Free Lakota Winds (Zebra Historical Romance) by Janelle Taylor

was sad about his matching losses, but was relieved he was
alone. "Why has he taken no wife to replace her?" she asked.
    "Why have you taken no mate to replace yours?" Tall Elk reasoned.
    "I have not found one among us who steals my eye and heart. After
my son's loss, you said I would choose my next husband when I was
ready."
    "I am happy you speak the truth to me on this sun, my daughter.
The same is probably true for Wind Dancer."
    "He is a future chief and must have a son to follow him. Such is
not so for me. The child of Fire Walker will be chief after my brother
is gone.
    "I do not pick your next mate for you, Chumani." He reminded
her of what he had said earlier, "Their shaman saw dangers coming
from two directions, and you were in their visions as Wind Dancer's
helper to defeat them; it is as Sees-Through-Mist foretold. Wind Dancer
rode to our camp with your symbol painted upon his cheek and with
a dewdrop and hawk painted upon his shield. Nahemana's vision and
Sees-Through-Mist's dream are commands from Wakantanka, my child;
do not dishonor yourself, your family, and your people by refusing to
obey them. You are strong, my child, but you must bend like the willow.
To all four-leggeds and all two-leggeds, the Great Spirit gave a song, a
costume, a life ritual: powerful medicine to share with His people. This calling will be your song, garment, and ritual, Dewdrops, and you will
make powerful medicine with Waci Tate. Many winters ago, the Whites
made Pike's Treaty and Prairie du Chien Council, but they did not
keep their word; they took the Nakotas and Dakotas lands and drove
them away. Now, the Whites cast their eyes upon Lakota lands, as have
our Crow enemies since before my grandfather was born. If we do not
form a strong alliance with others, our hunting grounds will be stolen
and we will be destroyed and driven away. Our destiny lies within your
hands."

    Chumani realized a heavy burden rested on her shoulders, and wondered if she could truly carry out those duties. "Return to our tepee,
Father, and I will come soon. I must have time to think upon all you
have told me and to calm myself."
    "Will you obey the command of Wakantanka?"
    "Yes, Father, but it does not make me happy. Pray to the Great
Spirit that I am worthy of this task and can meet this challenge."
    Tall Elk embraced his daughter. "You are wise and good, my child,"
he said, "and your skills are many and large. Wakantanka will reward
you greatly for obeying Him."
    Following Chumani and Hehoka Hanska's departure, Wind Dancer's
thoughts spun wildly and swiftly from the reality of his discovery and
what it might mean to him. He could hardly believe Morning Mist
and Dewdrops were the same woman. Was that, he pondered, a good
or bad sign? How could he master a woman who lived and thought as
a warrior, a woman who had shown stubbornness, defiance, and rudeness
at their first meeting? Surely she would be trouble for him, but he must
find a way to tame her wild spirit and improve her ways. Would she
agree to unite with him? Had her dislike and disrespect of him in the
forest been real or faked? Did she love and desire another man and he
was stepping between them? In spite of all his questions, he could not
deny his desire for her, nor doubt her great prowess, though he doubted
she would have a large role in the tasks looming before them. Would
she surrender to him or would she scorn him as she had done in the forest? No matter, she was the Great Spirit's choice for him, so he must
obtain her.

    Chumani knew she could not delay her return much longer or Wind
Dancer and his party would take it as a sign of insult, but she had not
settled down and still paced in the cover of the trees, her emotions in
a turmoil. Dread mingled with assurance; resistance, with compliance;
desire, with repulsion; elation, with sadness. She wished Zitkala was
there to advise and comfort her. But her best friend and constant
companion had