Visit to the Past
by
“Mama, how much farther is it?” whined Emma Stanley, leaning over the back seat of her father's car.
“About another two hours, honey,” answered Louisa Stanley, Emma's mother. “If you're tired, we can stop at the next rest area.”
“ I'm not tired,” said Matthew, Emma's twin brother. “But I do have to go to the bathroom.”
Hank Stanley chuckled softly and grinned at his wife. “He's not the only one, sweetheart. “Is Gage still right behind us? I want to make sure he sees us when we pull of the highway.”
Louisa turned around to look over her shoulder. “He's about three car lengths back, Hank. There's the exit now.”
“I see it,” replied the Captain, flicking on his turn signal. Johnny's Rover followed them into the rest stop and parked a few spaces away. The lanky paramedic climbed out of his vehicle, stretching his tired muscles.
“All right, you monkeys. Go ahead, but don't take too long.” The young woman waved as Gage approached. “Potty break, Johnny,” she called.
“Good deal,” grinned the paramedic. “I was beginning to wonder when you guys were gonna stop. My back teeth were starting to float.”
Three-year-old Robert hugged Johnny's leg, displaying a toothy smile. “Uncle Johnny, can I ride with you for a while?” he asked.
“If it's okay with your Mama,” answered Gage, bending down to pick up the toddler. “How about it, Mom?”
“Tell you what, little man,” answered Louisa, scooping up her son. “We'll ride with Uncle Johnny for a bit and Uncle Marco can ride with Daddy. Is that all right with you, Hank?”
“If you insist, Lou,” replied the Captain. He pulled his keys out of his pocket and tossed them to his brother-in-law. “You drive, pal. I'm gonna catch a few winks.”
“Just follow me, Marco,” said Johnny, getting back into his Rover. He started the engine and pulled away from the curb. The Latino man followed as he merged into traffic.
Two Hours Later
“Here we are,” grinned Louisa as they drove up to the Johnson Ranch. “Man, I think my butt's asleep. Pretty quiet around here. I wonder where everyone is.”
“They all went into town,” answered a voice. The young woman jumped and whirled around in surprise. Her face lit up as Gray Eagle, Johnny's grandfather came out of the house.
“Hello, Grandfather,” smiled Johnny, hugging his relative warmly. “You're looking well.”
“As are you,” chuckled the Native American man. “Good to see you again, Louisa. This must be Robert,” he commented, gently ruffling the little boy's hair. Robert stared at him wide-eyed, giggling when the man tickled his chin. “Hello, Hank, Marco. How was your trip?”
“Long!” laughed the Captain. “All right, kids! Start getting the bags out of the car and take them into the house.”
A short time later, they were all sitting on the porch catching up. Robert was perched on Gray Eagle's lap, completely at ease with his new friend. “Mama, can we go riding?” begged eight-year-old Matthew.
“You'll have to ask Buck when he gets back, baby,” replied Louisa, draining her glass of lemonade. “If he says it's okay, we'll go after dinner.”
Phillip Johnson's beat-up old pick-up truck rattled down the driveway, a plume of dust billowing behind it. It screeched to a stop in front of the house and the driver jumped out, grinning from ear-to-ear. “Hey, everyone!” he shouted. “What are you all doing lazing around? There's work to be done!”
Hank laughed and stood up to greet his host. “Hi, Phil. Thanks for inviting us up here. Where're Dorothy and Rich?” He waved to Buck, who was just getting out of the truck. “Hey, Buck!”
“Dad had a dentist's appointment,” replied Johnson. “They'll be back later this afternoon.” He reached out to hug Louisa. “Four kids and you still have your girlish figure. How are you, sweetheart?”
“Sweet talker,” teased the young woman. “I'm great! Place looks pretty good. Wish I could say the same for you, buster. Your face looks like a relief map of the mountains.”
Phillip laughed. “It adds character to my ugly mug,” he joked. “We all can't be as pretty as you, darling.”
“Don't hate me because I'm beautiful,” shot back the young woman, her eyes sparkling merrily. She winked at Buck, who snickered. “Bucky, you haven't changed a bit. How do you do it?”
“Clean living,” deadpanned the foreman. “And a lot of formaldehyde.” His eyes widened when he saw Emma. “This can't be the same little girl I remember. She's so grown up. Hi there, pumpkin. You look just like your Mama. How old are you now, cutie?”
The little girl blushed and smiled shyly. “I'm eight,” she whispered, hiding behind her father's legs. “Can we go riding today? Please?”
Buck grinned and crouched down to her level. “I think that could be arranged,” he replied. “Maybe your Mama would like to go with us. I bet she's chomping at the bit wanting to see them buffalo Quincy 's been raising.”
Louisa chuckled. “You got that right. I've been dying to see them ever since Mike told me about them.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
After dinner, Louisa, Johnny, and Buck led Matthew and Emma out to the corral. Hank, Marco, and the Johnsons watched from the porch as the foreman saddled two gentle ponies and boosted the children into the saddle. Robert squirmed on his father's lap as Hannah dozed in Dorothy's arms. “Daddy, I wanna ride!” protested the little boy.
“Not right now, squirt,” replied the Captain. “Wait until your Mama comes back.”
Robert grumbled, his lower lip thrust out in a pout. Phillip leaned over and gently stroked the boy's head. “How about I show you the new kitties out in the barn, champ?”
Johnson and the boy set off for the barn. Out in the corral, Emma squealed in delight as her pony trotted smoothly along the perimeter of the fence. Buck grinned and smiled at Louisa. “Looks like that little gal takes after her Mama,” he chuckled.
“I'll go along with that,” answered Johnny. “She was riding before she could walk. At least she doesn't try to trick ride, like someone I won't mention.”
Louisa grinned widely. “I only tried that once, Johnny,” she protested. “ And almost broke my neck in the process.”
“What are your plans for tomorrow, you two?” asked Buck. “Gonna ride out and see Quincy 's herd?”
“Probably,” replied the young woman. “Hank said he wanted to go into town and catch up with Andy, so we'll most likely be by ourselves.”
The foreman shot her a teasing glance. “Your husband doesn't mind you going off with other men, darling?” he joked playfully. “If you were my wife, I think I'd be a little jealous.”
Louisa blushed rosily. “Johnny and I are just good friends, Bucky. It's not like we're heading up to Victory Ridge, you know,” she retorted saucily. “Gage is adorable, but I'm a one-man woman.”
Matthew reined his pony to a stop and slid down. “Mama, I'm tired,” he said. “Can I go to bed now?”
“What's the matter, sport? All that traveling catching up to you?” grinned his mother. “Emma! Come on; it's bedtime!”
“Aww, Mama! Just a little longer, please?”
“Five more minutes, then inside to get washed up. Johnny, can you keep an eye on her for me?”
“Sure, Lou. Go ahead. I'm sure Cap is ready to get some shut-eye, too. I saw him yawning like an old grizzly a while ago.”
After the children were bedded down for the night, Louisa and Johnny sat on the porch, discussing their plans for the next day. “Rich told me there's an old Indian cave not far from here, Johnny,” said the young woman. “You know what he's talking about?”
