Destiny's Bride (23 page)

She stopped to observe the older children as they played running games between the lodges. She pictured her son someday joining in the fun. The youngsters were oblivious to all the packing and preparation taking place, and Cecile wished she was as unconcerned about the annual migration down the mountain. Oh, to be a child again.

Cecile knew by Two Clouds’ lack of movement he'd fallen asleep. Rather than take him along while she went to help Rain Woman prepare for the journey, Cecile decided to let him sleep in the cool, quiet of the lodge. He’d be fine for a short time and rest better without the noise. She removed the cradleboard from her back and placed it on the bed, pausing to touch one of her son’s rosy cheeks to make sure he slept soundly.

Cecile strolled across the compound to Rain Woman’s lodge, enjoying the warmth of the sunshine. The old woman greeted her with a toothless smile. “You are good to help an old woman. I have many parfleches to pack, most hold our precious herbs and roots.”

“Helping you is always a pleasure. I enjoy the time we spend together.” Cecile kept herself engrossed in packing until the painful fullness of her breasts reminded her it was well past time to feed Two Clouds.

***

Spotted Doe sat alone in her tepee. The sun had dropped below the tree line, and her evening fire had yet to be lit. The pervading darkness matched her mood. Images of the white woman in the arms of her beloved Lone Eagle raced through her mind.

Numerous times Spotted Doe had offered to share his blankets, but he turned her away. Why did he not find her as desirable as the white woman with the flaming hair? Surely the curves on her own body matched those of her rival. There had to be a way to make him realize the terrible mistake he made. No woman could love him like she did! How dare this white woman rob her of being wife to the next chief! Spotted Doe vowed she would find a way to rid herself of the problem once and for all.

While pondering her plan of action, Spotted Doe heard the pubescent voice of her son, Little Elk. It was long past his midday meal and he would be hungry. While she lit the fire, she imagined the contentment she would feel once Lone Eagle’s eyes looked only to her.

Chapter Twenty-three

Cecile entered the lodge and gazed at the bed where she left her child sleeping. Two Clouds was gone!

Panic welling in her chest, she scanned the lodge, trying to recall if she’d left him on the bed or not. Fear clamped at her throat while she scanned all around, but she fought her rising hysteria by telling herself over and over to calm down. Surely Lone Eagle had the baby. Two Clouds couldn’t just walk away.

Cecile threw back the flap and stepped outside, her gaze darting back and forth while praying to see her husband and son. They were nowhere in sight. She ran from lodge to lodge, asking everyone if they had seen him; “no” was the only answer. Her heart pounded like a hammer against an anvil.

She paused for a breath and tried to be rational. “Cecile, think a minute. Lone Eagle probably just took the baby to show him off. You know how proud he is of Two Clouds.”

Despite her effort to calm herself, her fear escalated as questions formed in her mind. Why would Lone Eagle take Two Clouds without telling her? Was he punishing her for leaving the baby alone? Her obvious distress caused others to join in the search. Some gathered in small groups to develop a plan.

Little Elk came running across the camp. “Brown Otter says Lone Eagle went to help bring the horses back to camp. He did not have the baby with him.”

Her heart seized. “If my son isn’t with his father then where is he? Please, please someone go for Lone Eagle right away.”

Lone Eagle’s closest friend rode into camp, and Little Elk ran to him before the man dismounted. “Brown Otter, you must go and get Lone Eagle. His son is missing and no one knows what has happened.”

Brown Otter nodded, yanking the reins to go back in the direction from which he’d come. “I will go at once. Tell Green Eyes I will help Lone Eagle find their child.”

In a short time, Lone Eagle galloped into camp, a look of panic on his face, and reined in his horse so quickly the animal almost squatted. Jumping to the ground, he ran to his wife.

He grasped her shoulders. “Where was the baby when you left him? How long were you gone? Why did you leave the baby alone?” Lone Eagle didn’t give her a chance to answer.

