Chapter 19: New Fiends and A New Custom

White Eagle sat with Golden Hawk to his left and Standing Badger to his right. Only Two Bears, Big River, Red Feather and their wives along with Black Bear and Butterfly from the Sioux, Strong Elk and Little Deer from the Pawnee were sitting to the left of Golden Hawk. My entire group was sitting to the right of Standing Badger much to my dismay.

The entire Chippewa group was seated in front of all of us.

Wise Owl with his wife Graceful Doe on his left and his daughter Happy Bird on his right and Clever Fox sitting to her right were out front. The rest of the tribe were sort of lined up by family behind one another.

White Eagle asked Wise Owl to tell their story and not to worry about how long it took, only that he describe as truthfully and accurately as he could.

Wise Owl began saying that the whites from across the great water were setting the Indians against one another and then killing off the weaker tribes. The Chippewa tribes were now scattered and fleeing the north to avoid being wiped out. Even the Blackfeet were moving south and also planning to join White Eagle.

The whites would kill off as much of the game as they could, and this would run off anything they did not kill. Raids on camps were more just harassment to burn, destroy, and wreck tepees, gardens, and steal livestock. By not killing those left to the aftermath would create more problems for other tribes as they had to try and support each other. When killing did happen it was always the braves and only males, sometimes squaws might get killed but mostly it was just the braves and young males targeted. This also increased the burden by limiting those who could provide for all the survivors.

I realized this was a good tactic as it would truly increase the burden of survival by decreasing those who could provide and increase the numbers needing to be supported.

The Civil War was different here, cooler heads seemed to prevail. Most of the south/slavers agreed to better conditions and a small amount of pay each month if certain goals were met treating the slaves as indentured and once a set amount had been earned/paid they would be free. The hardcore, stupid, all or nothing ones were where the fighting was happening and that was limited, since more than half agreed to the new terms.

This did create the problem of expansion westward a lot sooner than happened in my time. I was unsure if I had traveled back in time or slid into a different time/place/dimension. It really didn’t matter anymore as I knew I would not be able to get back.

I suggested a group go southwest to Mexico and buy more of the revolving carbines and matching pistols as we would need more to protect ourselves and all those who would eventually be joining our tribe.

White Eagle quickly agreed and said to plan to leave as soon as possible.

Then he turned to the Chippewa, and looking directly at Wise Owl welcomed them to our tribe. He turned to Grey Hawk and motioned for him to come forward. I noticed there were several squaws standing behind him and all were holding something.

Grey Hawk handed White Eagle a Spencer rifle that had been decorated slightly to signify it was special, a Chief’s rifle, and also a bandolier that held extra cartridges for the Spencer and with it a holster and the revolver in it that used the same cartridge as the Spencer. White Eagle turned to Wise Owl who stood wide eyed. Making a big deal of recognizing Wise Owl as a Chief and member of the tribal council, White Eagle handed the items to Wise Owl, who thanked him and held the rifle over his head and gave a war cry! All of his people answered with their war cry. To their shock our entire tribe, including the other tribes that had joined us, gave our war cry!

Grey Hawk was now staring at Happy Bird, and she was caught staring at him. Both had that deer in the headlight look. White Hawk elbowed me, and Golden Hawk elbowed White Eagle. We looked at them and they nodded to the two lovebirds smiling. White Eagle and I looked at the two lovebirds and laughed, which got both of us another elbow, much harder this time.

Graceful Doe had to kick Wise Owl since he had moved closer to White Eagle to receive the gifts, but when he looked at her and she nodded for him to look, he laughed too but stopped when Graceful Doe started to kick him again.

White Eagle had the squaws bring revolving carbines and matching revolvers to all the Chippewa braves, and a cap & ball revolver and skinning knife for the squaws.

Standing Badger then announced a blessing and to start the celebration.

Wise Owl and the other braves were stunned and asked about the rifles and revolvers we have just gifted them. White Eagle holds up his Henry, also adorned to be fitting a Chief and says so. Then he points to all our braves who are wearing a revolver either in a traditional holster or some with a crossdraw holster and even a few with shoulder and chest holsters. Golden Hawk stands and shows the hidden .32 revolver she is carrying concealed under her buckskin skirt. White Hawk, Pretty Woman, Dark Moon, and both Wilma and Kristy show they too are carrying .32 revolvers concealed in their white-women skirts.

