Violence Warning/Disclaimer: This story depicts scenes of violence and/or their aftermath. Readers who are disturbed by or sensitive to this type of depiction may wish to read something other than this story.

Sexual Violence Warning/Disclaimer: This story depicts scenes of sexual violence and/or their aftermath. Some readers may be disturbed by this type of depiction and anyone who is sensitive to this particular issue may wish to read something other than this story.

Love/Sex Warning/Disclaimer: There are blatant discussions, references and description of sexual relations between consenting adults. You must be over the age of 18 and it must not be a crime to read material of this nature at your present location. Some of the scenes depicted are explicit. If this bothers you, you should find other reading material.

Language Warning: The language is representative of street language. Therefore is quite vulgar. You must be over the age of 18 and it must not be a crime to read material of this nature at your present location. If this bothers you, you should find other reading material.

A special thanks to beta reader archaeo bard.

willowluvyr@yahoo.com

Part 3

While Becca readied her babe and packed for the huntin' trip, I went and readied my string. So I hitched up Becca's wagon, too. I knowed I could hep Iron Belly and his people git to the grounds first. So's I put our truck on the mules and headed over to the village.

Becca drove the wagon and I led my string from my hoss. We rode into thar camp and every one of 'em came to greet us. I rode on up to Iron Belly's lodge and hollered in Cheyenne, "Father, I have bought a wagon and my mules. We can load your hunting lodges and weapons they are faster than the travois."

Iron Belly came out wit Two Crows and held up his hand agreetin' me. He replied, "Notaxe Ma'exanestse my son,, it is good to see you. Yes, let us load our lodges and weapons and our children, so that we may be first to get to the hunting grounds. My child, will you not introduce me to your woman? She has eyes that will fight your own."

"Father this is Becca," I heped Becca down from the wagon and whispered in her ear, "This here's Iron Belly, he's warchief of the Cheyenne. He wonts to meetcha. Just say howdy."

Well, I never expected her to do wat she done. She ups and curtsies to Iron Belly and holds out her hand, like in polite society. Iron Belly looked puzzled. I said nervous like, "Father, it is custom from where she comes for you to take her hand and put your lips to it. It is a formal greeting for a man to a woman."

Iron Belly understood formal greetins and kissed Becca's hand and she politely added, "I am happy to meet the man Mar calls father. I will do every thing I kin to help and not to embarrass or displease you or her."

Iron Belly looked to me fer a translation, so's I said, "She says that she is please to meet such a great chief and that she is here to help. She also says that she will not shame you or me before your people."

Iron Belly smiled. He war pleased that Becca knowed that it war important that neither him nor me be shamed. Then he said, "I will have my wife show your woman what she can do to help."

I introduced Becca to Vehpôtse Eše'he, which means Flower in the Sun. So's I told Becca, "Go wit Flower in the Sun. She's Iron Belly's wife and Two Crows's ma. She'll show ya what to do, while we loads my string and you'n wagon."

Becca nodded and follered after Flower in the Sun. So's I went to hep wit the load'n. Now this war a huntin' trip. We warnt goin'ta to move the whole village. We war only takin' enuff to house the hunters, thar wives and thar kids. Many war stayin' behind. The old, the sick, woman wit newborns, the injuried and older warriors to protect 'em war stayin'. Still and all, it war a lot of truck to packin' and haulin'.

Every onct and while, I'd look to see how Becca war farin'. To her credit, she war doin' good. Flower war takin' good care of her. Flower looked to me asmilin' away and said, "My son, what are you doing here when there is work to do."

I war a little embarassed. I got caught aloafin'. So's I said, "Mother, I wanted to see how my friend was doing. She is new to this life. I just wanted see how she was doing."

Well she just looked at me and laughed, "Young people think that all of us have forgotten what it was like to be young. It is not true. My son, you have eyes for this woman?"

How could I answer that? I warnt a woman to the Cheyenne. I war a warrior and thar protector. I war the worsed enemy the Crow ever had. To them I warnt no gal, I war sumtin special like. They natural thought that I wonted wat every other warrior wonted, a wife and a family. Sure I wonted these thins, but Becca war from back East and wouldn't understand these thins.

