Walking in Two Worlds
By Terry O’Reilly
Published by JMS Books LLC at Smashwords
Visit jms-books.com for more information.
Copyright 2012 Terry O’Reilly
ISBN 9781611522617
For more titles by Terry O’Reilly at Smashwords visit https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/terryoreilly
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Cover Photo Credit: Roger Branch
Used under a Standard Royalty-Free License.
Cover Design: J.M. Snyder
All Rights Reserved
WARNING: This book is not transferable. It is for your own personal use. If it is sold, shared, or given away, it is an infringement of the copyright of this work and violators will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
No portion of this book may be transmitted or reproduced in any form, or by any means, without permission in writing from the publisher, with the exception of brief excerpts used for the purposes of review.
This book is for ADULT AUDIENCES ONLY. It contains substantial sexually explicit scenes and graphic language which may be considered offensive by some readers. Please store your files where they cannot be accessed by minors.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are solely the product of the author’s imagination and/or are used fictitiously, though reference may be made to actual historical events or existing locations. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
NOTE: This book was previously published by Aspen Mountain Press.
Published in the United States of America.
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Walking in Two Worlds
By Terry O’Reilly
Chapter 1: The Mountain
“Ho, Ranger, This looks as gooda spot as any.”
Lee Masters reined his gray gelding to a halt on the banks of a small, mountain lake and looked around. The waters were blue and inviting. The clearing at the edge of the lake was lush with grass, protected to the north by pines and cottonwoods.
“Yep, this’ll do.”
Lee stretched atop his mount to take the kinks out of his back. It had been a long ride and a long night. He had left the high pasture camp…forced to leave by the foreman the previous day at noon. Embarrassed and frustrated, he had ridden all day and all night. Now, he and his horse were bushed. As he sat surveying the lake and the land, he wondered how he had gotten himself into this mess. It had to be the whiskey. If only he hadn’t gotten drunk. Then he wouldn't have gotten into it with that kid someplace where they'd get caught. Well, he wasn’t really a kid: just a young hot and horny cowpoke like himself.
Wonder where he went when they threw us outta camp? Too bad we went in separate directions; we coulda had some real fun now there’s no fuckin’ nosey, Bible thumpin’ bastards to interfere.
Lee shrugged his broad shoulders and dismounted, stretched once more and began to unsaddle Ranger. He swung the hefty work saddle to the ground, after extracting the hobbles from the saddlebags and his rifle from the gun sleeve. He removed Ranger’s bridle, hobbled him and let him free to drink from the clear, blue waters and wander off to graze on the lush grass.
The cowboy unstrapped the bedroll from the saddle and rolled it out on the sandy beach. He stood looking at the saddlebags with his hands on his slender hips. Other than a shirt for wearin’ on Sunday, a bar of soap and cans of beans, they were empty.
Might as well wash these, he thought, referring to the clothes on his back. No one here to object to my body being out for inspection.
Despite his bravado, Lee was unsettled by being discovered with the kid and having his sexual proclivities exposed to his cowpoke buddies.
He got undressed, laid his clothes on the edge of the lake, put his six-shooter under his saddle with the rifle, grabbed his bar of lye soap and waded into the water. It was cold, as mountain lakes are. Despite the hot afternoon sun, he had goose flesh from his head to his toes, including his ample cock and huge balls, which snuggled up against his groin for warmth and protection.
Ignoring the frigid water, Lee dived deep under the surface, only to come up sputtering and cursing. He quickly lathered his body, working the soap into the thick matt of black hair covering his chest, ass and legs. Even though the water was ice cold, he took a few minutes to stroke his cock to the point of exposing his mushroom head beyond the foreskin. Then he ducked down under water to rinse the soap from his wavy black hair and moustache.
He waded out of the water with his cock at half-staff and shook like a water spaniel.
“Fuck,” he said out loud. “No frickin’ towel. Guess the sun’ll have ta do it.”
He walked to his pile of clothes and shook the sand off his feet, put on his socks, boots and hat. Naked, except for what he had donned, he gathered his underwear, jeans, shirt and bandana and went back to the water’s edge. Squatting down, he worked the lye soap into the material of each piece of clothing and rubbed them together between his fists. Dunking the now clean garments in the clear water to rinse them, he rose and walked to the grassy area to spread them out in the sun to dry. By this time he was almost dry himself. He walked to his saddle and bedroll and stretched out to let the sunshine finish the job.
Lee lay with his eyes closed, feeling the sun on his body, the breeze caressing his skin. He felt his dick begin to respond to nature’s touch. He began to play with his balls and his hardening cock with his left hand, while his right made its way to his hair shrouded nipples. In his mind he saw the young man who had seduced him at the camp. The young blond Adonis’ image rose above him as he had two nights earlier. He felt once more the thrill of the boy/man’s smooth ass as it impaled itself on his turgid shaft. He began to contract and release his ass in a fucking motion as his passion rose and his balls contracted.
“Kenny,” he moaned out loud, as his cum rushed to erupt from the slit at the head of his penis. Five strong volleys shot into the air and landed on his face, chest, abs and arms. Then four lesser dribbles cascaded down the shaft and coated his hand and wrist.
