Morning Star was the light of my brother's life. When Lit'l Fox went off to hunt with his brother and cousin, he no longer wanted to come back with the first sled full of meat because his strength was failing him. He wanted to take the first sled of meat because he had to get back to Morning Star.

Running Horse and I kidded Lit'l Fox about how he melted any time he got close to Morning Star.

Love was the most incredible condition you could find yourself in. Running Horse and I had been there for years and we wouldn't have it any other way. Seeing Lit'l Fox and Morning Star fall in love was nice.

We often had the evening meal together and we would walk around the lake once the eating was done. This was as good as life could be. This made our lives as good as they'd ever been.

Lit'l Fox and Morning Star began life in the new village together. It wasn't difficult to see the love they shared. Morning Star had followed Lit'l Fox around when she was still a little girl. My brother was a beautiful warrior she admired. He had no sense of her beyond the way she looked at him.

It was a one sided admiration. Lit'l Fox saw Morning Star as a little girl, long after she'd started becoming a woman. One day, when she took his hand, after he'd been away on one of our trips, he realized what a beautiful woman Morning Star had become.

Now, that beautiful woman was with my fine looking brother, and Running Horse and I thought we knew something about how they felt. Each love is different. Each love is the same.

Lit'l Fox, always being close to Running Horse, and being quite fond of his younger brother, came into our lodge to sit and share what was going on in his life. Actually, he didn't stop talking about his wife.

We'd laugh at him and he couldn't figure out what he said that was so funny. He was funny in love and we loved him for it. We'd always wanted to see Lit'l Fox find happiness. His illness and difficulty with his heart disappeared once he'd fallen in love with Morning Star. His heart filled with joy while growing stronger because of her presence in his life.

Our new village had settled into life as it had been lived before the move. It was difficult to see any difference from the old village and the new. Except for the beauty of our new location, life went on as it always had since I came to live with the Pawnee.

For nearly a year the cavalry did not come to the village. The Lakota had been raising hell on the plains, and this kept the cavalry busy. The Lakota could be a handful, but when Major Meeks came calling, it was no less annoying, no matter how long it was between visits. Major Meeks made his intent clear.

I was surprised when I heard the horses and realized the cavalry had stopped near our lodge. I walked to the front of the formation to find Meeks, but his horse was empty the reins were in the hands of Meeks' lieutenant.

I immediately went into our lodge and found myself looking at Meeks' back. He stood face to face with Running Horse. He turned to me when he heard me behind him.

He nodded his recognition, turning back to Running Horse.

"Wanted to be sure we were okay," Meeks said.

"We fine."

Meeks turned, nodded at me again, and he left the lodge.

"What was he doing in here?"

"Big talk with Pawnee Chief."

"What's that mean?"

"Ogalala on warpath. They join the Lakota. Cheyenne making noise."

"He wants us to stay out of it. What did you tell him?"

"Pawnee no want war."

"What did he expect you to say?"

Running Horse shrugged.

I don't like him. I no like he watches us while here. They watch us when not here."

"Tall Willow give away much. Speak with eyes. He see. He know. No good. I tell nothing. Give nothing. I chief. You live in chief's lodge. Let chief talk for Pawnee."

It didn't last long. Even when he was angry with me, his resistance to me weakened if I didn't take no for an answer. I wasn't going to let him go to sleep being angry with me. We knew each other that well. He did give me a lot of room to get myself in his way. This time he put his foot down.

Running Horse and I rarely had harsh words, but Running Horse felt I was interfering by showing anger. I didn't care Meeks knew how I felt about his presence in our village.

I left Running Horse seated in our lodge, once Meeks left with his men. The Pawnee stood near the center of the village. The warriors standing in front of women and children.

We all knew the cavalry was a danger to us. We all knew the meaning in Claude's words about Sand Creek. The people who kept coming were at war with the people who were already here. So far we'd managed to stay out of the way, but one day, the war would come to us as it came to all Indians.

I walked away from our lodge. I'd give Running Horse the room he indicated he needed. I'd make a tour of the lake and come back before we were to have the evening meal with my brother and Morning Star. By that time, Running Horse would be in a better frame of mind. He'd be happy to see me.

"No like," Morning Star said in what was a speech for her.

She'd been standing near some trees at the corner of the lake. I didn't see her until she spoke.

"Who don't you like?" I asked, not sure of what we were talking about

"Straight man ride at front?" she advised me.

"Meeks," I said.

"No like."

"I share your disapproval, Morning Star. He say something to you?"

"Eyes speak. No like."