Back east I warnt no natural woman. I wore men's clothes and carried fararms. I kilt hundreds and took scalps. A preacher onct called me an abomination, wat ever that war. No tellin' wat Becca thought. I knowed she liked me. I knowed she appreciated my hepin' her, but I dint wont her to think of me as an abomination.

So's I looked to my feet and muttered, "Mother, to her I am another woman. Our people do not understand that I was born with a warrior's spirit. They think that I am an abomination. In their eyes I am not natural. I am evil. It would kill me for Becca to think of me like that."

Flower, the only mother I ever knowed, looked into my heart and cried. I grabbed her hands and asked, "Mother, why do you cry? Did I say something to hurt you? Please don't cry."

Flower looked into my eyes and whimpered, "My son, I cry for you, because you are a warrior and cannot. It is a woman's duty to cry for her sons and husband. I can see you love this woman and I can hear your words. Your life is hard. You are the blessed of the Gods. That is always a hard way, but you have always shouldered it and never complained. My husband and I have always been proud to call you son."

I jest nodded and went back to work. Thar war nuthin more to say.

Thar war only two hours of daylight left when we finished, so's we decided to leave in the mornin'. Becca and I war invited to stay wit Iron Belly in his lodge. So's I told Becca, "Becca, we're stayin' wit my father and mother tonight."

Becca looked at me and asked, "Why do they call you son?"

I war shocked and asked, "How did cha know they call me son?"

Becca laughed "Flower in the Sun, speaks English very well. She said that you didn't know. She said she had to learn her son's native tongue and had a missionary teach her. She's very proud of you. So why do they call you son and not daughter."

I war afeared of this. I dint know why but wat this gal thought of me war impotent. I never lied in my life and I warnt goin'ta to start now, so I jumped in, "Becca, I'm a warrior. In thar eyes, I'm a great warrior. Fellers ere warriors, not gals. So they think of me as a feller. I'm thar protector. They've gotta think of me as a feller."

Becca looked down and asked, "How do you think of yourself?"

I picked up her chin wit my hand and looked in her eyes and answered, "I think I'm a warrior. I'm at war wit the Crow and protector of the Cheyenne. I have been fightin' for twelve yearen now. I ain't ever had to think about it. Becca, I'm no soft gal. I've kilt hundreds of men, white and red. I've never wonted more than that, but I've gotta tell ya that since I met ya, I been athinkin' about a home and setch."

Green eyes gazed into my eyes. I could feel her lookin' into my soul. She smiled at me and asked, "Does Two Crows live with his parents?"

I chuckled and replied, "Nah, he has his own lodge. He built it fer some gal last yearen. I don't even know who it is. He wont tell me."

Her eyes lit up like green far and she told me, "I know who it is. His mother told me, but I kin't tell you. I promised I wouldn't."

I war plenty confused and axed, "Do you know why they won't let me know?"

She sighed wit a big grin on her face and said, "Yes, I do. Seems the young lady in question has her eyes on another beau, you."

Well I looked at her like she done told me my ears war on backwards. My look must have been funny, cause she war alaughin' so hard she had to set down.

Flower in the Sun made shore Iron Belly and me knowed Becca had cooked our meal. The food war great and we told her so, which made her smile. I liked her smiles. Iron Belly told me, "Son, your woman cooks well. And she has a fine son. Why haven't you spoken to her?"

I couldn't tell him the whole truth, cause I couldn't show him any weakness. So, I fudged and said, "Father, her husband just died. It is the custom of our people that she has to mourn for four seasons before she take another husband."

Iron Belly shook his head and muttered, "That is a foolish custom son. Who will provide for her and her son, while she mourns for a dead man? She has no father or brothers to provide for her and her son for four seasons."

I looked him in the eye and answered, "I will father. I took responsibility when I brought her to my cabin. She needed my help. Her husband's family wanted to take her son and make her leave."

Iron Belly war shocked. He never heared of setch a thin. He said, "You did right my son. This is a good woman. She deserves her son."

