Free Lakota Flower by Janelle Taylor Page A

It would be easier for both of them to avoid the risky matter soon, as they were striking camp tomorrow and leaving for their winter location in the sacred hills.
    “We must go to our tepees, my brother. There is much to do before our journey begins on the next sun. I am happy you alerted me to the bad scent of trouble. I will watch our cousin as a hawk during our long ride.”
    “As will I, War Eagle, for he remains my enemy for some reason.”
    “Do not worry, my brother, for I will not allow him to use me and my captive to injure you. If he tries to sway others against you and her, I will take Caroline to another band to prevent trouble. Perhaps to Red Wolf’s camp, for his mother is white and would accept her. She would be safe in their tepee.” Yes, perhaps his Cheyenne friend was the answer he needed.
    At sunrise the following morning, Winona and Hanmani began to take down Rising Bear’s tepee, the signal for others to do the same with theirs. It was time to leave the grasslands.
    Caroline helped Macha remove the lodge poles so Cloud Chaser could use them to make a travois for hauling the couple’s possessions. As he did so, the two women packed thehome’s contents and piled them outside. They collapsed the tepee, then folded and loaded the strong hides that formed the dwelling’s walls. They added sleeping rolls, sitting mats, a backrest, cooking items, clothing and sewing pouches, Caroline’s satchel, fresh water, food, and all other belongings to the heap on the travois.
    During the past few days, Caroline had caught her captor watching her. He seemed to be intrigued by her, though he tried to conceal his stolen glances. She had studied him on the sly this morning as everyone worked on their chores, as Cloud Chaser’s tepee was close to his father’s where War Eagle lived and had been helping his family since sunrise with their preparations for departure. She had seen him loading his many weapons, and already had been warned it was forbidden for a female to touch them. There were two magnificent mounts nearby that were his personal property—his buffalo horse and his war and riding horse. It was obvious to her that both were well tended and that strong bonds existed between man and creature, which greatly impressed her.
    She was amazed by how efficient, swift, cooperative, and hardworking the band was. She witnessed their enthusiasm about the seasonal move, as if they were filled with joy and energy. Families labored together in harmony. Youths aided childless elders with their tasks. Teenage girls tended small ones and babies while their mothers or aunts were busy.
    A strange recollection entered her mind. Long ago at her friend Clara’s wedding party and honoring a southern tradition, she had taken a slice of fruitcake and wrapped it in a lacy handkerchief. For amusement, she had placed it beneath her pillow that night to see if she actually would dream of the man she would one day marry; and it hadn’t been William Crawford who “visited” her! She quivered as she remembered dreaming of a tall and muscular man with his back to her, long black hair grazing the lower portion of his shoulder blades, his bare torso a coppery shade. Was it possible,Caroline mused, that dream man could be … No! Dreams were not real, and visions had never called on her! Yet, it was an odd and provocative coincidence, if happenstances existed. Why, she scolded herself, are you even thinking about such ridiculous things? Stop it now!
    After everything was secured in place, Macha mounted a gentle mare that would pull the dragalong, Casmu’s cradle-board strapped to her back with the infant sleeping safe and snug inside.
    As the sun rose higher and the day’s heat steadily increased, Caroline stood beside the heavily loaded cart awaiting the signal to move out, as she was to walk beside it. Many others would be afoot, so it was not only because she was a lowly slave that she was not allowed to ride one of Cloud Chaser’s