Big Medicine

By David E Waddell

Owen wakes up in the Montana Territory tied to a wooden pole in the middle of a Blackfoot Indian village. He doesn’t remember his name, where he came from, or anything about his past. The Blackfoot Indians believe a book that was lying beside Owen when he was captured has spiritual powers and helped him survive an attack when all the others in his large wagon train were killed. 

When Owen is restored to health, a Blackfoot chief named Askuwheteau forces him to play a game cal

• Language: English
• Publisher: Fulton Books, Inc.
• Release date: Oct 17, 2017
• ISBN: 9781633386778

Book preview

One

Where I am? How did I get here? Why I am tied to this wooden pole? Who are these savages looking at me? Why are they heckling me? What are they saying? Owen wondered as he woke up and found himself tied to a wooden pole in the middle of an Indian village.

Two days earlier, the Blackfoot had tied Owen to a tall wooden pole standing in the middle of their large camp. A war party had attacked the wagon train Owen was traveling with, and everyone was massacred except him. Why did the Blackfoot warriors spare my life and no one else’s? he wondered.

A Blackfoot warrior walked up to Owen and pulled out his hunting knife, decorated with colorful beads, and went behind Owen and cut the ropes that had been tightly wrapped around his hands. The Blackfoot warrior grabbed Owen’s left arm and lifted him up to stand on his feet, which were numb and had no feeling in them, and he collapsed to the ground. The Blackfoot warrior grunted loudly and reached down and pulled Owen back up.

Another warrior ran over and helped escort Owen to a large gathering of men, women, and children. Standing in front of the large gathering was a tall middle-aged man. He wore a buckskin tunic and breechcloths with leggings and moccasins like the other men in the village. The tall feather headdress he was wearing on his head distinguished him from the other Blackfoot warriors. He was the chief and leader of the Blackfoot village.

Owen began to get some feeling back in his feet as he approached the chief and gathering of people around him and was able to take some steps without any help from the two warriors escorting him.

Hey, White Eyes, a warrior standing next to the chief said as Owen approached them and the large gathering. The warrior was short and had very broad shoulders. My name is Nootau. You are standing in the presence of Chief Askuwheteau.

Hello, Owen said.

Chief Askuwheteau glared at Owen with his dark brown eyes and shouted some words at him in Blackfoot that he did not understand. Owen shrugged his shoulders a few times with his hands held to his sides with the palm of his hands open and upward to show the chief he didn’t understand him.

Chief Askuwheteau wants to know why you and the wagon train you were traveling with were crossing through our land, Nootau asked.

I don’t know, Owen answered.

You don’t know? Nootau asked. I can’t tell Chief Askuwheteau that.

You must because I don’t know why we were traveling through your land, Owen said. He could tell that his answers frustrated Nootau.

Nootau turned his attention back to Chief Askuwheteau. Nootau spoke with the chief in Blackfoot, so Owen could not understand a word they were saying. Chief Askuwheteau did not like what Nootau told him, and it was obvious to Owen that the chief was very upset with him. Chief Askuwheteau pushed Nootau aside and strode up to Owen who was scared but smart enough not to show it.

Chief Askuwheteau shouted something and everyone in his village reacted. The chief turned and walked toward his lodge while his warriors formed two lines. Each line had twenty warriors standing in it with wooden war clubs in their hands. Owen stood at one end of the line and Chief Askuwheteau stood at the other end near his lodge.

Nootau walked up to Owen and told the two warriors holding him to let him go. They obeyed and released him. His body finally felt free, but he knew he was still being held captive.

White Eyes, Nootau said. Why were you invading our land?

I don’t know, Owen responded.

Chief Askuwheteau won’t like that answer, Nootau said.

I don’t care if he likes my answer or not. I don’t know.

Quit lying, White Eyes.

Owen looked Nootau right into his brown eyes and said, I don’t remember.

Okay, White Eyes, Nootau responded. Take your boots off!

Okay, Owen responded as he sat down on the ground and took off his boots.

Take your socks off too! Nootau demanded.

Okay, Owen responded as he handed his boots to Nootau and took off his socks. Nootau handed Owen’s boots and socks to a young woman who took them and quickly walked away.

Do you see those two lines of warriors standing in front of you? Nootau asked.

Yes, I do, Owen replied.

Do you see Chief Askuwheteau standing at the end of that line? Nootau asked as he pointed to the chief.

I do, Owen responded.

When I say go, you will walk, crawl, or run through that line. Don’t stop until you gently touch Chief Askuwheteau’s moccasins, Nootau said.

Owen knew if he crawled or walked through that line of warriors he would be killed. Owen’s best option was to run as fast as he could and try to block their war clubs from hitting him. He knew his chances to survive were low, but he had to try.

