Bittersweet Ecstasy (32 page)

“It is as it should be,” Blue Feather asserted confidently. “The white girl is out of Bright Arrow’s life and he will soon join with an Indian princess. One daughter was joined to a chief and will soon join a Sacred Bow carrier of our tribe. Another daughter will soon join the next chief of the Blackfeet. The Indian blood flows swift and powerful in the bloodline of Bright Arrow. He and his family have earned many
coups.
Sun Cloud is young and has no family. I say, he must become chief later when he has more winters on his body and his life is settled.”

Kills-in-the-woods looked at Sun Cloud and inquired, “Have you chosen a woman to become your mate?”

Sun Cloud was consumed by anger and a sense of betrayal toward his brother and his love, which he struggled to keep hidden, and succeeded. He replied truthfully, “I have been watching one female for a long time, and I planned to join her before winter returns to our lands. I cannot speak her name, for I have not approached her or her father. Yes, I am young and wild, but my father and people have taught me well. I will not fail my people when I lead them.”

Kills-in-the-woods asked Bright Arrow, “Does Singing Wind know of this joining you speak of? The white woman is dead to you?”

Bright Arrow looked around the circle of important men as he replied, “Wahea is gone from me forever,
and I accept this as the will of
Wakantanka.
If news comes of her, I will not race off to search for her. If it is Grandfather’s will for her to return to my life and tepee, He will send her home to us. I will never leave or be taken from my people again. Singing Wind knows of our joining; Medicine Bear, Silver Hawk, and their shaman Jumping Rabbit have spoken to her.” Bright Arrow was glad he had sent word to Silver Hawk to reveal this news to Singing Wind, so he could speak the truth and have the matter settled. He never imagined the Indian princess might not obey.

Sun Cloud found himself wondering if he was about to lose all he loved and needed; his parents were gone, it looked as if he had lost Singing Wind, it appeared he might lose the chiefs bonnet, and Tashina was to be given to that guileful Silver Hawk. He asked himself if Bright Arrow had revealed his plans to Tashina before announcing them, for the girl was in love with Soul-ofThunder. Again, that procrastination lesson was sent home painfully. Perhaps Windrider could have gotten his friend to reconsider his choice for Tashina’s mate. That was impossible now, for the announcement had been made, and no honorable male could battle a public claim on a woman by another man. A man lost all face if he whined after a lost love; it exposed great strength for a man to control his emotions and actions when he lost the woman he desired. It was said, only a foolish weakling would go to her and beg her to change her mind. But to make a fuss over a woman you had not revealed a public interest in previously would make you appear a troublemaker. It was their way, once a claim was made and accepted, that a proud and strong male ignored the female completely, and tried to forget her. Singing Wind was beyond his reach now, for to race after his brother’s chosen one would be a shame too large to endure. Besides, Bright Arrow said she
knew about the joining, and he would not lie to his tribe and brother.

“Other tribes and chiefs have shown their choice as Bright Arrow. Many gifts and messages have arrived for him,” Crowsheart reminded them.

“Because they do not know the truth,” Black Buffalo refuted.

As the council and warriors continued to refresh the coups of their chosen one, Sun Cloud was entrapped by pensive thought, even though the discussion appeared to hold his undivided attention. He called to mind the day he had made love to Singing Wind by the pond, and fretted over the fact she must have known about Bright Arrow’s claim on her. If that was true, why had she yielded to him two moons past? Had she been testing her feelings for him and his brother, deciding which one she desired most? Clearly she had not made love to Bright Arrow before that day, and there had been no meeting between them after that day. What if Singing Wind had chosen him, not Bright Arrow? No, for she would not have allowed Bright Arrow to announce their joining today, and a messenger had arrived from the Blackfeet camp to speak privately with his brother just before the council began. It was true that Singing Wind was impulsive, defiant, and audacious; but she would never do this to spite or to punish him. No matter why she was marrying Bright Arrow, it was Sun Cloud she loved and desired!

Night Rider moved forward and stated, “It is my duty to speak out in council this sun.” He slowly related what had occurred after the ambush while he rode with Sun Cloud and Thunder Spirit, exposing Sun Cloud’s suspicions and secrecy, which did not sit well with many.

