Cheyenne Moon (18 page)

Two mornings later they all left for the Indians summer camp. Shadow Spirit and his warriors had completed the repairs on the old wagon.  It now had a covering that would keep out the rain, but could be rolled back to let in some sunshine in the mornings. They had covered the wagon with skins that Polly and her son had collected over the years. What furnishings the room allowed had been carefully loaded, the table, and four chairs were tied on top with rawhide strips.

The bed was put inside along with twelve large quilts the likes of which Shadow Spirit had never seen. He did not understand why anyone would cut fabric up into little pieces only to sew it back together, but his Grandmother and Abby were now sitting in the wagon as they traveled working on another one. The quilts were indeed beautiful, with all the different patterns and colors forming circles that interloped and squares of all sizes.

They stopped for a noon meal on the banks of a creek that had an abundant amount of shade trees. Abby had nursed the twins and given Joshua his food before they had stopped. Joshua sat with Moon Rising beside the creek on a large rock with a surface that had been worn smooth by the water running over it. Joshua held a long stick with a string attached and a small hook like bone on the end. Moon Rising was showing him how to catch a fish.             

“Do you think they will catch anything?”  Abby jokingly asked Shadow Spirit.

“It does not matter if they catch anything or not, it is just good that Moon Rising has taken an interest in the boy. Joshua seems to trust him.”

“I hope that he is able to trust again, I have noticed that he is watching you and that he smiles when you are talking to him.”

“I have come to care for him in the short time that I have known him, I am proud to call him my son.”

“Joshua has that effect on people, it is impossible not to love him and want to protect him,” Abby said.

Joshua started yelling and jumping up and down. He came running to where Abby and Shadow Spirit sat watching him fish.

“Shadow Spirit look I caught a fish!” He cried as he held out his pole with a tiny gray fish dangling from the end.

“That is good Joshua. You are going to be a great fisherman. If I were you I would put this one back in the creek so that he can grow into a very large fish. He is too small to feed all of us.”

“I will Shadow Spirit I think he would be happier in the creek.”  He hugged Shadow Spirit. “I wouldn’t want to hurt him by eating him anyway.”

Moon Rising stood watching the exchange between Shadow Spirit and Joshua.

“Moon Rising, will you help me get him loose so that he will grow into a big happy fish?”

“Yes I will. Come on we must hurry before he is out of the water too much longer.” They walked back to the creek with Joshua holding Moon Rising’s hand.

“I believe that Moon Rising has grown into a man on this trip and will no longer give me an argument when I ask him to do something.”

“Has he been giving you problems?”

“He is just young and thinks he knows more than he does. My father told me when Moon Rising was only eleven, to watch him, that someday he would be a great warrior. I had almost given up on him until this trip, now I feel that my father was right.”

Abby placed her hand over his. “I am sure that your father was right about Moon Rising, but you my darling are my hero. You never once gave up your search for me and our babies.” She gently kissed his lips and whispered something to him that made him kiss her with more passion than the first kiss.

“You are a tease, my lovely wife. I think that our noon meal has come to an end and it is time to get on our way. We will stop for the night in a wooded area that I have used several times on my trip to look for you, it is out of the way and off the trail, we should not have to worry about any problems coming up.”

“Are you expecting more trouble?” Abby asked with concern.

“I am not sure, but I have noticed that Storm seems to be guarding us. He has walked close to the wagon since not long after we left the cabin. I believe he thinks he is protecting the children.”

They had been traveling for several hours when the two warriors that Shadow Spirit had sent to make sure there was no trouble ahead came riding up motioning back the way they had just came from.

“What is it Shadow Spirit?” Abby asked.

“It is nothing for you to worry about I will take care of this problem.” 

“Shadow Spirit I want to know what is happening.”

“My men saw someone watching us from that hill up ahead, to the left. As far as they can tell it is just one person.”

“Should I stop the wagon and go in the back with Polly and the kids?”

“I will ride out and see if I can tell who it is and what they want. You can drive the wagon on, but if you spot any trouble at all get in the back and open up the floor, there is an extra bottom. There is room for all of you in there.”

“I will, and please be careful, I love you so much. I can’t lose you.”

“I love you and I will be back in just a little while.”

The closer Shadow Spirit came to the spot where his men had seen the person who was watching them he knew in his soul that it was Black Heart. He drew his knife from its sheath just in case he needed it in a hurry. As he topped the hill an arrow whizzed past his shoulder just missing him. He quickly jumped from the horse and scooted behind a boulder. 

