Authors: Cathy Keeton
The clouds hung low in the sky when Shadow Spirit entered his father’s lodge.
“Hello Mother, how is Father today?” He asked.
“He is weak son. He did not sleep well. He coughs so. I have told him that you and Abby wish to speak to him. Is this something that your mother can also hear, my son?” she asked.
“Yes Mother. I want to tell you both our news together. Where is Abby?” He asked.
“She is at the creek getting water to boil, so that we may clean the wild turkey that Gray Wolf killed this morning. She will be back shortly.” Green Eyes answered.
Shadow Spirit walked to his father’s sleeping mat and kneeled beside him.
“Father,” he said quietly not wanting to wake him if he was able
“Yes my son I am awake. I wait anxiously for the words you wish to say to me. Your mother said you were quite mysterious.”
“No great mystery Father. I would like to wait until Abby returns this concerns her as well,” he said.
Abby walked back to Chief White Feather’s lodge in a state of complete happiness. She had spent a glorious afternoon the day before in Shadow Spirit’ arms, and today they were to tell his parents of their wish to marry. She loved him with all of her heart and she wanted to spend the rest of her life with Shadow Spirit and these wonderful people. They had accepted her without reservation. She hoped it wasn’t just because she lived in their Chief’s lodge. When she entered the lodge he gave her a reassuring smile.
“Come, we will talk to my parents now,” he said.
“Father, Mother, Abby and I would like to tell you something.”
“Yes son what is the news you wish to share with us?” his father replied.
“We want to be joined. I thought our union should be before we move to our winter camp in the Black Hills. I would like the joining ceremony to be the week before we are to move to our winter haven.”
“That is wonderful son,” his mother said. “However, don’t you think it would be better to wait until we reach our winter camp? We will leave in ten days.”
“I do not wish to wait. I want to make Abby my wife soon. I have never felt this way before.”
Chief White Feather had remained silent through their conversation. He watched as his son confessed his feelings for the white woman. He coughed as he began to speak. “Our son is right my wife. I see no reason for him to wait to make this beautiful woman his wife. We will have the joining ceremony when they wish.”
“Thank you Father. Your blessing means a great deal to us.” Shadow Spirit said.
“Yes,” Abby agreed. “I will do all I can to be the best wife that Shadow Spirit could have found.”
“We have known since Shadow Spirit brought you to our village that you and he belonged together. We have discussed it at some length.” Green Eyes said with an affectionate look at Shadow Spirit and Abby.
“What took you so long my son?” The Chief chuckled.
“I have no idea Father.” Shadow Spirit replied as he led Abby from the lodge. “So you see they are pleased.”
“I never had any doubt that your Mother would be. It was your Father that I was worried about.”
The next couple of days passed in a flurry of activity. Abby was so excited that she could hardly breathe at times. Green Eyes had a dress that she had been making for herself. She quickly changed the dress to fit Abby. It was snow white with rows of tiny beads that ran from the neckline to the hem. It had a fringed v at the bust line much like Yellow Dove’s. It was the most gorgeous dress she had ever seen. Abby didn’t think she could have had a dress made in White Oak that would have been any more beautiful.
The day of the joining arrived without mishap. Abby stepped out of the lodge to the sounds of the village coming to life after a nights rest. The dogs barked and children cried with joy at the antics of a raccoon family playing at the edge of the village.
“Abby you must go back inside.” Yellow Dove said as she ran to the lodge.
“Why? What’s wrong?” Abby asked with alarm.
“There is much we have to do. This is your wedding day.” Yellow Dove said as she glanced around as if she were afraid. “ Is it not the custom of the white people that the man is not to see the woman the day of the joining.” She hurried Abby back inside but not before Abby saw the group of white men talking to Shadow Spirit beside his father’s lodge.
“Who are those white men Yellow Dove?”
“It is only peddlers who bring goods to the village to trade. They are of no importance to us. We have bigger things to do,” Yellow Dove replied.
Shadow Spirit was looking over the peddler’s supply of knives when he saw them look in Abby’s direction just as Yellow Dove had rushed her back into the lodge.
