Author's notes: Hi, readers. Here's chapter five of "Not an Afterthought." This chapter features some Tokalah/Anna and Sarah/OC. It introduces Ope. It shows the reunion between Tokalah, Anna, and Sarah with someone else mixed in. It was a while in coming, but it was well worth it. Stay tuned for chapter six.
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Chapter 5: The Return/Tearful Reunion
Tokalah and Anna rode Peta and Thunderbolt into the middle of the village in the late morning. They dismounted them with loud grunts. They handed the reins to a young woman, who guided the horses away. Peta and Thunderbolt whinnied in a soft manner. The couple began walking together. Anna folded her hands and laid them on her lap. She looked up at Tokalah, a big smile forming on her face.
"I really enjoyed our ride this morning," she said.
"Me too," he agreed. "Of course, Peta and Thunderbolt had to spend thirty minutes drinking from a water hole while we were on the way back."
"Well, they were thirsty," Anna pointed out truthfully.
"Yes, they were," Tokalah said with a nod. "If only they would drink for a few minutes."
"When you got to drink, you got to drink," Anna said, tightening her hands somewhat. "Isn't that right?"
"Yes," Tokalah said and cleared his throat. "Yes."
Tokalah and Anna came a stop when they spotted Cetan, Kihi, and Ohola. Cetan had Maste in his arms. He smiled at the couple as she babbled and chewed on her fist. He and his friends stopped before them.
"It is good to see you two home," Cetan said warmly.
"It is good to see you, Kihi, and Ohola too, Cetan," Tokalah responded and winked at him.
"Was Maste a good baby for you?" Anna wondered.
"She was wonderful," Cetan admitted.
"She 'talked' a little bit," Ohola commented while waving her hands in the air. "We did not 'understand' a thing she said."
"Why am I not surprised?" Tokalah asked and made a funny noise.
"Who would be?" Kihi said, a giggle leaving her mouth.
"I would like to have her, Cetan," Anna said, waving her hand toward herself.
"Sure, Anna," Cetan agreed and handed the baby to her. "Here you go."
Anna cradled Maste against her shoulder. She took her hand and laid it on her cheek. Maste looked at her and hit it very lightly twice. She reached for her hair and took hold of it. She pulled on it. Anna laughed, grabbing it and pulling it out of her grasp. She patted her back.
"We don't pull on hair, honey," Anna scolded playfully. "No, we don't."
"She is at the age where she is testing her strength," Tokalah pointed out truthfully. "We can't really stop her."
"I know," Anna admitted. "She should pull on toys, not hair. She can pull some hair out if she does it too hard."
"That is true," Tokalah agreed.
"Still, she is such a precious baby," Anna said, kissing her daughter's cheek. "Yes, she is."
Maste laughed when her mother blew a raspberry on her cheek. She got even louder when Anna lifted her high and repeated her action on her stomach. Anna brought her downward. Maste placed her hands on Anna's cheeks. She babbled while hitting them gently.
"Yes. Those are Mommy's cheeks," Anna cooed.
"Can you say cheek?" Tokalah asked and touched his wife's shoulder. He smiled when Maste babbled. "I thought so."
Anna looked at her husband. "Would you like to hold her?"
Tokalah held out his hands. "I would love to."
Anna handed Maste to Tokalah, who made eye contact with her. He made funny noises and stuck out his tongue. He moved it from side to side. Maste smiled and reached for it, but he pulled it back into his mouth. She stopped smiling while putting her hand down.
"I am sorry, but tongues are not for playing with," Tokalah apologized. He raised an eyebrow when Maste seemed to huff. "Don't give me that tone, young lady." He growled playfully. "You better not."
"Tell it like it is, Tokalah," Anna said and gave him a light punch to the arm.
"Better yet, I will do this," Tokalah said and lifted Maste high. He pulled a raspberry on her stomach. She squealed with great delight. She got louder when he repeated his action. He brought her down to his eye level. "You really love that, huh?"
"She sure does," Cetan admitted. "It is amazing how much she looks like both of you."
Tokalah chuckled. "We know."
"If only Manippi and Cami Milla could be here to see Maste," Kihi said, a frown forming on her face. "They would have loved her, especially Cami Milla. She enjoyed being around children so much."
"It stinks they are not here anymore. We must be grateful for the Lakota who did survive General Custer's attack," Tokalah commented.
Anna nodded in agreement. "That is right. I could have been in big trouble if I had still been with Daniel when I learned I was pregnant. Thank God that did not happen."
Cetan cringed. "Husbands have never looked kindly on wives who were bearing children not belonging to them."
"Sometimes, those women don't have a choice," Kihi whispered, looking at him.
"Right," Cetan agreed with a nod.
Ohola pressed her lips together. "You are one of us now, Cetan. You will always be."
"Thank you," Cetan responded gratefully.
Ohola nodded at the boy, who smiled at her. Footsteps caught the group's attention. It turned to see thirty-year-old Ope and twenty-two-year-old Canoni coming its way. Tokalah rubbed Maste's back before giving it a gentle pat. He kissed her cheek and cradled her against his shoulder. The duo stopped before the group.
