"How is he?" Black Wolf asked Sasha as he stood close by her side.
"Not good I'm afraid. If he'd been younger and healthier, he might be fine in a few days or weeks, but he is not. The diarrhea, cramps, fever, dehydration. He has been weak for some time and this could easily kill him."
Her brow furrowed from worry.
"What can I do to help?" Black Wolf asked.
"I need to be here with him. I can treat him the best I know how and hope it is enough, but I don't know how long it will take to tell. If it is the bad toad stools, he could die at any time. They are very deadly. Unless I know for sure what they used on him, I cannot predict his health. But I am worried."
"Do not worry so much. I will stay with you. I will send someone back to my camp to tell the people where I am if they should need me. I must gather some of my men too."
"You do not have to stay, unless you do not trust me to come back." She looked at him strangely.
He came up to her, took her in his arms, and held her close. "I do trust you, Sasha. But I do not think you need to be alone in this. He is your father and if something happens, I need to be here for you! However I promised your brother we would go together to find Big Knife."
She looked up and suddenly he kissed her warm and lovingly on the lips. She clung to him. The kiss seemed to feed her the strength she needed. She stared into his eyes as his head lifted.
"I am afraid."
"I know, but we must stop Big Knife before he creates a war." He smiled into her hair. "He has already done much damage."
"I am glad you are here," She said softly. "And I want you to go with my brother to find him. But be very careful as Big Knife is very clever. He is not wise, but he is clever in other ways."
"We will get to the bottom of it."
Nakota came back and he looked a bit startled. "What is it?" Sasha asked him.
"His sisters served him the last two days, but a week ago, Naomie made him a special meal of his favorite food. She insisted on serving it to him herself."
"Naomie?" Sasha gasped. "Oh dear God. It was she, that was why she looked at me so strangely. Question her Nakota, I want to know… "
"I cannot, she is gone!"
"Gone, but I just saw her!"
"Minola saw her leave. I am sure she has gone to warn Big Knife. It is obvious they are responsible."
"My God, she did it! How could she do such a thing?" Sasha shook with both anger and fear! "I cannot believe it! She actually tried to kill my father. And probably at the urging of Big Knife. I came back once to talk with father, and saw them in the woods, making love. He spoke of father not agreeing with his views. He spoke of leaving the camp and taking others with him."
"Yes several went with him, I am told." Nakota told her.
Black Wolf cuddled her to him, "Do not fret Sasha, as we, your brother and I will get to the bottom of this. You just continue healing him, if you can. We will return as soon as we can."
She nodded, "Yes, of course." She shot him another glance and a smile.
But the look on her face upset Black Wolf. He could see so many emotions playing upon her expressions.
Nakota and Black Wolf went outside to talk.
"She is very upset. Her best friend has poisoned her father, the man she thought that loved her is responsible. It is hard to bear." Nakota shook his head. "It is always hard when someone you know and once trusted can turn on you so easily."
"Yes, I agree." Black Wolf nodded. "Where do you think they went?"
"They are either still here on the reservation, or they have left the Wind River Valley to plan the attacks." Nakota told him. "They probably took refuge in the mountains if they are not on the property."
"Then we must find them before the attacks begin. If the soldiers spot them first, the war could start before we get to him."
"I agree. I will round up some of my men, can you do the same, to search for them."