chapter 19

A/N: As always, if you need help remembering who is who, refer to the Cast of Characters discussion on the main page of this story group. Also, all words in italics means the characters are speaking the Quedeyona language.



Owl Sees Truth sighed as she made her way to meet Mountain Lion Guides. She had been waylaid by Mouse Daydreams again and just like last time, the girl had been trying to get Owl Sees Truth to stop seeing Mountain Lion Guides. It had been more than fourteen suns since the men had returned from the war which meant that Mountain Lion Guides was nearly all healed by now.

Owl Sees Truth had been spending nearly every day with him, dividing her time between her family and Mountain Lion Guides. Of course when she was with him that meant she often saw Mouse Daydreams too. However, when Mouse Daydreams was around Mountain Lion Guides, she hardly said much.

Owl Sees Truth knew it was mostly because Mountain Lion Guides was Mouse Daydreams’ owner. Because when it was just the two of them alone, Mouse Daydreams didn’t hesitate to ask her if she really knew what she was getting herself into by letting a savage court her.

It started getting bad when Mouse Daydreams started calling them savages while telling Owl Sees Truth that associating with them might ruin their chances at going back to their old lives where they could make something of themselves. Owl Sees Truth knew that Mouse Daydreams hated living a rustic lifestyle like the Quedeyona, missing the grand life she’d once lived in England.

Still, she thought Mouse Daydreams had been too young when they’d left England to remember much. She believed the memories Mouse Daydreams had of that time were now mostly what she’d fabricated in her mind, a way of escaping the life she now lived.

For her part, Owl Sees Truth didn’t mind living the life she had now. Sure she missed her old life from time to time, but she had to admit there was something gratifying about doing a task and completing it on your own. She had always been a hands on kind of person, preferring to do her own hair and clothes rather than letting her servants dress her.

Of course she didn’t like the idea of slavery, but she understood why the Indians had them. She’d really come to understand that when she’d become the slave of her current owners. The couple she lived with were an older couple who obviously needed someone younger and more spry to help them with day to day chores.

Plus, they didn’t treat her like a slave, the way she remembered some of the white Plantation owners did. They didn’t even give her orders or talk down to her like some of the other Indians did. In fact, they often reminded Owl Sees Truth of her own grandparents, what with their friendliness towards her and others.

She’d tried to get Mouse Daydreams to see that the Quedeyona were just as human as she was, but Mouse Daydreams wouldn’t see it. And Owl Sees Truth knew Mountain Lion Guides never treated Mouse Daydreams like a slave. He never told her what to do and didn’t get upset if she didn’t do the day-to-day chores.

Then again, Owl Sees Truth often made sure Mouse Daydreams did the chores anyway, which meant Mountain Lion Guides didn’t always see when Mouse Daydreams was slacking off. Still, she knew Mountain Lion Guides wasn’t clueless about Mouse Daydreams’ behavior. Mountain Lion Guides was just as sharp as she was at recognizing the signs, but he let them slide because Mouse Daydreams was Owl Sees Truth’s younger sister and he knew how Mouse Daydreams felt about being there. He also knew Mouse Daydreams had been treated badly before he’d taken her in.

It was that understanding and kindness that was part of the reason why she loved him so much. That and the fact that he had always treated both of them with the utmost respect. Owl Sees Truth loved the way it wasn’t obvious that Mountain Lion Guides had a good heart unless you were one of the lucky ones he was close to. In that respect, he was a lot like her. Stoic on the outside, tender on the inside.

“There you are, my raven!”

Owl Sees Truth smiled at the nickname Mountain Lion Guides had given her. He had told her it was because her hair always reminded him of the black raven’s feathers and that she always seemed to shine just like they did.

“Hello, my lion,” she answered with the nickname she’d given him as she stepped into his arms for a welcoming kiss.

When their lips finally separated from each others, he gave her a grin. “I was beginning to think you were not coming today.”

She sighed as she fell into step with him, walking towards his home. “Sorry, I ran into Rose along the way.”

