Savage Beloved

Then he saw Bold Bear running toward him. Many other people stepped from their lodges at the same time, their eyes directed toward Two Eagles.

All the while the drumming continued somewhere in the village.

“My chief!” Bold Bear cried, waving down Two Eagles.

“I wonder what’s wrong,” Candy said, hearing a strange desperation in Bold Bear’s voice.

“I am not certain,” Two Eagles said. He gazed into her eyes as he slid away from her and dismounted, then lifted his arms up for her.

She slid from the horse into his arms just as Bold Bear came up and stood stiffly before them, his eyes gazing uneasily at Two Eagles.

“My chief, she is gone,” Bold Bear said, lowering his gaze.

“Who . . . is . . . gone?” Two Eagles demanded, even though he already knew. He turned slow eyes to the dark tepee, then looked again at his warrior.

“Where is she?” he asked.

“My daughter, Evening Star, was injured,” Bold Bear said. He swallowed hard. “I was summoned. I went to her. I completely forgot about Hawk Woman and my assignment to guard her until you returned.”

“Are you saying that she escaped?” Two Eagles asked, doubling his hands into tight fists at his sides. “You let that woman escape?”

Bold Bear nodded. “She has been gone now for some time, and she fled on one of your favorite steeds,” he said. “I apologize. What can I do to correct my mistake? When you are a father, you will understand and see how a daughter comes first over everything else, especially if that daughter has been injured.”

Seeing his warrior’s despair, Two Eagles realized that he had not yet inquired about Bold Bear

’s daughter’s welfare. “And Evening Star?” he said, unfolding his hands and lifting them to Bold Bear’s bare shoulders. “How is she?”

“She is resting in her own bed in my tepee,” Bold Bear said. “Crying Wolf cared for her and prayed over her. Even now the drums are playing to Tirawahut, so that my daughter will be stronger on the morrow.”

“I am glad that her injury will mend,” Two Eagles said, nodding. “And do not fret so much over our loss of Hawk Woman. Her escape takes the burden from my shoulders as to how she must pay for her sins against my woman.”

“Several warriors left and searched for Hawk Woman but could not find her,” Bold Bear said. “She seems to have disappeared into thin air.”

“Wherever she is, I am glad she is not here any longer to wreak havoc on our village,” Two Eagles said thickly. “But I do regret the loss of my prized steed.”

“I have already replaced it with one of my own,” Bold Bear said. “That is the least I can do after leaving Hawk Woman unguarded.”

“That is not necessary,” Two Eagles said, dropping his hands from his warrior’s shoulder. “You take that horse and give it to your daughter so that she will have a horse of her own. Tell her it is a gift from both her father and her chief.”

“You will do this for me . . . for my daughter, after I did not do as I was supposed to do?” Bold Bear said, marveling over his chief’s kindness.

“The horse now belongs to Evening Star,” Two Eagles said, smiling. He gazed over at Candy. “I have other things on my mind. Tomorrow is the day your chief will take himself a wife.”

Bold Bear smiled broadly. “I will spread the word,” he said. “Tomorrow will be a special day, not only for our chief but for all of our people. It is always a good day when a chief takes a wife, especially a chief as beloved as you.”

Candy blushed as Bold Bear gazed into her eyes, smiled, then turned and ran around the village, shouting the news for everyone to hear.

Two Eagles took Candy by the hand and led his steed to his corral. Then he went to their lodge, led her inside, and tied the entrance flap closed.

Candy turned to Two Eagles as he placed his arms at her waist. “I am so happy,” she sighed when he pulled her closer and gave her a meltingly hot kiss.

But Two Eagles realized how tired Candy was and did not venture farther than the kiss.

He lifted her into his arms and carried her to their bed, then gently laid her down on it.

He went and placed more wood on the fire, then stretched out beside Candy.

He smiled when he heard more drums now, and singing, for everyone was celebrating his wedding day. It would not be long before the moon would disappear and the sun would replace it in all its glory.