Bittersweet Ecstasy (16 page)

Five days passed swiftly and wearily, and uneventfully. The group moved more slowly than they did during the fall trek, for bodies were still sluggish from the winter’s rest. Too, they realized how busy they would be as soon as their summer camp was set up and the buffalo hunt was in progress. For the women, there was wood and fresh water to be fetched each day; wild vegetables, fruits, and berries to be gathered; food to be cooked for daily consumption; meat to be dried and preserved for winter rations; children to be tended and educated according to sex; hides to be tanned; garments to be made; beading to be done; and mates to be enjoyed. For the men, there was hunting each day; there were raiding parties; there were meetings with other tribes; there were weapons, shields, and sacred items to be made or repaired; there were ceremonies to perform; there were boys to train as hunters and warriors; there was painting to be done on tepees and shields; there were friends and tepees to be guarded; there were tales to be told, lest they be forgotten by the young; there were games and contests which made and kept warriors strong and alert; and there was strategy to be planned against their enemies.

Spring, summer, and fall were busy seasons; the white man knew this and chose his assault times cunningly. Shalee dreaded this approaching summer, for not in years had the white man been so determined to defeat the Indians. Each time they approached an area where foes could hide and attack, the column was halted while warriors made certain it was safe to proceed. It was infuriating and depressing to live one’s life in constant peril and doubt. Again, Shalee was reminded of the peace they had enjoyed before Colonel Derek Sturgis had been reassigned back east, before the Lewis and Clark Expedition and the ending of the War of 1812 had inspired more men to move westward, and before the whites felt they owned this land through the Louisiana Purchase.

“What troubles your mind, Mother?” Sun Cloud asked as he rode up beside Shalee, as it was his turn to be a guard that day.

She smiled at her younger son and confessed ruefully, “I was remembering how it was in seasons past when our lands knew peace. I wish you could know such times, my son, but they are gone forever. When I think of what is before you and our people, my heart is heavy with sadness and grief. So much will be asked and expected of you,” she murmured as moisture dampened her lashes.

“You must not worry, Mother. Sun Cloud will protect you and father and our people,” he spoke confidently to reassure her.

Shalee gazed at him, seeing how much he favored Gray Eagle in looks and character. “You are like your father was long ago when we first met—strong and bold and confident and cocky.” She halted to explain the English word “cocky” and watched her son laugh in amusement. “Long ago, he also thought nothing and no one could defeat him or conquer his lands. He was
forced to learn a bitter lesson. My beloved son, if only you knew what perils stand before you. I know of the white man’s numbers and weapons; I know of his greed and power. I dread the day when you must learn of such evil and its demands. You were born to become chief of the Oglalas, my son, and you will do so very soon. You will be feared and respected and loved and hated, as your father is. You must be strong, Sun Cloud, for many dark days are ahead. You must allow nothing and no one to sway you from your destiny. You must allow your head to rule over your heart. Being a chief is difficult and painful, but your father has trained you well. When you take his place, remember all he has taught you,” she advised.

“We will defeat the whites, Mother. Peace will rule our lands.”

“No, my son, lasting peace is gone forever. You must defend your people; you must guide them wisely. You must seek truce if the whites will allow it; only through truce can the Oglalas survive. You must learn to share our lands, or the whites will take them by force. You must learn to accept them, or they will destroy all you know and love. They are powerful, my son, know and accept this fact, or you will battle for a victory which can never be won. Seek peace with honor, even if you must taste it as a bitter defeat.”

“The whites do not wish peace, Mother; they desire all we have in lands and lives,” he argued softly, not wanting to upset or hurt her.

“I know, my son; that is why you must work hard and long to capture any measure of peace. Do not allow your pride to destroy your people forever. Some white leaders and peoples are not evil; it is those you must seek out and work with. The whites cannot be kept out of our lands forever. If you do not strive for peace or truce, the Oglalas will vanish from the face of
Mother Earth. Hear me, my son, these are not the words of a silly woman. I lived with the whites, and I know them. Truce, however bitter, is better than Mother Earth with no Oglalas. One day, the white man will realize his evil and he will halt it. Until that day, you must make certain the Oglalas survive. Do not allow false pride to blind you, to say you can defeat this enemy. They are not Crow or Arikara, my son; they are countless and strong. Promise me you will remember my words and heed them if the time for truce approaches you. Your father is a legend in these lands, and legends live as challenges to enemies. Seek to be a wise chief more than a powerful one. Seek to be a leader, my precious son, not a legend, for few legends live on more than pages of history.”