“Tell me Shadow Spirit, who is the white woman? She looks like that there schoolmarm that was taken by Black Heart over in White Oak,” one of the peddlers said.
“I do not think so.” Shadow Spirit lied. “When was this schoolteacher taken?”
“Let me think,” the trader said. “Hey Zeke, when was that teacher lady took from White Oak?” He yelled to one of his companions as he spit a stream of tobacco juice to the ground.
“It was about a month ago I think.” Zeke replied.
“Yeah that’s right Shadow Spirit. I remember the towns people abringin’ her pappy into town in a wagon the next morning, peers he dropped dead when he seed his daughter kidnapped by the same thievin’ renegade who kilt his wife just months afore.
“Her father died?” Shadow Spirit asked not to anyone in particular.
“Yeah seems his heart just plume gave out. He jest about lost his mind when his wife was murdered, so when he seed them take his girl, it must have just been too much for the old man. He just laid down and died,” replied the trader.
“Course the men in town searched for the teacher for days but there was nary a sign, hide, nor hair of her. It was like she dropped off the edge of the earth”
“Well this cannot be the teacher. This woman has been with my people for over a year.” Shadow Spirit said. “Now I want you to go. This is a special day in my village.”
“What’s so special about today? Your daddy always lets us stay the day and rest up afore we head back to civilization. I think you’re trying to hide something. What is it? Shadow Spirit are you a fixin to go on the warpath?”
“No I am not this is the day that I am to be joined with the woman I love.” Shadow Spirit answered with steely anger. He had to have time to think about what he would tell her, or if he would tell Abby her father was dead.
“Can’t we stay and watch you get hitched Shadow Spirit? We...”
Shadow Spirit interrupted, “No you may not. This is a sacred ceremony for my people with much celebration. Now go!”
The traders loaded up their wagons and left with no more words, but Shadow Spirit was very worried. What if they came back and tried to sneak Abby out of the village during the celebration. He could not live without her. She was the one most important person in his life. He would fight to the death to keep her with him. No, he could not tell her about her father. What purpose would it serve? There was nothing anyone could do to bring him back. Abby loved him and he knew she did not want to return to the white world. She told him several times that she wanted to spend the rest of her life with him and his people. Who was he kidding? He had to tell her just not right now.
He hated the fact that he had spoken a lie, but he felt he had no choice. He had to protect Abby. He didn’t know what the peddlers might have done if they knew she was the teacher from White Oak. He struggled with when to tell Abby that her father was dead. He wanted this to be a day she would never forget. A day filled with love and celebration. He wanted her to know that she would always be loved and cherished by him. The people of his village would also protect her as they would one of their own, not just because she would be the wife of their future chief, but because she was loved.
Shadow Spirit wasn’t aware that his friend Gray Wolf had come up to him and was talking to him
“I am sorry my friend. What did you ask me?” Shadow Spirit asked.
“I see you were far away in your own thoughts. Have you been having doubts about your joining with Abby?” Gray Wolf inquired.
“No, I have never been surer of anything in all my time on Mother Earth.” Shadow Spirit firmly stated.
“Then why were you so deep in thought? You had a troubled expression on your face. I am not trying to pry. I am only concerned for my friend and the future Chief of our people.” Gray Wolf explained.
“Did you speak with the peddlers who were in our village a little while ago Gray Wolf?”
“No, I was going to trade for a comb for Yellow Dove, but they left before I got a chance.”
“They left because I sent them away. They saw Abby and asked if she was the schoolteacher that was taken by Black Heart. I lied to them. I told them that she had been with us for over a year.” Shadow Spirit said with a frown upon his face.
“I find it hard to believe that you told an untruthful thing, but I can see your reasoning for doing so.” Gray Wolf said.
“The peddlers had news of Abby’s father. It seems he could not stand the thought of Black Heart having Abby. He died the day Abby was abducted. How can I tell her this news without destroying her spirit?” Shadow Spirit asked Gray Wolf.
“I can understand my friend. I see that you are right, why spoil a great day of happiness with such bad news? Abby can grieve for her father at a later time.” Gray Wolf stated.
