THE NIGHT OF THE MISSING CHILDREN

By Andamogirl

WWW

ACT TWO

Fort Brennan infirmary

Feeling something touch his hand, Artie slowly opened his eyes blinking away the blur from his vision. Jim was there, sitting on the edge of the bed – holding his hand, grinning. "Hiya… Jim," he rasped.

Pressing Artie's hand in his, Jim said, "Hi Artie. From now on, I'm not going to let you do a solo mission again – ever! Grant's orders or not. I almost lost you…"

Pressing Jim's hand in return, Artie croaked, "I suppose you talked with Black Wolf. He told you the whole story, right?"

Jim nodded, "Yes, in detail." He saw his partner look around him and added, "You're in the infirmary of Fort Brennan. The doctor knocked you out for two days – because you needed sleep and he, needed quite some time to patch you up. But the Crow Medicine Man did a great job, he told me, without his help you would be long dead. He even used Half-Moon ointment that Black Wolf had brought with him so that your wounds would heal fast and leave no scar. He likes traditional medicine, finds it fascinating."

Pulling himself into a sitting position with a hiss, Artie noticed that he was dressed in white pajamas and feeling a lot better. Intrigued, he asked, "How did you know I was in grave danger?"

Jim chuckled. "The same way you know that I'm in grave danger buddy and come to my rescue, in a wink, just in time before it's too late." Suddenly deadly serious he placed his hand over his heart. "I sensed it, deep inside of me." He smiled. "Besides, it was my turn to save you, Artie. You did rescue me at the beginning of our mission to get the U.S. Constitution back."

Running a hand through his tousled hair Artie smiled back. "I remember. I paid that man with the whip 20 dollars to have the pleasure of making you pay for what you did to me… I mean to the character I was playing, an outlaw, of course."

Jim chuckled. "I loved your false bottle-smoke bomb Artie."

It was Artie's turn to chuckle. "Me too. Ah! It's good to see you Jim, I missed you."

Jim nodded. "I missed you two buddy…" he said and frowned, deeply worried. His partner's was very pale. He looked crumpled and old. He had dark circles under his eyes and his shaggy beard even had a touched of gray in it. That was new. His neck was bandaged as well as his hands and his chest (he could see a small part of the bandage in the V shaped collar of his pajamas top - testimonies of his recent ordeal. And he knew that his legs had been injured too. "I can't believe that I almost lost you…"

The older man smiled trying to dissipate his partner's somber mood. "Bah! That's not the first time. You know that I'm indestructible… I was lucky though… and protected by the Great Spirit. That mountain lion could have killed me, but I was rescued by Black Wolf and Red Eagle. I had a high fever that can cause brain damage, but thanks to Half-Moon, the medicine man, the old noggin' is intact." He rubbed tired eyes and added, "I probably look awful judging by your expression… but I'm okay, I'm just tired…" His stomach growled. "And hungry. He dragged his fingers through his tousled hair again and sniffed his shoulder. "I think I could use a bath… and to shave that itchy beard too."

Reassured, feeling better, Jim tilted his head. "I think you should keep it Artie… It's a natural protection against cold – and it's cold outside, and you look great with a beard believe me."

Artie nodded. "Hmm. Perhaps, but it's scruffy and itches. I prefer a phony beard, they don't itch. I probably look like my last bearded personage, the French-Canadian trapper Bluebeard, less the bushy eyebrows, and I am a bit less dirty than him."

Suddenly there was a knock at the door and it opened a split second later and Colonel Foster entered the room, followed by Black Wolf.

Standing, Jim said, "We have visitors."

Black Wolf bowed his head with respect. "It's good to see you awake, Strong Bear," he said. "I'm pleased to see that you feel better."

Lifting one eyebrow in surprise Foster looked at Artemus. "Strong Bear?"

Smiling Artie said, "It's a long story, Sir."

Foster nodded. "I have sent a telegram to Washington, to Colonel Richmond, telling him what happened to you and about the situation here. Colonel Richmond responded to me." He pulled out a piece of paper from his belt and handed it to Jim.

