Lakota Winds (Zebra Historical Romance) (46 page)

She took a quick breath and gave more force to her voice. "If you
do not obey this message, Mother Earth will not grow your sacred
tobacco within her belly; any seeds you plant in her will wither and
die," she warned. "The Little People will not give your arrows strength
or true aims, and your enemies will slay you. The Thunderbird will
turn his eyes from you and deny you the rain you need. If you do not
believe such things will happen as punishments, ask the tribe of Sroka
which was twice attacked by such forces in warning to them. When the
son of Rising Bear of the Oglala Red Shields was snared by Sroka,
whom all know his name and coups, Akbaatatdia sent His spirit-helpers
to free their captive, for he turned the eyes and wits and hands of Sroka's
people from their seasonal tasks. Old Man Coyote filled their hearts
with such hatred and anger against Sroka that they slew their greatest
warrior with many arrows. Are my words not true, Sroka's tribe?"

Chumani watched as that chief stepped forward and nodded, shocking
the others present. "Hear me, all Apsaalooke, for you will not be warned
again. I will send my helper to Akbaatatdia with your answer," she said
as she stroked Cetan's chest. "What will you do, my people?"

A vote was taken and a reply given to her. She smiled and nodded,
then told Cetan to take flight. All eyes followed his path and their
bodies turned away from her as if to see where their Creator dwelled.
That distracting tactic allowed her the time and chance to seemingly
vanish as she hurriedly sneaked down the rock's decline with her grinning
companion. With haste, she, Red Feather, and Wind Dancer crept to
another site, using the series of large formations to conceal their presence
and passings, along with the rabbit furs secured over their feet in the
event someone climbed and checked the site.

The three joined Zitkala and War Eagle at their horses. They mounted
and walked for a long distance behind high hills and around rocky
upheavals until they knew neither they nor their dust could be sighted
by the enemy. Soon Cetan gave a shrill cry from overhead as he caught
up with them. Then they galloped toward the Paha Sapa and their
people.

Following a glorious night of fiery passion in their tepee, which had
been erected during their absence by the women of their families and
with help from other friends, Chumani stood with Zitkala at the edge
of their camp to watch Wind Dancer and Red Feather ride away.

Chumani wished her husband had been left in charge of his people,
since his father and brother were going, but War Chief Blue Owl was
to have that important duty. Red Feather and many other warriors had
gone with them, as had her father and many of the White Shields,
though her brother had been left in charge of his band's protection, an
action which greatly pleased his wife. She was elated that the White
Shields were camped nearby for the winter; that would allow her to
visit her family and friends often, to help Rainbow Girl when her baby
was born, and to assure her of their safety. Yet, she was apprehensive
about her loved ones' journey to Fort Laramie, perhaps to face great
perils. With so many enemies-Indian and White-gathered there,
conflicts were inevitable.

Wind Dancer's party reached the sprawling valley near Fort Laramie
where an immense throng of Indians-allies and adversaries-were
camped; and more were arriving in large masses each day. Riding between
his father and grandfather, with War Eagle and Red Feather behind
them, he could not help but wonder if the Bluecoats and settlers were
apprehensive with so many heavily armed and highly trained warriors
close by. Yet, the fort was well-manned and the soldiers possessed
awesome guns and cannons for protection. They had ridden fast to get
there before the talks began, and had succeeded by one day.

Vast grasslands, coloring themselves for the fall season, stretched in
several directions. The visually impenetrable Platte and the clear and
winding Laramie rivers were nearby, as was lofty Laramie Peak which
was used as a landmark by both cultures. Westward, foothills swept up
into the Laramie Mountains which flowed onward into the massive
Rocky Mountains. A profusion of trees and bushes grew along the
riverbanks and in dense clusters here and there where water was close
to ground surface. An extensive prairie dog village dotted the landscape
not far away with many furry creatures poised atop their burrows as if
to observe the action while remaining ready to dive into safety or race
out to quickly forage for food. Old Fort John, with its whitewashed
adobe enclosure, sat on a low bluff overlooking the river. Beyond it
were the assorted structures of the newest section of the military post. A few of them had flat tops, but most had high pitched roofs with one
or more chimneys and the majority had extended windows. The white
man's flag on a tall pole-according to the wind-either waved gently
or popped wildly on their Parade Ground. Close by were the conical
dwellings of Indians who lived off the white man's handouts.

Rising Bear, in his full ceremonial garb, now led the way as they
rode onward to an already trampled meadow where an enormous
encampment was situated. The gatherings of lodges were separated only
by short distances for diverse tribes. They located the site of Red Cloud
and his Tetons and dismounted.

Wind Dancer sighted the Peace-Maker's camp of many tents, which
was protected by an abundance of Bluecoats. Soon talks would begin,
and he could only imagine what extreme changes they would wrought.

