David nods, turns and kneels beside his grandfather’s body. He places his hand over the weathered forehead for several minutes, before muttering, “Amen” and rising, going to one of the spare horses.
Chapter 34
It’s mid-afternoon when the party rides up to a Cherokee brave riding a horse out of a nearby creek, headed in the same direction they are.
When the man, who looks to be in his late twenties, sees the party riding up, he pulls a rifle from his saddle and whoops a shout. When he gets close enough to see David in the party, he reins in, looking confused.
In Cherokee, David yells out, “Gray Deer! Come! I have returned with sad news!”
The Cherokee slowly approaches the party, rifle still unholstered. “Why have you returned, Wolf Howl Under the New Moon? Chief Strong Bear will not be happy.”
David sighs. “My friends and I were chasing a gang and came across the body of Screaming Eagle. We are bringing him home to complete his journey to the ancestors.”
Gray Deer looks in surprise at the body draped over the horse, turns his own mount and rides off as fast as his horse will allow toward the camp.
David looks at the rest of the party and says, “I get the feeling things are going to be bad. Whatever you do, DO NOT draw your guns in camp. That will only make things considerably worse.” He shakes his head. “Please, just don’t.” He continues to look at each person in turn, until each one nods, or voices their agreement of his request.
Jake rides on with the party to the encampment, leery of the next few hours.
As the party rides past the armed braves, Jake has to consciously fight off flashes of memory from the last time he rode into a Cherokee encampment. He keeps looking around, fully expecting to see the members of the Night-Owl Clan.
Feeling a pang in his chest, he straightens in his saddle and rides on, actively fighting his emotions.
Once the party passes the sentries, they call out, letting the camp know about the riders and follow behind. The deeper the party rides into the camp, the bigger the crowd is behind them.
By the time the party reaches the center of the camp, most of the camp is surrounding them.
David and Rebekah ride at the forefront of the party. Their horses are close enough to each other, they can touch, but they don’t.
Just in front of the chief’s tent, the throng of people come to a stop and the riders dismount.
David walks back to the horse his grandfather’s body is draped over. With John, Jake and Joey’s help, he works the ropes loose enough to be able to gently guide the old man’s body to the ground. When his face is exposed, there’s an angry murmur that spreads throughout the crowd.
As the group gets the old man’s body settled to the ground, Jake hears an unintelligible roaring from behind him.
David looks up from his kneeling position, then reaches up and pushes Jake to the side. As he jumps to his feet, his right fist lashes out and makes contact with the man that was roaring, knocking him to the ground. David looks at the man as he shakes the pain out of his hand. He then turns around and starts trying to see to his grandfather once again.
The man David struck gets back up, grabs the belt-knife of a bystander and raises it to attack once more.
Without even a moment’s indecision, John shoots the man in the heart. Everyone in the crowd takes cover and David rolls to the ground.
David stares at the man John just killed in shock. He turns back to John and shakes his head. “While I told you not to shoot anyone, thank you. I didn’t think that idiot would actually go and pull a knife on me.” He shakes his head again. “All I can say is, good riddance to bad rubbish.”
Several of the braves move in, then take John’s gun from him and bind his hands. Jake is surprised they don’t bind everyone over, but remains quiet.
While he allows himself to be bound over, John says simply in Cherokee, “I insist on an audience with the council of elders.”
The two braves facing the deputy look at each other curiously, then nod at him. One of them says, “You were about to be granted audience anyway. Now we have good reason.”
David holds up a hand, “Can someone bring Crying Elk here for me? She should know about this.”
One of the women in the crowd nods and rushes to the north, among the jumble of tents.
Having seen to that formality, David motions for the party to follow him into the chief’s tent.
As Jake enters the sage-smoke heavy tent, he’s struck by the similarity with the other council tents he’s been in before. He looks around, expecting to see Running-Buffalo or Sitting-Elk sitting in council around the fire. Considering the natural curiosity of the tribesmen, Jake is surprised to see the council tent is almost completely empty.