“All listen to and follow my father. Is it wrong to be a great chief?”

“No, Sun Cloud, but the day has come when a great chief must lead his people into peace, not war, unless peace is impossible.”

“The whites make it impossible, Mother,” he stressed.

“Then you must find a way to make it possible, my son.”

“How so?” he inquired gravely. “It is the duty of a Sacred Bow carrier to protect his people and lands, to make war on their enemies.”

“It is also the carrier’s duty to seek and to find peace for his people, my son. Keep your eyes and mind open, and the Great Spirit will guide you to the path for survival for His people.”

Sun Cloud eyed his mother intently, wondering how much she truly knew and understood about this conflict. She had lived as white for many winters and carried white blood; perhaps she was still plagued by the war between her two peoples and perhaps she only
dreamed of peace, a peace which he knew was impossible. “I will think upon your words, Mother, for you have lived many seasons and witnessed many things. We will speak later. I must return to my duty.”

Shalee watched him ride away and felt the tuggings at her heart, for she knew he had no accurate idea of what he was confronting. Like Gray Eagle of years past, he believed he and his people were invincible. Anguish swept over her, knowing the arduous road he would travel. Sun Cloud was so young and full of life, and he had no idea of the toll constant war could have on a chief and his family and his people. If only he could have a little span of peace and happiness before his illusions were shattered brutally by the hatred between the Indians and the whites. She dreaded to think of the bitterness and hatred which would consume and alter him once he lost loved ones and witnessed the dark evil of her people. It would be a long time, if ever, before peace obtained.

Time came to make camp for the night. Shalee spread the sleeping rolls as she waited for their evening meal to be ready. Then Gray Eagle joined her, kissing her cheek and embracing her tenderly. When she told him about her talk with Sun Cloud, he smiled sadly and remarked, “As with your husband, he must learn such things for himself. You must also face the truth, my wife; peace died long ago in our lands. There is nothing more to be done except to survive as best we can until the Great Spirit calls our names. I am weary of fighting, but we must continue our battle with the whites, for they will claim all if we weaken or yield. Oglalas were not born to live on reservations or to live beside forts near the soldiers’ evil. We must do all necessary to keep our honor and freedom. We must pray for strength and guidance.”

“I do this each day, my love, but it grows harder.”

Gray Eagle lovingly stroked her cheek and looked deeply into her green eyes. “No matter the troubles, we have lived a long and good life.”

She nestled against his chest and murmured, “I am grateful for all we have shared, but I wish our sons to know a little peace and joy.”

“They will, my love, for the Great Spirit has promised this to me.”

Tashina returned with their food, for she had been helping a group of women to cook a joint meal, as was their custom on the trail. She looked at her grandparents and their closeness warmed her heart. How she longed to know a love as powerful and passionate as theirs, and she would if she could win Soul-ofThunder’s heart. She glanced around as Eagle’s Arm, Bright Arrow, and Sun Cloud joined them to eat and to sleep. But this was not to be a peaceful night in their camp; she knew this when Silver Hawk and two Blackfeet warriors galloped to the spot where they were preparing to spend the night.

Shalee asked the warriors if she could fetch food for them, but they were too anxious to eat. She realized that Gray Eagle sensed the news was bad when he asked the warriors to walk with him while they spoke. She noticed how Silver Hawk’s ravenous gaze feasted greedily on the delectable Tashina before he turned to join her husband and sons and Powchutu. Apprehension charged through her like the terror of a runaway horse. Suddenly she scolded herself for her silly fears, for Tashina had lost her heart to another, and her oldest son would never force his precious daughter to wed any man. Perhaps she should speak with Bright Arrow and Gray Eagle about this man who caused such alarming stirrings within her, even if men did not like women to meddle in their affairs and friendships.