He gave her a curious glance. “She told me she was going to do the wash today.”

Owl Sees Truth nodded. “Yes, she was on her way, I think. She had the basket of clothes with her.”

“Ah, so she was waiting for you then.”

“Yeah, I think so.”

He chuckled as he wrapped his arm around her waist. “What did she want to talk to you about?”

Owl Sees Truth rolled her eyes. “What do you think?”

Mountain Lion Guides sighed. Owl Sees Truth had told him what Mouse Daydreams had been up to lately. Both she and Mountain Lion Guides never kept secrets from each other. Still, he wasn’t angry with Mouse Daydreams for what she did because he was certain he wouldn’t be happy if he had to live a life he wasn’t comfortable with either.

“I am sorry, Leah. You know I would set her free if I could.”

Owl Sees Truth nodded. “I know, but I don’t think she even knows what she would do if she were set free. She has nowhere to go or to live. At least here, she’s taken care of.”

Mountain Lion Guides nodded in agreement. Owl Sees Truth had already mentioned that before. Despite not liking the idea of slavery, at least she knew they were both alive and well taken care of where they were. She knew things could have been far worse, in fact, they still could be. Mouse Daydreams would have no idea how to survive on her own out in the wilderness.

As they reached the front of his house, Mountain Lion Guides stopped walking, turning to look at Owl Sees Truth with a hopeful smile. “Leah, there is something I wanted to talk to you about, but I do not know if this is the right time.”

“Oh? What is it?”

He sighed. “It is something I have thought about for a while. I have talked to your owners about it and they told me they will agree with your answer.”

That got Owl Sees Truth even more curious. “Really? What are you talking about?”

He just looked at her for a few moments before he finally took her hands in his. Lifting their joined hands to his chest, he pressed them against his right side as he leaned slightly forward.

As he looked into her eyes, he spoke to her in a solemn voice. “Leah Hale…Owl Sees Truth, would you allow the Great Spirit to bless a hand-fasting between us?”

Owl Sees Truth gasped as she realized what he was asking her. Stunned, she stammered for a few seconds before she could get the right words out. “Are you asking me what I think you’re asking?”

Mountain Lion Guides gave her a hesitant smile. “Yes. I would be honored if you would become my other half. My…what do you call it?”

“Wife. Your wife.”

He nodded. “Yes, my wife.”

“Oh Mountain Lion Guides!” she whispered as she squeezed his hands in hers.

“Is that yes?”

She laughed. “Yes! Oh yes, I would love to!”

His smile bloomed into a full one as he wrapped his arms around her, hugging her close to his body.

As she hugged him back she asked, “Is that what you talked to my owners about?”

He pulled away to look in her eyes. “Yes. I asked them if they would allow you to be free to be hand-fasted to me and since they will be without help once you leave them, I offered to give them Mouse Daydreams in your place.”

Owl Sees Truth frowned. “But Mountain Lion Guides, you know Rose won’t do anything unless I tell her to.”

Mountain Lion Guides grinned. “I know, but we will be living right next to them. I trust you to keep an eye on her as you have been.”

She shook her head with a grin. “You are a crafty one, my lion! But you’re right. I’ll keep an eye on her. I’m sure I can get her to do her chores when I am doing my own in our home.”

Mountain Lion Guides caressed her cheek. “I will purchase another slave as soon as I can to…”

Owl Sees Truth firmly shook her head. “No Mountain Lion Guides. I don’t need any help. Please, don’t bring a slave into our home.”

He stared into her eyes for a few moments before he conceded to her. “All right. It will be as you say.”

She smiled as she threw her arms around him and hugged him again. “Thank you,” she whispered.

**********************************************************

Mouse Daydreams glanced across the firelight and met White Coyote’s gaze. He gave her a smile which she returned with a blush. In the few weeks since they had met, the two of them had actually been allowed ample time to spend with each other. Granted, they were not always alone, but somehow they had managed to get a few moments here and there to themselves.

