Savage Beloved

“The other day, when I went looking for Shadow, I got lost,” she said. “Spotted Bear came to my rescue. He explained everything to me about his appearance and why he had not returned home because he was a Ghost. He also told me that if you knew of my association with him, I might be sent away, considered taboo to all Indians. That is why I didn’t tell you. Please forgive me, for had I known that you would want your cousin home with you, even though he had been scalped, I would have gladly told you.”

She hung her head, then raised it again and gazed into Two Eagles’s eyes. “Shadow came for me today and led me to Spotted Bear’s tepee, where he lay ill and terribly feverish,” she said. “I had a kindness to repay to him. That is why I went to see if something was wrong. Thank goodness I did.”

“You said you had a kindness to repay,” Two Eagles said tightly. “At . . . any . . . cost?”

“I hated thinking that I might lose you over this, but I couldn’t leave Spotted Bear alone again, possibly dying,” Candy said, once again fearing that Two Eagles would not forgive her.

Why else would he look so stern?

Suddenly Two Eagles rose to his feet and went to Candy.

He swept her into his arms. “It is good that you showed my cousin such kindness,” he said. “I would expect no less from you. You are a woman of good heart.”

“Then . . . you . . . aren’t going to turn me away?” Candy asked, searching his eyes. “I am not taboo to you?”

“You could never be taboo,” Two Eagles said, then stepped away from her and knelt beside Spotted Bear. “Nor could you, cousin. I truly thought you were dead. Had I known you were alive, I never would have stopped searching for you until I found you. I would have taken you home and seen to your healing myself.”

Out of the corner of his eye he saw that some of his warriors had shied away, moving back from Spotted Bear. Obviously they feared him because he had lived through a scalping.

Two Eagles ignored his men’s ignorance and would speak to them later about it.

Right now all that was important was to get his cousin home so that he could be medicated.

“But . . . I . . . am a Ghost,” Spotted Bear said, his voice fading with each word. He glanced over at the warriors. “They . . . see . . . me in that way. They . . . fear . . . me.”

“Not for long,” Two Eagles reassured him. “I shall speak to them. I will make them understand that it is wrong to fear those who have lived through a scalping. In my village, no one who has survived such a thing will ever be feared or called a Ghost.”

“Thank you, cousin,” Spotted Bear managed to say before falling again into an unconscious state.

“We must hurry,” Two Eagles said, going to his horse and removing a blanket from his travel bag.

He went back to Spotted Bear and wrapped him in the blanket even though he already had many on him.

It seemed that no matter how many blankets were on him, Spotted Bear still shivered from his fever.

This gesture of Two Eagles was to make a point to his warriors. He wanted them to understand that they should, without reservation, share their blankets with this fallen man, a man who had hunted with them, who had enjoyed evenings around the large fire with them.

Just because he no longer had hair, he was not any less a Wichita warrior!

Two Eagles hurried to his warriors and explained to them how this had come about, and what Two Eagles was going to do. “Above all else, my warriors, you must look at this man, my blood cousin, with love and respect,” he said firmly. “He has lived through what none of you, I hope, will have to do, and he is no less a warrior for it.” He looked slowly from man to man. “Do you understand what I expect of you?”

They grunted and nodded in unison.

Two Eagles watched as each took a blanket from his bags and went to place it on Spotted Bear.

Candy was so touched by this show of affection, tears swam in her eyes.

Two Eagles smiled at his cousin, then spun around and hurried to his horse, where he swung into his saddle.

Candy was already in hers. She was ready, even eager, to ride again.

She knew the importance of getting Spotted Bear to his people’s shaman so that he could have proper treatment for the fever. She just hoped it wasn’t too late.

“You do forgive me, don’t you, Two Eagles, for keeping the truth from you?” Candy asked, bringing his eyes to her.

“You know I do,” Two Eagles said, smiling broadly at her. “You are my woman. How could I stop loving you for any reason? I have vowed my love to you, and it is forever. Do you hear? Forever.”

He swallowed hard and looked over his shoulder at Spotted Bear, who lay in a deep sleep. Then he gazed into Candy’s eyes again. “It is unbelievable that he lived through the scalping, for the horrible signs of what was done to him are so visible,” he said, shuddering. “He is a man of much bravery to live through such a horrendous event, and then he had the courage to keep to himself because he did not want to bring trouble into my village. He saw himself as a Ghost. How can he have thought that I could ever see him in such a way?”