Follow the Wind (17 page)

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Authors: Don Coldsmith

BOOK: Follow the Wind
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It was nearly
noon of the following day before Cabeza managed to seek out the young chief for a serious conversation.
“Juan, I have to talk with you. Can we be alone?”
The other nodded. He had some idea where this talk would lead.
“Of course. Let us walk.”
The two men strolled out of the village, responding occasionally to pleasant greetings by various members of the People. The chief indicated the direction and they casually ascended a nearby hill. Juan Garcia seated himself on a boulder and pointed to another nearby.
“I come here sometimes to think. Did you ever see anything like this, Ramon?”
He traced the horizon with a sweeping gesture. Cabeza followed his gaze, again impressed by the vastness of the place. Range followed range of the low rolling hills, clothed in the lush grasses of the prairie. In the distance, the green became blue, until at last it was impossible to discern between
the blue of the furthest inundations of the plains and the blue of the azure sky.
Buffalo dotted the distant meadows and fluffy white clouds sent blue circles of shadow gliding across the green expanse. Nearer their hilltop, an eagle swept past on fixed wings, uttering her high-pitched cry. Nearer at hand, a red-winged grasshopper clattered into the air and fluttered to rest a few steps away, becoming instantly invisible again as soon as it became motionless.
“Yes, Ramon, you wished to talk?”
Cabeza, startled, came back from his reverie with some embarrassment.
“What? Oh yes.”
Where should he begin?
“It is about the girl?” the other encouraged.
Cabeza nodded.
“Yes, that is part of it. I have to make some decisions.”
The man in breechclout and moccasins waited, silent. He had, he knew, undergone much the same sort of soul-searching himself nor too many summers past.
“How can I start? First, I know my responsibility is to your father. I am paid to lead the expedition's fighting men. Now …” he shrugged. “I will have to lead the entire party home, what remains of it. There is Sanchez, of course, but you know …”
The other nodded, waiting.
“And how long until your father,
Señor
Garcia, is able to travel?”
He heaved a deep sigh.
“Then the girl. You say I have to marry her?”
“Don't you want to?”
“Of course. But, my God, man, I can't stay here with her. I have to take the expedition home. And I might never be able to return.”
Juan Garcia's respect for this young man had been steadily growing. His loyalty and dependability were apparently above reproach. The elder Garcia had chosen his man well. Now, yet another facet of the lieutenant's makeup was seen. The average man would think very lightly of a temporary liaison with
a native girl. One could go through the motions of whatever mumbo jumbo was required. Then, when it became convenient, the girl could be abandoned with impunity.
Hence, Heads Off had been a trifle uneasy about this relationship. He felt protective over the girl and defensive toward any threat to her well-being. South Wind was, after all, one of the People, to be defended from men of other tribes. And marriage customs of the People were very strict. He smiled inwardly at the thought that he now regarded his fellow cadet from the Academy as an outsider. His own affinity for the People still astonished him.
“Cabeza, you could marry her—and then just leave her here when you go.”
For a moment, he thought the lieutenant was ready to strike him. Anger and disbelief distorted Cabeza's face.
“Mother of God, Garcia! Could you abandon your wife and sons?”
That was the reaction the other had been seeking. Inwardly, he nodded approval. Outwardly, he waved aside the protests of the other.
“Of course not, Ramon. I only wondered how you felt. I have been through the same problem, you know.”
He pondered in silence a moment.
“You really love this girl, don't you, Ramon?”
It was more a statement than a question.
“My friend,” answered Cabeza, “I can understand why you were never able to go back to Spain. But I must.”
The other nodded sympathetically.
“It strikes me, Ramon, that South Wind would follow you to the ends of the earth.”
“You mean—take her
back
with me?”
“Would you be embarrassed by her?”
For a moment, Cabeza became indignant again. Then, relaxed.
“Juan, I would be proud to take her anywhere as my wife.”
His companion was pleased.
“And so you should be. She is not only beautiful, but a woman of great courage.”
He paused a long moment.
“For me, it was wrong to think of going back to Spain. For you, it may be right. Now, it will be some time before Don Pedro is able to travel. Why not marry the girl and be happy while you wait?”
“How is this done?”
“The ceremony is simple. Her father just spreads a robe over the shoulders of the couple in a public announcement. But first, you have to give him something of value.”
“You mean,
buy
her?”
“No no, you just honor her family with a gift.”
Cabeza shrugged, dejected.
“But I have nothing!”
He picked idly at the sleeve of his threadbare shirt, as if to indicate that it was all he owned.
“He will know that, Ramon. But it should show some sacrifice on your part. Why not give him your horse?”
Cabeza's face reflected consternation. He had commandeered one of the Garcia stallions after the death of his own animal. To lose it now would put him on foot again.
“But, Juan, I
need
my horse!”
“A horse is no problem. I will give you all the horses you want. But the gift to her father must be
your
horse.”
“And how is this thing done?”
“You lead the horse through the camp and tie it in front of her father's lodge. Then when he comes out, ask him for his daughter. You can use the sign talk.”
“Suppose he refuses?”
“He will not refuse. It will be a great honor for him to have such a warrior as you in his family.”
“But Juan, where would we go? I can't bring a bride home to your lodge!”
Heads Off laughed.
“You'll find this hard to believe, my friend. Most of the young couples move in with the girl's family until they can afford their own lodge. It makes mighty hunters of the young men, trying to save enough skins for a lodge cover. The girls become pretty proficient at tanning, too.”
Cabeza looked crestfallen.
“There is another possibility, Ramon. The weather is good
