Tiopa Ki Lakota Part 23

Nupa nodded sharply in agreement.

"As will we, mitankala ," a voice insisted from beside them.

Anpo turned to her cuwe , a rea.s.suring smile on her handsome face. "Ohan, Hca. We will be together again." Using a long finger, she gently chucked the baby's cheek. "I must see how big my tunska grows in one winter."

"We will speak of you to ina and ate," Hca Wanahca said with a sad smile. "They will be unhappy to not see you this summer." To the blonde woman, she added, "We will keep your ti ikceya safe until you return to us, stepan .".

"Thank you, stepan," Kathleen responded, stepping forward for a warm hug. "I will miss you while I am gone."

A toddler barreled his way into the press, not wanting to be left out of the affections. The women broke apart, laughing, and Nupa scooped him up and tossed him high in the air.

"You be strong, tunska!" Nupa stated firmly, holding the boy up. "Learn from your inanup and take good care of your ina!"

"I strong warrior, leksi," was the serious response though Teca was currently dangling above his uncle's head. "I take good care of ina and help inanup."

Nodding with grave dignity, the wicasa settled the toddler onto the spotted mare. "That is good, Teca . You are very helpful and wise."

Sitting as tall as he was able in the saddle, the boy simply stated, "Thank you."

Anpo raised an eyebrow at their son's humble manner. Looking to her winuhca, she begged the question with her dark eyes.

"I have been teaching our cinksi about accepting compliments well," Kathleen answered with a faint smile.

With a thoughtful nod, the wikoskalaka looked back to the toddler. She smiled approval and watched Teca's broad grin form. "You are better than most warriors, Teca. Never forget that."

"I will not, inanup."

There was a pause in the conversation and the four of them looked blankly at one another. The red stallion snorted, breaking the silence.

"Go, tanksi," Nupa said in a low voice. "Or you will not leave at all."

Her smile was half amused and half chagrined at being discovered. "Ohan, tiblo." Anpo helped her woman onto the mare, steadying their son until the blonde was settled into place. The warrior then leapt onto her own mount and whirled him about. "I will see you at summer camp after next winter."

The pair left behind nodded. "We will see you at summer camp after next winter," Hca repeated.

Knowing that she had to leave now or lose her nerve, Anpo swallowed the lump developing in her throat. With a deep breath and a fond smile to Kathleen and Teca, she urged the stallion forward.

For well over a month, the small family traveled across the Great Plains. Steadily, they rode their ponies towards the rising sun. As the days grew longer and warmer, the signs of spring could be found everywhere - from the dusky green of sage to the brilliant fields of flowers they came across.

Every few days, they would remain camped, allowing themselves to recuperate from the long hours of riding and walking. Always near a river or creek, the trio would relax into a natural rhythm of family life.

Teca was well over two winters now. He could sit his ina's horse alone and, when in camp, spent much of his time with his own pony. There was great disappointment that he couldn't ride his own horse, but his inanup told him in great detail how a young colt, even a yearling one, could be ruined forever if ridden too soon. With reluctance, the toddler had accepted the restriction.

During their lull times, Kathleen would insist that everyone bathed and she cleaned all their clothing. Her warrior would use the break to hunt and repair tack, tools and weapons. Teca would follow his inanup about like a puppy or play by himself nearby.

They ran across the occasional village, as well. Most were offshoots of the Lakota - primarily of the Dakota tribe - and the family was welcome to join them for the night. Despite a few language differences, all went well during these visits. Anpo would regale the gathered folk with news of her people and the blonde would play a tune on her tin whistle. Of course, Kathleen's skin and hair color always garnered much attention.

When they reached the Mississippi River, they camped for three days. Anpo slew an antelope which fed them well, replenishing their dwindling supplies. Additional repairs and preparations were made while the warrior ranged a half day's ride north and south along the riverbank, searching for a likely crossing. None were forthcoming; the travelers were at an impa.s.se.

On the third day in camp, a visitor arrived. An Ojibwe hunter shared their fire that evening. Though the languages were different, signing kept them conversing through the night. An arrangement was made to help Anpo and her family cross the large river in their path. Several days later, the trio continued their trek eastwards. Teca had an Ojibwe charm about his neck for protection, as did his mother. And Anpo was the proud owner of a new pipe made of beechwood.