“Shadow Spirit this time I will kill you. I have waited for a long time for this and when I get finished with you I will get that pretty white whore you call your wife and your half breed nits.” Black Heart yelled.

“Come out and fight me like a man Black Heart, instead of the coward that you are. You are only good at killing women and children that cannot fight you back”

“Your wife fought back when I raped her over and over. Did she tell you how she cried in the beginning, but really liked it by the time I was finished?”

Shadow Spirit had slipped around behind Black Heart while he had been bragging about what he said he had done. Shadow Spirit knew that the yellow bastard had not raped Abby and that he was just trying to goat him into making a mistake.

He silently crept up behind Black Heart. When Shadow Spirit was a few feet from his target Black Heart turned and shot. The bullet knocked Shadow Spirit to the ground as the lead dug into his shoulder.

Black Heart was on Shadow Spirit in a second, he drew his knife. “How does it feel to know that you are taking your final breathes. I will take my time with your wife and make her watch as I slice the throats of the old women and your children. He raised the knife ready to plunge it into Shadow Spirit heart when there was a deep angry growl directly behind him. The wolf startled Black Heart causing him to drop the knife. He tried to run as Storm grabbed him by the throat. It was over in a matter of seconds as his blood drained from the gaping hole in the side of his neck.

Shadow Spirit managed to raise his head in time to see Black Heart die. Storm came over, licked his face, and pushed against him trying to get him to stand. Storm ran away in the direction of the others.

Moon Rising and the other braves brought Two Shadow back to the wagon where Polly took over and removed the bullet and dressed the wound. 

“Abby darling, he is sleeping and was out cold when I took out the slug so he didn’t feel it.” Polly said as she consoled Abby. “He is going to be alright, he just needs to rest. We will stay here for a couple of days until Shadow Spirit is able to travel.”

“Thank you so much for taking over for me. The babies were crying because they were hungry and Joshua was scared and screaming. I don’t know if I could have taken the bullet out anyway, my hands were shaking so badly. Will you take the kids and sit in the shade while I go in to sit with him? I want him to see my face first thing when he wakes up.”

Abby sat by his side for the rest of the day before he made a sound or opened his eyes.  When he did speak he said, “It is finally over Sweetheart, Black Heart is dead.”

At the end of the week, they were ready to resume their journey to the summer encampment. Shadow Spirit was better and able to ride with only a small amount of pain in his shoulder. The sun was shining brilliantly in a beautiful clear cobalt sky. Polly sat on the seat of the wagon beside Abby and Joshua. Morning Sky and Shadow Eagle were lying down on a bed of soft quilts, just inside the wagon, and both babies were fighting sleep. Polly sang them as the wagon rolled along. With-in minutes both were sleeping, their little mouths making sucking movements.

“How long did Shadow Spirit say this trip would take?” Polly asked. She could hardly contain her excitement at seeing her daughter for the first time in over twenty-five years.

“It’ll take about a week more if all goes well and everyone stays well. We’ll travel as long as possible each day, only taking a short break for our noon meal. It’s going to be a hard trip for everyone.”

“Just think Abby, I’ll see my beautiful Judith in just a week.”

“I know how happy you must be, I myself can’t wait to see her and Yellow Dove. I want them to meet my miracle babies. I also want to see Yellow Dove’s boy.”

“Morning Sky and Shadow Eagle are a miracle indeed. When I think of what you went through while you carried them, I shiver to think what could have happened to you and them. It was your sheer will and determination that brought you to me, with the help of God.” Polly reached across a now sleeping Joshua, and took Abby’s hand. “I have not forgotten about having a granddaughter at the camp and I am eager to meet her and Little Wolf, but I feel that I also have a granddaughter in you.”

“I feel the same way, I love you so much, and if you had not found Joshua and me hiding in the tree, I don’t know how things would have turned out.”

Shadow Spirit rode up to the wagon announcing that it was time to eat and rest. He motion for Abby to follow him with the wagon. She pulled the wagon in under a huge tree that would offer shade as they ate their meal.

The afternoon was harder traveling than the morning had been. The trail was at a steady incline, and in some places the trees were so thick that there was barely room for Abby to get the horses and wagon through. The trees were incredible though so lush and green and tall that they appeared to be reaching to the sky. Abby saw that moss grew on the trunks and mushroom were abundant on the ground around the tree trunks. They stopped for a few minutes to allow Polly to pick some of them.