I went to check the animals and make shore the pack war ready fer leavin' before first light. When I got back, I found Flower showin' Becca how to lay the blankets over some evergreen branches to make a bed. I noticed that our blankets war together. I knowed I warnt goin'ta git much sleep tonight.

I slept plenty good after all. Becca put the baby between us. It war comfortin' to have the babe and Becca laying by me. When I woke up before first light, Becca had her arm across the babe and her hand on my belly. Matty war snuggled up agin my side. It felt good. I dint wont to move, but I had to go git ready for the hunt. So I injuned out of her hold and went to load the mules and hitch the team.

Becca woke up and found that I'd gone. She war shaken a bit. She'd been comforted wit havin' me close. The babe had awakened her wit his ballin'. I guest he mist my warmth. As her green eyes scanned the lodge, she noticed that Iron Belly war gone too. Flower war rollin' up the beddin' gittin' read to leave. The young mama started doin' the same after she fed the babe. But Flower said, "I will do that. You cook. The men be hungry, but want leave."

The golden hard gal smiled and got her bowls.

I came in smellin' hot cakes and fryin' bacon. I knowed Becca war cookin' agin. I left and went to git sumtin out of our stores. I knowed she'd dint know about it. When I got back I handed her a kin of cane syrup. I liked cane syrup and always got ten cans when tradin'. It came all the way from New Or-leans. She looked at the kin and chuckled.

The young cook put some hot cakes on a tin plate and pour'd syrup on it. Then she put a couple of strips of bacon on the plate and gave it to Iron Belly. Then she made me a plate. Iron Belly looked to his wife and said, "Wife, did she show you how to make these cakes?"

She chuckled to herself and shook her head. I knowed she war thinkin', 'Men, all they think about is their bellies.'

The older woman answered, "Of course, my new daughter has showed me many new things. She is teaching me how to make socks like our son wears so can keep our feet warm in winter. I saw her making a pair yesterday and asked her to show me how."

The older warrior grunted and et the rest of his cakes.

It war a little before first light when we war ready to leave out. Two Crows and me rode out ahead to scout. Y'all don't git careless out cheer, iffin ya wont to keep yarn har. I war well south of the main body which war headin almost due east, when I came acrost a party of Crow hunters.

I pulled my rifle and took aim and shot the furthest Crow rait off his hoss. I booted my rifle and spurred my hoss as gave loud war cry. As I charged the other eight Crows, I pulled my rait saddle Colt. I farred twice and two mo Crows fell to the ground. An arrow creased my left shoulder and a bullet creased my rait thigh.

I farred three more shots as we past each other and two additional Crows war on the ground. I booted my Colt and pulled the left saddle Colt as I pulled up my hoss. When my hoss stopped, I felt sumthin hit my back hard. I ignored it and tied off the reins on my saddle horn. Then I pulled my belly gun and spurred my animal at the remainin' Crows, farrin' both guns. When thar war all down, I holstered my weapons and reined my hoss.

Settin' on my hoss, I reloaded my weapons. Then I went to collect my scalps, thar weapons and hosses. I war feelin' a little peek-ed. I'd been hit hard in my left side. I could feel the arrow war still thar. I put my scalps on my saddle horn and lead led my seven new hosses back to the main body.

I found the night camp about an hour or two later. It'd been harder than I figgered, cause I had trouble stayin' awake. Becca sar me first. She had been lookin' fer me to come back. I war let and she war worried. Iron Belly and Two Crows laughed at her worries. Flower told her, "Do not worry about that one. My son charmed. Cannot be killed. Be back soon."

I rode into camp leadin' a string of Crow hosses wit a Crow arrow in my back. So nobody needed ax wat happened or who won. I came back. Becca came arunnin' out to me. I gived her a weak smile and dismounted. It wouldn't do fer me to fall off my hoss. I war weak as a kitten, but I couldn't show it. So I walked to our tent. Becca went to hep, but Two Crows held her back. He knowed wat war needed. After I entered the lodge, I sat down hard. Becca stormed into the lodge afussin'. I wonted to hear mo, but I couldn't, the darkness came.