Following an offshoot of the Mississippi, the family found that the vegetation changed from tall gra.s.ses to trees. As they veered away from the tributary, more and more they traveled through wooded growth, traversing game trails as they continued their way east. Though it was midsummer, the leafy trees provided welcome shade and kept them cool. There were many small streams along the way to keep them in water and game was plentiful.

Other natives made their presence known - the Huron, Kickapoo, Illinois. Many carried muskets with them and Anpo was concerned for her family's safety. Through sign language, it was discovered that the English were once again at war and the fighting was hot and heavy. Kathleen's fears grew with her warrior's. If her people were at war, where would her parents and brother be? Who was fighting who? Who would they side with?

After two weeks of travel through the woods, they found themselves at a huge lake. Another rest was called for and the three of them enjoyed the deep blue waters of Lake Michigan. A Huron scouting party happened upon them, joining them for several days as they quizzed each other. When the Ohio River was mentioned, it was discovered that one of the warriors had heard of it. He suggested continuing their journey to the south and east.

Anpo lead her family onwards. They skirted the lake until they crossed a river leading from it. From there, they turned southeast, continuing their trek through forested lands. A few days pa.s.sed before they saw the smoke of a fire. As they neared its source, strange music reached Anpo's ears, odd aromas filled her nostrils. The blonde woman perked up as they got closer, explaining it was a homestead of her people.

Their arrival was met with mixed responses. Apparently, a celebration of some sort was going on and the sudden appearance of strangely dressed natives was a call to arms. With some quick talking, Kathleen was able to dispel the worst of their fears as she explained her circ.u.mstances. While the warrior stood stoically nearby with the horses, the blonde spoke with three men about her family.

Anpo studied the cabin and barn, wondering how a person could live cooped up in the same place all the time. She watched the men with the same suspicion they showed her, dark eyes constantly alert for any perceived danger. Eventually, Kathleen's conversation ended and she returned to her warrior with a smile. This family didn't know hers, but they knew of the frontier attacks that had resulted in her capture a few years earlier and where those had been located.

By that evening the trio camped near the Ohio. The blonde woman was excited and chattered on about the people at the cabin, explaining that there had been a wedding. It seemed that they were now only a few days away. All they had to do was follow the river south.

Eating her meal in silence, Anpo listened to her winuhca's voice. It was full of pa.s.sion and antic.i.p.ation. The lilting accent that would occasionally peek through was in full view now, even though Kathleen was speaking Lakota. The warrior decided it was good to see her woman this happy.

But a gnawing pain grew in her heart. And dread filled her mind.

Anpo led her pony along the trail, hand on his muzzle to keep him from making noise. Behind her, the blonde did the same, occasionally checking on Teca who was riding the grey mare.

The settlements became thicker as they traversed the river, more dangerous. The natives who had begun raiding the homesteads along the frontier a few years previous hadn't stopped. The small family had even been shot at once, Anpo narrowly being missed as the lead ball bit a chunk of wood from a tree behind her. There had been signs of war parties in the area, as well, so the trio slowed their pace to better cover their trail and avoid them.

Since the shooting three days earlier, they skirted all the settlements they came across only stopping long enough for Kathleen to verify that her family wasn't there. The telltale odor of woodsmoke beckoned the small family forward as they edged towards yet another homestead.

All of Anpo's senses were alert as she scanned the wooded area they traveled, searching for anything out of the ordinary that would signal danger. She caught the smoke on her nostrils as it mixed with the odd aroma that signified Kathleen's people. Dark eyes narrowed and studied the trees carefully, hand still covering the red stallion's muzzle.

There was the sudden click of a hammer pulling back, the crackling of undergrowth as a white man appeared. He had been hiding in the bushes and rose with a fluid motion, his musket aimed at Anpo's chest.

The warrior's only thought was to protect her family. She took a step sideways, forcing her steed to turn and block the trail before she froze.