“I feel that telling her now would be unwise, but I also feel that I am doing her an injustice by keeping it from her, but I love her beyond reasonable thought.”
“Shadow Spirit, why not wait until we move to our winter camp. It will not be many more suns until we are traveling to the mountains where we will be sheltered from most of the howling winter winds.”
The two warriors began to walk toward Gray Wolf’s lodge, neither in much of a hurry.
“Once we are safely hidden away for the winter where the white eyes cannot intrude on our lives, you can tell her. When Abby has settled in with our people and is at total peace, I believe that would be the best time to tell her about her father.” Gray Wolf continued.
“I believe that is what I will do my friend. I thank you for your sound advice. I only hope that when I tell Abby she will not be so angry with me that she will wish to leave me. I cannot let that happen.”
“Perhaps by then she will be with child and that will be the most important thing on her mind.”
“Aye yes that would be wonderful, but if I do not get back to my lodge and ready myself for our joining there will not be a reason to celebrate. I think Abby would be very angry if I did not show up.” Shadow Spirit laughed.
“I think you are right. I will see you later today at the joining.”
Shadow Spirit began to walk back to his lodge when he noticed Storm coming from the woods. He waited as the wolf limped his way to join him.
“Oh and where have you been? I think that I am not the only male around here with a ladylove.”
Shadow Spirit bent to ruffle the thick white fur on Storm’s neck. The years since Shadow Spirit and Storm had come together had been good years but Shadow Spirit feared that Storm was hearing the call of nature and would soon go to join his own kind. They would probably never completely lose touch. He felt that Storm would visit from time to time but he needed to live his life as a wolf not a dog.
Abby and Yellow Dove stood just inside the lodge waiting to take their places in front of the Shaman. The drums began to play softly as Abby walked to Shadow Spirit’s side.
Shadow Spirit was in awe at how very beautiful Abby looked. The supple white doeskin dress fit her perfectly it showed every curve and the ample fullness of her bosom. Shadow Spirit’s heart did a flip-flop when she looked up at him with the most radiant smile. Tears of happiness glistened in her eyes.
At Shadow Spirit’s request Brown Elk, the shaman, had agreed to bless their union. He felt that Abby would feel more like she was married if the Holy man said a few words over them.
The ceremony took only a few minutes. The Shaman spoke words Abby had not learned, but from his gestures and the smile he wore, she could tell that he was at peace with her marrying Shadow Spirit. The old man had long gray braids and his face was a maze of a thousand wrinkles with twinkling dark brown eyes. He was dressed in his finest robes. Abby could see that he was enjoying this new role he was playing. When he finished talking, he took Abby’s hand and placed it in Shadow Spirit.
“Be happy, you have been brought together for a great reason. I know not what that reason is yet, but I have seen your face before you came to our village,” he said to Abby in English as he left to join the celebration.
“What did he mean Shadow Spirit?”
“I do not know. He will tell us when he thinks the time is right. Come my wife we will join in the celebration for a while. I cannot wait very long to take you to our lodge. Do you know that you are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen? To be your husband gives me great pleasure and makes me so very proud. Brown Elk is a very wise man, his dreams have told of things to come for our people for many moons.”
“I am very pleased to be your wife. I only wish that my father could be here to share in my happiness.”
The guilt that had plagued Shadow Spirit all day hit him like Mother Earth had been placed on his shoulders. His face must have revealed some of what he was feeling for Abby asked, “What is wrong Shadow Spirit, you suddenly looked very sad.” She placed her hand on his chest. “Please Shadow Spirit tell me what bothers you so.”
“I was thinking of my own Father, and wondering if he will be with us when we arrive at our winter camp in our sacred Black Hills. This is our day of celebration and I have cast a cloud over it. I am so sorry Abby, have I spoiled this day for you?”
“Oh no my darling, I am very content.2I know that my Father would be very happy for me. It would take him some time to come to terms with the fact that I have fallen in love with an Indian but I am sure he would learn to accept you and your people. He really is a very loving man. He just can’t seem to want to live anymore now that my mother is gone.”
Yellow Dove came running up to them interrupting their conversation.
