Chapter Twenty-one
Once the others were gone, Sky Chaser help Buck remove his shirt and lie down. She carefully examined his back looking for a reason the spasms would start. She was pleased to see that his more recent injuries were healing nicely. As she continued her examination, she began to question him. “What do you remember about this evening just before this started?”

Buck thought a few minutes before replying, “They didn’t do anything.”

“You sure?” Sky Chaser probed. “No one touched you?”

Buck once more replayed the previous events. “Laughing Crow touched my back, but he didn’t…”

“Where?”

“What do you mean?”

“Where did he touch you?” Sky Chaser asked as she placed her hands on the small of Buck’s back. “Was it here?”

“No,” Buck answered. “It was a little lower, and over to the left side of my body.”

Sky Chaser moved her hands. “Here?” she asked as she gently pushed on her uncle’s lower back.

Buck couldn’t answer as the pain once more swept through him.

Sky Chaser apologized as she continued to examine him. Finally she found a small knot located just inside his hip bone. When she applied even the slightest pressure, Buck moaned loudly and his back muscles went into spasm. Sky Chaser quickly massaged the spasms away, and then helped Buck to roll onto his back. As he lay catching his breath, she prepared a drink to help lesson the pain.

“Here,” she said. “You should drink this.”

“No,” Buck said. “I need to be able to function in the morning.”

“I can explain to Silver Fox,” she said. “You need something to lessen the pain; I need to cut whatever that is out.”

Buck once more shook his head. “I’ll do without,” he said. “I need to be able to think clearly in the morning.”

Sky Chaser decided it would be best not to argue. “I will go get Silent Wolf to help me,” she said.

Buck stopped her from leaving. “Please,” he said, “don’t trouble him. Let someone else come help.” He thought for a few minutes before suggesting, “Ask Little Fox.”

“Why would you want one of the three people who always hurt you?” Sky Chaser asked.

“He didn’t,” said Buck. “He was always there, but he never really hurt me. I think he’s the reason I was never hurt worse than I was. Please, ask him first. Just ask him without letting the others know.”

Sky Chaser nodded. “I will try,” she said. She quickly exited the teepee and went in search of Little Fox. When she located him, he was visiting with Laughing Crow and Stands Tall. She knew she couldn’t ask to speak to him while they were together so she had Little Fawn go get him.

When he came with his sister to where she waited, he quickly glanced over his shoulder. “Why did you tell me father wanted to speak to me and bring me here?” he asked.

Little Fawn shrugged. “Sky Chaser asked me to bring you to her without letting the others know the truth; she said it was important, but told me no more.”

Little Fox glared at Sky Chaser. “What do you want?”

“I need your help,” she said calmly. “Running Buck is injured and needs me to cut an object out of his back; he asked that I have you help me.”

“Why me?”

“I don’t know,” she said. “He just told me to ask you first. If you do not want to assist me, I can go find my father instead.” She turned to leave.

“I’ll help,” Little Fox said. “Do you know what it is you are removing?”

Sky Chaser shook her head. “But you do, don’t you?”

Little Fox shook his head. “I only know that Laughing Crow put it there.”

Sky Chaser nodded as she led Little Fox to where Buck waited. As she entered, she explained that his job was to hold Buck still. “I don’t want him moving on me,” she said. “I could end up hurting him worse if he moves at the wrong time.”

Little Fox nodded and went to take hold of Buck’s head and shoulders. As Sky Chaser worked, Little Fox talked quietly to Buck telling him how sorry he was, and trying to explain the reason behind the threesome’s hostilities.

As Sky Chaser finished her work, Little Fox leaned in and whispered so only Buck could hear. “You need to marry Little Fawn and leave here as soon as you can.”

“Why?” Buck managed to ask.

Little Fox glanced at Sky Chaser as she cleaned up nearby. He then answered Buck, “Laughing Crow wants to marry her,” he said. “He will try to hurt you, or make it look like you did something to her.” Little Fox sighed. “I won’t be able to stop him anymore.”

Buck moved so that he could see the other man’s face. “You did before, didn’t you?”

Little Fox simply nodded. “I tried,” he said. “After that first time at the river, Stands Tall and I both realized that we would need to do our best to keep Laughing Crow from killing you. I am sorry we could not keep him from hurting you, but…”

Buck tried to move and had to stop. The moan that escaped him caused Sky Chaser to look over at the two men. She moved to join them. She quickly checked Buck. “I think it would be good to get you back to your home,” she said. “You need to rest.”

Buck nodded. “I’m not going to be able to walk,” he said.

Sky Chaser glanced around her home. “We can carry you,” she said. “I will go get Silent Wolf and father.” She turned her gaze on Little Fox. “You should go before you are missed.”

Little Fox nodded. He leaned in and told Buck, “I will talk to Father and suggest that he allow you to take Little Fawn home with you tomorrow. There is no reason to delay, and many to move quickly.”

“Thank you,” he said with a weak smile, “for everything you have done for me.”