Taking the message, Jim read, "Proceed according to the assignment. Jim help your partner now that you are there. Greetings from the President. Good luck and be careful." He nodded. "Our orders are clear: the Crow warriors have to go back to the reservation and we have to find out what happened to the children." He looked at Artie, frowning in concern. "Are you up to going?"

Sitting on the edge of the bed, Artie smiled. "Of course. Nothing like two days of uninterrupted sleep." He touched his white pajamas top then looked at the Colonel. "Perhaps could you give me a spare uniform Sir? I don't care about the rank."

Jim grinned. "A simple private uniform will do. It won't be the first time he's been demoted. He wanted to be a general once, and ended up Colonel – of the Mexican Army. Colonel Hernandez Del Valle Santiago y Sandoval, if I remember correctly."

Colonel Foster smiled. "You're an officer of the Secret Service, Mr. Gordon, what's your rank?"

"Major," Artie responded.

The superior officer nodded. "Major Watson will be pleased to give you one of his uniforms, Major. By chance he's exactly your size."

"Lucky me," Artie said. "I finally won't be demoted."

WWW

Later

Still wearing a shaggy beard, he had finally decided to keep, Artemus Gordon joined Jim and Black Wolf, already mounting their horses.

He was dressed in an impeccable blue uniform, on top of which he had put on an officer's overcoat with sleeve braids denoting his officer's rank: two rows for a Major. He was wearing a regular US Army hat and his new gun was holstered in a regular army holster hanging along the yellow stripe down the leg.

He mounted Lockpick a bit stiffly, winced, and said, "Colonel Foster offered me a gun." He said, seeing the two men looking at it with surprise. "It goes with the uniform."

Holding the reins of Blackjack Jim smiled and said, "The last time I saw you in a uniform Artie – I mean a real uniform - not a disguise, was a long time ago."

Stroking his beloved horse between his ears with a gloved hand Artemus smiled. "Yes, you're right. It was after Appomattox, in Washington, before I resigned my commission to go back to the civil life and to the theater. It was raining and cold – and General Grant offered me one of his cigars to warm me up." He kicked his gelding into motion and moved beside the Crow warrior. "We need you to lead us to the reservation as soon as possible," he said. "You know a rapid and safe way I guess."

Black Wolf nodded. "I'm going to lead you there. But…" He lowered his eyes, looking pained and unsettled. "I will be treated like a… traitor by my own people, like an outcast, rejected by my band."

Placing a comforting hand on the Crow's shoulder Artie said, "Don't worry, Black Wolf; I will talk to Black Bear. He's an understanding man. He'll understand what you did and you won't be cast out and rejected by your band, and you will be praised by your people when you have helped me, after Jim and I find the missing children and in doing so stop the bloodshed between the whites and the Crows. But first, he has to call his warriors back to the reservation."

Black Wolf shook his head. "You won't persuade him to do that."

Patting the Crow's arm Artie nodded. "I will. He will listen to me, believe me. Now let's go, we have a long ride ahead of us."

He looked around him – everything was white and the snowfall was getting heavier and faster with each passing minute.

He urged Lockpick into a trot, following his companions already heading towards the gate of the fort – a bad feeling gnawing at him.

WWW

Much later, in a narrow valley

The snow was so thick that the horses were progressing slowly, making a zigzag between rocks and giant firs covered with icicles.

It was still snowing fat, wet flakes, sticking to everything or anyone they touched. The three men looked like living snowmen.

Black Wolf suddenly lifted his hand and stopped his horse. Jim and Artie did the same with their mounts. "There's a river here, deep," he said, making a white vapor cloud in front of his face.

Removing his hat to remove the thick and heavy snowflakes accumulated here, Artemus said, "It must be frozen into ice." Then put his cavalry couvre-chef back in place.

Black Wolf nodded. "I'm going first, to see if the ice can stand the weight of a horse plus his rider. I hope so, otherwise we'll be forced to turn around and take another longer way." Then the Crow warrior took his horse down along a gentle slope.