The paramedic nodded. “Yeah, it almost twenty miles from here, but a fairly easy ride. Grandfather told me the Lakotas used it for ceremonies at one time.”
“Sounds interesting,” smiled Louisa, stretching her arms above her head. “Man, I'm beat. I think I'll hit the hay. Be ready to leave at dawn, hose jockey. Good night.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The Next Morning
The sun was just peeking over the horizon when the two riders set out. Thin fog hovered over the dew-dampened grass, giving the plain an eerie, shrouded look. A small herd of grazing deer bounded away as they crossed a rise and started down into a small valley.
Louisa and Johnny reached the cave at around ten o'clock after passing an old, run-down abandoned house. They dismounted and ground-tied their horses. “Wow!” marveled the young woman. “It's huge! How far back does it reach?”
“According to Grandfather, about half a mile,” answered the paramedic. He pulled a flashlight out of his saddlebag and switched it on. “Ladies first,” he grinned, pointing to the entrance.
“Great,” muttered Louisa jokingly. “If there's a hungry bear in here, I'll be the appetizer.” She wrinkled her nose, getting a whiff of musty air. “This place needs a good airing out.”
“Hey, Lou, look here!” called Johnny, his voice bouncing off the stone walls and echoing. He raised his flashlight and directed the beam onto a series of elaborate cave paintings. “Almost like the ones back home, huh?”
“Incredible,” breathed the young woman. “Looks like some kind of picture history. See this one? It depicts what seems to be a great hunt. And this one looks like a portrait of a chief. What do these symbols mean?”
The paramedic leaned closer to the wall, eyeing the drawings intensely. His eyes widened in confusion. “They spell out a name, I think.” He thought hard, trying to decipher the words. “The English translation is ‘Black Kettle', but how can that be? He was a Cheyenne , and these paintings are clearly Lakota.”
“Black Kettle was pretty well known, Johnny. Maybe his band traded with the Lakota. Weren't there some Sioux warriors at Little Big Horn?”
Gage nodded, still trying to figure out the mysterious drawings. “Let's go and sit on the ledge for a while. It's kinda chilly in here.”
Louisa followed her friend out of the cave and sat down on the rough stone
ledge. She opened her knapsack and pulled out a small package of jerky. Taking a piece for herself, she handed the remainder to Johnny.
“Do you think Gray Eagle would know more about those paintings, Johnny?” she asked.
“It's possible,” replied the paramedic, handing the bag of dried meat back. As their hands touched, he went on. “I wish we could go back and find out what they mean.” All at once, the bright sun faded and a chill breeze kicked up. The young woman and the paramedic were swept up into a whirlwind that roared out of the cave, howling in their ears.
“Johnny! What's happening?!?” cried Louisa, holding tight to her friend's hand.
“I don't know!” Johnny shouted back. “Hold on!”
The swirling cloud descended upon the riders, frightening their horses. The young woman let out a terrified scream as everything went black.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The first sensation Johnny felt when he regained consciousness was blazing heat. He rolled over and groaned, sitting up slowly. Louisa was lying in the dirt beside him, still passed out, but otherwise unhurt. He leaned over and shook the young woman's shoulder, waking her from her doze.
“Johnny?” she asked groggily. “What happened?” Her eyes widened as she looked around and the empty plain. “Where the heck are we?” she questioned. “Where's the cave?”
“Over there,” replied Johnny, pointing into the distance. “I got a better question for you,” he said. “Where's that old house we rode past this morning? It's gone.”
The young woman turned her head, eyes following his finger. Her jaw dropped when she saw nothing except waving grasses and open space. “I have a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore, Toto,” she grinned.
Gage stared at her in bewilderment. “What in the world are you talking about, Lou?”
Before the young woman could reply, a loud whoop sounded behind them. They turned, staring in shock at a mounted Indian in full war regalia galloping towards them at breakneck speed. The warrior reined in a few feet away, gazing at them with hostile eyes. “Who are you?” he barked in Lakota. “What are you doing on our sacred hunting grounds?” He slid gracefully from his pony and approached them cautiously.
Johnny and Louisa glanced at each other, not believing their ears. The paramedic got to his feet, desperately trying to remember his grandfather's language lessons. He stuttered, further angering the fierce-looking warrior.
Louisa scrambled to her feet and started to answer. Johnny stared at her in amazement as
the guttural Lakota words rolled smoothly off her tongue. The warrior gaped at her, then walked forward to lift a lock of her dark hair, examining it closely. He speared Johnny with a look, a sarcastic smile twisting his full lips.
“How does a wasichu woman know my tongue?!?” he demanded, grabbing Louisa's arm roughly. “Do you belong to him?”
The young woman swallowed hard before answering. “I've spent many moons with one of your people,” she said quietly. She hooked a thumb at Johnny, smiling affectionately. “Yes, he's my man. Please don't hurt him. We didn't come here to steal your ponies.”
The warrior snorted and released her arm. “You will return with me to my camp,” he growled, daring them to refuse. “I will take you to my Chief, the great warrior, Spotted Horse.” He offered a hand to the young woman. “You, white woman, will ride behind me. Your man will walk, if he can ,” he snickered, eyeing Johnny with a mocking gleam in his midnight eyes.
“May I tell him what's happening first? He was hurt several moons ago and cannot understand Lakota speech yet.” When the warrior nodded his assent, Louisa leaned over and whispered in her friend's ear. “He's taking us to his chief, Spotted Horse.” she told him. “It may sound crazy, but I think we traveled back in time somehow. I have to ride on his horse with him, but he says you have to walk. Just follow my lead, Johnny. So far, he believes what I said. I'll fill you in later, okay?”
The paramedic nodded, confused by the whole business. “This is too weird,” he muttered to himself, trotting after the warrior's horse.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The Johnson Ranch
Buck Red Deer grinned when he heard the horses enter the yard. “Sounds like Lou and Johnny changed their minds about spending the day up there,” he said to himself, walking out of the barn. His grin evaporated when he saw that the riders were no where to be seen. The horses stood by the corral gate, flicking their ears back and forth in agitation, their terrified eyes rolling in their sockets. The foreman called out to one of the hands to get Mr. Johnson, fast. The young man took off at a run, knowing something bad had happened.
Phillip raced out of the house, Hank and Marco hot on his heels. “Buck, what's going on? Where are Louisa and John?” he demanded sharply.
“No idea, Phil,” replied Buck. “By the way these critters are acting, something spooked ‘em. I'm gonna saddle Diablo and ride up to the cave.”
Hank moved up to stand beside the foreman. “I'm going with you,” he said. “You know the trail they took?”
“Yeah, it leads directly from the clearing up to the caverns,” replied Buck. He turned and went back into the barn, returning five minutes later, leading two saddled horses. As the men rode out of the yard, Marco stuck his hand in his pocket and pulled out his rosary beads. Closing his eyes tight, he prayed that his sister and his shift-mate were all right.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The Lakota Camp
Louisa looked around her in utter fascination as they entered the camp. The young warrior, who was called Strong Bear, stopped his mount in front of an elaborately decorated tipi and jumped down gracefully. He smiled as he reached up to help the young woman down, waiting impatiently as Johnny ran up behind them, panting harshly. “You sure he's worthy of a maiden like you?” he chuckled.