Lee lay for several minutes, holding onto his softening cock, enjoying the feeling of satisfaction and release. He took a deep breath and wondered again where Kenny was now. Then he slowly opened his eyes.
He sat up with a start.
Standing not ten feet away was an Indian. He was at least six feet tall, slender but well muscled. His prominent brown nipples stood in high relief to his well developed chest. As hairy as Lee was, this man was his antithesis, smooth with not a single strand of hair visible on his beautiful body, except for the thick, black braids that hung over his shoulders and onto his chest. The Indian stood with his arms hanging at his sides. He was holding a bow and a quiver of arrows. He wore a deerskin breechclout and a pair of leggings. A crooked smile was on his face. One eyebrow was raised.
In spite of his shock, and his recent release, Lee’s cock began to respond to the vision of savage manhood before him.
He leaned back on his elbows and said, “Man, you gave me a start.”
Then he realized he was covered in cum. He closed his eyes and slowly shook his head. He could feel himself blushing.
Lee got to his feet. He pointed to the lake and said, “Um…I guess I better get cleaned up here.”
The stranger did not respond. He watched as Lee kicked off his boots, walked to the lake and dove in once more. As Lee rinsed the cum from his body, he glanced back at the brave. He was squatting on the sand, watching as Lee cleaned himself. Lee then emerged from the lake and walked to his clothes.
Damn, still wet!
He had no choice but to stand naked before his ‘guest’ and make small talk.
“Uh…name’s Lee Masters.” Lee stuck out his hand.
The Indian smiled and looked at him.
Hmmm, try again. This was really awkward. Here he was, naked, with a half hard dick, trying to make contact with a semi-naked Indian whose breechclout was slightly bulging.
Lee slapped himself on the chest. “Lee Masters.”
“Hau,” the stranger responded, “Enic’yapi Tatanka iåyaåke.”
“Tatanka iåyaåke?” Lee repeated.
The man nodded.
Lee shook his head and held out both palms to indicate he didn’t understand.
The newcomer smiled a brilliant smile. He repeated his name, placed his thumbs against his temples with his pinky fingers extended and ran around in a circle. Lee got a glimpse of a rather nice ass as the breechclout flapped in the breeze.
Lee thought as he watched the Indian run around in circles. Running…Running…ah…cow? No that can’t be it. Oh! Buffalo!
“Running Buffalo? Tatanka iåyaåke?” Lee queried.
“Hau,” Running Buffalo responded and nodded his head. “Run-ing Buff-lo,” he added in English.
“Pleased to meet ya, Running Buffalo…er Tatanka.”
“Hau,” Tatanka replied, extending his hand. But rather than grasping Lee’s hand he grabbed his wrist and squeezed. Lee reciprocated.
“Well, now what?” Lee said extending his hands, palms up away from his body, shrugging his shoulders.
Tatanka laughed, turned and walked to the grassy area beyond the beach. He sat down cross-legged and pointed to a spot across from him.
“Iyotanka.”
“Iyotanka?” Lee repeated and pointed to the spot the Indian had indicated. “Sit Down?”
Tatanka smiled again and nodded. “Iyotanka.”
Well, I’ll be damned, we’re gonna learn us how to talk Injun, Lee thought as he sat, imitating Tatanka’s cross-legged position and rubbed his hands together.
“You speak English?” Lee asked him.
Tatanka shook his head. “Dakoteyhau.”
“Dakota?”
“Hau…”
Let’s see, thought Lee, how we gonna do this? He pointed to the sky and the bright orange ball. “Sun.”
“Anpa Wupi,” Tatanka translated. Tatanka then pointed to Ranger, grazing peacefully behind them. “Suaktaaka.”
“Shit, this is fun,” Lee began…
“Shit is fun,” repeated Tatanka, pointing again to the animal.
Lee laughed and shook his head…“No…horse.”
“Hau…Horse.”
A bird flew by. “Zitkana.”
Lee slapped at a fly.
“Honag’inan.”
Lee, glancing down at his nakedness, decided to get a bit more personal. He pointed to his head. “Head.”
“Pa.”
“Mouth,” the cowboy almost whispered and ran his tongue over his lips.
Tatanka cocked his head and a puzzled look came over his handsome face.
“I,” he said, slowly and repeated Lee’s gesture with his own tongue.
“Hair,” Lee offered, pulling on the luxurious rug covering his chest.
“Hmmm,” Tatanka responded with a smile, “hiasma majtu.”
Go for the gold ring, thought Lee. He pointed to his flaccid cock. “Prick.” He wriggled his eyebrows suggestively.
Tatanka’s eyes widened. He shifted in a way that suggested to Lee some discomfort. Then he smiled and laughed. As if to change the subject, the Indian rubbed his stomach and said, “Tezi. Wotektehda. Wanna wata.”
Lee, now a bit embarrassed at his forwardness, covered himself with his hand and said, “What da ya mean?”
“Wotektehda. Wanna wata,” Tatanka repeated and made a hand gesture as if to put food in his mouth.
“Oh, you’re hungry. Time to eat.”
“Hau, hong gra, tim to eee.” Tatanka tried in English.
“Good,” Lee praised the attempt and rose from the ground. He walked to his saddlebags and pulled out the only food he had: the beans.
Tatanka furrowed his brow and shook his head. He rose and trotted off into the woods.
