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“I love her!” Pedro cried, tears flooding his eyes. He reached out for his father. “Tell him, Father, that you will allow her in our house as my wife. Tell him, Father. I love Running Fawn! Please, Father? Please?”
“Pedro, your fever is causing you to talk out of your head,” General Rocendo shouted. “Jose, take him away. I don’t want to hear any more of his lunacy!”
“I will go now,” Fire Thunder said, swinging himself back into his saddle. “But be warned, keep your young men away from our girls, or there will be hell to pay.”
Kaylene sucked in a wild breath when she saw the sudden anger flash in the general’s eyes.
She was glad when the wagon made a wide turn and they were soon out of the general’s courtyard, and on the road that led up the mountainside.
She scrabbled from the back of the wagon and sat down on the seat beside the silent warrior.
She cast Fire Thunder occasional glances as he rode his horse beside the wagon. He was quiet and brooding as he kept his eyes forward, away from hers.
Then he slid his eyes slowly her way.
She grabbed the opportunity to speak.
“Are you certain you wish to be so harsh on the girls?” she murmured, her eyes defiant. “There is such a thing as forgiveness for sins. Would it be so hard to give them a second chance? Why punish them so severely?”
“I have made up my mind and will not change it,” Fire Thunder said, his jaw tight. “It is an example for the other young girls who might chance filling their stomachs with a child at age fifteen! And such behavior tempts warring between my people and the Mexicans. Did you not see how close General Rocendo and I came to words that could cause a bitter hatred between us? No. I cannot. I will not change my mind.”
Feeling unnerved by Fire Thunder’s harsh decision, Kaylene grew silent.
Yet she knew that the Kickapoo had their customs; she had hers.
She would just have to accept what they did, or forget her plans to marry Fire Thunder. And loving him so much, she could not forsake Fire Thunder. Not for anyone, or for any reason.
When they arrived at their village, Kaylene watched Fire Thunder dismount and give the reins to a young brave. He did not look her way as she climbed from the wagon.
Her insides grew cold when she saw the determination in his steps as he walked toward Black Hair’s lodge.
Knowing what he was about to do, and fearing for Running Fawn, Kaylene followed him, but kept far enough back so that he would not know that she was there. She did not want to give him the opportunity to turn and scold her, and send her to his lodge.
Hearing whispers on all sides of her, Kaylene looked over her shoulder and noticed that everyone had heard the arrival of their chief. They had come from their lodges and were watching Fire Thunder.
When Fire Thunder stepped up to Black Hair’s lodge, he did not have to announce his presence. Black Hair had also heard Fire Thunder’s arrival. He came outside, a firm grip on one of Running Fawn’s wrists as he half-dragged her with him.
Kaylene moved closer as Fire Thunder and Black Hair stood eye to eye.
“My decision is made,” Fire Thunder said, his eyes locked with Black Hair’s. “My friend, I must send your daughter and her friends away from the village, to live in exile. You know, as I, that I have no other choice.”
Running Fawn screamed and wrenched herself free from her father’s steely grip. She ran to Kaylene and grabbed her hands. “Tell Fire Thunder not to do this!” she cried. “He loves you. He will listen to you. Please, Kaylene, tell him not to send me and my friends away!”
Fire Thunder went to Running Fawn. Gently, he took her by an arm. “Do not bring my woman into this,” he said softly. “Running Fawn, go and gather up your belongings. This is the time to prove that you are strong, that you have the brave heart of a Kickapoo.”
“Fire Thunder, are you sure you must do this?” Kaylene asked, her voice breaking.
“All people need authority,” Fire Thunder said, his voice thick with regret of what he was forced to do to four of his people. “I am my people’s voice. Never must I falter in my decisions that affect my people’s future. The youth, the children are my people’s future. They must lead clean, respectable lives. Making love loosely, unwed, at such a young age, and with young men not of our culture, soils the bodies and futures of those who commit such sins. I will not have children walking around my village heavy with child to display their disobedience, their sins. Our youth, as they grow into adulthood, must set good examples. Running Fawn and her friends were given many chances to prove they were good at heart; clean in spirit. I have come to the very end of my patience. What must be done, will be done.”
Kaylene stifled a sob behind a hand.
When she felt a gentle hand on her arm, she turned and gazed into violet eyes.
Dawnmarie slipped an arm around her waist. “Come with me,” she murmured. “Let Fire Thunder do his duty as chief, as I often had to step aside to let White Wolf do what he must do as chief. You will learn in time to accept that what your beloved does is for the betterment of his people.”
Kaylene gave Fire Thunder a soft gaze, smiled a quiet apology for having spoken out of turn, then turned and walked away with Dawnmarie toward Fire Thunder’s lodge.
When Little Sparrow came and took her other hand, Kaylene was able to put what was happening behind her, to the farthest recesses of her mind.
