Savage Beloved (18 page)

Dressed in a lovely beaded doeskin dress and moccasins, her golden hair waving about her fringed collar, Candy rode as straight-backed and rigid as Two Eagles. She dreaded what was to happen today, only one day after Short Robe’s burial.

Two Eagles had awakened her early this morning and told her of the mission he must undertake today. It was the day that he would be returning the head of Chief Night Horse to the Raven band, their neighbors.

When she had told him that she would rather not accompany him there, Two Eagles had said that he thought it best that she go with him, because she would soon be his wife. He wanted the Raven band to understand her importance to him, especially since they would know who her father was.

Two Eagles had said that it was best to make it clear that no matter what guilt lay on the shoulders of Candy’s father, none of it rested on hers.

Despite his words, Candy felt a tightness in her chest, and knew that she was experiencing terrible dread. What if the people of the Raven band did not see Candy in the same light as Two Eagles?

Perhaps they would not even allow her to leave their village alive with Two Eagles. Perhaps they would make her pay for the sins of her father, as Two Eagles had started out to do.

Oh, she was so very afraid to mingle with other Indians, especially those her father had so terribly
wronged. Might not this band of Wichita want
her
head after learning who she was?

Yet she had been afraid to stay behind, for Hawk Woman’s hatred was becoming ever more obvious, and Candy didn’t want to burden Two Eagles with worry for her. He already had the weight of the world on his shoulders.

And she had seen the seriousness with which Two Eagles had told her that he wanted her to go with him, so she had agreed.

She sighed heavily as she again tried to compose herself for what was to come. It seemed they had been traveling for hours, but in truth they hadn’t. It just felt as though every step her horse took was bringing her closer to her death!

But she knew that was not so. Two Eagles would never have brought her today if he had thought for one moment he would be placing her in danger.

She looked quickly heavenward when she heard the call of a red hawk and saw its mighty outline against the ocean of blue sky. It soared with widespread wings overhead.

And then she saw another hawk join the first. Their red wings flashing in the sunlight, they dove downward and then just as quickly floated away again on the sweet breeze of the morning.

Candy knew that the Wichita saw such things as omens. Was this sighting an omen? If so, was it good or bad?

“We are almost there.”

Two Eagles’s voice broke through Candy’s preoccupation
with the hawks. She tore her eyes away from their loveliness.

At once she noticed something else. A flock of birds had congregated on a nearby hilltop, seemingly undisturbed by the presence of humans on horses so near them. And they were behaving very strangely. They were huge, each one weighing about seven pounds, she guessed.

Two Eagles saw her fascination with the birds. “Those are male sage grouse,” he said. “They are involved in a mating ritual.”

“They are fascinating,” Candy said, her eyes widening as each bird spread its long, spiky tail feathers, then inflated the air sacs beneath their white breasts. The morning air was filled with loud plopping sounds. There were at least a dozen male birds involved in the ritual.

“They are displaying together in a
lek,
a mating ground, advertising themselves to shy, camouflaged females waiting somewhere nearby,” Two Eagles said. Then his eyes were drawn elsewhere, and he grew silent again.

Candy saw him looking at something besides the birds. She followed his gaze and saw a huge village of tepees up ahead, surrounded on three sides by birch and cottonwood trees; a meandering stream ran snakelike behind the dwellings.

Smoke spiraled lazily from the smoke holes of the lodges, and many beautiful horses munched on thick grass in a corral at the far side of the village, close to the creek.

Candy heard the steady throbbing of drums coming
from the village, and wondered if those drums were being played because of Two Eagles’s arrival. Was it a good sign that they played so constantly and rhythmically? Or . . . bad?

Candy flinched as though shot when she saw several warriors ride out of the village, heading toward Candy, Two Eagles, and his warriors.

“Two Eagles, I am so afraid,” Candy said as the warriors came ever nearer.

Two Eagles sidled his horse closer to hers and reached a hand out to gently touch her arm. “My woman, you should never be afraid of anything while I am with you,” he said gently. “Do you think I would put you in danger? These people are my friends; they were friends to my father and grandfather before him. They would never harm anyone who rides at my side.”