Lee stood for a moment with his mouth open. Now where’s he off to? he thought. Then out loud. “I hope ya’ll come back,” he shouted after him. Shit, that was dumb. He don’t understand English!
* * * *
Kneeling by the fire, fully dressed now his clothes were dry, Lee was about to cook his beans. He lamented having been so bold with sexual innuendo during the language lesson.
Shit, probably scared the breeches offin’ him. Not that it wouldn’t have been a bad idea. In spite of his disappointment at Tatanka’s abrupt exit, he smiled at the thought of what might have been hidden beneath the deerskin.
He didn’t have much hope of the Indian’s return, but nevertheless he checked often in the direction of his departure. He was about to put the open can on the burning logs, when he noticed Ranger had raised his head, his ears forward. He looked in the direction the horse was indicating.
Lee’s heart leapt into his throat as he saw Tatanka emerge silently from the trees carrying two rabbits with his bow and quiver of arrows slung on his back.
“Hou koda,” Tatanka called.
Lee jumped up and ran to his new friend and thumped him on the back.
“Dang, good to have you back, man. Whatcha got?”
Tatanka raised the dead animals in one hand and said, “Mastiaca.” Then added “was’te, was’te.” At the same time he rubbed his stomach followed by “Hmmm.”
Lee figured that meant the rabbits were good to eat. He agreed. A lot better’n beans.
He watched as Tatanka skillfully dressed out the rabbits and put them on a spit over the fire. Lee placed the bean can in the coals. The two men lounged near by. They smiled at each other occasionally, but said little. There was an easy comfort between them. Lee was feeling mighty good about the situation.
When the rabbits were cooked, they shared the bounty of the forest. Lee offered the Indian some of his beans. Tatanka tried some, but did not seem to like them very much.
After eating and cleaning up the leftovers, so scavenging raccoons and skunks wouldn’t be attracted to camp, they stoked the fire and settled down to watch the day turn to evening. Lee kinda wished he had some whiskey to top off the day, but then figured if what he had heard about Injun’s and firewater was true, it was for the best.
As the last vestiges of light left the sky, Tatanka raised his hands and started to chant.
Lee caught the word ‘Wakantanka’. He recognized it from somewhere in his past and decided that Tatanka was offering night prayer to the Great Spirit.
“Damn that’s pretty.” Lee offered in a subdued tone when his companion had finished.
As if he understood, Tatanka smiled and said, “Pidamaya.”
Gonna guess that means thank you, Lee surmised and nodded a you’re welcome.
They sat in silence as the fire burned low. Before it went out completely, Tatanka piled more wood on it. Then he loosened the bands that held his braids in place. His thick black hair cascaded out around his shoulders. The firelight illuminated his brown skin and turned it a royal gold. He was magnificent. Lee felt his desire for the man rising, as the tension in his groin intensified. He held himself in check. He didn’t want to take a chance on spooking Tatanka again.
He rose from where he had been reclining. Tatanka came forward, grasped his wrist and said, “Hanghepi was’te, koda.”
Not sure what to say, Lee repeated the phrase as best he could and added in English, “Good night.”
“Hau,” was the Indian’s response.
Lee was confused as to what to do next. He only had one blanket and wasn’t sure he should invite his new friend to share it. His quandary was solved when Tatanka lay down on the bare ground next to the fire and turned on his side.
Guess he’s used to this, Lee mused. But still, it didn’t seem right to leave him lying on the bare ground with no cover. No matter how warm it got during the day, nights on the mountain could be cold.
Not knowing how to resolve the situation, Lee went to bed. He used his saddle as a pillow and pulled his warm wool blanket over him. He turned on his side to face the form of the man with whom he had shared his day. Good night, Tatanka, sleep well.
At some point during the night he heard someone calling his name from what seemed a long way away. Then he felt something poke him in the chest. He opened his eyes and looked up. Tatanka was standing over him, shivering with cold, poking him with his foot.
“Machuwita.”
“Man, you must be freezing. Get in here!”
The Indian gratefully accepted the offer of a warm bed and lay down beside Lee. He spooned himself against the cowboy. Lee put his arm over the man’s quaking body and pulled him close. His palm pressed against Tatanka’s protuberant nipple. Lee felt a thrill rush through his body.
Don’t get hard…don’t get hard, Lee thought over and over. Shit, I might as well be saying don’t breathe.
Almost simultaneously, Lee realized two things. First, the feel and smell of Tatanka’s luxurious hair against his face was the most powerful aphrodisiac he’d ever experienced.
Second…Tatanka was naked. Lee felt the man’s muscular ass pressing against his dick, pre-cum already oozing from the tip. He wanted to fuck this man more than he had ever wanted anything in his life. He took a deep, shuddering breath.
The next thing he felt was Tatanka reaching back to undo his jeans. Lee helped with the unbuttoning and pushed them down to his knees. Tatanka then gently, but firmly, enclosed Lee’s pre-cum soaked, rock hard cock in his hand and guided him into his ready rectum.
“Oh, my God,” Lee moaned.