Cecile chastised herself for having left Two Clouds at all. Tears streamed down her cheeks. “I’m so sorry…please, just find my baby. You can be mad at me later.”

Lone Eagle softened his tone and gathered her into his arms. “We will find our son. Do not worry.”

He took command and ordered everyone to gather in the center of the compound. As word spread, the entire tribe, as well as children, stopped what they were doing and came to help search. Surveying the sea of familiar faces, one person was clearly missing. “Where is Spotted Doe?” Cecile asked.

A taste of bile rose in her throat. Did the woman hate Cecile enough to hurt an innocent baby?

“I last saw Spotted Doe by the stream,” someone in the crowd shouted.

“I saw her carrying a cradleboard,” another volunteered.

Cecile’s knees wobbled with fear. This would be the ultimate way for the jealous woman to hurt Cecile. Spotted Doe’s cold, harsh looks invaded Cecile’s thoughts, making her insides shiver. Surely the woman wouldn’t take her hatred out on an innocent child. She couldn’t be that evil.  A little voice told Cecile she was wrong.

Lone Eagle and a large group of braves immediately went to the area where Spotted Doe was last seen. Rain Woman, Singing Sparrow and a handful of other women began what they knew was probably a futile search of Spotted Doe’s tepee.

Racing from lodge to lodge, Cecile’s terror mounted. Her pounding heartbeat resounded in her ears. She’d often heard the expression ‘looking for a needle in haystack’ and imagined this was how it felt. As the sun dipped lower, so did her faith.

“Daughter, you must rest. It will do no good to make yourself sick. Lone Eagle and the others will find your baby.” Singing Sparrow draped her arm around Cecile’s shoulders.

With reluctance tugging at her, Cecile walked to Rain Woman’s lodge, her chin dipping to her chest. Emotionally spent and physically exhausted, she envisioned terrible things happening to her son. Try as she might to replace the awful scenes with positive ones, she couldn’t. One question kept niggling at her: How could Lone Eagle ever forgive her for leaving their baby alone?

Rain Woman prepared tea and handed a steaming cup to Cecile. “Drink this, little one, the herbs I used will help to calm you.”

Cecile silently sipped the brew and stared into space. Maybe this was a horrible dream.  She prayed so, but the pain in her heart was too real. Before long, the effects of the tea weighted  her eyelids, and she surrendered to sleep.

***

Lone Eagle and the braves found an empty cradleboard by the stream, but not Spotted Doe or the baby. “Before the Great Spirit I vow I will find her and make her pay for the pain she is causing,” he declared angrily.

The group searched the tall grasses surrounding the stream for signs to lead them in the right direction with no luck. Trails led in several directions and the group separated to follow each of them.

Following one path, Lone Eagle and Brown Otter found fresh moccasin prints leading into the hills. They followed the trail for several hours before reaching a dead end. The rocky ground and a thick matting of weeds prevented them from seeing more footprints or evidence of someone’s recent passage.

Lone Eagle, his shoulders sagging, massaged the middle of his brow. “I fear we may not find my son. It’s my fault Spotted Doe has a heart of stone.  She is determined to hurt me and everyone I love because I didn’t make her understand my feelings from the beginning.”

“This is not your doing. We cannot give up,” Brown Otter encouraged. “There are many  searching and we are sure to succeed.”

The sun dropped behind the mountains and shadows of darkness filled the valley. They had heard nothing from the other groups, and Lone Eagle grew more discouraged with each passing moment. When it became too dark to see, he made the difficult decision to halt the search. “Brown Otter, I cannot face Green Eyes without our son. I will camp here and start again when the sun lights the way. You can stay here or return to the village.”

“You have been my friend and blood brother since we were children. I would not be a true friend if I left you when you needed my help.” He gave Lone Eagle a pat on the shoulder then began gathering wood.