“Very sure,” retorted Louisa with a glare.
Strong Bear started to reply, but cut off his words when Chief Spotted Horse emerged from his lodge. He stared hard at the strangers, listening carefully as the young warrior explained where and how he had found them.
“Only the woman speaks Lakota, my Chief,” he was saying. “She claims her man was injured and cannot speak for himself.”
Spotted Horse nodded silently, focusing his stern eyes on Louisa's dusty face. “Why are you dressed like that?” he asked curiously. “Do white men make their women dress as boys?” A chuckle rumbled in his throat as he struggled to contain his laughter.
“No, Chief Spotted Horse,” answered the young woman, smiling brightly. “It is easier to ride in pants than in a skirt. I am very honored to meet you.”
The Native American chief grunted softly and motioned towards the open flap. “Come inside and eat. My wife will find some suitable garments for you, little one. How are you called in the white man's tongue?”
“I am called Louisa, and my man is called Johnny,” said the young woman, sitting down beside the fire. An attractive middle-aged woman greeted her with a smile, her eyes bright with curiosity. “The beading on your tunic is very pretty,” Louisa said to her in Lakota. “The design is very nice.”
The Indian woman flushed in pleasure and ducked her head shyly. After serving her guests, she sat down beside her husband, trying hard not to stare at the visitors.
“This is my wife, White Dove,” said Spotted Horse, his pride evident. “Eat, then we will speak,” he continued. “Strong Bear, find Long Feather and bring him to me. I will ask his counsel on this matter. You may take the other warriors out hunting.”
“Yes, my Chief,” replied the warrior, clearly unhappy about being dismissed. He cast a lustful glance at Louisa, then left the tipi.
“Your man has Lakota blood, does he not?” questioned Spotted Horse. “I can see it in his face.”
“Yes, he does,” answered Louisa, draining the broth from her bowl of stew. She smiled warmly at White Dove. “That was very good,” she complimented, making the woman's eyes light up in gratitude. “His mother was Lakota, but his father was white.”
The Chief's face hardened. “Was his father a blue coat?” he asked, his eyes stormy with malice. “One of the men who rides with Long Hair?”
“No, no, he wasn't,” the young woman said quickly, alarmed by the Chief's sudden change in mood. “He raised cattle. His father was an honorable man who did not steal land from your people.”
Spotted Horse's face softened. Before he could speak, Long Feather arrived. He was a tall, imposing man of about sixty. His face was criss-crossed with fine wrinkles and a long, jagged scar started at his left temple and ended at his jaw line. His cold black eyes settled on Louisa, making her nervous.
“Ah, Long Feather, thank you for joining us,” said Spotted Horse, rising to his feet in respect for the medicine man. He made the introductions, explaining that Johnny didn't speak Lakota. Long Feather was clearly miffed at having to deal with a mere woman.
“What are you doing on my people's land?” rumbled the medicine man.
Louisa thought fast, inventing what she hoped was a plausible story off the top of her head. “We got separated from our traveling party a few days ago,” she said quietly. “We were following the river and something spooked our horses. They bucked us off and ran away. We were about to go look for them when Strong Bear found us. We mean you no harm, sir.”
Long Feather digested her story without a flicker of expression. He looked at Spotted Horse and spoke briefly, using hand signs rather than words. After a few tense moments, he turned his attention back to the young woman and stared at her for a long minute. His eyes warmed and a smile cracked his stony face. “You're very fortunate that it was Strong Bear who found you, little one,” he chuckled. “Some of our warriors aren't so welcoming to white people.” He got to his feet, grinning at her merrily. “You and your man will stay in my tipi where I can protect you.” A contagious laugh bubbled up in his throat as he took in Louisa's outfit. “I've never seen a woman dressed as a man before,” he smiled. “Strange creatures, these white men.”
Hank followed Buck up the trail leading to the cave. When they reached the cliff, there was no sign of Louisa or Johnny. The foreman slid down from his mount, studying the ground intently, looking for any hint of a trail that might lead to the missing young woman and paramedic. “Nothing!” he grumbled as he stood up. “Hank, stay here. I'm going into the cavern to see if those two are in there.”
The Captain waited impatiently, looking down at his hands. “Now is not the time to be playing hide-and-seek, you twits,” he muttered crossly. “If this is some kind of joke, it's definitely not funny.”
Buck emerged from the cave, his tanned face ghostly white. “Hank, I think you better take a look at what I found,” he said quietly, his voice shaking slightly.
Stanley stared at the cave paintings in confusion. “All I see are some drawings on the wall. Come on, Buck, fill me in, pal. You look like you saw a ghost.”
“Look closer, Captain,” he answered, pointing to a specific painting. “Tell me what you see.”
Hank rubbed his chin and studied the drawing carefully. “I see what seems to be a village of some kind. And a figure with a white face. So what?”
Buck sighed heavily. “But what about that figure? It's clearly a woman tied to a post.”
The Captain shook his head. “I'm not following you, man. I can see it's a woman. What does that have to do with Louisa and Johnny?”
The foreman bit his lip nervously. “Hank, do you believe in alternate dimensions?”
“In what?!?” growled Hank in exasperation. “I think you've been out in the sun too long, Buck. You're not making any sense.”
The foreman glared at him. “Open your mind, Captain,” he blazed. “About ten years ago, a guy who was staying at the ranch came up here and disappeared, just like Johnny and Louisa. He finally showed up about a week later, telling anyone who would listen that he had traveled back in time. Are you catching my drift now ?!?”
Hank burst out laughing. “You think Gage and my wife got sucked up into another dimension?!?” he demanded. “What have you been smoking?” He doubled over, howling with mirth. “You expect me to believe that nonsense?”
The foreman rolled his eyes and hauled himself back into his saddle. “Believe whatever you like, Captain,” he growled angrily. “I'm going back to the ranch. Stay up here for as long as you like.” He spurred his horse and took off at a gallop.
The Lakota Camp
Long Feather smiled at his guests as they settled onto soft furs. His daughter, Sweet Lark, fussed over Johnny, making the paramedic blush and glance at Louisa with pleading eyes. “Will you tell her to cut it out already?”
The young woman grinned and spoke a few words. The Indian maiden backed off and left the dwelling, muttering under her breath. Long Feather laughed softly, turning twinkling eyes on his new friends. “My daughter finds your man very handsome,” he said gleefully.
“That makes two of us,” answered Louisa, smothering her giggles. She leaned over and whispered in the paramedic's ear. Johnny's eyes widened and his jaw dropped in surprise. “Are you kidding me?” he squeaked.
Long Feather picked up a fan made from eagle feathers and laid it in his lap. Pulling a beaded pouch from a leather bag, he sprinkled fragrant sage into the flames and fanned the resulting smoke towards his face. Remembering the significance of the herb, Louisa bent forward and scooped handfuls of the smoke over her head and face, inhaling deeply. She glanced at Johnny, indicating him to copy her gestures.