Lee thrust himself deeply into the Indian’s body. He buried his face in Tatanka’s hair. He breathed his name over and over. Tatanka reached for Lee’s hand, which was still on his nipple and lowered it until Lee grasped the firm, hard cock. It was long but not especially thick. At the base of the organ was a thin fringe of pubic hair. As he synchronized his fucking rhythm with his hand; he felt the head glide in and out of the Indian’s foreskin. More and more lubricant flowed from the tip. Lee could feel Tatanka’s passion rising. Lee was in heaven.
Tatanka came first. He held his breath, clamped his ass muscles down on Lee’s dick. Lee could feel the vigorous throbbing of the man’s cock, feel the cum spurting from the organ and running down his hand. These sensations brought forth his own orgasm and he released his seed into the deep recesses of Tatanka’s body.
Lee kept his face buried in Tatanka’s hair. He was breathing deeply and his heart was pounding. “I love you,” he breathed into his neck. He had never, never said those words to another living person: not even his mama. Now, he wanted, needed, to express what only twenty-four hours ago would have been unthinkable. He loved this man. And the man couldn’t understand a word Lee was saying.
As these thoughts and words were going through Lee’s head, he could hear Tatanka breathing deeply and whispering, “Was’tecidake. Was’tecidake.”
Though Lee could not understand it at the time, he would soon come to know that Tatanka was echoing his declaration of love.
They fell asleep.
* * * *
Morning on the mountain was spectacular. The sun rose over the lake and the birds sang. Tatanka and Lee were still spooned together on the bedroll.
Tatanka stirred and turned to face the cowboy. “Hinhana was’te, Lee Masters.”
“I’m gonna guess that means ‘Good Mornin’,” Lee responded. “The same to you, Tatanka iåyaåke.”
The Indian smiled and snuggled deeply into Lee’s arms, caressing the thick mat of hair on Lee’s chest.
Lee tipped Running Buffalo’s chin up to his and began to kiss him. Tatanka pulled away.
“What?” Lee couldn’t understand Tatanka’s reaction. “I just wanna give ya a little kiss.”
Tatanka sighed deeply, as if exasperated by his lack of understanding. “Hiya oka niye,” he said, shaking his head.
God, this fuckin’ language thing.
“Hiya oka niye?” Lee said. “You don’t understand?”
Tatanka nodded.
Lee spoke slowly and demonstrated by kissing the back of his hand. “I…just…want…to give…you…a kiss.”
“Hau…iputake.”
“Yeah, right…iputake.” Lee tried to kiss him again.
Once more Tatanka pulled away. “Hiya,” he said, shaking his head vigorously, causing his waist length hair to cover his shoulders and chest.
“Why not…what’s wrong?” Lee asked, pleading with his eyes for the brave to understand.
“Iputake,” said Tatanka. He leaned toward Lee and gave him a kiss on his cheek. “Iputake,” he said again and nodded.
“You call that a kiss?” Lee laughed. “Well, hell, maybe it is, kinda, but that ain’t the kiss I’m talkin’ about.” He rolled his tongue around his lips, suggestively. He took Tatanka by the shoulders and gently pulled him toward his waiting mouth. “Iputake,” he said.
Tatanka looked away. He bit his lower lip and sighed deeply. Then he turned back to Lee. He smiled. He seemed to have made a decision.
“Ohaa, iputake.” He nodded his head.
Tatanka closed his eyes and pursed his lips. Lee pressed his against the Indian’s. He pulled him close. Emotion took over. Involuntarily, his tongue snaked between Tatanka’s lips. Lee moaned deeply, expressing his love as best he could without the words to make Tatanka understand.
Tatanka at first resisted, then, evidently overcome with the emotion he too was feeling, yielded to the invasion and allowed Lee full access to his mouth. Within minutes, Tatanka was kissing Lee as fully and fiercely as the cowboy was kissing him.
Now that’s a “iputake,” said Lee with a smile.
They kissed and embraced for several minutes. Lee then threw the cover off and rolled over on his back. He tried to raise his legs to allow the Indian access to his asshole. He wanted Tatanka inside him.
“Hiya,” came the response.
Instead, Tatanka straddled Lee, spread his cheeks and allowed himself to be impaled on Lee’s ready member. Lee didn’t resist.
* * * *
The next few days were spent in love making, language lessons, hunting and frolicking in the lake and on the beach. Lee had never been happier. Tatanka seemed content. As far as Lee was concerned they could live here for the rest of their lives.
Tatanka had taken to kissing like a duck to water. After his initial reticence, he quickly and thoroughly incorporated the practice into his love-making repertoire. Being the dominant partner when it came to fucking was another story. He gently but firmly refused to penetrate Lee and because of the limitations in language, there was never an answer to Lee’s queries as to why this was the case.
On the language front, it soon became apparent Tatanka had the greater propensity to acquire English than Lee had to learn Dakota. Tatanka picked up vocabulary, grammar and syntax much more quickly and completely than Lee. Lee was learning, too, but not with the strides of Running Buffalo.
One night, by the fire, Lee mused, “Tatanka. You’re Tatanka iåyaåke and sometimes I call you Running Buffalo or just Tanka. Don’tcha think I oughta have a Dakota name, too?”
Tatanka thought for a long while. He got up and walked around him, surveying Lee from head to toe. Lee guessed getting an Injun name was a big deal. Finally, Tatanka pulled Lee to his feet and stood in front of him.
