Wind Warrior (Historical Romance) (10 page)

Poised beside the Milk River, Wind Warrior stared into the star-strewn night in brooding silence. The moon was so big and bright it appeared to be a huge golden ball hanging in the sky. His eyes widened as he watched a shower of shooting stars streak across the heavens.

Something stirred deep in his mind, the meaning just out of reach.

He was troubled. The confrontation with Dull Knife had left him angry. His father was still trying to convince him to leave, but his brother would remain out of stubbornness, willing to sacrifice those who believed in him, rather than admit he was wrong.

A warm breeze touched his cheeks and he closed his eyes, freeing his mind of all thought.

Hearing footsteps behind him, Wind Warrior did not need to turn around to know who it was. He easily recognized Falling Thunder’s footsteps. They had been friends for years—but he did not want to talk to the warrior tonight.

“You have been out here for a long time,” Falling Thunder observed. “Is there something in the sky of particular interest?”

“If there is, it evades me,” Wind Warrior absently responded, not yet ready to end his solitary musing.

His friend shook his head and laughed. “That is not an answer. You live behind a veil of secrecy and share your thoughts with no one.”

Wind Warrior gazed in the distance as heavy sadness struck him to the heart. “I shared my thoughts with the village today and had a hand in dividing loyalties. That was not what I intended.”

Falling Thunder gazed into the darkness. “Yet you were right to do so.”

“I have no answers for myself. It is a lonely road I am destined to walk,” Wind Warrior said solemnly.

“Lonely?”

“At least for now.”

“It is said by many that you can see into the future.”

Wind Warrior smiled. “People will believe what they want. I can no more see what the future holds than you can.”

His friend looked up at the sky, wondering what Wind Warrior saw that others did not. “If you cannot foretell the future, how could you warn us that we would be hit by a flood if we remained here?”

“You heard me tell of the landslide.”

“Yes.”

Wind Warrior turned to study Falling Thunder. “It was not a matter of reading the stars to see the disaster that would strike the land along the Milk River. It was reasoning that I used.”

Falling Thunder studied his friend for a long moment, his expression skeptical. “What are your special powers if not looking into the future?”

“I do not have any special powers.” Wind Warrior was annoyed that his friend did not understand that. “I do feel our people are somehow my responsibility, and I must look out for them. But I have felt this for a long time—no doubt, because the thought was planted in my mind when I was given my name.” He had rarely shared his thoughts with anyone, but tonight it was difficult to carry his burden alone. “For reasons I cannot say, I seem to sense when there is trouble, but I never know exactly what the trouble will be, and I am never guided to the complete truth.”

“Last year you helped us find a large buffalo herd when our meat supply was growing sparse.”

“I merely followed the trampled grass, and the buffalo droppings. It was no more than anyone else could have done.”

“None of the others did.”

Wind Warrior sighed. “I do not want to discuss this tonight.”

His friend shrugged. “Will you lead us in the morning when we leave the village?”

“I will join you later,” Wind Warrior said in a measured tone. “I have a need to be alone.”

Falling Thunder understood and nodded. He was accustomed to his friend’s dark moods and sought to divert him. “Then perhaps you would like to hear what troubles me?”

Wind Warrior looked at him knowingly. “You speak of White Wing. You want her for your wife, yet you think she does not see you.”

Startled, Falling Thunder searched Wind Warrior’s face. “You do see inside our minds; otherwise you would not have known how I feel about her.” He
glanced up at the sky. “Did you see this in the stars? Will she one day be mine?”

Wind Warrior laughed. “I see nothing in the stars. Like everyone else, I see the way your gaze follows White Wing, and the way you always lose your power to speak whenever she is nearby.” He smiled. “And you stumble over your own two feet when she looks your way.”

Smiling, Falling Thunder felt warmth wash through him just thinking of White Wing’s soft brown eyes. “She is the woman I want to walk beside me through life.”

Wind Warrior placed his hand on his friend’s shoulder and clasped it. “Take heart, I have also seen her watching you. I wish you many fine sons.”

They were both silent for a time and then Falling Thunder spoke again. “Has no woman interested you enough to cause you to lose your voice and stumble like a fool when she is about?”

“There is one, but she is not yet a woman, so I must wait for her. She is afraid of her own feelings. I will wait until she reaches marriageable age, and hope she loses that fear.”

Falling Thunder shook his head and laughed aloud. “There is not a maiden in our village who would not agree to walk beside you. Who is this young maiden you speak of?”