“The spirits tell me that you were not completely honest with Spotted Horse, little one,” said the medicine man. “Our warriors have not reported seeing any travelers.”
“I apologize for my false words, Long Feather,” replied Louisa. “I was not sure the Chief would understand. For spirit's sake, I am not even sure I understand how we got here.” She explained what had happened, half expecting her host to laugh at her.
“The Sacred Cave ,” intoned the man, chanting softly. “That place carries much power. Many important holy men rest there, little one. That you and your man have been brought into the time of my Fathers shows that you possess great spiritual strength.”
“But why have we come here, Long Feather?” asked the young woman anxiously.
“The Spirits will make the reason clear in time,” replied Long Feather solemnly. “Perhaps you have a mission to complete, little one.”
Louisa's mouth hung open. “ Me ? I'm not even Lakota!” she protested. “How would I be able to help your people?”
The medicine man sat back, staring into the fire. “Tell me, little one, do you night visions of things that have not yet happened?” he asked softly.
“Night visions? Oh, you mean dreams! Yes, sometimes what I see does happen later on. While I was carrying my last child, I knew I was having a boy before my doctor even told me.”
Long Feather smiled broadly. “Do you have many children?” he questioned.
Louisa blushed. “I have four, two boys and two girls.” Her eyes saddened. “Will I see them again, Long Feather?”
“Perhaps,” replied the medicine man. “That will depend on what the Great Spirit has in mind for you, little one.” He chuckled quietly, his obsidian eyes full of amusement. “I must give you and your friend Lakota names. What do you do in your world?”
“Johnny is a paramedic and I stay home and care for my children,” said the young woman. “A paramedic cares for people who are injured before they can be seen by a doctor, I mean, healer.”
Long Feather nodded in understanding. “I must smoke on this. Rest now. I will send Sweet Lark in later with food.”
As soon as the man left, Johnny started asking questions. He listened carefully as Louisa paraphrased the conversation. “I still can't believe all this is really happened,” he said when she finished. “It's like something out of the Twilight Zone.”
The young woman grinned. “Or one of those cheesy horror movies Chet likes so much,” she replied. “From what I could tell, this particular tribe hasn't had much contact with white men yet. That might work to our advantage, Johnny. As long as we keep our mouths shut and our eyes open, we just might get out of this with our scalps, not to mention our lives.”
The paramedic chuckled. “It's a good thing you spent so much time with Grandfather,” he said, his eyes twinkling. “So, what do we do now?”
“I don't know about you , hose jockey,” said Louisa with a wink, “but I'm going to get some sleep. Traveling through time takes it out of a gal.”
“Johnny snorted in amusement. “I wonder if anyone knows we're missing yet,” he whispered as he lay down.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The Johnson Ranch
Gray Eagle listened intently as Buck told him his suspicions. Finally, he nodded. “I recall the man you mentioned, Buck,” he said. “Jack Little was his name, if I remember correctly. He bought a place not far from here. I think it would be a good idea to talk to him. Maybe he can shed some light on things.”
Two hours later, they were sitting on Jack Little's front porch, trying to get him to talk about his experience. At the mere mention of the incident, however, the rancher turned white and started shaking.
“I don't want to remember!” he growled. “Why the Hell you asking me about it?”
Gray Eagle smiled gently. “We think two of our friends may have done the same thing,” he answered. “One is a young lady that used to work for Phil Johnson. The other is my grandson.”
Little digested this, staring at the dusty boards between his boots. “Are you talking about Louisa Martin?” he questioned. “That little gal from California ?”
“Yeah, Jack, that's her,” put in Buck. He hooked at thumb at Hank. “This guy here is her husband.”
The rancher grinned. “You must be incredibly strong-willed if you tamed her,” he chuckled. “I crossed swords with her in town a few times,” he revealed. “I recall one particular debate, if you wanna call it that, about the way I was mistreating my hands. She compared me to a plantation owner and told me I was damn lucky to have anyone working for me.”
Captain Stanley laughed. “My wife is a bit outspoken,” he smiled. “But I find this whole ‘time travel' stuff a bunch of nonsense. She and Gage probably got lost someplace.”
Little's eyes flew open wide and shot sparks. “It's true, sir,” he sputtered. “I experienced it first hand! One minute I was leaning against that cave wall, wondering what living with the native tribes was like, and next thing I knew, I was waking up smack dab in the middle of one!”
Gray Eagle's head whipped around. “Say that again!” he demanded.
“One minute I was wondering what the Indian camps were like and next minute I was in one,” repeated Jack.
The Native American man looked at Buck. “Louisa asked me numerous times what times were like back then,” he said quietly. “If she said that and she and John were touching in some way and made a comment about it……..”
“They were both transported back,” finished Buck. “Mr. Little, how did you get back? Do you recall?”
Jack bit his lip, struggling to remember. “Well, I didn't tap my heels together three times, saying ‘there's no place like home',” he snickered. “I was out with some of the braves, hunting one day and saw that same cave again. I went in and started thinking about going home. Everything went dark and I woke up on the grass outside the cavern.”
Gray Eagle's grin almost split his face in two. “Thank you, Mr. Little. You've been very helpful. We appreciate you talking to us. Come on, boys.” He jumped off the porch, turning around just before he climbed into Buck's car. “By the way, Mr. Little, it's not ‘braves'; it's ‘warriors'.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The Lakota Camp
When Johnny and Louisa woke up, it was dark and Sweet Lark was busy preparing the evening meal. The young woman rose to help, making the Indian maiden smile. They chatted in a friendly manner, their conversation punctuated by girlish giggles. The paramedic sat in the corner, his cheeks flushed crimson. He breathed a sigh of relief when Long Feather entered the tipi, ending the exchange.
“Spotted Horse has made it known that Makhpiya Luta (Red Cloud), the great war chief, will be coming to our camp with his warriors in three suns,” he told Louisa while they ate. “He will be helping us move our tribe into the Black Hills before the snows come.”
Johnny's head shot up when he heard the reference to the Lakota holy place. He raised an eyebrow at Louisa, silently asking if she understood the significance. The young woman nodded slightly and turned her attention back to their host.
“Strong Bear has expressed interest in you, little one,” he grinned. “He is hoping you will dance with him this evening.”
Louisa chuckled. “I do not think my husband would like that, but I suppose I could take a chance,” she said slyly. “I hope Strong Bear does not take offense if I step on his toes.”
Sweet Lark covered her mouth with her hand and tittered. “I will teach you, my friend,” she promised. “Perhaps your companion will honor me with a dance as well.” The pretty maiden cast a hopeful look at the paramedic, making him squirm in discomfort.
“Are you sure we will be welcome, Long Feather?” asked Louisa, biting her lip. “Not everyone seems happy that we are here.”
The medicine man smiled. “You are honored guests,” he said. “Spotted Horse and I have made it clear that you and your friend are not to be harmed.”
“That's a relief,” answered the young woman, licking her fingers. “I noticed some of your warriors eyeing us with fierce expressions.”
“You are safe here, little one,” replied Long Feather. “This dance is in celebration of your visit. I plan to give you both Lakota names in a special ceremony.” He wiped his fingers and stood up. “Come; Spotted Horse is waiting for us near the council fire.”
