Savage Conquest (40 page)

The warrior chief speaking with the half-blooded
scout knew the story behind this girl's birth and the
shame and betrayal of her mother. Although he had
been only ten years old at the time, Crazy Horse could
recall the day when Princess Morning Star deserted
her father and people to marry a white man. He
respected the past skills and prowess of Sun Cloud,
now seventy-five and growing more eager each day to
seek the Great Spirit, and he could understand why
Sun Cloud refused to meet this woman. He was
keenly aware of her intense study of him, and her
conclusions. But perhaps, he silently reasoned, he
should change the old warrior's mind; perhaps she
offered solutions to several problems.

Miranda thought it was best to keep her knowledge
of the Sioux tongue a secret in order to discover all
she could, unaware that her great-grandfather, Gray
Eagle, had used this same ploy to learn the white
man's secrets. She asked the scout to translate her words. "Tell my grandfather that his daughter,
Morning Star, and my father were killed; they now
live with the Great Spirit. Tell him I have come a
great distance alone to meet him. Ask him to forgive
the pain and sadness which my mother brought to
him. If she had not been taken from my life-circle, she
would be here this sun speaking these words. She
longed to see her father once more and hungered for
peace in her heart and mind."

She waited while Tom interpreted her statements.
"Tell him I am not my mother; tell him I should not
pay for her acts which brought shame and sadness to
the teepee of Sun Cloud. Is it not the Sioux way for
each man to earn his own honor and to pay for his
own evil? Why must I pay and suffer for the deeds of
my mother? If he will not speak with me, I will never
return. Will he deny himself my love? Can his
bitterness and hatred of my mother and her child be
so great that he denies I carry his blood? Will such a
denial remove that blood from my body? He was a
great warrior, a worthy chief. Where is the wisdom
and logic in rejecting me?" she reasoned candidly in
a tremulous voice.

Those words were translated for the Sioux chief,
even though he comprehended most of her English
words. Miranda selected her next words carefully and
brazenly. "Surely such a great man has no reason to
fear a mere woman? Have I denied that an Oglala
Indian is my grandfather? Have I rejected him
because he is Indian? Have I refused to travel through
great distance and danger to see him only one sun? Does this mean I hold more courage, generosity, and
wisdom than your former chief? If a man or woman
cannot steal another's good or bad shadow, then how
can he use my mother's dark shadow as the reason to
deny me sight of his face and the sound of his voice?
What man of honor and bravery cannot speak for
himself? Can he not find the courage and generosity
to share but one hour with me?" She knew she had
cleverly used two of the most respected Indian
arguments, tempering her tone with appealing
frankness and honesty.

Crazy Horse's expression softened with appreciation, but he did not smile. To her surprise, Crazy
Horse told them to wait while he spoke with Sun
Cloud. Miranda's gaze trailed him to a teepee in the
second ring. He ducked and entered. Tension
increased within her as she waited. When he finally
returned, she was prepared to hear another refusal.
She could not hide her astonishment and pleasure
when Crazy Horse related the summons of her
grandfather, to share "one hour" as requested.

Miranda's hands were trembling and her heart
raced as she followed the chief into her grandfather's
presence. Complying with the instructions from
Crazy Horse to Tom, Miranda seated herself on a
buffalo skin before the older man, three feet away.
Jane had been ordered to wait with the horses, which
she reluctantly did.

Sun Cloud's hair was mostly gray with only traces
of ebony. His stoic face was lined from the passage of
time and exposure to the elements. Even after so many years, Sun Cloud still radiated courage and
greatness. Such wisdom, pride, and intelligence
flickered in those age-glazed eyes. His once strong
body was now slim, having lost its firmness and
power. He was sitting cross-legged on another
buffalo hide, erect and silent, watchful and wary.

The unnecessary translations began. Her grandfather asked why she had come to him, his voice vital
and clear despite his age and increasing weakness. A
twinge of sadness and disappointment assailed her,
for he did not inquire about his deceased daughter or
even hint he was glad she had come. He appeared
untouched by her arrival and identity. She struggled
to contain the tears which threatened to expose her
turmoil. Whatever happened today, she would show
great courage and control.