I’m ready whenever you are, Owen said.

Go! Nootau shouted.

Owen took off and ran as fast as he could toward the two lines of warriors to run between them. The first few warriors swung their war clubs and missed. Owen blocked the next few warriors’ clubs with his arms. A few more warriors missed hitting him with their wooden war clubs as he sprinted by. Owen knew his luck would not last long, and unfortunately, he was right. Halfway through the two lines, a war club made contact and landed squarely on Owen’s back. It hurt but didn’t stop him from running as fast as he could. He knew the only chance of surviving this mad game that Chief Askuwheteau was making him participate in was to keep running as fast as he could.

Owen was still alive and breathing two-thirds of the way through when two more warriors hit him on his back with their war clubs and knocked him to the ground. He knew if he remained on the ground the warriors would jump on top of him and beat him with their war clubs until he died.

Owen quickly got his strength back and hopped back on his feet. He used his arms to block the war clubs of the two nearest warriors and took off running through the line again. He ducked and missed the next two war clubs that were swung at him and kept running toward Chief Askuwheteau. The next two warriors decided to throw their war clubs at Owen. He ducked the first one, but the second war club hit him right on his chest. It stopped him momentarily in his tracks, but he regained his composure and took off running again.

Owen could now see Chief Askuwheteau’s large brown eyes clearly and knew he was almost at the finish line. Two more Blackfoot warriors swung their war clubs at him, and he blocked the first club with both of his arms, but the second club hit his lower back. Owen was in severe pain but refused to let the excruciating pain stop him from finishing the game.

There were only two warriors left in the line. As Owen got near them, he ran toward the one on the left and kicked the warrior as hard as he could in the groin. The warrior dropped his war club and fell to the ground moaning loudly.

A war club smashed into Owen’s upper back. Owen spun around to face the warrior that attacked him and threw a hook with his left fist as hard as he could. It landed on the side of the warrior’s head and his legs collapsed from underneath him as he fell to his knees and his eyelids began to close. Owen grabbed the back of the warrior’s head with his right hand and used all his strength he had left and threw the warrior forward. The warrior’s face hit the ground hard and knocked him out cold.

With the little strength left, he turned his attention back to Chief Askuwheteau. Owen was exhausted and his chest, back, and shoulders ached in unbelievable pain as he walked slowly up to the chief. He fell to his knees and reached out with his finger and softly touched the chief’s right moccasin. The chief reached down and used both of his arms and lifted him up. He smiled at Owen as two warriors came up to them and used their arms to prop him up to relieve the chief and to make sure he didn’t collapse.

You survived the game, Nootau said as he walked up to Owen.

Barely, Owen whispered before he lost consciousness.

The next morning, Owen woke up inside a tepee lying on his back with a buffalo hide on top of him as well as one underneath. The tepee’s base was round and about fourteen feet in diameter and at least ten feet tall. Four Blackfoot women sat across from him. They were wearing dresses decorated with colorful beads made from buckskin with leather moccasins on their feet. They also wore dangling earrings made from seashells and colorful beads. Three of the Blackfoot women had jet-black hair and brown eyes. The fourth woman was a lot younger and had blonde hair and blue eyes.

Wait a minute, Owen thought to himself, Indian women don’t have blonde hair. Every squaw that I’ve seen has hazel brown to dark brown eyes. This young woman with blonde hair and blue eyes is not an Indian squaw. Her skin is too white to be a Blackfoot. The sun might have tanned her skin, but you can tell she is a white woman. She must have been taken prisoner like me. She might be sixteen to eighteen years old. I wonder how old she was when the Blackfoot warriors captured her.

The young blonde haired woman caught Owen looking at her. She stood up and came over to him and knelt down beside him. She took out a cloth and dipped it into a wooden jar full of water that was next to him.

You need to rest, she said in a gentle voice as she smiled at Owen. She used the wet cloth to wipe the sweat off his forehead.

The young woman had golden blonde hair, a beautiful-looking face, and deep blue eyes. Her lips were full and soft. Owen tried to keep his eyes open, but he couldn’t because he was extremely exhausted and very sore. He tried to smile at her, but his eyelids were closing. The light in the tepee faded away quickly as he went back to sleep.

Two

Owen slept through the night and the morning. He felt someone wiping his face with a wet cloth and opened his eyes. The first thing he saw was the beautiful face of the young woman with beautiful golden hair.

Where am I? Owen asked.

You are in Chief Askuwheteau’s lodge, she responded.

Why would he allow me in his lodge? Owen asked.

