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She thought for a while, then leaned closer to Proud Heart. “Send for the two braves who have been recently attacked and beaten by white men,” she said flatly.
“And why would I do that?” Proud Heart questioned, getting annoyed by her persistence.
“White men
caused their bruises and contusions,” Hannah said matter-of-factly. “They must go to the fort with us and show their wounds to the colonel.”
“One of our warriors is dead because of white men,” Proud Heart retorted sarcastically. “Do we take him and show him also to the white men at the fort? You see, they have already seen them. It meant nothing to them.”
He folded his arms angrily over his bare chest. “I do not wish to do as you asked,” he said stiffly.
Hannah reached over and placed a gentle hand onto his arm. “Please,” she begged. “But not for me, Proud Heart. For Strong Wolf. We must try everything to prove that what he did last night by burning the bunkhouse and letting the horses free was justified because of what was done recently to his people. He is a proud man. He could not just stand by and take it. He had to show some force, to prove that white men can’t just keep on taking from Strong Wolf and his people while he stands by like a coward and allows it.”
Proud Heart still said nothing.
“Proud Heart, give my idea a chance,” Hannah said softly. “It’s much better than going at night to try and get Strong Wolf from the guardhouse. You know that many lives might be taken on both sides. My way, a peaceful approach at trying to prove Strong Wolf’s innocence, might work. Please . . . give . . . it a try?”
Proud Heart thought hard for a moment, then nodded. “Yes, we will give it a try, and then if it does not work, tonight we take him by force,” he stated.
“Thank you,” Hannah said, beaming.
She sat quiet in the saddle as the two braves were sent for. When they came to the corral, looking puzzled, she smiled down at them.
“Take off your shirts,” she ordered softly. “You must show your scars, bruises, and contusions to the general at Fort Leavenworth.”
The braves turned questioning eyes at Proud Heart.
He nodded, giving his consent.
Once their shirts were removed and they were on a horse, Hannah thought of something else.
“Proud Heart, get the fallen warrior’s bow,” she commanded, flinching when he gave her an angry stare. “Proud Heart, we must take that bow to the colonel and tell him that it belongs to the dead warrior, and tell him that his bow or any other Potawatomis’ bows will never be used for hunting again for the men at the fort.”
Proud Heart saw the logic in the suggestion. He sent a warrior after the bow.
“Something more, Proud Heart.” Hannah added quickly. “Are there any gifts that Claude Odum gave to Strong Wolf that you can show the colonel, as solid proof of Strong Wolf and the agent’s undying loyalty to one another? To prove once and for all that Strong Wolf could never kill him?”
Proud Heart’s eyes widened. “Yes, there are such gifts,” he said revealed bitterly. “A beautiful pipe and shell beads of wampumpeag, or wampum, have been exchanged as signs of good faith and friendship between Strong Wolf and the agent.”
“Please get them so that we can take them to the fort and show them to the colonel,” she said, seeing him stiffening at the suggestion. “Please, Proud Heart. Do this one last thing. I won’t ask anything else of you, except to go with me and stand at my side as I argue for Strong Wolf’s release.”
After these were secured in a buckskin bag, and the bow was there, ready to be taken to the fort, Hannah smiled a silent thank you to Proud Heart, and then to the rest of the warriors. She was in awe of how they trusted her.
Yet why would they not? she thought to herself. She had been chosen by their leader to soon join them in the capacity of ‘wife’!
Sitting proudly tall in the saddle, Hannah left the Potawatomis village with a soft prayer in her heart that the colonel would listen and believe!
Chapter 27
I crave the haven that in your dear heart lies
After all toil is done.
—CHARLES TOWNE
Colonel Deshong was awestruck by Hannah and how she had so suddenly assumed the role of spokesperson for the Potawatomis in Strong Wolf’s absence while he was imprisoned. He sat behind his desk and looked slowly from Hannah to all of the warriors who stood crowded in his tiny office.
His eyes stopped on Proud Heart, recognizing him as Strong Wolf’s best friend. He was not Potawatomis, by birth, yet was there also to defend the rights of his friend.
