Rendezvous

By Donna and Abby

It was a bright, winter day with just a few wisps of clouds slowly meandering across a brilliant blue sky. All the men of Singing Creek Camp suddenly developed itchy feet, and one by one, vanished into the woods to go hunting, or whatever else was on their minds, leaving Shiloh to her own devices.  

Not that she was put off by this - she was used to being alone most of the time.  She wondered, though, what it would be like when the baby came!  At least she could rely on him!  Buck, of course, was hardly ever around, much as he wanted to be, and she could not fault him for being absent. But Montana would be hers and with her always! 

There was always work to do around the camp. Surprisingly enough, the men that lived there with her were more than willing to do a fair share of the work instead of leaving it up to her like she was used to. As she went about the camp chores, Shiloh sang some of the old lullabies she had heard other women sing to their babies. Soon she would have one of her own!  

Though she wasn't singing loud, the sweet melodies attracted the attention of two wanderers. It wasn't the language they spoke, but it was close, and the melody was the same the woman had used when she sang a similar song to her own baby. The baby was now a strapping young lad, who was walking at his mother's side, the little spear that his foster father had made him clutched in his grubby little hand. They had been wandering alone now for several weeks now, lost, cold and hungry, desperately trying to find either survivors from their pillaged camp, or the man that had taken the place of the boy's dead father in their teepee. They followed the sound of the voice, and after making sure it appeared safe to reveal themselves, they stepped out into the open. 

Shiloh, who was at the creek getting water, stood when she saw them coming.  "Are you new here?" she asked. 

The woman gave the universal hand sign for peace. "We are lost," she said in her native Lakota, which Shiloh understood. "Our village was attacked by the white eyes, and we fled! When we tried to circle back to see if there was anyone else alive, we could not find it!"  

"You are fortunate," said Shiloh in the same tongue.  "You have crossed over to a new world where the white eyes accept us.  We live here because we are used to it, and do not want to live in the White Village.  My name is Shiloh.  I am Blackfoot." 

"I am Little Deer. This is my son, Kahani. He has been very brave through all this, and has been my protector!" She smiled down at her boy, both love and pride in her voice. "But I am deeply afraid that he has now lost two fathers. We cannot find the man whose protection we were under."  

"The men here are very kind, though.  I was abused because I am . . . half white - but here they accepted me as whole blood.  I'm the only woman in camp, and I am sure the men will welcome you and the boy to our community!" 

The woman sighed with relief, and then reached out to help Shiloh with the water. "Let me help. The chores go faster with more hands," Little Deer said with a smile. It wasn't home, but it was better than wandering lost and alone in the woods!  

**** 

Bret Maverick was off in the woods himself, enjoying the fresh air. He was feeling pretty good about things. He had won a big poker game the night before, and then had spent a lovely morning with the woman that could possibly be carrying his child. Now he was wandering in the woods behind the farmland, trying to find his way to the Indian Camp. Why, he didn't really know, just that for some reason, he wanted to see it.  

Then he wondered why he'd had the urge to see it on that particular day, for just ahead of him was a familiar face.  One he had not seen in Edan before! 

Unfortunately, the man, who had somehow managed to lose his entire tribe, was a mite nervous. Hearing someone approach, he whipped around, tossing his spear and yelling at the top of his lungs, hoping if nothing else, he would scare the pants off who ever this man was and thus give him time to get away! 

"Joseph!" Maverick cried out as he ducked and rolled, the spear just barely missing him. "What the hell are you doing!!! Do you always try to kill your old friends?" 

"Maverick?" the Indian chief said, relief in his voice. "Boy, am I ever glad to see your ugly white face! Where the hell am I?"  

"You wouldn't believe it if I told you.  A whole other world!  But it's great. At least," said Maverick, "I have no complaints." 

As the two old friends caught up on what had been happening in each of their lives, two other wanderers dressed in buckskins stepped out of the woods and cautiously joined them. "We come in peace," the taller of the two called out. "I am called Nakoma, and this is Archie Grey Owl. Our paths crossed four days ago, and we have been traveling together ever since. It seems that we both have lost our way.”  

"You and me both, brothers," Joseph sighed. He introduced himself and then Bret. "He is not too bad a fellow, even if he is a white man, if I do say so myself!"  

"And something is strange because I just got it into my head to visit our Indian camp and I happen to run into you guys.  Don't you think that is weird?"  Bret Maverick looked for confirmation from the new men. 

"Don't take it personal, Maverick," Joseph said, "but everything you do is one the strange side! Always has been.  Where is this Indian camp that you speak of? What tribe are they by the way?"  

"They're a sort of . . . mixed variety," Maverick said, choosing to ignore the slur. 

He pointed to the east. "I think it is that way. It's supposed to be along this creek." The newcomers all shrugged, and together the four men started to head in the direction that had been indicated. Not that it was hard to notice the line of smoke coming from that direction.  When they arrived, they saw Shiloh and Little Deer over the stew pot, making dinner. 

Kahani jumped and brandished his spear in his little hands, ready to fight for his mother if necessary. Little Deer looked at the four men approaching them nervously, glancing at Shiloh to see if everything was all right.  

"I know one of them from town," she said.  "The white man.  Mr. Maverick?  Who are these men?" 

"Hello Shiloh!" he called out. "Good to see you again. This is Joseph, an old friend of mine. And these other two are Nakoma and Archie Grey Owl. All three are new here on Edan," he said, looking at the other woman and boy curiously. There weren't many children yet on Edan, so the appearance of one was definitely note worthy!  

"This is Little Deer, and her son, Kahani. They just arrived today, also." 

"And I am Coltec," another voice called out. The others tried not to look too surprised as the man seemed to appear out of nowhere. 

"Damn medicine men," Joseph grumbled under his breath to Maverick. Even without anything, the three newcomers all recognized magic when they saw it. "Always doing spooky stuff to keep you on your toes."  

"This is our Hayoka," explained Shiloh seriously.  "He is an important man here." 

Coltec smiled at Shiloh, and then motioned to the camp. "Come. Share our fires. If you like, you may join us. We are a small band, but a happy one." He walked up to the boy, squatting down beside him. "And just who is this strong young warrior? Have you come to live with us too?"  The boy looked up at him, and then bashfully told the Hayoka his name, and that he hoped to be able to stay, he was tired of wandering! 

"Little Deer says he has lost his father.  Twice.  You men should help take the place of those lost fathers," Shiloh told the others. 

"I don’t need another father! MacLeod will find us! I know he will!" the little boy said fiercely. "He is a better tracker than anyone else in the whole camp!"   

All those who had previously been on Edan stopped. There were more MacLeods here than they could shake a stick at.  But which one did he mean?  Could it possibly be the one they already had in camp? 

"Does this MacLeod man have an Indian name?" Coltec asked gently. The boy looked up at his mother, who nodded. 

"Black Wolf," Kahani said in his native Lakota. “He was adopted into our tribe.” 

"We have a MacLeod here who uses the name Wolf," said Shiloh.  "He is out hunting with his cousin, Trapper." 

Little Deer inhaled sharply. She had just about given up hope!  

"See, Mother," the boy said solemnly. "I told you that he was around here somewhere!" He fingered the medicine bag that Wolf had given him and smiled happily, the first smile that had been on his face since the awful day when his world had exploded into chaos.  

"Then let's settle everyone in," Shiloh said, happy also with the outcome, "and when they return from hunting we will have food ready for them when they get here!"