Two Crows told me later wit a smile that Becca war like a crazy woman. She made every one, but my mother git. My mother told me wit a lot of laughin' how the golden hard woman fussed over me. That little bit of a girl cut the arrow out herself and cleaned and sewed my five wounds, all the time cussing me and callin' me a crazy woman.

One of my wounds festered and I got a bad fever. My mother made some medicine and Becca poured it down my gullet. I war out of my head for two days. Two Crows told me Becca never left me, except to take care of Matty. I war put on a travois pulled by my hoss. Becca, who had been riding the wagon, rode my hoss to keep an eye on me.

On the second night after I got back, I woke up. Becca war spoonin' broth into my mouth. When I opened my eyes, I sar the concern in her red-rimmed green eyes. I could see she hadn't been sleepin' and had been doin' some cryin'. I smiled and said, "Howdy, I could use sumthin a little mo substantial than broth. Is thar any stew?"

Becca called fer my mother and father, who came arunnin' into the lodge. Iron Belly said, "Well, my son, you have come back from the spirit world. Did you have any visions?"

I smiled and answered, "Yes, father, I woke to one."

The older man smiled and replied, "She has been very worried. I told her you have been hurt much worse, but she would not be comforted. She had not slept or eaten much. She needs to be strong for her child. You must order her to help."

My mother interrupted, "I do not think that one will take many orders. She has a fire in her belly that burns very brightly. But you should tell her that you are better and that she should eat and maybe lay down with you and get some sleep. Tell her I will take care of Matthew."

Becca came back into lodge carrying a bowl of stew. She smiled and asked as she fed me a spoon of stew, "How are you feeling?"

I smiled at her and replied, "Been better, but I'll be up and about come mornin'."

Becca shook her head furiously, "No, you will most certainly not be. You are still too weak. You can ride in the wagon with me."

I war stunned. I started to argue, but another spoon of stew war put in my mouth. After I swallered it, I tried to argue agin. And anutter spoon of stew war put in my mouth. I chewed my food and got the idear. I looked to Flower and she war alaughin' under her hand. Iron Belly war settin' wit a stoic look and laughin' eyes.

After this time I turned my head to avoid the spoon and said, "I surrender, I'll ride one day on the wagon. Then, I must ride my hoss. But since I agree to that, you gotta do sumtin fer me."

The young gal smiled at this concession and asked, "What can I do for you?"

I took the bowl from her and put it down. Then I held her hands and looked into her eyes and said, "Go git some stew fer yarself. Then come in cheer and git some sleep. Flower says she will take keer of Matty. Ya need it."

The young mother smiled and replied, "Sure, but after I finish feeding you."

It war a good thing I rode the wagon the next day. I'd trouble stayin' awake. I keeped adozin'. To Becca's credit, she dint say I told ya so, more than three or four hundred times. Well, she dint say it but her looks did. Every time I dozed, I look'd over to Becca and see'd here asmirkin'.

When we stopped that night, I dint go straight off to the lodge. I went to check my string. The new ponies had been scrubbed of the Crow markins and my markins had replaced 'em. Then I went to Two Crows to thank 'em for doin' my work.

I found Two Crows talkin' to Hese Ve'keso (Flying Dove). She war smilin' and he war touchin' her hand a lot. This must be her. I walked up to my brother and said, "Brother, I have come to thank you for taking care of my new ponies while was recovering. I see they now bear my mark. Let me give you one as a present for your help."

The smaller warrior said, "Brother, I wish I could tell you I did it for you, but I did not. I would never think to do anything to your property without your permission. The one with the green eyes came to me and asked me to do it for you. She said you were not in shape to take care of the horses and that she could not leave you alone. I have also taken care of the captured weapons and the scalps. They are in the pack by the ponies."

I looked at the woman next to my brother and said, "Then I give you three ponies, because you are my brother and so that you may find you a bride. I am tired of hearing our father and mother moaning about no grandchildren."

If looks could keel I'd be six feet under. The look on Flyin' Dove's face war strange. She looked disappointed. But I knew that wit three ponies Two Crows would have no trouble getting a wife. As I left to go back to the lodge since I war gettin' hungry, Two Crows come arunnin' to ketch up wit me.

