside the arrow to where it was stuck right in between the top and bottom of his knee. The warrior was pale but there wasn’t a lot of bleeding and when Running Wolf had cut all the tissue from around the arrow head, he got a firm grip on the shaft and pulled hard and fast. The Arapaho let out a moan and went limp passing out from the sudden pain.

  Running Wolf looked at Grizzly Killer and said, “This worthless dog wouldn’t last long with the squaws torturing him.” Zach heated his knife and laid the hot blade over the wound searing it closed then they wrapped it with another strip of the Antelope hide.

  A few minutes later, the Arapaho came to and found his hands untied. He also saw the bodies of four more of his companions laid out in a row. Zach had gathered the bodies and placed them just outside the fire. He then spoke in Ute and sign to the Arapaho telling him, “Tell all your people this is what awaits them in the lands of the Utes and Shoshone for this is all my land, the land of Grizzly Killer. Now, go get your horses and your companion and take care of your dead before the coyotes and buzzards leave nothing of them.”

  As the wounded warrior limped toward the river, Zach and Running Wolf put the saddles on Ol’ Red, the chestnut and their two spare mounts and headed east leaving the two Indian horses and the sorrel loose but they hadn’t traveled more than a hundred yards when, turning in his saddle, Zach saw all three horses following along behind just like they had for the last couple of days. Running Wolf smiled and said, “Looks like we have more horses even if we don’t need ‘em.”

  They moved quickly following the trail that led up to the buffalo grounds south of the Sweet Water. This was dry sage-covered land and they had made a dry camp the night before. Ol’ Red and horses needed water and it was a long way to the next hole. After an hour of travel, they stopped and gave what water they had in their pouches to the horses. The two Indian ponies and sorrel came right up with the rest to get their share. They didn’t have enough to do much more than wet the horse’s mouths but it was better than nothing. But Zach knew it would be a long thirsty day for them all.

  It was only an hour before dark and the horses had slowed their walk being tired and in dire need of water when they finally saw the green waterway of a small creek that flowed from the mountain just south of them north to the Sweet Water. Ol’ Red had more bottom than the horses and he let out a loud bray encouraging the horses along for he, too, could sense the water ahead. The sun had set when they rode up to the little creek running north across this lonely prairie. All of them, Ol’ Red, the horses, Jimbo, Running Wolf, and Zach all drank their fill of the cool clear water.

  They camped right there and ate the last good meat from the antelope Running Wolf had taken the day before. They cooked it over a small fire made with buffalo chips as there was no trees, only short brush along the creek. They left the horses loose so they could graze on the grass that was still green right along the banks of the creek.

  As Zach lay down on the buffalo robe and watched the Milky Way appear in the darkening sky several wolves started to howl not far to the east of them. He felt a longing to be back with his family and looked forward to tomorrow for they would reach their buffalo camp and he would be back with Sun Flower and Shining Star.

  Cal and Ben Beaumont were still a worry but this was mighty big country and he couldn’t put all their lives on hold because of what might be. He still felt he would have to deal with them at some time but for now he had to prepare for a long cold winter, not risk more danger looking for men he may never find or that may never find him.

  The next morning, they were up just as the stars were fading and on the trail before it was full light. They still had their lead ropes on the two saddled spare horses but again just left the others alone. Zach smiled as the other three got right in line behind them and followed along as if they were on leads as well. He figured they could make camp by late afternoon if nothing happened to slow them and he was determined not to let that happen.

  It was about midmorning when they topped a rise and just on the other side by an old dried up wallow there was a buffalo cow down with a calf bawling just a few feet away from her. She heard them approaching and tried to get up but was too weak to do so. As she tried they could plainly see her left front leg was broken and extremely swollen. They couldn’t just leave her to suffer and be killed by wolves and the calf had no chance at all. With a nod between them they brought up their rifles and fired. They took the time to gut and skin the calf cutting off the hump ribs and back strap. They rolled the meat up in the hide and tied it over the saddle of one of the spare mounts.

  Just after noon they stopped to rest the horses at a shallow water hole that Zach figured would be completely dry in another couple of weeks if they didn’t get some serious rain. They hadn’t eaten at all today so they built a small fire and cut thin strips off the back strap from the buffalo calf and it took just a few minutes for them to roast. They were back on the trail in about a half hour and they figured they would be at camp in around four hours.

  It was a pleasant afternoon as they rode toward the creek they would follow east to their camp. High puffy white clouds filled the sky. The towering heights of the Wind River range were just north of them and they were now headed east by south toward the creek where they had camped. Several buzzards were circling another buffalo carcass a quarter mile off to their right and a herd of antelope stopped grazing and watched closely from a safe distance as they rode by. The short sage and prairie grass was waving in the afternoon breeze that was blowing from the south and an abundance of small larks kept flying up from the ground just in front of them as they rode along.

  As they approached the creek they were headed for, a large buck deer ran south out across the open prairie from the safety of the brush along the creek. They were getting close now and Zach kicked Ol’ Red into a gentle lope, not wanting to take any longer than necessary getting back to his wives.

