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.