Page 100 of The Last Warrior

“Welcome back, ladies. I am happy to see you, though I do admit you both gave us quite a chase. However, I hear you also furnished us with a show unlike any other this afternoon.”

Irena grinned up at him. “Yes, indeed, we did, although I am afraid the show was a one-time-only performance.”

“Then you are not back to stay?” asked Cody.

“I will honor my contract with you,” said Irena, “but then I must follow my heart. Indeed, the reason I came here was to find the love of my life. And at last I have found him.”

Cody nodded, and for a moment he looked sad. “Nice to have you back as well, Miss Joselyn,” he said, his glance taking in Suzette’s ragged appearance.

She smiled. “My pleasure, Mr. Cody, though actually, my name is Mrs. Black Lion.”

“Mrs.? Mrs.? Black Lion?”

“Yes, indeed,” said Suzette. “When you have a moment, ask your chaplain about it.”

Glancing from one of them to the other, Buffalo Bill pulled his hat off, rubbed his arm against his forehead and shook his head. “Well, I wish you women happiness.” He grinned at them both, then he turned to saunter away.

“He’s really not such a bad person, is he?” Suzette commented, watching his departing figure.

“No, indeed,” said Irena. “But he does seem to have a penchant for the opera stars, does he not?”

Suzette laughed. “I do believe he does.”

Later that night, White Claw held a council consisting of himself, Irena, Suzette and Black Lion, as well as Black Lion’s father and mother. As the day had worn on, Suzette had been given the opportunity to change clothes, as had Irena. At present, they were both comfortably seated around the lodge fire in Black Lion’s tepee.

Black Lion’s wound had been dressed, and he, too, was wearing his best buckskin. He was also looking quite dear, and fortunately, quite well. As was traditional, the men were seated on the left, the women on the right, with White Claw at the head of the council toward the very back of the lodge.

Lighting the pipe, White Claw presided over the ceremony, ensuring the pipe was properly presented to the Sky, to the Earth, to the Four Winds and was passed to each person in the council, including the women.

When it was done and the pipe was returned to him, he began. “I have called us together so I can answer any questions you might have. As you know, all our people are freed from the mist at last. It is done. But I fear you may still have questions. We will start first with your wife, Black Lion, for without her quick thinking, the curse might never have been broken.”

Suzette, never one to back away from praise in the past, found herself blushing and averting her gaze.

“Have you any questions, Little Blue Eyes, wife of Black Lion?”

Suzette hesitated momentarily, then said, “I do have one question.”

White Claw nodded.

“What are your intentions toward my grandmother?”

So unexpected was the inquiry, White Claw smiled. “Are you speaking of my wife, the one we know as the Song Bird?”

“Your…wife? Irena, you didn’t tell me,” Suzette accused.

“There has been so little time, Suzie. And there’s been much to do, preparations, and…”

“Well, congratulations to you both!” said Suzette.

Irena smiled, while White Claw spoke. “We are very happy to have your good wishes. Have you any other questions?”

“Actually, yes, I do. It is apparent to me that the song melted the Thunderer’s heart, is this correct?”

White Claw nodded.

“Then if his heart had melted, why did he start to kill me?”

“He has lived too long with hatred, I fear. But when your husband informed him of your condition, not only did the curse end for our people, but for him as well.”