Before replying, she quietly asked permission to
begin her tale where it started, here in 1850. She
waited for Sun Cloud to object. His response was for
her to choose her own words. If either warrior was
moved by her narrative, it did not show on their
impassive faces. Fearing her time was limited,
Miranda revealed only the major points of her and
her mother's pasts. Sun Cloud did not react to the
news of her twin sister or to the perils they had faced
recently. Only Crazy Horse perked up when she
exposed her cousin's assignment here. Knowing
Tom hated the blond-haired Custer, she felt no
qualms in revealing it.

When she finished telling of her history and
motives, her grandfather asked if she had spoken all the words she wished him to hear. Miranda wondered
if her heart truly stopped for a moment, for it
sounded like a dismissal. When she nodded, Sun
Cloud asked if she had completed her quest and was
ready to leave. Miranda stared at him, for she could
not respond in the way she felt he wanted her to. She
wondered if Sun Cloud possessed any feelings of
affection or loyalty or' respect for her. She was
disheartened by what she did not see in his eyes or
perceive from his mien. At least she had made the
effort.

Miranda rose slowly and stood proudly before Sun
Cloud, sealing her fathomless gaze on her grandfather's face, ignoring the others present. She stated
with false calm, "My hour has passed, Grandfather,
and I will leave as promised. I pray you will seek and
find understanding and forgiveness before you join
my mother with the Great Spirit. Do not blame her
for loving and choosing my father, for she answered
the call of her own destiny. If joining with my father
was wrong for her, the Great Spirit would have
prevented it. Perhaps it was not the wish of the Great
Spirit for Morning Star to marry a white man, but He
allowed her to follow her heart. I will not trouble you
with the telling of their love story and happiness. It is
not for you or me to judge her actions; only the Great
Spirit has that right. Goodbye, Grandfather. Until
you look into the face of the Great Spirit and learn all
things, I wish you health and happiness." With that,
she turned to leave, unable to bear the weighty
anguish of this moment any longer.

Just before she ducked to exit the teepee, Sun
Cloud stated she had not answered his last question.
Miranda inhaled and exhaled several times before
turning to face him. In a clear and compelling tone,
she replied, "Hiya. Cante ceya," saying no and that
her heart was weeping in sadness. She went on to tell
of her desire for peace with him. "Wookiye wocin."
Both warriors stared at her as she spoke fluent Sioux
with ease.

The elderly man told her to come and sit once
more. Miranda hesitated. Sun Cloud's expression
warmed and relaxed as he coaxed again, "Ku-wa,
cinstinna," calling her "little one."

When she did as he had requested, he stated
evocatively, "You speak my tongue. How is this so?
Why do you leave without fighting words?"

"My mother taught me to speak Oglala. She loved
you deeply, Grandfather. It pained her heart to leave
you and her people; it pained her more never to
return. She missed you and longed to visit you. She
spoke of the Sioux history and her life here. She
spoke of you, telling me what a great warrior and
chief you were. She told me why her love and
marriage were wrong in the eyes of her people. For
many years I have hungered to come here, to know
you, to know this life. When she was taken from me,
the hunger increased. It was as if I had no power or
wish to resist the summons of the Great Spirit, as if
He were calling me home. I belong here, Grandfather; I am more Indian than white. She taught me
your customs and ways and that is why I knew it was wrong to beg or resist," she explained.

"But you resisted my command not to come," he
refuted astutely.

Miranda lowered her gaze in guilt. "Yes," she
admitted. "But I did not feel it was right for you to
reject me from a distance, to reject me for another's
deeds. I was drawn here by a force too powerful to
resist."

Sun Cloud observed the girl who returned his
daughter's image to life. Morning Star had always
been different from other Oglala maidens. She had
been willful and daring, yet gentle and unselfish.
This girl was much like his own. Seeing her made
him feel younger and his spirit freer. Morning Star
had left of her own will; Miranda returned in that
same way. After the death of Night Stalker, his
loneliness for his only child had increased. He had
feared and prayed for her safety, though he never
mentioned her name after her departure. His body
had survived many winters and hardships, his heart
had known many emotions, and his eyes had seen
many changes in his life and lands. His children had
reached the Great Spirit before him. All he had left
were memories of past glorious days, and two
grandchildren who differed as much as day and
night. He mentally corrected himself-three grandchildren.