I called Grey Hawk over and asked if he has something for a bride price. He is shocked and does not answer at first, then after looking at White Hawk and then Golden Hawk, seeing both smiling. Then he told me he has exactly what is needed and thanks me for setting him on the right path.

Just as everyone is returning to their places, he approaches Wise Owl and Graceful Doe. They both stop and remain standing facing him.

Grey Hawk asks for Happy Bird as his mate, he does not call her a squaw, and everyone notices this immediately. Then he offers: two horses with saddles, a complete cooking set of cast-iron comprised of a tri-leg stand, half-gallon cook pot, Dutch-oven, 10” round skillet, 10X14 inch griddle, 8 cup percolating coffee pot, three gallon cook pot, several cooking utensils, and a metal dinnerware set for 8. He also added 4 blankets, a 6x6 padded mat to sleep on, and 4 different knives designed for cooking, 10” butcher, 8” filet, 8” chopper, 4” paring. His final gift is two buffalos, 1 bull for Wise Owl and 1 cow for Graceful Doe. These are obviously intended to be made into robes for them.

Everyone is shocked to silence as the tremendous number of gifts for this bride price. It is even more than I gave.

Trying not to be noticed and succeeding, I pick up a small stone and hit Wise Owl in the side with it, which causes him to look toward me or start to look before recovering and reaching around Graceful Doe’s waist to pull her close. He whispers in her ear, and she only nods with her approval. Smiling, they both turn slowly facing Grey Hawk, Graceful Doe turns her head slightly toward the rest of their tribe and said something too rapid to understand.

Suddenly Happy Bird yelps as three squaws grab her from behind, binding her wrists and elbows behind her back and her knees and ankles together. Two braves carefully pick her up and bring her to Wise Owl and Graceful Doe, placing her on the ground in front of them.

Wise Owl states almost in a shout, “She is yours from now until the end, if you fail to bring the price ALL Our Tribe will hunt you down!”

Grey Hawk, unsure what to do next, standing there looking confused and lost.

Both Graceful Doe and White Hawk say, “Get your MATE!” then look at each other and start laughing so hard both end up sitting down on the ground.

Grey Hawk shook his head, smiled, and moved toward Happy Bird, picking her up and slinging her over a shoulder he just walked toward his tepee. Everyone gave a loud cheer!

To everyone’s shock he returned having been gone only a short time, leading two horses which were pulling travois. They were both loaded with everything he had said. Stopping in front of Wise Owl he simply said, “Before sunrise be ready to ride out with me to where we know the buffalo are so you can pick the bull and cow you wish. Then he turned and walked back to his tepee leaving everyone in stunned silence. Then I messed up and began to laugh out loud. But instead of getting in trouble, everyone joined me laughing until we all could not breathe and nearly passed out from laughing so hard.

When I had recovered, I asked my wives how long he has had his bride’s price ready. To my shock White Hawk said a little over a year after I paid hers, he began to gather his. Dark Moon said that she helped him buy the last of his items about three or four months ago. When they asked who he was thinking about, he smiled and said he had not found her yet but wanted to be ready when he did.

Everyone heard our talk as we were talking loud enough for those around us to hear but not really shouting. Graceful Doe then said out loud without realizing, “He is truly a great warrior, and now is also our son!”

Happy Bird was panicked. She was awestruck when she saw Grey Hawk for the first time. She had never had the feelings she had when she saw him. Her lower belly tightened, her woman part became soaked and tingly. It became hard to breathe and she suddenly became dizzy. Then he asked her father for her to be his MATE! Not his squaw. MATE!

What he promised for a bride’s price was more than all the bride’s prices she had ever heard combined. Before she knew what was happening, she was bound as a slave to be traded as is their custom. But she was truly scared when he picked her up like she was a child and carried her to a tepee. Most likely his tepee but setting her on the buffalo hide bed then turning and walking out left her confused.

He returned quickly. She wondered what he had done or where he went and decided to just wait to be told what to do next as a good squaw, no, MATE, should do. Her panic disappeared and suddenly she was excited to be a mate not a squaw!

Grey Hawk entered his tepee again and slowly untied Happy Bird’s ankles, knees, and elbows but left her wrists tied. This confused her but she only moved to a kneeling position with her head tilted forward keeping her eyes on the ground between them.

Grey Hawk smiled at the fact that Happy Bird had not fought him, nor had she spoken anything good or bad. She simply moved to a comfortable kneeling position and was waiting for him to tell her what she was to do.