Sitting in council are only four men, with the place at the right hand of the chief empty, a place Jake can only guess is reserved for David’s grandfather, Screaming Eagle.
As the group approaches the council, David waves from his chest and says formally in Cherokee, “Greetings, honored Chief Strong Bear, elders. It is with great sadness I bring news of the fall of Screaming Eagle. We have brought his body home to rest with the ancestors. May his spirit rest in the fields of plenty for all time.”
The platitude is repeated by the council.
David holds up his hand thenbrings it down sharply. “When Spotted Falcon heard of his father’s journey to the ancestors, he attacked me and I was defended by my friend, who struck him down low.”
Chief Strong Bear takes a pull from his pipe and exhales a cloud of smoke. Slowly, the old man says in his gravelly voice, “This man. The one that betrays the peace of the camp, can he voice his words in the language of the Human Beings to this council?”
John struggles a moment with his guards and finally is able to step forward. In Cherokee, he says, “I am John Blood-Eagle of the Night-Owl Clan, gone these many years. I fought alongside the First Cherokee Mounted Rifles during the war. I shot Spotted Falcon in defense of my friend, David. It was not I that broke the peace of the camp, but Spotted Falcon.” John bows his head in deference to the chief’s position.
Jake murmurs in English, “Well said.”
Strong Bear looks at David. “Tell us, Wolf Howl. Why have you returned to the Sun Country?”
David squares his shoulders. “My friends and I pursue a gang of men. They killed my friend’s parents. They stole money from a white man’s bank. They have broken many of the laws of the white man. I don’t have proof with me, but their leader has broken many of the laws of the Human Beings as well. He has taken many of the little ones and sent them to their ancestors. My friends and I come to take him back to face justice.”
Strong Bear cocks an eyebrow. “You are with law men?”
Joey steps forward and reveals her badge. “I am Marshal Joe Blackwolf, honored chief. My deputies and I search for the man Wolf Howl speaks of. We came across the body of Screaming Eagle in our search and knew he must be given the right of sky-burial.”
“We do not honor the laws of the white man, here. Your badge doesn’t mean anything, other than to prove you a liar.” Strong Bear looks at his council, who, each in turn shake their head. Strong Bear looks at John’s guards. “Is what Howling Wolf says about Spotted Falcon true?” Both guards nod. He nods in return, chewing on the pipe stem in thought for a moment, before answering, “Today, you have done us two acts of kindness. We will not condemn you for breaking the peace of the camp. You will be allowed to leave in peace. Do not try our patience again, though. You may go.”
David nods to each one in turn and says, “Thank you, great chief, honored elders.” Without turning his back to the council, he backs toward the tent flap and exits quickly.
Jake quickly follows suit, glad the council saw fit to exonerate John in the death of the drunken man.
Just outside of the tent, he sees what appears to be two braves dragging the body of David’s step-father away unceremoniously.
JOHN HAS HIS BINDI
NGS removed and his gun is returned to him. He follows the rest of the party out of the council tent, to see that everyone is gathering their gear together, to leave the camp.
An older Cherokee woman comes up to David and says something to him quietly enough only the young doctor can hear it and points toward a tent about halfway across the camp.
David gazes at the tent a moment, then sighs. He asks a question quietly and is answered by a shake of the old woman’s head.
David looks at the tent once more, sighs, then grunts in frustration. In English, he says, “Alright, I guess, there’s no help for it, either way.”
John looks at his young friend. “Trouble?”
David shakes his head. “Nothing you can help with. My mother refuses to greet us in front of the chief’s tent. It has something to do with not wanting any of his attention.” He looks around at the party a moment and huffs. “Ah well. I guess we have to go to her, at least meet her halfway to her tent.” He motions for everyone to follow and takes his wife’s hand as he leads the group across the central part of the camp.
