Lakota Surrender by Karen Kay Read Free Book Online Page B

Indians.
    “Question,” she rotated her upright hand. “Why are you here?”
     
    Staring at the woman, Tahiska was still for a moment. So much had happened here today that he needed time before replying. First there had been the woman and his reactions to her at a time when he was on important tribal business. And now this, this insult from the colonel. He didn’t doubt for a moment that the colonel had intended every disgrace.
    Tahiska hadn’t expected either problem, and he hoped that his friends would understand his actions. He dared much by admitting this woman to council. He trusted none of the white people he had met so far, with the possible exception of the woman. Did he dare to tell her his exact purpose? What would the white man’s reaction be if he told them he had come for the scalps of two of their men? In just the little time he had been at the soldier fort, each person he had come into contact with, save the woman, looked upon him with a mixture of fear and condescension. He was particularly aware of it since it was an attitude he’d previously faced from a few fur traders with whom he’d bartered. And while at any other time Tahiska might have challenged this patronization, such action would surely defeat his purpose here.
    The white chief had just insulted him. He knew it. He had seen the gleam in the white man’s eyes.
    This washechu was not to be trusted.
    It meant that he and his friends would need to guard what they said. It meant he would have to find these two white men without assistance from the washechu at the fort. Cautioning himself against revealing too much, his hands, one finger up, switched past each other.
    “Trade,” Kristina translated while the handsome warrior continued the signs, his movements graceful and fluid. “They’re here because trade is poor elsewhere. The fur company in the north cheated them this year. All the tribes are…angry. Where once five buffalo robes would be fair exchange for a rifle…now ten buy only a…knife. They have come here to seek better exchange. He wants to know…how we trade and what…we offer.”
    When she finished translating, Kristina glanced at the colonel, who sat for the moment, poised to react.
    “Trade!” The colonel leaped to his feet, his face livid. He pounded on his desk, causing Kristina to shrink away. “Trade! I’ve been summoned to a council in the middle of the day on the Fourth of July because this Indian wants to trade!”
    “Colonel, sir, I think that…”
    “Tell this savage,” the officer ignored her, “to come back tomorrow. Tell him he’ll have to pay double for wasting my time. Tell him…”
    “…to report your trickery back to his tribe and invite the whole of the Sioux nation here in war?”
    “Father!”
    “Sioux?” The colonel’s gaze snapped to the door, and Kristina witnessed the slow flush that filled the commanding officer’s face. It made her wonder if the man had something to hide. Finally, the colonel opened his mouth to speak, closed it, tried again, stammering, “These Indians are from the Lakota nation, not the…”
    “One and the same, Colonel.” Her father, the major, stalked further into the room, fixing his gaze upon the senior officer. “The French gave them the name Sioux. It’s an insult. The Indians call themselves the Dakota, or Lakota, depending on dialect.” That the major was furious was without question. “If you would care to study the Indians in this country, you would know that these men are Sioux, just from the make of their moccasins. Your ignorance could have cost every man in this post his life. You’re new here, Colonel. You don’t insult these people and expect to live long. I suggest that you pick a less warlike tribe to abuse in the future. The Sioux can boast as many as ten thousand warriors. Are you ready to fight them?”
    Kristina flinched as the colonel shot a glare at her. He drew himself up to his full height, then spoke to the major, “I was