Lakota Winds (Zebra Historical Romance)

by Janelle Taylor

  "That is true, Father."

  "Is it the same for the son of Rising Bear?" he had to ask.

  "Yes, Father, for he has told me so many times. Now I am eager to see Mother, so I will tell you other things while we work later. You will eat at our tepee, for I have prepared enough food for you to share with us."

  Tall Elk knew her last words were not spoken as a command but as an invitation, which he accepted. After she left his side, he took a deep breath of invigoring air. At last he was convinced he had done the right thing for his daughter and his people, though his shaman had tried many times to persuade him of that fact. As if that thought mutely summoned Sees-Through-Mist, the white-haired man rejoined him, and they exchanged knowing looks. "All is good with her, my friend," Tall Elk related.

  "That is the will of the Creator; she has found her true destiny."

  Chumani waved to her older brother as Fire Walker traveled near their mother and his wife. After they greeted each other and shared a few more words, he left to ride and speak with their father near their journey's end.

  Chumani positioned herself between the two women's mounts in the space required to prevent entangling their drag-alongs. With conveyances being pulled by women behind them and their leaders riding beyond them, it allowed them to speak in privacy. Chumani responded to Falling Rain's questions-almost the same ones her father had askedin identical manner

  "My heart sings at our reunion, my daughter, for I have missed you. I have prayed each morning and night for your new life to be a good one."

  "Wakantanka answered our prayers, Mother, for they matched."

  "And it was His will, my beloved daughter, for He did the chosing for you and Waci Tate, and He is never wrong or cruel."

  "That is true, Mother, though we often do not grasp His purpose and yearn to disobey when His words are difficult to follow."

  "That is why we must have faith in Him. Yet, it is also hard for me and your father to watch you head into danger in the duty set before you."

  "When do you begin the vision-ride, Dewdrops?" Rainbow Girl asked.

  "I will reveal all to you while we eat at my tepee this night," Chumani said, "for I will feed my family."

  Rainbow Girl leaned closer to Chumani. "It is strange, but Zitkala looks more female on this sun. I saw her when she rode past us. She wears a woman's garment and her breasts are unbound. Her hair is not braided as a man's and she has a feathered rosette in it."

  "She and the Great Spirit have worked big magic with her appearance and manner," Chumani explained. "Tell no one and say nothing to her, but an Oglala warrior has stolen her heart and eye-Red Feather, the best friend of my husband. He feels the same way about her, but they have told no one except me and Wind Dancer, for they still test these unfamiliar yearnings. Love softened her and brought forth her female side. Too, the Great Spirit has need of her to be a woman during our next challenge. I will speak of that task later. The child within you has grown larger since our parting," Chumani remarked as Rainbow Girl stroked a slightly protruding abdomen and smiled dreamily.

  "Yes, and he begins to stir a little. It is a strange but wonderful feeling, as if something tickles me inside. I am eager to see his face and hold him in my arms. He will come before the snows return to our land."

  Chumani laughed and jested, "What if it is a girl and she kicks you for calling her a boy? Does my brother only desire a son?"

  "We do not care if I bring forth a boy or a girl, for it is our child and we will love it. Yet, the shaman said a dream told him it is a son who will follow Fire Walker as chief. His sacred dreams have never been wrong in the past, and one was about your new life."

  Chumani nodded in happy assent. "We will talk more while we work and eat together, for we approach your campsite and must get busy. I will go tend my food and fire; then I will help you set up your lodges before darkness comes."

  The White Shield village was erected next to, but separate from their Oglala ally and in same circular pattern with the chief at its center. The work was carried out with swiftness and efficiency. Those who finished their chores first assisted those who had not done so.

  While Hanmani continued to watch her fire and kettle, Chumani helped her mother and Rainbow Girl while Zitkala did the same with her mother in the second ring of dwellings. Before they completed their many preparations, the Red Shield riders returned to camp, and Wind Dancer joined Tall Elk and Fire Walker to give them a helping hand with theirs. Red Feather sought out Zitkala to assist her father with his work, and asked them to eat with his family when mealtime came; and they accepted.

