Mystic Warriors by Rosanne Bittner

Author:Rosanne Bittner
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780765384614
Publisher: Tom Doherty Associates

JUNE 1865

Moon of Making Fat

CHAPTER THIRTY

“IT’S HIM, ROBERT!” Florence, Robert, and Rebecca watched from an outlook post of the log fort, where they could see the Lakota leader in the distance, riding back and forth on his painted Appaloosa, taunting the soldiers.

“He’s frightening,” Rebecca said in a near whisper, as though being in the warrior’s presence brought on an almost worshipful attitude. “What is he saying?”

Florence and Robert listened for a moment, then both grinned, Florence laughing lightly.

“Do you see me?” Robert said, interpreting for Rebecca. “I am Rising Eagle. You should be afraid. Do you see me? I do not kill women and children. I am not a coward like you white men with blue coats. Do you see me? I am Rising Eagle. You should be afraid.”

“He has not changed since when I knew him in his younger days,” Florence said.

“I have to see him,” Robert said.

Rebecca put a hand on her husband’s arm. “He might not realize it’s you, Robert.”

“Don’t worry. No honorable warrior will kill one man riding out to him unarmed. He will wait to see what it is I want. I can’t pass up this opportunity. I might not get another chance.”

“Talk to William,” Florence said. “See if there is any way he can go out there with you.”

“He won’t want to do that.”

“Your medicine and Rising Eagle’s prayers saved his life when he was a small boy.”

“William doesn’t care about that now. Besides, Rising Eagle won’t be too happy discovering that the young boy he saved now wears the blue coat of the white man’s army. And the army wouldn’t like him going out there.”

Florence watched Rising Eagle again. “I suppose you’re right.” Her heart felt painfully heavy. “Those other young warriors with him, Brave Horse is probably among them. You could see the one you once called brother. And maybe you can reason with them, Robert. Tell them how strong the army is, and that they will get stronger. Tell them about the howitzers. Tell Rising Eagle many Lakota lives would be saved if he will bring them here and go to the reservations the white man’s government is creating for them in the Black Hills. They can live at peace there. Maybe he will listen to you. He trusts you.”

“Wait.” Robert studied the small group of Lakota sitting on the rise a safe distance from the fort. Three of them rode forward then. “Look. Doesn’t that look like a woman riding in front of one of those men?”

Both women watched as the two men came even closer.

“It is a woman!” Rebecca said. “And it looks like she’s holding a baby. What are they doing?”

They heard orders being shouted below. Soldiers positioned themselves, leveling their rifles.

“They are coming in peace!” Florence turned and climbed down the ladder, not waiting for Robert and Rebecca. Robert would have to help his wife down the ladder, since Rebecca was seven months’ large with child. Florence lifted the hem of her gingham dress, dodging around horse dung being shoveled by a private and hurrying over to the fort commander.

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