As the group approaches the tent, John sees the tent flap move, a white hand moving in the darkness, then the flap closes.
David and Rebekah enter the tent, hand in hand. After several minutes of quiet discussion, the young couple emerge from its depths quickly. They stop just outside of the tent, allowing David to hold open the flap.
He clears his throat before saying in English, “Gentlemen, may I present my mother, Crying Elk Under the New Moon.”
The opposite tent flap than what David is holding, opens, and the most beautiful woman John has ever known emerges. Though her face is streaked red from recent crying and she has aged over the last thirty years, John is still instantly able to recognize the love of his life. His knees turn to water, his vision starts darkening at the edges and his heart keeps missing beats. He can’t breathe. Afraid he’s going to collapse, he reaches out and grabs Josh’s arm for support.
Wordlessly, he looks at his blood-brother, praying in the vaults of his mind that he doesn’t have to trust his voice and ask the obvious questions.
Josh looks at him, eyes wide as he nods.
John turns to look at the beauty in front of him once more, drinking in every one of her details. Some of the lines of her face seem a little more sharp, her face seems a little more stern. Her hips and bosom have gained definition, her golden blonde hair has partly turned silver. There can be no doubt. She’s alive! For the love of God, she’s alive!
Chapter 35
Liz looks at John a moment and asks with a voice slightly deeper with age, in thickly accented English, “Well, Johnny. Aren’t you gonna say something?” She looks at Josh. “And you, Josh. Have you been struck speechless as well, for once in your life?”
John’s vision clears and he can catch his breath a little. In shock, he looks at David, who stands there staring at his mother, mouth agape.
Liz turns to her son and snaps, “Close your mouth, boy. Or you’ll start catching flies.” She looks at John. “I take it, I have you to thank for dealing with Spotted Falcon for me?”
John is flabbergasted. He works his jaw, trying to get some saliva in his mouth. “I—I guess so?” He can’t believe he’s having this conversation. Much less with HER. “He was attacking David and I—I didn’t have a choice?”
Her smile is grim. “Nobody had the nerve to end his pain. Screaming Eagle asked that we not send him to the ancestors. Now that Screaming Eagle has made the journey before his son, he can make his son answer for his crimes.” She crosses her arms and shakes her head. She looks at David a moment, then back at John. “I guess now’s as good a time to tell you as any. Both of you.”
Suddenly, everything clicks in John’s mind. The similarities. The timing of it. He looks at his son and feels the blood drain from his face. John’s heartbeat pounds in his ears.
Liz’s smile is wide as she sees the light of understanding in John’s eyes and nods. Quietly, she says to David, “Son, I think it high time you go give your father a hug, don’t you?”
David gapes at his mother a moment longer, then realizing what she said, gasps and all but yells, “MOTHER! Why didn’t you TELL me?”
Arms still crossed, she looks at her son a moment, then sighs. “I told you your father was killed just before the war. That was the truth as far as I knew it, at least until I saw him walking over here with you.” She turns and, with a glare, demands from John, “Why didn’t you come back for me?”
John holds up his hands placatingly. “I did. We waited for you in Springfield for a month! When we got back to Pleasant Grove, we were told you and your grandfather were executed.”
Her eyes narrow in suspicion. “Those accursed Red-Legs hanged grandfather and then sold me to a Cherokee, for some dubious information about some Bushwhackers.”
John is dumbfounded at this revelation. If the man weren’t well dead and buried, he would kill Wilkinson all over again, for the pain he’s caused John and his whole family all these years. “Why didn’t you try to escape and find me?”
“It was about a week after you left I started having morning sickness. Grandfather confirmed I was pregnant, with David, here. When we were told you’d been killed by the soldiers, I gave up all hope and tried to make the best life I could.” Tears gather in her eyes. “I raised our son to be the man I’d been hoping you would turn into, had you lived. Screaming Eagle helped, but Spotted Falcon proved worse than useless.” She wipes the tears away in her frustration. “He needed HIS FATHER and you weren’t here!”
