Chapter 2

Lou had been traveling for just over a week alone on a horseback across the open plains. It may not have been the smartest of moves all things considered. The cramps that suddenly hit her had her doubling over in the saddle from the pain. This pain was worse than any of her monthly cramps had ever been. Lou cried out in pain as another cramp hit her, something was wrong it wasn't time for her monthly but then she had never been real regular and she couldn't remember when the last one was, but this, this was different.

Lou urged her horse towards the tree she could see in the distant beside a small creek, she made it there just as another cramp hit her with such intensity that she fell from the saddle and landed hard on the ground gasping. Lou dragged herself to the tree, blood traveling down her leg and she knew what was happening. She was miscarrying a baby she didn't even know she had been pregnant with when she left the brothel. She was bleeding bad and she was alone. She knew she was going to die. Lou wailed out in pained before slipping into darkness.

Lou was vaguely aware of muffled voices around her but she couldn't understand what was being said. There was strange smell in the air that was somewhat familiar but she couldn't place it. It was hot wherever she was and she could feel the blankets ... no not blankets, furs covering her. The voices were becoming clearer but she didn't understand the words spoken. She cracked an eye open just making out the animal skin walls, she opened her eyes all the way to see two women and one man talking in hushed voices near her, Indians, she just didn't know which tribe. She groaned as she shifted and their eyes locked onto her.

The man, who was clearly the medicine man, spoke to her but Lou didn't understand the language.

"I don't understand," Lou spoke and signed using the signs Buck had taught her long ago to be able to speak to Ike.

The Indians were clearly surprised she knew the signs. "You lost the child." the medicine signed.

"I know. How long have I been here? Where am I?" She signed and asked.

"You have been here three days in our village." one of the woman spoke in surprisingly good English.

"You speak English! Where am I exactly, what tribe is this?" Lou asked.

"You do not need to know where you are but we are Lakota." the same woman spoke.

"When will I be able to leave?" Lou asked.

"You won't." the woman said before leaving with the others.

Lou broke down and cried when she was left alone. She knew that she would never see Emma and Sam now. She'd never get to leave this village, and if she did it would be in trade to another village. She knew that much. She would be someone's property for the rest of her life. She cried for the new start she would never get. She cried for the family she would never see again. She cried for the babe she didn't even know she had been carrying. And finally she cried for herself.

Three days later Lou was moved out of the medicine tent and into a tent with an elderly woman who was to teach her the language and the way of life. She would then be given to one of the men in the village if they wanted her and if not she would be sold or traded to another tribe or some of the few others that traded with the tribe. Lou hoped that if she didn't learn the ways of the tribe that the men wouldn't want her, but then that could backfire too. She could be given to a worse group. So far she had been treated decently enough but she didn't want to be owned by anybody. In the end Lou thought it would be in her best interest to do everything she was told and learn as best as she could and just hope for the best. And for the next two years Lou did just that.

For two years Lou had worked to learn the ways of the Lakota and their language. During that time she had been treated with respect and had formed bonds of friendship with the women of the village but none of the men. In fact none of the men in the village even paid her any attention at all and with the time coming up for her to be given to one of them she asked one of the women that had become her friend.

"Little Feather," Lou said softly to the first friend she had made in the village.

"Yes Weeping Doe?" Little Feather asked Lou.

"My time for learning is almost up, yet none of the men in the village have shown any interest in me." Lou stated quietly, almost embarrassed to acknowledge such a thing.

"I have noticed and am not surprised." Little Feather responded.

"Why? Am I not pretty enough? What will happen if none in the village want me?" Lou asked quickly.

"Weeping Doe, you are very pretty. Many of the men have said as much. But they all know that your womb rejected a baby. They do not want a woman who might not give them sons. As to what will happen, you will most likely be traded to another tribe." Little Feather explained.

"I see ...I ... excuse me." Lou said before rushing away.

Little Feather watched her friend go. She knew that Weeping Doe really didn't want to be given to one of the men in the village but the thought of what could happen to her in another tribe scared her. She knew that she would be treated well here, she did not have that guarantee in one of the other villages. Little Feather thought on it a little before she went to speak with the chief, her husband.

"Wife. What brings you to my side with such a long face?" Silver Fox asked his wife.

"It is Weeping Doe. She worries about what will happen to her now that her time of learning is almost over. She knows the men of the village do not want her." Little Feather said to her husband.

"I know. I have thought much on what to do with your friend. I will not force her onto one of the men knowing she might not give them sons. But she can not stay in the village." Silver Fox said to his wife.

"I have thought about it. Perhaps instead of trading her to another tribe, might one of the whites take her, perhaps the one caught between two worlds." Little Feather suggested.

"Perhaps ... but he has never shown interest in trading for women." Silver Fox stated, "But I will at least try."

"Thank you my husband." Little Feather said giving his cheek a kiss before leaving to attend to her work.

Silver Fox watched his wife walk away with a smile. He looked over to where he had seen Weeping Doe run earlier. Most of the women in the village ignored the horses but not her, she spent most evenings there. He learned that watching the horses comforted her. He rose to his feet and walked to where she stood watching them now, tears running down her face from her large doe like eyes.

Lou looked up at the chief when he stopped next to her. "You're sending me away."

"Yes. I am sorry. I shall trade you with one of the whites if they will take you." Silver Fox stated, a hand on her shoulder before walking away.

Lou didn't know what was worse, what could happen in another village or what one of those burly wild white men that traded with the Lakota could do to her. She would have no chance of escaping another tribe but her chances of escaping one of the white men was slim. The few that traded with the tribe seemed to real reclusive and judging by the state of their dress they where more or less wild. Lou felt the tears fall freshly down her face, it seemed all she did since coming to the Lakota was cry thus truly earning her name. Lou knew she would just have to be brave, she would survive this somehow.