Wind Warrior closed his eyes for a moment, reluctant to reveal too much of what he felt. But he trusted his friend with his life, and he would trust him with his secret yearning. “You will say nothing of what I tell you tonight.”

“You know I will not.”

“I know it makes no sense—I have told myself this. But in my mind, when I see a woman walking beside me, it is the chief’s daughter, the white maiden with hair the color of gold.” His expression hardened. “I do not like that I see this. I do not want to need her. But I do.”

With his mouth gaping, Falling Thunder hesitated a moment before answering. “Now I know what troubles you. It would be better for you if you never looked in her direction. Look what Charging Bull suffers because he chose the crazed red hair.”

“The red hair is devious and untrustworthy. My little golden hair has a heart of kindness. I have seen only goodness in her.”

“Are you sure it is your heart that wants her, or are you misinterpreting your body’s desire to possess her?”

“I have considered that and discounted it. She is too young to look at with lust. I want much more than to join with her body. I want her spirit to merge with mine. I find myself wanting to know everything about her life. I want to share her happiness—already I shared her pain when others were unkind to her. My name might as well still be He-Who-Waits. I must wait for her to grow into a woman.”

Falling Thunder was stunned by Wind Warrior’s admission. “She is not so young. She now has the body of a woman.” He frowned. “It is said Tall Woman guards her white daughter against those who want to take her.”

Wind Warrior nodded. “I know all this. I know every reason I should turn away from her. Perhaps with the passing of time, I will be able to do so.”

“Think of her no more,” Falling Thunder urged.

“She is all I can think about. Winning Rain Song’s heart is my burden—and my joy. Before knowing her, I had not really lived. But loving her, without knowing how she feels about me, is like a thorn in my own heart.”

When Wind Warrior spoke next, it was so quietly, Falling Thunder had to lean closer to hear his words.

“The day draws near when I will have to fight my brother.”

“Because of the white girl?”

“Yes.”

“And you say you do not see the future—how could you know that?”

“I know it because Dull Knife watches her as you watch White Wing. But his reasons are not as pure as yours.”

Wind Warrior lifted his head to the stars and concentrated on a particularly bright one, and after a few moments of silence, his friend left him alone.

“Why, Rain Song?” he whispered. “Why must you haunt my thoughts?”

Twenty families had left the village by the Milk River and were now encamped in a desolate land with no trees for shade, and miles of nothing but tall grassland. Since the prairie was so open, Broken Lance had ordered the people to arrange their tipis in a tight circle so they could be more easily defended should trouble come upon them.

All of the warriors had ridden out that morning because an enormous herd of buffalo had been spotted near the craggy hills a day’s ride from camp. Broken Lance had been hesitant to leave his wife since her time to deliver was near, and the warriors would be gone for several days, but it was his duty.

Chinook was curled up on a buffalo robe, ever watchful. Rain Song handed Tall Woman a bowl of meat. “The heat is oppressive. You must rest as much as you can.”

“It is hot because there has been no rain.”

“If it does not rain, the village by the river may not flood.”

“Just because it is not raining here does not mean it is not raining in the mountains, Rain Song.”

“I know that is true. It is just that the waiting is so hard.”

“It is hard.” Placing her hand on her stomach, Tall Woman sighed. “This child waits long to be born. You must not let your father know I am not feeling well. The others look to him for guidance in this troubled time. He does not need a wife clinging to him.”

Rain Song was worried. “Are you feeling the birthing pain?”

“It comes and goes. Just when I think it is time to give birth, the pains stop.”

Rain Song reached for a water skin and wet a cloth. “I will bathe your face so you feel cooler.”

Tall Woman smiled. “There is such kindness in your heart, little one. I bless the day you came into my life.”

Rain Song bit her lip. The day she had come into Tall Woman’s life was one of the worst of her own existence. No matter that she’d learned the Blackfoot ways and taken up their customs, she was not one of them and never would be. “I love and honor you, my mother. But sometimes I yearn for that which I left behind.”

“I know this. But I could not give you up.”

The thought of leaving the Blackfoot stabbed at her heart. She loved Tall Woman, and even Broken Lance, who had given her a fine pinto just the day before. And to never see Wind Warrior—how would she bear it?

Tall Woman closed her eyes while Rain Song fanned her. “Sleep will be good for you. I will watch over you.”

Her mother’s lips curled into a smile. “You do that very well. You work hard, my daughter. Take time for yourself. I want to hear you laugh.” She
clasped Rain Song’s hand. “It would fill my heart with joy if you could be happy.”

