Sweet Savage Heart Read Free Page A

brother?” she quickly demanded, her heart pounding in trepidation.
    Lone Wolf breathed deeply, wearily. “I am your brother and chief, and I must be obeyed. If you do not cease your childish and rash behavior, I will be forced to punish you before the entire tribe. Then you will feel the shame that you bring to me and my camp. If you do not find a mate before the Sun Dance, I will choose one for you and have you joined after the ceremony. I have spoken.”
    Wild Wind could not believe what she was hearing. “You would not do such brutal things to your sister!” she debated fearfully, for she perceived the danger and seriousness in this threat from him.
    “You are my sister only as long as you behave as my sister. For many moons you have behaved as white. If you are my sister and you are Indian at heart, you will obey the laws and ways of our people,” he shockingly informed her, his voice clear and crisp and intimidating.
    “Father would not wish you to hurt me and punish me this way. It is wrong, my brother,” she argued frantically, though she knew Lone Wolf saw the situation from a completely different viewpoint. She had been raised by the Oglalas and she knew their customs and ways; yet something strange and powerful was pushing her away from them and was preventing her from sealing her life with them. If only she could understand and explain what was influencing her thoughts and actions, she reflected miserably.
    “Father is with the Great Spirit, Wild Wind. He was too weak to battle you. If love and respect lived in your heart and head, you would not shame and hurt your brother and people. Do you wish to make us regret your rescue from the Kiowas? Do you wish to make us regret you are Soaring Hawk’s daughter? Is there hatred and bitterness hiding within you toward all Indians? Do you seek to punish all with red skin for the cruelty of our enemies? In the past three winters, you have become more white than Indian. I fear such changes will bring much trouble to our camp and to those of our Lakota brothers. There is a powerful force that is driving you from us.”
    “You words are not true, Lone Wolf!” she shrieked in dismay. She licked her suddenly dry lips and tried to slow her racing heart. “I love you and loved our father. I would do nothing to hurt you or our people.”
    “Your words do not match your actions, my sister,” he replied, refuting her frantic claims. “There is no deeper wound than dishonor. You know the way of my people: it is better to die in honor than to live in shame. If you are truly Oglala, become one with us in all ways.”
    “Do you say that the only way to prove my love and loyalty is to marry a man I do not love or want? Must I deny all I am and feel just to prove I am your sister and the daughter of Soaring Hawk? If you loved me as I love you, brother, you would not wish such an empty and cruel life upon me. Perhaps I have acted too boldly and recklessly, but it was to seize your attention and to earn the right to defend our lands and people. If I cannot live in peace and love in our tepee, then I will leave our camp and your life,” she warned him.
    She expected him to relent slightly. Instead, he responded, “Perhaps that would be best for all, Wild Wind. Your will was too strong for Father to master, and it pained him to watch your arrogance and rebellion growas swiftly as the spring grasses. I cannot reach you. Soon, I will be forced to put my people first. I cannot allow you to darken my honor and rank. I cannot waste time and strength correcting or punishing you each sun. Think on Rides-Like-Thunder of the Cheyenne as a mate. He is a great warrior with many coups. By all females he is called handsome, and he has many skills upon the sleeping mat.”
    Her cheeks grew as fiery as her hair at his last remark and her gray-blue eyes widened with astonishment. He continued slowly and confidently, “It is time for my Cheyenne brother to have his own tepee. He has many