Forever Ecstasy (49 page)

“He is a good man. I must go.”

As she worked, Morning Star knew she could not expose her true feelings for Joe or drop any hints he was not Tanner Gaston. That shocking discovery would give Knife-Slayer and others the right to challenge her love as Sky Warrior. They would say it proved the Cheyenne warrior was the vision man. She prayed Joe would return fast so they could depart soon.

She watched Clay leave to join the hunters miles beyond and above camp on the prairie land. The tepees were situated in a safe canyon with no fear of frightened buffalo racing headlong over people and dwellings. Most whites thought the area wild and forbidding, but it was beautiful to her. It was a location of oddly shaped and colored rocks, ridges, ravines, spires, buttes, gorges, lush grass, and streams.

As Morning Star scraped a hide to remove fat and bits of flesh, she recalled past hunts she had witnessed and worked. Brave and skilled men rode around and into a large herd and
shot the number that could be handled that day. Women in the small group skinned and gutted the animals where they fell and loaded meat onto a travois. After the needed number was brought down, the men traveled back and forth to the site as they hauled their kill to camp to be divided and prepared by all families. Beneath the hot summer sun it was a long, hard, and bloody task. Exhausted workers returned near dusk, to be replaced the next day.

In camp, countless wooden meat racks held strips while they dried beneath the sun:
pa-pa
to the Oglalas, and jerky to the whites. Some meat was packed in parfleches, to be eaten as was. Other portions were pounded almost to a powder, mixed with berries and hot fat and sometimes nuts, allowed to cool, then formed into rolls of
wakapanpi:
pemmican. The rolls did not spoil for years, and they could be transported easily.

Other women labored on preparing hides, as Morning Star and her mother did today. Once they were free of all unwanted specks, they were stretched on a frame to dry. Their final use determined the remaining treatment. Some would remain furry, while others would be stripped of all hair. The ones Morning Star and Singing Wind prepared were for warm winter robes.

When the seasonal hunt was completed, tribes met for a great feast and to observe the Sun Dance before heading for their winter camps in the sheltered valleys, canyons, and meadows of the Black Hills. Morning Star wondered if this would be her last buffalo hunt and Sun Dance.

As they worked in silence, Singing Wind wondered almost the same. Though her daughter had said nothing alarming about Tanner, she suspected the girl’s feelings. At least, the worried mother concluded, her daughter was being virtuous, as her woman’s flow revealed this morning. For that much, the wife of Sun Cloud was grateful, as she recalled how hot and dangerous desires could burn for the man you loved and wanted.

When the women took a break to eat and chat, Morning Star showed them the kaleidoscope Joe had given to her. The gift passed from one eager hand to the other for the
tube to be turned and enjoyed.

While she strolled about camp to loosen her back and neck muscles, Morning Star visited Waterlily. The young woman felt the older one was too good and kind to be the wife and mother of two men as awful as Hawk Eyes and Knife-Slayer. She noticed what the woman was working on and questioned, “Where did you get this hide?”

Waterlily looked up. “Knife-Slayer and Night Stalker found a herd of spotted buffaloes. They brought one to me. They wished me to see how it cures and the meat tastes. If it it good, they will slaughter the others.”

Morning Star was alarmed. “They are white man’s cattle. We will be accused of stealing them. Kill no more, Waterlily. They must be returned.”

The woman was upset by those remarks, but she nodded in compliance.

Morning Star knew she must discuss this discovery with her father. How, she scoffed, could a herd of steers get lost from its paleface owner? Doubts about the two men shot through her panicked mind. If they could steal cattle, could they steal an Army payroll and massacre soldiers? Could they be doing other things without her father and the council’s knowing? If so, they could bring down the Army’s and white man’s wrath.

The July days in camp seemed hotter and longer for Morning Star. She busied herself with preserving meat, scraping hides, gathering buffalo chips and scrubwood for the fire, cooking, sewing garments, and washing clothes in the stream. She missed Joe and worried over his safety. The markers were out for him to find his way along the White River to their second seasonal camp. She was eager to share news of the events here. Her brother and his untrustworthy friend had sworn to the chief and council they had found the herd on the Plains, but the cattle had not been returned yet. She fretted over the steers being found in the Red Heart camp, but she had said and done all she could to warn them.

