Sweet Savage Heart Read Free

she wanted. Before Wild Wind could respond, Lone Wolf scolded to embarrass her, “Why does my sister race after warriors as a fool without honor and wits? Anger fills my heart and head, Watogla Tate. Have you no pride, no shame, no sense of duty and loyalty? Do you not see how you are destroying my love and respect for you? Do you not see you are stealing the peace in our tepee? Does it mean nothing that you are staining my honor and rank? Do you think only of Wild Wind and her desires? You—”
    “I want to observe your first talk with the Hunkpapas as our chief. Pride fills my heart and excitement clouds my head. I will stay hidden, my brother. It is a great day for us. Please, let me—”
    “Inila!” Lone Wolf harshly ordered her to silence, rebuking, “Do not cut into the words of a warrior, your chief! Have you learned nothing of our customs and laws since living with us for so many winters? You defy our ways and bring dishonor to your family. I can allow no more disobedience,” he warned coldly. “You bring shame to the tepee of Chief Lone Wolf and to our band of Oglalas. You shame Wild Wind. We made you the daughter of our chief and the sister of Lone Wolf. We loved you and protected you. Why have you dishonored and pained us? You cause my warriors and others to laugh at me. How can warriors ride behind a fool? How can they follow the commands of one who cannot control his own tepee? Your disobedience and dark pride prove that there is no Indian heart within a body without Indian blood. Each moon you become more white than Oglala. It brings sadness and anger to my heart to view such evil within my chosen sister.”
    Wild Wind was stunned momentarily by his vehemenceand incisive words. He had become annoyed with her of late, but never had he spoken in such a manner or behaved so coldly toward her. Something was terribly wrong today. Though she was one who normally could control her expressions and reactions, she helplessly paled beneath the golden glow of her silky flesh. Eyeing him intently, she asked, “Why do you speak such cruel words to your sister, Lone Wolf? I have lived by your side for many winters, and I wish to be like you. Can you deny that I am as trained and skilled as your best warrior? Why must I waste such skills and prowess when my people are in danger of being no more? When I see wrongs, where is there honor and bravery in remaining silent? What excitement and courage is involved in gathering herbs and wild vegetables, or putting up a tepee and taking it down, or rubbing foul brains into a hide to cure it, or cooking meals and serving men like a slave? Such acts require no skill or wits. They can be done by old women or young girls, or by our captives. They can be done asleep!” she shouted at him in an unusual display of anger. “I do not want to be enslaved by a tepee, by a woman’s boring life. I want to feel the sun and wind upon my body. I want to feast on danger and freedom as you do. I want to put my skills against fate’s powers. I wish to be a warrior, not a helpless woman! Let me help our people.”
    Lone Wolf shook his head in mounting frustration. “You are a female, Wild Wind. You are the most beautiful creature alive. Why do you make yourself ugly with shame and defiance? If you love me and honor me, find a worthy warrior and join him. Be as you are, my sister, a woman of great value and pride and courage,” he urged.
    “You wish me to marry and leave our tepee? You wish me to be miserable? You wish me to let our people suffer and die because the pride of warriors will not allowwomen to join them in battle? I must not! I cannot!” she blatantly refused, her eyes sparkling with fury.
    “You are eighteen winters old, a woman. It is time to accept your place as Grandfather willed it. Do not force me to—” At her wounded expression, he halted briefly. He was softening, and he could not permit that to happen if he wanted to win this battle.
    “Force you to do what, my