Just as she once had White Swan to talk to, she now had White Coyote. However, there was a world of difference between what she’d once had with White Swan and what she now had with White Coyote. For starters, both she and White Coyote had much more in common which made it easier for them to have conversations together. Then there was the fact that she didn’t consider White Coyote like an older sibling the way she had White Swan.

Mouse Daydreams would never look at the dark-haired, blue-eyed White Coyote as an older sibling. Not when he flashed that dimpled smile at her, the one that made her melt inside. And when he talked about being free or the things he wanted to do, it made her heart speed up.

She’d already spent many a night thinking about what kind of life they would live if they were free. She could imagine the home they would purchase, just like the lifestyle she still missed so much. And the more they talked about it, the more she believed he would one day accomplish it all. She just hoped he would take her with him when he finally went free.

“Owl Sees Truth!” came White Swan’s voice, breaking into Mouse Daydreams’ thoughts. “You made it!”

Mouse Daydreams looked up in time to see Owl Sees Truth making her way towards them. Most of the village was gathered around small fires where they offered up prayers and dances to the gods to insure a safe winter. All of the crops had been gathered, distributed and stored away for the coming winter. And it had been a good hunting season for the tribe, so the celebration was held to honor both the Great Spirit and the land for blessing them with the bounty.

As the celebration went on, it was common for the men and women to break into little groups of their own in which they could socialize and gossip. Mouse Daydreams sat with White Swan, Porcupine Smiles and some of the other slaves while White Coyote sat with Black Wolf, Fighting Dog and some of their friends. Mountain Lion Guides was making his way towards the men just as Owl Sees Truth was joining the women.

“Yeah, I know we’re late,” she grinned at her friends and younger sister. “But I had a good reason!”

Porcupine Smiles laughed. “Really? Do tell!”

Owl Sees Truth was obviously doing her best to contain her giddiness as she sat down besides Mouse Daydreams. “Okay, I have some good news to tell all of you!”

She glanced towards Mountain Lion Guides which made all of them look in that direction too. They all watched as Mountain Lion Guides was patted on the back or given handshakes by the others. The men surrounded him with grins and good-natured gestures. All except White Coyote who remained seated where he’d been, seemingly glaring into his cup.

White Swan looked back at Owl Sees Truth with a smile. “What’s going on Owl Sees Truth?”

Owl Sees Truth’s grin was even bigger than Mountain Lion Guides’ “Mountain Lion Guides asked me to be his wife and I said yes!” she squealed.

“Oh my lord!” cried Porcupine Smiles as she shot up from her seat, clapping her hands together. “Oh congratulations!”

Owl Sees Truth laughed. “Thank you!”

Porcupine Smiles hugged her as the two of them jumped for joy. White Swan laughed as she joined in the celebration. “That’s wonderful news Owl Sees Truth! Congratulations!”

The three of them hugged and laughed, sharing in Owl Sees Truth’s joy just as the men where doing their own version of bonding across the way. Some of the other slaves even happily congratulated Owl Sees Truth without any rancor. However, Mouse Daydreams glanced over to where White Coyote was still sitting, frowning as he watched the women’s joy.

When he looked at Mouse Daydreams, she could see it in his eyes. White Coyote was dead set against ever showing any happiness or consent for what Owl Sees Truth and Mountain Lion Guides were doing. His eyes moved to where White Swan was now sitting next to an animated Owl Sees Truth who was explaining how Mountain Lion Guides had asked her to marry him.

His frown deepened even more.

With a sigh, Mouse Daydreams looked away from White Coyote to watch as her sister told her story. When she finished, White Swan, Porcupine Smiles and the others congratulated her once more. Mouse Daydreams remained silent until Owl Sees Truth looked in her direction.

Despite how she felt about all of it, Mouse Daydreams managed to put a smile on her face as she got up to go hug her big sister. “Congratulations Leah, I’m happy for you.”

