Free Lakota Flower by Janelle Taylor Page B

extra horses. She came to alert when Macha called her name and motioned for her to follow as the long trip got under way, with families falling into line in preassigned positions. She saw Macha wave to her husband, who left to travel with his father at the front of the column.
    The chief, shaman, war chief, and Big Bellies left first with their families close behind them. The highest-ranking band members were next, among which were the Shirt-Wearers and Strong Hearts Warrior Society. Then, the rest of the braves from various societies left the area. Guards encompassed the large group, men who were heavily armed and on alert for daring raids by enemies, be they Indian or white.
    Caroline knew from what Cloud Chaser had told her that he and his brothers could locate themselves in several places by their own choice. Wind Dancer could travel either up front with the chief or with the Shirt-Wearers, or with the Strong Hearts. War Eagle could journey with his father or the Sacred Bow Carriers. Cloud Chaser could travel with his father or with the Strong Hearts. Wind Dancer had chosen to be near his parents and grandparents for their defense in the event of trouble, as protecting their chief was important to him for many reasons. War Eagle was riding at an advanceddistance with the other Sacred Bow Carriers, as it was their duty to act as scouts and guards and to be first to challenge any threat. Cloud Chaser would rejoin his wife and child later. She didn’t know what those warrior ranks meant, but her owner had promised to explain them to her later.
    As she trudged along, wearing her sunbonnet to shield her face from the blazing sun, Caroline wondered if Cloud Chaser had told War Eagle about their cousin’s offer to trade for her and what had he thought about it. She had promised Cloud Chaser she would not try to escape, yet nothing would prevent her from attempting it at any risk if she were sold to Two Feathers! She could imagine no worse fate than to become that cold man’s slave.
    Besides, Caroline encouraged herself, when she and the soldiers failed to arrive at Fort Kearny soon, a search party would be sent out to find them. Even if she and the men were expendable, surely the canons and other weapons were not. The army would have to locate and rescue her if only to learn what happened to the soldiers and supplies. Just be careful and bide your time; help will come soon. But when it does, her heart queried, what will happen to these people? To Cloud Chaser, Dawn, and Casmu? To War Eagle? A massacre? As she glanced at the people around her and thought about how they had not mistreated her, she realized she did not want to be responsible for their deaths. Yet, how could she prevent the army’s retaliation for the attack on them? Time, that was what the Red Shields needed, time to get out of this area before a search was on and the grim evidence of their deed was discovered. But how many days or weeks of safety did they have, and would a generous Mother Nature conceal those telltale signs before they could be found? She did not know, but despite her circumstances, she prayed for their survival.
    At that same time in Kansas Territory, General William Harney and his infantry and dragoons were leaving FortLeavenworth for Fort Kearny to begin what was already being called “the Great Sioux Expedition.”
    At the end of the first day of travel and while they were eating, Cloud Chaser tried to explain his people’s government to Caroline. “Our chief is like your president. He leads us and has much power. The council, as with your Congress, can change his orders if they believe he is wrong in a matter, though that rarely happens. They are called Big Bellies; they are made up of our present and past chiefs, shamen, and the best warriors who are too old or disabled to fight. The council makes our laws and gives instructions. Twelve Shirt-Wearers who are chosen by the Big Bellies carry them out, as with your lawmen. Wind Dancer has