Restoring Hope Page 21

  The shrieks coming from the invading tribe as they moved into the fence protecting the tribe were all too familiar. Sioux. And the high pitch was Hothlepoya’s trademark.

  Penelope squirmed in her arms, and in that instant, Woape turned to one of her aunts. “Take her. If he finds me, he won’t know she’s mine.”

  “You’re not going out there to him,” Julia insisted.

  “No, but I can’t risk my daughter’s life,” she replied.

  An old man hurried over to them. “There’s a good twenty of them. Go to the main lodge. The men can’t keep the invaders back much longer.”

  Her aunts and Erin obeyed but Woape noticed that Julia stayed behind with her. “What are you doing?”

  Julia watched as the women met up with the other women, children and elderly who were assembling into the lodge where their chances for safety were better. Julia looked over her shoulder and darted to the stall which held the horses. She picked up a bow and arrow that had fallen to the floor. Julia glanced at Woape. “I handed you over to him before. I won’t do that again.”

  “You don’t know how bad things can get with Hothlepoya.”

  “Maybe not. I have an idea though, and that counts for something.”

  “You should hide.”

  “I was going to tell you the same thing. He’s coming for you, not me.”

  “We both hide.”

  While Julia ran to huddle behind the edge of the stall, Woape found a new buffalo hide hanging along the wall. She couldn’t hide under a bed. Hothlepoya found her there once, so he’d look there first. The area was dark but she worried he’d detect her figure. Maybe if she held her breath and stayed still, he’d scan her over and miss her.

  She closed her eyes and focused on slowing her breathing. The lodge muffled most of the war cries, but she could envision it vividly in her mind. Arrows and spears reaching their mark and wounding or killing the intended victims. The invaders taking enough time to scalp the fallen before they moved onto their next prey. The less able-bodied men surrounding the entrance of the central lodge, ready to defend those inside.

  Even if Hothlepoya made it a habit of invading every tribe he came across, she couldn’t help but think this particular night was her fault. She never should have run away. She’d brought too much destruction upon others through her careless actions. If she could go back... But then, what of Gary and Penelope?

  Someone stepped into the lodge. Woape tensed and held her breath. The person moved slowly. From where she stood, she could only see through a thin opening where the hide rested against the wall. And that didn’t show her anything except a trace of moonlight shining through the hole in the ceiling.

  The person didn’t say anything as he checked the divided rooms. His movements were purposeful and quiet—a classic Hothlepoya technique. He could search while hearing everything that happened in the lodge, and he must have suspected that someone was hiding. The buffalo hoofs rattled from the door as he departed from another empty bedroom. He was close to the horse which neighed.

  “A fine horse,” he mumbled. “A good prize.”

  The door to the stall opened and the horse departed from it.

  “Akash,” he called out. “Take this animal. Mark it as mine.”

  “Yes, Hothlepoya,” the man replied as he ran into the lodge.

  “Take it to the other horses when you’re done.”

  “Yes.” Then he took the horse out of the lodge.

  A moment of dreaded silence passed before a low chuckle rose from Hothlepoya’s throat. “What do we have here?”

  Woape recognized Julia’s startled gasp. She dared a peak around the edge of the hide and saw Hothlepoya snatch the bow and arrow from Julia and toss them aside.

  He leaned forward and lifted her by the throat so that her feet couldn’t touch the ground. “White woman,” he snarled. “Filthy.”

  Julia dug her fingernails into his wrist and kicked at him, but he tightened his hold on her neck.

  “Behave,” he warned in a cold voice. “I did not come for a filthy white woman. I came for Woape. Where is she?”

  She struggled to breathe so the muscles in his hand relaxed. After a cough, she squeaked out, “I don’t know.”

  “You lie.” Then he threw her to the ground.

  She tumbled toward the center of the lodge and coughed.

  When Woape saw him pull out the axe hanging around his waist and approach Julia, she decided this had gone far enough. She refused to let someone else die because of her. “Don’t!” Even though her voice shook, it rang clear in the lodge.

  Hothlepoya stopped and glanced over his shoulder.

