He reached for the juniper bow he’d just finished making the day before, and his otter-skin quiver filled with arrows. Elk Runner led the way out of the small village, and followed a stream into the heavily wooded hills.
“Why do you carry a bow made from wood?” he finally asked, after they had covered several miles in silence.
“I want to test it out,” Daniel shrugged. “I wish to use it for everyday hunts, rather than my horn bow. You are aware that I only use my horn bow for special hunts.”
Elk Runner nodded. “Your horn bow is one of the best I’ve seen. It will last you a lifetime.” He shot a quick glance at Daniel, the corners of his lips twitching. “I remember the day you brought down your first bighorn ram, the one whose horns now make up your bow.” His face lit up in a bright grin, and he laughed. “We were in our fifteenth year, and when your shot to bring down a ewe failed, you ran as if the evil spirits were after you.”
Daniel scoffed, and glared at his brother. “My shot?” he boomed. “It was your arrow that missed its mark. Your shot grazed the ram’s hindquarters, and he took his anger out on me. My arrow found its mark. I took down the ewe, and the ram, that day.”
Elk Runner leaned forward, holding his belly with laughter. “I never knew you could run so fast, White Wolf. Or that you were as agile as a squirrel when climbing a tree.”
“I didn’t have a chance to string my bow again to take a shot at the ram before it charged me,” Daniel said defensively.
Agitated when Elk Runner’s arrow had grazed it, the big ram had charged the first thing in its path, which happened to have been Daniel.
Daniel scowled. “You could have helped me, but if I remember correctly, you were writhing on the ground, twisting your gut with laughter, just as you are doing now.”
“The ram was too fast, and he was darting between trees and bushes. I couldn’t get off a clean shot, for fear that I might have hit you,” Elk Runner said, waving off Daniel’s accusation, and wiping a hand over his eyes. He cleared his throat, then snorted again in laughter. “But you had a great vantage point from the tree you scaled. Otherwise you would not have had the opportunity to bring down the animal, and you would not have the magnificent bow you now own.”
Daniel smirked, and continued walking. Even after his close brush with death from the angry bighorn ram, Daniel had proudly returned to the Tukudeka village that day. He’d given Elk Runner the ewe, but he’d claimed the ram for himself. Over the next four weeks, he’d spent every waking hour fashioning the ram’s horns into the bow that had become his most prized possession.
The day wore on, and the temperature dropped noticeably when the sun hid behind oncoming clouds. Daniel scanned the surrounding hillside for any sign of game. They hadn’t come upon any fresh tracks. Dense mist obscured the tops of some of the tallest mountains that rose in the distance, and a cold breeze lifted the hair from the nape of his neck, a reminder that winter would not hold off much longer. Even the animals must have left for the lowlands already.
Soon, it would be time for him to return to his father’s cabin in a remote valley a day’s walk from the Tukudeka Village. In a few weeks, his relatives would be breaking their camp to head to lower elevation, where winter wouldn’t be as harsh.
“It looks as if your spirit guardian was wrong, Brother. I see no sign of game.” Daniel shot a quick sideways glance at Elk Runner. His lips raised in a grin. “I don’t even see any birds anywhere.”
Elk Runner smirked. “The spirits weren’t clear which day would be best for hunting. Perhaps they meant tomorrow.”
He veered away from the deer trail they’d been following, and turned in the direction of home. Not a few minutes later, Elk Runner suddenly stopped in his tracks, and held up a hand in a silent signal that he’d seen or heard something. Daniel scanned the many trees surrounding them. It would be easy to lose one’s bearings here. But, he’d lived in these mountains all his life and, like his brother, knew every tree and rock.
A slight movement through the thicket caught his eye. Slowly, he reached over his shoulder and pulled an arrow from his quiver, then strung his bow. Elk Runner was quicker. His brother took aim, just as the body of a deer darted from between the trees.
The doe stopped, looked directly at them, her ears twitching. Daniel held his breath, slowly drawing back on his bow. Elk Runner did the same. They both released their arrows at the same time, just as the animal startled, and sprang with agile grace between the trees. Wings flapped loudly through the underbrush, and several ravens took flight out of the trees, their loud calls breaking the silence of the forest.