He decided to tell two tales, the first a normal couple, getting naked and enjoying joining together as one. He added that this is what almost everyone does. Then he began the second tale, saying that few and stressed very few chose this custom. Tomorrow after his and her father married them, she would have to choose which she wanted. All she had to do was find the difference between two married squaws and ask what the difference was. He added that if she did not discover the difference and fully understand that difference, she could not make the decision, and he would wait until she did so.

Golden Hawk and White Hawk both went to Graceful Doe and took her away from the main group for privacy. Both were concerned that Grey Hawk might expect Happy Bird to be like my wives. Together they explained the collar White Hawk and all my wives along with very few other squaws wore and what it meant.

Instead of being upset Graceful Doe asked why Golden Hawk did not have a collar of her own. Graceful Doe seemed to appear to like the idea and also looked like she desired a collar herself. Golden Hawk was shocked and then embarrassed, then said she did not think it would be appropriate for the Chief’s wife to wear a collar.

Graceful Doe looked shocked and asked why it was ok for the Chief’s daughter to wear a collar then.

Both White Hawk and Golden Hawk looked at each other and then laughed, saying she was right.

It took everyone pushing and rushing in order to get everything ready for the wedding as it was obvious Grey Hawk expected to be married after killing the buffalos and returning to camp.

Happy Bird spent the night sleeping next to Grey Hawk but with her wrists still bound behind her. She was glad because if they had not been bound, she would have pounced on Grey Hawk. She, like most of the young women, had talked among the mated young squaws and even some of the mated older squaws to learn what would happen on their wedding night.

White Eagle and I called Wise Owl to my tent so we could let him know what we suspected was going to happen. He was angry at first, and then suddenly smiled and asked if White Eagle had taken his wife in this manner. This shocked White Eagle, and he started to get upset and then said out loud without realizing it, “Why not!” I laughed and stopped immediately when both looked at me like they were going to choke me unconscious, slap me until I was conscious and then repeat the process a couple of times each. I simply said I would need the measurement of each of their wife’s neck.

That evening both were shocked when their wives handed them a leather strap with two knots that when wrapped around their neck would touch snug but not tight. Both chiefs just smiled and took the strap.

Before sunrise, the entire camp was awake to watch the hunting party depart. It consisted of White Eagle, Wise Owl, Grey Hawk, and me. A few braves made up three patrols that just happen to leave before we did and came back after we returned.

We reached the buffalo herd just before the sun had risen above the horizon and Wise Owl saw a bull with two horns that almost touched each other, and there was a cow that had a kind of grey color to her. Grey Hawk had asked to borrow my Sharps, the bigger one, to ensure a swift and easy kill and of course I let him use it. He took both from the front so there would not be a bullet hole on either side of the hide.

We returned in time for breakfast and the marriage ceremony would be just before lunch and we would celebrate with a huge lunch meal.

Happy Bird had been untied and allowed to return to her mother in order to prepare for the ceremony. The first thing she did was ask Golden Hawk what the difference was between squaws that Grey Hawk had sent to her to find out. She simply pointed to her neck and White Hawk pointed hers. Seeing the collar on White Hawk she asked what it meant.

White Hawk told her to seek out other squaws in camp that had the collar and ask them what it meant to each of them, then she could come back to her and tell her what she thought it meant before she would explain what it meant to her.

Without eating breakfast, Happy Bird began wandering around camp and only found Loud Duck and Dark Raven having collars. When she asked about them, they both smiled, and were silent for a long moment which kind of scared Happy Bird. Then they both explained exactly what the collar meant and more importantly what they had to do in order to receive the collar.

Shocked, but more intrigued, then excited. Happy Bird went back to White Hawk and Golden Hawk. As soon as she walked up White Hawk smiled and motioned for her to follow both back to Golden Hawk’s Tepee for privacy. Once inside White Hawk asked her to explain what she understood.

Happy Bird simply said, “I will physically give myself to Grey Hawk so he can make me his woman, and also use my body for his pleasure.” She then asked if he really was going to put his man part in her butt and then she would have to let him put it in her mouth afterwards.

White Hawk got a serious look and said, “YES, he will take all three of your holes, making you, his woman. Of course he will clean himself before putting it in your mouth. If he doesn’t you MUST still take him as it is your and all of our duties if we are truly to accept a collar to obey without question.” White Hawk reached up and touched her collar and let out a long sigh.

Then shaking her head as if to clear her thoughts White Hawk took a strap and after tying a knot near one end wrapped it around Happy Bird’s neck snug but not tight and marked where to tie a second knot.