Savage Spirit (43 page)

Cloud Eagle spread out on his back and pulled Alicia down beside him. He cradled her close as they both looked heavenward at the turquoise sky. "My
Ish-kay-nay
, are you
parah-dee-ah-tran?
" he asked.   Alicia turned on her side and leaned up on one elbow, which took her close to his face. "I have learned many Apache words and phrases, but I have not yet heard that one," she said. "Tell me, Cloud Eagle. What did you just ask me in Apache?"

He ran his fingers through her red hair, the silkiness of it against his flesh pleasuring him. "I just asked you if you were one without cares in this world?" he said, smiling into her eyes. "If you are one of contented disposition?"

"Need you truly ask?" she said, brushing a kiss across his lips. "Of course, darling, I could never be happier than I am now."

The sound of horses arriving in the distance drew Alicia and Cloud Eagle apart. They moved to their feet and went to stand with the others as they watched the horsemen come into view.

"General Powell," Cloud Eagle said, curiously. "He did not send word to ask for council. Why then is he here today with a full battalion of soldiers?"

Fear gripping her heart, Alicia placed her arm through Cloud Eagle's and clung to him. Deep within her heart she had feared the day that something might happen to destroy the peace between Cloud Eagle and the United States Government. Since Cloud Eagle's peace council with General Powell when she was with child with Dreaming Wolf, a smoke had been shared between them often. But the meetings were always pre-arranged by a soldier who came and asked for the council.

Today did it take a whole battalion, and even the presence of General Powell himself, to seek council with Cloud Eagle?   No, Alicia thought. This was not the way it was done. There was something wrong. As General Powell came closer, she could see the solemn expression on his face, and she knew that the news was not good.

Everyone but General Powell drew rein beyond the gathering place of the Apache, where the pleasant aroma of the mescal plants proved that their steaming process was now over. Yet no one ventured to uncover the smoking pit. Everyone stood numbly by, waiting for General Powell to dismount from his horse, to tell them the reason for his arrival today.

A young brave took the reins from General Powell.

"Welcome," Cloud Eagle said, greeting the general with an outstretched hand. As Cloud Eagle clasped the general's hand, Alicia stood stiffly beside Cloud Eagle, refusing to give up her hold on him.

"I have brought word of a war," General Powell said solemnly. He eased his hand from Cloud Eagle's. "It is a war being fought between white men. The Confederate Army attacked Fort Sumner off the shores of Charleston, South Carolina, in April."

"White men are fighting white?" Cloud Eagle said, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes, white men," General Powell said, his voice drawn. "It is a sad time in the history of the United States. Brothers are actually fighting brothers."

"And the cause of this strange war?" Cloud Eagle said warily, fearing any news of war.

"There are many reasons," General Powell said, clasping his hands tightly behind him. "But you do not need to worry yourself over them. As far   as I know, the war will not be fought on the soil of your forefathers. But I felt it my duty as your friend to let you know that a war is being fought."

"And I appreciate the warning," Cloud Eagle said somberly. "The white brothers who go against one another buy peace for their bodies with the most violent of warthe murder of their souls."

"I fear that is so, Cloud Eagle," General Powell said, nodding.

"Do you wish to have a smoke with Cloud Eagle before you return to your duties at the fort?" Cloud Eagle offered.

"No, not this time, Cloud Eagle," General Powell said. He turned and returned to his horse, taking his reins and swinging himself into his saddle. "I'll return soon with more news of the war, and where it is being fought. I will explain then the terms of the war as I learn them."

Cloud Eagle nodded and held his palm in the air. "Peace," he said.

"Peace," General Powell returned, then wheeled his horse around and rode away.

Alicia gazed up at Cloud Eagle. "It truly seems that we won't be affected by the war," she murmured, yet fearing silently for her brother's welfare, although she doubted that he would be enlisted to fight in the war. A one-armed man would not be able to defend himself, much less those around him.