Elk Runner rushed forward. “Did one of us get it?” he called. “My arrow hit something.”
Daniel followed close on his brother’s heels. The underbrush and deadfall was heavy and dense, and they had to climb over several downed logs to reach the spot where they had seen the deer.
Elk Runner stopped abruptly, and Daniel nearly collided with him. He stepped around his brother, and followed his gaze to the ground. He relaxed his stance.
“I wonder what the spirits are trying to tell you now,” Daniel said, barely getting the words out as he burst into laughter. Elk Runner shot him an annoyed look.
“You missed the deer, but you shot a bird.” Daniel snorted. “Lucky for you, I don’t think a turkey qualifies as a little bird. It probably wouldn’t be good to kill a messenger of the spirits.”
Elk Runner scoffed, and reached down, grabbing the dead turkey by the legs. Pulling his arrow from the bird’s body, he tossed it over his shoulder.
“The spirits did not say what animal would be good for hunting,” he grumbled, and headed back in the direction of the village.
“Your family is well supplied with meat and roots for the winter months,” Daniel called, after letting his brother find a path through the forest, and following behind in silence. “This bird will make a nice gift to Morning Sun, to give thanks to the spirits for a good summer hunting season.”
Hopefully, his words would appease Elk Runner, who’d no doubt wanted to bring back larger game to show his clan that he’d been met with favor from the spirits.
“Tomorrow will be another day,” Elk Runner said firmly.
The strong scent of wood smoke hung in the air. The village was just around the bend in the river they’d been following. Daniel rubbed his hands together to warm them, and his stomach growled. Hopefully, his foster mother, Morning Sun, had some soup waiting for them.
Dogs barked, and a few children laughed and ran toward them when the grass-covered wicciups came into sight. Elk Runner passed the turkey to two small boys, telling them to bring his kill to Morning Sun. When he straightened again, his eyes scanned the village, and then met Daniel’s.
“We have visitors,” he said, and pointed to a group of people standing and talking to members of his clan.
“What are Akaideka doing this far south in these mountains at this time of year?” Daniel remarked.
While the Tukudeka preferred the mountainous terrain, their cousins, the Akaideka, remained mostly on flat lands further north and to the west, where streams and rivers held an abundance of fish.
“It looks as if they have come to trade,” Elk Runner said. The group consisted of two older men, several younger hunters, five women, and four children. The men showed off shell necklaces and furs. Their women stood off to the side.
“Lets go see if our mother has some food,” Daniel said, unconcerned with the visitors. He moved toward their hut, then turned when Elk Runner didn’t follow. His brother looked as if he’d grown roots. He stood, staring toward the group of newcomers.
Daniel turned his head, following Elk Runner’s line of vision. His lips rose slowly in a grin. A young woman stood off to the side with, what looked like, her mother and younger sister.
“There is food waiting for you,” a woman’s firm voice said next to Daniel. “Then you and Elk Runner can meet our visitors.”
“Thank you, Mother,�
�� Daniel said, and bowed his head to the little woman who had raised him from an infant like her own son, after his white mother had died giving birth to him.
“They are just passing through, and have asked to camp here for a few days, and do some trading,” Morning Sun added. “I see my son has already seen something to his liking.” She laughed, and stepped up to Elk Runner.
“Who is she?” Elk Runner asked, his eyes glazed over, as if in a trance. His voice was uncharacteristically shallow. His gaze remained on the young woman.
“Her name is Little Bird,” Morning Sun said, her eyes twinkling with humor at her son.
Elk Runner’s own eyes widened, and shot to Daniel. His lips slowly curved in a wide grin. “I told you the spirits have found favor with me.”
Chapter Five
“I must speak to her.” Elk Runner grabbed Daniel’s arm the moment he emerged from the wicciup. His breath met with the cold morning air, creating white swirls of vapor in front of his face.
