Chapter 13

Tatanka hadn’t said much since emerging from the council tent. He had led Lee to this place. Before entering, he had turned to the crowd that had followed them and said in Dakota, “I am now your chief. I will take my rest and in the morning I will talk more. Go now and be at peace.”

“After you leave,” Tatanka began, “the elders talk much about Spotted Owl and you. Some say you put spell on him. Most say no. They say he act out of hate. That he dishonor himself as chief. They vote. He not chief.”

“That means…” Lee was hesitant to ask the question, even though he knew the answer.

“Hau, I am chief,” Tatanka said, with a heavy voice.

Lee waited, knowing his friend would go on when he was ready.

After a time, Tatanka sighed deeply and began. “The council talk for many hour about me and you. They not sure that it be good for chief to have man for mate. And if I am Winktethen I cannot have mate at all even if I not chief. They say can be woman-man but not have man mate.”