As I was about to ask what his eyes said to her, Lit'l Fox walked over to join us. Morning Star would not say anything about it in front of her husband. Lit'l Fox knew something was up, he didn't know what. There was much said without words that afternoon.

"We talk about dinner," I lied. "Sounds like a meal worth waiting for. I'm hungry all ready," I said.

"Yes," Lit'l Fox said.

When the cavalry first came into the village, Meeks stopped the formation beside Lit'l Fox's and Morning Star's lodge. When she turned around from picking items from her garden, he was smiling at her.

This wasn't a conversation she'd have in front of her husband, but it was a conversation that I'd repeat to Running Horse. I didn't know what he could do. A chief knew much. Now, he knew this.

The evening meal went well, and Morning Star was in good spirits once we arrived. Lit'l Fox was his usual quiet self. He always finished the food Morning Star gave him. I sure did. Morning Star's mom was one of the better cooks in the village. Morning Star learned her mother's secrets and dazzled us with her meals.

We rarely left my brother's lodge without feeling light hearted and satisfied. Not only was the food good, but our fondness for each other surfaced there more completely than anywhere else. We could laugh and share confidences there when we didn't do that elsewhere. Their lodge was a happy place.

"Meeks stopped his soldiers to look at Morning Star," I said, once we were in bed.

"You see?"

"Morning Star told me."

I told the chief something he needed to know.

Running Horse had nothing to say.

Running Horse had less to say as time went on. He seemed to be deep in thought at times when I had something to say. I often did not speak. Late at night, after we'd made love, I spoke to my lover.

I remembered what a lonely life Lone Wolf had. He'd married young. His wife died young. He did not marry again. He was married to his village. Running Horse was married to his village.

I woke in the middle of the night. I was shaken awake by a dream. I clearly saw the death of the two buffalo hunters again. I watched my brother stand with bow and arrows in hand. He did not flinch or hesitate. He fired two arrows into the massive man's chest. I thought I was dreaming that day. When Lit'l Fox began getting rid of the bodies and cleaning the place where we slept, it was no dream. The Indian boy who saved my life had taken the lives of two men. It was crazy. It was true.

I was horrified then and I was horrified all over again when I woke from dreaming it. It was more than ten years ago. I'd dreamed that dream before, but not in years.

Why was I dreaming it now?

Putting on my breach cloth, I went out to get fresh air and to calm down. No one was out in the middle of the night. A single sentry was near the lake where I walked. He nodded at me. I nodded at him. Voices carried a long way at night, The idea of speaking didn't occur to either of us.

I climbed the rock formation at the far end of the lake to sit beside the stream to wait for the sun to rise. I didn't want more sleep. I'll sleep tonight.

*****

We'd gone a round or two, and Running Horse decided to talk. I had nothing to say.

"You miss?"

"Miss what?"

"Be white? Have power."

"I had no power," I confessed.

"You Pawnee. Give up power."

"What power? I was boy. No power."

"Right power. All power. Pawnee few. Whites come. Keep coming. Take over land."

I couldn't be sure he hadn't been roaming around in my brain. Those were questions I had. Not the being white part, but our eventual destruction. Claude warned us. He knew about the cavalry.

Running Horse was occupied with instructing some of the younger boys with how to close one of the trails behind them, after villagers had gone. They weren't to let soldiers see them close off the escape route. The entire area was an obstacle course meant to stop men on horses from following.

I watched from my perch on top of the rocks when Lit'l Fox appeared, after he climbed to the highest ground at the village. Without saying a word, he turned to point to the east. I followed where he pointed.

Seated on his horse, leaning on his saddle horn, Major Meeks looked at points of interest that Tall Elk was pointing out to him. They could not see us, but I had an eye full.

Tall Elk knew where the escape routes were. He helped build the obstacles that were meant to stop men on horseback. Now Meeks knew.

I watched the two men ride away together a few minutes later. The mystery about where Tall Elk had gotten off to was solved. Tall Elk had turned traitor. If he couldn't be chief, he'd help wipe out the village.

It was an hour later, once Running Horse stood alone, that I went to tell him what I'd seen.

"Tall Elk rides with Meeks?"

This was not something he wanted to hear.

"How you know this?"

I explained about Lit'l Fox coming to point them out to me. I told him everything I saw.

Solving the mystery of where Tall Elk had gotten off to did not improve our mood. I thought he was showing Meeks the escape routes and the place where we practiced firing the repeating rifles. I had no idea where his men were, but they weren't far away. Meeks wouldn't come all this way without his men.

Running Horse got very quiet. He did not say what was on his mind. I wanted to ask, but I didn't. He immediately changed the entry points to the main escape routes. Meeks knew they were there. Finding them was a different matter. He'd leave the original obstacles in place so Tall Elk wouldn't realize that the escape routes he built were no longer in the escape plan.

