Wild Rapture

Mariah went to Echohawk and placed a hand on his arm. “Take me with you,” she said. “Let me sit in council with you. Echohawk, I may be needed to convince William Joseph of your innocence. Neither my father nor Tanner McCloud is alive to explain it. Let me sit beside you to speak for you, if necessary.”

Nee-kah went to Chief Silver Wing and clung to his hand. “I, too, wish to sit in council,” she said softly. “My chieftain husband, I am saddened greatly that the white pony soldiers have found our village again.”

Chief Silver Wing and Echohawk exchanged troubled glances, then nodded. Mariah warmed clear through when Echohawk placed a blanket around her shoulders. Chief Silver Wing placed a blanket around Nee-kah’s, and together they left the lodge and stepped out into the frosty night air.

Mariah shivered as the cold pressed against her face. The first snows were near. Every morning and evening now the little streams which led away from the rivers were puckered with ice.

Tonight the moon was high in a velvety clear sky, and the stars shone so brightly, it was as though hundreds of thousands of candles were burning in the heavens.

In the distance the silence was broken by a lone coyote howling at the shadow of the moon. A shiver not related to the cold fled down Mariah’s spine as she caught sight of several soldiers standing beside their horses close to the large council house.

Her gaze swept over them. William Joseph was among them. When their eyes locked, Mariah’s pulse raced, for now that she knew that he was her brother, she could see so many resemblances in their features!

But her attention was quickly drawn from her brother. With Echohawk she entered the council house, where a fire was already burning brightly. Solemnly, and with a humble heart, Mariah went with Echohawk and sat down beside him on a platform cushioned with many animal pelts, while Chief Silver Wing and Nee-kah sat down beside them on the same platform.

A young lad entered, carrying a large pipe with many colorful feathers attached at its bowl. He took the pipe to Chief Silver Wing, which he accepted and rested on his lap, while the young lad knelt on his haunches on the floor beside him.

“Tell William Joseph that he can now enter,” Chief Silver Wing said, nodding at a brave, who quickly responded to the command and soon returned with William Joseph at his side.

Remaining seated, Chief Silver Wing gestured with a hand to William Joseph. “Nah-mah-dah-bee-yen, sit,” he said without expression. “Let us share in a smoke. Then tell us why you have come with many pony soldiers to my village.”

As William Joseph settled down on a rush mat beside the fire, his gaze stopped at Mariah. He looked at her quizzically. It looked as though she belonged beside Chief Echohawk, but why?

The young lad rose and brought a flaming twig to Chief Silver Wing and placed the flame to the tobacco. Chief Silver Wing drew on the stem, the sweet aroma of tobacco soon rising into the air.

Chief Silver Wing then straightened his back, waved the lad away, and puffed on the pipe for a moment, passing it then to Echohawk, who also smoked from it and in turn handed it to William Joseph.

After all three had shared in the ritual, Chief Silver Wing rested the bowl of the pipe on his knee. “Now, William Joseph, tell us why you are here,” he said, his expression guarded. “It was not my intent that any pony soldiers ever ride i

nto my new village. I meant to lead my people to a place of peace. Your presence threatens this peace.”

William Joseph’s gaze moved from chief to chief, then momentarily locked on Mariah again, still confused by her presence here. But of course she was here on her own initiative. Neither Echohawk nor Silver Wing abducted white women! His mind was swirling with questions, yet he straightened his back as once again he focused his full attention on the chiefs.

“For several days I have been in pursuit of Chief Echohawk,” William Joseph said. “One of my trusted scouts came to me with the news of this location. I had hoped to find Chief Echohawk with you.”

“And what do you want with Echohawk?” Chief Silver Wing asked, his shoulders stiffening.

“Answers to questions about the disappearance of Victor Temple,” William Joseph said, his gaze once more moving to Mariah. “And also the disappearance of Mariah from my camp. I see that she is safe. That is good.”

“And what questions do you have concerning me?” Echohawk interjected, seeing William Joseph’s intenseness as he stared at Mariah, yet no longer jealous of such attention. William Joseph did not know they were related, but it was enough that Mariah knew.

“We at Fort Snelling received word that an Indian identified by his eyeglasses was involved in raids close to Victor Temple’s trading post,” William Joseph said, clearing his throat nervously as he felt everyone’s eyes heatedly looking at him, even Mariah’s. “Of course I had to follow such leads and question Echohawk. That is why I am here. To get answers and take them back to my father, who has sent me on this mission.”

“And does your father see me as guilty of such crimes?” Echohawk said, his voice a low growl. “He has always known me to be a peace-loving man. Would gossip mean more to him than how he has always perceived me?”

“My father did not believe the gossip,” William Joseph said, placing his hands on his knees, leaning forward. “That is why he has sent me to ask you to return to Fort Snelling. All he needs from you is your word that you had no part in what happened to Victor Temple.” He glanced over at Mariah. “I need no further explanation myself. Mariah wouldn’t be sitting at your side if you had had anything to do with her father’s disappearance.”

William Joseph paused, then added, “Mariah, I don’t understand. Why are you with Echohawk? You sit at his side as though you are his—”

“Wife?” Mariah said, interrupting. She lifted her chin proudly. “William Joseph, I am not his wife yet. But I will be soon. I plan to make my future with Echohawk.”

“But you went to Mother and Father, asking for their assistance,” William Joseph said, his confusion and dismay apparent.

“That was only because I did not think Echohawk wanted me,” she said in defense. She slipped a hand over one of Echohawk’s. “But I was wrong. He wants me very much.”

Mariah wanted to reach out to William Joseph and tell him that he was her brother, but she did not think this was the appropriate time. It would be best, she thought to herself, first to tell William Joseph’s father—and then the rest of the family.

She suddenly realized that the truth might be hard for all concerned to accept, except for herself. She, of course, was jubilant with the knowledge.