The time she spent with Clay Thorne was enjoyable and
enlightening. He had revealed many exciting things about his years far away, and she related details of the sacred mission and recent council meeting. If he suspected the reason behind her many questions, he said nothing. She was happy to see him taking up time with a glowing Buckskin Girl who had blossomed like a spring flower under his gaze and attention. She also noticed the longer Clay stayed, the more he relaxed. But as with her, he was waiting for Joe’s arrival and the continuation of the great task.

Soon, Joe would return and their search for peace would resume. If all was fine, he had reached the message tree and retrieved helpful clues. Surely he was on his way back to her this very sun. Also by now, Zeke and the Crow had found their destruction. She wondered, though she had used all her skills and knowledge to conceal their tracks, could those villains be heading for her people’s camp, and some be trailing Joe? Her love was to leave a note telling Jim where he had hidden the gun/board evidence nearby. She must not doubt that proof would aid their cause. She prayed for his protection and a painless solution to their personal predicament.

On the afternoon Clay calculated the white man’s return, he suggested to Morning Star that they ride to intercept Joe to chat privately. As her chores were done, she eagerly accepted. A few miles away, they halted to wait for him. They would remain there until dusk left only enough light for returning to camp.

When “Tanner Gaston” was sighted, Clay said, “I’ll wait here. You ride to meet him. You’d probably want to speak with him alone first.”

“Does it show?” she asked, dismayed.

“You hid it well, but I know the truth now,” he responded.

To win his confidence, she said, “You are of two bloods and worlds. You understand why I must say nothing to others until the task is done.”

“I understand, but waiting won’t make any difference. If you were of my tribe or not of the chief’s bloodline, it wouldn’t matter. It will, Morning Star. Be ready to face dishonor
and banishment. It’s your law.”

“It is not fair or right, Clay. I did not choose to love him.”

In a bitter tone, he murmured, “Not much in life is fair or easy.”

“You will not speak to others?” She pressed for secrecy.

“No, it isn’t my place. Just be careful how you act around him.”

Morning Star rode to meet Joe, who was watching her with a quizzical gaze. She smiled, allowing her eyes to roam him.

“Who is that?” he asked, nodding toward the lingering male.

“Much has happened. We must talk fast.” She dismounted and Joe followed her lead, but glanced at the stranger once more. When she asked him to report first, he obliged. “I didn’t see Jim, but I left him a report and that evidence we gathered. He’ll know that Black Moon and Talking Wolf are getting illegal supplies from Zeke. I told him what you said about those clues found at the payroll massacre not being Red Heart. I left him answers to his questions, and sent another letter home to my family. Jim said Harvey Meade has been acting strangely, but he doesn’t thinks he’s involved in this mess. I don’t, either.”

He took a breath. “George visited him and claimed he was following a marauding band of renegades into this area, said he was headed back to Fort Laramie. But Jim suspects another officer of working with them, Sergeant Bartholomew Carnes. This Bart hates Indians; he’s mean and tough, and Jim doesn’t trust him. He said Bart didn’t meet with George and Zeke because Bart was recovering bodies from that attack; that means he didn’t see us visit Jim, either. He said Zeke wanted to know if he was pursuing me to arrest me. Jim told him he’d made a search, but couldn’t locate me and couldn’t venture farther from the fort. He warned us to be more careful.”

Joe glanced at the stranger again who didn’t seem to be paying them any attention. “Stede’s letter has some interesting information. It seems that Simon Adams talks about animals so much because he collected them around the world and exhibited them in cages. I’ve already told you why he
hates Indians, especially Dakotas, so much. Stede said his zoo—that’s where animals are kept—included snakes from many places. Simon’s traveled as much and as far away as I have. He’s been to the Orient, where those magic balls are from. The last Stede heard of him was when he sold his property and business in New Orleans and left town after trouble with another man over stealing his wife. Jim said Simon didn’t have anything to do with Indian girls like we heard Clem say his boss did. I just can’t decide what Simon’s role is. So many clues point to him, but I keep thinking they’re coincidence or intentional false clues.”

