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For three days they brought food and beat the drum for the dead chief. The women chanted and sang and wailed.
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nbsp; Hannah took the death hard. She had come to love the old chief so much, like a father and it hurt to see him gone.
Lone Wolf was very quiet.
When she went inside their tipi she saw him and ran to cry in his arms. He cradled her there and tried to soothe her.
Many from other tribes came to pay their respects.
On the third day, they buried him in his full Indian dress, and chanted for another two days afterwards.
It was a sad time for the tribe.
After a period of mourning, Lone Wolf would be sworn in as the chief.
Red Hawk would be there to help him make the transition.
All his people gathered to watch the ceremony and Hannah stood not far away watching. The drum beats lasted three days, and the traditional headdress was readied for Lone Wolf.
Given his father's staff and headdress, Lone Wolf stood proudly before his people, as Red Hawk initiated the ceremony. There was a dancing that Hannah was part of and she took part in.
At sunrise he was declared chief of his Arapaho tribe.
The grave of Gray Eye was honored, the new chief was elected, and the elders declared it so.
Much celebration went in the ceremony and chanting began at dawn and lasted all day.
Red Hawk now sat beside his cousin proudly around the circle of elders.
"I ask for the hand of Little Feather," Red Hawk declared.
Lone Wolf smiled and gave his approval.
The wedding would be in three days.
Red Hawk walked proudly with Little Feather by his side now. In the late evening, Lone Wolf and Hannah saw them kissing by the river and smiled.
"They will make a happy couple." Lone Wolf told Hannah.
"Yes, I prayed she'd find someone good. I am happy for her." Hannah smiled.
"It was quick."
"Yes, but a good choice, don't you think?" Hannah asked him as he took all his feathered headdress and robes of the chief off and put it up where it would rest most of the time in one of Hannah's trunks.
"I am very happy for his union. Red Hawk is older than I and it is time for him to claim a bride. When he goes home there will be much celebration."
He kissed Hannah now, staring into her eyes. "You are now the wife of a chief."
"A very wise and good chief," she smiled.
"If I can do as well as my father, I will be very happy."
"You will," she smiled and kissed him again.
Lone Wolf visited his father's grave every day, talking to him as though he were there and happy that his father was content.
