Chapter 34

Emo'ôhtavo vo'e awoke to something warm against his back. It was a nice sensation to wake up to compared to the painful awakenings he had before.

The tall, green-eyed, white Cheyenne of the people turned around to find out where the warmth was coming from. Once on his other side, his eyes beheld the most beautiful face he had ever seen.

Mapiya was lying curled up next to him, her eyes closed and her face so angelic in the moonlit tipi. Emo'ôhtavo vo'e inched closer to her and gently wrapped his arms around her body, feeling her heart beat gently against his chest.

The young Cheyenne maiden slid closer into his arms, but did not wake. He kissed her gently upon the forehead, feeling the coolness of her brown skin against his fevered lips. His heart swelled with joy. He was lying next to love and he felt as it released such heaviness from his heart.

The others did not know, but he remembered something of his past. The pieces of his lost recollections were revealed through his dreams and nightmares.

The memory of his first wife, the laughing, smiling, light-haired woman Sarah and his son, Adam, a boy so much like his mother, had returned. He also remembered how they had died and how he had lived in sorrow and darkness, trying to drown those memories.

It was why he had forgotten and why he so readily became Emo'ôhtavo vo'e. Emo'ôhtavo vo'e had no past, only a future and that future existed with a beautiful, loving and caring woman.

But he realized in forgetting them, he had to forget who was before and who he had become after.

But now what was once obscuring his vision was now gone. He was free to see what was before him and to remember without pain. He found the answer to his heart’s desire through Mapiya and he hoped she had found hers through him. Together, they would create a new past and a new future.

The problem was though, what else would he remember.

He was afraid that it would be something that could hurt Mapiya and her people. He could not do that. There was the risk that if he found his past that he would jeopardize the happiness he had found with Mapiya and her people. He could not loose the one thing that had kept him alive for these many months.

He kissed her again, lightly on the forehead. He loved touching her cool brown skin. It was so smooth and carried none of the worry lines that held his face.

Mapiya felt a light touch to her forehead and struggled to open tired eyes to see what it was. Her brown eyes came to gaze upon a lean face housing fever-bright green eyes. She smiled gently and felt her heart beating faster at the prospect of recognition from her beloved.

“You are awake, my love,” she stated simply in Cheyenne.

“And so are you, my love,” answered Emo'ôhtavo vo'e in Cheyenne, his fingers delicately intertwined into one of her long braids.

“I have missed you being here with me.”

“And…and where do you think…I was?” coughed Chris, his throat dry.

Mapiya started to rise to go get him some water, but Chris held her wrist, motioning for her to stay. He pulled her closer to him, wrapping his arms around her, feeling her heartbeat against his chest.

“No, no, Mapiya. Please stay. I have had very little time with my future wife and I don’t know when the next time I will have this time to talk to her.”

“She is listening now, silly man.”

Chris glared at her with playful indignation. “Who are you calling silly?” he asked and placed a gentle kiss on her mouth.

Mapiya returned the kiss and wanted it to be more, her body gently rubbing against his. But she knew that at this moment it was not possible to do what she would like. She sighed restlessly. She wished they were now in their own tipi, lying in front of their own fire instead of her father’s. Nevertheless, the young Cheyenne woman knew she had to be patience. The Holy Spirits always blessed the patient ones.

“I love you, Emo'ôhtavo vo'e.”

“And I love you, Mapiya. I will always love you no matter…what. Now, tell me what is wrong.”

“Emo'ôhtavo vo'e? What could be wrong?” Mapiya lowered her eyes, ashamed that he could see her want and her fear so clearly. “It’s…nothing. I’m just tired.”

“True, my love?”

“True.”

“Mapiya…? I know you too well. Tell me.”

Mapiya knew that she was doing him a disservice by not telling him about her brother. But she did not think he was well enough to handle the truth. Suddenly, the decision was taken from her hands.

“Hey, Chris, you’re awake,” said the soft voice of Vin behind them.

Chris and Mapiya turned to find Vin sitting up on one elbow behind them, holding on to a cup of water.

“You are…rested?” asked Mapiya tentatively.

“Yep,” he replied, although Mapiya knew differently. “How ya feelin’, Chris?”

“I am feeling better, Vin. I awoke to sunshine in a darkened night,” answered Chris smiling, his eyes not leaving Mapiya’s face.

Mapiya did not see the look as she was still appraising the well being of Vin.

“He is…good liar. Like you, White Eagle.”

Chris eyes open in astonishment. “White Eagle?”

“The name given to him by the Holy Spirits,” stated Mapiya, giving Vin a wink and a smile.

“It is a good name. Like my name.”

“Which is Christopher Larabee,” replied Vin.

“Yes,” admitted Chris softly. “It was.”

“Ya remember who ya really are, Pard?” asked Vin hoping.

“I…I remember some, Vin. I…remember you. And I remember…I remember Sarah and Adam,” answered Chris, his eyes closing upon release of those names.

Vin knew the pain that his friend was now feeling. He wanted his friend back, but not the sadness that would come from the memories of his long dead family. But he knew there was no way of getting around it. The good and the bad was part of green-eyed gunslinger’s past.

Mapiya did not let Vin’s revelation and Chris’ recognition go unnoticed. She knew that the return of her love’s memory did not necessarily bode well for their future. He had told her that he loved her no matter what, but what did that really mean? What would it mean when his memory returned and the images of his life before would come and take him away from her. She closed her eyes, trying to keep the bad feelings out, not giving them an inlet into her soul.

Chris was tired and sick, but not so tired and sick that he did not detect the look of resignation and dread on Mapiya’s face. It bothered him that anything he could say or do would hurt her. He knew she feared that with the return of his memory came the lost of his love. He wanted to, no, he needed to make her understand that there was nothing that could turn his love away from her. Yes, he did love his first wife, Sarah Larabee. There was no way around the truth of it. But it did not make the feelings he had for Mapiya any different.

Chris sighed and both Mapiya and Vin turned their eyes upon him. They both noticed that he was sweating fiercely and that his color was become paler. Although he lay still upon the pallet, his body language exhibited discomfort that Mapiya and Vin knew came from someone trying to hide an excruciating pain.

“Emo'ôhtavo vo'e?”

Chris raised his hand in acknowledgement and a soft cough escaped his throat. “I am fine, Mapiya. Just a little tired,” he replied weakly.

He felt the pain in his stomach returning and the lightheadedness of earlier was slowly raising its ugly head again.

He did not think he was going to last much longer. He could feel the tiredness seeping into the marrow of his bones. But there was something he needed to finish.

“Mapiya, can you get your father here? Now?”

“Now, Emo'ôhtavo vo'e?” she asked, kissing him gently on the lips. He still felt hot from the burning within. “Why? Nétónetomóhtahe?” asked Mapiya concerned.

The answer to Mapiya’s question now was also important to Vin also. He knew something was not right with his friend. He did not look as well as he pretended to be.

He also knew it was just a matter of time before Chief Aenohe came for him and Mapiya to appear in front of the tribal council. He knew that it would not be good for Larabee in his weakened condition. He did not think his friend could stand anymore torment at this instant.

“Yeah, Chris, are ya sure ya fine? ‘Cause ya don’t look it, Pard. I can wake Nathan and have ‘im take a look at ya,” said Vin inching closer to gunman and seeing the new fever patches on the man’s face and neck.

Mapiya had become aware of them also. She rose quickly and walked away to the other side of the tipi. When she returned, she was carrying a bowl full of cool water and two cloths. She knelt down next to Chris, dipping both cloths into the bowl, thoroughly soaking up the cool water and then handing one of the cloths to Vin.

“His fever is climbing again,” she whispered to Vin in Cheyenne.

“Hey, Pard,” said Vin, taking the cloth and wiping the gunslinger’s brow. “Ya gettin’ a little hot here. Me and Mapiya are just gon’na try and get ya fever down some, okay?”

“Vin?” came Chris’ soft call. “Vin, I have to speak to Chief Aenohe now.”

Vin looked into the green eyes of his best friend and saw there something that frightened him. In those green eyes, which were the windows to his friend’s soul, he saw that the man was giving up. That the pain and illness that he had suffered for so long was finally winning.

But he also saw something else there. Determination. Chris Larabee was on a mission and he was using all his strength to complete it.

The problem was that Vin did not think the man’s strength would last that long. Vin’s heart was practically trying rise into his throat. He had fought hard to bring Larabee back to his world, but now he was afraid he was losing him to another.

Tenderly, Vin placed his hands under Chris’ back, lifting him up into a semi-sitting position in which his head and body leaned on his lap. At the same time, Mapiya continued to wash his body down with the cooling water while, the thin blond Cheyenne was being held by the young tracker. She did not understand why the cure was not working as it was promised by her sister-in-law.

