There was a strange sort of silence brought on by his obvious reluctance to speak any more of this mysterious woman. To break the awkward moment, he turned and gazed at the large, new tepee.
“This is a very fine lodge,” he said, lifting the entrance flap and looking around inside before entering.
What he saw made his eyes widen. He had not expected to see any belongings in the lodge since everything he had owned had been burned.
But what he saw had nothing to do with him at all. Although there were only a few items, he recognized them as the possessions of his brother and his wife.
He turned and looked questioningly at the warrior closest to his side.
“Your brother and wife were moving their belongings today into the tepee that was built for you, my chief,” Three Bears said uncomfortably. “No one questioned him because he was at that time acting chief.”
Three Bears looked over at the tepee where Spirit Wolf had gone, and then at Eagle Wolf again. “His lodge still stands, yet it would have not been his by evening. By then all of his belongings would have been in the tepee that was built for your return.”
“He did not expect my recovery,” Eagle Wolf said thickly.
“Seems not,” Three Bears said. “I believe he prayed that you would not return. He is a brother who should no longer be called a brother. He never should have had the title of chief, not even for a short while. Chiefs are chosen for wisdom and high character, and Spirit Wolf has neither.”
Eagle Wolf listened to those words with an aching heart. He loved his younger brother, but was not proud of him.
He nodded at Three Bears, to let him know that he had heard him and respected his feelings, but Eagle Wolf needed time alone now, for he had much to think about.
After stepping into his new lodge, he again looked slowly around at his brother’s belongings. He knew that there was only one thing to do. He began by taking one item and then another and tossing them outside on the ground, as his people watched, silent.
As each thing was thrown from his lodge, Eagle Wolf became angrier and angrier at Spirit Wolf. His brother had proved his disloyalty and lack of love.
Eagle Wolf was disappointed, but glad that he knew of his brother’s betrayal. No longer would he be made a fool of by a brother who felt nothing but jealousy toward him.
When everything had finally been cleared from his lodge, Eagle Wolf went inside, alone.
He was dispirited as he sat on a mat before the freshly made fire. The firelight now shone brightly on a face that revealed his shock over the truth of his brother’s feelings toward him. He felt a disappointment in Spirit Wolf that would surely stay with Eagle Wolf until death.
Suddenly his thoughts were interrupted. One by one, his people came to him, speaking his name outside his lodge.
And when he went and held the entra
nce flap aside, he saw each one’s arms heavy-laden with gifts for him.
There were clothes, blankets, food, and even a newly carved bow, as well as a quiver of arrows. One little girl handed him her doll made from corn husks, a small blanket wrapped around it.
And after those gifts from the heart were all taken into his lodge and put into place, more food arrived, this time stacked high on platters.
There was his favorite…mutton stew, with corn cooked in it, and so many other delicious things made by the women of his village.
Before settling down to eat, Eagle Wolf stepped from his lodge where his people were gathered. They had gone to great lengths to prove that they still were loyal to him, and loved him.
He quickly noticed that his brother’s belongings were gone from the spot where Eagle Wolf had tossed them.
He supposed his brother had hurriedly come and gotten them while Eagle Wolf was inside his own lodge.
“How can I thank you all enough for your love and loyalty to me?” Eagle Wolf asked. He looked slowly around the crowd. He was touched deeply by the love his people had shown him. He would always remember this moment.
“No thanks are needed,” Three Bears said, giving Eagle Wolf one of his most vivid smiles. “Your return to us is all we could ever want.”
“I will remember today and what you have done for me, always,” Eagle Wolf said, getting a quick glimpse of his brother as he momentarily drew his entrance flap aside in order to look at Eagle Wolf, and then disappeared again in his lodge.
Eagle Wolf smiled at his people, then turned and went back inside his tepee. He sat down and began eating the delicious food that had been prepared for his homecoming.
As he ate beside the fire, his legs crossed at his ankles, he could not help thinking about Nicole and worrying about her.