“But I’m not just anyone,” Candy said, gulping hard. “I . . . am . . . a white woman, the daughter of the most hated colonel of all.”

“You might be his daughter, but your heart is yours, and it is a kind heart. You have been good to the Wichita,” Two Eagles said, smiling at her. “Especially to this Wichita chief.”

Candy blinked tears from her eyes and smiled softly at him. “Yes, especially to this Wichita chief,” she murmured. She looked straight ahead again as he dropped his hand away from her and drew rein along with his warriors as the riders came up to them and stopped.

“It is good to see you again, Chief Two Eagles,” one of the Raven band warriors said, placing a knotted
hand over his heart. “Come. My chief awaits your arrival.”

Candy saw how the warrior’s eyes lingered on her, and then turned to the bag that hung on Two Eagles’s horse. Surely he had guessed what lay within it, because Two Eagles had sent a scout ahead to explain.

She believed the scout had also prepared these people for the arrival of a white woman who would be accompanying Two Eagles and his warriors.

She wondered if they had been told who she was, and why she was there, and if they knew she would soon be the wife of Two Eagles.

Her heart pounded as Two Eagles said nothing, only nodded to the Raven band warrior.

Candy got as close as she could to Two Eagles’s steed as they rode behind the Raven band’s warriors until they reached the village.

All activity stopped at the village as everyone, women, children, and men alike, gazed in wonder at the woman riding at Two Eagles’s right side. She was wearing a fringed buckskin dress, yet her skin was white, her hair golden.

Candy wasn’t sure what to do when she saw Two Eagles nodding a fond greeting to everyone, with smiles and nods of welcome coming back to him.

So she forced herself to smile, praying to herself that the quivering of her lips could not be seen. Her fear continued to build when she saw the huge tepee that Two Eagles was heading toward.

She knew it had to be the chief’s lodge because it was the largest tepee in the village.

All of the Raven band warriors broke away, leaving Candy and Two Eagles alone with his warriors.

When they reached the large tepee, Two Eagles nodded over his shoulder to his warriors, who slid from their saddles and stood beside their horses, surely having been instructed to stay there until Two Eagles was finished talking with the Raven band’s chief.

Candy stiffened when the chief stepped outside. He appeared to be the same age as Two Eagles, and wore only a breechclout and moccasins. His coal-black hair fell in a long braid down his muscled copper back. She knew this had to be Proud Wind, the son of the older chief whose head was being returned to its rightful place today.

He came and extended a hand up to Two Eagles, who accepted it. Then as Proud Wind stepped back, Two Eagles dismounted and embraced him.

When they stepped away from each other, Two Eagles turned and smiled up at Candy. “Proud Wind, this is my woman, Painted Wings, who will soon be my wife,” he said, pride in his eyes. “Painted Wings, this is my best friend from my youth, Proud Wind.”

Candy was not surprised to be introduced as Painted Wings, for surely that name would make her more acceptable to Proud Wind.

Proud Wind stepped closer and smiled up at Candy, too. “It is good to know the woman who will be my friend’s wife,” he said, nodding.

“I am proud to know you,” Candy said. Then as
Proud Wind stepped aside, Two Eagles approached Candy’s mare and helped her from the saddle.

She stood beside Proud Wind as Two Eagles went to his horse and removed the bag. He did not yet open it or offer its contents to Proud Wind.

Proud Wind gestured toward his entranceway. “Come inside and rest beside my fire with me,” he said, his eyes glancing anxiously now and then to the bag.

He held the entrance flap aside as Two Eagles and Candy went inside, then followed them in.

Candy was impressed by this chief’s lodge, as she had been by Two Eagles’s. All of the inside cover was painted with what looked like war exploits, and she was curious as to their meaing.

Was he a war chief while Two Eagles was not? Was that why Proud Wind’s father had been treated so inhumanely?

She was also impressed by his show of weapons, which stood against the buckskin covering at the far back of the teepee.

Soft-looking, colorful mats were spread across the floor, and close to the fire soft pelts lay in abundance.

And, just as she had seen no signs of a woman living in Two Eagles’s lodge when she had first entered it, she saw no such signs here. It seemed that this young chief had yet to find a woman he wanted to marry.

