Spirit Horses

by Alan S Evans

  Now the Shoshone are a different situation altogether. They have a deep-seated connection to this land that goes back hundreds of years. This particular area, where we want to drill, is especially important to them. It’s actually in the middle of their ancestral hunting grounds. To them this land is sacred. The Shoshone also have a large herd of horses that live and run free in the valley.”

  John Rasolli looked puzzled and asked, “What the hell do wild horses have to do with this?”

  “This is the only part of the reservation where the horses can survive year around.”

  Vince explained to the group how long the Shoshone had watched over the mustangs and how important the herd is to the tribe. “As long as these horses are in the valley, there’s no way we could con these Indians into signing a lease. They just won’t do it.”

  “So what are our options?” Barry asked.

  Vince poured himself another cognac and continued. ”First, we need to keep them from finding out about the crude. Next, we need to get the horses out of the picture. Then, in time, as long as the Arapahos help to push it through, we should be able to buy into a lease. I’ll tell them it is to run cattle on or to use as a hunting preserve. In the fine print of the lease, we will give ourselves enough leeway to do whatever we want out there.”

  “Sounds like a lot of things are going to have to happen, for this to work,” said John. “If plan A doesn’t work, what is plan B?”

  Vince slowly took a sip of his drink and said, “First, we will try to reason with them by offering more money, but if that doesn’t work, things could start to get real ugly. The Shoshone’s largest source of income is their cattle. Since I am the biggest cattleman in the area, I can put quite a financial squeeze on them. I can use my connections in the cattle industry to discreetly blackball their sales. With my political connections, I can get some of their government funding held up for a while. Between the loss of cattle money and the delay of their government funds, they would be hurting pretty bad. Now if it did come down to a worst case scenario, it would probably require John to get real creative with some strong-arm persuasion.”

  “What if they find out about the oil?” Barry asked.

  John Rasolli stood up and leaned across the table. “Hey, I’ve ‘persuaded’ many an unwilling company to become partners with me—once they found out it was in their own best interest to do so.”

  Vince raised his glass to John and said loudly, “John, my man, that’s why you’re here. One way or another we’re going to get a big piece of this fortune, and personally, I don’t give a damn what we have to do to make it happen!”

  Barry, looking a little confused, asked one more question. “Why don’t we just go to the Shoshone and try to work something out with them? I mean, without the financial resources that you and John can provide, along with my equipment and expertise, that crude might as well be on the moon as far as those Indians are concerned.”

  Vince smiled sarcastically, “For one thing, there are plenty of other investors they could get interested in something like this. And like I told you before, this land is sacred to them. Even if we could work out a deal, they would definitely want to take control of the drilling. That would mean operating in a way that wouldn’t harm the land or bother those damn horses, and that could severely limit our profits. I estimate, with the right money and people in control, we could set up at least twenty times the number of drilling rigs than they would allow. If the Shoshone were in control, they would never put that kind of impact on the land. I look at it like this: it’s a

  matter of making some decent money over time, or getting an unlimited amount of money and power almost overnight.”

  John Rasolli, after thinking for a minute about what he was hearing, looked up. “So, I guess the first thing to do is to get rid of the horses. How are you planning to do that without causing any suspicions from the Shoshone?”

  Vince grinned. “It just so happens there has been an ongoing feud. It’s been a kind of a game with the young men from town, to try to steal as many mustangs as they can. The boys usually sell them to the ranches around the area or to the slaughterhouse for quick cash. But, the real fun has always been just pissing off the Indians and, of course, the challenge of catching the wild things.

  “There’s been a lot of trouble between some of the braves and the boys from town recently. There have been some fist fights and mean threats made by both sides. This all makes for a perfect time to eliminate these horses from the equation. It will come across as just a cruel act to get even. I pretty much have the local law in my hip pocket around here. I don’t think killing the mustangs is going to open any eyes in terms of what we are really after. As a matter of fact, we’ve already shot some of their horses.

