Savage Conquest (53 page)

By the time they reached camp, Blazing Star's
anger and anguish had been mastered. He was
skeptical of Reis's guilt. Obviously the white man
felt no fear for himself, no fear of death or torture; his
only concern was for the safety and survival of his
wife. The white man would not intentionally have
endangered his woman's life. The warrior noted
lines of anger in the white man's face, anger which
indicated he was being falsely accused and bitterly
resented it. The look in Reis's dark blue eyes shouted
he had trusted the Indians rashly, that he was
disappointed by their treachery.

Amanda was held captive in Sun Cloud's teepee.
She cried and trembled in fear of her beloved's fate.
What did she care about her own death if she lost her
love? How could they be so cruel to people trying to
help them? She glared at her grandfather and Blazing
Star. She had seen her husband bound to a thick post
in the center of camp. The signal had been given for
the leaders to meet in council to decide their fates.
Poor Miranda had been so mistaken about these
barbarians!

Before the two men could leave her secured to the
center pole, she scoffed at Sun Cloud, "No wonder
my mother ran away from you and this vile life! You're cruel and evill I'll never understand why she
longed to visit you! I wish I had never laid eyes on
you. You're not my grandfather; Gray Eagle's son
and Morning Star's father could not be a savage
coward!"

To Blazing Star, she sneered, "I'm glad my sister
didn't come along with us. How could she love an
animal like you? She'll hate you both and nevercome
here again. I pray she never learns her cherished
grandfather and her beloved killed her sister. I
despise you both) If you harm Reis, you'd best kill me
too.,,

Then she murmured sadly, "You two really fooled
her, didn't you?" Tears eased down her pale cheeks as
she whispered in disbelief, "You're killing the only
man who can help you stop this war. He's telling the
truth. I don't know how the soldiers learned of the
meeting, but it wasn't from me or Reis. At least try to
uncover the truth!" she panted angrily.

Blazing Star related her words to Sun Cloud, then
disclosed his own misgivings about this situation.
Sun Cloud spoke to the younger warrior, then left for
council. Blazing Star knelt before Amanda and told
her, "Your grandfather is saddened by your cruel
words and hatred. He says to tell you he will speak for
mercy. He does not believe you and your mate betrayed us. He believes you because, Sky Eyes, you are
the sister of Rising Moon and the daughter of Morning Star."

She exhibited utter shock at her grandfather's
understanding. "And what do you think, Blazing Star? What vote will you cast in council?" she asked.
Shiny jet eyes fused with misty blue ones. "I will

vote for your release," he stated simply, evading a full
explanation.

In a quavering voice, she pressed, "My release? Or
mine and Reis's freedom? If you slay him, I don't
wish to live. He is my life."

"I will vote to free you and your mate," he
responded warily.

"Why?" Amanda questioned incredulously. "Because of my sister? Do you believe we're innocent?"
Suddenly she was no longer afraid.

"I vote with my head, not my heart, Sky Eyes. You
said I have fooled Tamaha. I have not. I have told her
she cannot be my woman. I have told her we cannot
love each other. I have told her to stay where she is
safe and happy. She cannot live here. These things I
have told her. When you go free, you must also tell
her. Do not allow her to dream of what cannot be.
Our people are enemies, and we battle to the death.
She must not be forced to choose between her bloods,
for she must be white or Indian. Do you understand,
Sky Eyes?"

"Yes, Blazing Star. You love her enough to spare
her from death. I will do as you ask, if I am freed. You
are a very generous and unselfish man. I'm sorry you
can't share a life with her."

The look of yearning in his eyes exposed his
feelings. As he turned to go, Amanda added, "She
loves you very much, Blazing Star. Now, I understand why. If-if the council doesn't vote to free us, will you ... go to her and tell her ... what happened? If you don't, she will come to you for answers
and comfort. If they kill us, they will kill her too. The
truth will be softer coming from your lips."

He did not turn. He simply inhaled loudly and
responded, "Yes. But if you do not go free, she will
hate Blazing Star and Sun Cloud. She will blame us
for your deaths. I cannot go against the council
vote."