At the fort, Thomas Fitzpatrick was dismayed, as the promised goods
to be used in exchange for the chiefs' signatures on a treaty document
had not arrived and word was they would be several weeks late. He
knew if he didn't think up a cunning ploy, the Indians would return
to their lands and the chance for initiating another council and peace
were rare. For now, all he could do was hope the wagons hurried and
he could persuade the Indians to stay until they came and an agreement
could be made.

As Wind Dancer's group visited with Red Cloud, soldiers from
Mitchell came around to tell them, as they had the others, that this
location would soon be barren of grass needed by Fort Laramie's stock
and for thousands of Indian horses in the coming days and they should
find a site where there was sufficient grass to graze their animals. The
Bluecoats said that Superintendent Mitchell and Indian Agent Fitzpatrick wanted the chiefs to talk amongst themselves and make a suggestion
since the area was familiar to them. They were told that Mitchell had
ordered them to turn loose many head of cattle from the fort's herd so
their braves could capture, slaughter, and cook them, as most were present without their families, and meat would be easy for the men to
roast over open fires.

Wind Dancer guessed the white leaders were stalling for some reason,
and they assumed a full belly would calm the restless warriors. He and
his people would not chase the cattle, for they had brought food with
them. He almost laughed in amusement when he overheard a brave
speculate about the cattle being tainted and the gift being a trick to
sicken them. Wind Dancer doubted the white men would be that foolish
amidst a throng of Indians they surely did not want provoked against
them. He was grateful for the Peace-Maker's decision not to offer the
Indians whiskey. Perhaps the fort sutler had been ordered not to sell
any "firewater" to the "redskins." If whiskey entered the uneasy setting,
trouble would surely erupt with a myraid of disparate tribes in such
close proximity.

Despite that caution, trouble was sparked the next day when Washakie
and his Shoshones, escorted by soldiers and accompanied by the mountain man Jim Bridger, arrived just as Mitchell was preparing to speak.
A Dakota warrior tried to attack Washakie in retribution for a past
misdeed. One of the men acting as an interpreter halted the Dakota's
charge before a fight could break out and spread hostility to those men's
companions.

Wind Dancer watched how Mitchell, Broken Hand Fitzpatrick, and
the soldiers handled the potentially perilous situation, and was impressed.
His insightful mind reasoned that not all white men were evil and
scornful, but their numbers were all too few. The site of their new
location, the first matter, was discussed and settled quickly. It pleased
him, as it took them farther away from the fort, its detachments, and
its dreadful weapons.

The assembly of Indians and Whites moved eastward to Horse Creek,
an offshoot of the Platte River. Many Bluecoats traveled with them,
most riding on the group's fringes as they watched for trouble and
stayed ready to handle it swiftly. One of the wives of a white officer rode with them, no doubt to prove to the Indians they were trusted
not to attack the Whites.

Wind Dancer thought of his beloved wife and wished she were there
with him to witness this unpredictable event. He missed her terribly
and, having been an equal part of the visionquest, she deserved to be
there to see their efforts come to fruition. Yet, the Crow village they
had hopefully tricked recently had not arrived, and their absence worried
him. Even so, the Red and White Shields were camped close to each
other at the edge of the Paha Sapa and their warriors were to remain
on constant alert for danger, so she and their bands should be safe
during his absence. He and Chumani had ridden a long and perilous
path together and now that a truce loomed ahead with their enemies,
he must not lose her for any reason.

A huge campsite was erected at Horse Creek on Friday. After Mitchell
sent word around that it was a White custom to rest over the weekend,
it was announced the peace talks would begin on Monday morning,
September the eighth, at nine o'clock. The signal to gather would be
the ceremonial firing of their cannon.

Again, Wind Dancer had the feeling the Peace-Maker was stalling
for time. He prayed it was not to give time for more soldiers and
powerful weapons to arrive and they had not been lured into a trap.
He was aware of how much death and destruction could be carried out
with cannons, howitzers, and black powder thundersticks.

"Father, we must stay on alert for trickery," Wind Dancer disclosed
before voicing his previous thoughts. "I do not trust most of the Whites
and Bluecoats, though Broken Hand seems honorable. We must stay
ready to defend ourselves and to escape if a threat appears."

"That is wise, my son, and you must reveal such words to Red
Cloud."

"I will do so before I eat and sleep, but I am sure his thoughts and
feelings match mine. Use eagle eyes and sharp ears while I am gone."

During what the white man called the "weekend," various tribes and
bands-excluding Wind Dancer's-entertained the Peace-Maker and
his party with processions of their warriors in their finest garments
and headdresses. Certain dances were performed in colorful costumes,
accompanied by loud drumming. Songs were sung, vocables were murmured, and coups were chanted. Foods cooked by some of the warriors'
wives and other female members of their families were offered to the
observers, though most only pretended to eat or taste the unfamilar
or-to them-unsavory gifts.