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“That is not a part of your happiness, Kaylene, to worry yourself about matters that truly do not concern you,” Fire Thunder said, yet in a gentle way so as not to be offensive.
“But she is my friend,” Kaylene protested. “I can’t help but be concerned about her.”
“Should you have never met me, nor known her, things would be no different than what they are now,” he tried to explain. “She was having trysts with Pedro long before you knew her. As chief, I shall hand out my punishment to her and the three other young women, as though you were never here to forge a friendship with Running Fawn. And everyone, you as well, will have to accept my decision.”
“I do feel so very sorry for her,” Kaylene persisted.
“And so you should, because I fear her punishment is going to be severe enough to make everyone’s feelings to be the same as yours,” Fire Thunder said. “Yet it must be done. And tomorrow I shall see that it is.”
“What of Pedro? What of the young men that were with him?”
“The three young men are staying the night because they fear returning to San Carlos without Pedro,” Fire Thunder said, rising to get dressed. Kaylene moved from the bed and started dressing, also. “Tomorrow we will take Pedro home on a travois. That is when the other young men will also return to San Carlos. They will all have to face the general together.”
“And what about Running Fawn’s father?” Kaylene asked solemnly. “Black Hair was furious with her.”
“I imagine at this very moment Black Hair is shaming his daughter,” Fire Thunder said, placing his headband around his brow.
“Fire Thunder, I just thought of something,” Kaylene said, her eyes wide. She went to him and grabbed a hand. “Darling, didn’t you tell me once that the ‘Trotter’ absorbs sins for others so that those who have sinned are free to make a life again among your people? Why can’t the Trotter absorb Running Fawn’s sins? Then Running Fawn could start anew. Surely she would behave after coming this close to being so severely punished.”
“I will not allow the Trotter to absorb any of those four young women’s sins,” Fire Thunder said, his eyes narrowing. “Their sins are too great. No one will pay for them, except themselves.”
“And what of John Shelton?” Kaylene asked. “You haven’t yet told me what your plans are for him?”
“I do have a set plan for him, but I will tell you later,” Fire Thunder said, easing her hand from his. He went to the door and opened it. “White Wolf and Dawnmarie, and Little Sparrow should be here soon. Let us wait for them out by the fire.”
Kaylene went to the living room with him. She sat down on a blanket before the hearth and stared into the rolling flames.
Yes, she adored this man, this handsome Kickapoo chief.
But she knew that there would be times when he left her out of his life, when he was being a chief who was burdened with decisions.
It might be hard to learn when, and when not, to step aside and be his silent partner.
Chapter 23
If so I meditate alone,
He will be partner of my moan.
—THOMAS LODGE
The morning sun splashed its orange glow along the horizon as the slow procession of horses and burros made their way down the mountainside. Pedro had been too ill to place on a travois. Instead, a wagon was being used to transport him home.
Kaylene was on the floor at the back of the wagon, cradling the young lad’s head on her lap. As she caressed his feverish brow with a damp cloth she gazed down at him. She was glad to see him sleeping peacefully enough.
Kaylene was also glad to see that the swelling of his face was almost gone.
Her gaze moved down to his leg, where Running Fawn had so foolishly rubbed on the poison ivy. The blisters were large, oozing, and red. She shivered to think that he just might lose his leg. She recalled one of her mother’s friends, long ago, whose arm had been amputated after having been exposed to the smoke of burning poison ivy. It had grown twice its size with infection. It had filled with pus. Nothing they did helped it.
Kaylene lifted her eyes to the blue heaven above and said a soft prayer that this young man would not lose his leg over something that Running Fawn had done. For certain, if he did, hate would run rampant through the Mexicans toward the Kickapoo.
Her thoughts dwelled on Running Fawn. Kaylene hadn’t been allowed to see her since she had been sent into isolation in her lodge. And Kaylene still had no idea what Running Fawn’s punishment was going to be.
Her thoughts shifted to Black Hair. Although it was his daughter, not himself, whom had done this to the young man, he was carrying the burden on his shoulders as though it were he. Black Hair had shut himself inside his lodge with his daughter after telling Fire Thunder that he felt as though he was a part of his daughter’s betrayal to their chief, since he had not been able to teach her the true meaning of respect for a father’s wishes.
Kaylene swallowed hard, feeling as though she were a part of this betrayal, since she had sworn herself to secrecy to Running Fawn.
Yet, she knew that she was not truly to blame for anything that Running Fawn did. She had just chosen not to get involved, which m