Owl Sees Truth returned the hug, a look of gratitude on her face. “Thanks, little sister.”

Mouse Daydreams gave her a nod as she returned to her place. Once more Owl Sees Truth was drawn into happy chatter with the others, leaving Mouse Daydreams to wonder what was going to happen next.

*******************************************************

As the braves settled down around the fire again, Fighting Dog lifted his cup as his happy gaze landed on his best friend. “A toast! Here’s to the hope of a blessed hand-fasting between Mountain Lion Guides and his woman, Owl Sees Truth! May they be blessed with healthy children and a long, happy life.”

The others raised their cups, adding their support to their friend and fellow warrior before each of them took a drink.

As Mountain Lion Guides lowered his cup, he inclined his head towards Fighting Dog. “My thanks, my friend. It is my hope too!”

As talk settled into other topics, Laughing Antelope came to kneel between the brothers, clapping them each on a shoulder. “So, now that Mountain Lion Guides has taken the lead, when will you two follow?”

Fighting Dog shoved him away as he growled, “Back off, you idiot, we’re brothers! Why would I want to hand-fast myself to my own brother?”

Hawk Soars snickered before answering. “He’s talking about you and Porcupine Smiles.” As the others continued laughing, his gaze turned to the other brother, lowering his voice as he added, “And Black Wolf with White Swan.”

The laughter suddenly died down as most eyes turned to look at the eldest son of the tribe’s chief. Black Wolf didn’t say anything at first. He simply stared right back at everyone who was looking at him.

Before he could say anything, Fighting Dog spoke up instead. “I know what he was asking, Hawk Soars, and while I do have feelings for Porcupine Smiles, I’m not sure if she’s ready for that yet.”


“You won’t know until you ask her,” replied Hawk Soars.

Fighting Dog scowled at him. “Always the voice of reason, are you? I know…just…I’ll ask when I feel the time is right!”

Black Wolf motioned to Hawk Soars, indicating for him to back off. Then he turned to his brother. “They mean no harm, brother. They’re just curious. Besides, you should take your time, I know how you are with important things.”

Mountain Lion Guides nodded. “He’s right and so are you. Listen to your inner voice, ask when you feel the time is right. It’s what I did, that’s why I asked Owl Sees Truth today. The time was right for us.”

Fighting Dog nodded, giving his best friend a grateful smile even as Laughing Antelope looked to Black Wolf.

Keeping his voice low, he asked the chief’s son, “What about you Black Wolf, are you waiting until the time is right to ask White Swan?”

Black Wolf sighed. “If it was as simple as that, I would have asked her soon after she had agreed to let me court her. But it isn’t. I have to talk to my father…and the council about this. I have to get their permission first.”


“We know that,” said Hawk Soars. “The question is why haven’t you already done that?”


“Besides,” added Laughing Antelope, “it’s not like they’ll tell you no. You’re the chief’s son and the council loves you.”

Black Wolf scowled. “It’s because I am the chief’s eldest son that I can’t just do it. Maybe my father will give me permission, but there are some council members that I know will not.”

Mountain Lion Guides moved closer to his friend, looking him in the eyes as the rest of their friends gathered close around them. “Forget about the council and all of those rules for a moment. What we want to know is what do you really want. If it was that simple…what would you want?”

Black Wolf didn’t even hesitate as he answered honestly, “I want to spend the rest of my life with White Swan. I want to be hand-fasted to only her.”

Mountain Lion Guides sat back with a nod, as the others looked on. “Then we will just have to work on getting the council to give you permission. It’s as simple as that.”

As the others agreed with Mountain Lion Guides, they were unaware that their hushed conversation was heard by two others who would do anything to make sure that the council did not give Black Wolf what he desired.

*******************************************************

Emmett paced back and forth mumbling under his breath. Rosalie sat on a log with her head down, angry tears threatening to spill from the corners of her eyes. It was the next day when she and Emmett had managed to get some time alone.

