Lakota Winds (Zebra Historical Romance) (22 page)

"We are safe, and we saw no one during our ride and stay here. We
kept the horses inside the cave while we slept, sheltered from the storm."

"What of the grizzly?" Red Feather asked, nodding toward the bear.

Wind Dancer disclosed the exciting story to the amazed man, who
kept glancing at the massive creature with lethal claws.

"Dewdrops is a worthy companion for you on the visionquest. Our
people will chant her large coup for saving your life."

"As they will chant yours and Zitkala's for slaying our enemies before
they could scout our camp. We will skin the bear and take its meat
home to those in need. I will summon Dewdrops to see her friend. Call Zitkala to join us. I have not met her," he reminded Red Feather, "and
wish to do so."

"You will like and respect her, mitakola, as I do."

Wind Dancer wondered if there was a special gleam in his friend's
eyes when Red Feather looked at the Brule woman and an unfamiliar
tone in his voice when he spoke of her. Later, he would ask about that.
"Why is she called, `Bird,' and was not given a color or more name?"

"Her mother told her she received that name in a dream during the
birth process; Zitkala told me this in our camp when we talked much.
She slept in your tepee, for I gave her permission. She wears Dewdrops's
dress, for her garments-those of a man-were soaked by the storm
before we returned to camp. I hope that does not displease you."

"It does not, for she is our ally and friend and helped save our
people."

"That is true, mitakola. She is-"

"Zitkala!" Chumani shouted from the cave's mouth as she was leaving
it. Her heart leapt with joy to see Zitkala again so soon, but her mind
quickly filled with curiosity and concern about her friend's presence
there.

Zitkala joined Chumani at the foot of the incline and they embraced.

"Is there trouble in our camp?" Chumani asked immediately, then
realized Zitkala had lacked the time to go home and return. She also
grasped that Zitkala was wearing her garment and hairpiece, was clad
as a female. She looked at her husband and his best friend as the men
joined them. "Why do you two come here?" she asked.

Red Feather repeated the news he had just shared with Wind Dancer,
causing Chumani's gaze to enlarge with amazement. "They all walk the
Ghost Trail, so they can not return to their camp to reveal our secrets.
We fought well together; is that not true, Zitkala?"

"It is true, for Wiyaka Lute is a warrior of great skill and courage."

Chumani was astonished to see her friend's gaze lower for a short
time and her cheeks glow with warmth. Zitkala was not normally a
person of shyness; and ordinarily she would have kept on her male
garments even if drenched or soiled. Chumani also perceived Red Feath er's elated expression and tone of voice, which implied great interest in
her best friend.

"In our camp, few men are better hunters or warriors than Zitkala,"
Chumani remarked. "It is good she was placed in the path of our
enemies. I have not seen Wiyaka Lute in battle, but Zitkala always
speaks the truth and knows when one has great prowess. I am glad you
fought beside her."

"It was almost night when we finished our battle; the storm was
upon us; and no moon rode in the sky," Red Feather explained. "Zitkala
stayed in your tepee until morning and we came to be sure you were
alive and unharmed."

Chumani smiled at Red Feather. "We are blessed to have two good
friends who love and protect us," she said. "Is that not so, mihigna?"

"That is so, mitawin. After we return to our camp, Zitkala, will you
stay with us until the next sun rises so our people can honor you?"

Zitkala was delighted she could remain near Red Feather for another
day so she could study his strange effect upon her. "I thank you, Waci
Tate, but I must not intrude on a newly joined couple."

"I would ask you to stay in my parents' tepee," Red Feather injected,
"but you are a woman and not of our family circle. It is not our custom."

"She will sleep in our tepee; it is only for one night when many
loom before us for privacy. Is that not true, mitawin?" Although he
hated to sacrifice even one night with Chumani, he knew how much
she would enjoy a visit with her friend, and Zitkala deserved to be
honored.

"It is true, mihigna, "she concurred, pleased by his words.

"It will be so. We will prepare the grizzly while you speak alone."

"Waci Tate told me how you battled the bear and slew him," Red
Feather said. "It took great courage to challenge a forest warrior."

"I fought him, but he was slain by Wakinyan at the Great Spirit's
command. The Thunderbird Spirit sent a lightning arrow into his heart
before he could slay me."

"Wakantanka rescued you to ride on the visionquest with my friend
after you saved his life. It is a good sign, Dewdrops, big medicine."

Chumani smiled and thanked Red Feather before she and Zitkala
went to sit on a flat-topped boulder, out of the men's hearing range.
She coaxed her friend to tell her the details of the perilous adventure
with Red Feather. Chumani listened and observed closely as Zitkala
gave a detailed report of their tracking episode and ensuing clash. She
noticed how her best friend kept stealing sideways glances at the man
in her colorful story, how her gaze and cheeks would glow for a while, and
how she almost stumbled over her words during those brief distractions.

"He is a great warrior, Dewdrops, and his courage and skills are as
large as the sacred mountain. I ate with his family and we talked until
it was late. I slept in your tepee and I borrowed your garment, for mine
was soaked from the rain. I could not return home after our battle and
he would not allow me to camp in the forest alone and during the
storm."

Chumani covered her mouth with a hand as she laughed softly. She
could not resist jesting in a near whisper, "What do you mean by, `he
would not allow' you to do something? I have never known Zitkala to
follow the orders of anyone but her parents, chief, council, and the
Creator."

"You tease me unfairly, Dewdrops, as I did with you in the forest
at our reunion. I cannot put it into words, for I do not grasp it myself,
but I am amazed and confused by Red Feather's effect on me. It is
strange, unlike me to be ensnared by a man. It is frightening to have
such potent feelings. And it is foolish, for he would never desire a manwoman."