He grabbed my arm and it almost cost him a hand. He realized his mistake and said, "Sorry Brother. I know you do not like to be touched. I just wanted to ask you to go with me to see Hesta'se Hotoa'e (White Buffalo). I want Flyin' Dove as my wife."

I nodded and answered, "Of course Brother, I will bring the three horses and the weapons I took from the Crows. Let's go eat."

By noon the follering day we got the huntin' grounds. After we set up the hunting lodges, I brought the hosses and weapons to Two Crows. Then we went to talk to White Buffalo. I called out to White Buffalo. When he came out I said, "White Buffalo, my brother has brought you these horses and these weapons as the bride price for your daughter Flying Dove."

The father told his daughter to come out. She looked at me wit a funny look. I decided to ignore it. I asked her formally, "Flying Dove, I offer this bride price to you in the name of my brother, Two Crows."

I handed the girl the reins to the hosses. She looked at me wit tear sand I dint know why. Then she handed the reins to her father. That meant she accepted the price. I called out, "The price has been accepted. I will build the smoke huts with my own hands."

This war a big honor I war showin' my brother. I war a war chief and the protector of the Cheyenne. So for me to bless this matin' by my labor made White Buffalo proud. Iron Belly announced a feast fer the night. I went and got two hosses and a travois and went huntin'.

It only took me two minutes to pick up the trail of the buffalo herd. Any utter animal ya'd have to circle to be down wind so they dint run. But the buffalo dint run from jest yar scent. So I eased around the herd looking for a large childless cow. Then I spotted it. It war a white buffalo.

Now people got the wrong idear about white bills, cause they ain't snow white. Thar light, light brown, like the color of sand. She war an older animal. This'd be big medicine for my brother's marriage, iffin I could nail that skin. I pulled my rifle and took careful aim. I farred.

The bill dropped wit a thud. It war a perfect behind the ear shot. Quickly I rode down and started skinnin' the animal. The smell of blood made the other buffalo move off. By the time I war finished it war full dark and the scavengers started come. I put all the best meat and the skin on my travois and started back to camp.

I'd only intended to git fresh meat for the feast. I'd no idear, I would git a white bill. I knew this'd please my brother and my father. My mother would think this a sign of some setch.

Everybody war feastin' when I got thar wit the fresh meat. I rode the hosses rait into the camp circle, whar thar war dancin'. I called to my brother, "Brother, I went for fresh meat for yar feast. I also got a buffalo skin for your wedding bed."

When I rolled out the white buffalo hide, everybody cheered. Everybody war dancin'. My brother walked to me wit pride and hugged me like a bar. I winced cause he broke some stitches, but said nuthin. I dint wont to ruin his party. The fresh meat war taken to fars to be cooked. I went and set by Becca, who war settin' wit the young bride and Flower in the Sun.

Becca sar I war bleeding through my shirt and pulled me to the lodge. When we got thar, she ordered, "Take off the shirt. You're bleeding again. You probably busted some stitches. I told it war too soon to ride a horse. You would not listen. You had to prove how much of a warrior you are. No thought of me or Matthew, you could have been killed."

I took off my shirt so's she'd be able to tend my wound. Then I said, "It dint happen out thar. It happened when Two Crows hugged me. He squeezed so hard, he broke my stitches."

Becca war a little sheepish and apologized, "I'm sorry, but you just disappeared without a word, without telling me where you were going. I got scared. I thought..."

Then she started crying. I hated it when she cried. I pulled her to me. I helt her and said, "I'm sorry, I dint tell ya. I'll never do that agin."

She war sobbin' in my chest when I remembered, I dint have on a shirt. I felt her warmth agin my skin and wonted her so bad. She looked up at me wit her beautiful eyes and I leaned over and kissed her. She opened her mouth to invite me. So, I took up the invitation. I probed her mouth wit my tongue. We kissed for several moments, then she touched my side. I winced and she felt the blood. She broke the kiss and laid me down to clean the wound. She almost whispered into my ear, "We need to talk, but after the party and after I fix this wound."

