Many Horses 12 a guest of the Lakota

The sick feeling that pervaded Many Horses stomach caused her to all out retch by the time they stopped to allow the horses some water and take care of private needs. She didn't know if Walks Far was dead or alive, if he had been tortured, or if they had left him alone. But if this arrogant beast of a man thought she was just going to follow him around and then stay with the Lakota he was dead wrong. She had finally been allowed to feed her son under the man's watchful scrutiny and then change the moss in the bottom of the cradleboard. It had become so bad that she had to wash it and her son in the water before putting new, clean filling inside.

They mounted their horses with the man once again demanding her son and continued riding far into the night when the glow of campfires were spotted in the distance. Likely these men had been on their way back home when they had spotted Walks Far and herself. They called out to the men guarding the outer perimeters of the encampment, waited for a return call, then rode onward. She was immediately taken to an old woman's lodge where the smell of a cooking stew made her stomach turn. She hadn't eaten since they had taken her. She was invited inside and given the cradle board by the man who motioned for her to stay inside the lodge.

To be continued later, work calls...

Many Horses 11 The Lakota

They left the encampment that night and headed home still marveling at the things that had taken place. They had only made a days ride when a string of riders could be seen in the distance. Many Horses could tell they were not Cheyenne and guessed them to be Lakota. Once they realized that Walks Far was Crow things would turn out very bad.

"you need to run" she said

"I will not run" he answered

"they will torture you" she screamed "they might kill you"

making a split second decision they each rode different directions. Walks Far as expected was much faster because she didn't want to jar the baby on her back excessively. Her chances were much better however because she was Cheyenne, as long as they did not try to harm her baby.

He was followed by a several of the men while only two came after her one riding alongside her grabbed the horses bridle and brought the animal to a stop. He looked at her strangely as if somehow recognizing her then with his hands pointed specifically at her horse then the other horses and finally her.

She knew what he meant but her only concern was the whereabouts of her husband and his welfare. She didn't answer the man, merely stared at him. He motioned again, still she said nothing only tried to get her horse to move but he was still holding onto the bridle. That was when the baby finally began to wiggle behind her and let out a little cry, just enough to let her know that he needed something. she removed the cradleboard from her lap and lay it across the horses back using her knuckle to pacify the baby until hopefully this man would give her some privacy to feed him. That never happened, the sight of the baby had angered him and he demanded the cradleboard. Not knowing what his intentions were she refused, he was after all a crow baby.

They heard a shot in the distance and something within her came alive, she put the baby on her back and kicked the horse desperately though he refused to release the bridle and the horse was caught in a struggle between them.

"they killed him" she screamed kicking even more furiously and lashing out at the man who held her horse kicking and hitting at him. The man grew enraged grabbing at her hair and pulling her close. His grip was like steel and the warning he issued though spoken in Lakota was clear. He took the baby from her back holding the cradle board off to the side of the horse in front of him and began to ride leading her horse. The baby began to fuss then all out cry when his needs were not being met. Eventually her son fell asleep but the lurch in her heart would not go away. Her husband was most likely dead and her son's fate was up to this man.

To be continued

Many Horses 10

She was brought inside her parents lodge and made comfortable taking care of the baby when he awoke and began to fuss. After a matter of moments though her father could not hold back.

"where is the man who took you?"

"he is hidden, I would not ask him to come here"

"what is he called?"

"Walks Far"

Her father stood and headed for the door causing her to worry about what he might do. "please do not hurt him" she asked

He did not reply, only continued on.

Walks far lifted his head at the sound of hoof beats on the dry, grass covered soil surrounding him. He stood and walked to his horse as a precaution, leaving his rifle in it's pouch but ready to use it just the same. It wasn't very long before he could see an older man riding towards him and no one else. Of course there could be others that were hidden.

Walks Far waited until the man rode in and dismounted his horse to see what he would do.

"I am not here to kill you" The older man spoke "I am Two Elks"

It was clear that Walks Far was not any bit trusting, after all he had stolen a Cheyenne woman.

"I want to know why you stole my daughter"

Walks far wasn't about to lie to this man but the truth would be very bitter.

"I did not want Kills Many to be happy"

Two Elks had not expected the answer that was given but continued on "many people were not happy, her mother cried for a long time. We did not know if she was still alive until Kills Many found her"

Walks far found it hard to say anything, he agreed with the older man.

"what did Kills Many do?"

"he killed my wife while she was still with child. Just shot her in the chest"

"did you love your wife?" Two Elks asked

"yes"

"do you love Many Horses?"

"I did not think I would ever love another woman, but she has taken a place in here" Walks Far answered placing a fist over his heart.

"come with me" Two Elks said mounting his horse he knew there was risk involved bringing a crow man into the encampment but it was still dark and they would stay inside the lodge when the sun lit the sky.

Walks far wasn't so sure about this but mounted his own horse and followed.

Many Horses was a little puzzled when they returned but happy to see her husband. She hadn't been so sure that her father would be forgiving where he was concerned but clearly he just wanted to see her happy. and they were thrilled at having another grandchild.

Many people came to see Many Horses and she had greeted them all outside worried about how they might react to knowing that a crow man was among them. There were those that would not be so forgiving.

At the end of the day Kills Many asked to speak to Walks Far. He had come with five good horses, one being his war horse. Her father stepped out to intervene wanting to avoid a confrontation but Kills Many persisted asking that this be Walks Far's decision. If the Crow man did not want to speak to him then he would leave and not take the horses with him.

Walks Far emerged after a time when the sun was leaving the sky.

"It is too much to ask that you will forgive me, and I cannot take away what I have done. These belong to you now"

Even Walks far realized that these were good horses and did not want to take them but would not refuse.

"I have Many Horses, it is enough" he answered finally meaning that from this time forward, everything between them was settled. Nothing would ever bring Walks Far's wife back but nothing would be gained by continuing to fight over it.

Walks Far and Many Horses left much later that night under the cover of darkness and returned to the crow. For a short time there had been a sort of peace between a few people of the Crow and the Cheyenne but it certainly would not last as time progressed.

This story goes on far into the future and I will not stop writing but will write other stories as well.