“Mapiya, wake Nathan.”

Mapiya nodded and went to the other side of the tipi to awake the healer.

“Hey, Cowboy, what ya tryin’ ta do, huh?”

Green eyes, which were starting to glaze over, looked up into the blue eyes of worry.

“Vin…I don’t…I don’t want to leave…without…”

“Leave? Leave? Where do ya think ya goin’, Larabee?”

“Vin…I can’t…can’t…make…” Chris replied, another cough starting to bubble into his chest.

At that moment Mapiya and Nathan came crawling over to the two men.

“Vin, Chris, what’s goin’ on here now?” queried Nathan, as he started examining the ill blond haired man.

“Well, he woke a little while ago and seemed ta be fine up until a few minutes ago. Nathan, what’s wrong with him?”

“I won’t know until I finish examinin’ him. Mapiya, can ya bring my bag over here?”

“Yes, Nathan,” she answered, crawling to the side of the tipi to retrieve the bag.

Vin turned back to the man in his arms and noticed that Chris was having a hard time staying awake.

“Hey, Chris, stay with me. Ya can’t give up now, Pard. We’re almost there.”

“Almost…where, Vin? Is it the place…the place…where we go to…fish?” inquired Chris breathlessly.

“So ya remember that, huh, Pard?”

“Hmmm,” he answered, his eyes slowly closing. “Good fishing.”

“Chris, come on! Stay with me! I need ya. We all need ya. Mapiya needs ya.”

The green eyes flickered opened one more time, “Mapiya…yes. I must…I must speak to her father...” then his eyes finally closed shut.

“Nathan?”

“It’s alright, Vin. He’s still alive. Just unconscious.”

“What’s goin’ on, Nathan? He was gettin’ better before.”

“Well, Vin, ya got to remember, the poison been in ‘im for a long time. We knew it wasn’t goin’ to be easy. Remember his body was still weak from the accident and then being poisoned on top of that ain’t did him any good. It’s gon’na take him twice as long to get better.”

“But he is goin’ ta get better, right?”

“Hey, Vin,” started Nathan, placing his hand on top of Vin’s shoulder, “Ya know Chris. He’s come this far. He’s a strong man.”

“Ya ain’t answered my question, Nate.”

“Well, Vin. I ain’t gon’na lie to you. I don’t rightly know.”

“He ain’t gon’na die, is he, Nate?”

“No,” came an anguish voice from behind them.

It was Mapiya, back with Nathan’s bag.

“Mapiya, I’m sorry,” explained Nathan. “It’s just that we might have gotten the cure to him too late to do any good. We have to face the truth of it.”

“No! He will not die!”

“Mapiya, I’m not a doctor, but I have seen enough in my time to know when a man’s givin’ up. Seen too many of that during my time in the war.”

“I said no! He will not die!” Mapiya then turned to White Eagle. “You must believe, White Eagle.”

“I do, Mapiya. I do.”

Nathan could only shake his head. He knew that Vin was setting himself up for a fall.

“Vin…”

“No, Nate. If Mapiya’s says he ain’t gon’na die, then he ain’t gon’na die.” He then leaned down near Chris and whispered, “Ya hear that, Larabee. Ya ain’t goin’ nowhere unless me and Mapiya let ya go. Ya hear.”

“He hears, White Eagle,” said Mapiya, kneeling next to the two men and grabbing hold of both their hands. “He hears very well.”

Vin glanced down to where Mapiya was staring and found the brightest pair of green eyes glaring at them both from the fevered body that lay on his lap.

“That’s right, Cowboy. Ya better listen to what I’m sayin’,” said Vin, smiling down at the blond Cheyenne.

Vin then looked up at Mapiya and saw her eyes shining bright with hope. Yes. There was a chance that maybe something was going right.

Nathan continued administering his service to his patient. As soon as he was done, he was determined to talk to Buck and the others.

Although he would love to believe that Chris was out of the woods, he knew differently and he would not take the chance of losing the gunslinger all because of unproven beliefs and hopes.

It would take real work to help Chris pull through and he was determined to do that. This man had saved his life more than once and he was not about to let death win this one. Hopes and wishes were not going to get the poison out of his friend’s body.

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Chapter 35

Chief Aenohe returned to chaos when he reached his home.

Emo'ôhtavo vo'e was half sitting, half lying in the lap of the one she called White Eagle. Mapiya andWhite Eagle seemed to be busy seeing to the needs of the ill Emo'ôhtavo vo'e.

It tore his heart to see the damage and evil that had been by his own blood. The happiness he had felt when Mapiya and Emo'ôhtavo vo'e had decided to wed, now hung like a stone in his chest.

Emo'ôhtavo vo'e would die, leaving his daughter alone in the world, to mourn him. And knowing his daughter, she might never become a wife again. The chief knew that his daughter’s love for the white Cheyenne ran deep within her soul. Soul mates were rare and when they finally have found each other, even death could not separate them. Each would be willing to follow the other into the heavens.

Chief Aenohe knelt quietly down by the side of Mapiya. He watched as his daughter’s brown eyes turned up to him.

“Neho'eehe (My father). Náóétsétáno (I am worried),” came Mapiya’s words as she wiped Emo'ôhtavo vo'e face with a cool cloth.

“Ého'é'etóho (He blames him).”

“I know, Neho'eehe.”

“Mónêhé'še?”

“Heehe'e (Yes). We are,” answered Vin, wiping down Chris’s arms.

“We?” questioned Chief Aenohe, his eyes quirking up in concern.

“Chris…ah, Emo'ôhtavo vo'e, he is not well enough to stand before the council. I will go to represent him and his wishes, if it is permitted.”

“It is permitted by the council, but it also must be agreed to by Mapiya.”

“I have agreed, Neho'eehe,” responded Mapiya, her head bowing in acquiescence and gently placing her hand on upon his arm, which silenced his next comment.

“Did you talk to him of what is to come and how he should answer in this council?” Chief Aenohe asked in Cheyenne.

“Yes, father. He understands,” answered Mapiya before Vin could respond himself.

“Let him speak, daughter. I am sure White Eagle has not has his tongue removed since the last time I was in my own home,” replied Chief Aenohe, which thoroughly silenced Mapiya.

“I understand what needs to be done, Chief Aenohe,” responded Vin in Cheyenne.

“Epeva'e. It is time…”

“Yes,” said Vin softly as his blue eyes sighted slightly opened green eyes that seemed to stare at him in bewilderment. “I know. We’re losin’ time.” The last piece of his statement was directed at Mapiya.

“Hey, Cowboy? How ya feelin’?”

“Vin? What…happened? What is…wrong? I…I…thought we were going fishing?”

Vin smiled at the comment. He was pleasantly surprised again Chris’ memories of the past were catching up.

“Nothin’s wrong, Pard and we are goin’ fishin’ as soon as ya get better. Me and Mapiya just have some business to take care of, that’s all.”

“Better?” questioned the blond Cheyenne, his green eyes glazing over. “Business? What…business…Mapiya, you…have?”

Vin could see that his friend’s strength was waning. It was miracle that he had awoken at all. They kept fighting his fever, but it did not seem to be working well. Mapiya and Nathan had administered some more of the medicine, but they did not see any good of its use as of yet.

“Listen, Cowboy. Why don’t you get some sleep and I’ll tell you about when you wake up, okay?” Vin motioned for Mapiya to wake Nathan and Josiah. They needed them awake to take care him while they were busy with the council.

“No…cowboy,” came Chris’ weak voice as his eyes slowly closed.

“Chris? Chris?” Vin called softly, but when he got no response he knew that the fever had taken over again. “Damn!”

“What is it White Eagle?” asked Chief Aenohe, concerned for his adopted son’s welfare.

“The fever. It’s getting stronger again.”

Just then, Nathan, Josiah and Buck came crawling over to the young tracker and the blond gunslinger. Mapiya had awoken Nathan and Josiah, but Buck had heard the commotion and decided to see what was going on.

“How’s he doing?” queried Nathan as touched the sick man’s forehead.

“I don’t know, Nate. Every time we get the fever down, it seems to go back up again.”

“Mapiya, is there anything that you might have left out from your conversation with Singing Woman?”

“I spoke of all that was told to me. But I will make talk again with her,” replied Mapiya with determination. She locked her brown eyes onto that of the blue eyes of White Eagle. They both understood that the most important thing in their lives was slowly wasting away and their hands were tied.

“We have to leave now. The council waits,” interrupted Chief Aenohe.

“Is it that time already?” asked Nathan, looking at Vin for confirmation.