Brushing snow from his overcoat, Artemus shivered in the cold despite his warm clothes. "I hate the cold. I'm going to ask President Grant to give us assignments in warm climate territories only, next time I see him."

Jim smirked. "You? You hate high temperatures as well. Remember the last time we were in Nevada? You didn't stop complaining about heat, and sand, and dust and you looked like a red lobster riding a horse in a matter of hours."

Smiling Artie looked at Black Wolf gesturing to him. "I have a fair skin and I burn easily – I should try to invent , an ointment or a cream to protect my skin from the sun, like a sun block. I'm not like you, getting a tan every time the sun shines."

Jim chuckled mockingly, "Says the red lobster-man."

Trading smiles they were approaching the frozen river hidden under snow when they heard galloping noises muffled by snow and Indian cries of intimidation.

They turned around and saw a group of Crow warriors heading their way at top speed.

Recognizing Red Eagle, leading the group, Artemus said, "Let's get out of here!" and he kicked the flanks of his horse; Jim following suit.

Both Blackjack and Lockpick were crossing the frozen river with their riders when the ice broke and shattered beneath the bay horse and Artemus Gordon - with no warning.

Frightened Lockpick slid to the side at the same time the large piece of ice tipped and sank under the water. Artie's startled yelp was cut off as he dropped into the freezing river – Lockpick falling on top of him. He was knocked out instantly and then sank beneath the surface like a stone.

Jim immediately dismounted from his black stallion and rushed toward the big hole in the ice where the quarter horse still struggled to stay afloat, thrashing about in a frantic panic, desperately trying to get onto the still solid ice.

But there was no trace of Artemus.

Lockpick was flailing and lunging about, trying to escape the hole in the shattered ice – ice forming again on the surface, rapidly, it was so cold.

Helped by Black Wolf who had joined him, Jim managed to haul the horse out of the water, and then he removed his hat, gloves and coat in a flash and dived into the icy water.

The water was dark under the thick layer of ice and snow, but Artie had sunk in line with the hole and he easily spotted Artie's oxygen bubbles trail.

Finally, he caught Artemus's limp form floating below him to the bottom of the river, arms outstretched toward the surface, bobbing in the underwater current. He reached out, grabbing his partner's shoulder, then he wrapped his arm around Artie's unmoving chest and tugged him along, kicking powerfully, surging as fast as he could for the surface, struggling against his sodden clothes and Artemus' dead weight.

Because he knew that Artie was dead, his thoughts were tinged with a brief instant of pure heart-wrenching sadness, while lunging for the surface, his lungs aching. But it vanished, as he gained hope. He had brought Artie back to life once, after he had drowned, and he would do it again.

Red Eagle and his companions stopped cautiously – and the Crow warrior was the only one to venture carefully onto the frozen river.

Red Eagle looked down at Black Wolf, "I was sure that I would find you here, it's the shortest way to the reservation," he said.

Black Wolf ignored his older brother and knelt beside the large hole in the ice… noticing air bubbles coming to the surface.

He recovered Artie's hat, floating on the water and put it on the ground, beside him.

Suddenly a hand emerged and Black Wolf grabbed it, before pulling.

Jim broke the surface with a gasp, coughing and spluttering freezing water, gulping for air, holding a limp, lifeless Artemus tightly against him.

Red Eagle lifted his eye toward the top of a pine, spotting an eagle perched there. He remembered that Strong Bear was protected by Akbaatatdia. He wasn't a simple white man – wasn't one of the white men he chose to ignore completely.

He slid off his horse and helped his brother to haul the two white men upward onto the solid ice, both completely soaked – and blue-white.

His teeth chattering, the iciness clinging to every inch of him, racked with shivers, Jim knelt down beside an unconscious, lifeless looking Artemus.

He pressed two trembling fingers against his partner's throat.

No pulse. Artie wasn't breathing.

He immediately opened Artie's mouth tilted his head back, pinched his nose shut and placed his lips to those of the unconscious man blue from the cold.

He started breathing for him, blowing air into him, anxiously watching for the rise of Artie's chest as his lungs expanded.