Flyin' Dove noticed us leave to go back to Iron Belly's lodge. She knowed she should jest go ahead and marry Two Crows, but she war wontin' me. She war one of the girls I saved at Green River. Since that day, she's had her cap set fer me. I jest dint know.

It war really sad. I thought of her like a little sister, not a woman full growed. And I treated her as setch, which made her mo determined. I even gived her hope. Onct I gived her a bag of rock candy from Fort Bridger. It war meant to be a brotherly act. The second time war at a party when I picked her as a dance padna. Each warrior picked a maid to dance wit. I picked her cause I warnt interested in anybody in particular.

Flyin' Dove follered us to watch wat we done. She sar the kiss wit my shirt off and she war mad and aroused at the same time. I war the strongest warrior in the Cheyenne Nation. I proved it at every gatherin'. In rasslin', tuggin' and liftin', I beat 'em all. I had to be the best fer 'em to accept me as a warrior. I couldn't let 'em think of me as woman. I had to make 'em think of me as thar better.

Flyin' Dove had seen the other warriors wit shirts off many a time. It war common in the summer, but me I left mine on. So's nobody war reminder of my sex. So, when she sar my muscles and my breast it affected her. She war determined to make a try to win me from the white woman.

When Becca left to get some hot water and boil some thread fer the stitches, Flyin' Dove came in. I looked her. I made no attempt to cover myself. It never occurred to me. So's, I asked, "What do you want, Little Sister?"

She blushed and stared at me and licked her lips. Then she shyly muttered, "Do I look like a little sister to you? Two Crows does not see me so."

Boldly, she stepped up and ran her hand over my nipples. It war nice, but I warnt interested. So I fussed, "What are you doing Little Sister? I have a woman. You have a man. This is not right. I am ashamed of your actions. I will not tell my brother of this, but you must go, now."

She teared up a bit. Then she leaped on top of me and kissed me. I pushed her away and she landed on her BEhind. Her pride war hurt and she ran from the lodge. I war mad and embarrassed.

Becca came in the lodge carrying a pot of hot water and a look that told me she sar Flyin' Dove leavin'. A raised eyebrow asked me wat happened. All I done war shrug and said, "She kissed me and I knocked her down."

From the look in her green eyes, I knowed I done sumtin wrong. So, I jest up and asked, "Okay, wat I done wrong?"

She gived me a tolerant smile and said, "That girl loved you. And you threw her to the ground."

My defense war nuttin' to write home about, "She kissed me. It war like kissin' my baby sister."

Becca shook her head and sighed, "She's a woman in love and about to marry the wrong man. She was desperate and you ripped her heart out."

I felt like a dawg. I sighed and bent my head to my chest and axed sheepishly, "Now, wat do I do?"

Becca replied wit a pat of my hand, "Let me talk to her."

Becca patched me up and made me lie down while she went to talk to Flyin' Dove. Flyin' Dove had learned American a long time ago so's she could trade wit whites. She war the camp's best trader. Even Iron Belly sent Flower in the Sun to Flyin' Dove to do thar tradin'.

Becca found the girl on the ground acryin'. Becca sat down next to the girl and stroked her har and axed, "Are you ready to talk?"

The girl sobbed, "NO!"

Becca patiently replied, "Well, then I'll talk and you listen. Mar is very sorry about throwing you down. She's very strong and forgets that sometimes. And you scared her. She thinks of you as her little sister, not a woman fully blossomed. Plus she knew I was coming back and she didn't want me to get the wrong idea."

The girl screamed, "Do you love him? I do."

Becca sighed and thought for a moment and knowed she did. So she answered, "Yes, I do. I didn't realized until you asked. Thank you for letting me see that. I had thought it was just gratitude for saving my child and me, but now I realize I love her. And I've loved her from the moment she told me she loved my cooking."

She stopped crying, but war still sobbin', "You are lucky woman. You have the best husband in whole tribe. He strong warrior and take many scalp. He saved me once long time ago. He saved whole village."

Becca looked at her and axed, "Tell me about it?"

I came up and answered fer Flyin' Dove, "No, I'll tell ya. The story should come from me."