“You Lee Masters. He reached out, unbuttoned his shirt and ran his hands through the thick hair on Lee’s chest. Now you Was’sichu Ahan Hiasma Maku Supa: White Man with Black Hairy Chest. I call you Hiasma Maku, Hairy Chest. He smiled and pulled Lee into an embrace and rubbed his smooth muscular chest against Lee’s muscular, hairy one.
“How you like?”
“Was’sichu Ahan Supa Hiasma Maku like very much,” said Lee, using his new name, pulling Tatanka down to the ground, taking full advantage of the arousal brought about by the naming ceremony.
They spent most of their days without clothes, enjoying the freedom the privacy of the mountain afforded them. Life was good.
One afternoon the men were in the lake. They were wrestling and splashing. Their laughter was loud and they didn’t hear the approach of men on horseback.
Lee came up sputtering and coughing after Tatanka had dunked him and held him under the water for a long time. As he gasped for breath, he became aware six Indians on horseback were standing near the water’s edge, observing them.
Tatanka rose to the surface and the smile faded from his face.
Together they waded to the shore to face the intruders.
“Hau ciaye,” one of the braves said, addressing Tatanka.
“Hau suaka,” Tatanka replied.
Lee strained to follow the conversation. He knew the first speaker had addressed Tatanka as his older brother. He caught the words for ‘chief’s son,’ ‘home,’ ‘woman-man,’ ‘woman’s talk’ and ‘Winkte,’ a word he did not understand. While the discussion got more intense and animated, Lee walked to the shore and pulled on his jeans. The eyes of some of the men followed him.
The group had an extra horse. It was apparent to Lee they expected Tatanka to leave with them. Lee began to worry.
After what seemed like an eternity, filled with angry words and threats, the leader of the group shook his fist in Tatanka’s direction and reached behind him to a bag hanging from the carry pack. He extracted a garment, spit on it and threw it to the ground saying something about a dress and a white man: was’sichu. They wheeled the horses around and rode off at a gallop.
Tatanka stood tall and proud: shoulders back and head high as the party left the lake. Lee came to his side. The Indian turned to him. “Was’tecidake, I love you.”
* * * *
The men sat by the evening fire. Lee waited for Running Buffalo to open the conversation. He had a dozen questions, but he would wait until the brave was ready.
As the sun sank behind the pines and cottonwoods that defined the border of the forest, Tatanka turned to Lee. With speech labored and punctuated with many pauses, Tatanka struggled to explain to Lee what had transpired. “Brother,” he began. “Come to take home, me.”
Lee nodded.
“I chief’s son. Son one.
“You’re the chief’s oldest son,” Lee clarified.
“Hau, yes.”
“Want me home. Chief sick. I next chief.”
“Oh.” Lee’s heart sank.
“But if I wiayaa-wic’asa. I not want be chief.”
“Woman-man?”
“Hau, like you. I want man…not woman. So, they say me wiayaa-wic’asa, woman-man.”
“Your brother called you ‘Winkte.’ What did he mean?”
Tatanka sighed. “Winkte mean…” He groped for words. “Ah…not same?”
“Different?” Lee offered.
“Hau, different,” Tatanka nodded then continued. “Winkte is man who different. He have power of Great Spirit, he can see future, can heal with touch. He also man who men come to for make…like we do. They believe that give them great power.”
“Make love, have sex? They think that gives them power?” Lee queried.
“Hau, yes,” agreed Tatanka. “Winkte not shaman. He not medicine man. He Winkte. People of tribe…ah…yuonihaa…?”
Tatanka seemed to struggle to find a word in English to describe the feeling the people of the tribe would have for the Winkte.
“Yuonihaa?” Lee repeated. “They think he is really good, they respect him, honor him?”
“Yes, yes. Yuonihiaa.” Tatanka nodded.
Lee shrugged, “That sounds like a pretty good deal. You could be the chief or you could be this Winkte thing. Why wouldn’t you want to go back for that?” Having said this, he cringed inside. Shit I don’t want to encourage him to leave me! Lee thought angrily.
Tatanka answered. “Winkte must live alone, or be wife two or three to chief or powerful brave. I not want that. I want be man. Just man. Have man for partner.”
“Is that why you left?”
Tatanka nodded. “I no have to leave. I stay if I wear dress and be like woman and do work of woman. Use woman talk. Be Winkte. I no want. I man. Want to live like man. Brother come, say you come home now. You be chief or be Winkte. I tell him you be chief. I not be Winkte and let men use me for…fuck or be chief and have to marry woman. If you not let me be man with man for partner then not be chief. I say him, I come home, be chief with this man…you, Lee Masters.”
Lee was astonished. “You mean it’s all right for you to be like us as long as you live like a woman and let men screw you?”
Running Buffalo nodded.
“But it’s not all right for us to be together if you are chief and act like a man.”
Tatanka nodded again.
“What did your brother say when you said you’d be chief if I was your man?” Lee asked.
“Brother say…‘Here wedding dress. Marry White man but no be chief. No be Winkte.’ He say, ‘Hiya makoce nupa umnipi. You not walk in two worlds and be chief, no be Winkte.’ ”
Tatanka smiled. “You want marry me, Lee Masters?”
