Chapter Three
As Red Bear made his way back to where Buck was resting, he thought back to the last time he’d spoken to his brother. He had sent Running Buck back into the world of the white men. As he had spoken the words, “Never look back”, he had hoped his brother would tell him he was wrong. He had waited to hear him say, “No, I wish to stay here.”
Those words hadn’t been spoken. Instead Running Buck had mounted his horse and left to return to the white world where he was known simply as Buck.

He entered White Buffalo’s abode and sat next to the elderly man as he tended Running Buck. When White Buffalo finished once more tending Running Buck’s wounds, he turned to Red Bear. “I will need you to sit with him, and keep him from turning onto his back. He needs to allow the wounds to heal before he puts pressure on them,” he said.

Red Bear nodded his understanding. White Buffalo handed the cloth he had been using to bathe Buck’s face to Red Bear. “If his fever worsens, you need to let me know immediately. I go now to pray.”

Red Bear moved and sat next to his younger brother. As he sat there, he thought back to all the times in the past when his mother had stayed awake tending his younger brother. It seemed the boy was always getting injured in some type of accident. As he let his mind go back in time, Red Bear realized that the statement his daughter had made earlier was correct – he had always managed to not question the nature of Running Buck’s accidents.

After a few minutes, Running Buck began to stir. He tried to turn off his stomach mumbling something about not being safe. Red Bear placed his hand on his brother’s shoulder to calm him. “I am sorry I have let you down,” he said. “I guess I didn’t know what else to do, and it was easier to just believe you when you said you fell.” After a pause, he added, “I should have known better; you were never clumsy when you were tracking or hunting. I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you.”

As Red Bear talked, Running Buck stopped moving. He stopped trying to move, and soon his breathing calmed. When Red Bear moved to dampen the cloth, Running Buck whispered, “You have no reason to be sorry.”

Red Bear placed the damp cloth on Running Buck’s neck. “I should have done a better job of protecting you,” he said.

Running Buck smiled weakly. “If you had done anything differently, the council wouldn’t have chosen you to be war chief. They would have felt you were too soft.” He sighed as he tried to move to a more comfortable position only to be stopped by Red Bear’s hand once more touching his shoulder.

“You need to stay still,” Red Bear instructed. “White Buffalo does not want you to lie on your back just yet.”

Running Buck stopped moving. Red Bear removed his hand and stretched out on the ground next to his brother. “I still should have done a better job,” he said as he returned to their conversation.

Running Buck smiled once more. “You did the best you could,” he said. “I always knew that you loved me despite the fact that I wasn’t completely Kiowa. I’m just sorry that I had to leave before I had a chance to prove myself; I’m glad I was given another chance.”

Red Bear returned Buck’s smile. “I’m glad you were given that chance also; I’m sorry I sent you away then. If I’d had you to stay, maybe things would be different now.”

Running Buck once more sighed. “I’m not sure they would have been much different than when I was here before. The others still look at me differently; they still don’t trust me.”

“How would you know this?” Red Bear asked as he sat up to better tend Buck.

“When we were going to the fort,” Running Buck replied, “we ran into Stands Tall, Little Fox, and Laughing Crow. They asked if we’d seen any buffalo. I told them we hadn’t, and that it would probably be best if they didn’t go any closer to the fort.” He paused to allow the pain talking caused him to pass.

Red Bear once more wet the cloth that was lying on Buck’s neck. “You’re friend told me that,” he said. “He also told me that they listened to you and went away.”

Running Buck nodded. “That is true, but only after they argued that I just wanted you all to starve. They accused me of knowing where the buffalo were. They asked if I was planning on telling the soldiers where the village was, and leading them to kill you all.”

Red Bear stiffened as he listened to Buck’s version of this tale. “I shall deal with them both later,” he said as he replaced the cloth on Buck’s neck.

“Don’t,” said Running Buck. “They finally listened and went away. They could have refused and followed us to the fort. That would have caused trouble for everyone.” He took a deep breath and immediately wished he hadn’t. A small moan escaped his lips. “Just let it be known that I’m here because I refused to give them up; that will make them think twice before they try anything.”

Red Bear nodded. “I will do so. Now, you need to get some rest. Would you like some tea to help you sleep?”

“I’d rather not,” Buck replied. “I don’t like the way it makes me feel when it wears off.” He turned his head just enough so he could see Red Bear. “If you’ll just stay here with me…”

Red Bear adjusted the covers so that they covered as much of his brother’s body as possible without touching his back. He then once more lay down next to his younger brother. “I’m not going anywhere,” he said. “This time, I will take care of you for as long as you need me.”