Johnny and Louisa followed the medicine man to the center of the village. Spotted Horse and his wife, White Dove, were waiting, clad in heavily-beaded garments. Strong Bear, along with several of his friends, were standing off to the side, whispering about the visitors. The warrior's eyes lit up and he cast a glowing smile at Louisa. The young woman blushed rosily and smiled back. A maiden a few feet to his right frowned and glared.
The chief raised his hands. The hum of conversation faded and dwindled to silence. “The two people have come into our camp after straying from their band,” he said, his voice rising and falling in a lilting rhythm. “I welcome them to our village and ask the Great Spirit to bless them.” He nodded to Long Feather, who moved to stand at his side. “Shaman, have the Spirits spoken to you and revealed Lakota names for our guests?”
The medicine man began a low chant. “The Spirits have filled me,” he shouted. He waved Louisa forward and laid strong hands on her head. “This woman will be known as Moon Flower. Never again shall no member of this tribe call her by her white name. Welcome, Moon Flower.”
The young woman smiled solemnly, her eyes shining with pride. “I take this name proudly. I am honored to be in your presence, Long Feather.”
The medicine man walked over to stand in front of Johnny. The paramedic was beginning to understand a word here and there, but couldn't follow the entire speech. Long Feather repeated his gesture. “This man will be known as Swift Wolf,” he thundered. “Welcome, my son. Take your place next to your woman.”
Seeing Johnny's bewildered look, Louisa discreetly motioned for him to stand beside her. “He has named you Swift Wolf,” she whispered. “It's customary to thank him and say that you're honored.” She turned to Long Feather and offered these words to the medicine man.
Spotted Horse nodded and led the newly-christened visitors to a place beside the fire. He gestured for them to sit and dropped to the ground next to them. He glanced at his wife and smiled. White Dove came forward and laid two sets of buckskin garments on the Chief's lap. He presented them to Louisa and Johnny with a broad smile. “You will shed the clothing of your white brethren and wear these garments,” he said sternly, his tone suggesting that he wouldn't accept any argument. “My wife will take you to change now.”
A short time later, Johnny and Louisa emerged from Spotted Horse's tipi wearing their new outfits. Strong Bear's eyes sparkled with pleasure as he approached the young woman, offering her his hand and leading her to the fire. The paramedic followed, blushing when several of the Indian maidens giggled behind their hands as he passed.
A tall, sullen-looking warrior stared at Gage with a menacing gleam in his eyes. Johnny gulped anxiously, noting the jagged scar that marred the man's chin. He jumped when the man's hand dropped to his belt to rest on the hilt of a wicked-edged hunting knife. He yanked the weapon from its sheath and tested the blade with his thumb, smiling coldly. Louisa nudged Strong Bear and pointed.
The warrior leaped to his feet and stood in front of the scarred man. “Running Elk, put away your knife,” he growled. “Swift Wolf is our guest and friend to Moon Flower. You will not harm him unless you wish to fight me.”
Running Elk sneered, but sheathed his blade. He stormed from the camp, heading for the pony herd. A few moments later, he rode out of the village, casting a burning look over his shoulder. “I will claim your scalp, wasichu ,” he vowed. “If I find you alone, your blood will stain my knife.”
“That guy's trouble, Johnny,” Louisa whispered to her friend. “If I was you, I'd be on my guard for a while.”
The paramedic grinned and glanced at Strong Bear. “I have a feeling he'd do anything you asked,” he teased. “Wonder what Cap would say about his little crush?”
The young woman rolled her eyes and blushed. “What about Sweet Lark?” she teased back. “She hasn't let you out of her sight all evening.”
Strong Bear stepped forward and stood between them. “Running Elk will not harm your friend, Moon Flower,” he said. “You have my word as a warrior.” He speared Johnny with a look, his eyes twinkling in amusement. “How is it you have Lakota blood, but do not understand our words?” he asked.
At that moment, Johnny did understand. All the lessons Gray Eagle had given him in his youth came back in a flood. A crooked grin lit up his face as he responded in his native language. “I do understand, Strong Bear,” he said proudly, his spine stiffening with obvious esteem. “I am not afraid of Running Elk. I may be skinny, but I'm tough!”
The warrior burst out laughing, his voice echoing throughout the village. He clapped Johnny on the shoulder in a gesture of friendship. “We might make a warrior out of you yet, Swift Wolf. I will personally oversee your training, that is, if Moon Flower agrees.”
“Only if you teach me, too, Strong Bear,” she replied, smiling warmly. “Or is it forbidden to teach women how to fight?”
“Let us ask Long Feather,” answered the warrior, reaching out to take her hand. A look of surprise crossed his face and he turned red. “I apologize for being forward, Moon Flower. Please forgive me.”
“Consider it done,” grinned Louisa. “How could I stay angry at my staunchest supporter?” She winked at Johnny and went in search of the medicine man. She found him deep in conversation with Spotted Horse and a group of warriors. The Chief smiled as she approached and made room for her to sit beside him.
Strong Bear and Swift Wolf followed, talking quietly. The warrior's face lit up as he laughed at something the paramedic told him. He nodded to his Chief and medicine man and made his request. “I would like to teach Swift Wolf how to fight like warrior, my Chief,” he said. “Moon Flower, too, if you agree.”
Long Feather bent his head to hide his smile. Spotted Horse stared at the young woman, sizing her up and wondering if she was strong enough to handle the rigorous training. Louisa stared back at him, silently begging him to give his permission. Finally, the Chief spoke. “If you can find another warrior willing to help you, I will allow it,” he said sternly. “And Moon Flower's training must end when Red Cloud and his band arrive. It would not be proper for him to witness a mere woman training as a warrior,” he added, a smile softening his veiled insult.
Towering Oak, Strong Bear's closest friend, pushed his way forward. “I will help my boyhood friend train these wasichu , my Chief,” he stated, his chest puffing out. “But Moon Flower must not take a chance getting hurt. I will supervise her personally,” he chuckled.
Johnny smothered a laugh. “She might just surprise you, Towering Oak,” he joked. “She's very strong and very determined. She has experience breaking wild horses.”
Strong Bear grinned and gently teased his oldest friend. “Maybe we should have a contest to see who is better, Towering Oak.”
The other warrior smiled widely. “My pride could not take such a blow,” he answered good-naturedly. “Can Moon Flower shoot from beneath her mount's neck?” he questioned playfully.
Louisa chuckled softly. “I cannot say that I can, Towering Oak. I never had a chance to learn that.”
At that instant, the sharp notes of a bugle sounded in the distance, followed by the sound of pounding hooves. The warriors dashed for the pony herd, grabbing their weapons along the way. The women and children ran for cover, shrieking with fear. Long Feather leaped forward and led Louisa and Johnny back to his tipi. “ Wasichu soldiers,” he panted. “Stay out of sight until someone comes for you.” He grabbed his shield and lance and sped away to defend his people.
The Johnson Ranch
Hank sat on the porch, surrounded by his children as Buck, Phillip, and Gray Eagle discussed the situation. Emma stared at her father, aware that something was wrong. She nudged her twin brother and pulled him back into the house.