Ope took a deep breath. He resembled Luta, but he was around Tokalah's height and possessed a muscular frame. His long black hair was in two braids. The backs of his hands contained scars going across them. His brown eyes had slight bags underneath them. His cheeks had freckles with some merging with each other.
Canoni ran his hand over his face before exhaling sharply. He was slightly taller than Tokalah was. He was not as muscular as Ope was. His long black hair was braided down his back. His dark brown eyes contained scars below them. The palms of his hands had scars going across them. He folded them and placed them against his lap.
"Chief Ope, it is good to see you and Canoni," Tokalah greeted.
"It is good to see you and Anna too, Tokalah. How was your ride?" Ope asked.
"It was wonderful," Anna admitted and smiled.
"That's good," Canoni responded and chuckled softly.
"So, what brings you two here?" Tokalah wondered.
"There is something we need to tell you," Ope said, seriousness lining his voice. "Canoni spotted a wagon and a white couple gathered around a campfire. One of them looked familiar to him. She had curly brown hair and blue eyes. She was wearing a dress similar to the one she was wearing when we took her. The man looked very unfamiliar. He is tall and has blond hair and blue eyes. He appears to be her husband."
"That must be Sarah!" Anna blurted out in shock. "The last time I saw her, she announced she was marrying a banker from St. Louis."
"What are they doing out here?" Tokalah wondered.
"They must be on vacation and decided to come to this area," Anna suggested. "I would like to go see her."
"I do not know if that is a good idea. The man might shoot you on sight if he sees you are wearing Lakota clothing," Canoni warned.
"I am not scared. I haven't seen my friend in so long. I think she would be happy to see me," Anna said. "Please. She should know that I am doing well here."
Ope and Canoni looked at each other. They were not comfortable with Anna going out, but they admitted she was right. She deserved to see Sarah and let her know she was alive and well. They remembered pranks they played on her, especially the latter. They nodded at her after turning back to her.
"Okay, Anna. You can go see Sarah as long as you take Tokalah and Canoni with you," Ope relented.
"Thank you. That will be fine," Anna said in relief.
Tokalah waved his hand toward himself. "Come on, Canoni. Let's get ready."
Canoni chuckled. "I am ready when you are, Tokalah."
Tokalah handed Maste to Cetan. Cetan and his friends watched him, Anna, and Canoni walk away. He started talking about the first time the baby spit up on him.
00000
Louis and Sarah were eating the last pieces of their bacon at their wagon an hour later. They chewed quickly and swallowed. They gulped in a quiet way. They put their plates on the ground. She rubbed her stomach with both hands and sighed in great content. Piper and Raphael nibbled on each other's backs. They emitted soft snorts.
"That was the best breakfast I have had in a long time," she said.
"It sure was," he agreed and patted his stomach. "I enjoy bacon being cooked on a stove, but a campfire is better."
"The trick is to avoid eating the bacon and eggs after they just got done cooking," Sarah said, laying her hands in her lap. "They are really hot when they just come out of the skillet."
"I believe the iron skillet will be in use in the future," Louis said, crossing his arms.
"You think so?" Sarah asked, looking at him with curiosity.
"Yes," Louis responded, nodding fast. "They are very durable. Not even a twister can destroy them." He rubbed his nose. "I am not sure how the stove will look in the future, though."
"Maybe there will still be wood stoves," Sarah suggested softly.
"That is rather likely," Louis commented and emitted a soft snort. "Wood is rather cheap, even for poor families. Of course, we have no idea how the economy will be at that time."
Unbeknownst to the couple, Tokalah peered over the top of the first of three large nearby boulders. Anna and Canoni were crouched behind the second and the third ones. He observed Louis tickling Sarah's side. He listened to her laughing. He couldn't help but smile. He crouched back down and looked at Anna.
"Sarah looks really happy with her husband," Tokalah whispered warmly.
"I am so glad," Anna replied, smiling.
"He is very handsome," Tokalah said, placing his hand on the boulder.
Anna held up a finger. "She described him being that way."
"Let's draw her over here, so she can see you," Canoni suggested with a smirk.
"How do you plan to do that?" Anna wondered.
"That is a good question," Tokalah admitted.
Canoni chuckled. "You will see."
Canoni placed his hands in a circle over his mouth. He imitated a pronghorn's call. Piper and Raphael looked up with curious whinnies. Louis stopped tickling Sarah with a gasp. They scanned their surroundings, but they did not see anything.
"It sounds like pronghorns are nearby," Sarah said in an annoyed voice.
"It sure does," Louis agreed. He jumped to his feet and went to the back of the wagon. He did not see his wife getting up and walking away. He grabbed his rifle. "Of course, it does not pay to take chances. It could be a trap." He peered at her going over to the third boulder in the corner of his eyes. "Sarah, what in the hell are you doing?"
Sarah got closer and closer to the boulder. She did not see a bow being put in her path. She cried out when she tripped. She fell on her stomach. She looked up to see Canoni, who stared down at her with a big smile on his face.