At dusk they stopped for the night, a fire was built, and rabbits that the warriors had killed were roasted along with the mushrooms. 

“Polly these are wonderful, they almost taste like meat. I have heard that there are some that are poison.”

“Oh yes, a person has to know the difference or they could die, people that pick mushrooms have to know what they’re doing. I picked some one time and cooked them for supper, and I swear I was never in all my life that sick and John was almost in as bad a shape as I was. This kind is the only ones I will fool with now.”

“Well these are certainly delicious.” Shadow Spirit said.

They bedded down for the night. Polly slept in the wagon with all the children. Shadow Spirit made him and Abby a place to sleep fairly close incase that if the babies woke up and wanted their mother. 

“Come Abby we need to rest for we have another long day tomorrow.” 

“I just wanted to make sure they were sleeping, and they are. Polly is snoring softly. She has Joshua in bed with her, and Morning Sky and Shadow Eagle on a pallet at her head she has her arm across them. They are so cute all cuddled up together.” Abby said as shy lie down beside her husband. 

He took her in his arms and kissed her gently all the while removing her clothing. He caressed her body with a touch that was so light it felt like feathers being run up and down her body. They made sweet love quiet love as their family lay sleeping.

The traveled for two more days, everyone becoming more excited the closer they got to the camp. Shadow Spirit said that since they had made better time than he had first thought that they should reach the rest of the group with-in four days.

The next day Shadow Spirit noticed a small group of men on horse in the distance. He could not tell if they were Indian or white from that far away. He told his warriors to keep watch and to inform him if there was any trouble coming their way. 

The following day Shadow Spirit sent Moon Rising to get a better look at the men who seemed to be traveling parallel to the way they were going. The unknown men were farther east but still going in the same direction.

They made camp and Abby and Polly started setting out the left over quail from lunch. Shadow Spirit walked up them with a worried look on his face. 

“What is wrong dear, you look concerned about something?” Polly asked.

“Moon Rising has not returned, and I am afraid he has run into trouble.”

“Oh Shadow Spirit I hope he is alright, if anything has happened to him Joshua will be devastated, he has really come to like Moon Rising.” Abby said.

When Shadow Spirit was preparing to send one of the other warriors to find Moon Rising, he come riding in with Gray Wolf and five other men from the village.

Gray Wolf walked strait to Abby and embraced her. “I am so glad that you will be returning to our people and Yellow Dove will no longer be so sad.”

“It is so wonderful to see you.”

He saw the other women and glanced back at Abby.

“I will let Shadow Spirit tell you about this wonderful lady.” Abby said as she turned back to Polly and the food for their meal.

“Gray Wolf this is Polly Macintosh, my grandmother.”

“Your grandmother…Green Eyes’ mother I did not mean to be so surprised. Our chief’s mother talks of you often.”  Gray Wolf replied.

“How are my Granddaughter and your son?”

“Yellow Dove is well, as is our son. She will be happy that she now has a grandmother.”

“I need to check on the children and help Abby with the food. Nice meeting you.”

“Shadow Spirit, did she say children?”

“Yes my friend, I now have three children.”

He explained everything to Gray Wolf and took him to meet his family. After they had their food Shadow Spirit and Gray Wolf had a meeting for the chief to find out what had been happening while he was away.

“Gray Wolf, what are you doing out here?”

“We have discovered a valley few days ride from here that is so deep and there appears to be only one way in.”

“What is so special about this valley?”

“It has buffalo, deer, and other kinds of animals. There are hundreds of them. A lake sets in the middle, which offers fresh water. .”

“I know of this place. It is just over the mountain from where my grandmother has lived for years. “We will try this place out in the fall. The buffalo are getting fewer in our regular hunting grounds. Maybe someday we will camp there all year round. We would like to leave at sunrise, are you finished with your scouting trip?”

“Yes we will be heading back also. I am happy that you found your family safe.”

“Thank you my friend, our life is good now.”

When the little caravan reached the rise above the Indians camp and Abby looked down at her home, she felt an incredible sense of peace. It was different than the first time she had seen the amazing sight of all the lodges setting in the lush green valley, with the mountains standing tall around it, this time she was not afraid of the reception she would receive.

She proudly rode beside Shadow Spirit on her horse as they came into the village. Moon Rising was driving the wagon for Polly was in back with the children. Shadow Spirit did not want his mother fainting at the sight of her mother, who she thought dead.