We knew the story of the massacre of my father's village from Medicine Woman and Dark Horse. Running Horse was prepared for what he thought would be an attack that would come at dawn. Each lodge had a secret door in back where the occupants could get out without coming out of the usual entry point. There was a good chance that most occupants of the lodges could get out alive in a surprise attack.

If the warriors got out, they were to meet at a spot that changed once a week. Any plan that Tall Elk knew was changed in a way that would confuse anyone who thought he knew the plans.

We still sent Lit'l Fox back early from hunts, but he was happy to go. Morning Star was waiting for him. Now, since we knew Tall Elk was assisting Meeks, it was even more reason for my brother to not leave Morning Star for longer than necessary. Lit'l Fox was one of the best hunters, but Running Horse told him to stay behind on this hunting trip to keep a watch on the village for him.

My brother was having none of it. His value was as a hunter and a warrior. He'd come back with the first sled of meat, but he intended to go on the hunt with us.

I could see the worry on Running Horse's face. He knew something he wasn't saying. He wouldn't argue with Lit'l Fox, but he really wanted him to stay in the village. I worried about both Lit'l Fox and Running Horse. Leaving the village was a dangerous thing to do knowing what we knew.

We had to have meat. We had to hunt, and the best hunters would get the meat and return to the village as quickly as they could.

Once the first sled was loaded, it was hooked to Lit'l Fox's horse. As soon as that was done, he was on his way home. We didn't have enough hunters on the mountain to send a hunter back with him, but we'd had to make adjustments once we realized how close the cavalry was to us.

As we got back to our lodge, Running Horse swept me into his arms.

"Don't be angry."

"I'm not angry."

"What wrong?"

"I've been waiting to get my hands on you."

Running Horse giggled.

We made love much like we did when we were young and falling in love. It hadn't been that easy once Running Horse had an entire village on his mind. He sat in the lodge for hours some days. He didn't move or speak. This wasn't something he'd done before he became chief. I was sure he didn't want me to interrupt whatever was going on in his mind. A chief knew much. I was sure this had to do with that.

Spring came early. While there was still snow on the mountain, The village was unusually warm. We needed to get the spring hunt underway early. We didn't want to take a chance on the meat spoiling on the way back from the mountain. It was likely to turn colder again, but we needed to be sure we had the meat we needed to last through the summer months. Each day was similar to the day before. There was no sign of trouble that I noticed. Running Horse seemed to be at peace with himself. Hunting before it got too warm was a good idea. We could always go on a two man hunting trip if need be after summer's end. We took the same hunters along that went on the fall hunt. We'd done well and Big Bear needed to be with warriors who had the patience to let him learn. He was quiet, and Young Antelope was teaching him to use the bow.

The ride was still a challenge. We found the easiest route to the top of the mountain where it was coldest and the game was plentiful. In two days we were in our main camp and ready to hunt. Using horses did make the ride easier than when we went on foot. The terrain was better suited to horses on this section of mountain. Having horses meant coming and going as we needed.

Once on top, the horses were allowed to graze and rest. We went from camp to hunting grounds on foot. Lit'l Fox got his buck on the first afternoon. He went into the forest and the deer was standing a few dozen yards away. Lit'l Fox rarely missed, and before we ate our first meal, his kill was hanging in the trees just outside of camp. It would freeze tonight and we'd send him back tomorrow.

By the next day, Big Bear got a buck, and I got an antelope. We sent Lit'l Fox home with the first sled before the evening meal which was a venison roast the four of us shared. Lit'l Fox left early enough that he could get below the tree line before dark, and he'd probably go down off the mountain before he slept, and it would only be another day back to Morning Star, and that meant no complaints from my brother.

We Laughed once we were in our buffalo robes. Lit'l Fox was so much in love. We remembered the way it was when Running Horse took a liking to me. There was no time that compares with the time when you fall in love, except for maybe when you go hunting and make love on the mountain.

Running Horse got is buck the third morning. I got mine an hour later. By noon, we'd brought the four hundred pounds of venison into the camp. Any other meat we got would be a bonus. The hunt had gone well. We thought we could be going too early, but it turned out great.

This is when things took an unexpected turn. As I said, there was no sign of trouble. I had no feeling that danger was close. That proves how much I know. I wasn't chief, but Running Horse was, and he was about to shake my world.

"Rise back. We bring sled later today. I need you to check on Lit'l Fox, Tall Willow."

"What is it?" I asked, wanting to know why he was giving me such a strange order.