"Gotcha, Sarah!" Canoni announced.
"Canoni!" Sarah yelled annoyingly. She grabbed a handful of dirt and threw it at him. "I should've known! You were known as the big joker of the village Anna and I stayed in along with Ope!" She realized something. "Hey, how are you speaking English? I don't remember you doing that."
"I decided to learn it from Anna when she returned to us," Canoni admitted as she rose to her feet.
"Sarah, are you okay?" Louis wondered, coming to her side. He jumped back when he looked at the Lakota. He kept his rifle steady as Canoni held up his hands. "Who in the hell are you?"
"Louis, this is Canoni. He was one of the Lakota that I knew during my captivity. He is known to be a joker. He just played a prank on me by putting a bow in my path," Sarah explained. "That's why I yelled out."
"Oh. I am still uncertain about him," Louis responded, narrowing his eyes at him.
"Canoni, you said you learned English from Anna?" Sarah asked.
"Yes, I did," Canoni said proudly. "In fact, she and Tokalah are right here with me."
"Where?" Sarah wondered.
Canoni stepped aside, revealing Tokalah and Anna. They rose to their feet. Sarah put her hand over her mouth, a shocked gasp leaving it. Anna formed a big smile on her face.
"Anna?" Sarah whispered.
"It's me, Sarah," Anna responded, a tear falling from her eye. "It's me."
Sarah choked back a sob and went to her friend to throw her arms around her. Anna hugged her back, a sniffle coming from her. Tokalah tried not to smile, but he could not help himself. Louis tilted his head, his heart skipping a beat. The women broke apart after ten seconds.
"I can't believe it is you! You look so wonderful!" Sarah yelled excitedly.
Anna giggled. "Tokalah has been taking very good care of me."
"She has been an excellent wife," Tokalah said, coming to her side.
"You're married now?" Sarah asked surprisingly. "By the way, it is good to see you, Tokalah."
"It is good to see you too, Sarah," Tokalah responded with a nod. "Anna's old life was left behind the second she returned to us. We married not long after she started her new life with us. We even had a little wedding similar to her previous one. She wore a white version of her outfit. We recited vows in our language."
"Even after leaving Daniel, some traces of your old life remain, Anna," Sarah said amazingly.
Tokalah nodded in agreement. "It will never be completely gone, but she is one of us forever now."
"Tokalah has been a wonderful husband. We are parents to a little girl named Maste now," Anna announced happily.
Canoni cleared his throat. "It means sunny in Lakota."
"So, you were pregnant when you returned to Daniel," Louis commented, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes," Anna admitted. "I am sure Sarah told you everything about me and our time with my tribe."
Louis nodded at her. "She did. The name is Louis Charleston."
"I am Anna," Anna said, holding out her hand. She smiled at his taking it and shaking it. "It is nice to meet you." She glanced at Tokalah. "This is Tokalah."
"It is nice to meet you," Tokalah said.
"It is nice to meet you too, Tokalah," Louis whispered and pressed his lips together.
Sarah giggled. "I would like to meet Maste."
"Darling, I don't know if we should—" Louis started.
"Please, Louis. I want to see Tokalah and Anna's daughter," Sarah pleaded. "I would like to see Kami Milla and Manippi too."
"Sarah, I hate to tell you this, but Manippi and Kami Milla are dead," Anna said sadly. "They were killed in General Custer's attack on the village along with Chief Luta and many others."
Sarah put her hand over her mouth as she gasped in shock. She walked away, tears shining in her eyes. Anna came to her side, touching her shoulder. Louis began to feel some sympathy for them.
"I can't believe General Custer broke his word," Sarah mumbled and looked at Anna. "He said he would leave the Lakota alone if we went back."
"I know," Anna agreed. "Unfortunately, he decided to go after them, anyway."
"I may have hated living in the village, but I can't deny the Indians were nice to us a lot. They didn't deserve what happened," Sarah said, choking back a sob.
"All is not lost, Sarah," Tokalah commented as he came to the women. "We sent help to other villages. Many Lakota came to live with us. They include Kami Milla's older sister, Kihi, and her husband, Mato, as well as Manippi's older brother, Nuwe, and his wife, Ohola. The siblings left their original home with their spouses years ago."
"I had no idea Kami Milla and Manippi had siblings. They never spoke of them," Sarah pointed out.
"The late Luta's son, Ope, is now chief. He is doing well in leading our village," Tokalah answered, exhaling softly. "Come on. Let's take you to meet everyone we mentioned."
"Can we see them, Louis?" Sarah asked, looking at her husband. "Can we?"
Louis rubbed his nose. He was uncertain about going into an Indian village, yet he had to admit his wife deserved to meet the new Lakota at the one she stayed in. He was determined to be cautious. He nodded at her.
"All right. We will go," Louis relented.
"Thank you. Let's get everything packed up and go over there," Sarah said with much warmth.
He nodded at her. "Okay."
Louis and Sarah headed over to the wagon. They proceeded to pick up their dishes. Anna decided to go and help them.