Daniel glared at his brother, and pulled the buffalo robe he’d thrown around himself more firmly over his shoulders. The wide-eyed, nearly frantic look on Elk Runner’s face brought a smile to his own face. All night long, his brother had tossed and turned on his sleeping pallet, and he’d left the hut long before the sun had come up.
“Then go talk to her,” Daniel shrugged, and stepped to the side.
“We haven’t been introduced.” Elk Runner moved in front of him again, blocking his way to the cooking fire. Delicious smells came from the clay pot sitting in the coals, and Daniel’s stomach growled in response.
“Well, I don’t know her, either, so how am I supposed to introduce you to her?”
Daniel made another attempt to skirt around his brother. He took a quick step toward the fire, and bent down to reach for a bowl that had been left sitting on a rock. He ladled broth and meat from the pot, and sat on the ground to eat his breakfast.
Daniel’s eyes roamed the village. The new arrivals had set up camp near one of the outlying huts. The men mingled with others from the Tukudeka village, while the women stood around their cooking fires. Morning Sun and several of the women of this village looked to be in lively conversation with them. Little Bird, the young woman who had caught Elk Runner’s eye, laughed at something one of the other women said. She was short, her long, dark hair braided down either side of her face.
“It looks like your mother is talking to her family.” Daniel pointed with his spoon toward the women. “She’ll introduce you.”
Elk Runner paced the space between the fire and where Daniel sat. He stopped abruptly, and glanced down at him. “Perhaps you can go with me, and talk about my skills and fearlessness as a hunter when we approach. Boast about my daring kill of a bighorn ram when it charged you, and how I saved your life.”
Daniel’s eyebrows shot up. “What bighorn ram? I will not tell tall tales.” He set his bowl on the ground, and stood. He clenched his jaw to keep from laughing.
Elk Runner’s look turned pleading. “I have to do something to get Little Bird’s attention. She hasn’t so much as looked my way.”
“It’s usually advisable to make your presence known, Brother.” Daniel slapped him on the back.
“What if she refuses to speak to me? What if she shows no interest?” Elk Runner started pacing again.
“What if she says she wants to know you better?” Daniel smirked. “You’re the one who says the spirits favor you. If she’s the ‘little bird’ from your vision quest, surely she’ll speak to you.”
Elk Runner stopped, and stared at Daniel. Slowly, his lips widened until he smiled brightly. “You’re right, White Wolf. I will enlist the aid of the spirits.”
Daniel shook his head, and frowned. “Just go and talk to her.” He nodded with his chin in the direction of the women. A part of him sympathized with his brother.
Being smitten with a woman could make a man behave in ways he might normally not. He’d been infatuated with a young woman while in Philadelphia, and to this day, the experience left a bitter taste in his mouth. He didn’t wish what had happened to him on his brother.
Drawing in a deep breath, he asked, “How do you propose to get the spirits to help you?”
“I will find a toyatawura.” Elk Runner’s eyes gleamed in satisfaction.
Daniel frowned. “A what?”
“A toyatawura. Surely you’ve heard the shaman talk about them before.”
Daniel shook his head, and glared at Elk Runner in disbelief. Of course he’d heard of this poisonous plant that the Sheepeaters believed contained potent medicine. Anyone brave enough to dig it up by the roots was thought to become invincible.
“How is this plant going to help you win favor with Little Bird?” Daniel stared at his brother, who’d apparently taken leave of his senses. “Wouldn’t it be easier to simply talk to her?”
“If I invoke the power of the toyatawura, I will be assured to win Little Bird’s heart. I will draw her to me with its power.”
Daniel scoffed. “The spirits have taken away your capacity to think rationally. You require a shaman to help you find this plant, and even then, how do you plan to make the journey into the high mountains where it can be found this late in the season?”
Elk Runner waved his hand in a casual gesture. “The spirits have already spoken to me. The shaman will go with me,” he said, raising his chin. “If I do not disturb the plant while it is awake, no harm will come to me. It must be dug up at sundown, when it falls asleep.”
Daniel shrugged dismissively. Apparently, there was no reasoning with his brother at the moment. He gathered his bow and quiver, and walked away, shaking his head.