John looks at his son a moment, overcome with emotion. “I don’t—I don’t know what to say.”
Rebekah elbows her husband and whispers something to him. David nods and says, “Mom, this is U.S. Marshal Joe Blackwolf and Sean Mallory. We’re on the trail of the man that killed Sean’s parents.”
Liz looks at John, her face a question mark.
John nods and opens his vest to expose his badge. He glances over and sees Josh do the same.
Liz huffs at the sight and rounds on her son, squaring her shoulders. “I see. So you’re saying you have a job to do and can’t be bothered by DEAR OLD MOM?”
David’s eyes widen. “That’s not it at all! We simply brought grumpa’s body back to be buried is all.”
She jabs an angry finger at John. “This all YOUR doing, isn’t it?”
John stares at his ex-fiancé in amazement. This may be the same body he loved, but this is NOT the same woman he fell in love with all those years ago. “Look, I’m sorry, Liz. I doubt you understand how important our mission is.” He shakes his head. “If you don’t believe us, by all means, come along with us and see it for yourself.”
Several more tears escape her control and she wipes away angrily. “I can’t!” In Cherokee, she mutters, “You don’t want me anyways.”
Sternly, David says, “Mother!”
John holds up his hand to his son and, in Cherokee, says, “Here and now are neither the time nor the place to talk about ‘us’.”
She looks at John, shock apparent on her face.
John nods. “I know the language of the Human Beings. So does everyone else here, except Sean.”
She looks around and receives several nods from the rest of the party. Several more tears slide down her cheeks. A sob escapes. In Cherokee, she whispers, “Oh, how I’ve missed you! You have no idea!”
Reflexively, John moves forward to embrace her. As he touches her, she smacks his hand away.
“Don’t you dare TOUCH ME!” she screams, then turns and runs to her own tent, sobbing.
John can only stand there, cheeks burning from being rebuffed, hand stinging from the power of the slap.
David walks to up to his father, places a hand on his shoulder, and quietly says, “Give her some time. Trust me, she’ll come around, eventually. We should go talk to Gray Deer and find out all what he can tell us about grumpa. I think it time for us to leave.”
John sighs
discontentedly as he watches Liz’s retreat. His mind a welter of emotion, he can’t grasp any thought for more than a fraction of an instant before it gets lost in the maelstrom of his mind.
Suddenly, from out of nowhere, he feels arms surround him from behind in a hug and he hears Rebekah’s voice say against his back, “Now, we have a reason to call you father for real!”
John looks down at the ground through unshed tears. My God! Why didn’t You tell me she was still alive? David is my son? Your works are amazing, You’ve given me what I always wanted, just not how I expected.
He feels a hand clap him on the shoulder and he looks at Josh’s broad smile. “I guess this means we’re both fathers now, huh?” His laugh is infectious.
John chuckles at the truth of the audacious statement. He pulls his daughter-in-law closer into a hug and enjoys the contact for a few moments before disengaging her arms. He turns back to where everyone else is standing and sees Joey looking at him with a cocked eyebrow.
“Father?” Her tones speak volumes. She turns to David and grins. “Don’t know if I should congratulate you or offer my condolences. Father, indeed.”
John turns and looks at his son a moment and says, “If you ever call me ‘Daddy’, I promise I’m gonna hit you.”
David laughs as he puts his arm around his wife and leads the group back across the camp.
JAKE SHIELDS HIS EYES against the noon-day sun. After talking to Gray Dawn, the posse set back out immediately on the trail. They were told Screaming Eagle had gone to Fort Supply for medication and to trade for numerous bottles of whiskey. It took the group very little discussion to decide to follow the trail of the killers of David’s grandfather.
John pointed out that as long as the two trails didn’t divert from one another, who cares which one they say they are following?
That was late afternoon the day before yesterday.
Deputy at Large Page 24