BLESSING WAY Chapter Six
Heyes, Kid, Skunk and Pure Willow sat cross-legged in the shade for their daily language lesson. Heyes thought it might be respectful and an asset if they learned some Lakota. Maybe in the future it might come in handy.
"It ain't pronounced 'hannah waste' Kid."
"It's hihanni was'te'." Heyes said, correcting his partner.
"Ain't that what I said?"
Pure Willow covered her mouth to hide her laughter.
"You need to clean your ears out iffing you thought you heard the same."
"Sounds the same to me" grumbled Kid.
"There you go insulting these poor folks trying to talk Indian. Maybe you might want to leave the Indian talking to me."
"Don't act like you got a silver tongue talking Indian with me, Joshua. Just cuz you know a few words don't make you no expert. I might be better at learning iffing I wasn't hungry."
Skunk turned to Pure Willow and asked her in Lakota, "Do you think we should tell them what their Indian names are? i'mapi he'chena ye'lo...I'm never full and O'ta iyA' talks much."
She giggled and shook her head no.
Skunk looked from Joshua to Thaddeus. He knew their bickering was all in good fun. Once Thaddeus knew Joshua was going to recover, his mood had lightened. He could feel their closeness and fierce loyalty to each other. They complimented each other well.
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"You ready?"
Heyes asked Kid with a smile. Kid returned the smile and nodded, as he watched Heyes pull the flap open to the teepee with his good hand as Kid readjusted his hat.
The early morning sun greeted them, as well as the eager faces of the Indian children.
Even as the weeks passed, the children had not lost their fascination with the white men. They eagerly waited for them to exit their teepee, busily playing leap frog and tag as they waited.
They followed behind them, getting closer and closer as the days passed, until the day Heyes and Kid opened their hands by their sides, welcoming a little hand to slip into theirs. Those that were not fortunate to hold their hands, held onto to their arms, mindful of Heyes' injured shoulder, and shirts.
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One day as Kid and Heyes were seated talking, Kid caught a glimpse of a little boy, encouraged by the other children, to get so close he could touch either him or Heyes. Kid met Heyes' eyes as they both smiled. The little boy's hand hovered for a moment before he quickly touched the back of Kid's shirt and quickly ran off to the delighted squeals of the other children.
Skunk settled in next to them, balancing his food on his knee as he laughed.
"Counting koo" Skunk explained. "The Lakota thought embarrassing your enemy was enough and violence wasn't necessary. That's why many times soldiers were hit with sticks and bare hands before the Indians rode off. It was a sign of bravery. But the soldiers didn't play fair... guns versus sticks and hands...Now that ain't fair.
Heyes cocked his head and looked wistful before saying, "I wouldn't have minded if old Red Cloud had smacked me with a stick or his hand instead of an arrow."
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Kid and Heyes held their hands closed, holding them out in front of themselves. They flipped their hands and opened them showing a peppermint candy in each. The children's eyes widened, as they stared at the candy.
"Tell them it's alright." Heyes said to Skunk.
"There's no word for alright in Lakota."
"Then okay." growled Kid
"No word for that either."
"Well dammit Skunk!" said an exasperated Heyes.
"Was'te'" Skunk said, nodding his head towards the candy. The children remained transfixed but made no movement to take the candy.
"Guess that weren't the word neither, Skunk" grumbled Kid.
Skunk tried to show them and took a peppermint, unwrapped it and popped it into his mouth. Finally he took another peppermint and placed it into a small boy's hand, wrapping his fingers around it.
"Pila'maya" Skunk said looking at the candy to Kid.
A smile came to the young boy's face.
"Pila'maya" he said as he quickly unwrapped the candy and placed it in his mouth.
The boy's eyes widened as the peppermint flavor exploded in his mouth. The other children that had been watching, quickly put their hands out saying "pila'maya" in a chorus of little voices. Kid and Heyes couldn't pass the candy out fast enough, before tossing the bag to Skunk to help.
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"Good look for you, Kid," Heyes said with a laugh. "No one would ever believe you were a wanted man." He continued in a whisper.
Kid sat cross-legged while the children placed flowers in his curly hair. A little boy wore Kid's hat which was too big, as he constantly pushed it up away from his eyes. Another child fingered the ornate hatband. They stared without shame at Kid's blue eyes. They were fascinated by them.
Skunk nodded towards the villagers that looked on with approval. "You're making a good impression. Children are Wakanisha...little sacred ones to the Sioux. They are their future and must be protected."
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"Why ain't we leaving?" Kid asked Heyes, as he pulled off a boot. "Appears as if you're healed enough for us to take leave."
"Well Kid you don't want me to risk jeopardizing the healing process. Would you?" Heyes said as he gingerly touched his shoulder and feigned pain.
Kid eyed Heyes suspiciously, "Admit it...you like it here."
Heyes started to formulate a lie but stopped. "I do." He admitted. "It's peaceful. These folks are some of the kindest folks we've ever come across...well...minus the arrow, but that was sure understandable considering the circumstances. Guess I should be thankful Red Cloud didn't take better aim. Not sure where folks get the notion these folks are savages."
"You know why, Heyes. It's easier to lie and steal from them if folks think they're evil savages."
"Could apply to us too Kid. Seems like when a government gets involved ain't going to get an honest deal unless it's to their advantage."
Kid nodded his head in agreement
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"I'm kind of tired of sitting around watching you heal. I'm taking both horses and will be back later." Kid said as he fastened his gun belt and slipped his leather gloves on.
"You ain't telling me where you going?"