“Whatever they're talking about has to do with Mama and Uncle Johnny,” whispered the little girl. “Otherwise, they'd tell us what was going on.”
Matthew grinned, nodding his head in agreement. “Daddy probably doesn't think we're smart enough to know Mama's in trouble. Why else would he be ignoring us?”
Dorothy stood in the kitchen door, unnoticed by the plotting twins. She heard every word of their conversation, marveling how intelligent they were to have figured out something wasn't right. A smile twisted her lips when she heard Emma tell her brother that she was going to demand that their father level with them. The little girl reminded Mrs. Johnson so much of her mother that tears welled up in the woman's eyes.
The twins went back outside and stood in front of their father's chair. “Daddy, we know something is wrong,” said Emma, her eyes serious. “Mama and Uncle Johnny should have been home by now. Are they lost?”
Hank chuckled softly. “I never could pull the wool over your eyes for long, pumpkin. Yes, your mother and John are lost. But don't worry; we'll find them.”
“But that's not the whole story, is it?” persisted Matthew. “Daddy, we're not babies anymore. You can tell us what's going on.”
The Captain grinned and bit back a laugh. “Gray Eagle and Buck have some theories what happened, but they're pretty out of this world,” he said. “I'm not even sure I believe it myself.”
Gray Eagle walked up the porch steps and crouched in front of the twins. “Do you kids believe in alternate dimensions?” he asked solemnly, ignoring Hank's exasperated sigh.
Emma giggled. “You mean like in those silly movies Uncle Chet watches?” she joked. She looked at her brother, then shrugged. “I guess so. Not everything can be explained.”
The Native American man smiled widely. “Well, Buck and I think that your Mama and Uncle Johnny might have been transported to another place and time.”
Matthew's jaw dropped. “are you kidding?!?” he shouted. “That only happens in movies, sir.”
Buck laid a weathered hand on the boy's shoulder, shaking his head. “No, buddy, it happens in real life, too. It happened to a man who lives close by. We think it had something to do with the cave where Louisa and Johnny went exploring.”
Emma leaned against her father's knee for support. “Can you get them back?” she asked, tears welling up in her eyes.
“We're certainly going to try, little one,” answered Gray Eagle. He glanced at Buck and stood up. “It's time to leave,” he said quietly.
The foreman smiled grimly and jumped off the porch. “I hope this works,” he commented as he and Gray Eagle walked towards the trail leading to the cave. “Otherwise, Lou and John will be trapped in the past forever.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The Lakota Camp
Louisa and Johnny sat huddled together in the tipi, listening to the sounds of the fight raging just outside. The young woman chewed her fingernails nervously, hearing cries of pain mingling with raucous shouts and hoof beats. All at once, she jumped to her feet, searching frantically for a weapon. In the corner, she found a bow and quiver of arrows and snatched them up.
“What in the Hell do you think you're doing?” asked Johnny as she reached for the flap. “Don't tell me you're going out there?!? Are you insane?!?”
Louisa turned on him angrily. “Those people out there are our friends, Johnny,” she growled. “I can't stand by while they're being slaughtered. Either come with me or stay here, but there's no way you're gonna be able to stop me!”
The paramedic sighed in defeat and got to his feet. “I'm know I'm gonna regret this,” he muttered. “Cap would never forgive me if I let you get yourself killed. Lead on, warrior woman,” he teased.
Louisa cautiously pushed back the entrance flap and looked around. Her eyes widened when she saw a virtual sea of blue uniforms and an all-too-familiar battle flag. “Figures that son-of-a-bitch would pull something like this,” she said softly. She glanced over her shoulder at her friend, a grim light shining in her eyes. “It's Custer, Johnny. We're about to look the devil himself square in the face.”
Strong Bear and several other warriors dashed by, leading the soldiers out of the village. He threw a proud grin back at his new friends and motioned for them to follow. Johnny tried to take the bow from Louisa's hand, but she refused to give it up. “Are you sure you want to do this?” he asked uncertainly. “If we're caught, we could be hung.”
The young woman glared and ran after the warriors, whooping at the top of her lungs. She dodged out of the way as a horse bore down on her. The stocky cavalry soldier goggled at her and turned his mount. He raised his saber, intending to cut her down. Before he had the chance, Louisa pulled back on the bowstring and let an arrow fly. The deadly missile struck the soldier in the chest and knocked him from the saddle. Louisa ran forward and captured the horse before it could flee. Johnny vaulted into the saddle behind her and they took off after the running troops.
A few yards away, General George Armstrong Custer stared in disbelief at the young woman and her companion. “That woman's white !” he shouted to his aide. “These filthy savages must have taken her prisoner and forced her to fight with them! After them! I want to talk to her!” He spurred Comanche, his beloved horse, and galloped after the riders.
“Lou, don't look now, but we're being chased!” shouted Johnny over the wind howling in his ears. “Looks like the General spotted you!”
Louisa didn't reply as her mount thundered into a stand of trees. She slid down from the horse's back and crawled into a thicket, dragging Johnny behind her. “Get down, you fool!” she screamed. Custer and his aide galloped past their hiding place and disappeared over a rise. Seconds later, a chilling Lakota war cry erupted from the village and echoed over the valley. It was followed by a barrage of gunfire, then silence reigned.
The two time-travelers hugged the ground, whispering heartfelt prayers. Running footsteps neared the thicket. Louisa tensed, ready to fight for their lives. She relaxed when Strong Bear's sweaty face appeared through a gap in the bushes. “Long Hair and his soldiers are fleeing for their scalps!” he crowed, a wide grin spreading from ear-to-ear. His eyes turned serious. “Did not Long Feather tell you to stay in the tipi?” he questioned.
Louisa crawled out of the briars and stood up. “I heard what was going on and refused to let my friends fight alone!” she said defiantly. “I may be a woman, but I will not sit by and watch the people I care about be hurt without taking action!”
Strong Bear's booming laugh rolled across the plain. “Well said, Moon Flower,” he chuckled. “I saw how well you fought. Are all wasichu women so fierce?” he asked, midnight eyes sparkling with delight.
Johnny burst out laughing. “No, but she's a special case,” he snickered. “How many were injured?” he questioned with concern.
The warrior's face saddened. “Spotted Horse was shot in the first attack and Towering Oak has an arrow in his shoulder. A few others have slight wounds.”
“What about Long Feather and Sweet Lark?” asked Louisa, her face paling. “Are they all right?”
“Yes, Moon Flower, they are fine,” answered Strong Bear. “We must return to the village now. We are not going to wait for Red Cloud and his warriors to arrive. Spotted Horse has ordered that the village be moved immediately.”
“Are the wounded able to travel, Strong Bear?” asked Johnny.
“Those who are not will be carried,” replied the warrior, urging them to hurry. Every person in the village was busy packing their belongings or dismantling tipis. Within an hour, the only indication that the tribe had been there were the still smoking campfires and trampled grass where the pony herd had grazed. A long procession of Indians set off across the plains, headed for the Lakota's sacred Black Hills . Louisa rode close beside Long Feather, listening as the medicine man described the site as they traveled steadily south.