  They were still a half mile from camp when Jimbo let out a bark and took off on a dead run to let them all know they were coming back. As the teepee’s came into view they could see Buffalo Heart, Little Horse and Red Hawk running out to meet them and then Sun Flower, Shining Star and Raven Wing all standing by the fire with big smiles on their faces. Ol’ Red let out a very loud bray and was answered by several of the horses in their herd that the young Shoshone men had grazing on a slight rise just out of camp.

  Zach jumped off Ol’ Red and ran right for his wives, spread his arms and they both threw their arms around him and laid their heads against his chest. He kissed them both and said, “I am so glad to be back.”

  Sun Flower saw the bandage on his arm, looked up into his blue eyes and stated, “You are hurt, my husband.”

  He smiled at her and answered, “It is nothing, sore but nothing to worry about.”

  But the two women made him sit down and unwrapped the Antelope hide from around his arm. Shining Star made a startled gasp as they removed the patch cloth that was stuck to the wound and even he was surprised at the swollen, red and feverish wound. It was open and the infection was starting to spread. Sun Flower put fresh water in the coffee pot and set it on the coals and blew life back into the fire. Raven Wing went to her lodge and bought out her medicine kit.

  The boys were caring for Ol’ Red and the horses, getting them unsaddled and taking them to the creek for water then out with the rest of the horses. The horses all seemed glad they were together again but the three new ones just stood off to the side like they were waiting to be invited in with the others. Then Ol’ Red raised his head toward them
and they joined the others.

  When the water was hot, Shining Star held Grizzly Killer’s wounded arm while Sun Flower cleaned it with the hot water and Raven Wing put a little of the now boiling water in a coffee cup and mixed several of the ground up plants into a poultice. He winced a couple of times from the pain but never made a sound but when Raven Wing pushed the very hot green paste from the coffee cup deep down into the wound, he jerked away then looking embarrassed, he smiled and offered his arm back to the three women. He had to grit his teeth and take a deep breath as she finished pushing the poultice into the wound then they wrapped it with a piece of soft cured deer hide.

  The women cooked the fresh buffalo hump ribs and back strap and made a big pan of biscuits. As they ate and then finished off the pot of coffee, Zach and Running Wolf told of their journey over the last few days. They told of the big twisting wind that carried away all of their supplies, of the Arapaho and burying the two white men that had been with Bull Beaumont at Rendezvous and how Cal and Ben Beaumont had just disappeared. Zach was tired, his feverish arm was affecting him and just after the sun set he said good night to his friends and went to his teepee for a good night’s rest.

  Sun Flower and Shining Star joined him and the two of them helped him out of his buckskins then slipped off their soft doe skin dresses. He lay back in the cool night air and smiled as these two beautiful women cuddled their naked bodies up tight against him and pulled the sleeping robe up over them all.

  When he opened his eyes the next morning he was alone and shivering slightly. He could feel beads of sweat across his forehead and felt a little light headed. It was full light and he hadn’t heard or felt his wives get up and leave the teepee. He didn’t feel like getting up and just laid there listening to the sounds of the others outside around the fire. Then the flap opened and Shining Star stepped inside. She knelt beside him and placed a cold wet piece of deer skin over his forehead. Sun Flower came in with a cup of tea made with several dried plants from Raven Wing’s medicine kit. He tried to sit up to take a sip but he found the effort harder than it had ever been before. He managed one small sip then laid his head back down but Sun Flower insisted he drink it all and Shining Star helped him sit up as he drank the bitter tea.

  Half an hour later he put his buckskins on and went out by the fire. He was weak and light- headed but he felt much better than he had just a little while ago. Shining Star took the bandage off his arm and once again cleaned out the ragged wound with hot water while Raven Wing mixed up another poultice from the plants in her medicine kit. They repacked the wound and wrapped it tight. He worked the stiffness from the finger of that hand and winced a little as the movement pulled on the wound in his arm. He didn’t feel like eating but from their insistence he finally ate one biscuit and drank another cup of the bitter tea. He couldn’t remember ever really being sick before and he didn’t like the feeling he had now with a fever from this wound. He tried to walk it off but he went only a few yards down the creek when the dizziness got to him and he came back and sat by the fire.

  Leaving for Home

  The boys had just finished taking the horses to the creek for water and the women were pulling some tanned buffalo hides over a log one more time softening them for sleeping robes. Running Wolf wasn’t in camp. He had saddled his chestnut and along with Jimbo rode out and made a several mile-wide circle of their camp making sure they were alone and safe. As Running Wolf and Jimbo got back into camp, Jimbo came right over to Zach and laid his huge head on his leg. Looking up into the eyes of his master, it was clear the dog knew something was wrong. Jimbo stayed right by his side the rest of the day.

  At midday, Shining Star boiled some dried buffalo making a broth and he drank that and another cup of the bitter tea. When the tea was gone he sure longed for just a plain cup of coffee. By late afternoon the fever was breaking and along with Sun Flower and Shining Star they walked along the creek for several hundred yards. They came to a slow moving pool and the women helped him from his buckskins and carefully led him out into the knee deep water. They gently bathed him in the cool water under the warm August sun.