“Shadow Spirit, Abby come watch the dancers. The food is ready; you will have plenty of time to be alone in the coming days. Come, do not deprive us of your company.”
Shadow Spirit put his arm around his sister’s shoulders. “We might as well join the others. My sister is a very determined woman so we can forget about sneaking away.” He winked at Yellow Dove, the love he held for her evident in his eyes.
“Yes big brother, I am determined. It is not every day that you take a wife.” Yellow Dove exclaimed.
“I should hope not!” Abby laughed, joining Shadow Spirit and Yellow Dove as they walked back to the celebration.
Shadow Spirit and Abby sat with his family in the circle that had been made around the dancers. The men were dressed in feathers and hides with wonderful headdresses. They danced and sang in a rhythm that made Abby want to sway back and forth. The drums played and someone played what sounded like a flute. The men started calling for their women to join the dancing, they did with great shouting and laughter.
“Look at Yellow Dove and Gray Wolf.” Abby cried. “They are really having fun. She is such a happy person.”
“My sister is and always will be a free spirit. She enjoys life to the fullest, even if sometimes it makes our parents nervous,” he laughed.
Green Eyes walked up to the couple smiling broadly. “You are beautiful Abby, you remind me of myself all those years ago. I have something that I would like to give you it was given to me by my mother when I was fourteen. She said that it was made especially for her by her father.” She held out a necklace that had small emerald droplets hanging from a gold chain. It was stunningly beautiful, the stones glittered in the sunshine and looked like they had been polished.
“Thank you so much .Are you sure that you want to part with this?”
“I have not worn this for a long time, and I truly want you to have it. I gave Yellow Dove a necklace on her wedding, and I would like to give my new daughter this one”
Abby held Green Eyes and cried with joy at the wonderful gesture.
“I will cherish this forever and I will wear it always, Thank you so much, and I love you very much.”
“I love you too, now go and enjoy the rest of your day.” She went to join a group of women watching the dancing.
The celebration came to an end the time arrived for the bride and groom to go to their lodge. The teepee was erected beside a slow meandering stream that ran a short distance from the rest of the village. It was in a private place so that the honeymooning couple would not be disturbed.
The festivities had lasted longer than Shadow Spirit would have liked, but everyone was in such high spirits. The son of their ailing Chief had chosen a mate, and he very much wanted to be alone with Abby.
“This is our special time to get to know each other and to be alone. No one will disturb us for three suns. I love you Abby, you are the most important person in my life.” Shadow Spirit said as he began to undress her.
Abby stood perfectly still as Shadow Spirit slowly removed her beautiful wedding dress. Standing naked before her husband, she felt that she was exactly where she belonged.
Shadow Spirit slowly ran his fingers over Abby’s body in feather light touches.
He began placing kisses everywhere his fingers had touched. When his mouth started down the valley between her breasts, her breath caught in her throat only to be expelled when his mouth closed over her hardened nipple. His tongue was working magic on one breast while his hand administered pleasure to the other as well. His mouth came up to claim her lips in a soul-shattering kiss. His tongue that had so lovingly caressed her breast now danced with her own tongue in a rhythm as old as time.
Leaving her mouth, he trailed hot, moist kisses down her stomach. At her navel, he flicked his tongue in and out, causing Abby’s muscles to quiver in her belly. His mouth claimed her womanly core with such gentleness that Abby wanted to weep. He slowly flicked his tongue back and forth over her bud of desire. He loved her with his mouth and hand until Abby thought she couldn’t take anymore. She realized that Shadow Spirit was still fully dresses. “Please Shadow Spirit, I want you naked also.”
He began to remove his wedding clothing, “Here” Abby said. “Let me, I will show you the same exquisite torture you have just shown me.”
She removed his clothing piece by piece. As each piece was removed, she set his flesh to trembling with her hands and mouth. When she reached his breechclout, she looked up at his face and smiled wickedly. She ever so slowly untied the leather strips that held his last remaining article of clothing in place. .
“Abby.”
“Be quiet. It’s my turn to love you. You gave me great pleasure and now I am going to see if I can do the same for you.”