  “Actually, I thought it was rather ingenious of me to use the hunt as the diversion when we slipped across the property line onto the reservation and did the first round of our seismic testing. We have more to do in some other areas, but the initial phase went like clockwork. The Shoshone were so wrapped up in those dead mustangs, they never knew what was going on, and we were just a few miles away with the equipment. The Arapaho guides stayed behind to cover up any tracks or signs the oil crew left. We had a good rain later that night that also helped cover things up. So far, everything seems to be working just as I hoped. As soon as we’re sure they aren’t watching for us, my boys will go back in and kill the rest of the mustangs. This time, I’m sending the two Arapaho guides to help with the job. These Indians are expert hunters and trackers and know the country like the back of their hands. With them involved, we’ll make short work of eliminating the herd. Once the horses are out of the way, we’ll wait a while and then make our offer on the lease. If that doesn’t work, we’ll move full force ahead with plan B.”

  John Rasolli spoke up, “I think we should do whatever we can, now, to screw up this tribe’s income. If you have a way to hurt them with their cattle business, let’s start the process. The hungrier they are when we’re ready to make our move, the more likely they will be to deal with us. In the meantime, I’ll look into whatever else I can be doing to mess up their income as well as any investments they may have. By the time we make them an offer on that land, they’ll be in the palm of our hands.”

  “That sounds good to me,” Vince said. “I’ll want Barry to begin setting wells up in there, as soon as we get the papers signed.”

  “Yes, sir,” Barry answered, “I’ll be ready to start moving the minute you give me the word. It won’t take me long to have oil rigs out there as far as the eye can see. If these test results are accurate, we can set up as many as two pumps per acre on every bit of level ground we can get onto. Within a year’s time, we could be pumping up to five thousand barrels of crude a day out of that valley.”

  Vince poured all three a fresh drink, then made a toast, “To our future wealth and power, let nothing stand in our way!”

  Chapter 17

  Shane had run out of ideas on how to gather evidence. It was time to talk to Tigee and see if he could get a guide to take him into this remote part of the reservation with the hope of catching these crooked guys searching on Shoshone land. There were an awful lot of unknowns in this little adventure. What he knew for sure was the young Shoshone men would fight to the death to protect their land and horses. He guessed that Nethers and his bunch weren’t the type to back down from a scrap either. Since Nethers had the law in his pocket, Shane had no idea what to do with any evidence that he did come up with. He felt confident, though, that Tigee was a peaceful man and would want to keep a lid on the violence while they carefully thought through their next move.

  It was three in the afternoon when Shane returned to the ranch. Most of the Indians were out baling hay so the compound was almost vacant. Tigee was sitting on his porch. Shane had never seen him look so somber. The situation in the valley was taking its toll on the old man. Shane parked his truck in front of his small ranch house, then took a deep breath and headed over.r />
  “How are you today, sir?”

  Tigee forced a smile.

  “I need to talk to you about the situation down at the river.”

  The old Indian questioned, “What’s on your mind? Why don’t you sit so we can talk?”

  “Sir, before I start, I need you to know that what I’m telling you is only a theory. I need you to promise me you’ll keep this between us until we’re sure I’m right. I want you to know how much I appreciated your confidentiality concerning the loss of my family. I know, because of this, I can count on your word. Once we have some proof, you can do what you want with the information. Until then, I’m afraid, it would only stir up more tension and trouble.”

  “I’ll keep quiet,” the old man assured.

  “I think these guys are after a lot more than your horses in the valley. What’s the one thing that drives most of the world, outside this reservation?”

  Tigee looked confused, “I don’t understand.”

  Shane answered his own question. “Greed.”

  “How can anyone profit from killing our horses?” Tigee asked.

  “I think the herd is just in the way of what they’re really after. I’m talking about your valley and what is underneath it.”

  Tigee, squinted his eyes and asked, “What’s under our valley?”

  “Sir, I think there may be oil there.”