"You go. We come soon," Running Horse said to me. "We bring sled. See tomorrow."

I didn't like it. I'd been on my best behavior since Meeks last visit to the village. Running Horse used his, I'm the chief voice, when he said it. I'd do what he asked me to do without an argument. I didn't understand but I would soon enough, and Running Horse knew what I was going to find. He had to. It's the only thing that made sense. When he ordered me to go, he knew what I was riding into. He let me ride into it blind. Not only that, he knew I wasn't going to see him tomorrow. If he knew I was going to see him at all, I can't say. Once events unfolded, there was a chance I wouldn't be seeing anyone ever again.

"Have safe trip. See tomorrow," Running Horse said, and the hug needed to last me for the next two days, until the other three came back to the village with anything else they kilt.

I never felt more alone than on that journey down the mountain. I had to pay attention if I didn't want to fall off the mountain. I reached the flat lands after dark. I didn't sleep. I wanted to be in the village the next morning. I wanted to go to sleep in our lodge.

I would be in the village before dawn. I would not sleep in our lodge.

When I reached the village, it was an hour before first light. Fires were burning a bit early. There was more than one, and one of the sentries walked out from between the trees.

"Meeks come. Morning Star gone. Lit'l Fox come. Lit'l Fox go."

I'd ridden Shiftless hard and he needed to rest. What I needed to do would require a fresh horse.

The entire village was awake. No one was in their lodge.

The talk was all about Morning Star and Lit'l Fox. I took my bow and arrows off of Shiftless.

"Fresh horse. I need a fresh horse," I said.

One of the fastest horses in the village was brought to me. I'd ridden Spirit Horse before. He was too much horse for me, but he was the horse I needed on this day. He'd carry me as far and as fast as I needed him to.

"Put Shiftless in the meadow," I ordered, as I mounted the spirited horse.

"We go get Lit'l Fox," one of the warriors said.

"This might be a trick to draw the warriors away. Stay here. Be ready for an attack. I'll get Lit'l Fox."

"I nudged Spirit Horse with my knees, and he was at full gallop right away. He was ready to run and run we did. I didn't know what I intended to do, but I knew where Meeks took Morning Star, and I knew that's where my brother went to get her. If this was part of a bigger plan, I'd find out. If I ran into the cavalry coming this way, well, I was on the right horse to give them a run for their money. I'd keep my eyes open and see what happened.

Spirit Horse began to labor after about three hours. It was broad daylight now, and I calculated we were half way to the fort. I got off of him and let him drink at a pond beside the trail. I didn't let him drink too much before I took him into the high grass to graze. In an hour he seemed to be fine, and when I mounted him, he took off again. He was a horse that liked to run, and after a rest and a drink, he ran as fast as he could carry me. He sensed we were on a mission, and he would do his part.

In six or seven hours, I was looking at the forest with the wide trail cut through it. I slowed Spirit Horse and let him walk toward the trail. I kept my eyes open. I half way figured I'd meet up with the cavalry on its way to the village. As I stopped the horse and dismounted, I looked down the trail. I couldn't see the fort, but there was no one on the trail. There were no sentries looking out for someone to approach. That two hundred yards of wide open trail gave me the willies. I didn't know if they posted sentries in case someone did come after them.

They were the army. They weren't worried about anyone coming after them.

They went to our village and somehow got Morning Star. They carried her away, and no one thinks someone is going to show up wanting her back? That someone should have been Lit'l Fox. Where was he?

I walked up to the forest and found Lit'l Fox's horse grazing off to one side. He was not hobbled.

Where was my brother? Did he go into the fort?

I once again looked down that long wide trail through the woods. I had to walk toward the fort.

I hobbled my brother's horse and Spirit Horse. We might need to make a fast getaway, and I wanted the horses here when I got back. I'd leave my bow and arrow. I had my knife. I wouldn't invite them to shoot me. Maybe we could all back out of this with our lives.

Where was my brother?

We'd maybe find a way to get out of what had been started by Meeks. If we managed that, I'd find a place and a time when I'd deal with Meeks. He would not hurt any of my people again. I made this promise to myself. The first time Meeks rode into our Pawnee village, I felt our destinies were intertwined. Running Horse told me to let him deal with Meeks. I'd done that. Now, I would deal with Meeks myself.

The odds were against me riding away from the fort with Morning Star and my brother. If I died here, I wouldn't die alone.

My brother saved my life a long time ago. It was time I repaid my debt to him.

I would gladly do that. Killing Meeks would be a bonus, and I could do it and not start a war.