Lee returned the smile. “You bet I do, but not as a woman, not in a dress. You’re a man and that’s what I want you to be.”
Tatanka moved closer to Lee. They embraced and kissed. Lee wriggled out of his jeans and stretched out on the blanket by the fire. Tatanka joined him. Lee took the bands from the brave’s braids and ran his fingers through his hair; allowing it to fall free. They kissed and explored each other’s bodies, each relishing the feel of one so different than their own.
Tatanka tried to roll over on his back to position himself for Lee’s penetration.
“No,” Lee said firmly. “Tonight you’re the man.” He rolled over on his back and spread his legs to allow Tatanka to be the dominant partner.
The brave hesitated. “If I do that, then you wiayaa-wic’asa, woman-man, too.”
Lee smiled up at him. “Fuck me.”
The Indian positioned himself. Using the copious pre-cum oozing from both of their erect cocks, he opened Lee and lubricated himself and pressed against the entrance to his lover’s body.
Lee breathed deeply, trying to relax. He hadn’t been fucked for many years. Lee was determined to make his brave’s first time the best. He felt the pressure. Then his sphincter began to relax. There was pain. He resisted the urge to tighten and grimace.
Continuing to smile into his lover’s eyes, he mouthed the words in Tatanka’s native tongue. “Was’tecidake, I love you.”
Tatanka entered and filled Lee with his manhood.
The rhythm was set slowly; each man relishing the newness of the experience. Tatanka snorted through his nose and gazed intently into the cowboy’s eyes. Lee felt the brave was close to orgasm. He groaned as Tatanka released his seed into him for the first time.
Lee felt Tatanka’s weight on his chest. He smiled and wrapped his arms and legs around his lover. It was good.
As they rested by the dying fire, wrapped in the wool blanket, Lee wondered at the similarities of their situations. Both men left their previous lives because they were men who preferred men to women. Lee was forced to leave. Tatanka chose to leave. Now they had forged a life together here on the mountain. What would come next? With such unresolved thoughts, Lee drifted off to sleep.
* * * *
Summer was coming to an end. The leaves on the cottonwoods were yellow and falling. The sun, while still warm at midday, was not as strong. Nights were cold and the fire had to be kept going for warmth as there was only one blanket. Ranger was growing a thick coat of hair. All these signs made Lee uncomfortable. What would they do as winter got closer?
Lee came out of the trees with an armload of wood for the night fire. Tatanka sat cross-legged working on the finishing touches of a deerskin shirt. This was the second shirt he’d made. The Indian had insisted the first should be Lee’s, but Lee had adamantly refused. It was getting cold and Tatanka had no shirt. Lee at least had his cotton shirts. He had offered his Sunday shirt to Tatanka, but the brave had refused it. Lee thought it strange. He would take the white man deep within him and yet would not wear his clothing.
“Here, try on,” said Tatanka when he saw Lee coming toward him. “This keep you warm.”
Lee put the logs on the woodpile and took the shirt. It amazed him how adept the natives were at sustaining themselves on the bounty of nature. The shirt was tan in color and the sleeves had a fringe. It had a “V” neck and fit him perfectly. He turned around slowly in front of his partner; modeling with his arms outstretched.
“What?” He saw Tatanka was frowning.
“No beads need beads to show you fine man, good man. Wicasta was’te!”
Lee walked over to him. He put his arms around him and kissed him deeply.
“This shows me you think I am fine man, good man,” he said. “Wicasta was’te!”
Tatanka smiled, but Lee knew it was not enough. Tatanka was Dakota. His heritage and traditions were important to him. Over the weeks, now months, they had lived on the mountain, Lee had come to know this about his man. How it must have torn him apart to leave his people. Yet, his need to live as a man was stronger.
“Ah, this keep you warm, any ways?” “Or any hows?” Tatanka still struggled at times with the language, much to Lee’s amusement.
“Don’t much matter. You can say it either way.”
The cowboy got serious. “Tanka.”
“Hau?”
“We gotta talk.”
“More lesson?”
“No,” Lee smiled at his friend. “No, we gotta decide what we’re gonna do for winter?”
“Winter?”
“Waniyetu.”
Tatanka shrugged and turned away and walked to the lakeshore.
Lee followed him. “It’ll be real cold. We got no proper winter clothes and no real shelter.”
Tatanka turned to him and fingered the fringe on the new deerskin.
“Now, don’t get me wrong. This here’s great for now. But man it gets really cold.”
“We build tipi. Get robes. Make fuck.” Tatanka put his arm around Lee and smiled. “That make plenty warm.”
“Yeah, I know,” Lee took Tatanka in his arms, “But not warm enough. Tanka to build a tipi and get robes we need us a buffalo or two.”
Tatanka brightened. “We hunt. You got gun. We do it.”
Lee was not convinced. “What do your people do?”
Tatanka pulled away and walked farther toward the shoreline.
“Tanka?”
“They follow buffalo. Lee, you want leave here?”
Lee walked up behind the Indian, putting his arms around him and holding both of his forearms. He nestled his face in Tatanka’s neck.
“No, but winter. Tanka, it’s gonna freeze us.”
Tatanka considered his response and sighed.
“Ohaa, all right, But where we go?”
