settled down by now, but he’s too adventurous and hot-blooded like I was. My girl Alisha is married to Wesley Clarion. They live in New Orleans and Wes runs the firm for Stede. They have four children, from thirteen to twenty-two, two boys and two twin girls. Their oldest boy Allan is Stede’s first mate. My Sarah Anne died two years ago, and I’ve been lonely and restless ever since she was taken from me. My children know all about me, or we thought they did, so they know why I had to come here. Like me, they know we’ve been together for the last time. I surely do miss being young and strong and happy,” he confessed.
Shalee looked at Gray Eagle as he looked at Powchutu. Both men were the son of a chief. Both had lost their first child. Both had loved and wanted her. Both had found happiness, love, and peace, despite their losses and perils. Both had found what they had been denied at their births, to meet and to get to know each other. Both had changed and matured.
“There is another reason why I had to return to these lands,” Powchutu revealed a new mystery. “After the birth of my son, I knew for certain the Great Spirit wasguiding my steps. While I was helping Sarah Anne into a fresh nightgown, I saw something I had not noticed on her body before that night, the akito of Black Cloud. The Great Spirit had guided me to the real Shalee and joined our Life-circles. It was shocking to realize Alisha was living as Shalee when I was married to the real Shalee. I wish you two could have known her. Tom and Clara did a good job raising Black Cloud’s daughter. I told her the truth about herself; I felt she should know who she really was. We both decided it was best if we didn’t return here and cause new problems or dangers for anyone, but Shalee died wishing she had seen her father again. I brought her body home to rest near Black Cloud’s on the land where she was born. Now all is right and they are at peace. I’m not angry about Running Wolfs silence. If he had claimed me, look what I would have missed in life. Every event, good or bad, pushed me toward my true destiny.”
“It is so, my brother, many times our lives or the lives of those we love have crossed each other. It is good the Great Spirit mated the son of Running Wolf to the daughter of Black Cloud. It is good her spirit now roams the ghost trail with her father’s. But we must keep such news hidden in our hearts. Times are bad, and it might cause trouble if my people learn we deceived them about my wife for these many winters. This is a perilous time when I must have their complete trust and confidence. Until we cease to breathe, Alisha Williams must live as Shalee, for this claim harms no one.”
Powchutu agreed. “I will do all you say, my brother. My heart is no longer bitter and my mind no longer dark. Our war has ended for all time.”
Gray Eagle focused his attention on the major problem at hand. “Many will see how our faces try toreflect each other’s, but few, if any, will recall you as the scout who battled me so many winters past. Those who saw you as a half-breed foe no longer walk Mother Earth, nor will others remember when or where our paths crossed. We must not stain the honor and memory of our father by revealing his black deed against you. We must speak only as many true words as are safe. You will live here as the son of Running Wolf and Tamarra, but she will be a Cheyenne love, lost to him through trading before he could claim her as his wife. From this day forward, you will be claimed halfOglala and half-Cheyenne. No one must be told of your Crow blood, for we battle them as fiercely as we battle the whites. You will be named Eagle’s Arm, and you will live and ride with me. We will say your mother told you the secret of your birth when she died and you have returned to our people. We will say you have lived far to the south of our lands, which is true. We will not speak the name of Powchutu again, for you are no longer
Shalee looked at Gray Eagle as he looked at Powchutu. Both men were the son of a chief. Both had lost their first child. Both had loved and wanted her. Both had found happiness, love, and peace, despite their losses and perils. Both had found what they had been denied at their births, to meet and to get to know each other. Both had changed and matured.
“There is another reason why I had to return to these lands,” Powchutu revealed a new mystery. “After the birth of my son, I knew for certain the Great Spirit wasguiding my steps. While I was helping Sarah Anne into a fresh nightgown, I saw something I had not noticed on her body before that night, the akito of Black Cloud. The Great Spirit had guided me to the real Shalee and joined our Life-circles. It was shocking to realize Alisha was living as Shalee when I was married to the real Shalee. I wish you two could have known her. Tom and Clara did a good job raising Black Cloud’s daughter. I told her the truth about herself; I felt she should know who she really was. We both decided it was best if we didn’t return here and cause new problems or dangers for anyone, but Shalee died wishing she had seen her father again. I brought her body home to rest near Black Cloud’s on the land where she was born. Now all is right and they are at peace. I’m not angry about Running Wolfs silence. If he had claimed me, look what I would have missed in life. Every event, good or bad, pushed me toward my true destiny.”
“It is so, my brother, many times our lives or the lives of those we love have crossed each other. It is good the Great Spirit mated the son of Running Wolf to the daughter of Black Cloud. It is good her spirit now roams the ghost trail with her father’s. But we must keep such news hidden in our hearts. Times are bad, and it might cause trouble if my people learn we deceived them about my wife for these many winters. This is a perilous time when I must have their complete trust and confidence. Until we cease to breathe, Alisha Williams must live as Shalee, for this claim harms no one.”
Powchutu agreed. “I will do all you say, my brother. My heart is no longer bitter and my mind no longer dark. Our war has ended for all time.”
Gray Eagle focused his attention on the major problem at hand. “Many will see how our faces try toreflect each other’s, but few, if any, will recall you as the scout who battled me so many winters past. Those who saw you as a half-breed foe no longer walk Mother Earth, nor will others remember when or where our paths crossed. We must not stain the honor and memory of our father by revealing his black deed against you. We must speak only as many true words as are safe. You will live here as the son of Running Wolf and Tamarra, but she will be a Cheyenne love, lost to him through trading before he could claim her as his wife. From this day forward, you will be claimed halfOglala and half-Cheyenne. No one must be told of your Crow blood, for we battle them as fiercely as we battle the whites. You will be named Eagle’s Arm, and you will live and ride with me. We will say your mother told you the secret of your birth when she died and you have returned to our people. We will say you have lived far to the south of our lands, which is true. We will not speak the name of Powchutu again, for you are no longer
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