I was a single Pawnee warrior who came to do what my honor required of me. Because Lit'l Fox was my brother, I could do it without starting a war. As I walked through the forest it became clear to me. I had nothing to do with the events that guided me here, but I came to get my brother and his wife.

Once I stepped into the open, the final act of this play would begin. There was no going back.

As soon as a sentry standing high inside the walls saw me, he reported it to those inside the fort. More men came to look at the single Indian standing at the end of the trail in the forest. I did not carry my bow and arrows. they did not aim rifles at me.

"I came for my brother," I yelled in English. "I found his horse."

"Lit'l Fox, Tall Willow has come for you," I shouted even louder.

A single voice said, "He is not in the fort," the sentry said what he was told to say.

"His horse is here," I yelled at a dozen soldiers now.

One soldier pointed at a spot a few dozen yards from the trail's end.

There was what looked like a bundle of deerskin in a lump near the trees. It took a minute to realize what I was looking at.

It was Lit'l Fox.

My brother was dead. I turned him over, looking at his face. I checked him for wounds before realizing how he'd died. My tears flowed. I could not save my brother's life.

He died alone yelling for Morning Star.

I was standing and screaming at the fort as more soldiers stared out at a lone Pawnee warrior.

"Meeks, you yellow dog. Come meet the man who has come to kill you."

I repeated my challenge, before I knelt beside my brother again. I took him in my arms and rocked him. I'd never known a pain like the one I felt in that moment. I cried. I rocked my brother. I didn't care two dozen soldiers stood at the top of the fort to watch me whaling. As I rocked, my anger boiled deep within me. It wasn't time to allow it to escape me yet.

I heard the gate being pushed open. I saw a soldier coming out of the fort carrying another bundle of deerskin in his arms.

I stood without wiping my tears. A rather large soldier in full uniform came to stand in front of me.

"We did not do this. Meeks was behind it. Him and that Indian of yours. He drew the girl away from the village and Meeks wanted her brought here."

My anger was boiling just below the calm I tried to bring to the occasion. It was time yet.

"Who killed her?" I more ordered than asked.

"He was outside yelling her name. She was inside yelling his name. Meeks told your Indian to shut her up. He held his hand over her mouth so she couldn't respond. When he stopped yelling for her, she grabbed the Indian's knife and stuck it into herself. We didn't do this."

The soldier lay Morning Star beside Lit'l Fox. He stood back up and faced me like a man with courage.

I shoved two fingers into his chest.

"I am giving you your life. I'm going to take my brother and his wife to his horse. When I've done that, I'm coming for Meeks life. You tell him I said that. You tell him that Tall Willow is waiting."

"He won't come alone."

"What is your name?"

"Riggs. I'm Riggs."

"You are a brave man. You go tell him what I said. Meeks may come with many men, he'll die alone."

"The men wanted no part of this. It was Meeks and that Indian."

"Go. Tell him what I said."

I carried Lit'l Fox to his horse and secured him to it. I went back for Morning Star, and as I picked her body up, I yelled at the fort, "Meeks, you yellow dog. Come face the man who will kill you today."

It was plain clear English, and everyone in the fort heard me. Meeks had to come out to face me.

My tears flowed as I secured Morning Star beside her husband. I heard horses leaving the fort in a gallop. I used my forearm to wipe away my tears. I reached for my bow and I took two arrows.

It was time.

As I turned to face the fort, three horses appeared in the opening in the trees. They came charging at me down the trail through the forest. I steadied my bow and fired the first arrow. I took the second arrow and fired it as the horses came closer. There would be no time for more arrows. I stood tall and proud. I was ready to die.

Hitting a moving target was tricky, and I regretted not being a better marksman.

It was then that the man on the second horse slipped off and bounced on his back three times before the horse slowed and the third rider, Riggs, ran his horse over top of Tall Elk.

Meeks and Riggs kept coming, until Meeks horse slowed to a walk about twenty yards from me. He walked a few steps, turning to walk off to one side.

Meeks still sat tall in his saddle, an arrow was through his neck. When the horse turned, I saw it.

Riggs walked his horse to me.

"I'll try to stall them, but they'll be coming after you. You need to go. If you return to your village, they'll come to destroy it. No one liked Meeks, but he is our commanding officer. It requires a full response."

"You, Riggs, are a good man. Tall Willow did this. You tell them that. You tell them Meeks killed my brother and his wife, and I came to kill him. No one else. No one at my village."

"I'll tell them. If I can keep things from organizing for an hour or so, it will be dark. They won't start after you until tomorrow. It's the best I can do, Tall Willow. Your brother would be proud of his brother. It's what I would have done if I was in your place."


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"Runner"

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"To Settle"

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