bounded off through the brush making a god-awful amount of racket. It gave him a few anxious moments until he was sure no one was coming to investigate.
The acrid scent of smoke warned him the village was near. Dismounting, Fargo tied the reins to a limb, slid the Henry from the saddle scabbard, and cat-footed to a low knoll. Flattening, he snaked to the top.
Tepees covered scores of acres. A Lakota village, the lodges arranged in circles with the flaps facing one another. Many of the buffalo-hide coverings bore painted symbols. Warriors, women, and children moved unconcernedly about, secure in the knowledge that they were in the heart of their own territory and few enemies would dare attack. Sentries were posted, though, and the horse herd was kept under close guard.
Fargo watched a while. He had lived in a village just like this once. The Sioux were friendlier to whites than they were now. It was before they learned that the white idea of a good Indian was a dead Indian and that those the whites didn’t kill were forced onto reservations. Fargo would hate to see that happen to the Sioux. They were a fierce, proud people.
Fargo was about to slide down the knoll and get out of there when he was startled to see two white men on horseback approaching the village openly with no weapons in their hands. He was surprised even more when none of the Sioux showed alarm. Warriors didn’t come rushing to confront the intruders. Instead, the pair rode on in as if they belonged there.
It was as they were climbing down that Fargo got his biggest surprise yet. He blinked and looked again, but there was no doubt: the pair were Owen and Lichen.
A Lakota wearing a heavy buffalo robe came out of a lodge and greeted them. After a bit they all went in. The flap closed behind them.
Fargo didn’t know what to make of it. Lem Owen had no great love for Indians. For Owen to be down there, he must have a damn good reason.
Time passed. Twice small parties of Sioux passed close to where Fargo lay. When the flap parted and Owen and Lichen emerged, he hurried to the Ovaro. Constantly on the alert for Lakotas, he made for two hills southeast of the village. Anyone leaving had to pass between them.
Fargo stayed well back in the trees until hooves clopped. Owen and Lichen were talking and taking their sweet time. He brought the Ovaro out in front of them and reined broadside. “Look what we have here. Two blood brothers to the Sioux, and they never told anyone.”
Owen and Lichen reined up. Lichen didn’t appear too happy. Owen chuckled and grinned.
“What the hell are you doing here, Fargo?”
“I could ask you the same thing. You’re supposed to be back in camp with the senator.”
Lichen snapped, “He’s the reason we’re here, you jackass. So if you think you can—”
Owen reached over and put a hand on Lichen’s arm. “Let me do the talking.”
“But—”
“You heard me.” Owen casually leaned on his saddle horn. “Don’t this beat all. You must have seen us pay that redskin a visit.”
“That redskin have a name?”
“Little Face.”
Fargo thought he had recognized the medicine man. Little Face always wore a buffalo robe, even in the hottest weather. “I’ve met the gent. He hates whites as much as he hates anything.”
“So how is it he met with us? Is that what you’re wondering? I set it up months ago. For the senator.”
To say Fargo was confused was putting it mildly. “Start explaining, and make it good. Something tells me I’ve been lied to, and there better be a reason.”
Lichen swore. “Listen to him. Acting as if he’s the cock of the walk. Say the word and I’ll put a window in his skull.”
“I wish you’d try,” Fargo said.
Owen cuffed Lichen on the shoulder. “Didn’t I just tell you I’d do the talking?”
“Sorry. It’s just that he puts on airs.”
Owen turned to Fargo and spread his hands. “You have to forgive him, hoss. He has a puny thinker.”
“He’s not the only one.”
Owen ignored the barb and said, “I’ll gladly tell you whatever you want to know. If the senator gets mad, it’s his own fault for not telling you himself.”
Fargo was immediately suspicious. Owen was being too accommodating. “I’m listening.”
“This hunt we’re on isn’t the real reason the senator came to the Black Hills. He’s here on a mission for the government.”
Lichen glanced sharply at Owen.
“You see, the government wants to set up peace talks with the Sioux. I don’t need to tell you how many whites the Sioux have killed. With more pilgrims flocking west every year, that tally is liable to climb a lot higher unless the government does something.”
Fargo didn’t say anything.
“They think the answer is a peace treaty. They sent me out last winter to see if the Sioux were willing to meet with Senator Keever. He’s on the Council for Indian Affairs, or whatever they call it. Little Face agreed, and here we are.” Owen smiled that too-friendly smile of his.
“Why wasn’t I told about this when Keever hired me?”
“This whole business is supposed to stay secret. Don’t ask me why the government doesn’t want word to get out, but they don’t.” Owen leaned on his saddle horn again. “Keever hired you so the hunt would appear to be legitimate. You’ve guided other hunters. No one would suspect he was up to something else.”
Fargo had to admit it was just like the government to do things behind everyone’s back. “Does his wife know?”
“I couldn’t say. Rebecca doesn’t like my company much.”
Fargo noticed that he called her by her first name. “So this is why he refused to leave when I wanted?”
Owen beamed. “You’ve seen the light.” He kneed his horse closer to the Ovaro. “Listen. Keeping you in the dark wasn’t my idea.”
“Since when did we become pards?”
“We may not always see eye to eye but I know you’re a man of your word. I told Keever that if he let you in on it, you wouldn’t tell anyone. But he said that it wasn’t up to him, that his orders came from higher up and it had to be a secret from practically everybody.”
Fargo grew warm with anger. After all the scouting and special work he had done for the army, to find out the government didn’t trust him was a kick in the gut. “Son of a bitch.”
“Take it up with the senator. He’ll be mad at me for telling you but what can he do?”
“I’ll take it up with him, all right.”
Owen raised his reins. “Now if you’ll excuse us, we have to go tell him that Little Face will meet with him tonight at sunset.” He paused. “You going back too?”
“No.” Fargo had thinking to do, and there was something else.
“Suit yourself. I won’t tell Keever you saw us. You can do that yourself.” Owen nodded and rode past, Lichen right behind him.
Fargo waited until they were out of sight then shifted in the saddle and stared at a thicket. In the Lakota tongue he said, “You can come out. I saw you sneak up on us.”
The young woman in the beaded buckskin dress who had been following Owen and Lichen stepped into the open. “I thought I was careful. You have eyes like an eagle.”
“This day is chock-full of surprises,” Fargo said in English, and switched to Lakota. “We meet again, Sweet Flower.”
“That is not my real name. That is what you call me.”
“What is your real name?”
“Sweet Flower will do.” She brazenly came over and stood smiling up at him. “I am not unhappy to see you again.”
“Oh?” All of a sudden Fargo was in no hurry to get back. He slid his right boot from the stirrup and crooked his leg over the saddle. “You are as beautiful as ever.”
“And you are as bold.” Sweet Flower laughed. “I should not say this but I have thought of you much since we