  A short time later, Sees-Through-Mist took a break from his chores and conversed with them for a while.

  Before dusk arrived, hundreds of colorful and plain conical abodes stood tall against the darkening skyline. Campfires burned brightly where foods were being cooked. Men met in groups to talk. Children played. Women tended babies and put them down to sleep.

  Everyone in Chumani's group halted what they were doing to go eat and visit in hers and Wind Dancer's tepee, for the Plains wind was gusting fast and would chill their food quickly.

  As they ate, they spoke of recent events in the old White Shield camp and when Rainbow Girl's pregnancy was mentioned, a proud and joyful smile appeared on the handsome face of Fire Walker. Afterward, Wind Dancer and Chumani related news of the Crow attack on their camp and Cetan's injury, the rattlesnake incident in Winona's tepee-leaving out the reason the deadly viper was there-and their battle with the awesome grizzly.

  "Your courage and skills are large, my daughter," Tall Elk said. "They bring pride and happiness to my heart. I give thanks to the Great Spirit for protecting you during such perilous times. I also give thanks to Him for choosing you a husband with mountain-size prowess and high rank."

  Wind Dancer smiled. "Your words and feelings please and honor me, Tall Elk. I also give the Creator thanks for guiding me to Dewdrops, for no better wife could be found. There is more to tell you, for our sacred task began many moons past."

  Wind Dancer explained their intention of "planting the war lance between the wasicun and Apsaalooke to turn their eyes and weapons away from our peoples and on each other. Its sharp point has been buried in the ground," he reminded them. "Now, we water it to make it grow fast and large." He related detailed accounts of the daring raids on white homesteads, how those stolen horses were left near an enemy camp and Crow possessions were discarded there to make the Bird People appear to blame. He disclosed Chumani's mystical encounter in the forest with the Spirit Dog and their defeat of the Crow leader who attacked both camps, a glorious victory made possible by the cunning help of the companion of the Old-Woman-Who-Quills. He told them about his grandfather's vision during their absence concerning the Spirit Dog, and about the ensuing camp celebration where the two Brule women's coups were chanted along with those of himself, his brother, and his best friend.

  As he spoke, Chumani observed her family. She was thrilled by their approving nods and smiles, and flattered by their looks of amazement in her direction for her parts in those dangerous deeds. They appeared proud to be family to the Sacred Vision Woman.

  Last, Wind Dancer divulged their impending task at Fort Pierre trading post. He did not have to tell his wife's family it would be risky, as that was apparent from what he and his vision party planned to do there. "It is your turn to speak, Tall Elk. Then your family can do so."

  For a while, Wind Dancer and Chumani were praised and questioned by her family, who fully agreed with their plan. Fire Walker offered to go with them on any journey where he was needed, but it was obvious, despite his desire to be a part of such glorious episodes, he wanted and felt he should remain nearby to hunt for his family and to protect his pregnant wife.

  Tall Elk rose. "We must go, for darkness will soon blanket the land and the moon is not yet full to light the way to our lodge," he said. "There is much work to do on the new sun and this has been a long and busy one. Our hearts have been warmed by y
our generosity and our spirits have been stirred by your words and deeds. We would fear for our daughter's safety and survival if she was not protected by Waci Tate and Wakantanka."

  "Your words please and honor us, Tall Elk," Wind Dancer replied.

  To all of her family members, Chumani said, "It is good to be reunited." To her mother and brother's wife, she added, "We will do our chores together after the sun rises."