You are the first white captive to survive running through the two lines of warriors, she answered as she continued wiping Owen’s face with a wet cloth. Anyone that survives the game is treated as a guest in the chief’s lodge until their wounds are healed.

What happens when my wounds are healed? Owen asked.

That is up to Chief Askuwheteau, she replied.

Owen tried to sit up but couldn’t because he was still weak from all his wounds. The young woman held Owen down to prevent him from getting up.

You must rest, she said holding Owen’s shoulders down. You are still too weak to get up. You must rest and allow your wounds to heal.

What is your name? Owen asked.

Peta, she responded.

What is your real name? Owen asked.

There are too many ears listening to us, so please just call me Peta, she said. Chief Askuwheteau gave me this new name and told me that is the only name I’m allowed to be called.

So what does Peta mean?

Peta removed her hands from Owen’s shoulders and said, It means Golden Eagle.

Makes sense to me, Owen replied. He probably named you that because of your golden blonde hair.

Most likely, she said.

How did you get here? Owen asked.

A war party from this village attacked my family’s cabin. They killed my mother, father, and two older brothers then scalped my parents and two brothers right in front of me. I was only twelve years old and still have nightmares about it. I prayed every night for many years that someone would come and rescue me, but no one ever did, Peta said.

I bet you the army sent out several patrols looking for you, Owen said. This is a huge territory and lots of tribes either live here or pass through here following the large bison herds. The Crow, Sioux, Northern Cheyenne, Assiniboine, Flathead, Gros Ventres, Arapaho, and many other tribes all live or hunt bison in this huge Montana Territory. These tribes don’t like white people invading their lands. The army doesn’t have enough soldiers to patrol this territory, so I think they gave up searching for you after a couple of days. They just don’t have enough soldiers to conduct a large search for anyone.

I still pray to God every night and ask him to send someone to find me and take me away from here. I’m just a slave here. I’m treated better than most white captives here because Chief Askuwheteau’s three wives like me, but I’m still a slave and they remind me of that every day, Peta said.

How many white captives are in this village? Owen asked.

Probably twenty or so. Most of the white women captives have become squaws and are married to a warrior. A few young white boys that were captured have been adopted into families and are being raised to be Blackfoot warriors. A young white girl that is captured becomes a slave. She will be married off when a warrior becomes interested in her and trades something of great value for her, Peta responded.

Why haven’t you’ve been married off yet? Owen asked as he gazed into her beautiful blue eyes.

Chief Askuwheteau scares most of the warriors away who are interested in marrying me by demanding too much in return for me. No warrior has enough horses, buffalo hides, or other things of value to trade for me. Sometimes I think his three wives don’t want to lose their favorite slave and beg him not to trade me away to any warrior that is seeking to marry me, Peta said. I hope he never trades me to one of his warriors. I don’t want to be a Blackfoot squaw. I just want to be rescued and get out of here.

If I ever get my strength back, I will try to help you escape. I promise you that, Owen said.

You’re sweet, Peta said as she put a small piece of bison jerky into Owen’s mouth. Eat this. It will help fill you.

Owen chewed the jerky she gave him and swallowed it. Peta fed Owen some more and it helped calm his stomach down.

Chief Askuwheteau and his three squaws allowed Peta to care for Owen. Three weeks went by, and Owen’s wounds healed and he regained his strength. Owen was allowed to walk within the village, but his hands were always tied behind his back when he left Chief Askuwheteau’s lodge. Two warriors always escorted him wherever he went.

Owen had no idea where Chief Askuwheteau’s village was located. He believed that the Blackfoot nation resided in northern Montana Territory and part of Canada. Was this camp in the Montana Territory or in Canada? Owen knew no one would tell him because no one trusted him, except Peta, and she would be too scared to tell him where this camp was located even if she knew its location.

Chief Askuwheteau and Nootau had several conversations with Owen. They would ask him questions about the wagon train he traveled with and where it was heading before they attacked it. They never liked Owen’s answers. They kept asking him what is name was and he would always give them the same answer, I don’t know. In retaliation, they kept calling him White Eyes, which didn’t bother him.

One day, a warrior from another Blackfoot village came riding into the village. He brought ten horses with him and rode straight up to Chief Askuwheteau’s lodge. He dismounted his horse and walked toward Chief Askuwheteau.

Who is that? Owen asked Nootau.

His name is Megedagik, Nootau replied.

What’s he doing with all those horses? Owen asked.

I think he’s offering Chief Askuwheteau a trade, Nootau said.

A trade for what? Owen asked.

I think he wants to trade those horses for Peta, Nootau replied. Ten horses for a slave is a good trade. Those horses are Appaloosas and the chief loves Appaloosas.

