Red Thunder

~Chapter Three: Part V~

I settled my chin more comfortably on the pillow as Winnie placed herself carefully beside me on the bed. I closed my eyes in bliss as she lifted the hair from my neck, fingertips brushing my skin ever so lightly, like the kiss from hummingbird wings.

She made the first stroke with the brush. I was pleased to note that I was not the only one affected by this intimacy, as her hand that held my mane trembled softly.

As she continued, gently manipulating the tangles out of my long hair, I moaned softly in pleasure. She hesitated.

"Is this- is this alright?" Winnie asked shyly.

I nodded. "Yes. This is nice. Thank you."

I could almost feel her blushing as she mumbled something in reply, and then continued. When all of the tangles were free, and my hair was lying smoothly on my back, she separated it into three pieces and proceeded to braid it.

Slowly.

I knew that a young lady like her must know how to braid very well, and it would not normally take this long. I myself had been braiding my hair for years, and could do it in the time it took to throw a stone twenty paces.

I smiled knowingly to myself. Winnie must be taking her time because she was enjoying this almost as much as I was. The knowledge very satisfying, and further cemented my decision to court her. I could never let this kind of attraction, this kind of desire, out of my sights for as long as I lived! No matter our different skins and cultures. It would be hard for her to move to a new place, a new way of life, but I knew that she could do it, as long as I figured out a way for her to agree. I was sure my family and tribe would accept her readily enough. Winnie's curiosity, compassion, and strength would endear her to my people, but it would definitely be much harder, and dangerous, if I were to try to endear hers to me.

Impossible, really, I thought sadly.

I finally felt her tying off the end of the braid, and I felt a pang of disappointment as she stood up from the bed.

"There you go, that should help," Winnie murmured huskily to me.

I sighed. "Thank you, wíŋyaŋ wašté; good, beautiful woman."

This time, I did see her blush. A pretty pink color upon her cheeks and nose, which she tried to hide by ducking her face.

"It is no trouble at all Red Thunder," she smiled shyly.

My stomach suddenly growled raucously, like a bear cub's grumbling roar. Winnie smiled and told me cheerfully, "I brought you some food if you feel well enough to eat? I thought it would be best to do before your bath."

I nodded eagerly. "Háŋ, food would be very good."

Winnie picked up a basket, and brought out a covered bowl from inside. When she took off the lid, I could smell the delicious, intoxicating meaty aroma, making my mouth water. I had not eaten since the dawn, which now seemed so long ago.

She brought the soup over and sat beside me on the bed again. "This is broth, which will be the easiest on your body as it needs to recover before you eat anything more hearty. I also brought some fresh bread if this goes down all right."

I nodded in thanks, tucking the pillow more firmly below my chest so I was raised up. When Winnie brought the first spoonful to my mouth, I took it greedily. Then another, and another, until the entire bowl was gone. The burn of pain from my wound was dulled by the wonderful experience of my lovely healer feeding me. I felt better than I had all day. A man could get used to this, which is why I had no intention of leaving her for some lucky, and unworthy, white man to marry.

"Well you ate it all! Here, let me just clean you up a bit," Winnie spoke happily, pulling a handkerchief from a pocket on her skirt and gently dabbing at my mouth. I smiled at her gentle ministrations, enjoying her tender care of me. I would be sure to return the favor and more, in time.

When I was clean, she brought out a little jar from her basket, holding it up to show me. "This is an herbal mixture my grandmother made for pain. I know you did not want to consume any alcohol, and this has none in it. You will be more comfortable if you are not in as much pain, therefore can rest easier and heal faster. Will you take some?"

I thought it over for a moment. I trusted Winnie, and if a healer were caring me for amongst my tribe, they too would have given me something for my pain. And what she said made sense, so I agreed. The pleased smile my consent brought to her face was a pleasing reward.

I watched her unscrew the lid and reach a spoon inside, withdrawing a heaping portion of sticky, bluish substance. Surprisingly, it smelled sweet.

"Just a few spoonfuls of this should help ease some of the pain. Here," she murmured, bringing the medicine to my lips. I opened and cautiously took the spoon into my mouth. I was relieved to find it did not taste all that bad. A bit of a bitter after taste, but clearly there was honey and some sort of berry in the concoction. Elderberry, perhaps.

Winnie fed me two more portions of the medicine, before putting the container away. She wiped my face again, and I was unable to resist. I reached my hand up, encircling her wrist carefully. She looked into my eyes with surprise.

"You are one of the most kind and caring women I have ever met, Winnie. I am thankful we have been united again. I will repay you for saving my life," I told her sincerely.

Her eyes widened. "Oh no! There is nothing to repay. Any decent person would have done the same thing, I assure you."

My eyes narrowed a little. How blissfully naïve she was to assume all people would be as good as she was. "Well then, there are few of these decent people in this world."

Winnie smiled sadly and her hand went down to squeeze mine, making my heart leap like a startled frog in my chest. "I know about what has been happening with the Indians lately. That they are being forced onto the new reservations. Violently. I am so sorry. It isn't right!"

I flinched at the painful reminder of my peoples' strife. We were one of the tribes that refused to move to the reservations (more rightly called prisoner of war camps) and because of this, we were declared renegades. Punishable by death. And the wašíču were always more than happy to oblige this. There were even bounties on our scalps! These were very hard times. And I did not see how it would get any better, with more invaders coming to our homeland everyday. But despite it all, through it all, my people would stand firm.

"Yes, they are not a good thing, these reservations. But my people are strong. We will survive to resist again and again, if we must." I told her confidently, keeping hold of her hand in mine, enjoying the comfort and tender feelings it gave me.

"I wish things could be different for your people. For all of us..." my sweet healer whispered breathlessly. I could feel her warm gentle breath on my face, as she had leaned in closer during our conversation. My eyes centered on her slightly parted pink lips, and then looked back up into her hazel eyes. It would be pure pleasure to kiss her right now on that pretty mouth...

As if sensing my direction of thought, Winnie drew back awkwardly, blushing that intriguing shade of rose again. She nervously cleared her throat. "Well how about that bread I promised you, hmm?"

I chuckled, grinning at her bashfulness. We would get to the more physical parts of intimacy with time, for I knew she had the same feelings as I. Underneath her shyness, I knew I would find a rich hoard of unexplored passions just waiting for the right man to stir and waken them.

That man was I!