Vin nodded. “Ya take care of ‘im while I’m gone, Nate. I’ll be back,” he asked, laying the sick man back down onto the sleeping mat.

“Ya know I will,” replied Nathan, knowing how it was hurting the tracker to leave the sick blond even alone for a minute. He knew that Vin was afraid that every minute would be Larabee’s last if he did not stay to anchor him to this life.

“Watch your back, Pard,” said Buck, sitting down beside Chris and taking over Vin’s vigil over the sick man.

“I will, Buck.”

“Go with God, brother.”

“Thanks, Josiah. I’ll definitely need his help on this one. Mapiya, you ready?”

“I am, White Eagle,” and she crawled over to the flap opening and went through. Chief Aenohe was next, glancing back at the sick face of his adopted son, praying to the Spirits that this would not be the last time he would see him alive, he too went through.

Vin turned to face his friends before leaving. His eyes fell to gaze upon the sleeping form of Chris Larabee. They, as well as he, knew what he was about to do was dangerous if done wrong, but they also knew that if it was not done then they would loose someone who was very important to them all.

He then crawled out of the teepee, leaving three very concerned men behind.

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Chapter 36

Netse Ôhvo'komaestse (White Eagle), Mapiya and Chief Aenohe entered the large tipi that housed the tribal council. It was very dim inside and smoke wreathed the tipi because of the many pipes that were lit by the Cheyenne leaders.

The tribal council members consisted of most of the senior Cheyenne warriors of all the tribal sects and the head leaders. Vin and Mapiya were happy to see that Ma'emestahke (Red Owl), Ka'evêsehe (Stump Horn) and Kovaahe (Young Man) were among the council members.
But as joyful as they were of that revelation, they were also disappointed by the fact that ó'kôhóme (Coyote) and Mo'ôhtaveo'kome (Black Coyote) were also part of that group.

Chief Aenohe motioned Vin to sit directly next to him. Mapiya was bade to sit on the other side of Vin, as she was betrothed to Emo'ôhtavo vo'e and it was believed by all that she most of all
represented Emo'ôhtavo vo'e's wishes and desires. The three together would make up the defending body to answer the accusations of ó'kôhóme and the Buffalo Clan warriors.

A pipe was handed to Chief Aenohe, who as chief of the tribe and holder of the pipe knew he had to recite the ceremony of the pipe before passing it around. He recited the words and performed the actions that would bring good luck, well wishes and thanks to the Great Spirit and the Mother Earth for each new day the Cheyenne awoke to the sun.

He did this for each direction of the four winds, placing some tobacco into the pipe and letting some fall to the ground. In this way they were giving back to Mother Earth what they had taken. When he was done, he lit the pipe and smoked it. The ring of smoke floated up into the air and out of the top of the tipi into the night.

The smoke from the pipe represents the participants' visible breath and stands for truth: truthful words, truthful actions, and a truthful spirit.

He then passed the pipe to Vin who smoked and then passed it on to Mapiya. The pipe then went around the tipi until it returned to the Chief and he laid it gently upon his lap, held by his hands.

"We have been summon by the challenge of ó'kôhóme of the Wolf Clan," started Chief Aenohe in Cheyenne.

"In this challenge it is said that our brother, Black Storm is a traitor and not one of the people. It is said that the joining of our wise woman, Mapiya and Black Storm would destroy the people and bring ill fortune to the Cheyenne. It is also said that I, Chief Aenohe, has accepted this marriage out of prejudice and not out of good reasoning and that I should no longer be allowed to lead. Do you deny?"

The question, of course was put to ó'kôhóme.

"I do not deny! I say it is true! I have seen how weak our chief has become since the White Cheyenne was found. I have watched how the white men smother the fires in the heart of our people as they try to change us. They wish us to forget our traditions, our past and become one of them. When that does not work, they sneak inside and spy on us and try to turn us against one another. Look what the White Cheyenne has done! He has turned my sister and my father
against me, against their people. They choose a white man over us!"

Vin could see how unhappy Mapiya and Chief Aenohe were at ó'kôhóme's statement. Their family was being torn apart and unfortunately; Larabee was in the middle of it.

Mapiya and Chief Aenohe had believed that there was a chance that he might change his mind about Emo'ôhtavo vo'e. That they could become a happy family as they way it should be. But it was not to be.

ó'kôhóme's hatred ate at his soul. He was slowly becoming what was known as one of the soulless one. He would eventually let his hate destroy all was held sacred by the Cheyenne people such as family, honor, justice, bravery and even love. ó'kôhóme would loose all of
that as he became more

Vin could understand ó'kôhóme's hatred. He too, had lost a lot to the white man.

Vin experienced this type of hatred and knew that the results would never justify the cause. It would only end with just one more death than necessary.

He had learned this after the death of his Comanche wife at the hands of white soldiers seeking Comanche scalps at the Comanche village of the Kotsoteka group years ago. They had not only killed his Comanche wife, but also half of the people in the village.

It was one of the worst days in Vin's life and his heart still ached for the brown-haired, doe-eyed White Bird. White Bird was the very heart and soul of Vin Tanner and with her death came the last beat he would ever feel again.

But that day, Vin had sworn vengeance against those who had taken the light from his life. Vin Tanner, along with several of the male survivors avenged that injustice by attacking and killing a group of soldiers. Unfortunately, they were not the ones who had committed the evil deed and a bounty for their capture came into effect.

Vin and the other Comanches spent a good part of a year running from the other soldiers who hunted them. It was about a couple of months after that when the army had other problems to worry about so they gave up their chase reluctantly when ordered.

The stories themselves continued to circulate for many months after, recounting the tale about the white man who rode with Comanche renegades and basically ran circles around the army.

Vin grabbed Mapiya hand and squeezed gently, trying to send her the strength she needed to answer the charges that now were against her and her father.

Mapiya felt his hand and felt the strength that flowed from being into her. She looked at him and smiled. He knew how much she loved his brother and how far she would go to save him.

They both then turned to see Chief Aenohe. His eyes burned with anger at his son. The son of his blood, now became the son of treachery.

He turned to his people. The people who followed his lead these many turns of the seasons.

"My people," started Chief Aenohe. "I always seek the good for you. Have we not enjoyed plentiful during these times? Are not our children healthy and happy? Our hunting grounds have many deer to hunt. Our summer home lies by the river and our winter home keeps us
safe in the surrounding mountains."

He continued, "The Spirits have shown me that the white man will come no matter what we do. They came during the time of my grandfather and his father before him. They will come when my grandchild is born and when I finally leave to be in my place among God and the
Spirits. Is this bad? Is this evil? Prove to me that this will bring destruction and I will gladly hand over the staff of chieftain to a younger man."

Chief Aenohe looked at each of the Cheyenne who sat in the tipi to hear and be heard. He saw mostly confusion and shame, but very little rage at what he said. The only anger came from his son and the men who side with him and that was a very small group.

Ma'emestahke, the medicine man, stood up from where he sat and glared angrily at the group of people within the tipi, "You question your chief? A man who has many times proven that he would die for his people and who has many times saved his people from death? I spit on the ones that question his honor and courage!" and he spat on the ground in front of the group of Cheyenne who sided with ó'kôhóme.

The other Cheyenne looked on fearful. No one would want to be cursed or to make the medicine man of the tribe angry. It would be flirting with danger to do so.

"I think we judge too quickly," said Kovaahe, the young Cheyenne Dog Soldier. "We should consult the Spirits and see what their wise words tell us."

The other Cheyenne agreed that this would be the best way to proceed. They would not want to make the Spirits angry by doing something that was not acceptable to them.

"And my wedding?" queried Mapiya hopefully. She was not giving up on the possibility that the council would let the wedding proceed. She felt that time was not on her side when it concerned Emo'ôhtavo vo'e .

Each of the Cheyenne elders glanced at each other, trying to decipher their feelings. Their faces revealed that none had any objections to the wedding.

"We have no objections to the wedding. It is the right of Mapiya and Emo'ôhtavo vo'e to say yes or no. Mapiya has seen that the Spirits has blessed it. We will not go against the Spirits," stated
Ma'emestahke.

The other Cheyenne elders agreed.

"And the ceremony?" questioned Chief Aenohe. Everyone knew that he spoke of the ceremony to initiate Emo'ôhtavo vo'e into the Dog Soldiers.

"Only the Dog Clan can say yes or no as it should be, as the Spirits have shown us it should be," replied Kovaahe.

The Cheyenne in the tipi agreed. The decisions of the Spirits were not in the hands of mortal men.

"Thank you, my people," answered Mapiya, smiling broadly and squeezing Vin's hand again.