Chief Askuwheteau looked at the horses. He inspected each one and seemed satisfied. Megedagik told Chief Askuwheteau that he stole the ten Appaloosas from the Nez Perce. The Nez Perce were known as great horse trainers. The Appaloosas were trained to be very versatile and were used for hunting and war. Appaloosas had endless stamina and endurance. They were a good trade for one slave girl, and Chief Askuwheteau would be crazy to turn them down.

It’s time for Peta to get married, Nootau said. She’s been a slave for over six years and it’s time for her to become a warrior’s wife.

She doesn’t want to be a warrior’s wife, Owen said. She wants to go back to her own people.

The Blackfoot are her people, Nootau insisted. She knows that now.

Owen had to stop this trade somehow. He knew Peta wanted to escape and go back to her own people and civilization. Peta would have to go with Megedagik if Chief Askuwheteau accepted Megedagik’s trade. She would be heart broken and scared, but she would go. How can I stop this trade? I have to think of something fast, Owen thought to himself. It was useless; it was happening too fast for him to react.

Chief Askuwheteau yelled something to one of his wives standing in front of his lodge. His wife went inside the lodge then walked back out with Peta following her. They both walked up to Chief Askuwheteau and Megedagik. Chief Askuwheteau and some of his warriors took possession of Megedagik’s ten Appaloosas. Megedagik helped Peta mount his horse, said goodbye to Chief Askuwheteau, and mounted his horse. He sat in front of Peta and Peta put her hands around his waist as they rode out of Chief Askuwheteau’s village.

Owen had no idea where they were heading. He found it hard to believe Chief Askuwheteau traded Peta for ten horses! Peta was the only person in this village that Owen could trust and now she was gone. He had promised her that he would help her escape this village once his injuries were healed. There has to be a way that I can escape this Blackfoot village and find Peta. I’m the only one that knows that she is alive and I need to keep the promise that I made to her, Owen mumbled to himself.

Owen knew that the only way to keep that promise was to escape the Blackfoot village tonight. The sun was beginning to set, so he wouldn’t have to wait long before he could attempt his escape. But how? He had no idea but had to think of a way to get out of there. There wasn’t much time left before he had to make his move. He watched the direction of the path as Megedagik and Peta rode off. Their trail wouldn’t be hard to follow as long as he could follow it while it was fresh.

Owen decided to walk around the village to look for a way to escape. Several warriors guarded the camp, so he had to figure a way to escape without them seeing him. The warriors were heavily armed with weapons to defend the village in case of an attack. Some carried bows and arrows while others carried rifles that had been captured or traded.

If Owen could figure out a way to escape, he would need a weapon to help defend himself. Obtaining a rifle, revolver, a bow with a quiver full of arrows, a hunting knife, or war club would be very helpful. Owen could use any of those weapons to defend himself against any Blackfoot warrior pursuing him. Without a weapon his chances of not being caught and staying alive were very slim.

Lots of ideas about how to escape were flowing through his brain. Some ideas were great and some were not. The more he thought about how to escape, the better he felt. Three weeks ago, he thought he was going to die when Chief Askuwheteau ordered him to run through his warriors. No one in the Blackfoot village thought Owen could run through the two lines of warriors without being killed. He knew he was lucky to survive that run and hoped his luck would continue tonight as he attempted his escape.

Nootau came walking up to Owen and told him that Chief Askuwheteau was going to have him participate in another one of his life or death games.

How is this game played? Owen asked.

A warrior will use his bow to shoot an arrow as far as he can, Nootau said. Once the arrow hits the ground, Chief Askuwheteau will order you to go retrieve it.

What do I do with the arrow when I pick it up? Owen asked with a curious look on his face.

You run for your life! Nootau responded.

Run for my life? What do you mean? Owen asked.

Once you retrieve the arrow, you will be given a chance to escape from our village, Nootau said. If I were you, I would run as fast as you can and run as far as you can without stopping. Twelve warriors from this camp will set out after you once you pick up that arrow. They will not be allowed to use their horses, so you will not have to worry about them catching up with you quickly. They will, however, be armed with bows and arrows, hunting knives, and war clubs. Chief Askuwheteau will not allow them to use their rifles because he likes you and wants to give you a small chance to escape without being killed.

So much for Owen planning his own escape from the Blackfoot village. Chief Askuwheteau had come up with his own plan, and Owen had just learned it was his only option.

When will this run-for-my-life game start? Owen asked.

Tomorrow morning, Nootau replied. And by the way, we call it the chase game.’

I better go back to Chief Askuwheteau’s lodge and rest up, Owen said.

You are no longer welcome there, Nootau said.