"Blazing Star!" she called out to him as he ducked
to exit. "I have a plan! Wait!" When he came back to
her, she entreated, "Will you go to our cabin and
speak with my sister and cousin? Perhaps they can
tell you what really happened today!"

If Crazy Horse agrees, I will go seek the truth," he
replied. "I will tell Reis you are safe and unafraid,"
he added, then smiled.

She smiled in response and thanked him. Their
fates were probably in Blazing Star's kind, strong
hands. Surely he would help free them. But what if he
failed? No, she could not think that wayl

When Bloody Arrow returned to camp, no one
suspected his thwarted plot, or comprehended the
true reason for his fury over the near massacre.
Fortunately for him, but tragically for others, he had
been assigned to scout the only direction from which
soldiers did not arrive. He had sat alone, dreaming of
fame, while he presumed the attack was taking place.
When he went to view his victory, he found the same
thing Custer had: nothing! Not a trace!

When Custer checked with the Indian agencies, all chiefs were present and no hints of trouble were
sighted or reported. Custer had no choice but to
accept this mission as a wild goose chase, somebody's
mistake or clever ruse. He planned to question Brody
the moment he returned to camp. He wished now
that he had not sent Lucas Reardon back to the fort
under guard. Even if that writer had gotten away
from his two men, he could not have warned the
Indians in time for so many to vanish completely.
Perhaps he should interrogate both Reis Harrison
and Lucas Reardon, and perhaps the two women
with them. Or perhaps that arrogant scout was
playing games with him; that was where the
information had originated! He would have his
answers by tonight, and someone's head! He ordered
the regiment back to Fort Sully.

Not expecting Custer to return so early, Tom
Fletcher pretended to have found Sheen's bloody
body and brought it to the commanding officer just
before Custer's stormy arrival. Tom had just identified the arrow and charged Blazing Star with the
crime when Custer swaggered into the room. When
Tom was asked to repeat his tale about the council
meeting once more, he lied again, claiming he had
overheard several warriors who had been talking
around a campfire. No matter how Custer debated or
challenged his words, Tom stuck to his false claims.

Tom was furious when Custer placed him under
arrest. He knew he had to find some way to escape, for
he was holding the unconscious Miranda prisoner in
a place no one could find. If he did not return in a few days, she would die! Yet if he had to, he would
sacrifice her life rather than expose his guilt by
revealing her location. He was taken to the blockhouse and imprisoned.

Custer headed for the cabin. Lucas was pacing
anxiously, awaiting word of Miranda and the others.
Custer could not deny the man's shock at the news of
Brody's death and Miranda's abduction. Custer
related the events of the day, which further stunned
Lucas. He told Custer he did not know anything
about such a meeting. He asked Custer to send out a
search party for Reis, Amanda, and Miranda, for
Lucas knew something was terribly wrong.

"You have no idea where they are?" Custer
demanded sternly.

"Reis and Amanda went for a picnic; they're just
married, you know. The last time I saw Miranda, she
was waiting for your Major Sheen to take her riding
and picnicking. What's going on here? That scout
said Sheen was murdered and scalped, and Miranda
is missing. Here it is nearly dark, and Reis and
Mandy haven't come home. I'm worried, sir. Something awful is going on out there. You've got to do
something; you've got to locate them. Is that scout
trustworthy?"

"Frankly, I doubt it, but he's sucking to his story.
I'm beginning to think there wasn't any parlay. But
you're right about one thing; there's a stench in the
air I don't like. If any of them return home tonight,
you wake me at any hour. If not, we'll take us a look
around tomorrow. A man should know his enemies, Reardon; I do. Blazing Star doesn't take full scalp,
only a small lock. That was his arrow in Sheen's
back, but not his handiwork. When you come over in
the morning, bring Harrison's papers with you.
They could give us a clue."

Lucas did not fall into his baited trap. He
suggested slyly, "Why don't you take them tonight
and study them? If there's a clue in them to help find
my cousins and Reis, you can have'em now. I'll
fetch'em." He went into the bedroom and retrieved
the false set of papers, then handed them to Custer.
"Just make sure you return them undamaged."