But there was no movement.

Jim repeated the motion a few times, drawing as much air into his own lungs as he could – but Artie still wasn't breathing by his own. He remained motionless, his face slack, so very pale. "No, no, no!" he said through chattering teeth. "Don't die on me buddy, live please, live."

He placed one hand over the other above his partner's sternum, interlocking his fingers, before beginning chest compressions, hard. One, two, three. Then he leaned back down squashing Artie's nose shut before giving him another breath of air.

He lost track of the number of breaths he gave Artemus, coaxing life back into his lifeless body, but didn't stop. He couldn't stop. He couldn't lose the man he loved like he was his own brother.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity Artemus jerked and shuddered. He coughed his way to life, thrashing, his chest heaving, spluttering and vomiting water.

Grinning, immensely relieved and his heart pounding with profound joy, Jim rolled his partner on his side and slapped Artie's back hard as more water rushed out of his mouth. "Yes, that's it Artie! Breathe, breathe, you're safe now."

Then he leaned down, resting his head against Artemus's shoulder, crying with pure undiluted joy and relief. "I brought you back, I brought you back…"

Slowly, Artemus opened his eyes, glazed and confused. He was pale and shaking uncontrollably. Feeling numb he mumbled, "Jim… c-c-cold. M' so c-cold."

Shivering too, Jim wiped his tears with the back of his shaking hand and said, "Yes, I'm cold too." It was so cold that Artie's body and his were soon covered in frost, he noticed. Then he saw that Artie's eyes had lost focus. "Artie!"

Closing his eyes Artie said, "I had a bad fee… ling. I… I…" His teeth were chattering so much that he couldn't speak any longer. He curled himself into a fetal position and then he blacked out.

Black Wolf looked up at his older brother and said firmly, "There's a cave on the other side of the river, we're going to head there. My friends need to warm up. We won't go anywhere until tomorrow morning. Then we will go to the reservation to see Black Bear."

Red Eagle told his men to go back to the camp in the deep forest and they turned back and Black Wolf was surprised. "I was angry at you when I found the tepee empty, Black Wolf – and so was Half-Moon. You had left with Strong Bear. But I realized that we needed more warriors to fight the whites and to find the children. So I headed back to the reservation with ten warriors, taking the shortest way to the reservation, knowing that I would find you here…"

Black Wolf frowned, upset. "And you found us…"

Red Eagle nodded. "Yes, I found you. Black Bear will listen to me – and not Strong Bear, and he'll give me more warriors."

Jim looked up at the two Crow warriors. "I'm sorry to interrupt, but Artie and I we don't want to die from hypothermia. Where's that cave? We need to build a fire."

WWW

Later in the cave

Black Wolf started a fire with the help of a pile of broken branches he had picked up on the ground, knocked down by heavy snow, and a box of matches Jim had in his saddle bag.

His fingers still numbed by cold, Jim clumsily removed Artemus's soaked gloves and boots, then the rest of his waterlogged and frozen stiff clothes one by one, dropping them to the ground, revealing the older man's frozen white skin, , almost a little blue even. Then he rubbed his best friend's head through Blackjack's saddle blanket before starting to dry him off rubbing back and forth softly until his entire body was dry, then he wrapped the shivering naked man in Black Wolf's long, warm saddle blanket. He put one of Artemus's arms around his neck, then slowly pulled him upright and then carried him and laid him beside the flames.

He rubbed Artie's whole white body energetically, with his insensitive hands until he could feel them again thanks to the vigorous friction.

Black Wolf then helped Jim to get rid of his own soaked and frozen clothes, and when the other man was naked, he tucked his elder brother's colored saddle blanket around Jim.

Jim gave a violent shiver. "Thanks."

Black Wolf smiled and then he began dry Jim off.

Sitting cross-legged as close as possible to the fire, huddling in the slightly wet blanket; Jim looked down at his partner who was still passed out.

Artie was so white (except his lips and ears which were blue) he looked like a ghost.