Vin turned to her and a slight grin touched his face. He was happy for her, but deep in his heart he was also sad. He knew that this also meant that he had probably lost Larabee forever. Once they were wed, Chris would have no need for his friendship when he had a great woman like Mapiya to love. It was what he was missing all these years.

"Nápévetano," said Vin touching his chest with his free hand.

"You are a bad liar, Vin Tanner," answered Mapiya, taking the hand she held and kissing it tenderly.

Yes. He was a bad liar for he was not happy at the prospect of losing Chris Larabee. But he would not stand in the way of his happiness either, no matter how short it may be.


Nápévetano – I am happy.
Kotsoteka - (or Caschotethka, Koocheteka, Kotsai) (buffalo eaters)

http://www.think-aboutit.com/native/peace_pipe_ceremony.htm

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Chapter 37

The walk back to the home of Chief Aenohe, where Chris Larabee lies ill, was a long trek for Vin Tanner and Mapiya. Dawn was just breaking over the horizon. Vin could see it would be a cool one and winter would soon be here.

Chief Aenohe had informed Vin and Mapiya that he needed to speak to tribal elders alone and would meet them back home later. Although Mapiya had questioned her father about what type of concerns that he needed to address with the tribal elders, he father seemed to be evasive and said that she should go be a good host to their friends.

Mapiya reluctantly agreed to do as her father requested, to be a good daughter, but she knew there was more going that her father would not explain. She made a note to herself to speak to him once he came home, privately.

As they approached the tipi, they heard a voice that they both had not heard in a long time. They both quickly ducked into the tipi, both their hearts racing with excitement.

When they got inside they found everyone crowded around Chris’ pallet and both Mapiya and Vin noticed the opened green eyes that stared back at them from the man they both loved on the floor.

“Emo'ôhtavo vo'e! You are awake!” exclaimed Mapiya, immediately kneeling down, grabbing the blond Cheyenne’s hand and holding it close to her breasts.

Chris reached up and pulled her down towards him and hugged her as hard as he could. “You act like you missed me,” whispered Chris teasingly in her ear.

Vin assumed that Chris meant the words for Mapiya’s ears only, but he had heard them too. “She did, Cowboy,” he interjected. “We all did. Wuz wonderin’ when ya might be comin’ back to us.”

Vin then sat down cross-legged next to his best friend and his woman, soaking up the happiness that they radiated between them. Although he looked better than he did before, Vin still noticed how pale he still was and hoped that his wakefulness meant he was on the rode to recovery.

Chris laughed. Unfortunately, it was not a good thing to do at that moment. He felt the cough build up into his throat and he knew he could not hold it back. He tried, but then he lost the battle.

Mapiya and Vin faces turned to ones of worry and concern.

“Take it easy, Chris,” said Nathan, bringing the water pouch over for him to drink from.

Chris sipped the cool water slowly. It felt good as it soothed his parched throat. Once he was done, Nathan lowered the pouch to the ground.

“How’s that, Chris?” he asked concerned.

“Fine…Nathan. But my name is Emo'ôhtavo vo'e, remember?”

“Yes, yes. How could I forget,” replied Nathan, looking over to where Vin sat.

Vin knew what Nathan was thinking. That Chris’ memory still had not returned completely.

“So how long has he been awake, Nate?” questioned Vin.

“His fever broke just before you came. Mapiya’s cure must have started to work sometime during the night.”

“You are well, my love?” asked Mapiya, her hands brushing the blond lock that fell in front of the green eyes away.

“Just seeing you has made the pain go away,” replied Chris, his eyes lowering to slits. He was tired and just keeping up the conversation was taking a toll on him. His body was so weak and he seemed to have lost time somewhere along the way of his illness. He could not remember what day it was or how long he had been sick. He just knew it was a long time.

“You need to rest, Chris,” said Nathan. He knew Chris was still a long way from being fully healed. The poison had worked its way through his system and he knew it probably did some damage. He just could not judge how much at the moment.

“Emo'ôhtavo vo'e.”

“Sorry, Chris. You got to give me a little leeway with the name. It took me a long time to get use to callin’ ya Chris instead of Mr. Larabee.”

“My friend Vin Tanner knows about names,” answered Chris, a smile plastering his face. “He calls me Cowboy when I am not.”

“I also know about a hard-headed, blond-haired Cheyenne that don’t listen when someone tells him what he needs to do,” retorted Vin, a small smile crossing his face.

“I have been sleep for too long,” replied Chris stubbornly. “I want to stay awake now.” But it was getting harder and harder for him to do so. Although he no longer felt the heat that was eating up his insides, the weakness brought on by the illness still lingered some. “Nathan, friend?”

“Yes?”

“What was wrong with me?”

Nathan looked to Vin and Mapiya for direction, but they had none.

“Well, you’ve been sick it seems and Mapiya had some medicine which helped to get you better.”

“And…?”

“And, what?”

“Vin, you will tell me what he will not?”

Vin looked at his friend with blue eyes of concern. His concern surrounded the fact that Chris was far from being completely well and he was afraid that he was not up to dealing with the current situation.

“Listen, Cowboy, why don’t ya get some rest first, we can talk about it later,” said Vin, placing his hands on the blond’s shoulders.

Chris knew they were hiding something from him, just not what. His green eyes turned sorrowfully towards Mapiya. She would tell him. She was his love and she would never keep anything from him.

Mapiya brown eyes came upon the ones of her love. She knew that Emo'ôhtavo vo'e was looking to her for an explanation. She did not have any, only heartache and betrayal. She could not tell him of her brother’s hatred and of how he had planned to kill him. It hurt too much that their happiness and wedding should be marred by it. She refused to let it and made the decision that only she could make.

“Please, my love. You must do as your friend asks,” she replied in Cheyenne. “Our wedding will be tomorrow and you will be honored in the tribal ways of the Dog Men also. You must gain your strength in order to complete the ceremonies so that we can be together forever.” She placed her hands upon his and glanced over to where Vin sat stoically.

Chris was too weak to argue, but he knew there was more behind Mapiya and Vin’s requests. He just did not know what it was. The fever had exhausted most of his energy and although he was not burning up anymore, he was still sweating. He wanted to know what was happening to him and what he had missed during his decline for the past few days. The one thing that did occur to him is that he had not been alone with Mapiya in so long and he missed her closeness. He finally gave in but on one condition. That Mapiya would stay with him while he slept.

Mapiya, upon hearing his request could not contain her joy. She loved Emo'ôhtavo vo'e and would do anything for him. For him to ask for her was proof, that his love was deep and that his past would not come between them.

“I will, my love. I shall not be move from your side,” she said, lying down next to him and wrapping her arms around his body.

Chris felt the warmth of her body surrounding his cold one and he knew no darkness could enter his heart with the light of his life by his side.

He turned to face her, and with what little strength he had, he placed a kiss gently upon her cheek. She returned his love, kissing his lips with such gentleness that Chris’ heart almost skipped a beat in want of her. He could not wait for their wedding as well as their new life to start.

Vin sat quietly, trying not to bring notice to himself as he watched his best friend and brother hold his future wife in his loving arms. He sighed softly, wanting Chris to be happy but also saddened by the fact that he might be losing his friend forever, a man who could always talk to without sound.

Chris noticed that although Vin outer exterior showed that he was happy for him, his blue eyes spoke of something else. He was about to question him when the young Cheyenne boy named Se’tovaotse came bursting into the tipi.

Mapiya sat up quickly and asked in Cheyenne, “Smoke Appears, what is it?”

The boy huffing and puffing from lack of breath replied, “You…must….must…come. Your father has…requested…you come.”

Mapiya saw something in the boy’s brown eyes, which shocked her. There was fear there. Fear of what, Mapiya had no idea.

“Heehe'e (Yes),” answered Mapiya. “Where is he now?” she asked switching to English.

“He…waits in…home of Ma'emestahke,” replies Smoke Appears. His eyes turned to stare at Vin. “He says…bring… Netse Ôhvo'komaestse.”

Mapiya looked at the boy in confusion. “White Eagle? Did he say why?” she asked switching back to Cheyenne.

“Hová'âháne (No).”

“I will come with ya, Mapiya,” answered Vin.

Chris could only look on in puzzlement. He had understood the conversation, but the part of him that remembered Vin Tanner was frightened by what fate would await his lanky, blue-eyed friend.

“Mapiya? What is wrong?”

“Do not worry, my love. I do believe it is bad thing,” said Mapiya, trying to calm the fears of worried lover.

“Vin?”

Vin could only look in bewilderment. He did not know what Chief Aenohe wanted of him.

“I don’t rightly know, Pard. But I guess I’m going to find out. Why don’t ya try to get some rest. Me and Mapiya will be back in no time.”