The moment she’d seen him, she had launched into a tirade about the fact that she couldn’t convince her sister to stop what she was doing. She had tried everything, but Leah had ignored all of it, saying yes to Mountain Lion Guides’ proposal.

Rosalie had tried to talk her out of it again later that night when they had a moment alone. She tried to get Leah to see how awkward it would be for one sister to be Mountain Lion Guides’ wife while the other was his slave. However, it seemed they already had a solution to that problem before it had even come up.

She was going to be taking Leah’s place with the elderly couple while Leah played house with Mountain Lion Guides. That had been the last straw. She couldn’t believe Leah would just let Mountain Lion Guides trade her like that and had told her so instantly.

Leah had tried to make Rosalie understand that Mountain Lion Guides couldn’t just let Rosalie go. The council would never allow something like that. But he could trade her to Leah’s owners as a kind of gift for Leah’s hand.

Leah had tried to convince Rosalie of just how wonderful the elderly couple had been to her, telling her that they would treat Rosalie the same way. She tried to make Rosalie believe that she wouldn’t even feel like their slave, but it didn’t work. Not even telling her that she had convinced Mountain Lion Guides not to purchase another slave for them once they were hand-fasted had made Rosalie feel any better.

After that conversation, Rosalie had spent the night fighting tears of anger and frustration until she’d finally seen Emmett. He had let her get it all out before she finally collapsed in defeat on the log while he began to pace in anger.

That had been nearly an hour ago, but suddenly he whirled around to face her with a scowl on his face. “Look, I don’t know what we can do for your sister anymore, Rose. I don’t think there is anything really, but there’s still hope for us.”

She wiped a tear from her cheek as she looked up at him. “What do you mean?”

“Remember I told you about the bounty I earned when I was a slave for the Taganila?”

Rosalie nodded.

“Well, I’m still allowed to earn more even living here with the Quedeyona, though they don’t normally do that, they are allowing me to. So, all I have to do is earn enough to purchase my freedom, your freedom and Bella’s. And when I do that, I’m going to take you with me and we’re going to go find my younger sister, Alice. We can all still get out of here together and when we do, we’ll be able to live the life we’ve always dreamed about in freedom.”

“So, I just leave my sister here? And what makes you so sure Bella will want to come with us?”

Emmett gritted his teeth. “Bella will come, she wants to find Alice just as much as I do. And you can try to convince Leah to come with us, but I don’t think you’re going to get anywhere. I think she’s already in too deep to want to leave.”

Rosalie sadly nodded her head. He was right. It was too late for Leah. But there was still hope for the rest of them. Closing her eyes, she began to wish that everything Emmett said would come true. She wished the two of them would finally be free.

She was about to say something else, when they heard chattering coming towards them. As the small group of women neared the two of them, Emmett seemed to scowl even more as Rosalie slowly got to her feet. It wasn’t until the group came nearer that Rosalie stood up from the log she had been sitting on.

The woman who walked in the lead, suddenly came to a stop as she noticed them. She looked both of them over for a moment before walking closer to Emmett.

“You are White Coyote, yes?”

Emmett gave her a puzzled look before Rosalie answered for him. “Yes, he is White Coyote, but he doesn’t know your language very well.”

“Ah, then perhaps you can translate for us?” the woman asked.

Rosalie nodded as she told Emmett what the woman had said. When Emmett agreed, the woman continued.

“You are the older brother of White Swan, yes?”


“Yes, I am,” was Rosalie’s translation for Emmett.

“Ah well, it is good that you have been reunited with your sister then.”


“Thank you. What is your name if I may ask?”


“Forgive me, I am called Brown Skunk and these are my friends Spotted Bat and Rainbow Butterfly.”


“Right,” was Emmett’s short answer as Rosalie translated. She gave Emmett a sideways glance, trying to let him know not to start trouble with anyone unless he wanted to jeopardize his good standing within the village.

Still, Brown Skunk went on with her conversation. “Well, White Coyote, as glad as I am that you have been reunited with your sister, I’m sure you are a little sad that you will be losing her again so soon.”