“I donno. South. Maybe Kansas, Oklahoma.” Then Lee remembered the conversation about Tatanka being a Winkte: a powerful, spiritual man who could sometimes see the future. “Can’t you use them Winkte powers to tell us where to go?”
Tatanka smiled. “I not know if I be Winkte or not. I not do any things that they can do except this.” He leaned in to kiss Lee.
“I’m thinkin’ that’s one hell of a good Winkte power,” Lee said smiling.
“I not know where to go but,” Tatanka set his jaw, breathed deeply and nodded, “I go where you go. To be where you be is caatewas’te…glad in my heart.”
Damn, Lee thought, fighting back tears. He enfolded Tatanka in his arms.
* * * *
Despite the decision to leave the mountain, neither man was in a rush to follow through on their agreement.
They continued as they had for most of the summer: hunting, fishing, loving. The only modification was water games were no longer on the agenda: the lake was too cold.
At night, they would build a huge fire and snuggle together under the single blanket for warmth.
Providence intervened, and on one hunting expedition, Lee brought down a moose while Tatanka killed an elk. There was rejoicing in the camp that night. The animals provided more food than they could want and the skins were quickly made into a shelter and robes to keep out the increasing cold.
Nevertheless, they couldn’t stay the advancing seasons. By the beginning of the fall, they knew they had to make good on their pact to find warmer climes. This decision was made clear when they awoke one morning to find themselves covered with snow.
“Where are your people now?”
“ItokaYata, kuwa tatanka: South, follow buffalo,” Tatanka said with a deep sigh as he packed the robes.
Ranger was already saddled. Lee was pretty sure he could carry both men and their meager belongings. If necessary they could take turns walking.
“Didn’t you have a horse?”
“Hau.”
“Well, why didn’t ya bring it? Sure coulda used it now.”
The Indian just shrugged.
The men stood side by side, Lee holding Ranger’s reins. They looked at the clearing by the lake, the forest, the place that had been their world for the past four months. Now they were to leave. What would the world outside make of a white man and an Indian? A white man and an Indian who were lovers?
“Well, let’s hit it,” said Lee. He mounted the horse and gave his arm to Running Buffalo, who swung up in the saddle behind him. Lee turned the horse to follow the lakeshore to pick up an elk trail that would lead south. He heard Tatanka snort. He had come to know Indians used that sound to express many things their culture may frown on expressing in words and other actions. This time, Lee knew, the snort suppressed tears.
* * * *
Chapter 2: The Dakota
Once they rounded the lake and found the downward slope to the valley, the weather was noticeably warmer. The temptation to just move as the weather dictated was very strong, but Lee knew they had to keep going. Neither man had a plan. Neither thought much beyond the day, being satisfied with the knowledge they were together. Lee trusted Tatanka’s survival skills, and Tatanka trusted Lee.
After about a week’s travel, they emerged from the foothills to the prairies. Before them were the herds. As far as the eye could see were buffalo.
“Dang! We could get us a buffalo here.”
“Hiya.”
“No?”
“We have no need. It would be a waste of life. We have Mastiaca and piaspiaza.”
“Rabbits and what?”
“Piaspiaza.” Tatanka pointed to an area with mounds and little critters running around.
“Prairie dogs! You gotta be jokin’”
“Hiya, Not joke, they good to eat.”
Lee mumbled under his breath. “Next thing you’re gonna tell me, they taste just like chicken.”
Tatanka just laughed.
“Your people around here somewhere’s?”
“Hau,” said Tatanka surveying the horizon.
“Hau.” Lee knew Tatanka could tell exactly where his people were.
They pitched camp near a small stream. There was grass for Ranger and that meant jackrabbits, too. Prairie dogs were plentiful. They had a good supply of dried meat, so there was no need to hunt.
When Lee started to lay a fire, Tatanka stopped him.
“Shit, we may be south and off the mountain, but it still gets cold at night. We’re gonna need a fire for sure.”
“No, Lee Masters. Fire can see from long way. No.”
Lee understood. They were in country that could hold potential enemies. Not just Tatanka’s tribe, but others that may not regard them as friends. He sighed. They had entered that other world.
“Hey, where ya goin’?” asked Lee as he awoke to find Tatanka dressed and picking up his bow and quiver.
“Ihni, hunt.”
“Prairie dogs or rabbits?”
“Prairie dog.”
“In that case, get back in here,” Lee said lifting the buffalo robe and displaying his morning erection. “We can eat smoked elk.”
Tatanka just laughed and loped off on foot in the direction of the prairie dog town.
Lee got out of his robes and started getting things taken care of in camp. I didn’t ask him if he wanted a fire. Well, shit, I ain’t gonna eat them things raw!”
There was plenty of dry wood, so Lee was able to lay as smoke free a fire as he could. He figured if Tatanka didn’t want the fire visible at night, he sure wouldn’t want to send up any smoke signals.
As he was just about satisfied the fire was ready; he felt the ground begin to shake.
“Fuck, earthquake?”
Almost at the same time he heard the rumble of thousands of hooves and the yip and shout of men: a hunting party.
“Tatanka!”
He ran to Ranger. Without bothering with a saddle, he forced the bit into the horse’s mouth and swung himself onto his back. The months of riding bareback with Tatanka paid off.