To the west of the Missouri River, there was a
small and narrow cave which had been dug into the
side of a hill by miners as a hiding place from the
Indians. At one time, large boulders had been used to
conceal the entrance. Later, they were left aside and
trees were propped before the opening to hide it,
being replaced as they wilted. It was in this cave that
Miranda regained consciousness.

When Miranda stirred, her entire body ached. Any
movement sent pains washing over her. Her head
throbbed and her mouth was cottony dry, but she
endured the anguish to sit up and look around her.

She was groggy and disoriented but managed to
lean against the damp surface at her back. She
appeared to be inside a dirt chamber, the oblong
entrance to which was sealed by a barrier of
crisscrossed ropes. She stood on rubbery legs and struggled with the unusual fence which refused to
yield. The confining door was covered with numerous branches, no doubt to prevent anyone from
locating her. She pressed her sensitive face against
the ropes to discover why they refused to give way.
Obviously they were secured around heavy rocks, and
all covered by leafy branches. The square openings
were too small to allow escape, even for someone as
slender as herself. Trying to unsnag the ropes, she
yanked until she had rope burns on her palms. She
finally ceased the futile waste of energy. Without a
knife, the ropes were as strong as iron. Someone had
used plenty of skill and time with this confining
doorway!

She returned to her former place and collapsed to
the makeshift pallet of two blankets over supple
branches. Nearby, she discovered a canteen of fresh
water and a leather pouch with dried beef strips and
compones. Inside a square cloth, she found wild
berries. She sipped the water but did not eat. There
was no knife inside the pouch or any other weapon
for defense, but she had expected none.

As she leaned weakly against the moist wall, she
surveyed her sepulchral surroundings once more.
The cave was seven feet from back wall to sealed
entrance; from side to side, it was almost three feet;
and from floor to ceiling the walls were between
eight and ten feet high. Due to the recent rains, it was
musky and damp but oddly clean.

Around five in the afternoon, there was still light
inside the dirt prison. She stared longingly at an
opening far above her, frustratingly beyond her reach. She tried to suppress the visions of snakes and
crawly things that assailed her. Normally such
creatures did not frighten her, but she was vulnerable
here. She shuddered as she prayed her captor would
free her before darkness, or at least come to guard her.

Her captor ... Why was Tom doing this to her?
She had had no idea he was so obsessed with her. He
and Bloody Arrow made such an implausible pair of
villains. Had they spoken truthfully? Could everyone
she loved be dead or imprisoned right now? If not,
were they searching for her? How long would Tom
keep her here? How long before she had any news
about her family and her love?

She had underestimated the hatred and evil in her
Indian cousin. Would he get away with this satanic
deed? Until Tom killed him? Until he killed Tom?
Even if the Indians were warned in time to prevent or
respond to Custer's attack, they would hold Reis and
Amanda responsible. What if an awesome battle was
raging somewhere this very moment? What if Tom
and Bloody Arrow were slain? No one would find
her; she would die here in this cave alone. What if her
love thought she had betrayed him? No, he would
never think such evil of herl

All she could do was wait and pray. If they were all
dead, she would make no attempt to dupe Tom. If
they were only captured, she would do anything to
gain her freedom to help them, even kill him. She lay
down on the blanket and wept at her helplessness.

In the Oglala camp, a fierce debate was in progress.

Bloody Arrow demanded the torture and deaths of
Reis and Amanda as strongly as Blazing Star and Sun
Cloud demanded a chance to prove their innocence.
Bloody Arrow listed the crimes of all whites during
his verbal condemnation. When Sun Cloud used
Amanda's heritage as a favorable point, Bloody
Arrow disputed it by saying there was no proof that
either woman was the daughter of Morning Star.
And even if it were true, they would have learned
treachery from their mother, who had brought shame
and sadness to her family and people.

As the meeting went on, it became clear to all that
Bloody Arrow despised his female cousins and
wanted them dead. Yet no one could deny the
accuracy of many of his arguments. Bloody Arrow
asserted that only Reis or Miranda could have
betrayed them to the soldiers. How else could the
bluecoats have known exactly where to attack? The
cavalry had not merely been out scouting; it had been
sighted heading straight for the location of the
council meetingl