Savage Hero (26 page)

“Don't hurt me,” Colonel Downing cried. “Just help me. Please . . . help . . . me.”

Mary Beth dismounted and went to stand beside Colonel Anderson as Brave Wolf knelt down beside Colonel Downing. She gasped and covered her mouth with a hand when she saw his bloody leg, where it was obvious that he'd been bitten.

“Coyotes came,” Colonel Downing sobbed as he gazed down at his swollen leg. “They surrounded me. They attacked. But thank God, only one actually bit me. Then they left.”

Colonel Anderson went and knelt down beside the ailing colonel. Together, he and Brave Wolf got Colonel Downing to his feet, then helped him to Mary Beth's horse and into the saddle.

After he was there, he leaned low and clung to the pommel. “Thank you,” he breathed out. “Thank you, thank you . . .”

Brave Wolf handed the man the reins, then went back to Mary Beth. “You can ride with me,” he said. “I could not make him walk to the fort. Not in his condition.”

“I understand,” Mary Beth said, already knowing the depth of his goodness, even toward an avowed enemy.

She went with him. He lifted her onto his horse, then positioned himself behind her as Colonel Anderson mounted and edged his horse closer to Brave Wolf's. “Now what should the plan be?” he asked. “Finding him like this changes things somewhat.”

“You have trusted soldiers who work as scouts, do you not?” Brave Wolf asked, looking over his shoulder at the soldiers.

“Yes. What are you suggesting?” Colonel Anderson asked.

“As I see it, Colonel Downing is the only one who is at fault here,” Brave Wolf said tightly. “The soldiers under his command only did as he told them. If they plotted to attack us Crow, it was under his orders.”

“Yes, Brave Wolf, from what I heard, Colonel Downing was the main one who wanted to attack you and your people,” Mary Beth said solemnly. “The others joined, but none sounded as eager as the colonel. They were being egged on. What else could they do but agree?”

“Knowing that, Colonel Anderson, I would suggest you send two of your most trusted soldiers on to Fort Henry and tell them what has transpired. Let us alert them that we are coming with their colonel, and that he is wounded,” Brave Wolf said.

Colonel Anderson nodded. “That is a very good plan and I will do as you suggest,” he said. He
wheeled his horse around and moved among his soldiers, as Brave Wolf moved among his warriors, each telling his men of the new plan.

Mary Beth stared at Colonel Downing, who still sat slumped over in the saddle, sliding an occasional downcast look her way. She didn't trust him at all.

Brave Wolf came back to Mary Beth. He watched the two soldier scouts ride off at a hard gallop toward the fort, then reached over and took Mary Beth's hands. “We will wait for the soldiers' return,” he said. “Then it will be safe to go on. We will stay at the fort for only as long as it takes to see that Washington is informed of the colonel's plans to attack Indians, contrary to his orders. Then we will return home and begin another search for your son, for it would make everything perfect if he could be there to join us for the wedding celebration.”

“It would be wonderful,” Mary Beth said, trying to make out the fort in the distance. She wondered if the sentries had noticed the large contingent of soldiers and warriors so close at hand.

Her heart pounded as she sat there, her eyes watching for the return of the two soldiers. When she finally saw them riding back, her eyes grew wide when she saw how many soldiers from the fort were accompanying the two scouts. For a moment fear squeezed her heart, but it left again when the soldier scouts under Colonel Anderson's command arrived with the good news that everyone was welcome at the fort, and that Colonel
Downing would be detained in the infirmary until orders came from Washington.

Colonel Anderson complimented the soldiers, then rode on ahead to meet those others who were still coming toward them.

Mary Beth watched, wide-eyed, when he reached the soldiers. He was warmly greeted by each soldier.

“He must know them,” Mary Beth said, giving Brave Wolf a questioning look.

“Many of them were at one time or another under Colonel Anderson's command,” Brave Wolf said, smiling. “The colonel only confided that to me this morning. That was one reason I allowed you to come with us. I knew that once the soldiers at Fort Henry discovered Colonel Anderson was playing such a big role in today's activities, all would go well.”