"To speak the truth takes great courage, little one.
You will stay in my teepee for five suns then return to
your sister," he calmly informed her, then asked Tom
to return for her on the sixth day.

Tom gazed at Miranda. "What if someone learns
your secret?" he asked.

"I want to stay, Tom; I need to stay. Please help
me. If the truth leaks out, I'll face that problem when
it arises. Jane can say she took me to visit friends
downriver while Luke's away. Who could doubt us?"
she reasoned aloud. "Please," she urged him.

"That sounds good," Tom agreed, smiling at her.

Miranda told her grandfather she would stay with
him. She said she must bid her friend, Jane, farewell,
and she left the teepee. Jane agreed to live in the cabin
while she was in the Sioux camp, then return with
Tom for her.

While Miranda and Jane were exchanging their
stories, Sun Cloud was asking Crazy Horse, "Has she
earned a coup feather, for she stole this old warrior's
heart? Did I speak and act like a foolish old man?"

"You spoke as a wise, unselfish man. She carries
much of the blood and spirit of Sun Cloud. She will
make no trouble. She will bring you peace and
smiles," the youthful leader concluded. He added
mischievously, "Perhaps she will remind Bloody
Arrow why he does not wear the chief's bonnet.
Perhaps she will soften his anger and bitterness."

Sun Cloud nodded gravely. "Each moon I pray the
Great Spirit will remove his pride and greed. It was
the will of the Great Spirit for you to guide us. In
time, my grandson must see and accept this."

Sun Cloud was relieved when Crazy Horse did not
mention another warrior in the distant line of Gray
Eagle, the great-grandson of Bright Arrow. If the white man's evil took the life of Crazy Horse, there
was only one warrior to take his place, Blazing Star.
But Sun Cloud and others knew that Blazing Star
would not challenge Crazy Horse for the chief's
bonnet, or vainly try to rival their leader's coups.
Surely a smart and intuitive man like Crazy Horse
realized as well that Blazing Star posed no threat to
him. In many ways, Blazing Star was more like a son
or grandson to Sun Cloud, and he was anxious for
Blazing Star to return to him and his people. Sun
Cloud was determined not to permit Bloody Arrow to
plant any more seeds of doubt in his mind about the
absent warrior, and he trampled his grandson's
malicious suspicions within his heart. He hoped
Crazy Horse had not ordered Blazing Star on so many
dangerous raids just to be rid of him.

Crazy Horse left Sun Cloud and Miranda alone to
talk, which they did for a short time as it was nearing
the hour of the evening meal. Although Miranda had
not noticed her, there was an Indian slave preparing
their meal beside the teepee to allow them privacy.
Miranda learned about a ghastly massacre during
1854, the year her mother had given birth to twins.
Besides many people in the tribe, others in Gray
Eagle's bloodline had lost their lives to the bullets
and sabers of treacherous bluecoats. She learned of
the slaughter of her grandmother, Singing Wind,
daughter of Oglala maiden, Chela, and Blackfoot
chief, Brave Bear, and of her uncle, Chief Night
Stalker and his Brule wife, Touched-A-Crow, from
Sun Cloud's line. From Bright Arrow's bloodline Tashina was lost, youngest daughter of Bright
Arrow, along with her husband, Soul-of-Thunder,
and their son, Soaring Hawk, both his wives,
Talking Woman and Sapa Ista, and one granddaughter called Bitter Heart, who was the twelveyear-old half-sister of Blazing Star. She listened as
Sun Cloud revealed that Blazing Star was the only
survivor in Bright Arrow's bloodline, and that
Bloody Arrow-her first cousin-and she and
Amanda were the only ones to carry on Sun Cloud's
line.

Having heard the name of Blazing Star so often
from the whites and now the Indians, Miranda
inquired about him as their food was served by the
sullen girl. Because men, especially Indian men, did
not consider physical appearances, Sun Cloud talked
only of the immense prowess and accomplishments
of the awesome warrior. As she listened, she realized
that Crazy Horse and this mysterious Blazing Star
were very much alike in strength and courage. In the
days to come, Miranda would hear a great deal more
about this warrior.