at this time. The two of you can go off by yourselves for a few days. The People often live in a brush arbor in summer or when they're traveling and don't want to put up the big lodge. South Wind will know how to build one.”
The idea of
a few days alone with South Wind in the beauty of nature was a very appealing thought for Cabeza. That very evening, he led the gray stallion proudly through the village and stopped in front of the lodge. The father of South Wind emerged from the doorway, ostensibly to see what was going on, though by this time he knew full well.
“
Ah-koh
, uncle, I would ask for your daughter, South Wind.”
Cabeza had been carefully instructed in proper etiquette.
Lame Fox hesitated a long time, as was proper.
“What will you give?”
“My best elk-dog.”
My only elk-dog, in fact, he thought miserably. What if he refuses?
The warrior appeared to consider long, then finally spoke.
“Come in. We will talk.”
The invitation into the lodge was equivalent to acceptance and Cabeza relaxed. The host held the door skin aside and they entered the dim of the lodge.
Lame Fox indicated a pile of robes for the guest to sit.
South Wind sat beside her mother on the opposite side of the lodge. Her eyes sparkled with excitement. Cabeza wondered if he could manage the sign talk well enough to handle this situation. Well, if it became too difficult, perhaps he could induce Heads Off to come and speak for him. He heaved a deep sigh.
“The weather has been very good,” he began.
The faces across the fire broke into friendly smiles. It was a situation of great honor to have the war chief of the Hair-faces marry into one's family.
“Yes,” signed Lame Fox. “Very good.”
Preparations were soon under way for the nuptial ceremony of the daughter of Lame Fox. She would be given in marriage to the war chief of the Hair-faces, the tribe of the great chief of the People, Heads Off.
Lame Fox was extremely pleased. As one of the Bowstring Society, he had little use for the great gray elk-dog given by his prospective son-in-law. Still, the prestige of owning such a fine animal was important. There were few families among the People who could boast such a possession. And the family of Lame Fox had never been wealthy. An injury in his youth had resulted in a pronounced limp. It made it difficult for him to achieve great success at the hunt.
True, he had managed to keep his children fed and a lodge over their heads, but it had been hard. Even now, as he began to feel the gnawing bite of Cold Maker in his stiff knee on chilly mornings, he wondered what the future held. He had begun to understudy the work of Stone Breaker, maker of weapons, against the time he could no longer hunt. His work was not yet proficient enough for prestige and recognition, but now the People would at least know the name of Lame Fox, whose daughter had married well.
And the daughter!
Aiee
, she had been a problem. Headstrong and unpredictable, the girl seemed to take after the family of her mother, Chickadee. They were of the Eastern band of the People, noted for foolishness and poor judgment.
Ah well, theirs had been an exciting marriage. Even with
the extra concern over the volatile South Wind and her childhood escapades, it had been good. Chickadee was a good wife.
True, Lame Fox had sometimes wondered if this, their oldest child, would ever marry. She had spurned the attentions of all the young men. This secretly pleased her father, who saw none worthy of South Wind anyway. All the young men of the Rabbit Society as she grew up had been defeated by her in running, swimming, or in the proficient use of weapons. Lame Fox had wondered if there might be any warrior among the People who would be a fit partner for his fiery daughter.
When she had been abducted, he and her mother had despaired of ever seeing her again. Now, in the space of a few short days, events had occurred so rapidly that Lame Fox could hardly comprehend.
Here was his returned daughter, more mature and more attractive than ever. Circumstances had placed her in a situation to become practically a heroine of the People. In addition, it required no imagination to see that her medicine with the young hair-face chief was very strong. Lame Fox was proud.
Now it remained only to set a time for the ceremony and make certain there would be enough food for the feast. Lame Fox, Chickadee, and South Wind were discussing the matter in front of their lodge.
“Spotted Cat owes me meat. I will ask him.”
“Yes, my husband. Deer Woman will help me cook. Probably Tall One and Big Footed Woman, also.”
“Father, when will the ceremony be?”
Lame Fox shrugged.
“When can you be ready, Chickadee?”
The bright eyes of the little woman danced and Lame Fox thought once more how easy it was to see how she had come by her name.
“Would two suns be soon enough?”
“For me, yes,” answered Lame Fox solemnly. “For South Wind, I am not sure.”
He smiled at his daughter.
“Two suns will be good, father. It will give us time to find a place to be together.”
South Wind already had a place in mind. Upstream from the village, not quite half a sun's journey, was a hidden canyon she had discovered as a child. The People had camped nearby for a season and South Wind had used the retreat for all the pretending of a small girl. It was protected on three sides by steep, rocky walls and a sparkling spring fed the tiny stream that wandered among the rocks and trees.
South Wind was dreamily planning the bower that she and Rah-mone would build together for their first temporary home.
“Look!”
Her mother interrupted her reverie.
“Coyote comes!”
Even from a distance, it was apparent that something was wrong. Something in the slope of the little man's shoulders, the downward tilt of his head, sent the information ahead of him. Anxiously, the family of Lame Fox watched as Coyote came closer.
“Ah-koh,
my friend,” greeted Lame Fox.
Coyote stood a long moment.
“Ah-koh,
Lame Fox. I have bad news.”
Thoughts of trouble raced through the minds of the others. Had Rah-mone changed his mind? Had something happened to him? South Wind leaped to her feet.
“No no,” Coyote shook his head, “it is only that the marriage must be postponed.”
The others relaxed slightly, but stood waiting, still concerned.
“The chief's father is dying.”

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