  At first, the water was a shock to his warm skin but by the time they had his whole body wet he felt the soothing effects of the cool water washing what was left of the fever away. They dried there in the mild breeze under the blue sky and warm sun of the prairie then dressed and walked back. Jimbo was still right by their side and kept looking up at Zach as if asking if he was alright.

  His head was clear and he felt much better as he sat down by the fire once again. Raven Wing brought her medicine kit over and they changed the dressing once again. The redness around the wound was receding and after cleaning it up once again they pushed the wound closed and just put the poultice over the top then wrapped it up tight.

  Buffalo Heart, Red Hawk and Little Horse were by the fire watching as Grizzly Killer’s arm was wrapped up tight again. He looked at the three young men and thanked them for their help. He told them they had done a great thing here protecting the women and he was in their debt. He gave them the three horses that had followed them so faithfully over the last few days and told them great warriors always needed extra mounts.

  Buffalo Heart brought out a bundle and slowly unwrapped a carved wood Grizzly Bear, it stood only 6 inches high but was carved with the detail of a true artist. He gave the carving to Grizzly Killer and told him he wanted to give him something to remember him by. Zach held the bear and marveled at the skill of this young man. He told Buffalo Heart he didn’t need the bear to remember a close friend but he would keep it as one of his most prized possessions.

  It was decided they would all leave the next morning, the boys going back to their village up on the Popo Agie with Zach and his family going to their home on Black’s Fork. As they went to sleep Zach still didn’t feel like himself but he felt much better than the night before and he figured a good night’s sleep would help get his strength back.

  When he opened his eye’s the next morning he could see a few stars through the smoke hole of the teepee so he knew it was still early. He could hear Jimbo’s soft snoring just outside the door flap. He could feel the naked bodies of Sun Flower and Shining Star lying next to him. He felt much better and rested. His arm still throbbed and had a deep ache that was uncomfortable but he figured it would go away as he started using it. The early morning air was very cool and he didn’t move, enjoying the feel of his wives’ warm bodies. The stars faded as the sky lightened with the coming dawn. He looked down at his wives only to find their beautiful dark eyes smiling up at him. He hugged and kissed them both then threw the warm buffalo robe off them all and stood up in the cold morning air.

  They dressed in a hurry and stepped out to start a fire for warmth. The coals on top were cold but by carefully scrapping the ashes off the top of the fire pit there were coals below that Shining Star blew life into as Sun Flower added tinder and small sticks. It was no time at all and they had a warm fire burning. A wolf howled a little too close for comfort and Ol’ Red let out a bray in an answering challenge that the wolf must have understood for they didn’t see or hear him again.

  Shining Star and Sun Flower were putting coffee on and mixing biscuits when Running Wolf and Raven Wing come out of their teepee. The boys were taking all of the horses to the creek for water and Zach stretched his stiff muscles and smiled as he watched the activity of their camp. He truly loved this life and couldn’t imagine being happy any other way. There was a bright yellow glow on the eastern horizon as the sun neared the edge of the world getting ready to follow its westward path across this endless blue sky. Shining Star called everyone to the fire for biscuits and coffee just as a half dozen green winged teal winged their way down the creek staying just a few feet above the tops of the brush.

  Little Horse didn’t care for the taste of coffee so he ate the biscuits and drank the fresh cool water from the creek. Raven Wing took the offered biscuit and cup of coffee, sipped the hot coffee, dropped the bis
cuit and ran to the edge of camp. She bent over and threw up everything that was in her stomach. Running Wolf and Sun Flower both ran to her but Shining Star just smiled at Grizzly Killer and said, “I think our family will be growing.”

  She could tell by his puzzled look he had no idea what she was talking about. She just smiled and said, “I think Raven Wing is going to have a baby. This has been happening for the last few days.” Zach still had a puzzled look and Shining Star said, “Yes having a baby makes you empty your stomach in the mornings.”

  Sun Flower was holding her sister’s hair away from her face as this wave of nausea passed. While Running Wolf just stood by with a worried look asking what was wrong. The boys were obviously uncomfortable watching this take place. Raven Wing wiping her mouth straightened up looked at Running Wolf and asked, “Will your son be Ute or Shoshone?” Running Wolf just stood there in stunned silence.

  After the shock of Raven Wing’s revelation had passed, a grin slowly formed on Running Wolf’s face and he put his arms around her and held her tight. When he looked over at Grizzly Killer he looked like he couldn’t hold it in any longer. The smile was contagious and everyone was smiling and happy with the news. Then Running Wolf let out a shout up at the sky, picked up Raven Wing and spun her around. Even Jimbo got in on the celebration by barking and running around the two of them.

  Shining Star was smiling and happy for the two of them but Grizzly Killer noticed a longing in her eyes that he hadn’t seen before and he asked her, “What is the matter with my beautiful wife?” She looked up into his sky blue eyes smiled and told him, “I am happy for my brother and Raven Wing but I too want to give you a son.” Zach held her close and said, “Our time will come. Until it does we have the three of us.” She smiled up at him and nodded but the longing in her eyes didn’t leave.