Sun Cloud silenced the soft rumblings in the meeting lodge by explaining the facts and his motives. “It is
unwise and shameful to make wild charges without proof, but I am certain a traitor walks among one of the tribes. How could I tell those who should know about this matter without also alerting the guilty one that we suspect him?”

Even though war chief Big Elk was on Bright Arrow’s side, he vowed, “Sun Cloud acted wisely and cunningly. This should have been kept secret, Night Rider. It must not go beyond this council until the guilty one is trapped and punished. This is Sun Cloud’s duty and right.”

At last, the shaman called for the vote: white sticks for Sun Cloud and black sticks for Bright Arrow; the majority would win and all must honor it. While the men cast their votes, Sun Cloud’s gaze fused with Thunder Spirit’s. With the return of Little Feet, his friend had been unable to contest Silver Hawk’s claim on Tashina as they had agreed not long ago. Sun Cloud smiled and nodded, letting his friend know he understood and agreed. Just as Thunder Spirit’s gaze expressed empathy for Sun Cloud’s lost love.

The shaman announced, “I cannot vote, for I must obey the will of the Great Spirit and He has not revealed it to me. There are six votes for Sun Cloud and six votes for Bright Arrow. The decision is yours, Dull Knife.”

All waited while the man gave more thought to his tie-breaking vote, for usually that honor or responsibility fell to their chief as the fifteenth member of the council. It was noticeable that most of the older, and supposedly wiser, members of the council had voted for Sun Cloud; while the younger members, except for Talking Rock, had sided with Bright Arrow. Dull Knife’s age rested between those two groups. He could not get it out of his mind that Sun Cloud was Gray Eagle’s choice, or that Bright Arrow had proven
himself worthy.

Dull Knife said, “I cannot cast my vote this sun, for my mind and heart rage a fierce battle over who should become our chief. I say, let both brothers lead war parties and see which one the Great Spirit shines on more favorably. I believe Grandfather has kept our new chiefs face hidden from the Wise One because he does not wish us to cast our votes this sun. I say, wait and watch for one full moon, then meet and vote. If none of you change your mind about either son of Gray Eagle, I will cast the deciding vote; this I swear.”

The shaman concurred, “Dull Knife’s plan is a good one. We will test the brothers, and we will wait for Grandfather to pick one for us. In one full moon, one brother will shine brighter than the other. Is it agreed? Both will ride as leaders of their bands until then?”

This time, the entire pile of voting sticks was white, which meant yes. The shaman smiled in relief and said, “It is good.” The meeting ended with a call for a new war council in five days.

The council members drifted from the meeting lodge. As the younger warriors lingered to reveal whose side they were taking, two of the remaining three Sacred Bow carriers went to stand with Sun Cloud, as did several shirt wearers: including Star Gazer, Rising Elk, Deer Stalker—son of Talking Rock of Bright Arrow’s side—and Thunder Spirit. Standing with Bright Arrow was one bow carrier, Night Rider, and many shirt wearers, among them Flaming Star—son of White Arrow and brother to Thunder Spirit of Sun Cloud’s side—Good Tracker, and Touch-the-sky. Plenty Coups and his brother Walks Tall had taken opposite sides, as had Charging Dog and his brother Angry Eyes. The family of Windrider would also stand divided on this issue: Windrider for Bright Arrow and Soul-of-Thunder with Sun Cloud. Now that Bright
Arrow had promised Tashina to Silver Hawk, it probably would not matter that her true love was siding against her father. But, it could make a difference between Thunder Spirit and Little Feet.

Bright Arrow left to speak with his two daughters, to reveal his actions and those of their loved ones. The two females looked at their father in disbelief, then exchanged probing glances with each other.

Tashina felt crushed by this heavy burden which her father had unknowingly placed upon her. If she defied her father by refusing to join with Silver Hawk, she would be forced to leave his tepee and camp forever, and she could not bear that thought. Far worse, if she failed to fulfill his words, that would make his vision look false or weak. By following her heart, she could be responsible for snatching the chief’s bonnet from his head and for resisting the will of the Great Spirit for each of them. Was this the reason why Soul-ofThunder had been forced to back away from her? she mused in anguish. She knew her love would side with his friend Sun Cloud, which would place a barrier between them. Perhaps there was a purpose and time for all things. Her sister had been compelled to marry another before she was claimed by her true love. Would it be the same for her? she fretted. She loved her father dearly and knew he would be a great chief, but she could ruin everything for him if she rejected Silver Hawk.