Cloud Eagle turned to Alicia. He took her hands in his. "My
Ish-kay-nay
," he said thickly. "Any war being fought anywhere is bad. I fear that this war may in the end become a threat that the Apache will have to deal with. Brothers who   would murder brothers are capable of anything, especially violence against an innocent Apache people."

"Darling, please don't think about it," Alicia said, flinging herself into his arms. "We are far from the fighting."

And then her attention was diverted when Dreaming Wolf came and tugged on her skirt.

"Mama, is syrup ready yet?" he asked as he looked up at her with his trusting dark eyes.

"The mescal," Alicia said, looking quickly up at Cloud Eagle. "It should be time to uncover it. Let's fill our hearts and minds with festivity, darling, instead of wars."

Cloud Eagle lifted Dreaming Wolf onto his shoulder. Alicia smiled up at him trustingly as they went to the deep pit where the soil and grass was being removed. Soon everyone ate and laughed and sang.

Alicia clapped her hands in time with the drum's beat as Dreaming Wolf and the other children began dancing the colorful Apache dances. As her son's little feet thumped out the rhythm of the drum, Alicia gazed up at Cloud Eagle.

"Everything is too perfect to allow talk of a white man's war to interfere with our happiness," she said, glad when he nodded and smiled warmly down at her.

He whirled her around and into his arms. "My
Ish-kay-nay
, the white men have much to learn," he said. "If they asked this Apache chief, I would tell them that a man's heart should always hold a place for courage and wisdom, and should respect what he can never conquer. It is sad that they must learn by losing loved ones. I hope never to don war paint again against any man." He cast   his son a sidewise glance. "Nor do I ever want to see our son's face striped with war paint."

"Please say no more about warring," Alicia said, shivers running up and down her spine. "Just hold me. Just kiss me."

Cloud Eagle placed his hands at her waist and swept her close. They started to kiss, but a stirring in the brush behind them drew them apart. Everyone else was too involved in the fun of the moment to notice that another intruder had arrived. Cloud Eagle grabbed his knife from its sheath and moved stealthily toward the shadowy cluster of bushes.

Just as he reached them, Gray leapt out, his fur matted with mud and cockle burrs. Snow soon followed, limping from the loss of her right front paw.

Alicia and Cloud Eagle were at a loss for words at the sight of their missing coyote pets. It had been more than two years since they had seen them!

Alicia squealed with joy and started to go to them, but Cloud Eagle extended an arm out in front of her to stop her.

"It's Gray and Snow," Alicia said, questioning Cloud Eagle with her eyes. "Surely you recognize them."

"I would never forget them," Cloud Eagle said. "But they may not remember
us
. They have lived in the wild for too long."

Alicia jumped when a third coyote came slinking from the bushes, its tail between its legs.

"Is that Snow's mate, or . . . or offspring?" Alicia asked, quickly noting that the coyote was a male.

She sighed and fell in love immediately with   two snow-white coyote pups that wandered out into the open next. Snow flopped over to her side to allow them to nurse.

"The coyote that is not familiar to us is Snow's mate," Cloud Eagle said, chuckling. He slipped his knife back inside its sheath. "And they seem to see us as friends. Snow would not so openly nurse her pups in the presence of strangers."

Gray went to Alicia and rubbed against her legs knowingly. Alicia fell to her knees and hugged him to her. "Thanks for coming home and bringing Snow and her pups with you," she murmured. "We are truly a complete family now."

The other male coyote crept closer, its eyes wary.

Alicia slowly offered it a hand. He sniffed it, then licked it.

"Even
you
are welcome," Alicia said, smiling over at Cloud Eagle. "Darling, if our coyotes have survived the hardships of life these past two years, it gives me hope for all
our
tomorrows."

Cloud Eagle gave her a slow, beckoning smile.

Alicia gave Gray another hug, then moved into Cloud Eagle's arms and reached her lips to his. When they kissed, they were swept away again by the tempest of their love, their savage spirits united for all time.