Brown Otter built a campfire, then the two gathered armfuls of long grass for bedding and settled down to rest. During the painfully long hours of the night, Lone Eagle fought to erase thoughts about awful things Spotted Doe might do to his son. He listened to his friend’s snoring and wished for sleep. Instead, he lay on his back and watched the moonlight fade with the coming of the new day.

***

Despite the strong tea, Cecile woke several times throughout the night. Her breasts were painfully full but didn’t hurt half as much as her heart. She punished herself over and over, wondering why she’d ever left Two Clouds alone. What if they never found him? How would she go on?

Singing Sparrow patted her shoulder. “Green Eyes, I know your heart aches, but we must hold positive thoughts.  Sleep if you can.” Cecile shook her head. “No, I deserve the pain. It is a small punishment for my actions.”

At a noise outside, she immediately sprang to her feet, praying to see her beloved husband holding their son. She was sorely disappointed to find Bright Moon and her daughter.

“I know the pain of not nursing your child. I thought perhaps you might let my child ease the ache.”

Cecile’s mouth dropped. How could Bright Moon think she would even want to hold and feed another child? But clearer thoughts convinced her of the woman’s good intentions and reluctantly she agreed and placed the baby girl to her breast.

As the hungry child suckled, huge tears ran down Cecile’s cheeks. She appreciated Bright Moon’s thoughtfulness, but envied her peace in knowing her child was safe and sound. Cecile switched the baby to her other breast, realizing the painful fullness was ebbing. If only she could stop the painful ache in her heart.

***

The sun teased at the mountain’s crest, offering light enough to continue the search, and despite his growling stomach, Lone Eagle’s need to find the child was stronger than hunger.  He reached over and shook Brown Otter awake. 

Tracking again, they pushed aside every tall patch of grass and looked behind every boulder, wandering in and out of small recesses, caves, and valleys, desperately hoping to hear the cries of a baby.

As the sun began to set on the second day, a runner from one of the groups caught up with them and reported no trace of the child or a fresh trail. The others had called off the search and returned to the village.

Lone Eagle detested defeat. “I will not give up, but we cannot keep searching without strength. Let us return to the village to eat and rest. We will resume our search when our bodies are renewed.”

Brown Otter placed his hand on Lone Eagle’s shoulder. “We will not give up, my brother. I will search with you until we find your son.”

They headed back to the village, a feeling of dread looming inside Lone Eagle. How could he face Green Eyes without her son?

***

Cecile paced, prayed, and cried until she was totally exhausted. Two days passed without being able to hold her son, see his smile, or hear his giggle. She was alive, but her heart and soul were not. The more she tried to assure herself that Lone Eagle would find her son, the more hysterical she became thinking of all Spotted Doe’s need for revenge. Cecile kept envisioning the look of hatred she saw so often on Spotted Doe’s face, and then imagined that hatred aimed at Two Clouds.

The long agonizing hours took their toll, and with Cecile near hysteria, Rain Woman prepared another of her concoctions.  “I will help you, little one.  This tea is one I use to put those in extreme pain to rest.  I cannot bear the anguish I see on your face. We must believe that you son is safe. Do not give up hope.”   She handed the brew to Cecile. “Drink and sleep, Green Eyes…sleep and dream happy dreams,” the old woman soothed the hair from Cecile’s brow.

Hope? Did she have any left? As drowsiness closed in around her, the word “don’t give up” echoed in her mind.

***

Lone Eagle and the others returned to camp.  Before parting ways, he took a deep breath and squared his shoulders. “Your help is greatly appreciated. I regret we did not find my son, but I will not give up. Rest well, my friends.”

Fighting defeat, he started for his lodge. “We will search again tomorrow. We will find the son of Lone Eagle.” Voices from behind followed and encouraged him.  He heaved a sigh, hoping it was true. Though his body craved rest, his anger for Spotted Doe fired his blood.

His own tepee empty, he sought his wife in Rain Woman’s lodge. Cecile lay on Rain Woman’s bed, her body jerking even in slumber.