Abby knelt before him on their soft hides. She took him in her hands once more, put her mouth at the tip of his manhood, and teased him with her tongue. She loved him with her whole being until he thought he would explode. She would have continued but Shadow Spirit brought her up from her knees to stand before him. He lifted her into his arms and lowered her to the sleeping mat. He placed more kisses on her face and along her neckline. With his hands caressing her breast, he entered her in one quick thrust. He quickly increased the rhythm. Abby thrashed beneath him. Wave after wave of excited pleasure washed over her. They climaxed at the same time as if their bodies and souls were synchronized.
They lay quietly together, both spent of all possible energy. With their hearts beating as one and their bodies glistening with perspiration Abby had never felt so content.
“Are you happy my woman?”
“Very. I have everything I could possibly want except maybe to be pregnant with your child.”
“After what we just shared you may be already. I would like to have a son but I would also like to have a daughter with eyes the color of a summer sky and hair that shines with the rays of the midday sun.”
“Oh Shadow Spirit, I hope that I am pregnant as we speak but I want a son who looks just like his father; strong, brave and beautiful.”
Shadow Spirit moved onto his back pulling Abby with him so she could rest her head on his chest. “Have I told you of Sweet Medicine?” Shadow Spirit asked as he absently stroked her
“No, but I would love to hear the story. I want to learn everything that I can about your people.”
“They are your people also now.”
“It makes me very happy when you say that. Please tell me about Sweet Medicine.” She pleaded.
“Sweet Medicine was a prophet and a savior. Before his birth, the people were bad. They had no laws, killed one another, and Indians were called savages, which was true at the time. Sweet Medicine was born to a virgin mother who left him in the bushes because she was ashamed. That same day an old woman found him and took him home with her. She and her husband raised Sweet Medicine as their own son. When he was but ten years old, he performed his first miracle. He took a calf hide wrinkled up and soaked it in the river, and he also took a cherry wood bough and shaped it into a hoop and tied it with rawhide strings. Everyone was curious as to what he was doing. The people were all starving and there was no food to be found. After days of rituals performed by Sweet Medicine turned the calf hide into a half grown buffalo calf. Everyone ate and rejoiced.”
“Shadow Spirit that is such a lovely myth, thank you for sharing it.”
“It is not a myth. It is a true story told to the children for generations. Sweet Medicine performed many more miracles in his life time; much like your savior Jesus.”
“Yes I see the similarities. Although I don’t think you can compare Sweet Medicine to the son of God.”
“Who knows who Sweet Medicine’s father was? His own mother did not know.” Shadow Spirit said as he kissed the top of her head. “I am only suggesting that they are alike in some ways.”
“I agree with you Shadow Spirit but there are other things that I would rather talk about and do.” Abby said while running soft fingers down his chest with a smile that could set any man on fire.
“Yes Abby. I can think of other things I would rather talk about and do also.”
“I love you Shadow Spirit.”
“I love you also. You make my heart soar with happiness.”
Abby deepened her kiss once more and felt Shadow Spirit grow even more until she thought he would burst. Even though Abby had never experienced this kind of love with anybody but Shadow Spirit, she could not imagine being able to be compare another man to him. Abby knew she was not experienced but also knew that she would be able to broaden her experience and be able to make love to Shadow Spirit without him tiring of her.
As Abby deepened her kiss, Shadow Spirit gently positioned himself over her. He was waiting to see the hunger in her eyes that he saw the day by the stream. He trailed kisses from her forehead down the side of her face and neck until he captured her hardened nipple once more in his mouth. He heard her let out a gasp and felt her grip tighten on his shoulders.
When she arched her hips upward to let Shadow Spirit enter her, he slowly slid inside her. He met her thrusts and let her take over his body. He wanted her to feel complete with him. He slowly entered her again and again all the while trailing hot kisses along her collarbone to her shoulder, then leisurely returning to her mouth. He began to accelerate the pace, bringing Abby to new heights of pleasure. Abby sighed with contentment as they gradually came back to earth.
Lurking outside their dwelling was a woman bent on revenge. “I will make them both pay, and they will pay with their lives.” Lone Raven whispered.