BLESSING WAY Chapter Three

"What do you want?" Kid asked impatiently. Kid wasn't sure why he had taken such a dislike to the odd little man. Maybe he seemed too much like a bounty hunter, looking for something and not caring how he got it.

"How's your friend?"

Kid looked at the man without responding.

"I know we didn't get off on the best foot, but since I'm the only one in this village that speaks English…" The man cocked his head and looked up at Kid, "Unless you speak Lakota…"

"Not a word."

"I'm thinking I can be of some use to you and your friend. My name is O'mna Maka'...means Smelly Skunk in Lakota. Don't rightly know why they gave me that name."

Kid looked at the man trying to determine if he was joking. He seemed genuinely perplexed.

"You can call me Skunk…" He paused hoping that Kid would tell him his name. There was a long awkward pause. Kid finally relented.

"My cousin's Joshua and I'm Thaddeus."

"Joshua and Thaddeus." The man repeated, "Got any last names?"

"Smith and Jones."

"Really? I mean, iffing you didn't want me to know…"

"They're real."

"Didn't mean to imply...no offense meant."

"How's the girl?" Kid said quickly changing the subject of their names.

"She's okay thanks to you two. Kateri Kai...Pure Willow. You made yourself a good ally by saving her. Her father Red Cloud is a powerful man in this tribe. A powwaw. Kind of like a preacher. A spiritual leader."

He pointed towards a wigwam. Kid watched as Indians moved in and out of the crude entrance to the earthen structure.

"They are readying for the Blessing Way. It's a healing ceremony for your cousin. Lakota believe you heal the person, not the illness or injury. They will start the ceremony at sundown."

The man ran an eye up and down Kid, looking at his still blood stained clothes., "You be wanting to get cleaned up before the ceremony...Creek is that way," he said as he pointed to the north.

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Kid quickly bathed in the creek and returned to Heyes. A woman was exiting the tent. She held her hands out to Kid. Kid looked confused until she pointed towards his dirty clothes. He gave her a small smile and handed the dirty bundle to her, before ducking into the tent.

Kid took a seat beside Heyes. He reached across his partner and lifted the blankets. There were fresh bandages on Heyes' wound. Kid lowered the blanket and tucked it around his partner. He was relieved that Heyes' breathing seemed less strained, but maybe he imagined it or was just hearing what he wanted to hear. Kid settled next to his partner, pulling his legs to his chest and resting his arms across his knees.

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Kid jerked his head up when he heard Heyes call out weakly. He must have fallen asleep.

"Hey," Kid placed a hand on his partner's arm. Heyes' eyes slowly fluttered open.

Heyes ran a tongue over dried lips. He struggled to get the word out.

"W...Where?"

Kid was shaking his head, "Don't worry. You're safe."

Heyes cleared his throat, "I...I've be..been dreaming about Indians. Lots of Indians.

Kid smiled, "Save your strength….Here." Kid reached for the bowl of broth and gently slipped a hand under Heyes head. He placed the bowl to his lips. Heyes sipped slowly then turned his head away when he had enough.

"T...tired", Heyes said as his eyes slowly closed.

Kid set the bowl aside and brushed the hair from his partner's forehead. He needed to find Skunk and learn more about the healing ceremony tonight.

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As Kid walked through the village looking for Skunk, he heard the whispers of the children as they followed Kid on his search. When he stopped and turned they scattered. But one child remained, it was Pure Willow. Kid smiled, then frowned when he saw the red scratches, still visible on her face where the man had pushed her into the rough bark of the tree when he tried to rape her. Kid stood still as she slowly approached.

"Pila'maya" She said softly. "Pila'maya,"

She reached out and timidly touched his hand. Kid smiled when she raised her head and found his eyes. She smiled back and wrapped her arms around him hugging him tightly. Kid returned the hug. Kid felt hands touch him...lightly on his shoulder, back and arms as the villagers gathered to thank him.

"Pila'maya" They said as they touched him.

Kid had just learned his first Lakota word.

Thank you.

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Kid had told Heyes that they were safe, but he hadn't been completely sure until the villagers had come up and thanked him. Kid felt his body relax as the anxiety and doubt left his body.

The final person to thank him was Red Cloud,. He stood in front of Kid and slowly raised his hand, holding it out. Kid looked from his extended hand to his face. Kid gave him a smile and a nod before shaking his hand.

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After checking on Heyes, Kid took his first meal with the Indians. He didn't have any idea what they were saying. He would just smile and nod, something he had learned well riding with Heyes. Sometimes he just wasn't in the mood to listen to his cousin. But right now, he would give anything to have his partner healthy by his side...jawing away... and God, he would cherish it.

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Skunk slipped in and took a seat beside Kid. The man looked like a drowned rat. It was obvious he had taken his own advice and gone to the creek to bathe.

"Normally the Blessing Way ceremony is a private matter...but being you don't speak no Lakota, Red Cloud asked that I join in. My advice...get yourself some sleep."

"Tell me Skunk, how did you end up here? You ain't no Indian."

"Half. My ma was Lakota. My pa a french trapper. I prefer the Lakota...Hell you ever been around French folk? They're nuts. One day my pa just never came back. Don't know if he got kilt, run off with another woman...really didn't care. He was a bastard. And being half injun...white folks let you know, every minute of every day that you don't belong there. So I've always lived here and there with the Sioux. Speaking English I can get them what they want. " Skunk looked away, and sighed, "Don't know if you ever knowed the feeling of not belonging...living in between one world and another."

Maybe Kid had misjudged Skunk too. Maybe he was just a man, trying to survive.

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