Lakota Flower by Janelle Taylor

turned and greeted him. “Casmu grows larger and stronger each sun. He looks at many things with keen eyes. Soon, my brother will have a shadow trailing him,” he joked with a grin.
    “That will please him,” Macha said. “One sun, you will know such feelings, for you are a man now and should seek out a mate.”
    “I have much to do before that sun rises. I must help drive the enemy from our lands and protect our people.”
    “You are strong, so you can do both tasks at the same time, as do your brothers. I have seen young women watching you with desire in their gazes.”
    War Eagle ruffled Casmu’s dark hair, grinned, and said, “Iride before you choose a wild female for me when I am not ready to tame one.”
    “If she loves you as I love Cloud Chaser, no taming will be needed.”
    “Help me, my brother, for your wife seeks to push me into a trap.”
    Cloud Chaser chuckled. “If the right woman shares that trap, you will be happy there with her, as I am happy in mine.”
    “I did not know men viewed unions as traps,” Macha said. “Why have you not shared that secret with me before, my husband?”
    Caroline listened to the genial exchange, though she could not grasp their Lakota words. It was obvious to her that they were a close-knit family, and that all three had forgotten her presence for a while. From their cheerful tones, expressions, and gestures, she surmised they were joking about something or someone, perhaps having to do with the child since their attention mainly seemed focused on the baby. During the men’s earlier talk, she had heard her name mentioned several times. She wished she knew what had been said. For certain, the warrior who had captured her was difficult—impossible—to ignore. She found herself wanting to stare at him, talk with him, learn everything there was to know about him. She watched him tousle the infant’s ebony hair for a second time, then depart without even glancing in her direction.
    Cloud Chaser passed her the satchel, which she accepted with relief and joy. He asked which items she had selected from her belongings to bring with her, perhaps in an attempt to learn more about her. She opened the bag and said, “I have no weapon inside,” in case that thought had entered his mind. “Only clothes, photographs of my brother and parents, a rag doll my mother made for me as a child, and our family Bible. Would you like to examine the contents?”
    “No, but show me the photographs.”
    Caroline handed the prized objects to him, and prayed he would not keep or destroy them. She watched him gaze at the two pictures for a long while, especially her brother’s, before returning them. After thanking him, she inquired, “Where shall I put my satchel?”
    Cloud Chaser pointed to an area near the colorful dew cloth, an added interior layer for deflecting rain and smoke to the outside and to beautify the dwelling.
    She stood and placed her belongings where instructed, noticing how clean and orderly the tepee was kept by his wife. A home… Would she, Caroline fretted, ever have her own home? A family? Freedom? True love and happiness? At present, those longtime dreams looked bleak. Yet, she must not lose faith in God or herself and become despondent or reckless. She must make the best of the situation until it changed.
    Caroline told Cloud Chaser what she had been thinking about his wife and added, “She’s also a good cook; the meal was delicious. How do I thank her in your language?”
    Although Macha spoke some English, Cloud Chaser had instructed his wife to conceal that ability so she could glean information on the sly. “The word is pilamaya for thank you. Good food is woyute waste; it translates to food good. Our sentences are different from English. The main word comes first. Speak to her before I tell you more.”
    Caroline realized Cloud Chaser had learned a lot while living with the whites which might be advantageous to her during her predicament. She smiled at