“The Lakota consider the Black Hills a very powerful place, Moon Flower,” he was saying. He looked around to se if anyone was listening. “What does your modern world know about them?” he questioned softly.
The young woman smiled faintly. “It would help a great deal if I knew exactly what year this was,” she answered. “Is Red Cloud still fighting the white soldiers?”
“No, little one. He made a treaty with them two moons ago,” replied Long Feather.
“All right, then we're in 1868.” She grinned at the medicine man's bewildered expression. “The white man called it Red Cloud's War,” she explained. “If I remember my history correctly, sometime after the snows come, Long Hair, who the white men call General Custer, will attack a band of Cheyenne on the Washita River .”
Strong Bear rode past just then, in time to hear her comment. “Long Hair,” he sneered. “The man is a curse. How do you know this, Moon Flower? Can you predict the future like Sitting Bull?” he teased.
Louisa blushed in embarrassment. “It is difficult to explain, Strong Bear. Let's just say I have inside information.”
The warrior raised an eyebrow at Long Feather. A shout from the front of the line captured his attention before he could speak. Strong Bear kicked his pony and galloped away in response to his Chief's shout.
“Go on, Moon Flower,” said the medicine man. “After the Washita , what happens next?”
“In the summer of 1874, about six winters from now, gold was discovered in the Black Hills . Many, many white men came out to get their share. An all-out war erupted between the Lakota and the soldiers sent out to protect the miners.” She stopped talking when Johnny rode up beside her, a guilty blush coloring her cheeks.
“Spotted Horse sent me back to get you, Long Feather,” he said, shooting a warning glare at Louisa. “He's not doing very well.” The medicine man kicked his mount and galloped away. “Are you sure you should be telling him all this stuff, Lou?” asked the paramedic.
The young woman grinned sheepishly and shrugged. “Maybe not, but if it can help them stay alive, what's the harm? You saw the damage Custer and his soldiers did, Johnny. And don't the Lakota hold people who can predict the future in high esteem?”
Johnny chuckled and shook his head. “Yeah, they do, but it might cause trouble in the long run. You could be changing the course of history!”
Louisa bit her lip thoughtfully. “I never thought of it that way,” she admitted. She looked up when Long Feather hailed them, gesturing them to join him at Spotted Horse's side. The Chief had slid down from his pony and lay on the ground, breathing heavily, his face damp with sweat.
“His body is poisoned from the wound,” informed the medicine man as they rode up. He looked sharply at Johnny, his lined face fearful. His eyes conveyed a plea for help.
“Is there a place where we can find shelter?” asked Louisa, kneeling next to the sick Chief. “Someplace where the soldiers won't see us?”
“There is a cave close to here,” said Towering Oak. “It is well hidden.”
“Get him there,” ordered the young woman. “Johnny, I think we're gonna have to remove the bullet. Long Feather, do you have medicine that will bring his fever down?”
The medicine man nodded. “I can make a tea that will work,” he answered. He turned to his daughter. “Sweet Lark, follow Towering Oak and build a fire in the cave. Fetch water and heat it.”
Johnny stared at his friend in disbelief. “You're not planning on doing what I think you have in mind, are you?” he gasped. “If you're not careful, you could end up killing him! No, I won't let you do it!”
Louisa's eyes burned with anger. “If the bullet is not removed, Johnny, he'll die form infection. You know that as well as I do!” She laid a gentle hand on Spotted Horse's shoulder. “My Chief, will you let me try to take out the bullet?” she whispered softly.
The Chief's eyes opened a fraction and he looked at her critically. “Do you know how ?” he asked. When she nodded, he continued. “I will allow it if you permit Long Feather to help.”
“I will try my best, Spotted Horse,” promised the young woman.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
A short time later, the Chief lay on a pallet of furs as Louisa sharpened a knife. She held the blade in the flames, acutely conscious of Long Feather's watchful gaze. The medicine man's face was grim, his eyes making it clear what would happen if she failed. The young woman uncovered the festering wound on Spotted Horse's chest, swallowing hard as the smell of diseased flesh assaulted her nose. “Hold him still,” she said, taking a firm grip on the knife and positioning it over the reddened hole.
Spotted Horse groaned in pain as the blade cut into his skin. Dark red blood and sickly yellow pus oozed from the wound as Louisa dropped the knife and probed the hole with her fingers. Sweat beaded on her forehead as she dug for the bullet. After what seemed like an eternity, she pulled a flattened chunk of lead from the Chief's chest and dropped it on the floor. Johnny leaned over and pressed a piece of cloth to the wound, staunching the flow of blood. “The worst is over,” he said, a crooked smile lighting up his face. “You should talk to Brackett about being a surgeon, Lou,” he teased.
“If we ever see him again, I will,” retorted Louisa. Long Feather handed her a flat wooden box filled with a sticky, blackish paste. She raised it to her nose and took a whiff. “Yuck! This smells worse than Chet Kelly's socks!” she choked, sneezing violently.
The medicine man chuckled softly. “Is he the one you call the ‘Phantom'?” he asked. “You must tell me more about him.” He scooped up a finger full of the paste and smeared it over the wound and covered it with a strip of leather, binding it tightly. He wiped his hands on his tunic and sat back on his heels. “You did well, Moon Flower. You, too, Swift Wolf.”
The two friends flushed under his praise and shared a smile. “I can sit with him, if you like,” said Louisa.
Long Feather nodded and got to his feet. “I will return shortly with food and water,” he answered.
“If he dies, we're toast,” said Johnny somberly. “You do know that, right?”
“I've been trying not to think about that, pal,” grinned Louisa. “Thanks for reminding me. Spotted Horse is in top condition; I think he'll be just fine.”
Over the next few days, the Lakota Chief steadily improved. When he was strong enough to be moved, he, Long Feather, Louisa, and Johnny joined the rest of the tribe in their winter camp deep in the Black Hills . The paramedic spent most of his time with Strong Bear, Towering Oak, and the other warriors, learning how to track and hunt game. The day he brought down his first kill was cause for great celebration. He strutted through the camp like a peacock, making Louisa giggle at his antics. One cold, snowy evening, she was sitting in Long Feather's tipi, busy sewing a new pair of moccasins and chattering merrily with Sweet Lark.
“Swift Wolf is very handsome, Moon Flower,” the maiden smiled, her cheeks rosy. “Does he have a mate yet?”
Louisa bent her head to hide her grin. “No, he has not found a woman that suits him yet,” she answered, her eyes twinkling with amusement.
“My father told me that you came from the future. Is that right?”
“Yes, it is, but keep that to yourself, Sweet Lark,” cautioned the young woman. “Some of your band may not understand.” She laid her sewing aside and looked straight into her new friend's eyes. “Have you ever met Red Cloud before?”
The Indian maiden shook her head. “A great chief his status does not usually pay attention to women,” she replied. “Those who would not understand; do you mean Red Cloud and his warriors?”
“It's possible,” said Louisa. “I would rather not give him cause to want to harm me or Swift Wolf.”
Sweet Lark chuckled. “I am sure Strong Bear would not allow anyone to hurt you, Moon Flower,” she teased. “He is quite smitten with you, in case you have not noticed.”