Black Wolf took the dripping clothes and spread them on the ground haphazardly beside the fire before sitting on a flat rock close to Jim. "He's going to be alright," he said. "You saved his life… I had never seen anyone bring a man to life like that."

Still looking at Artie's prone form Jim said, "It's called CPR. CPR stands for cardiopulmonary resuscitation. At least I didn't break his ribs this time, like I did the first time."

Red Eagle, sitting on the ground next to the mouth of the cave, his rifle on his lap was surprised. "You already saved his life that way?"

Moving his hands close to the flames, Jim nodded. "Yes, he had drowned in the Mississippi River, trapped in the cargo hold of a sinking showboat, but I managed to bring him back to life."

They heard a moan coming from Artemus and he opened his eyes.

He frowned, puzzled seeing a forest of very old stalactites over him. He turned his head to the left, slowly, blinking, feeling warmth. "I'm… in Hell?" he croaked watching the flames.

Smiling, Jim placed a comforting hand on his best friend's face, in a brotherly gesture. "No, you're still among the living, you're still alive."

Still frowning Artie remembered the ice shattering and giving way – he remembered falling into the icy river, his horse falling too – on top of him. His head hurt, then nothing. He had lost consciousness and... his features froze. He looked up at Jim, ghastly, heart pounding in his chest, horrified. "I drowned!" Then he breathed out a sigh of relief.

His face somber, Jim nodded. "Yes you did, again… I'm sorry." He patted his partner's shoulder in a comforting gesture. "But I brought you back using CPR, again. You're going to be fine." Feeling numbness vanishing from his hands he added, "And before you ask, Lockpick is fine."

Black Wolf reached over to add another branch to the fire and then helped Artie to sit after he tried to prop himself on his elbows – and failed. "Thank you Black Wolf," he said.

Artemus finally noticed that he was naked again, save a blanket protecting his middle. He noticed too that Jim, naked like him had a blanket wrapped around his hips as well. He smiled. "I think that I'm going to spend half of this mission being stripped naked – and cold." A shiver pulsed through his body and like Jim, he drew his trembling hands to the blazing fire. "Boy! That feels good. I'm starting to feel my legs and arms again…" He offered a large grateful smile to Jim. "I would have died under that ice if it wasn't for you. Thank you Jim, you saved my life again."

Smiling broadly too Jim said, "It's was a pleasure." Then he glanced at an armed Red Eagle sitting next to the mouth of the cave. "Are we prisoners?"

Red Eagle shook his head. "No, the rifle is in case a wild beast enters here for protection from the cold night coming." He glanced outside at the moonlit night then back at Strong Bear. "I will ride with you to the reservation. I will ask Black Bear to give me more warriors to fight white people and to search for the missing children. He'll accept."

Keeping President Grant's promise to Black Bear to him as an ace up his sleeve Artie nodded. "We'll see," he said.

Outside a snow storm was building up as the temperature continued to drop, degree by degree. It had to be below freezing by then.

WWW

The next afternoon, at the Crow settlement

On the south side of the Yellowstone, near Otter Creek

Montana Territory

Black Bear left his tepee.

The two special agents were very surprised to see that the Chief of the Crows had gray hair so long it trailed on the ground. He was wearing an eagle feather headdress and was wrapped in a large robe made from the furred hide of a buffalo, the hair inside.

He was followed by a tall and slender woman, about 40 years old, dressed in men's clothes: breechcloth with leather leggings and a buckskin shirt.

Like Black Bear she was wearing moccasins on her feet.

But she had added a feminine touch to her fringed shirt, Artemus noticed. It was decorated with porcupine quills, beadwork and elk teeth.

She had five eagle feathers in her braided hair.

He couldn't help but notice that she was beautiful and felt his pulse accelerate as he was instantly attracted to her.

Then, puzzled he frowned. Only great warriors wore eagle feathers in their hair. He noticed that she was tall, athletic and had a knife and a tomahawk slid in her belt. 'A female warrior?' he thought. Then he remembered that sometimes a Crow woman, especially a widow, might ride into battle with the men or even become the chief of the warriors and even the leader of theirs bands. The woman had five eagle feathers in her braided hair. He knew then, that that woman was the chief of the warriors.

