A Sioux Love Story, part 4

In the summer of 1862, Red Cloud sent word to this Oglala band that Curly was a member of that he would be leading a big war party against the Crows.

Curly, as well as many other of his band, joined in. With him went Hump, Little Hawk, Black Twin, and Curly’s major rival for Black Buffalo Woman’s hand—No Water. One can only wonder if Curly and No Water would endanger themselves in an attempt to out-do the other in taking horses and counting coup on the Crow Indians. But as things turned out, there was no chance of it happening.

The morning the war party was to leave for the two-week march to where the Crows were camped No Water came suddenly down with a terrible toothache. And since No Water’s personal medicine was the two fierce teeth of the grizzly bear, and even that was not stopping his toothache, every one agreed that poor No Water must stay home.

Unfortunately, the ailing No Water missed a grand time of horse stealing and enemy killing. But now that the Sioux war party was on their way home and but two days from the main camp, nothing could be done for No Water. Hopefully, he would be better by the time of the next raid. Surely every one felt sorry for No Water, that is until the war party was surprised when Pretty One, now known at Woman’s Dress, came to meet them.

And Woman’s Dress was about to burst a stitch with the news he had—just for Curly. Grabbing Curly by the arm, Woman’s Dress drew him away, letting the others go on. Then he revealed his tragic news concerning the love of Curly’s life, Black Buffalo Woman.

While Red Cloud’s war party had been away, and while the supposedly suffering No Water stayed behind to recuperate, No Water and Black Buffalo Woman had been wed. That was the news that Woman’s Dress had for the man formerly known as Curly.

Curly returned home. Brokenhearted, he brooded in his mother’s lodge for a few days, then packed his things, and left. He did not return until the end of the summer. When he did return he had two Crow scalps, which he threw disgustedly to the dogs.

Curly continued to roam by himself over the next coming years. But often he would return to the camp of the Oglala Bad Faces where he would occasionally see Black Buffalo Woman who was now wife to No Water. After a time Curly was paying far too much attention to her and the situation became the main topic of gossip.

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