Joe sipped water from his canteen and mopped sweat from his brow. “Stede said they’d question George when he returns to the fort; he’s supposed to be scouting in the Powder River area. They also want to know what he’s doing over here. Tom sent a list of names for land buyers. It includes Zeke, George, Farley, Orin, Harvey, Simon, Bart, and some trappers who trade with all three posts. That ties a lot of names together, but doesn’t give us too much more to use.”

Joe looked at the other man again, but didn’t stop his report to question her further. “Things are getting worse along the Missouri River, love. Homesteaders and farmers have been attacked. They left Red Heart and other Lakota stuff again. Jim isn’t failing for those tricks, but he can’t keep holding off his men and the complaints much longer. He needs something done fast. One of the worst things is another attack on soldiers. They were bringing cattle to the fort, and they were massacred and the herd stolen. A patrol couldn’t trail them because their tracks were covered by a buffalo stampede. I can’t guess why those villains have changed their strategy, but they must be killing whites now to provoke the Army into attacking the Lakotas. They must think the Crow aren’t doing much to push the Oglalas out fast enough. Jim suspects they’re enticing an Indian against white war now, not just an intertribal war. Jim’s doing all he can to stall things to keep from exposing us and our mission, but the settlers are demanding protection and retaliation. You realize what this means, love: Snake-Man wants Lakotas out badly enough to use the Army and innocent whites to
do his dirty work. The last thing is, Zeke is spreading lies about us. We can’t be found in your father’s camp, love, and neither can those cattle.”

Morning Star was distressed by Joe’s news, and concurred with his precautions. “We must leave at dawn. We cannot let them win.”

“You want to tell me about him?” Joe hinted, eyeing the stranger who was toying with his reins while he watched the couple.

Morning Star told Joe all she had done and learned since returning home. He reacted strongest to Clay’s arrival and to the news of the stolen cattle being near their camp.

“We have to move those cattle tomorrow. If this was a deadly plan, soldiers could be here any day. They’d never believe us with all that’s been happening. I’m not sure Jim could control hot-headed men; if this Bart comes, he won’t even try. This incident could begin the war, love.”

“Sky Warrior will help us; they do not know him.”

“You
know him?” Joe probed, still uneasy about the development.

“Only since I returned. He left when I was three,” she reminded. “Others know him. He can be trusted. My people accepted him and helped him long ago. He would not betray us or harm us.”

Joe wanted to test that for himself. “Let’s talk to him.” As they walked to join Clay, Joe asked, “How much have you told him?”

Just above a whisper, she responded, “I told Father, the council, and Sky Warrior all things. He is the only one to see my heart is weak for you. He will tell no one. I did not tell him
you
are not Tanner.”

Joe saw how the man, whose description matched his, observed their approach. He prayed Clay Thorne didn’t feel bitter and vindictive toward his Indian blood, as he knew all their secrets.

Clay half-smiled and extended his hand in the white custom to shake Joe’s. The two men quickly sized up each other.

“Morning Star said she filled you in. We can sure use your help, Clay. We’re too known in Crow camp and at posts. We
have to move around carefully. If you can spy for us in settlements, we’ll do the field work. First, I’d like to get that herd near Fort Tabor before soldiers come looking for it.”

“You think you can prevent a war and help make a treaty?”

“We’re doing our best,” Joe answered to the unusual query. “I hope so.”

Clay’s hand casually drifted to his pistol and he had the weapon leveled on the other man before Joe could blink. The startled couple gaped at the half-breed with a narrowed gaze and a cocked gun on Joe.

Sun Cloud’s daughter inched closer to her love, and Clay frowned. “You tricked me,” she accused. “Why do you do this bad thing?”

Clay didn’t smile as he told her, “Sorry, Morning Star, but I have no choice. He has to be stopped. I have to kill him.”

Fear consumed her. Her heart raced with panic. Her gaze widened. She felt betrayed. “You must kill me, too,” she vowed in honesty.

Clay shook his head. “No, you’re coming with me.”

Morning Star was near him, but Joe knew he couldn’t draw and fire his weapon before Clay’s bullet struck home. He was angered by his helplessness and his love’s peril. This traitor would defeat their mission and take their lives! He would help provoke a bloody war. No doubt Jim, Stede, and Tom would be in danger, too. He raged at himself for letting down his guard and for dismissing any suspicions about this man.