“Vin, I am not so sure that this is a good idea,” replied Chris.

Vin stared at him in astonishment. His answer was something he expected out of Chris Larabee, the gunslinger. Not Emo'ôhtavo vo'e, the white Cheyenne.

“Listen, Cowboy. Have I ever steered ya wrong?” asked Vin, a smile creeping slowly to his face.

Chris looked at that face and knew without knowing that this face had never lied to him.

“No. And I am not a cowboy,” he stated firmly, his eyes starting to tire.

Vin and Mapiya could see that he was exhausted and in their happiness to find him awake, they had failed to realize that there was still a way to go before he would completely be healed.

“Rest, my love. We will return and when we do, I will tell you all then.”

Chris trusted Mapiya as he remembered he had trusted Vin. They were both close to his heart. Just then an image popped into Chris’ head. It was of him and Vin, sitting upon a cliff, overlooking the plains before them.

He remembered hearing Vin say, “There's a little backwater town up in the Texas panhandle. Tascosa. Flatter'n a felt-covered poker table. You know it?”

Chris remembered saying in a relaxed voice, “Heard of it.”

Then he remembered Vin staring out at the plains below and saying, “If I wind up getting killed take my body back there. You'll get 500 for it.”

His own question was, “How come you're so valuable?”

Vin’s answer was, “Well, when the buffalo done run out I became a bounty hunter. I was going after Eli Joe-- a bandit who'd shot up a few banks. $200 reward, alive or dead and I found him dead, took the body in. 'Cept it wasn't him. Old Eli framed me up for murder. Since I didn't do it, I decided not to stick around for the hanging. Wound up with a hefty bounty on my own head. So, I figure if a friend collects I get the last laugh”.

The image was so vivid and clear, that Chris knew it was no false dream. This had really happened and he saw the trust within the deep blue eyes of his friend. And Chris knew that the sense of humor that was Vin Tanner was within that statement. Chris smiled as he thought of it.

Vin saw the smiled and knew whatever Chris was thinking was a happy thought.

“What cha thinkin’ about, Pard?”

“I just remembered something about us. You are being hunted by your own people for something you did not do,” came Chris’ exhausted reply.

“Yes! Ya remember!”

“I do,” said Chris as a yawn escaped him. “You have nothing to fear, Vin Tanner. I will be there when the time comes and no harm will come to you as long as I live.”

With that statement, Chris eyes closed and fell into a deep resting sleep.

Vin looked at Mapiya and Nathan, who all this time was situated not far from them. He had just seen a part of the old Chris coming back. But he was also concerned that upon this discovery his friend had immediately went to sleep.

“He’s just tired, Vin,” came Nathan’s answer to his unasked question. “He just needs to rest.”

“Thanks, Nate. Ya take care of ‘im. Mapiya and I will be back soon.”

“Don’t you worry none, Vin,” replied Josiah from the other side of the tipi. “He’s got five guardian angels to watch over him.”

“Josiah is most correct,” piped up Ezra from his kneeling position on the other side of the fire.

“Me and JD’ll keep watch outside until you get back,” came Buck’s statement as he nudged JD on the arm to follow him out of the tipi.

“Yeah, Vin. With me and Buck on the job, ya have nothin’ to worry about,” said JD following Buck outside.

“Thanks, boys.”

Smoke Appears then motioned for Mapiya and Vin to follow him. Mapiya nodded and knelt closer to Chris and placed a kiss upon his lips. She whispered into his ear, “I will be back, my love.”

She then crawled to the flap and walked out of the tipi.

Vin then bent over his friend and grabbed his right upper arm, leaning forward over his ear, he whispered, “It’s good to see ya back, Cowboy.” He then stood up and followed Mapiya and Smoke Appears through the flap.

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Chapter 38

Mapiya and Vin had reached the home of Ma'emestahke (Red Owl), the medicine man within in minutes. He lived on the other side of the Cheyenne camp.

As Vin started to reach for the flap, he noticed ó'kôhóme standing near the tipi with several warriors from the Buffalo and Wolf Clans, look fiercely at them. Vin knew they were up to something, as did Mapiya. They both knew this was trouble.

As they were about to pull the flap open when ó'kôhóme stepped in front of them, barring their way.

“Where you go, vé'ho'e?” asked ó'kôhóme belligerently.

“It is none of your concern, ó'kôhóme!” answered Mapiya, pushing him away from the opening.

“You dare to put hands on such a great warrior!” said ó'kôhóme, his face set in a furious grimace. “You are no longer my sister. You are dead to me,” he said slapping her in the face.

Mapiya fell back onto the ground, her cheek burning with fire from the backhanded hit. She was upon the dirt, shock and surprise in her face.

Vin, seeing Mapiya on the ground, threw a punch at ó'kôhóme that landed squarely on this jaw, throwing him backwards behind the tipi. “Shit!” said Vin, trying to shake the pain out of his hand. He then turned to Mapiya and helped her up from the ground.

At the same time, ó'kôhóme was recovering from his fall. He stood up, brushing the dirt from his clothes, getting ready to attack again.

The other warriors moved in closer to view the confrontation better, but they would not interfere. It was ó'kôhóme’s fight and if he was to lead him, he needed to prove to them that he was indeed a great warrior able to defeat any opponent on his own.

As Vin held Mapiya’s face, examining for any damage made by her brother’s attack, ó'kôhóme approached him, his knife upraised in his hand, ready to strike.

As he was about to deliver a killing blow to the back of Vin’s body, Chief Aenohe exited the tipi. He saw what his son was about to do and yelled, “Éneoestse! (Stop!).”

ó'kôhóme’s knife paused in mid-strike. He knew that to disobey the leader of their people, whether he agreed with him or not, would turn others away from his cause. They would see him as disrespectful and he would have lost the war before it began.

Sighing in rage, ó'kôhóme put the knife back into his deerskin sheath that dangled at his side. His promise of another time showed clearly in crooked smile. Vin knew that this man now considered him an enemy, if he did not before and he would definitely have to watch his back while in the Cheyenne camp.

Chief Aenohe motioned for Vin and Mapiya to step inside the tipi. They both cautiously duck inside, Vin giving his best Larabee glare at ó'kôhóme as he entered. Chief Aenohe then turned to his son and said, “You will not bring harm to White Eagle or your sister.” He then leaned in closer in order to put conviction in his next words. “And if they do, I will know it was by your hand and you will be punished without pity, be you my son or no.”

He stood there waiting to see if ó'kôhóme understood his meaning and it seemed he did. He knew he would be dead, literally, to his father if any action brought harm to the protected ones.

Once Chief Aenohe saw that ó'kôhóme comprehended his unspoken threat, he quickly ducked inside to join the others.

He did not see his son walk away from the tipi, anger seething within his body and plans of revenge running through his mind.

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Vin sat inside the dark tipi, smoking the pipe with Chief Aenohe and Ma'emestahke. Mapiya sat in the corner until it was time for her to join them in their discussions.

Chief Aenohe had explained to Vin and Mapiya that he had brought them to the medicine man so that they may speak of the ceremonies and what must be done.

Mapiya was still concerned with the incident that happened outside the tipi and although Vin had not said anything, she knew his thoughts were the same as his. It did not bode well for her or the friends of her future husband. But Mapiya was determined to make this happiness last as long as it could. She was still afraid for Emo'ôhtavo vo'e. She was afraid for White Eagle. But she also was afraid for the happiness that was destined for her and Emo'ôhtavo vo'e to share. She could not let anything interfere with their plans. She believed that Emo'ôhtavo vo'e deserved happiness for once. She saw his troubled sleep, she heard him cry out names she did not know and she saw the pain in his face as he dreamed. There were much bad things that had happened in

Emo'ôhtavo vo'e’s life. She wanted to change that and she would.

Vin glanced at Mapiya who sat so quietly in the corner. He did not know what her thoughts were on the situation, but he knew they were not happy ones. There was too much affecting her gaining a happy life with Larabee and Larabee himself was in danger. He knew it and although the Chief and Mapiya knew it, he also knew there hands were tied until ó'kôhóme did something to Chris out right, in front of the whole tribe. He had already shown his true colors to Mapiya and Vin. It was just a matter of time before he moved on to attack Chris. Vin realized that the others were watching over Chris. But it was up to him to watch over the others.

Chief Aenohe motioned for Mapiya to come join them. She sat next to Vin, directly across from the Chief and the medicine man.

“It is time to discuss things of importance,” started Chief Aenohe, speaking in Cheyenne. “Mapiya, tomorrow is your wedding day. Today you shall go to gather your women to help you with your preparation.”