She addressed a blinding smile to him and a blush heated his cheeks.

Red Eagle and Black Wolf slid off their horses gracefully and headed toward the couple.

Bowing their heads in respect in front of the old Chief, the two warriors then hugged the warrior- woman and she wrapped them in her arms with a love, smiling.

Black Wolf turned around and gestured toward the two white men standing beside their horse. "Mother, these men are my friends, James West and Artemus Gordon. They're both special agents working for the President of the United States." He paused and took the woman's hand in his. "My friends, this is my mother, White Crow, the chief of the Crows's warriors – and Black Bear's daughter."

Jim was very surprised and opened his eyes wide. Artie wasn't, because he had guessed it and he smiled back to White Crow.

White Crow's smile broadened. "You're not the first white men to have that reaction. Yes, I'm a woman – but I'm the best at horse riding, marksmanship, and before we came here, to the reservation, with my warriors, I raided Blackfoot settlements, taking off many horses and many scalps as I am a redoubtable warrior. I can show them to you, if you want. I was feared by my enemies."

Removing his hat politely Artie said," I'm charmed, Madame… I mean White Crow." He smiled again, trying not to blush again like a young boy having a crush on his lovely teacher.

Imitating his partner Jim said, "It's a pleasure."

Black Wolf excited to tell his mother said, "Artemus is an adoptive Comanche warrior and protected by Akbaatatdia. He was marked by the dúuptakoische, sacred messenger between the One Who Has Made Everything – Maker of All Things Above. I saw the scars on his back."

Red Eagle nodded. "I saw them too."

The warrior-woman was very surprised, very impressed then she bowed her head with respect. She moved toward Artemus and touched his overcoat. "I heard about the great Comanche warriors… I didn't know they could adopt white men as warriors."

Smiling Artie said, "It's a long story."

She moved into Artemus's personal space, finding him handsome and intriguing. "I hope to hear it soon. It's the first time I met a 'white Comanche'…in fact, it's the first time I met a Comanche."

Their eyes locked.

She touched the bandage around Artemus's neck as she moved into his personal space. "You are hurt…" She said, brushing his hairy jawline with her fingertips.

He waved a hand in a dismissive gesture, blushing again as he felt White Crow press herself against him. "That's nothing… just a scratch."

Jim rolled his eyes for a couple of seconds as Artie and White Crow were flirting openly, now holding hands, looking at each other, their lips mere inches apart, visibly attracted to each other.

Oblivious to the others.

Clearing his throat, focused on his assignment, he said, "Black Bear, we are here on a mission. We'd like to talk with you, it's important."

Red Eagle took a step forward looking at his grand-father. "Don't listen to them. They want to persuade you to bring me and my men back to the reservation. They pretend that they will find the children themselves and bring them back here. If I came back it's to ask you for reinforcements, Black Bear. I need more warriors. I need more warriors to fight against the whites who want to stop us and to extend our search outside of the reservation, on their lands."

Frowning, Jim looked at his best friend who seemed as if hypnotized by the female warrior. White Crow was under his charm too. He noticed their fingers brushed, and that they were so close to each other that their noses were almost touching.

Those two had fallen in love at first sight of each other.

He rolled his eyes again. Mission first, flirting after. "Artie!" he called, snapping his fingers twice.

Surprised Artermus jumped like a boy caught with his hand in the cookie jar by his mother. "What?... Oh! Er… yes." He took a step back, reluctantly parting from the Crow woman, mouthed "sorry" to her, White Crow nodding, and joined Jim. "We'd like to talk to you."

Black Bear nodded and entered his tepee, immediately followed by White Crow, Red Eagle, Black Wolf and finally by Jim and by Artemus. They took places on the buffalo-hide seats which were arranged around the edge of the tepee, with a fireplace in the center. The big fire gave off a very appreciable warmth which contrasted with the icy air outside.