“Sit,” Proud Wind said, motioning with a hand toward the plush pelts. “It is good to have your company.”

Two Eagles smiled and nodded. Still holding the
bag rigidly between his hands, he sat down. He rested the heavy bag on his lap as Candy sat down close beside him.

Proud Wind sat across the fire from them, his legs crossed, his hands resting on his knees. “I am sorry about Short Robe’s passing,” he said gently. “I remember him well from our youth. He was a masterful hunter who taught us many skills.”

Two Eagles smiled mischievously. “You were more of an astute student than I,” he said. “That is proved by which of us has a scar from carelessness on his face.”

Candy looked quickly at Proud Wind, realizing that it had been he who had been hunting that day with Two Eagles.

That proved just how old their friendship was. Perhaps that was why he had so easily accepted Two Eagles’s woman even though her skin was white.

She had to wonder, though, if he knew who her father was.

If not, how would his impression of her change once he learned the truth?

She sat rigidly still as they talked of old times at length. All the while Two Eagles held the bag steady on his lap, with Proud Wind casting it occasional, nervous glances.

Suddenly Proud Wind rose and came around to stand beside Two Eagles. His hand trembled as he reached out toward his friend. “It is time,” he said thickly.

Two Eagles rose slowly to his feet, his eyes wavering as he handed the bag over.

No one said anything as Proud Wind rested the bag on the floor, then slowly opened it.

Candy scarcely breathed as she watched Proud Wind reach inside the bag. She was aware that Two Eagles was tense, too, because his own breathing was shallow as the jar, still wrapped in a maroon cloth, was lifted from the bag.

Two souls with but a single thought,
Two hearts that beat as one.
—Frederick Halm

“Uncover it for me?” Proud Wind said as he gave Two Eagles a sorrowful glance.

“Are you certain . . . ?” Two Eagles asked, getting to his feet and then sinking on his haunches beside his friend.

“It must be done,” Proud Wind said. “Then I will place it where it belongs. My father will finally rest in peace.”

Candy could not watch. She turned her eyes away and closed them, but she heard the gasp of horror and knew that the head inside the jar had been revealed to Proud Wind. He let out a heartrending cry.

Two Eagles saw, heard, and felt his friend’s agony.
He rose to his feet and reached for Candy’s hand, prepared to leave.

But Proud Wind stopped them. He had placed the jar at the far back of his lodge and covered it again with the cloth; then he embraced Two Eagles.

“Thank you for again proving yourself the friend you have always been,” he said. “You have done all that is possible to right this terrible wrong. My father smiles from the heavens at you. So does my mother, who has walked the long road to the hereafter, too.”

“It was from my heart that I did this,” Two Eagles said, easing himself from Proud Wind’s arms. He looked over at Candy, then into Proud Wind’s eyes. “I wish to tell you everything about my Painted Wings. I feel that it is best for you to know.”

Candy felt that she might faint, for she now knew that soon her whole identity would be revealed to Proud Wind.

Proud Wind gave Candy a curious gaze, then nodded and motioned with a hand for them to sit again.

He sat across the fire from them as Two Eagles began his tale of how he had rescued the jar from the colonel’s office, and then how he had found Candy fleeing the massacre.

He explained how he had taken her home as his captive, and then how it had all changed, so that now they were in love.

“She is nothing like her father, who did this to Chief Night Horse,” Two Eagles quickly interjected. “She is a good woman with a pure heart, a woman who will soon be my wife.”

Candy could tell that Proud Wind found it difficult
to hear all this about Candy, yet he said nothing, only sat stoic and thus far unresponsive, his arms folded across his bare chest.

Candy’s hopes waned when she saw from Proud Wind’s expression that he might never understand Two Eagles’s choice in women. She only hoped that he would never voice his sentiments aloud to his friend.

Taking advantage of a pause in the conversation, Candy leaned forward and said, “I apologize for all the wrongs my father did to you and your people. I also apologize for those men who followed his command. I am sincere in my apology. I truly wish to be your friend, as Two Eagles has been your friend.”