So I told her the story of Green River:

"I warnt more than fifteen yearen then. I'd been wit the Cheyenne for a little over two yearen. Not all the Cheyenne'd excepted me as warrior yet. But I'd taken over one hundred scalps by then. In those days I kept 'em on a coup stick so's to remind 'em I war a warrior. Many of the warriors war out ahuntin' fresh meat. Anutter party war out huntin' wild hosses. Me and Two Crows war out huntin' trouble. Two Crows war after Crow hosses. I war after Crow scalps. Two Crows still called me baby sister then. Even though I could lick'em at almost anythin.

Wit so few warriors in camp, it war easy for a party of Company trappers to steal a bunch of our women. They took six maidens and five girls. Two Crows and I cut thar trail and found 'em camped raping the maidens. Two Crows wonted to circle down and surprise 'em. I heared the screams, so I dint wait. I sited one of 'em rapin' a maid and kilt him dead.

I spurred my hoss down that hill wit my two old single shot cap and ball pistols. Balls war a flyin' everywar, none of 'em hit me. I farred my pistols at point blank and kilt two more of 'em sumsobitches. Thar war five more of 'em. I shucked my knife and dived into the closest one.

Rait then Two Crows shows up and kilt two more rait off. He dived into anutter one and war afightin' fer his life. I sliced one up purdy good. The last one war about to get Two Crows in the back, when I threw my knife and kilt him.Then I went to scalping and multilatin' the bodies.

All six maidens and two of the oldest girls'd been raped. We had stripped the bodies and packed thar hosses when the Crows done showed. So's we hightails it out of thar, ridin' hard, but the Crows wonted me bad so we could shake 'em. We managed to git an hour lead so I told Two Crows to take the girls back home and I staked myself to the ground. I had me nine rifles, ten pistols and a lot of reloads.

I stood thar betwixt the Cheyenne and the Crows and I warnt goin'ta go nowhar."

Becca interrupted the story wit a question, "What's being staked out mean?"

I figgited a bit then I answered, "Well, it's kinda of a challenge to other Injuns. Ya put a stake in the ground and ya tie yarself to it. It tells whoever's comin'. I ain't movin' til ya keel me."

Becca seemed cornfused and asked, "Why don't they just go around?"

I sighed and replied, "Two reasons. One, no self- repectin' warrior is goin'ta pass on such a challenge and two, they wonted to keel me bad."

So I continued the tale:

"I had to give 'em a long day to git home safe. I'd haveta last three maybe four before I got any hep. So I drank my fill of water and waited. Then a war party of twenty-two Crows comes over the rise. They spotted me and charged. I blew four out of the saddle afore they got to me. I knocked one off his hoss wit my rifle. Then I pulled a pistol and shot anutter one.

I took an arrow in the leg and anutter in my upper rait arm. Wit two mo pistols, I downed two mo. I dove to my right fer four mo pistols and hit wit three. I war like a mad woman then. I pulled my knife for close work. I war gazed wit a spear, which I took and skewered anutter Crow. When the dust settled, I war still standin' and every Crow war dead. I had three arrow wounds, two knife wounds and that graze by the spear.

I quickly reloaded my weapons and fixed my wounds as best I could. I war drinkin' some water and eatin' some hardtack when a group of Company men came over the rise for some revenge."

Becca interrupted agin and asked, "What are Company men?"

I smiled and said, "Oh, those war trappers that worked fer the Hudson Bay Company. They claimed all the land here abouts."

So I continued the story:

"Thar war about twelve of 'em. I really don't remember the rest too clear. I war losin' blood and war plume tuckered. The next thin' I remember clear war Two Crows, Iron Belly and a party of Cheyenne comin' to hep. I took every scalp. Some of the bodies war three days old, but it war impotent that I show no weakness.

I scalped forty-seven whites, Crows and some Sioux. I don't remember keelin' 'em to this day. From that day, no one called me little sister, I war called Notaxe Ma'exanestse."

Becca asked, "Why did they start calling you that?"

Flyin' Dove answered, "Because any man who looked into his eyes that day peed on himself. The ones that looked said they saw death."

Continued in Part 4.