  After the four Brules departed shortly before they would have needed a blazing torch to see their way to their abodes, Chumani made sure her cook fire was out. Then she sealed the entrance flap and spread out the buffalo mat. She stripped off her garments and moccasins, grinned seductively at her beloved husband and said, "It is time for sleep, mihigna. "

  Wind Dancer chuckled at her jest. He discarded his garments fast and lay down, his arousal jutting forth when freed from his breechclout. He pulled her into his embrace and whispered, "No, mitawin, it is time for this," and kissed her, seeking her sweet essence. His tongue danced with hers as he drew her closer and closer, wanting no space between them. His lips brushed over her face, then he nuzzled his neck and face against hers, thrilling to the contact between them and the sheer joy of touching her and sharing such wonderful intimacy again.

  Chumani responded eagerly. Her hands traveled his body, giving and taking pleasure from the sensations she aroused. "I love you, mihigna, " she murmured.

  "You are as food and water to my starving spirit. You are as the air I need to breathe to stay alive. I would cease to be if you were lost to me. Our Life-Circles must forever remain enjoined. I want to see our child growing within you. I want you beside me each moon, and nearby on every sun. You are a large part of me, micante, and I would perish without you."

  "It is the same with me, my beloved. I am sad when we are apart, and overjoyed when we are together. I hunger to be at your side no matter where you are. Before our births, we were destined for each other."

  They explored each other in the velvet darkness, gradually fueling the embers of their passion until the blaze nearly consumed them. When they could wait no longer, they joined their bodies and thrilled to the sensation of being truly one. Soon, they lay sated and content, rested in each other's embrace.

  "I love you, micante, with every part of my body," Wind Dancer whispered.

  Chumani's spirit soared high as he called her "my heart" again. "I love you, mihigna, and will belong to you forever, as you will to me."

  As early-morning sunlight splashed across the windy Plains, the Red and White Shields gathered beyond their tepees for the ritual to begin the first of many hunts during the summer season. Men who had been chosen to carry out the initial task-including Wind Dancer, War Eagle, Red Feather, and Rising Bear-sat upon their buffalo horses and awaited the signal. The men who had been selected to remain behind to act as protectors and leaders-including Tall Elk, Fire Walker, and Blue Owl-gazed at the mounted riders with an emotion close to envy in their hearts for what loomed before the others. The women who had been assigned to go with them on their quest-including Winona and Hanmani-waited nearby with their travois, ready to follow the hunters to all of the slain creatures to prepare their meat and hides for hauling back to camp.

  Chumani's gaze settled on her husband who sat straight and proud on his swift and sure-footed horse who had been specially trained to race with the massive and unpredictable beasts. Wind Dancer, like the others, wore only a breechclout and moccasins. A bow encircled his torso and a quiver filled with arrows with his markings rested upon his broad back. His knife sheath was suspended from the belt which banded his waist and secured his only garment to his stalwart body. His ebony hair was braided to prevent it from blowing into his eyes and obstructing his vision for even a moment at such a time when peril could strike without warning. He wore no adornments-no wristlets, armbands, hair feathers, or medallions; nor did his mount. A small and light water bag also hung from his belt. Today, he hunted for those in need, for those women who had lost mates and not yet replaced them and for families with men and women too old or disabled to do that part of the task themselves. Later, she would go with him to seek their winter needs.

  Nahemana and Sees-Through-Mist stood together before the large crowd. Both were clad in ceremonial regalia: buffalo cap headdresses and flowing buffalo robes with colorful adornments of dangling rawhide strips with beads and various feathers and many attached weasel tails. Hairbone breastplates rested upon chests which had lost much of their strength. Their remaining garments were decorated with beads, hackle feathers, and enemy hairlocks. White hair whipping around their agefurrowed faces and their stooped shoulders gleamed like silver in the morning light. Both were loved and respected by their people, and esteemed by their allies. Each shaman lifted a painted buffalo skull with wrinkled hands and held it high as they sent forth prayers to Wakantanka in voices strengthened by the stirring occasion.

  Nahemana spoke first as he earnestly evoked, "Great Spirit, Creator of all things, Provider of our needs, Protector of our lands and people, we stand before You this sun and ask You to give us much success on our many hunts. Grant our warriors the skills to find and slay enough buffalo to feed, clothe, and shelter Your people during the cold season. Guard our hunters and women as they work upon the grasslands; return them to us alive and unharmed and loaded with our means of survival. Ask Mother Earth to share her bounty with us as our women seek other needs upon her face. Hear and see us, Great One, as we send our message to you."

