Free Meet the New Dawn by Rosanne Bittner

great warrior. Now he was one. And though Zeke knew the days of such freedom were numbered, he would not deny his son the chance to be the Indian he wanted to be.
    They clasped hands, wanting to embrace but unable to show such emotion in front of the other braves.
    “What brings you here, Father, so far from home!” the boy asked, tears in his eyes. “Is everything all right? Is Mother sick?”
    Zeke smiled softly. How could he tell the boy it was he who was sick, not Abbie. “Your mother is fine,” he answered. “I just … missed you, Wolf’s Blood. We had to take LeeAnn to Julesberg, so we decided to keep coming north and see Dan and Bonnie; and I decided to come and find my son. Abbie is waiting for me at Fort Laramie.”
    The boy frowned. “Why did my sister go to Julesberg?”
    They released hands. “She got on a train to go to New York. She’s going to school there.”
    “School! LeeAnn has gone east to the place of the white man?”
    “You know how she feels, Wolf’s Blood,” he told the young man. “She’s eighteen now, old enough to go find whatever it is she’s looking for. She’s never been really happy out here. Of all the children, I guess you and LeeAnn were the least alike. I have much to tell you, Wolf’s Blood.”
    Red Leaf was coming then with Zeke’s knife, which he handed to Zeke stiffly. “I not call you white belly now. You are Lone Eagle.”
    Wolf’s Blood laughed. “I could have told you, Red Leaf! No one challenges my father and wins! He is no white belly.” He sobered somewhat. “Just as I have shown that I also am no white belly! I have many white men’s scalps to prove it!”
    They all let out war whoops, some raising weapons, certainnow that since Red Cloud had led them against the whites and they had won their war for the Black Hills, there would be no more problems from the soldiers and miners. Another familiar face approached then. He had waited for the more important reunion between father and son before coming forward. Zeke caught the man’s eyes, and while the others whooped and yelped the two men appproached one another. Zeke put out his hand. “Swift Arrow!”
    “It has been many years, my brother,” the man replied, grasping Zeke’s wrist firmly. “I miss the old days,” Swift Arrow said quietly.
    “And our mother,” Zeke answered.
    “All of it,” Swift Arrow told him. “So much is gone.” The man’s jaw flexed in deep emotion. “Come to my dwelling. You and I and Wolf’s Blood will talk. I am glad you have come. It is good you dressed and behaved as a Cheyenne, or they would have killed you. There are no longer any good feelings among my people for the whites.”
    Zeke shoved his knife back into its sheath. “I’m well aware of that. Things are bad in the south, too. Black Kettle was killed at the Washita, and they try to keep the People on a hot and worthless reservation in Oklahoma.”
    “I have heard all of this. Some have managed to come to us for refuge. But we also are always running and hiding. For now things are good. We have beaten back the soldiers and miners, burned their forts, signed a new treaty. But if it is like the other treaties, the white man will find a way to break it. For now we will be happy with this victory.” He stepped back and eyed his half brother. “You look as fit as ever, Zeke; but I see pain in your eyes, and I wonder what has brought you here. It is more than just missing your brother and you son. Come. We will go and rest and talk.” He called out to Wolf’s Blood to come to his tipi. Wolf’s Blood in turn called to a gray, menacing-looking wolf. The animal came running, jumping up onto the young man and growling in delight as Wolf’s Blood hugged him and buried his face in the thick fur. The animal was the boy’s pet, found as a wild pup and simply called Wolf. Wolf’s Blood was the only person who could toy freely with the animal withoutfear of being attacked. Others stayed away from him. The animal