"If such is true, Zitkala, why does he look at you with such desire
in his gaze and why does his voice grow soft and warm when he speaks
to you or about you? I do not believe I am misguided when I say, you
tug at his heart and mind."

Zitkala stared at Chumani, afraid to accept those stirring words.
"How can that be? I am a hunter-warrior, not a real woman. We are
strangers."

"Are those not the same questions I asked you about Wind Dancer? You could not answer them for me, and I cannot answer them for you.
Love and desire are great mysteries which perhaps only the Great Spirit
and Mother Earth understand. For certain, they are hard to resist or
conquer."

"Even if he did desire me, we could not join. My parents have no
son or other daughter to be their protector and provider; they need
me."

"Your father is young and strong enough to do his own hunting and
fighting for many circles of the seasons to come. When that is no longer
true, your parents can move into your tepee in our camp. Do you not
see, Zitkala, the Great Spirit has given you acceptance by and a place
of honor with the Red Shields? He has opened the tepee flap for you
to enter our band. Perhaps He crossed your path with Red Feather's
as He crossed mine with Wind Dancer's. Would it not be wonderful
to live side by side again? To do chores together? To speak and visit
on every sun?"

"We ride this new trail too fast, Dewdrops. We have me joined to
Red Feather and our future suns planned before he even moves toward
me."

"If you do not slyly reveal your feelings to him, he may be too wary
to approach you; and another female could ensnare him while you hang
back," Chumani warned.

"What if he does not want me as a woman, only as a friend?"

"What if he does want you and you elude him out of fear of rejection?
Look upon it as a challenge: if you do not risk losing your heart, there
is no chance of winning such a struggle and prize. That is what I did
on the past moon and found glorious victory. You must like, respect,
trust, and desire Red Feather before love fills your heart for him. I did
not have such feelings for Dull Star, but they flow as a powerful river
within me for Wind Dancer. That is why we came here, to bond with
each other, and we did so. I have never known such great love and
desire for a man. Wastemna saw us in the forest and told Wind Dancer
I had betrayed him with another man; we quarreled, and I left camp to calm myself and think. He realized I spoke the truth and came after
me to settle our problems, and we did so."

"After we rode from the Red Shield camp, Red Feather told me you
two had come here to be alone," Zitkala said. "When I reached their
camp on the last sun, Wastemna was with Red Feather. She told him
I was the man who had met with Dewdrops in the forest and was your
secret lover. She said I should be captured so we could be punished
together. Though I was wearing men's garments and my hair was
braided, he knew I was a female. He scolded her and sent her to her
tepee for causing trouble. Perhaps that is another reason why he wanted
us to find you this sun, to show me to your husband to prove Wastemna
lied or was mistaken and you spoke the truth."

"He is a good friend to us, Zitkala, and would be a good husband
for you. I have seen young women in our camp approach him with the
hope of winning him, but he has never looked at or behaved with them
as he does with you. If you feel love and desire growing for him, do
not evade his chase. Be cunning and encourage his pursuit."

"I will think upon your words, my friend, for to obey them carries
a great risk and much sacrifice. I must make sure he is worth them."

"I believe he is, Zitkala, and I would not speak falsely to you, for I
love you and want you to be happy. I would not send you down a
wrong trail. You would like living in the Red Shield camp; they are
good people. And, it would put you nearby to help us with the sacred
quest," Chumani tempted.

"You are clever and greedy, my friend, for you know my heart well.
You know my strengths and weaknesses and my secrets."

"As you know mine, Zitkala."

As Wind Dancer and Red Feather skinned the grizzly and prepared
the meat for transport on a makeshift travois, they talked of many of
the same things which engrossed the two women. It was obvious to
Wind Dancer that his best friend was enchanted by Chumani's best
friend, which pleased him.

As he stole a glance at the object of his desire, Red Feather warmed
and murmured, "She is a special woman, is she not?"

Wind Dancer grinned and said, "Yes, my wife is that and more."

"Dewdrops is also special, but I speak of Zitkala. The tepee and
family of her mate would be safe when he was out of camp on raids
and hunts. Her skills and courage are large and she could do all things
for a man. She is not beautiful, but she is good to look upon and tempts
a hunger in me. Is it foolish to desire a female of another tribe, a near
stranger?"

Wind Dancer chuckled. "You ask that of a man who did the same
thing? When my eyes first touched upon Dewdrops, I knew I must
have her. She entered my heart as swiftly and powerfully as an arrow,
but she did not slay me; she returned me to life with her magic. Our
bond is strong and complete, my friend, as it was meant to be. Perhaps
it is the same between you and Zitkala."

"What if she does not feel the way I do?"

"That same worry and fear filled me until the last moon. There is
but one way to learn the truth, and that is to seek it no matter where
it lies."

"What if that `truth' is bad and cuts into my heart and spirit? She
lives and rides as a hunter-warrior. Perhaps she does not wish to mate."

"Perhaps that was true until she met you, my friend, but no longer.
Did you not see how she looks at you? Hear how she speaks to you?
How she steals glances in your direction?"

"Do not tease me, mitakola, for this matter is grave to me."

"I do not tease or misguide you; we are best friends, like brothers.
After we return to camp, I will find a place and time to speak privately
with Dewdrops. I will learn if Zitkala is open to your interest in her."

"Thank you, my friend."

"Do not move slow like the turtle, my friend, for soon she must
leave our camp and we must begin the sacred quest. Dewdrops told me
clever ways to distract the Crow from our camp, tricks we must use to
keep them busy in this season. We will speak of them in the meeting
lodge this sun."

The two men loaded the travois which was attached to Chumani's
horse, as she would ride with her husband.

As their work was being completed, Wind Dancer realized how eager
he was to reach home because he had another important task to perform,
no matter how much trouble it caused.