Yellow Dove was running in their direction, crying and calling Abby’s name.

“Abby….Abby, you are alive and have come back home.” Yellow Dove cried as Abby jumped from the horse to embrace her friend.

“Yes and I have a great surprise.” The two women were still clinging to each other, when Shadow Spirit joined them. “Yellow Dove, where is our Mother?”

“She went with some of the women to gather wild onions and berries. She will be so happy to see you both.”

“Will you go find her while we go to our lodge and take our things inside?”

“What about the baby Abby, is it well?”

“Yes wonderful, you can meet everyone in a short time.”

“Go, find our mother.”

In her lodge for the first time in long time, Abby stood crying, looking around at all the thing that had been given to her and Shadow Spirit after they had married. She looked at the small cradle board that he had made for their baby when they first knew she was pregnant. “I don’t believe this will fit our babies now.” She remarked holding Shadow Eagle in her arms. Morning Sky was in her father’s arms. 

Polly had entered the lodge with Joshua, who was looking around with awe.

“This is much larger than I thought it would be” Polly said as she gazed at the inside of the lodge. When will I see my daughter and granddaughter, I have waited long enough?”

“Soon, Yellow Dove has gone to find her.” 

Shadow Spirit heard his mother outside the lodge and tried to stop her from entering before he had a chance to tell her about her Mother, but he was not fast enough.

Green Eyes entered and saw Polly sitting on the trunk and promptly crumbled to the floor. 

Polly was at her side in an instant. “Judith, my darling daughter, it is really me I am here please wake up.” Polly sat on the floor cradling Green Eyes’ head in her lap.

Green Eyes slowly opened her eyes and stared at the face of her mother, “Mama?”

“Yes darling it’s me, I’m here.”

“Mama, how can this be? I saw the cabin burning as I was taken away.”

“I am a resourceful woman, your brother and I hid and we were saved, but they killed your father.”

“John is alive too.”

“No dear, he died some years ago.” She couldn’t stop looking at Green Eyes. “I can’t believe that I have my daughter back, and grandchildren and four great grandchildren.”  She turned to Yellow Dove and held out her arms. Yellow Dove went to her and held her close.

“It is so good to have you here.”

Yellow Dove turned to Abby and for the first time notice Joshua standing holding on to her hand.

“This is Joshua, I will explain how I came to have him later, but he is now our son.” Abby said.

Shadow Spirit took his mother by the hand and led her to the back of the lodge where Morning Sky and Shadow Eagle were sleeping. 

“Oh my!  Two babies.”

“Yes Mother, we have twins.” He picked up his daughter and handed her to Green Eyes. “This is Morning Sky, she has a white name also, it is Sarah Judith.”

Greens Eyes looked at the baby and smiled. “She is beautiful.” He took the little girl back, placed her in her cradle, and picked up his son. “This is Shadow Eagle his white name is Isaiah for Abby’s father.” He put Shadow Eagle back down both children still slept.

Green Eyes looked from Shadow Spirit to Abby who stood by his side as Green Eyes admired the babies. “I knew in my heart that my son would not give up on finding you even though it looked like there was no hope. How have you survived?”

Abby drew Polly close. “I have had a lot of help.”

They all talked and got to know each other again. It was a wonderful reunion. Polly went to Green Eyes lodge and they talked for hours before either one thought of sleep. Shadow Spirit met with his council to discuss the problem of the encroaching white’s onto their land. Abby and Yellow Dove sat in Abby’s lodge catching up and admiring each other’s children. 

When Shadow Spirit returned to his lodge, he asked Yellow Dove if she would stay with the children for a while.

He took Abby by the hand and pulled her to her feet. “I wish take a walk with my wife”

They walked to the edge of the camp, neither one speaking, just enjoying the fact that they were together and no longer had to fear Black Heart. 

“I love you Shadow Spirit and I never want to be apart from you again.” She tiptoed and kissed him. He pulled her closer.

“I will love you as long as there is breath in my body.” He picked her up and carried her to the place where they had first made love. He sat her on her feet and started to undress her when they heard a wolf howl in the distance. They looked toward the mountain and saw the outline of a great wolf standing there. “Do you think that is Storm?” she asked.

“I would like to think so I know that he traveled in the shadows with us until we reached the camp.”

The wolf howled again as Shadow Spirit and Abby made love under a Cheyenne Moon.