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.
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.
**********************************************************************************************************
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
**************************************************************************************************************
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.