With somewhat sheepish shrugs, they kneed their horses as they had done as boys.
They let out loud, whooping cries and raced after their prey like the wind.
The hunt was on.
CHAPTER 20
Deer Woman arrived at Skylar’s tipi moments after the men had ridden off to hunt. She tapped on the layer of skins just as politely as a neighbor in town might knock at the front door. She brought a large quantity of buffalo meat, all manner of berries, and sweet corn, which she had probably acquired from a trader. Little Rabbit, who accompanied her, carried water and a heavy kettle for cooking. Skylar thanked them both. When it appeared that Deer Woman meant to do all the work for her, Skylar shook her head, encouraging the woman and the girl to sit. Even though she was aware that neither of them understood her, she chattered away, keeping her voice friendly and light. “I’ve never minded cooking, but of course I’ve been rather lucky in that respect. We weren’t incredibly wealthy, but we always had help. Servants, not slaves. We were never actually Southern, even though some of my relatives live in Virginia and fought for the Confederacy. Maryland, where we lived, was a true border state, neighbor spying on neighbor. And worse. But that was a long time ago now. My sister and I always loved to play in the kitchen. Not too long ago, our mother took ill. We loved her very much, so we’d do anything to help her—and looking after her probably kept our minds off him. But I think he’s paid by nowfor what he did to us. God, I’m not even sure if he’s alive or dead. No, he has to be alive; that’s why it’s so important to get Sabrina here quickly. Away from him. It’s all happening now, so I am in Hawk’s debt, you see. And I’m also feeling just a little bit foolish for having attacked Hawk when I really had no reason to. It’s a strange bargain that he and I made.”
Deer Woman looked at Little Rabbit. Little Rabbit looked back at Deer Woman. It was obvious they were slightly afraid that their beloved Thunder Hawk had taken on not just a white woman but a crazy one.
But Skylar kept busy as she talked. The women had also brought loose tea and coffee in their bags, and she made tea for them, lacing it with sugar cubes she had brought from Mayfair. Deer Woman appeared very skeptical when Skylar tried to get her to drink but Little Rabbit was adventurous and inquisitive. She tasted the tea and then smiled, encouraging Deer Woman to do the same. Skylar was happy to see her Sioux friends enjoying the new treat of sugary tea.
The three of them wound up giggling and laughing. Soon, other women in the band began to arrive. Skylar kept making more tea. Eventually, Earth Woman arrived. Skylar knew that she stiffened when the woman smilingly joined them. She tried not to get upset because Earth Woman seemed very happy to join the gathering. She had brought Skylar a second dress, one in a darker shade of doeskin, with exquisite quillwork. Skylar knew that she had to accept the garment, but she was learning Sioux ways as well. She kept talking, even though the women couldn’t understand her, and she gave away every piece of clothing she had brought with her. The women giggled and laughed over her pantalettes, enjoyed her corsets, adored her hosiery. It was a strange party, and all the while that it took place, she worked on the dinner she would serve when the men returned. And despite her determination to work alone, she had help. Crazy Horse’speople were a hunting band. She understood that much. They were not like the agency Indians who had become farmers. But even when they were at odds with the government, it seemed, they had ways to trade. The list of ingredients for her stew had grown. In addition to the salt and pepper she had taken from her own saddlebags, and the buffalo meat, corn, berries, and potatoes Deer Woman had brought, she also had onions, which some of the other women had given her. By the time the women began to leave, returning to their tipis to make sure that they had food for their own returning warriors, the stew bubbling in her cauldron was giving off a mouthwatering aroma.
Earth Woman hovered behind, not leaving with the others. When they were alone and Skylar turned to look at her, the beautiful Indian woman smiled. “I made you mad this morning, no?”
The woman spoke English. Skylar wondered with a sinking sensation of dismay just what she had said throughout the afternoon. She tried to assure herself that anything she might not want repeated had been said before Earth Woman had arrived.
“You didn’t make me mad,” Skylar said now, carefully choosing her words. “I was—upset. Because?—”
“Because you thought your husband kept a Sioux woman.”
She tossed her hair back. “Upset, mad. My English is only so good. They are one and the same. I am not Sioux, I am Cheyenne. I was very young, with my first husband, when my band was massacred along Sand Creek. I was not much older, with my second husband traveling with Black Kettle, who also survived Sand Creek, when the Son-of-the-Morning-Star, Long Knife, Custer, came and murdered all the women and children along the Washita. Neither my husband nor Black Kettle survived that time. My third husband was crippled in a battle with the Crow. He was taken prisoner by the Americans, andI learned my English at Fort Abraham Lincoln while he fought to live. But he, too, died. Now I am here, living with Crazy Horse. My husband’s brothers hunt for me. The Sioux are a strict people, virtuous. But I am a human being who has suffered greatly, and I have earned the respect of the people here who know that I was good and loyal to a dying man. I will not take another husband. I am afraid that the spirits have put something in me that might make any such brave man die. Cougar-in-the-Night desires no wife, so we are friends. Your husband is my friend as well.”
Friend, Skylar thought. Did the woman sleep with all her friends? Jealousy stabbed her, but she realized that she liked and admired Earth Woman just as it seemed the Sioux of Crazy Horse’s camp and their Cheyenne allies did. Earth Woman was a female living in a male-dominated society who had created her own place within it. She was definitely a renegade in her way, not at all ashamed of her own sensuality in a place where chastity was as important among the women as ferocity in battle was among the men.
“Good friends?” she heard herself croak out.
Earth Woman smiled. Her ink-dark lashes swept her beautiful cheeks. “I am not young. Many years ago, when Sea-of-Stars had died and I was lonely and broken as well, we were very good friends. That was long ago. Don’t be mad at me.”
“I’m not mad. I was—hurt. I was even—afraid.”
Earth Woman smiled. She came toward Skylar and hugged her. “The Sioux do not show much emotion. But you are white, and I am Cheyenne. You are welcome here. And do not be afraid of me. Your husband has no desire for me. He very much desires you. You must see that.”
“Does he?”
Earth Woman rolled her eyes.
“Most human beings are not so blind!” she said, laughing, and departed quickly. Even then, there was a natural sway to her hips as she left the tipi.
Skylar hoped that her husband desired her. Because if he didn’t, Earth Woman was definitely worthy competition.
They came back with several elk. Sloan had taken down two, and Hawk had slain the same. Neither of them needed the food, so their kills were delivered to the poor of the tribe—two widows with children who had no brothers or brothers-in-law left to help them, and two very old warriors with very old wives. Hawk had just finished with the courteous routine of giving his kill away when he saw that Crazy Horse had gone to his tipi.
“Oh, hell!” he swore softly in English.
Sloan, at his side, spun around.
“Finish here, will you?” Hawk asked quickly. He turned with a last smile for the old woman who was going on and on thanking him and raced for his own tipi.
He jerked up the flap, blinking as his eyes adjusted to the firelight within.
Crazy Horse was seated, awaiting him.
To Hawk’s amazement, his pipe and tobacco awaited him in the center of the tipi, laid out so that he could share a smoke with his guests. The aroma drifting throughout the habitat was delicious. Skylar was standing near the rear of the tipi, as far back as she could manage without bending. She met his eyes as he entered. There wasn’t anything particularly humble in her gaze.
In fact, she looked rather amused.