Where will I sleep then? Owen asked.

You will be tied to that wooden pole over there and you can sleep with your back leaning against it, Nootau said. See you in the morning.

Before Owen could say another word, the two warriors that were following him around grabbed him. They took Owen over to the wooden pole and tied him to it. Owen was confused and asked himself, What did I do to get thrown out of Chief Askuwheteau’s lodge? Did I say something that offended him? Did I look the wrong way at one of his wives? Why is he having me play another game that could result in my death? The result of the first game he had me play with his warriors must not have satisfied him.

Owen went from being tied to a wooden pole to sleeping in Chief Askuwheteau’s lodge to being tied to a wooden pole again. He was hungry, but no food was prepared for him. His throat was very dry, but no one brought him water. Somehow, he needed to escape this village and rescue Peta. Chief Askuwheteau was giving him just one chance to escape in the morning. Owen knew his chances of escaping were slim but planned on giving it his best shot. If he failed to escape in the morning, his death would be certain.

Owen had made a promise to help Peta escape from the Blackfoot Nation and get her back to civilization and planned to keep that promise. Tomorrow would become the most challenging day in Owen’s life, and now he was looking forward to it. He was getting tired, so he closed his eyes and faded off to sleep.

Three

Wake up, White Eyes! Nootau said as he started shaking Owen’s shoulders.

Owen opened his eyes and looked up at Nootau. A warrior walked behind him and cut the ropes that secured him to the wooden pole. The ropes had been tied tightly around his body all night, and when they were cut, the blood circulated through his body.

It’s time for the game to start, Nootau said.

Two warriors lifted Owen up to stand on his own feet. Nootau came behind him and cut the rope tied around his wrists and handed Owen a leather canteen with a long leather strap connected to it on each side.

What’s inside this canteen? Owen asked.

Water, Nootau replied. You will get thirsty playing the chase game if you last long enough without being killed. Most captives never get the opportunity to drink water from their canteen. Most die before they run far enough to get thirsty.

Thank you, Owen replied, as he slipped the leather strap with the canteen connected around his neck and right shoulder.

One of Chief Askuwheteau’s wives came running up to Owen carrying a leather pouch. The pouch also had a leather strap connected to it on both sides.

My name is Kimi, she said as she put the leather strap with the pouch around Owen’s neck and left shoulder.

Thank you, Owen replied.

You are welcome, Kimi said with a smile on her face.

What’s inside it? Owen asked.

Some dried servis berries, bitter root, and elk jerky, Kimi replied.

I didn’t know you spoke English, Owen said. Who taught you? he asked.

Peta did, Kimi replied as she approached Owen’s left side to move her mouth near his left ear and said in a soft whisper, If you survive this chase game, please try to rescue Peta from Megedagik. Peta didn’t want to go with him but had no choice. She doesn’t want to be a Blackfoot squaw. She wants to go back to her people. If you survive the chase game, please find her and take her back to her people.

I will, Owen whispered back as Kimi kissed him on his left cheek to wish him good luck.

It’s time for the chase game to begin, Nootau said.

You could tell that Nootau was curious what Kimi had just whispered into Owen’s left ear but didn’t ask. He probably thought Kimi and Owen would lie to him if he asked them.

Kimi ran back toward Chief Askuwheteau’s lodge. As Owen watched her run, two warriors grabbed him and escorted him toward a large gathering of Blackfoot people. Chief Askuwheteau saw the two warriors escorting Owen and signaled them to let him go. Nootau was standing next to Chief Askuwheteau and signaled for Owen to approach them. Owen walked up to them and stopped.

Chief Askuwheteau turned toward his lodge and yelled something in Blackfoot. Kimi came walking out of the tepee and handed Chief Askuwheteau a book and a pair of moccasins. Chief Askuwheteau threw the pair of moccasins at Owen’s feet.

Peta made those for you, Nootau said. Put them on.

Owen grabbed the pair of moccasins and slipped them on his feet. They felt great. Walking around the Blackfoot village on his bare feet had been very uncomfortable, but Owen was getting used to it. The moccasins, however, fit his feet perfectly and gave them much needed comfort.

Owen looked at Nootau and said, Please tell Chief Askuwheteau thank you for allowing me to wear these nice moccasins Peta made for me.

Nootau and Chief Askuwheteau exchanged some words with each other in Blackfoot and then the chief handed Nootau a book with a brown leather cover. Nootau took the book from the chief and handed it to Owen. It said Holy Bible on its front cover.

Why are you handing this to me? Owen asked.

It was found lying beside you when we found you knocked out after our attack on the wagon train, Nootau said. "You were lying on the ground holding a revolver in