The young woman blushed. “I have, believe me. He always goes with me to the river when I go to fetch water,” she giggled. “And brings the best part of his kill to your father's tipi. I just hope he is not too upset when he learns that I already have a husband. Strong Bear is a very nice man; I would not want to injure his pride too severely.”
The women giggled, looking up when the flap opened and Long Feather and Spotted Horse entered. The Chief's face was expressionless as he stared hard at Louisa. The young woman met the man's gaze, her stomach clenching into a hard knot.
“Long Feather has told me how you and Swift Wolf cared for me after I was injured,” said Spotted Horse, his voice soft and humble. “I am grateful. And I heard how you defended our tribe when Long Hair attacked.”
Louisa blushed and fumbled for a reply. “I only did what I felt was right,” she whispered finally. “Your people have been very kind to us since we came here.”
Long Feather grinned broadly. “Word of your deeds has spread throughout the plains, Moon Flower,” he said. “A runner from Sitting Bull's Cheyennes arrived this morning with word that his Chief is coming to speak to you.”
The young woman swallowed nervously. “I am honored that Sitting Bull would travel so far just to see a mere woman of my low status,” she answered humbly, surprised by this turn of events.
Spotted Horse cleared his throat. “The tribal elders and I have decided to adopt you and Swift Wolf into our band, Moon Flower,” he told her. “We are very proud to have you with us.” A smile cracked his stony face as he took in the young woman's dumbfounded expression. “We would like you both to stay with us as long as you wish.”
Louisa's face lit up as she grinned. “Does that mean you believe that we came from the future?” she giggled.
The Chief laughed. “Long Feather convinced me that your story is true. I am interested in hearing about your world and your opinions about Long Hair.”
“I am not sure I could find the proper words, Spotted Horse. General Custer, as he is called by the whites, is a very evil man who fights without honor. His only concern is making a name for himself, not matter how high the cost.”
A shout from outside caught the Chief's attention. Seconds later, Towering Oak burst into the tipi, his eyes wide with excitement. “Red Cloud and Sitting Bull have come with their bands, my Chief!” he panted.
“Come, Moon Flower,” said Spotted Horse, getting to his feet. He turned to the warrior. “Find Swift Wolf and bring him to my tipi.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Buck looked around nervously, staring at the painting decorating the cave walls in silent reverence. Gray Eagle stood beside him, mentally preparing himself for their journey. He clutched his medicine bag tightly in one hand and began to chant softly. The Native American man reached and clasped Buck's hand as he voice increased in volume. “I wish I could find my grandson and Louisa,” he shouted.
All at once, a swirling wind filled the cave, stirring the fringe on Gray Eagle's tunic. The world darkened and the men collapsed to the floor, unconscious.
Buck was the first to wake. He sat up, finding himself almost buried in a snow drift. The foreman looked around him in amazement and saw Gray Eagle lying a few feet away. he crawled over to the Native American man, shaking him gently.
“Are we there?” muttered Gray Eagle groggily, rubbing his eyes. The cold penetrated his clothing, making him shiver. “I could do without this,” he grumbled.
“You and me both,” grinned Buck, climbing to his feet and dusting off his clothes. “Any idea where we are?” he asked.
Gray Eagle stood, staring at the snow-covered landscape in trepidation. He saw horses off in the distance and pointed them out to is companion. “Looks like travelers,” he commented. “But are they friendly or hostile?”
Buck chuckled. “One way to find out,” he said, plowing through the snow. “They're not making much noise, so my guess would be that they're Indians.”
The men struggled through the deepening drifts until they were close enough to the little band to make out their clothing. Gray Eagle grinned when he recognized a group of Lakota warriors returning from a hunt. He raised his voice, calling out to the hunters. The little band stopped and stared in amazement at the men approaching them. One of the mounted braves kicked his pony and ride over to them.
“Who are you?!?” he barked, his face menacing.
“We are searching for friends of ours,” answered Gray Eagle. “One is a man of mixed heritage and the other is a white woman.”
The warrior turned when one of his hunters leaned from his saddle to whisper to him. He nodded, then returned his attention to the two men standing in front of him. “We have heard of these people,” he said. “They are part of our band. I am Towering Oak and this is Running Deer. Come with us and we will take you to our camp. It is not far.”
“I am Gray Eagle and this is my friend Buck Red Deer. How far is the camp?”
Towering Oak smiled. “A few hours ride,” he said. He gestured to one of his warriors, who jumped down from his horse to cut a chunk of meat from the deer strapped to the travois behind his mount. He offered the food to Gray Eagle, who tore it in half and gave a portion to Buck.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The Lakota Winter Camp in the Black Hills
Louisa and Johnny followed Long Feather as he led them to Spotted Horse's tipi. They went inside and took places around the fire. The Chief was sitting up against a rolled-up buffalo robe, talking quietly with his guests. He smiled when his new friends came in. “Swift Wolf, Moon Flower, this is Red Cloud and Sitting Bull,” he said.
The paramedic nodded politely, nudging his companion. “We are honored to be in the presence of such great chiefs,” he said.
Chief Sitting Bull stared at Louisa sternly, making the young woman squirm under his gaze. Finally, he smiled and raised a welcoming hand. “Spotted Horse has told me how you saved his life, Moon Flower,” he said. “Come, sit here beside me.”
Louisa sat down, awed by the man's obvious status. She blushed when Spotted Horse chuckled softly. “I only removed a bullet,” she said modestly. “Such a small wound could not do much damage to such a powerful man.”
Red Cloud snorted in derision. “How does a wasichu woman know how to treat such wounds?” he demanded crossly. “Do you possess a medicine man's skills?”
Long Feather spoke up, deftly diverting the war chief's anger. “Moon Flower has proven herself to be a very valuable addition to our tribe, Red Cloud,” he said, grinning proudly at his newly-adopted daughter. “She killed one of Long Hair's soldiers when he and his party attacked our village. She is as brave as she is beautiful.”
Sitting Bull laughed out loud. “Then she must be a very formidable woman,” he snickered. “I can see why Strong Bear is so enamored with her. Spotted Horse has told us how you came to be with his tribe, little one,” his eyes revealing his disbelief.
“I only spoke the truth,” put in Spotted Horse. “Tell him what you told Long Feather, Moon Flower.”
“You mean about Long Hair?” asked Louisa. When the Chief nodded, she continued, telling the chiefs about Custer's 1874 expedition and what he found.
Red Cloud's hands clenched as he struggled ot contain his rage. “She is a spy!” he shouted. “Sent here by the white soldiers to trick us!”
Johnny's temper exploded. “We are not spies!” he retorted, reaching into the pouch he wore on his belt. He pulled out his wallet and almost flung it at the war chief. “Look at the date, sir. It proves we are telling the truth.”
The Lakota chief picked up the item, staring at it in amazement. “This could be false,” he said angrily. His tone changed as soon as he saw Gage's driver's license. “How is this possible?” he questioned.
“Because we are being honest with you, Chief Red Cloud,” answered Louisa. “We did not ask to come here. I have a husband and children that are probably looking for me right now.”