"Don't worry-"
"Who said I was worried?"
"I'll be back before sunset. Maybe earlier."
Heyes woke to excited chatter outside. He pushed the flap of the tent open to see Kid ride by with two freshly killed buck across the back of Heyes' horse. Kid handed the reins off to an Indian, then rode towards the makeshift corral and unsaddled his horse, before returning to their tent.
"Thought we should be hospitable and earn our keep."
"Looks like you've been busy
"Champeen tracker my ass," Kid said with a smile.
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After their meal, Skunk approached them, his attention on Kid. Walking by his side was an Indian approximately in his forties, staring at Kid's holstered weapon.
"This is Black Coyote. He was admiring your gun. He was wondering iffing you wouldn't mind showing it to him."
"I'd be glad too."
"He don't hear nothing...he's deaf. Ya get used to him and what he wants with sign and a grunt here and there. Never learnt to speak, being he was born deaf."
Kid smiled and reached for his gun twirling it before handing it to Black Coyote.
Heyes sighed as he rolled his eyes.
"Showoff", he mumbled under his breath.
Black Coyote looked at Kid in amazement. He motioned for Kid to do it again as he handed the gun back. Kid twirled it again.
"I think he would like you to show him how to do it."
"Let him know I'd be glad too. Just need to unload it so we don't have accidents."
Kid showed him how to get used to the balance of the gun.
"Balance is the most important thing. Go ahead, take it and get a good feel for it."
Black Coyote handed the pistol back to Kid and hurried off. Kid and Skunk had questioning looks on their face. Skunk shrugged his shoulders, but then he smiled as he saw Black Coyote exit his teepee holding a rifle. He hurried back to the waiting men and held the gun out for Kid to see. He beamed with pride. It was a new Winchester.
Kid nodded his head, showing his appreciation for the rifle. Black Coyote held the gun out for Kid to take.
"I don't think he's ever let anyone touch that gun. He loves that damn gun."
"It is awful pretty." Kid said as he examined the rifle. He handed it back to Black Coyote and nodded his head, showing him his approval
Black Coyote beamed as he turned to return the gun back to his teepee.
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"Balance is the most important thing. Rest your finger on the side opposite the heavy side." Kid said showing Black Coyote how to hang onto the gun with the trigger guard. The gun hung upside down slightly tilted to the back. "You get used to that and I'll show you more tomorrow."
Black Coyote started to hand the gun back. Kid held his hands up and shook his head.
"Let him know he can keep it to practice."
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At first the Indians only danced several times a week, but the frequency increased to become a daily occurrence, as an increasing tension seemed to wash over the village.
Kid and Heyes could sense the change.
Kid and Heyes found Skunk seated outside the circle watching the nightly dancing. There was a worried look on his face.
"Skunk what's going on? What's with all the dancing?" Heyes asked. There was concern in his voice.
"They are talking about moving them-"
"They who?"questioned Kid.
"Calvary. Government. Murderous bastards. All made from the same cloth"
"To where? Why?"
"Pine Ridge Reservation by Wounded Knee. They don't like them dancing."
"What? That don't make sense." Heyes said. "Move folks off their land for dancing."
"What's left of their land," Skunk said with a bitter laugh. "The treaty set aside over sixty million acres...now it's a little over twelve. Hell the government don't even let the ink dry before they violate the damn piece of paper full of lies. Giving people their own land...Their OWN land!" Skunk shook his head in disgust. "The Lakota followed the buffalo. That's how they lived. Moving from place to place. Not farmers. Hell they don't know nothing about farming. But when the white man killed the buffalo, there was nothing left for my Lakota family and their ways. How are you suppose to become farmers when they constantly move ya? And grow what in this poor excuse for soil? They think nothing of uprooting three hundred moving ain't the problem ...being they are wanderers and don't believe in material possessions but their necessities...It's the living. What are they going to do for food? They are at the mercy of the government who wants nothing better than to steal the land, disarm them and kill them all."
"Can't say we're fond of the government…"
"What was your notion before about Indians?" Skunk looked from Heyes to Kid.
Heyes and Kid exchanged embarrassed looks.
"Bloodthirsty savages…Now you've seen the lie."
Skunk looked at Kid and Heyes, there was deep sorrow on his face. Skunk nodded his head towards the dancing Indians.
"They are dancing the Ghost Dance. Started with an Indian named Wovoka who was raised by whites. He believed if Indians danced and not just the Sioux but all tribes, God would return the land back to what it was before the white man came. Buffalo as far as the eye could see. Dead ancestors would rise. It's a dance of peace. But I'm afraid it's also become a dance of desperation. Desperation that's going to get bloody. You can only push people so far, but they are no match for the white man. The shirts they wear during the Ghost Dance they believe…" Skunk drew in a deep breath, "They truly believe they will deflect bullets."
Kid and Heyes looked at Skunk with an incredulous look on their faces.
"They...they are just cloth...fancy painted cloth shirts," Kid stammered out. "How can they…" He let the question trail off.
"My Indian family does not understand….They are pure. They are innocents, that can't begin to understand how white men think and what laws if any guide them. Even land ownership has no meaning...to them it would be like trying to own a piece of the sky."
Skunk sighed and looked at both men, "I can't say I haven't enjoyed your company, but you boys need to think of moving on. I have a bad feeling about this."
"And you?" asked Kid. There was concern on both their faces.
"This is my family. Whatever their future is, is mine."
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Author's Notes:
If you are enjoying this story I hope you will look further into the fascinating customs and beliefs of the Lakota people. (Counting Koo, Ghost Dances, etc)