  With a hard swallow, Woape emerged from her hiding place, feeling small and weak. The week she’d spent with him came rushing back to her. The whip and rope... The dread she felt that night he chose to have her go to his teepee... Foraging for food without being able to rest... The time she’d spent with Gary had eased those painful memories which now came crashing down on her like a heavy weight.

  “Where’s the child?” he demanded in a low voice.

  Taking a deep breath, she said, “There is no child.”

  He neared her and she instinctively stepped back, but he reached out and grabbed her by the arm. “Don’t play games with me. I saw that you were carrying a child before you escaped on the train.”

  Despite her trembling, she shook her head. “The child didn’t make it. He died in childbirth.”

  He narrowed his eyes at her as if studying her for any sign that she might be lying. Then he slowly scanned the circumference of the lodge.

  Julia sat on the floor further from where she had landed and watched them. Under her skirt was something she was trying to hide.

  Woape’s gaze focused in on the edge of the bow. She could only guess that an arrow was behind Julia’s back. Before Hothlepoya looked in Julia’s direction, Woape said, “He is not here! A baby will not stay silent for this long.”

  As she hoped, that got his attention.

  He tightened his hold on her, making her grit her teeth. “I saw the baby items by your bed.”

  “That’s not my bed,” she lied, wincing as he applied more pressure. Her arm started to go numb. “That is my sister’s child.”

  “You lie!” He grabbed her other arm and shook her. “No women were with child when I came here before. I thought you had learned by now that it’s dangerous to lie to me.” He released one of her arms and drew back his hand to slap her when he froze.

  It took her a moment to realize he wasn’t going to strike her after all. Trembling, she lifted her eyes to his and saw the life force in them fading. Then he crumpled to the floor on his side. Gasping for breath, Woape glanced from the arrow sticking out of his back and to Julia who stood with the bow in her hand, standing there as if she expected him to jump back up. But he didn’t, and he wouldn’t.

  Woape’s eyes met Julia’s. “He’s dead.” Even as she said it, tears of relief sprang to her eyes. Hothlepoya was dead! He would no longer be a threat to her or her child.

  “I...I can’t believe I actually did it,” Julia stammered, her eyes still wide with shock.

  Woape gingerly walked over his body and ran up to Julia so she could hug her. “Thank you,” she whispered, blinking as more tears found their way down her cheeks. “Thank you.”

  Julia returned her hug.

  Gary rushed into the lodge, out of breath but looking happy. “We won! They’re retreating.” He stopped when he reached them. “Am I dreaming?”

  Woape laughed and released Julia. “Your sister protected me and killed Hothlepoya.” She pointed to the Sioux’s dead body.

  “It was a lucky shot,” Julia said with a shrug.

  “Is that what you call ‘lucky’?” Gary chuckled and shook his head. “Who knew that you had it in you to be a warrior?”

  She blushed. “I wouldn’t exactly call myself a warrior.”

  Woape smiled. “A warrior does not have to be a man. Those who
risk their lives for the sake of others are warriors.”

  Cheers from outside the lodge interrupted them.

  “I think there will be a celebration tonight,” Woape said. She wouldn’t have to worry about Hothlepoya anymore. Now, they would burn his body and put to rest all the bad memories associated with him. And finally, she didn’t have to live with that lingering fear that had haunted her for the past year.

  Gary wrapped one arm around Woape’s shoulders and the other around Julia’s shoulders. “Let’s tell them we got Hothlepoya in here. And,” he added, looking at his sister, “I’m sure they’ll want to give you something for killing him. There’ll be no hiding from this celebration, no matter how loud things get.”

  Julia seemed uneasy, so Woape said, “I’m surprised that worries you when you can kill a Sioux.”

  “Well,” Julia began, “it was just you and me.”

  Gary rolled his eyes but grinned. “Julia’s never been much for a crowd. Even if that’s the case, you deserve to receive your very first feather.”

  In good spirits, Woape joined them and left the lodge to enjoy the rest of the celebration.

  ***

  Woape watched as Julia tucked her feather into her travel bag which rested on the bed. “Chogan will miss you,” she softly said.