On his way away from the village, he glanced toward the group of women. Little Bird looked in his direction for a brief moment, then quickly averted her eyes. Perhaps he should go talk to her on his brother’s behalf before Elk Runner did something as foolish as traveling into the mountains, where winter had already set in, to look for some elusive plant that could potentially be deadly.
He shook off the idea. If he approached a woman alone, simply to talk to her, it could be taken to mean that he was interested in her. No. If Elk Runner wanted to win favor with Little Bird, he would have to go and talk to her himself, or ask his mother to introduce them. Unfortunately for his brother, this family of Akaideka wouldn’t be here for very long, giving Elk Runner little time to make his intentions known.
Daniel laughed out loud. How did Elk Runner propose to make a trip into the mountains, taking the old shaman along with him, and return in time before the Akaideka left for their own winter camp? Somehow he had to talk his brother out of this foolish undertaking.
He pondered his dilemma while walking the nearby riverbank, when Elk Runner called his name. Daniel turned. A look clouded his face that could only be described as despair.
“I wish to speak with you, Brother,” Elk Runner said as soon as he caught up with Daniel, and the two matched strides.
The corners of Daniel’s lips twitched. He raised his eyebrows. “I thought you and the shaman were going to look for a toyatawura.”
Elk Runner glared back at him. “The shaman refuses to go. He told me to wait until summer.”
“The shaman is a wise man,” Daniel said, and cleared the laugher from his throat.
Elk Runner stopped walking, and blocked Daniel’s way.
“I need your help, White Wolf,” Elk Runner said, a pleading look in his eyes. He grasped Daniel by the shoulders.
“I will not go with you to find an elusive plant high up in the mountains,” Daniel said adamantly. “It is foolish to make such a journey, with winter coming fast.”
“There is another way I can make Little Bird my wife,” Elk Runner said.
Daniel scoffed. “Yes, there is. You could go talk to her, or perhaps talk to her father, and tell him you are interested in his daughter.”
Elk Runner shook his head. “There is no time. The Akaideka are breaking their camp as we sp
eak, and plan to leave.”
Daniel pulled away from his brother. “You don’t even know this woman. You’ve never even spoken to her. How can you be so sure that she’s the one you wish to spend your life with?”
“I just know,” Elk Runner said firmly. “When you see the right woman for the first time, you will know it immediately.”
Daniel shook his head. That’s not what past experience had taught him about women. He sighed dramatically.
“What is it that you propose to do, then?” he asked.
Elk Runner grinned. “I will kidnap her. I will steal her away from her family, and she will have to marry me.”
Daniel scowled at his brother. “Are you touched in the head, Brother?” he said loudly, leaning toward Elk Runner. “You can’t kidnap a woman you wish to make your wife. She will hate you forever.”
“I’ve heard it’s been done before,” Elk Runner shot back.
“That is more foolish than looking for a toyatawura. I will not help you in this.” Daniel cut his hand through the air in front of him in a gesture of finality.
“Then what will I do to make Little Bird take notice of me?”
Daniel studied his brother. Elk Runner had always been known for pulling pranks and acting foolish, but Little Bird or her family would not regard a kidnapping in a favorable way. There had been men who, desperate to marry a particular woman, had gone to such extreme measures, but unless the woman had wanted to be kidnapped, this method of winning a wife had never turned out satisfactorily for the man.
Daniel looked his brother in the eye. “Let’s go on another hunting trip, brother,” he suggested. “A few days away from camp, to clear your mind.”
Elk Runner’s features twisted, as if he was contemplating the idea. Then his face lit up in a wide smile.
“My spirit guardian told me that the hunting would be good for me, and that a little bird would guide my way. We were unsuccessful in the hunt for game yesterday because I had not yet seen Little Bird.” He smiled in satisfaction at his logic. “We will go hunt the mountain sheep, and I will present meat to the family of Little Bird as a gift, and they will see me for the hunter I am, and she will look upon me with favor.”
A Yellowstone Season of Giving: Yellowstone Romance Series Holiday Short Story Page 3