  “Oil!” the Indian said. “What makes you think that?”

  “I know for a fact that a man named Nethers has been testing just north of the valley.”

  Tigee nodded his head. “Yes, I knew they were looking out there last year. I also know the tests showed there was not a high enough concentration to make it worth drilling.”

  “Yes, sir,” Shane said, “but I do think they’ve found there is a strong possibility of a much larger reserve, south of where they were looking. This would put the oil right smack-dab in the middle of your valley.”

  The old man looked Shane in the eye. “What has led you to believe this?”

  Shane told him everything he knew.

  Tigee sat quietly, pondering on what he had just heard. “How can we find out for sure?”

  “Vince Nethers has equipment and crews out on his land right now. If we can catch them sneaking over and testing on the reservation, then we’ll know I’m right.”

  Tigee hesitated. “There is a big difference between thinking the oil is there and actually finding it. Why would they feel the need to get rid of our mustangs, if they don’t know for sure?”

  Shane shrugged his shoulders. “I think ole Vince is pretty certain it’s down there. I also suspect he needs to pull in some investors. If that’s the case he’ll need to be one hundred percent sure. That’s probably why he’s brought in more testing equipment under the cover story that he is looking on his own land.”

  The old man again took his time before he replied, “There is another reason why we should keep quiet about this. Not only could we aggravate an already tense situation that could get some of our young men hurt or in trouble, but I also have to consider there are members of my tribe who would sell out our horses and our land. After all, we’re talking about a lot of money. If there really is oil in the valley, I fear our ancestral territory is in grave danger of being desecrated. If we can prove they’ve been testing on the reservation, then I would need to think long and hard about how I should handle this.”

  “Yes, sir, I agree. Do you know of someone who can keep their emotions in check, and their mouth shut, who could help me find the oil company’s base? They have to be set up somewhere near the reservation’s north property line. Once I find out where they’re camped, I could keep an eye on them and see what they’re up to.” Shane sat patiently as he waited for Tigee to consider his proposal. He knew the wise old shaman wouldn’t jump into any plan of action until he’d thoroughly thought it through. After some time Tigee began to speak,

  “We would need someone who can take you around the guards I’ve posted to watch the herd. They check in with me regularly on their radios. I can send them south for a while. This would clear your way, allowing you to slip by them and get close to Nethers’s property line unseen. Once you’re in place, there should be three or four miles between you and my braves. I’ll give you a radio with a different frequency, so we can keep in contact. I’ll take you, your guide, and your horses to a drop-off point well north of where our other men have been unloading. Hopefully, we can keep all this quiet. I do know someone we can trust who will understand how fragile this situation is. If this person agrees to guide you, we could take you in as soon as tomorrow. I can set you up with the food and supplies you will need, along with a pack horse. You’ll need to take warm clothes, a rain suit, your gun, and binoculars. Make sure your horse has a fresh set of shoes.”

  “Yes sir. I’ll be ready in the morning.”

  It was now late afternoon, and he knew he would find Tommy at the barn feeding up. “I’ll be leaving for a few days, so I won’t be here to help you. I’ll be taking Tory with me, but I’d like you to ride Sloppy every day to keep her legged up.”

  “Yes sir, I’ll work her every morning.”

  Shane continued, “I’ll help you with the young mare in the morning. After tomorrow I want you to leave her alone until I’m back. You can work with the two geldings on your own. Just be careful, and I’ll check your progress with them as soon as I return. I’ll be out here first thing tomorrow to start with the filly.”

  “Yes, sir, Mr. Shane.”

  Shane tossed and turned all night in anticipation of his trip. He woke up early to prepare for a possible extended stay in the wilderness before going to the barn.

  The dependable Tommy had already fed the horses and was saddling up the filly when Shane arrived. “How does she seem this morning?”

  “She’s seems calmer than I’ve ever seen her,” Tommy bragged.

  “Good,” Shane replied. “Maybe all our hard work is finally paying off.”