At that, Emmett straightened up. “What do you mean by that?”

She shrugged, looking a bit coy. “It’s just that, now that Black Wolf has been courting her, it seems he has his sights on asking the council for permission to be hand-fasted to her. When they allow that, she will become his woman and you will be sent elsewhere.”

Emmett’s hands curled into fists. “What? Why would they send me away? I’m her older brother! Besides, there is no way I would let her marry that…that man anyway!”

Brown Skunk tsked as she waved her hand, “Oh you won’t be sent out of the village, but you will not be allowed to stay with them when they set up house. Also, you are just a slave, therefore you have no say on who White Swan can be hand-fasted to. Only her owner, Crow Flies, and the council can make that decision.”

Emmett began to turn red as his anger gripped him. He refused to think of his sister marrying one of those savages and it infuriated him that one of them was rubbing it in his face at that very moment. He wanted to lash out badly, but was doing his best to keep his temper reined in.

Brown Skunk seemed oblivious to his anger as she spoke up again. “It’s a shame that you are not a free man, it would be so much easier for you to bargain with the council to release her into your care. They would be hard pressed to refuse a request like that, you know.”

Emmett perked up at her words. “Really?”


“Of course! Our council rarely says no to blood family members who come to the village to claim one of their lost ones. They may have been just a slave here, but to keep the peace, the council believes it is easier to just release the slave into their family’s keeping. So, yes, if you were free and came asking for White Swan, they would definitely give her to you.”


“Even if she was hand-fasted to Black Wolf?” asked Emmett.

Brown Skunk shook her head. “Only if White Swan wanted to leave with you would they let her go. If not, she would remain with Black Wolf. He is to be chief one day, you know. And by hand-fasting herself to him, White Swan would no longer be a slave. She would be a full member of the tribe and the woman of the future chief. So, the council would have a very hard time allowing her to go with you at that point.”

Emmett had gone still the moment Rosalie uttered the words future chief. He had gotten the impression that Black Wolf was an important person in the village, but he had not realized just how important he was. The village didn’t treat their chief the way his people treated the leaders of the American government. There was no formal reverence or pomp and circumstance here. Nothing to indicate just how important the man was to the village.

So, to hear that his sister was involved with the future chief of the village set him even more on edge than he’d been before. He knew now that time was of the essence. He had to earn more money quickly in order to free himself, his sister and Rosalie before it was too late.

He turned to Brown Skunk, trying not to sound panicked. “As a Taganila slave, I was allowed to earn bounty to buy my own freedom some day. Black Wolf has told me that this tribe is honoring that agreement. I can still earn my freedom, but I need to do more work for that to happen. Once I do that, then I can ask for my sister’s freedom, but…”

Brown Skunk smiled happily at him. “Ah! But you need work, right? Hm, I think I can help you out with that. I know my father is in need of someone strong enough to chop wood for him as well as some other chores that are too difficult for his failing strength. If you don’t mind, I will tell him that you are interested in working for a payment?”


“Yes! That would be wonderful!” Emmett nodded, enthusiastically.

Rainbow Butterfly spoke up next. “I think my grandmother is in need of some help too, I could ask her if she would be interested in your help, White Coyote.”


“While I don’t have any family who needs extra help, I can still ask around.” Supplied Spotted Bat. “I’m sure there are plenty of people here who need your services.”

Brown Skunk nodded as she gave him a smile. “My friends are right, there are plenty of people who need your help and we will surely spread the word around. I’m sure that will help you to raise the bounty you need to help free both yourself and your sister in no time at all.”

Emmett returned the smile as Rosalie translated for him. “Yes, I’m sure that will help perfectly.”

Sly looks were exchanged between Brown Skunk and Emmett as they all bid each other good day, then went their separate ways. Some of them went to seek help, while a select few continued to plan…or plot a way to reach their own goals. Goals that they were convinced would benefit all parties involved.