Chapter 6: Old Trouble Returns

It had been a week since taking White Hawk as his mate and Swift Kill or Two Names as he was now being called had gone out hunting with several other braves. White Hawk was still being asked about the collar locked around her neck and why she wore it. Proudly she would explain that Two Names put it on her to tell everyone she belonged to him and it could not be taken off unless it was cut off or Two Names unlocked it. Some of the braves had been asked by their mates if they would put a collar on them. And the braves had asked Two Names about this doing of his. Two Names casually explained that there was much more to it than just locking a collar around their mates neck. He suggested they ask their mates if everything was explained to them by White Hawk.

White Hawk was not pleased with Two Names when several women came asked what else having the collar meant. With great embarrassment she explained that she submitted to Two Names physically and mentally, telling how she was made to pound stakes into the ground, tie straps to the stakes, undress and laying down on her back spread-eagle herself allowing Two Names to bind her before ‘taking her’ stressing that he took all three of her holes while she was tied. Most of the women were shocked so much that they left and never talked about this situation again. There were three that asked even more questions and the four had several discussion about living this way as mates and the three had spoken to their mates saying they understood and accepted what was expected of them.

Now Two Names had to explain to the three braves Red Feather, Grey Wolf, and Winter Cat what was expected of them and he helped them cut wooden stakes 1” in diameter and about 14” long along with deer leather straps and the all-important collars and lucky for Two Names he had several locks that were all the right size to use with the collars.

Several nights later three naked women with their wrists tied behind their back and a leather strap making both leash and collar were led out of camp in different directions. Loud Duck was following Red Feather, Signing Elk was following Grey Wolf, and Dark Raven was following Winter Cat. Each of the braves was only wearing his moccasins and loincloth with a rolled-up buffalo rug slung over their shoulder with the special equipment inside. Everyone watched and only a select few knew just what was going on. The next morning all six returned, the women were still naked except for their collar, they were not tied or led by a leash just walking behind their mate smiling larger than anyone had ever seen them smile. Before getting dressed the three ran to White Hawk and hugged her.

Once they had dressed the three woman joined the other squaws who were going out do the gathering. White Hawk was among the women that had gone out gathering, it was common for young boys almost ready to become braves to go with the squaws as guards. Most of the time the only thing that required the young boys assistance was if wolves, sometimes a mountain lion, or bear would wander across the group and the boys ran them off or at least kept the squaws from being injured.

This time the trouble was the two-legged type. There were eight bandits, five Mexicans and three whites. They rode up on the squaws and when the three boys tried to stop them the bandits shot them. None of the boys were killed but one was seriously injured with a belly wound. Of the other two, one was shot in the shoulder and the other in his outer upper leg near his hip. Then they each grabbed a squaw. White Hawk was one of the squaws grabbed.

The shooting alerted the braves back at camp and several were soon mounted and riding hard toward the area the squaws had gone to do the gathering. Two Names was at the front with Grey Hawk and Running Deer and when they reached the boys and the rest of the squaws they were directed in the direction the bandits had gone.

Since the bandits were riding double they could not run their horsed full out but still had a good 10-minute head start. Grey Hawk and Running Deer were expert trackers and were following the trail the bandits were leaving easily. Again, the bandits did not expect to be chased so quickly and were not even aware of their pursuers or how close their were getting. It was getting close to sunset when the bandits stopped letting the horses rest and drink from the small stream they had chosen to stop at. The squaws had been fighting the entire time and this forced the bandits to slow down long enough to tie their hands behind their back keeping them on their belly in front of each rider.

When the bandits stopped they dumped each squaw from the saddle onto the ground knocking the wind from each of the squaws and one was knocked unconscious. Two bandits began pounding stakes to form two lines one for the horses and the other for the squaws. The horses bridle was left on and tied to the picket line allowing the horses to graze the 3-4 feet of slack there reins allowed. The squaws each had a lariat tied around their neck and then to their picket line which allowed them to move about 8 feet away from the picket line to answer natures call one way and closer to the fire pit the other. The leader or rather the one who was giving most of the orders repeated that the squaws were not to be touched until they were back at camp and then they would be auctioned off like always.