At a dead gallop he rode in the direction of the cloud of dust and the roar of the hooves. Cresting a rise, to his horror he saw Tatanka running toward him, barely in front of the stampeding herd.
“No,” he heard himself yell as he kicked Ranger forward toward all in the world he held dear.
Before he could get close enough to reach his man, he saw him arch his back and fall to the ground. Lee continued to press Ranger ahead into the herd of panicked animals. He reached Tatanka’s side and dismounted, shielding him from the onslaught of hooves with his body and his horse. Miraculously, the stream of running buffalos separated and flowed around them like a river around a rock. Lee dropped to the ground and cradled Tatanka in his arms, covering him with his body.
“Tatanka, Tatanka,” he screamed over and over.
When the noise and the dust settled, he opened his eyes and looked at the silent form of his lover. He was covered with dust and a small stream of blood ran from his mouth. Lee panicked. He started yelling, “Help! Help!” over and over. Finally he shook himself, realizing there was no one to help him.
He checked to see if Tatanka was breathing. He was. He then tried to find where he was hurt. He discovered an arrow in his back. The hooves of his namesake hadn’t hit him. He had been shot by one of his own. Lee shook his head in disbelief.
Lee lifted Tatanka onto Ranger’s back and then mounted behind him, careful not to disturb the embedded arrow. He had to find help. Riding in the direction from which the herd had come, he scanned the horizon for signs of the hunting party who surely would be tending to the day’s kill.
“Hang on, Tanka. Lee’s getting you help. Hang on.”
This became Lee’s mantra as he continued to ride east. Finally after what seemed hours, he saw the outline of horses and men tying slaughtered buffalo to carrying poles for transport to the village. He rode into their midst.
“Okiciyapi!”
The braves stopped their work and looked up at the white man who had ridden into their midst, calling for help.
One man, with many eagle feathers in his hair, came forward. Lee recognized him at once: Tatanka’s brother.
“Tatanka iåyaåke!” he yelled. This was followed by a string of orders that the men immediately followed.
Tatanka was taken from Lee’s arms and carefully loaded face down on a horse drawn bier. As soon as he was secured, the horse was lead off. Lee, still on Ranger’s back, followed.
After what seemed like an eternity, Lee saw plumes of smoke in the distance. As they got closer, he saw they came from tipis.
They entered the village. Women, children and old men gathered around. Lee could hear them whispering Tatanka’s name.
Suddenly an old woman came from the crowd. “Tatanka iåyaåke, ciaksi, ciaksi.”
This must be Tatanka’s mother, thought Lee. She was calling him her son. Tatanka was taken into a tipi along with his mother.
Soon after, a tall, older man wearing the unmistakable garb of a shaman, a necklace of teeth and small animal skulls, and a wolf hide, arrived. He looked keenly at Lee and entered the tent. Lee remained standing next to Ranger. He didn’t know what to do. He was surrounded by the people.
They were pointing and talking, but he was too intent on Tatanka to pay attention.
A young boy came forward and took his horse. Lee stood for a moment undecided. Then love took over and he boldly pushed the tent flap aside and entered the tipi. As he did, Tatanka let out a roar of pain as the shaman extracted the arrow from his back.
Lee started forward to be at Tatanka’s side. The women attending to the shaman’s needs stepped forward and stopped him. Tatanka’s mother looked over her shoulder and saw Lee. She motioned him forward.
“Niya wicaste koda, Tatanka iåyaåke?”
“Hau, wicaste koda, Tatanka iåyaåke.” “Yes, I am his man friend.”
“Ohkiyakayapi k’u waniya ehaaki, Tatanka iåyaåke.”
Lee didn’t know what to say when he heard her declaration that he had saved Tanka’s life. In a way he had, but in reality the buffalo just flowed around them. He hadn’t done that much. It had been like magic. Now he just stared at his boots.
“Wopida, ciaksi!”
Jesus, Lee thought, she’s thanking me and calling me her son.
The next thing he knew the old woman was hugging him. She took him by the hands and led him to Tatanka’s side.
His lover looked pale and lifeless. He was still breathing. The shaman was applying herbs and salves to the wound. The burning of sage and the wafting of the smoke with an eagle feather and chanting followed this. The smoke made Lee light headed.
The women, led by Tatanka’s mother, were making a sleeping matt on the floor near Running Buffalo. Lee was encouraged to lie down next to him. As he moved forward to the matt, the shaman came and stood before him.
“Dakotayah wogdaka?”
“Hau. Yes, I speak Dakota,” Lee replied in the Indian tongue.
The shaman went on to tell Lee, in Dakota, the reason Tatanka’s life was spared in the stampede was the spirit in his name, Running Buffalo, reached out and turned the herd from him.
Lee nodded.
The shaman continued. Now the spirit of Lee’s love for Tatanka was the magic that could save his life. “Takomni niya k’u yaye wowasake.”
“How do I give him my strength?” Lee asked in Dakota.
The shaman came forward and removed Lee’s deerskin shirt.
There were hushed exclamations of amazement from the women at the sight of Lee’s hairy chest.
Then the shaman started to remove Lee’s jeans. At first Lee protested, but when the man gestured toward his lover lying as if dead, Lee allowed him to continue.