Rain Song said nothing. She kept fanning Tall Woman until she fell asleep. From the occasional frown that fluttered across Tall Woman’s face, Rain Song could tell she was in pain.

Yesterday she had heard some of the women talking, and they were worried that the baby was too late in coming. Rain Song wondered how much longer Tall Woman would suffer before this child was born.

It was afternoon when Rain Song stepped outside the tipi to find several women mounting their horses. With Chinook walking at her side, she approached them. “Are you leaving?” she asked Bird Woman, who would be the one to help Tall Woman deliver the child. The older woman’s hair was white, and she was rail thin, with wrinkles falling in folds. But she was the one the women depended on when they were ready to give birth.

“Spotted Flower has brought word that the men found the buffalo and need us to help with the carcasses,” Bird Woman said. “Let your mother know we will be away for two days.”

Worriedly, Rain Song laid her hand on Bird Woman’s horse. “My mother is feeling pain—should you not remain here? She might need you.”

“Does she say it is the birthing pain?”

“She does not think so. But—”

“It is only right that you should worry about her. But be comforted by the fact that we will be in a nearby valley. Spotted Flower says she will remain with you. Should Tall Woman need me, send her and I will come.”

Rain Song watched the women ride out of sight, feeling uneasy. Chinook laid her ears back against her head, and her neck hairs bristled. Rain Song turned to find Spotted Flower behind her, glaring at her.

“You must be feeling the heat as Tall Woman does, since you are with child,” Rain Song said.

Watching the wolf warily, Spotted Flower answered angrily. “Yes, I am with child! Charging Bull rapes me repeatedly and takes delight that I do not fight back. But you have a life of ease. You know nothing of what I suffer.”

Chinook did not like Spotted Flower’s tone and placed herself between Rain Song and her.

“I am sorry he beats you. I have seen the bruises on your face and understand how you have suffered over the years. If only we had been friends, it might have been easier for us both.”

“I do not need a friend. Certainly not you.” She pointed at Chinook. “And keep that wolf away from me.”

“She will not hurt you unless she thinks you are a danger to me.”

“Let me test that.” She reached forward and yanked Rain Song’s braid.

Instantly, Chinook leaped toward Spotted Flower.

Rain Song reacted quickly, catching the wolf by the neck and clamping her hands around the animal’s mouth. “No, Chinook. Do not!”

The wolf immediately pulled back, but her yellow eyes never left Spotted Flower’s face.

“Do not make any sudden moves, Spotted Flower. Back away slowly. I do not know if I can control Chinook if you touch me again.”

The woman stepped quickly back, her gaze on the wolf. “You do not suffer as I do. You are the daughter of the chief. No one would dare hit you or bruise your face.”

“You dared, Spotted Flower. Do not think I forget that you pushed me off the cliff.”

“Yes. I did. And look what happened. Wind Warrior rescued you and the very next day gave you this wolf. Everyone thinks he gave you the wolf to protect you from me.”

“Your words are bitter. You are bitter. But I am warning you, if you attack me again, I will not need the wolf.”

Spotted Flower merely smiled, taking another step away from Chinook, who still watched her every move. “The day will come when you will beg me to help you, and I will not lift a hand. I have watched you in your comfort while I am nothing but a slave to a man I hate. One day your comfortable world will crumble.”

Warning bells went off in Rain Song’s head. “That sounds like a threat to me.”

“Maybe it is. Or maybe I know things you do not.”

“I will not play games with you, Spotted Flower.” She stared the woman in the eye. “I know what you are capable of.”

Giving a half shrug, Spotted Flower frowned. “I did not say I was going to harm you. But I know those who might.”

A growl rumbled in Chinook’s throat and she flattened her body as if preparing to spring.

“Do not say any more,” Rain Song ordered. “My wolf does not like your tone of voice. I am warning you to leave while I can still control her.”

Cautiously Spotted Flower stepped back several more steps and then turned and walked away.

Troubled, Rain Song entered the tipi. Was Spotted Flower trying to warn her, or was it a threat? The woman was bitter, but her life was hard and Rain Song still pitied her.

Chinook watched Spotted Flower until she was at a safe distance, and then padded inside to lie beside Tall Woman.

Rain Song picked up the leather fan and fanned her mother. Something wasn’t right. All the women except for the very young and the very old had left camp. She would be watchful and allow nothing to harm Tall Woman or her unborn baby.