Mapiya nodded. She knew what was required of her and what she must do to prepare for her own wedding.

Chief Aenohe then turned to Vin and said, “You Netse Ôhvo'komaestse are Emo'ôhtavo vo'e’s blood brother. Since he is not well and cannot perform the duties of the courtship, then you must do these things for him.”

“It will be my honor,” answered Vin, smiling.

“He has some horses which are his from our raid against the Pawnee. These you will bring to my home, tonight and leave them outside. If they are gone in the morning, then you know I have approved of the joining.”

Vin knew that this was the way that Chris would show his respect to his future bride’s family. It was not used to the purchase her because the people believed that every person of the people are sacred and you cannot sell what Ma'heo'o (God) owns.

Vin was familiar with customs of these people and it was why he believed that Chief Aenohe had chosen him to represent Chris in this.

But what Vin did not know was that Chief Aenohe had another reason he had chosen Vin. Chief Aenohe saw the friendship between the two men and knew that in their souls they were brothers. Maybe not of blood, but in his culture blood was not a big factor. The Cheyenne believed that deeds made a person kin, not color or birth.

“He will need another kinsman,” put in Ma'emestahke.

“Yes, yes, I know. This you will have to choose among your friends, Netse Ôhvo'komaestse. It is tradition in a full marriage that he needs two kinsmen to represent him in this.”

Vin mind settled on the tall, moustache lawman, Buck Wilmington and knew he would be the perfect kinsman to represent Chris. He would have to instruct Buck on his duties, but it would not be a problem. Most of the tasks would be Vin’s responsibility anyway.

“I have someone in mind,” replied Vin.

“Good. We will also send over a warrior to help you prepare Emo'ôhtavo vo'e for the wedding ceremony, as well as his initiation into the Dog Clan. His name is Kovaahe. He is one of the four bravest warriors in the clan. He his been the guard for the people and would die for them. He is the best warrior for this task.”

“I have met him. His is a brave and wise warrior,” responded Vin to Chief Aenohe’s choice.

“Good!” was all that Chief Aenohe said. “You understand that once they are wedded, as a Dog Men, Emo'ôhtavo vo'e must move his new wife and set up his home near the Dog Men Clan? My daughter will live among them. Although Dog Men are Cheyenne, we are separate from the rest of the tribe due to our disgrace by Porcupine Bear years ago in the killing of Little Creek. Because I am Chief, I am the only one allowed to live within the village.”

Vin understood perfectly the history of the Dog Men. He nodded and said, “In this I will instruct Emo'ôhtavo vo'e’s kinsman.”

“That is good. The women have already created his wedding clothes. They will bring them to you tomorrow morning. He must bathe in the sweat lodge and then he must participate in the Sun Dance.”

At this statement, Vin’s face stared at the Chief in shock. He had forgotten that in order for a man to be considered a real warrior they must participate in the Sun Dance. This ceremony would put the young man through an endurance test that if he survived would prove to the people that he was a warrior worthy enough of being a Cheyenne.

Vin turned to Mapiya, but he saw that her head was still bowed. This conversation was left between the males of the tipi. She could not, would not interfere or comment. It was the only way that she and Emo'ôhtavo vo'e could be wed.

Vin nodded to Chief Aenohe and Ma'emestahke that he understood. He did not know what the others would do when he told them of what Chris would have to endure during this test. He knew Nathan would definitely object, but in the end, it would be Chris’ decision.

“Now, it is time that you both go and prepare yourselves and Emo'ôhtavo vo'e for what will come. I will send Kovaahe to you tonight.”

Vin could only bow in ascent. He had no voice in the matter. He then stood up and walked to the exit that would lead him back to his blood brother and his friend.

Mapiya stood up also and grabbed his arm before he could duck through and said, “Tell Emo'ôhtavo vo'e I will be there soon. There are things that I must talk with my father.”

Vin motioned that he understood and ducked quickly through the exit.

Mapiya turned to her father and Ma'emestahke and sat down closer to them.

“We must talk of my brother and his plans. I believe he is becoming a danger to not only Emo'ôhtavo vo'e and his friends, but to me.”

Chief Aenhoe stood silent. He bowed his head in thought. He did not want to believe that his son would do anything to harm his sister or his adopted brother, but he had not done anything lately to show otherwise.

“This is what we will do…” started Chief Aenhoe.

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Chapter 39

Chris awoke to feeling something wet upon his forehead. He did not know where it came from. He tried to remember where he was. Images came fast and furious without interruption, hitting his mind like the force of a hurricane.

He saw Vin Tanner, sitting next to him on a ledge overlooking the valley below. He had seen this image many times and could not comprehend its total meaning. He then again saw Vin and himself grasp arms in a brotherly action. Vin Tanner was more than his friend. He was a brother not only in mind, but deeds.

Then the visions started coming even faster. He saw the tall one called Buck Wilmington standing next to him in a strange land. They were looking at two graves and Chris felt the pain and anguish that came from that memory. I suddenly knew that these were the graves of his wife and son; their names came immediately to his mind. Sarah. Adam. That was their names.

Nathan could see that Chris was waking up. He saw the movement of his eyes beneath their lids. Nathan knew it would be a matter of time. Nathan was happy that his fever had broke finally and now he just kept him cooled down to make sure it would not return.

“Sarah. Adam,” said Chris in a voice so low that Nathan had barely caught it.

“Chris? Chris, you awake?”

“Sarah, no. Adam! Buck, please!”

Nathan knew the man was dreaming and it seemed his old memories were coming through. He wondered when Chris awoke if he would remember them.

As if he heard Nathan’s thoughts, green eyes shot opened and Chris tried to rise quickly from his pallet.

Nathan’s hands stopped him from completely that task.

“Hold up now. Ya ain’t all that well yet.”

Chris yielded to the pressure and lay back down upon the pallet. He finally noticed his surroundings and saw the dark skinned healer named Nathan kneeling down next to him.

“Nathan?”

“Yeah, it’s me. Was wondering when you was gon’na wake up. What do you remember?” Nathan was hopeful that some of what Chris was dreaming was retained.

“Being sick. Mapiya and Vin, they said they had to leave,” said the blond Cheyenne, pushing back his long hair out of his eyes.

“Yeah. That’s about right,” said Nathan disappointed.

“Nathan?”

“Yeah?”

“I was dreaming. Dreaming I think about things that maybe belonged to my past. I remember Vin and Buck were in them. I also remembered about…about my wife and son. Their names were Sarah and…Adam.”

“Seems your memory is trying to come back. Little by little it will,” said Nathan heartened by this information.

To the side of the tipi, Ezra and Josiah could hear the conversation. They were hopeful also. They just hoped that he could remember everything before it was too late. They both had a feeling that Mapiya’s brother was going to cause more trouble than they could handle.

Of course, there still was the wedding ceremony. If Chris got married, would he still go back to Four Corners? What would he tell Mary about his new bride? Or would he stay with the Cheyenne? Would they end up losing one of their own? These questions plagued them and they still had no answers.

Just then, Buck and JD came back in from outside.

“Vin is back, but Mapiya isn’t with him,” said JD moving to sit down next to Josiah and Ezra.

“Chris! You’re awake!” exclaimed Buck, kneeling next to Nathan.

“I am…Buck. But what happened to Mapiya?”

Buck smiled wide, glad to have his friend use his name. It meant to him that they might be getting the old Chris back.

“Don’t know. Vin’s alone,” answered Buck, taking his friend’s hand into his. Chris did not object. For some reason it felt right.

“I hope that nothing dreadful has happened to our dear little Native maiden?” asked Ezra.

“It can’t be good,” put in Josiah.

“Well, when Vin gets here we can find out,” added Buck.

At that moment, Vin head appeared through the opening.

“Howdy, boys,” he said smiling when he saw that Chris was awake. “How ya feelin’, Cowboy?”

“I am fine, Vin,” responded Chris, eyeing him irritatingly. “And I thought I told you to stop calling me that.”

“Ya did. ‘Bout a hundred times, but it ain’t stopped me yet,” said Vin jokingly, kneeling on the other side of him.

“Where’s Mapiya?”

“Don’t worry, Pard. She’s with her father and the medicine man. They had some talkin’ to do. She told me to tell ya not to worry and she would be here shortly.”

Chris breathed a sigh of relief. He did not know what he would do if something happened to her. From what he remembered of his dreams, he had lost so much already. He then turned green eyes to Vin. He also did not want to loose this man’s friendship either. He found it comforting to know that he would always be there for him. He felt he could trust this man with his life and he trusted his words.

Without words, Vin knew what Chris was thinking as he observed him. He only nodded slightly indicating that he understood and Chris in turn nodded back, letting him know that they were on the same page.