Sitting on large rocks not far from the camp, Silver
Hawk explained his abrupt visit. “We captured three soldiers and a Crow scout who have been trailing us for many suns. One was weak in body and courage and we forced him to speak of others who are trailing our brothers. They count the number of warriors in each band and tribe and they mark which paths we take. The white-dogs said we must free them or all would be chased and slain; we silenced their foolish words with death. Chief Medicine Bear said we must ride to warn our brothers as they warned us. The white-dogs are seeking the path of Gray Eagle and the Oglalas. They believe Gray Eagle and the Oglalas are the evil power in our lands, and they offer peace to any tribe who refuses to band with them. They offer many trade goods to any warrior or band who will sneak into your camp and slay you. They believe they can win their war against all Indians when you are dead.”

Sun Cloud held silent as he observed Silver Hawk’s expression and listened carefully to the man’s tone. He did not like what his keen senses were telling him, for he perceived an undercurrent within this man which was dangerous and too far below the surface for the others to notice in their states of anger and resentment. Warnings throbbed within his head as he comprehended the jealousy toward his father which this warrior was experiencing and attempting to conceal. Yet, he had nothing more than his gut feeling that this man was a threat to Gray Eagle, and it was not enough with which to challenge a famed warrior. For now, he must keep quiet, and alert.

Bright Arrow stated coldly, “I will slay all bluecoats, and I will slay any or all warriors who are tempted by their devious offer. It is a trick. They know all will lose hope and courage if my father is slain. They seek to turn his allies and brothers against him, to destroy the power and magic of the Indian, to destroy our unity. It
will not be so, for his blood also runs within Bright Arrow and Sun Cloud. Even if they found a way to slay him, we would ride in his place.”

Sun Cloud added, “Yes, we will defend our father’s life with our own. No man will live who becomes a threat to him or our people.”

Powchutu watched the scene. From past experience, he knew how frightened of Gray Eagle the soldiers and whites were, and he knew what his half brother’s death could mean for the whites in their war against the Indians. It was a clever plot to place a sort of bounty on Gray Eagle’s head. Jeffery Gordon had tried that ploy once, and had died for his recklessness. Over the years, many had tried to eviscerate the heart of the Dakotas, and all had failed. But it was the nature of men to be greedy and rash, and some might be blinded by this lucrative offer of goods and truce. From now on, Gray Eagle and those who loved him must guard his back. He must speak with his nephews about this Blackfeet warrior, for he did not trust the shiny brittleness in the man’s eyes or the tightness in his voice; there was some guarded emotion here to be watched carefully.

The aging chief gave his orders. “Sun Cloud, go to Big Elk and reveal these things to him. Bright Arrow, take warriors and scout the area for white wolves who sneak around in the shadows. Eagle’s Arm, guard my wife and granddaughter. I will call the council and speak with them. Silver Hawk, will you rest this night with us?”

“We will take refreshments, then ride to our camp, my second father. Other white-dogs might lurk near the shadows of our camp.”

“If there is more news or trouble, send word to us. Did Medicine Bear send messages to the other bands?” Bright Arrow inquired.

“Yes, my friend and brother. Soon, we will ride
together against these white foes who sneak around while
Wi
sleeps.”

Bright Arrow smiled and clasped arms with Silver Hawk. “We will claim many
coups
when we ride to victory over the whites, my friend. Come, I will take you to our camp, then obey my father’s command.”

Silver Hawk and Bright Arrow walked away together, talking excitedly about past and future battles. Gray Eagle headed for the area where White Arrow was camped for the night. Powchutu and Sun Cloud turned and found that they both had been watching Silver Hawk.

Their intuitive gazes met and they smiled knowingly. “He is a man to watch, Sun Cloud,” the older man advised the young warrior who could have been his son if he had not lingered one day too long at Fort Pierre years ago. Powchutu decided that Sun Cloud was like his father; he was strong and brave, and true to his calling. Shalee, as he had learned to think of and to call Alisha Williams, had told him of the past which would make this warrior chief after Gray Eagle, and he realized it was meant to be. “You have learned well, Sun Cloud. You will become a great chief like your father. Your brother does not see the evil in his friend, and he will suffer for his blindness. Many times a leader must stand alone when he stands above others. Your brother is a good warrior, but he does not have your strength and insight. I see why the Great Spirit chose you to walk after your father. Does your brother truly understand and accept his destiny?”