"Aye, ye better stand still, ye d.a.m.ned animal," the man agreed, his accent much like the others of this area. He regarded her even as he kept careful aim with his weapon, noting the strange clothing. "Don't know who ye are, dog, but ye're definitely in the wrong place at the wrong time." One eye closed as he sighted down the barrel of the musket. "If ye've any G.o.ds, ye better say yer prayers to 'em."

As Anpo's mind raced for an avenue of escape, a voice drifted from behind the red stallion.

"Stewart...?"

The man's eye reopened, his finger relaxing on the musket trigger. He lifted his cheek from the stock, blue eyes suspicious.

"Stewart? Is that you?" Kathleen eased around the pony blocking her path, her heart thumping double time in her chest.

Anpo's own heartrate increased as her woman come out into the open. She watched as the white man slowly lowered his weapon, his mouth dropping open in amazement.

"K... K... Kath...?" he asked in a choked voice.

The blonde slowly smiled as she stepped forward. "Aye, Stew. It's me."

Stewart McGlashan blinked back sudden tears. He stumbled forward only to find his way blocked by a very large, very protective native brandishing a knife. The young man took a step backwards, lifting his musket but not quite setting it on his shoulder.

Dark eyes glared at the armed man. Anpo did not speak, but her threat was very clear.

Placing a gentle hand on her warrior's arm, Kathleen moved around Anpo. She rubbed the arm gently and waited. As expected, the wikoskalaka's eyes flickered from their target to the blonde's and were snared.

The white woman smiled rea.s.suringly up at her winuhca, her hand still caressing. "He is my misun , Anpo. He is your sic'e." With firm pressure, Kathleen forced the arm holding the knife down. "He is family. I will be safe."

Anpo's eyes darted back to the young man. She found the same dark blue eyes looking at her, the same color hair on his head, the same general features of her woman on his face. Reluctantly, she sheathed her blade. Her face was of stone, her body tensed to attack, but she nodded with a stiff neck and took a short step to one side.

Sighing quietly with relief, Kathleen turned to her brother once again. A welcome smile spread across her face as she closed the distance between them.

The man barely had time to drop the musket barrel as his sister leapt into his arms. For the first time in over three years, the siblings embraced. Joy filled Stewart's heart and he let the weapon fall to the ground as he picked Kathleen up and swung her round and round.

To give them a modic.u.m of privacy, Anpo returned to the horses and checked on Teca. She watched with some wariness from the corner of her eye, however, not trusting this man who had endangered her family.

"Inanup?" the toddler asked in a whisper. "Who that?" His dark eyes were round with curiosity as his mother cavorted with this stranger.

Anpo looked fully at the siblings, a part of her heart warming at Kathleen's delighted giggle drifting towards her. "He is her misun, Teca. Your leksi."

Teca considered this for a moment. "As Nupa?"

"Ohan , young warrior. As Nupa."

With quite a bit of interest, the boy watched his ina as she greeted her brother.

Tears spilled freely from both their eyes as Stewart set his sister down. He grabbed her shoulders and held her at arm's length. "Where have ye been, Kath? We thought ye dead like all the others!"

"It's a long story, Stew," the blonde evaded, a wide, silly grin plastered on her face. "I'll tell ye all about it later." Kathleen looked behind her, waving her family closer. "First, let me introduce you to someone."

Steeling herself, Anpo swung their cinksi into her arms and carried him closer.

Stewart's eyes widened in surprise at the toddler. He quickly glanced at his sister, searching for confirmation.

A satisfied grin crossed the blonde's face. "Stewart, I'd like to introduce ye to your nephew, Teca. Teca, this is your uncle, Stewart."

"Hau , leksi," the toddler said, holding his hand up in the signal for peace.

"English, cinksi," Kathleen murmured. "Stewart does not understand Lakota."

Surprised, Teca blinked for a moment before repeating himself. "h.e.l.lo, uncle."

The man's face broke into a wondrous grin. "h.e.l.lo, nephew! It's good to meet ye!" His attention turned to Kathleen. "I'm so happy for ye, sis!"

"Thank ye, Stew," the woman responded with a blush, dropping her gaze for a moment.

"And who is this?" Stewart asked, indicating the tall, silent warrior, his voice lowering in distaste.