Jim lifted his eyes following the smoke from the fire. It was escaping through a hole or smoke-flap in the top of the tepee.

Black Bear looked at Artemus and said, "It's good to see you again, Major Gordon. The last time we met was during that peace treaty between me and my warriors and the Lakota war chief Little Fox and his warriors, at Fort Laramie."

Artie nodded. "Yes, and we spent the whole night talking about the Crows… I was fascinated by Indians and I'm still fascinated by them."

Black Wolf nodded and smiled. "And you're a Comanche now."

Pulling his gloves off, Artie shook his head. "I'm only an adoptive Comanche, Black Bear; I'm not a Comanche in the strict sense. To be recognized as a Comanche I would have to mingle my blood with that of a Comanche and I didn't." He paused glancing at White Crow, devouring him with her eyes. He blushed again, but as it was dim inside the tepee, it didn't show, and added, " I bring you the greetings of the President of the United States, Black Bear. President Grant, through me, promises you two things, if you call your warriors back in order to avoid further incidents out of the reservation with the settlers and with the soldiers. First that I will – I mean that Jim and I will find the missing children and bring them back here, safe and sound, and two, that he will give you more long horn cattle to replace the buffalos which have been killed during the latest conflicts – and to replace the deers and the elks that are vanishing too, killed by white men outside the reservation."

Red Eagle frowned, upset, and he said, "Don't accept! We have to find our children ourselves. They are Crows, like us. White men don't have to interfere." He glared at Artemus and added, "And you don't need more cattle! The buffalos returned to our lands."

Raising his hand Artemus declared solemnly, "Jim and I will find them and I will bring them back here. I promise, Black Bear."

Black Bear nodded. "I need time to think about this."

Red Eagle protested. "They can't find the children! How could two men do what 20 warriors weren't able to do? Listen to me…"

White Crow's intervened, "Black Bear will take his decision later. Everyone out!"

Everyone but Black Bear stood and left the tepee.

It was snowing and it was starting to get dark.

White Crow took Artemus's hand in hers. "Come to my tepee for the night."

Blushing, once again, Artie said, "But your husband…"

She smiled. "He's dead. He died a long time ago in a battle against Blackfoot warriors. I'm a widow. Come with me."

Still hesitating Artie said, "But your father, Black Bear…"

Placing her hand on Artie's chest White Crow chuckled. "He has not been interested in my private life since I lost my husband Bear Paw."

Black Wolf smiled, amused, and placed his hand on Jim's arm. "Come to my brother's and my tepee for the night. Don't worry; he's safe with my mother."

His smiled broadened as he thought that his mother was happy again – something that hadn't happened since his father's death.

He knew that Strong Bear would leave, but his mother would at least be happy again for a few hours, it was better than nothing. He was happy for her.

WWW

Later under White Crow's tepee

Both sitting cross-legged in front of each other, on a nest of blankets, Artemus Gordon and White Crow were busy tracing their faces… exploring.

The big fire was roaring and crackling beside them, warming them up, its light casting a warm glow over their features.

The rest of the tepee was in shadows.

They were totally oblivious of the storm raging outside, of the wind which roared and howled, tearing through the night, rattling and banging against the solid tepee.

White Crow brought up her hand and ran her fingertips lightly over Artemus's cheek wondering if the beard would scratch or be soft.

She gently stroked Artie's scruffy facial hairs, feeling the thick but short beard, digging her fingers into it. It was prickly beneath her fingertips.

She smiled and broke the kiss. "I like your beard. Men of my tribe shave their faces," she said, as she tangled her fingers in the curls of Artie's raven hair.

Brushing the woman's cheek with his knuckles in return, Artie said, "I usually shave my face too. But I left my shaving kit on the Wanderer and there's no barber shop between Denver and here, plus it keeps my face warm and Jim thinks I look great with it."

The Indian woman nodded. "He's right. You're very handsome." She touched the epaulettes on his uniform displaying his rank: a gold oak leaf for a major. "It's the first time I bring a white man, a soldier, here in my tepee…"

Smiling Artemus looked around him, noticing the spears, and hide shields leaning against the walls of the tepee, along with a pile of wood to keep the fire going throughout the night. He noticed several scalps hanging here and there on the buffalo-hide walls.

