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“The only time we take up arms against anyone is when a threat is made against our people by enemy tribes, and that is rare. It is known that if our warriors are forced into a fight, they are always victorious over their foes,” Brave Wolf said proudly. “It is my place to ensure that no warring is brought into my camp. Thus far, we have been left untouched by both our brothers and whites.”
He took her gently by the hand. “Come inside and sit with me beside my lodge fire,” he said. “I know how tired you are. The weariness shows in your eyes.”
“Yes, I am sorely tired,” she said softly, trying not to let him see her reaction to his holding her hand.
The touch of his flesh against hers made her heart soar in a way that was new to her. She had never truly loved before.
She only wished it were possible for them to be free to love. But surely it was as taboo among his people for him to love a white woman as it was among hers for her to love a red man.
And . . . she had just lost a husband. She felt ashamed to have fallen in love when Lloyd was in his grave for such a short time.
And her thoughts should be on her son.
Yes, she did feel ashamed, but also more alive than ever before in her life. And it was all because of one man. Brave Wolf.
She went inside with him and he gently pulled her down onto a thick pallet of pelts beside the smoldering fire. She watched as he added wood to the slow-burning flames, then sat down beside the fire opposite her.
She again wondered whether he might have a wife. She looked quickly around and saw no signs of a woman living with him. Surely that meant he wasn’t married.
If he was, and she had fallen in love with a married man, she would want to die, for surely feelings such as she had for Brave Wolf could not come twice in one’s lifetime.
She made herself stop thinking such things. She would find out in time whether he was married, or had children.
“So many of your people seemed unhappy to see your brother brought home,” Mary Beth said as she tried to find a way to make small talk with him before she asked him whether he was married, and when he was going to search for her son as he had promised to do.
She felt that he would have a better chance of finding David than the soldiers at Fort Henry, for surely an Indian could find other Indian camps much better than whites.
This was Indian land. Surely Indians could find a lost boy on it much more quickly than soldiers who were new to the area.
“His return troubles me also,” Brave Wolf said, slowly nodding. “It was so wrong for my brother to ride with washechu, white pony soldiers, especially the one all red men called Yellow Hair. Custer was hated by us all. He is known far and wide for his atrocities against our people.”
A warrior’s voice outside the tepee drew both Mary Beth and Brave Wolf’s eyes to the entranceway.
“Chief Brave Wolf, there are some of us who need to speak with you about Night Horse’s presence in our village,” the warrior said.
Brave Wolf rose to his feet.
He went to the entrance flap and swung it aside. Outside, he found several of his warriors waiting.
“What is it you wish to say?” Brave Wolf asked, slowly moving his eyes from man to man.
Mary Beth sat stiffly beside the fire, listening.
“We have had a quick council and have concluded that it is not good to have Night Horse at our village for very long,” the first warrior said, speaking for the others. “He turned his back on us once before by going to the pony soldiers. If he recovers, what is to stop him from betraying us again?”
“I believe you are wrong. I understand your feelings, but my brother will stay until he is well. Only then will I ask him to leave again,” Brave Wolf said tightly. “At first I sought him at my mother’s request. But now he is here to recuperate. Brothers are brothers, and for now, no matter what Night Horse is guilty of, I will stand by him.”
Mary Beth became very aware of the sudden silence that fell among those who stood outside. Chief Brave Wolf had denied their request.
She hoped that Brave Wolf had made the right decision.
Chapter Eleven
Love looks not with the eyes, but with
the mind, and, therefore, is wing’d
cupid painted blind.