Caught up in her own thoughts, the blonde didn't hear the change in his voice. Aye, la.s.s. Explain this one, eh? "This is Anpo...." Kathleen chewed her upper lip in thought. "My... um.... Anpo is my partner," she finally blurted. Oh, that was good....

"Partner...?" The man's brow furrowed in confusion. "Yer husband, then?"

"Hiya. Uh.... I mean, no, Anpo's not my... uh... husband." How to explain to yer little brother that ye've been sleepin' with a woman for the last three years...?

The warrior's attention slowly turned to Kathleen, watching as the blonde blushed and fidgeted, wondering what the problem was.

Stewart was doing the same, lower lip pursed out in thought. He looked suspiciously at the native, beginning to bristle. "Well, if he's not yer husband, then what is he?"

Refusing to look at either of them, Kathleen stared off into the woods, still gnawing on her upper lip.

Anpo decided to take matters into her own hands. "I am her woman as she is mine," she stated in English.

Dark blue eyes narrowed at the p.r.o.nouncement as the man reconsidered the warrior's gender. "Yer a woman then?" he asked, full of disbelief as he looked her up and down.

"Ohan," the dark woman nodded. Looking to Kathleen, she was surprised to find the pale skin was flushed even darker. Confused, Anpo reached out and touched her winuhca's shoulder. As the blonde inched away from the hand, a thought hit the warrior with sudden ferocity. Ketlin is ashamed of me! Anpo almost took a step back from them as the shock filled her.

Sensing the sudden tension, the toddler in Anpo's arms said, "Inanup ...?".

"Do not worry, cinksi," the warrior calmed him in Lakota. "This is nothing of you." She gave him a gentle squeeze of rea.s.surance.

Not quite convinced, Teca nevertheless remained silent.

Stewart puzzled over the warrior's phrase, not understanding its meaning. With a shrug and a shake of his head, he set it aside. "Well, Kath.... Let's get ye home, then! Mum and da will be so surprised!" He stooped and grabbed up his musket.

The mention of their parents brought Kathleen's attention away from her distress, a welcome distraction. "They are well?" she asked, peering at her brother.

"Aye, though older." The man reached for her hand and drew her along. "Mum always knew ye were alive. She's told us so many a time over the years."

"Really!?" was the shocked question.

Stewart nodded and continued on. "Aye, la.s.s. She never doubted for a minute."

Watching the siblings move away, Anpo felt the burn of anger enter her heart. Ketlin is ashamed and does not even care if we follow. She looked to the toddler in her arms, seeing his mother in the shape of his face. Fighting the irrational emotion down, she smiled at Teca and brought him back to the horses. She is too excited about seeing her misun, her parents after so long. That is all. My winuhcala does care.

With that firmly in mind, the warrior planted their son back on his mother's saddle. "You will meet your unci and tunkasila now, Teca. The ones who raised your ina." Grabbing up the reins of all three mounts, she followed the trail ahead of her.

Rachel McGlashan worked the slab of bread dough with some force. She was up to her elbows in flour, a smudge of white even on her cheek. Thumping on the porch heralded the arrival of her son and she ignored it even as the door swung open behind her.

"Mum! You'll never guess what I found while huntin'!" Stewart exclaimed.

"Aye, lad, and that's a fact," the older woman responded, her voice vague with distraction. "I don't have time for guessin' games, Stewart. This dough's got to be set to rise for tomorrow's bakin'."

"Mum...?" came a tentative voice.

With an audible gasp, Rachel froze, floury hands grasping the edge of the table. Her heart tripled its beat as she recognized the voice, recalled the many times it had spoken to her in the past and in her dreams. She almost stopped breathing in the silence that followed.

"Mum, turn around," the voice said, soft and familiar.

The older woman refused, shaking her head. Her body seemed to be so tense, she was trembling, and tears filled her eyes. From behind, she could barely hear the whisper of soft footsteps that approached her. A warm hand was placed on her shoulder, forcing her to turn, to see who it was though she knew without a doubt.

"Mum," the blonde sighed, a bittersweet smile on her face. The smile faded to concern when her mother practically collapsed into her arms. Great sobs emanated from the older woman and Kathleen pulled her close.