Chapter 24
Kiowa Village, Kansas1872
The urgency of the situation weighed heavily on Buck as he rode towards the makeshift Kiowa village. Captain Monroe's presence in Rock Creek posed a threat that couldn't be ignored. As he traveled, memories of past decisions haunted him, stirring up guilt over the path not taken with his brother.
Red Bear greeted Buck with a firm grip on his arm. "P'ah-be," he said, his voice warm with familial affection.
Buck returned the embrace, finding comfort in his brother's presence. His brother's nomadic lifestyle meant their meetings were infrequent, making each reunion precious.
Under the shade of a large tree, Red Bear invited Buck to share his purpose. "Why have you come?"
"The Captain is in Rock Creek," Buck replied, his tone grave.
Red Bear's expression darkened. "Steel Eyes?"
Buck nodded, both men acutely aware of Captain Monroe's reputation for cruelty.
Their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of Night Wolf, who approached with swift, sure steps. The young man's growth since their last meeting was evident, a far cry from the frail boy Buck had once rescued.
"Running Buck," Night Wolf greeted, embracing him warmly.
As Red Bear left to prepare the warriors, Night Wolf's curiosity was piqued by the somber exchange. "Steel Eyes?" he questioned, picking up on the tension.
Night Wolf's response was immediate and fierce. "Then I will kill him," he declared, chest puffing with righteous anger.
Buck, recognizing the danger, tried to dissuade him. "No, you go with my brother," he commanded, hoping to protect the young warrior.
But Night Wolf stood his ground. "Not this time. I am a warrior now," he asserted proudly.
Buck's smile was tinged with sadness. "They are many, too many. Even for warriors as fine as yourself."
"He will die," Night Wolf insisted, his voice heavy with the weight of vengeance.
"No one wants him to die more than I do," Buck confessed, his anguish mirrored in Night Wolf's eyes. Both men carried the scars of Monroe's brutality.
"Captain Monroe took everything from me," Night Wolf continued, his pain evident. "He killed my family."
Buck's mind wandered to the day he found Night Wolf, a battered boy of no more than ten. The memory of carrying the broken child to his brother's camp was still vivid.
"He will not stop until I am dead," Night Wolf added, his words heavy with resignation.
Buck's confusion was evident. "What are you saying?"
Night Wolf's gaze drifted across the prairie as he began to explain. "My father made the mistake of loving that man's wife, my mother."
As understanding dawned, Buck felt as if he'd been struck by lightning. Lara was Night Wolf's sister.
With trembling hands, Buck retrieved the locket from his vest and handed it to Night Wolf. The young man's eyes widened as he beheld the images within.
"This is you, isn't it?" Buck asked, seeking confirmation.
"Yes," Night Wolf replied, confusion evident in his voice. "Where did you—"
"She's your sister?" Buck pressed urgently, needing to understand the full picture.
Night Wolf's voice cracked with emotion. "Laralie? Where is she? Take me to her!"
Buck's brow furrowed with concern as he met Night Wolf's intense gaze. "No," he replied firmly, his tone tinged with sorrow. "She is not the person you remember."
"Take me to her now!" Night Wolf demanded.
"She is here searching for her father," Buck explained, his voice heavy with contempt.
"No," Night Wolf protested, his faith in his sister unshaken.
"Yes, I heard her," Buck insisted. "She said she was here to bring him home with her."
"I don't believe you," Night Wolf maintained, shaking his head. "She is my sister."
"Your half-sister!" Buck countered, his words carrying the weight of bitter reality. "She is whole daughter to Steel Eyes."
"You are wrong, Running Buck," Night Wolf retorted in defiance.
"I wish I were," Buck confessed, his voice heavy with shame.
As the weight of these revelations settled over them, both men fell silent. The prairie stretched out before them, indifferent to the chaos of human hearts. Buck's mind raced with the implications of this newfound knowledge, while Night Wolf grappled with the possibility that his long-lost sister might not be the ally he had hoped for.