Colonel Anderson came back and stopped beside Brave Wolf. “Neither you nor your warriors need go any farther,” he said, reaching a hand over and placing it on Brave Wolf's shoulder. “I have everything under control.” He smiled at Mary Beth, then grinned at Brave Wolf again. “Go and have a lovely wedding, you two. My only regret is that I shall not be there to celebrate with you. I am going to make it my duty to see that orders come through to deliver Colonel Downing to my fort, where I will put him behind bars.”

“Thank you for everything,” Mary Beth said. “And . . . sir . . . if ever you run across a five-year-old white child among any Indians you meet, ask
him his name. Perhaps you will be the one to find my little David.”

“I shall spread word among all I know to keep a watch out for him,” Colonel Anderson said, removing his hand from Brave Wolf's shoulder. He saluted them both, then rode off, his soldiers all riding with him.

Brave Wolf turned to Mary Beth. “It is done,” he said, smiling broadly. “Now we can put our minds on more important things. Today I will send those warriors who are riding with us in different directions. They will once again search for your son. I shall tell them to return home tomorrow at dawn, though, for I want them to join our celebration of marriage.”

“Tomorrow,” Mary Beth said, blushing. “Actually? Tomorrow? We will become man and wife?”

“
Hecitu-yelo
, yes, tomorrow,” he replied, smiling.

Mary Beth gazed down at the wildflowers. This time she really did want some for her wedding.

“May I take the time to pick some flowers?” she asked softly.

“You do not have to ask permission of me to do anything,” Brave Wolf said, dismounting.

He held her horse's reins as she began picking these flowers she loved the most. While she was gathering blossoms, he directed his warriors about the search.

When she heard a thundering of hoofbeats, Mary Beth stopped and stared at the warriors as they rode in every direction.

She gazed heavenward and prayed a soft prayer that this time the search would be a successful one.

Here are fruits, flowers, leaves and branches.
And here is my heart which beats only for you.

—Paul Verlaine

Mary Beth lay snuggled in Brave Wolf's arms. She smiled when she thought of what this special day was—her wedding day; then she frowned sadly when she remembered what else the day might mean to her. She might again receive word that her son was nowhere to be found.

If only the warriors brought him back safe, this day would be doubly blessed.

But if they didn't, she would count her blessings for having found Brave Wolf, and let that happiness wipe away as much sorrow as possible.

She ran a slow hand over Brave Wolf's soft, copper skin; his back was so smooth and hairless, so
beautiful. She was naked as well and scooted even closer to him so that she could feel the heat of his skin against hers. The lodge fire had burned down to low, glowing embers.

Each day brought cooler temperatures. Soon snow would fall, blanketing everything with its wondrous white. It seemed impossible that when that snow fell she would be wife to a powerful Crow chief, preparing his meals, sewing his moccasins, and being everything to him that he wished her to be.

She would show
him
how to make angels in the snow, lying full length in it and moving her arms so they left the impression of wings.

She would encourage snowball fights like the ones she'd shared with her son when he was old enough to walk out into the snow and make snowmen and snowballs alongside her.

“What are you thinking so hard about?” Brave Wolf asked as he turned to gaze into her eyes.

“How did you know I was thinking about anything?” she asked, always marveling at his astuteness. “I thought you were asleep.”

“I was until only moments ago,” he said, brushing fallen locks of hair back from her eyes. “When I awakened and felt your body against mine, I became aware that your breathing had slowed. I knew that was because you were in deep thought about something.”

“Snow,” Mary Beth said, running a hand over his muscled, hairless chest. “I was recalling times with
my son in the snow. He loved snow. He loved helping me make snowmen.”

“Snowmen?” Brave Wolf said, cocking an eyebrow. “How can men be made of snow? How would you make one?”

Mary Beth laughed softly. “Haven't your Crow children learned how to make snowmen?” she asked. “Have they not made and thrown snowballs?”

“They know very well the art of making and throwing snowballs at one another, but no, not snowmen,” he said, then looked quickly toward the closed entrance flap, where Dancing Butterfly was speaking softly.

“What does she want this early in the morning?” Mary Beth asked, glancing up through the smoke hole at the top of the tepee. “Why, the sky is only now turning to morning.”