“Anyways, ya got ya wedding day to worry about,” said Vin nudging his friend gently.

Chris glared at him and knew his friend was laughing at him.

“Now, don’t be trying that Larabee glare on me. It ain’t gon’na work.”

“You talk too much, Vin.”

“Sometimes I think I don’t talk enough ‘round ya,” said Vin teasingly.

Chris could not help but grin at this comment. He did remember some of the times they spent together and he knew Vin was right.

“Just to let ya know, me and Buck gon’na be your best men,” he said turning a smile to Buck.

“What? Me? Vin, I don’t know nothing about…Indian weddings,” sputtered Buck.

“Don’t worry about it. Me and Young Man gon’na teach ya everythin’ ya need to learn.”

“I don’t have to dress up in one of them skimpy outfits Chris got on, do I?” asked Buck warily. He was referring to the buckskin leggings and loincloth that Chris and other Cheyenne wore.

Vin and Chris chuckled at the comment.

“You wish,” said JD, giggling at the thought.

“I hope not, Mr. Wilmington,” came Ezra’s voice from the other side of the tipi. “I think we should spare the young maidens here a look at your, let’s just say, less than magnificent attributes?”

At that comment, JD and Josiah burst out laughing. Even Chris, Vin and Nathan had to join in on this one, of course, at Buck’s expense.

“My attributes? Listen, you green-eyed, gold-teeth, shyster! These attributes have delighted ladies all across this here fine land; I’ll have you know. Ya’ll can laugh all ya want to, but when it comes to the animal magnetism of ole Buck Wilmington, the ladies can hardly resist it,” responded Buck annoyed.

This only made everyone laugh even harder.

“Is he always like this?” asked Chris listening to Buck’s ravings.

“Most of time,” replied Vin, just happy that Chris was awake and talking. He then turned to Buck who was still rambling on. “Buck! Shut up and listen!”

Buck stopped in mid-sentence and turned to confront the young tracker.

“There’s a couple of things we need to discuss. First I have to get the horses that Chris own and bring them to this tipi tonight. It’s part of the wedding ceremony. Chris do you know which of the horses they got corralled yours?”

Chris told Vin what to look for. Each of Chris’ horses had a red cloth tied to its right front fetlock and would have on its rear painted in black a symbol of a lightening strike. This was how they identified who own the horses.

“Good. Now Buck, you and me have a lot of work to do concerning being kinsmen to Chris here.”

“Really?” questioned Buck, surprised.

“Yeah…Ah, and Nathan, Chris, I need to talk to you about what they expect concerning your initiation into the Dog Men Society.”

Chris and Nathan could hear what sounded like concern in his voice when he mentioned this. Nathan had a feeling he was not going to like this.

“I ain’t gon’na like this, am I, Vin?” asked Nathan, his concern now showing also.

“No, Nate. Don’t think ya will, but it’s really gon’na to be up to Chris,” answered Vin, glancing at the blond whose eyes were now only half opened.

“Chris, you alright?” queried Nathan, as he noticed also that their friend seemed to have difficulty focusing on them.

Chris green eyes focused a little on the two men. “Yeah,” he said yawning widely. “Just seem to be a bit tired.” His eyes lost their focus again and finally his eyes closed completely.

Nathan motioned the others to silence. He knew Chris needed all the rest he could get. Especially since he knew whatever Vin had in mind was not going to be good.

“You wan’na talk now?” whispered Nathan to Vin.

“Nah. We better wait until Chris is awake to hear this. He’s gon’na have to make the decision. Buck! Come and help me bring the horses. Then I’ll tell ya what I know about the ceremony before Young Man gets here,” said Vin standing up and walking over to the flap exit.

Buck followed, but not before turning to the others and saying, “You boys watch out for our bridegroom. Chris should have some type of happiness in his life.” He then went through the same flap as Vin.

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Buck knew something was bothering the young tracker. He seemed quiet and distant since they had found Chris and it did not appear to be getting any better.

The worked diligent to cut the horses that Chris owned from the others. Chris had acquired at least six horses from his assistance in the raid against the Pawnee. This was considered a rich prize among the Cheyenne and it did only to increase Chris’ status among the people.

Vin knew that Buck was watching him carefully. Unlike, Chris though, he could not read the man’s body language to understand what it was.

As they finished grouping the horses and started going back towards Chief Aenohe’s tipi, he caught Buck staring at him in deep thought.

“Ya see somethin’ ya like, Buck,” said Vin smirking at the tall lawman.

Buck jumped out of his reverie to find a pair of bright blue eyes looking at him playfully.

“No, no, Vin. It’s just that…Well…”

“Get it said, Pard.”

“Well, you been kind of real quiet lately, although that’s your usual nature, but it just seems that there’s more to it. Ya know what I mean?”

“Cain’t say that I do, Bucklin. Why don’t cha just tell me what’s eating ya craw?”

“Well, Vin, it’s like this. You seem to be awful okay with this marriage and all. I thought you’d be more against this.”

“I ain’t against Chris finding happiness, Buck. Sure as hell knows he deserves it. It’s just that when he does, I want him to remember who he is. I think he should have a life with no holes in it. Josiah told me one time that everything in our lives makes a person who they are. A man ain’t who he is unless he has all of his memories. Good and bad. Right now, with Chris’ reputation with the white man, if he don’t remember his past he’s as good as dead,” Vin explained with finality.

Buck knew that this was a deep cut in Vin’s soul. This was the most the man had ever said to him in the time that he had known him and if Vin was talking this much, then he felt really strong about what he believed.

“But how do you figure that, Pard?”

“Buck, Chris, no matter what is a gunslinger, a gunman, a shooter. What if he and Mapiya get married and let’s say he don’t have his memories back. If he ever decides to leave the tribe and set up home somewhere near a town or a white populated area, he gon’na bump into someone who use to know him and that someone might not be hospitable,” answered Vin, looking at Buck.

“But Chris can take care of himself”

“Remember, these people would catch ‘im off guard. He ain’t gon’na be prepared for somethin’ like that.”

“I think you worry too much, son,”

“I don’t think we worry enough! What if somethin’ happens to Mapiya? What if Chris ends up back into that hell he was in after Sarah and Adam died? Do ya want that to happen to that man again? Don’t cha think he’s had enough pain and misery?”

All the questions came at Buck like a whirlwind. He did not know that this was affecting Vin so badly. He wanted to ease his friend’s mind. “Listen, Vin. Chris always lands on his feet, no matter what. Sure, there were times when I thought…when I thought…you know,” said Buck, feeling a lump starting to form in his throat. “But Chris has changed since he came to Four Corners.”

“But Buck, if he don’t remember us, then he’s just back where he started and you won’t be around to catch him when he falls,” said Vin matter-of-factly.

Buck looked at him and realized what Vin had said was true. “Come on, Pard,” Buck said putting his arm around Vin’s shoulder and leading him towards the tipi. “We’ll think of something. Don’t worry.”

He smiled and Vin smiled slightly back. He hoped that Buck was right; otherwise he would loose Larabee whether he married or no.

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Chapter 40

When Vin and Buck returned to the tipi they found Ezra standing anxiously outside, pacing back and forth.

“Chris is awake, my friends and in very much need of information as to the whereabouts of Mapiya.”

“She ain’t get back yet?” asked Vin worried.

“Not as of yet, Mr. Tanner and I’m afraid that our fretful leader has been asking constantly for her companionship. He also has been asking for you, Mr. Tanner.”

Vin nodded and he walked past Ezra to step into the tipi, with Buck following closely behind.

When they got inside, they found Nathan and Josiah struggling with their ill friend. He was trying to get up and of course, the others were trying to convince him that it would not be wise at this moment.

“Chris, ya got to stop fightin’ us. We only trying to help!” exclaimed Nathan, grabbing the man’s wrists and trying to force him back down onto the pallet.

“I want up! Hová'âháne! Let me up!” screamed Chris at them. He was in pain and he was confused. Where was Mapiya? Where was Vin? They had left him alone and they had not come back. “Mapiya! Vin! Help me!”

“Chris, listen,” said Josiah, trying to help Nathan in getting the man to lie down. “We’re only trying to help. You are not well, my brother.”

“I am not your brother, vé'ho'e! Éneoestse!” insisted Chris.

“Chris, ya gon’na make yourself sick this way. Ya got to get calm,” tried Nathan again, although he knew without Mapiya or Vin, it would not work.

“My name is Emo'ôhtavo vo'e! Emo'ôhtavo vo'e!” answered Chris, still struggling against them.

Finally Vin had heard enough. “Chris?” he called, leaning down near to his friend, hoping that if he saw him he would calm down.