Little Feet’s nervous fingers teased over several smallpox scars upon her face, tiny and faint scars which did not steal from her beauty and allure. If she joined with Thunder Spirit today, would it appear she was siding with her husband and Sun Cloud over her father? she worried anxiously. Would it look as if Bright Arrow’s own family doubted him and this calling by the Great Spirit? Perhaps she could persuade
her love to join her father, for he needed the support of another Sacred Bow carrier. If not, perhaps they should not join until this was over.

Sun Cloud arrived soon. He collected his belongings, then looked at his older brother. “I will stay in the tepee of Mind-who-Roams until I have my own tepee. I wish this conflict did not exist between us, for we both know our father’s command. Soon, Bright Arrow, you must face the truth, and see this is wrong and selfish.” Sun Cloud left after hugging Tashina and Little Feet.

Far away from the Dakota Territory, Rebecca Kenny was thinking of all she had lost and was wondering for the thousandth time how to get back to her love and family. Last spring, she had been wounded, almost critically, by fur trappers and taken captive to prevent trouble with the Sioux, to whom they had presumed she belonged because of her garments and location. She had traveled with them many days before she was strong enough to protest her abduction, which had been futile, for no one would return her home to her trapper husband “Clay Rivera” and she could not make the difficult and perilous journey alone. To survive until an opportunity for return was presented to her, she had been given no choice but to remain with the group of men.

Rebecca recalled all she had learned about this area from the men. Lewis and Clark had opened this route for countless trappers and rival companies to ply their trades. By this year, nearly a. thousand men worked along routes through this opulent area where beaver and other animals with expensive hides and skins were located. Companies competed for this trade in any manner necessary, for it was very lucrative. With them,
they had brought many evils to the Indians: disease, whiskey, greed, deceit, and white man’s progress.

The American government had already taken advantage of these trappers, called Mountain Men, by making their leaders the forerunners of the Indian agent. During the War of 1812, a man called Manuel Lisa had been appointed by the government to hold the loyalty of the Sioux, while Robert Dickson served that same purpose for the British from his trading post on Lake Traverse. The success of Lisa established what eventually became the American-Canadian border.

The fur trade was based on several methods: trade with the Indians, private trappers, and company hired trappers. Reaching the backwoods areas, these trappers had labored diligently under the worst conditions, which honed them into tough and brave men who came to know this land and nature as well as the Indians and creatures present.

The surge into this beautiful and untamed land began with the Lewis and Clark Expedition. During its return east, it met two men following its lead: Forrest Hancock and Joseph Dickson, who pleaded and reasoned with the two explorers to lend them one of their best men: John Colter. A deal was struck: Colter could return west with them, but no other man was permitted to leave their group.

Colter became widely known by whites and Indians, and by the two largest fur trapping and trading companies: North West Company and the Hudson Bay Company. Soon, other companies wanted their “piece” of this area and trade. Boldly and bravely, Colter and his men established many trails and routes in the expansive area, for he had learned its secrets and had adapted himself to them. He guided Dickson and Hancock to the Yellowstone valley and set up their camp there. But on his first trip back toward St. Louis,
he met Manuel Lisa and was persuaded to work with and for him.

Manuel Lisa was a man of Spanish descent who had very few, if any, scruples and little conscience. He knew what he wanted and was willing to do anything to obtain it. His dark skin, eyes, and hair should have warned others of the “devils” which lurked within his body. Lisa, under the eye of John Colter, set up a post where the Yellowstone River was joined by the Bighorn River, in the future state of Montana, around forty-five miles from where the infamous Battle of the Little Bighorn would be fought in 1876. Quickly Lisa’s holdings and profits multiplied, for he had learned how to dupe the Indians and the trappers who worked for him. He had the largest post in that area. Trappers had to bring their pelts and hides to it to be sent to St. Louis.