Lakota Flower by Janelle Taylor Page B

Feathers had controlled his words and conduct, especially before others, but as they had neared their destination, he had begun to make cunning remarks and eventually to tease War Eagle with bluntness about Caroline.
    On one occasion as they scouted ahead together, Two Feathers had grinned and said, “Cloud Chaser’s captive makes a man’s shaft grow hot and hard within his breech cloth. Why did you not keep her to relieve your own fierce urgings?”
    War Eagle recalled how he had frowned at the insidious jest and scoffed, “You watch her enough to know she works hard and obeys. Even if she belonged to me, why would I want to cause her pain in her body and heart and stir defiance? That is rash and cruel, and it is not our way. She has not earned such mistreatment.”
    “She would be a good mate,” he persisted.
    “How so, my cousin, when she is white and an enemy to you?”
    “She does not behave as our enemy and works hard, as your words told me and as I have seen. Why should her white skin trouble me or others when the white blood of your second brother does not?”
    “Cloud Chaser is Oglala, Red Shield, son of our chief. It is different.”
    “Is that why you did not keep her, she is a pale-skin and an enemy? Or did you fear you could not fight her magic and win that battle?”
    “I had no need for a captive. My mother had no need of one, for she has my sister to help her. Four living in our tepee is plenty.”
    “But Cloud Chaser cannot be alone with his mate with her there.”
    “It is the same in all families where others share a tepee. When desire burns within a husband and wife, they find a way to be alone.”
    “They could be alone if the white girl becomes my mate and shares my new tepee. Surely Cloud Chaser would be pleased to have her gone, for she must remind others of his mixed blood.”
    “You do not seek to help my brother, and you speak false when you say his white blood does not offend you, for you show such bad feelings to him many times and they are wrong. You must purge yourself of them. Speak no more of such things, for such foolish talk stirs bad feelings within me toward you.”
    War Eagle worried that Two Feathers would become bolder with his remarks, speak them before others, and create trouble. He must not allow his cousin to cause dissension in their band during the grave times ahead, or provoke bad feelings toward Caroline after those hostilities increased. He had a grave decision to make, one he must discuss with Cloud Chaser—but after he talked with his grandfather…
    * * *
    As they ate an early meal, Caroline asked Cloud Chaser, “What will happen when soldiers come looking for our missing party and find those men’s bodies and the wagons? Will they trail us and attack your camp?”
    “Do not worry, Caroline, for a great herd of buffaloes was stampeded over the tracks made by the wagons and horses, so there is no trail for soldier scouts to find and follow. The wagons were shoved over steep bluffs in a location called the Badlands by whites who visited it while hunting and collecting bones of ancient creatures years ago. Many of its canyons are unreachable from the top or bottom, so the army cannot recover those weapons even if they are sighted. The remainder of your possessions are resting there; perhaps they can be retrieved one day, as we know many secret paths into such places. The soldiers’ graves were concealed by stones, and their horses were released far away. I hope it will not injure your heart or anger your mind and provoke defiance to learn no rescue is coming.”
    Caroline knew she had underestimated War Eagle’s intelligence and foresight. “But won’t the army blame the Lakotas for those disappearances in their territory?”
    “Probably, since they blame all Lakotas for anything bad that happens in this area. If a large troop nears our camp to search it, our scouts will warn us of their approach, and you will be hidden from them. If a miracle occurs and