“Vin?” Chris stopped fighting them and looked up. He found he was looking into the caring blue eyes of his brother and friend. “Please, Vin. Help me. Mapiya, she…”

“Take it easy, Cowboy. Mapiya is with her father. I told ya that earlier, remember?”

Chris looked at him with dazed eyes. He tried to remember but for some reason there seem to be a fog surrounding his memory.

“I…I don’t…I can’t…”

Vin saw how he was straining to remember. He did not understand what was going on, but he knew it was not good.

“Just relax,” he said touching the blond’s shoulder gently. “It’ll come back to ya. Ya just have to relax.”

“I awoke and found you gone. Mapiya gone too. I did not know where you were. Too many dreams…dreams I do not understand.”

“Shhh. I’m here now, Cowboy. Ain’t goin’ nowhere. Ya just rest and when ya wake up Mapiya will be back.”

“Not tired. I’m fine,” replied Chris, glaring at him.

Vin smiled. It was nice to see the old Larabee glare again, even if it was directed at him. “Sure ya are. But why don’t cha rest for a little while since we got a lot ta talk about later,” suggested Vin.

Chris smiled also at this. He knew this man only wished the best for him and would protect him no matter what. “You watch my back?”

Vin laughed heartily at this. “Of course. Ya think I’d let anybody hurt ya?”

“Hová'âháne.”

“Good. Now why don’t cha just close those eyes.”

Chris did as Vin asked, feeling safe and knowing that there was someone watching over him.

Once Vin saw that Chris breathing had calmed to that of sleep, he turned to Nathan and the others and motioned them to the other side of the tipi.

“JD, get Ezra in here, now,” Vin commanded.

“Right, Vin,” answered JD getting up and walking outside the tipi.

“What’s going on, Vin?” questioned Josiah. He knew there was something bothering his friend. When he was outside earlier, he could see the anguished look on Vin’s face and he and Buck were discussing something. He knew whatever it was it was eating at the young tracker’s soul.

“There’s somethin’ I still haven’t talked to Chris about that ya need to know.”

“And what is that, Pard?” asked Buck worried.

“Let me ask Nathan a question first,” said Vin, holding up his hand. “Nate, how is he doing?”

Nathan knew that “he” Vin was speaking about was Chris Larabee and he did not know what to tell him. Chris was getting better, but he did not know what Vin had in mind.

“Well, he is getting better Vin. Probably be able to get out of here in a couple of days.”

“Nate, he don’t have a couple of days,” said Vin matter-of-factly.

“What do you mean by that, Vin?” asked Josiah.

At that moment, JD and Ezra came back into the tipi. They sat down quietly next to Josiah and Buck.

“What I mean by that, Josiah, is that Chris here is getting’ married in next day or so. Chief Aenohe is also bringing him into the Dog Clan.”

“What does that mean for Chris?” asked Nathan curious.

“It means that no one can hurt him without the Dog Clan gettin’ riled up. They watch out for each other.”

“Like we do!” jumped in JD.

“Yeah,” answered Vin.

“So our lost leader will be protected and I am to assume that so are we?” asked Ezra.

“Yeah, we are.”

“So that’s great news, ain’t it?” said Buck smiling broadly.

“No, Buck. It ain’t,” came Vin’s statement.

They all looked at Vin bewildered.

“In order for Chris ta be accepted into the Clan, he has ta go through the Sun Dance.”

“The Sun Dance? What’s that?” queried Buck.

“Oh, no,” sighed Josiah despondently. “Lord, hasn’t the man been through enough!”

“What’s going on? What’s the Sun Dance, Vin?” asked JD.

“It’s the people’s religious ceremony. Most of the time it’s held when summer is ‘bout ta come. But tomorrow it’s a special day for Chris and the other men of the camp, especially the Dog Men. It’s a way for Chris ta prove his loyalty to the Cheyenne and the Dog Men.”

“Well, that does not sound so bad,” said Buck.

“That ain’t all, Buck. The ceremony will require Chris to…to…”

“To what, Vin?” asked Nathan concerned now.

“He will have to have go through a type of self-inflicted torture,” interceded Josiah, his head bowed and looking at his hands.

“What?” exclaimed JD.

“Torture?” came Ezra’s surprised voice.

“This can’t be right, Vin,” stated Nathan, worry over his patient’s conditioning increased by the turning of events.

“It is, Nate and although I don’t like it a lot, it ain’t my choice. It’s Chris’.”

“But Vin, Chris don’t know what he’s doin’! He’s out of his head right now!” yelled Buck.

“Buck, keep your voice down,” said Nathan glancing over at the sleeping Chris Larabee.

“But Nathan, we can’t let Chris go through with this…this torture. It ain’t right!”

“Don’t think it’s up ta us, Buck. If Chris wants ta marry Mapiya, there ain’t no other way. Not if he plan’s on becomin’ part of Chief Aenohe’s family. They may let ‘im off the hook if he just lived with them, but they ain’t gon’na go for it if he marries one of their own. Chief Aenohe will be disgraced and that will give his son all he needs ta take over the tribe,” explained Vin.

“Vin, what kind of…I guess what Josiah’s call self-torture will Chris have ta go through?” questioned Nathan.

It was hard for Vin to speak about it knowing what his friend would have to endure if he would go through with the ceremony.

Josiah saw this and said, “He would have two pieces of bone or wood pushed into the fold of skin at his breasts. They would then tie these pieces to a rope that would be tied to the top of the Sun Dance lodge or tipi.”

“That is quite painful and horrible, Mr. Sanchez,” said Ezra in disgust.

“Yes, it is, Ezra, to us. But not to a warrior who wants to prove his loyalty and belief. The object of the devotee is to break loose from these fetters. To liberate himself he must tear the skewers through the skin, a horrible task. It is not so easily done. Even with the most dedicated and healthy individual it may require many hours of torture before it happens.”

“But the poor soul must be in so much pain,” commented Nathan.

“Yes. They are. But the purpose is to receive a vision from the Mighty Spirit. The warrior believes this is a blessing. The tearing of the fetters is considered the dying and rebirth of the soul. Mentally, physically and spiritually, brothers. It is no different than a believer of the Church who goes to confession and has to do penance to be forgiven by God.”

“There is a difference, Mr. Sanchez. One does not choose the torture in penance.”

“I disagree with that, Brother Ezra. We have a choice, even in confession. We can confess and do penance or we can go to Hell.”

“Sorry, Josiah, but I have to agree with Ezra here,” said Buck, eyeing the gambler.

“Me too!” piped in JD. He could not watch Chris go through a torture like that. He thought Chris had went through enough as it was.

“Listen Up!” exclaimed Vin. “It ain’t up ta me and it ain’t up ta Ezra. It’s up ta Chris and that’s what we gotta be concerned ‘bout. When Young Man gets here, he gon’na explain ta Chris everythin’ he has ta do. Chris is gon’na have ta make a choice. And it’s not just gon’na be his decision alone. Mapiya will have ta decide if she’s willin’ ta risk losin’ Chris or risk losin’ her family if she marries Chris. This is gon’na be hard for them both.”

“What are you goin’ to do, Vin?” asked Nathan.

The others also looked at Vin with the same question in their eyes.

They knew Vin had the most to loose in this decision. Either way, he would loose Chris.

If Chris died trying then he would loose him.

If Chris decided to walk away from a woman he had found happiness with, then Mapiya would be die inside and so would Chris, and again he would loose Chris.

Or if he decided to take her away from her people, Vin knew Mapiya’s soul would die as he had seen when so many others like her who had tried to live in the white man’s world. Chris would later regret his decision and in the end he would probably end up drinking his life away, while Mapiya faded away in grief and again Vin would loose not only Chris, but Mapiya as well.

He could see a way out of it or around it. No matter which way he turned, he would loose Chris.

Buck could see that his friend was in pickle. He could see that the same look Vin had on his face outside had returned. Buck knew that Chris was at the heart of the man’s problem. But what the young tracker did not know, although Buck did not show it, he had his own worries about Chris and it a certain way, he wished that none of this had ever happened. He had nothing against Mapiya. The girl was the best thing that could ever happen to Chris besides Vin. But he did not want to loose his friend to death or anything else. He did not know how to calm the blue-eyed hunter fears since he could not calm his own.

Vin finally looked into each of his friends face and said, “I’m goin’ ta wait for Chris ta wake up.” It was all he could do now. The others nodded in agreement. It would have to be Chris’ choice, no matter what the outcome and they would all support him in whatever he choose. It was Chris’ right to try to grab at the ring of happiness.

TBC

Hová'âháne - no

vé'ho'e – white man/white men

Éneoestse! – Stop!

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