He was impressed. She was a redoubtable warrior indeed, he thought.

Then he looked again at the beautiful Indian woman. "It's the first time I find myself in the company of a woman who's a redoubtable warrior, and the chief of the Crow warriors."

Embracing, they kissed, softly. The hairs scratched at White Crow's skin lightly and she loved the new experience. It was rough but agreeable.

They kissed at a slow pace, enjoying every second of it.

Then White Crow decided to take action. With her hand she cupped the back of Strong Bear's neck, pulling him closer, hard, their lips mashing together in a bruising kiss a split second later, drawing a groan from the white man.

When Artie's tongue probed tentatively at White Crow's lips, she parted them, and Artemus's tongue slipped into her mouth, tasting her.

She moaned, her hands digging into his shoulders and she deepened the kiss.

Finally they parted, breathing hard. Artie scratched his itchy jaw and then playfully ran his bearded cheeks on the underside of White Crow's neck, eliciting goose bumps on his way.

She chuckled and started to unbutton his jacket. "I want to see the marks left by dúuptakoische, sacred messenger between the One Who Has Made Everything – Maker of All Things Above." Once he was down to his shirt, she unbuttoned it in its turn. Then she unbuttoned the top of Artie's long, warm, underwear, rendering him naked from the waist up.

White Crow ran her fingers across Artemus's broad shoulders, then touched the bandage-covered well-formed chest, maintained by a large band. "You're hurt here too, what happened?"

He sighed. "A mountain lion attacked me in the mountains. Your sons chased it away and they saved my life. Half-Moon healed my wounds."

White Crow moved behind him and traced the scars left by the eagle reverently – at least those not hidden by the band. "Did it hurt when the eagle marked you?" then she roamed her fingertips over the tattoo Artemus had on his lower back. "Your tattoo is beautiful…"

He moaned.

She smiled. "It pleases you that I do this…"

He nodded blushing a little. "Yes. The skin is very sensitive … since I was tattooed there. I love it when a woman touches it…" His cheeks returning to their normal color, he added, "To answer your question, I didn't feel anything because I was unconscious at the time. As for my tattoo, it did hurt, a lot. the Medicine Man hand-tapped the black dye – made with animal charcoal produced by charring animal bones – into my skin using sharp stone needles. Then, he removed the dye mixed with my blood with a cloth and the black eagle appeared on my skin… I did my best not to show it was torture, and they appreciated my efforts. For the Comanche, tattooing is part of a process to emphasise in warriors the endurance of pain; and pain they believe brings a closer association with the creator god known as 'Big Father', most commonly identified with the sun. This black eagle is a highly symbolic tattoo and it's linked to religious beliefs. It's a mark of distinction and honor too…"

Feeling White Crow's fingers trailing up and down his spine, Artemus flinched away and pivoted, facing the Crow woman again.

He sighed, ill at ease and said, "Listen, White Crow, I wouldn't want to be impolite, rude, but… "

She kissed his brow in a reassuring gesture. "I know what you're going to tell me. You don't want me. I understand. You're not ready. I know that white men court women, to take their time, get to know the other person before making love… " She roamed her fingers over his bare abdomen drawing random lazy patterns against his soft skin. "We, Crow, have a more direct approach."

Smiling Artemus nodded. "I gathered that. I'm a gentleman, White Crow. I don't make love with woman two minutes after having met her – my mother did not raise me so, and I respect women too much for that - even if she's a pretty woman and I'm really attracted to her." Then he kissed her lips.

She smiled broadly. "You think I'm pretty?"

Caressing White Crow's neck delicately, he nodded. "Yes, you're a very pretty woman and a hell of a warrior, White Crow," he said. "You're not… disappointed?"

The Indian woman shook her head. "No, I understand your reasons and… we're going to see each other again and we can get to know each other better."

So they kissed, and touched, but it didn't go much past that.

Tbc.