  Sees-Through-Mist fervently requested, "Great Mystery, Knower and Seer of all things, see and hear our prayer to You. We give You honor, thanks, and loyalty for all You give and bring to us. Share Your creature's skills with our hunters. Give them keen eyes like the eagle's, the strength and courage of the grizzly, the cunning of the wolf and fox, the swiftness and stamina of the deer. Make them as one with their horses. Send their arrows on a true flight. Grant us these needs, Great Spirit, and we will honor You in song, dance, and offerings when our task is finished."

  Afterward, eight men beat on a large drum as the two shamans danced around their buffalo skulls which had been placed atop hides where a bunch of dried sweetgrass and herbs, four eagle feathers, grizzly claws, deer antlers, and the tails of a wolf and fox lay. When the drumming and dancing halted, ceremonial arrows with sacred markings were pointed in the direction in which the scouts had located an enormous herd. Both elderly men shouted, "It is time to ride, for the buffalo await your coming!"

  With the signal given, the mounted riders whooped and yelled and galloped off to seek their prey. The women left shortly behind them.

  As the shamen spoke for the last time, Wind Dancer glanced at his wife, then nodded and smiled as a farewell message. His heart warmed when she returned those gestures. Though he would be gone for only a few days, he knew he would miss her. Yet, he carried her image in his head and the remembrance of last night to give him comfort during their separation.

  Wind Dancer was confident in his prowess and in his horse's skills. He raced like the wind from which had come his name, speeding across open grassland with low hills here and there. As he topped the final one, his gaze took in a sight that always filled him with awe: an enormous herd of immense creatures extended far beyond his sight, as if a dark blanket had been spread across the green surface and it slowly wafted in the wind. The huge animals either moved along in leisure as they grazed or they lay or rolled in wallows they had made. Females tended their calves and kept them close by; they would not be slain so the herd could survive to feed them in seasons to come. Some of the males still wore partial ragged winter coats, but most had rubbed them off not long ago. He knew rutting season would not begin until after the next one or two full moons. When that season came, the humpbacked, bearded beasts would bellow challenges to both rivals and intruding men, and they would be dangerous in that state. For now, Wind Dancer decided, hunting should be easy and safe.

  After everyone arrived and stood poised on the hilltop, the charge b
egan as they plunged headlong down the gentle incline and galloped toward the furry fringes. It took a while for the buffaloes to realize what was happening, especially those farther away from the attack scene. As if news was passed along by their grunts and stirrings, the herd began to move onward, their pace increasing as the full reality of their peril sank in; and the hunters pursued them with vigor. They would slay as many as the women could skin and butcher today, rest for the night, and begin the task again at sunrise. They would continue that routine for several days, then retrace their path to camp, where another group would head out to do the same.

  Back in the encampment, Chumani, her mother, Zitkala, and Rainbow Girl went about their chores as they awaited the return of travois loaded with meat and hides to prepare, as the first ones should arrive before late afternoon. As soon as they were unloaded, the young braves would guide them back to the hunters and butchers for another haul.

  The women checked drying racks, put stews on to simmer for future times when they were too busy to cook, gathered firewood, fetched water, and collected berries and plants which grew nearby. River rushes were cut to make sitting mats and herbs were plucked, bound, and hung up to dry to be used in foods and medicines.

  Chumani knew why her husband and the rest of the vision companions went on this first hunt; they could not leave for Fort Pierre Trading Post until her woman's flow had come and gone in a few suns. She knew Wind Dancer would be reluctant to allow her to accompany him on the next adventure is she were carrying their child. She and other women erected a hut near the river, using the shade of cottonwoods to keep the willow cansakawakeya interior cooler than on the sunny Plains.