“I did not tell you what is required of you today before our wedding ceremony,” Brave Wolf said, moving to his feet. He hurried into fringed breeches and shirt, then stepped into moccasins.

“What
is
required of me?” Mary Beth said, quickly dressing herself.

“You must go for a while to a willow shelter that has only this morning been made for you,” Brave Wolf said, waiting for her to be fully clothed before sweeping aside the entrance flap so that Dancing Butterfly could enter.

“Why would I go there?” Mary Beth asked, fully dressed and now stepping into her moccasins. She smiled at Dancing Butterfly as she came in.

“Are you telling her about the willow shelter?” Dancing Butterfly asked Brave Wolf, a buckskin parfleche bag hanging from her shoulder. “Have you instructed her as to what will be done there to prepare her for your wedding?”

“
Ka
, no, I have not told her anything except that she is to go to the willow shelter,” Brave Wolf said, giving Mary Beth a soft smile. “It is time to go there now, my sunshine. When you emerge from the shelter, you will be ready for the ceremony that will make us man and wife.”

Somewhat apprehensive, Mary Beth gave him a nervous smile, then left the lodge with Dancing Butterfly. She noticed that hardly anyone was up yet. Everything in the village was quiet, except for an occasional whinny from a horse in the corral, or the distant bark of a coyote.

The sound of the coyote brought back the moment when she had seen Colonel Downing and learned that a coyote had attacked him while he had been tied to a tree. She now knew to fear them and keep her distance.

Then she noticed another sound, which made her stop abruptly. “Did you hear it, Dancing Butterfly?” she asked, looking slowly around her.

“Hear what?” Dancing Butterfly asked, stopping beside her.

“A cat,” Mary Beth said, still looking, and now listening again. “I heard a cat's meow.”

“A cat?” Dancing Butterfly said, visibly stiffening. “Do you mean . . . you . . . heard a panther's cry or
a bobcat's?” She looked guardedly all around her. “Do you think one is near?”

“No, not them,” Mary Beth said, her eyes widening and brightening when she saw a cat running toward her, a cat she had seen before. It was Colonel Downing's calico cat! She had seen it at Fort Henry. It had rubbed against her legs, purring. She had even lifted it into her arms and stroked it.

The last time she had seen it was when it had run past her into his cabin.

“Poor kitty,” Mary Beth murmured as she bent to her knees and gathered it in her arms. It gazed up at her. “Look at your fur. It's all matted and sticking together. Where have you been? What trouble have you been in? And why aren't you at the fort?”

Of course she knew she would never have any answers to those questions. All she knew was that she was going to keep the cat if it wanted to stay with her. She adored cats.

She had been lonely without the one she had left behind in Kentucky.

It truly saddened her that she would never see it again.

“Do you want to be mine?” Mary Beth asked, hugging the cat to her chest as she continued stroking it. She was glad when it began purring, which proved that it was content to be with her.

“Where did that cat come from?” Dancing Butterfly asked as she knelt down beside Mary Beth. “Why is it so small? Is it a baby bobcat?”

“All cats like this are small,” Mary Beth murmured. “They are raised to live in houses, not out in the wild. As you can see, this cat has had some hard times since it left the fort.”

“You have seen this cat before?” Dancing Butterfly asked, still gazing at the creature. “What is that noise it is making?”

“Yes, I have seen it before, and the noise is called purring,” Mary Beth said, now standing and walking with Dancing Flower toward a small curved dwelling made of willow limbs. “The purring means that for the moment, while I am holding it, it is contented.”

She gave Dancing Butterfly a soft smile. “I want to keep her,” she said. “I hope Brave Wolf won't mind.”

“He is a lover of all animals, so, yes, he will allow you to keep it,” Dancing Butterfly said, stopping just outside the small hut. She gazed at the doorway, then looked at the cat. “I think it is alright that the cat accompanies you during your purification.”

“Purification?” Mary Beth asked, taken aback. “What . . . sort . . . ?”

Dancing Butterfly giggled. “Do not be afraid,” she murmured. “The ceremony is quick and harmless.”