  She glanced away before she picked up the bag. “I’ll miss him too.”

  “So, you will not stay?”

  She shook her head.

  There didn’t seem to be anything left to say on that matter, so Woape left it alone. Instead, she approached Julia. “I’d like to give you this.” She opened her hand and showed her sister-in-law the necklace. “In my culture, glass beads are highly esteemed. I made this for you to represent our friendship.”

  A smile spread across Julia’s face as she took it. “Thank you. It’s beautiful.”

  “Let me put it on.”

  Julia handed it back to her and turned so Woape could fasten it around her neck. “It is custom among my people that a father who is proud of his daughter will take an ornament made of these beads and have the medicine man place them in her hair until she’s given in marriage. Then it is removed.” She finished the task and waited for Julia to face her before she continued. “I thought I’d make my own custom for you. I’m happy to have you as my friend, and it is my prayer you find love.”

  “Thank you, Woape. It’s lovely.” She touched her necklace.

  “You are always welcome here.”

  “And you are always welcome in my home.”

  The women smiled at each other before they departed from the small bedroom. Erin held Penelope and talked to Gary. As soon as they approached the entrance, Erin handed Penelope back to Woape.

  “Are you sure you don’t want me to take you two back home?” Gary asked Erin.

  “No,” she replied. “That buggy is worn out from the trek down here. Besides, we were due for a new one anyway. A ride to the train station is all we need.”

  He shrugged. “Alright. It’s up to you.”

  They departed for the buggy that was ready for them, and Woape’s father walked up to them and handed Erin a rolled up package of food. “For the trip,” he explained.

  One by one, the people surrounded them to wish Erin and Julia a safe trip back. All but one. Woape noticed Chogan standing off to the side, just watching everything—and probably wondering if he made the right choice.

  Maybe it was superstitious on her part, but Woape had taken some of those beads from Chogan’s mother, thinking maybe it would somehow bring him and Julia back together someday. But that day was not today, and Woape didn’t put her faith into wishful thinking so who knew what the future would hold?

  Woape turned her attention to Erin and gave her a hug.

  “I’m glad Gary found you,” Erin whispered. “A good woman is a blessing to a man.” She released her and dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief. “It was good to come here and see where you grew up.” She chuckled at Penelope and tapped the baby’s nose. “And you be good to your parents. Don’t give them a hard time.”

  Woape laughed, even as tears came to her own eyes. It seemed that she’d done a lot of crying over the past year, but it was nice to have tears of joy. “We’ll see each other again, Erin.”

  “Of course, we will.” She patted Woape on the shoulder and got into the buggy with Julia.

  Gary came over to Woape and gave her a kiss. “I’ll be back soon, my shadow.”

  “You better,” she replied.

  “Oh, I will. You should know by now that I’d defy even death itself to be with you.” He leaned forward and gave Penelope a kiss on the forehead before he went to the buggy.

  The sight of him squeezing into the buggy with his aunt and sister made her laugh. It definitely wasn’t meant to seat three adults, but they’d manage for the short trip to town.

  Woape joined the others in waving as Gary picked up the reins and the horses moved forward.

  Penelope cooed.

  “Your father will be back,” she whispered. “He’ll be back.”

  As soon as the buggy was out of sight, Woape turned to join her sister in handling the chores for the day.

  Coming 2011

  Brave Beginnings

  When Julia Milton refused to stay at the Mandan tribe to be Chogan’s wife, she assumed that was the last she’d see of him. After moving to Bismarck with her aunt, she meets up with Ernest Freeman who had once asked her to marry him. Just when she decides to see what could have been with him, Chogan comes back into her life. But will she choose the safe and familiar world or go where her heart leads?

  Also Coming 2011

  Bound By Honor,

  Bound By Love

  The day Onawa eagerly anticipated has finally come. She is to be Citlali’s wife. But in the back of her mind, she worries that he wishes she were her older sister instead. Will her marriage be one of duty or see the fruits of love?

  Or you can read both stories as I write their first drafts on my WordPress blog at http://ruthannnordin.wordpress.com/.