  Shane led her into the corral, and for the first time she began the session on a good note. Tommy was learning more every day by watching Shane work with this tough horse, and Shane was enjoying the challenge as well as the satisfaction of spending time with the kid. The boy truly had a natural-born feel for these animals, along with an uncanny ability to communicate with them and bring out their try. Shane was really beginning to feel like Tommy could be a top pro someday.

  When Shane was finished with the young mare, he handed her to Tommy. “We’ll work with her again as soon as I get back, okay?”

  “Yes sir, I promise to wait. Where are you going with Tory?”

  “Oh, just a little camping trip.”

  “Mr. Shane, have a good time, and don’t worry, I’ll take good care of Sloppy. Whatever made you start calling her Sloppy anyway?”

  Shane wasn’t sure how to answer this since it was his little girl who named her. He paused for a second, then said, “It’s a long story, I’ll tell you about it another time.” Tommy nodded, told Shane good-bye and took the filly to the barn.

  Shane finished packing, then saddled up Tory. He tied him up to the trailer that was hooked up to Tigee’s old truck. There was a pack horse already loaded up in the first stall of the four-horse rig. The weather was good this morning, and he hoped it would hold for the rest of the week. Even though the circumstances surrounding this trip were of a serious nature, Shane felt a sense of exhilaration about going out to the valley again. He knew there were plenty of people from his world who would pay a small fortune for a trip like this. He made sure to pack his camera this time so he could take pictures of the dazzling landscape, as well as any evidence they found.

  Shane’s curiosity was beginning to get the best of him, wondering who his guide was going to be. As he walked up the porch steps, he could see Tigee through the screen door, motioning him to come in. The old Indian was on the phone, so he sat down and waited.

  “There was a small problem with your guide, but I’ve worked it all
out and she’ll be here soon.”

  Shane looked puzzled, “She?”

  “Yes,” the old man answered, “When she found out it was a strange white man she was packing in, she became uncomfortable about going with you on her own. So, now you’ll have two guides.”

  Shane didn’t know what to say, so he just sat quietly while the old man continued.

  “The woman’s name is Tashawa. Her family has been among the best of our hunting and fishing guides for generations. I’ve seen her spot signs of elk that were a week old and follow them until she found the animals. Tashawa has spent a large part of her life in the outdoors and knows how to live off the land.

  “Her grandfather, who is no longer with us, was my good friend. We use to spend a lot of time together in that backcountry camping and hunting. We would often take Tashawa, Tara, and my grandsons with us. We made sure from a young age they were all capable of surviving in the wilderness.”

  Chapter 18

  Shane heard a truck drive up. It was Tara. She got out of her truck, then immediately headed for the barn.

  Tigee looked at Shane. “I am telling anyone who asks that you have hired Tashawa as a guide for a fishing trip. This is a common thing for her family’s guide service to do. So, no one would second-guess this is a cover story.”

  A few minutes later, Tara came in. She smiled at Shane as she walked by him and said, “I’ll be ready to go as soon as I pack some clothes.”

  Shane looked at Tigee, surprised. “What does she mean by that?”

  He replied, “I was getting ready to tell you, your guide, Tashawa, asked Tara to go along. I had to find someone who I could count on to keep quiet. So, when Tashawa asked for Tara, I thought it would be a good idea.”

  Shane was at a loss for words. It wasn’t that he had any objections to going with the two women. It was just that he naturally was expecting a man. Shane questioned Tigee, “Sir, what if we run into the shooters?”

  “You are to avoid any trouble. You three are only out there to gather information. If you see any shooters coming after the herd, you are to stay out of sight and call me on the radio. I’ll send over my men who are posted out there. You’ll be staying in an old hunting shack located near the northeast border. It’s next to a place called Shadow Creek, so you’ll have plenty of water and there’s a corral next to it for the horses. This is one of the places Tashawa’s grandfather and I used during our hunting trips. You would have to be a Shoshone to know where this place is, so you’ll be safe there.”