“But it’s not as if I was in chains.”
“There are visible and invisible chains, Nate. You told me about those slaves you saw. They wore visible chains. But you were wearing the worst kind. You were wearing invisible chains, the chains of laws and rules and regulations imposed by others who want to control your life for their own selfish ends,” Zeke stated passionately, and the exertion cost him. His chin sagged and he groaned.
Nathaniel rested his hand on his uncle’s arm. “I don’t know what to say.”
Zeke’s lips barely moved. “Tell me you’ll stay out here. Live in my cabin. Learn to trap. Make your mark in the world, but do it your way.”
“I don’t know how to trap.”
“Shakespeare will teach you.”
“How do I find him?”
“He should be here in a few days. We were going to the rendezvous together. He’ll take you.”
“But what if I want to go home?”
“You can trust Shakespeare, Nate,” Zeke said, as if he hadn’t heard.
“What if the Utes come before he shows up?”
“Then show them that you’re a man. Show them that you’re the lord of this valley, that you’re the king of the mountains.” Zeke grinned, then gasped.
“Oh, God, Uncle Zeke!”
Ezekiel glanced up, his eyes startlingly clear. “You’re a man, now. You have to give up your boyish ways. In the city you can still be a boy at nineteen. Out here you can’t. You’re Nate King, free trapper, mountain man, and the master of your own destiny.” He inhaled noisily and struggled to speak one more time. “I’ve done all I can. The rest is up to you. Make me proud, Nate. I’m going to meet the Eternal.” .
“Zeke!”
A soft whisper came from Ezekiel King’s lips. He stiffened, straightening to his full length, and then went limp, his head settling on the green carpet underneath his cheek, his eyes closing, a curious smile creasing his lips.
Far overhead the eagle soared.
Epilogue
He rode into the valley through the broad opening between the ridges, sitting astride a white horse, a Hawken cradled in his big arms. His shoulder-length hair, his beard, and his mustache were all a striking white, his eyes a sea blue. He wore buckskins and a brown beaver hat, and slanted across his chest were his powder horn and his bullet pouch.
The valley appeared tranquil.
Accustomed to the path he followed, he rode down to the valley floor and toward the lake teeming with geese and ducks. Beyond the lake stood the familiar cabin, and the rider smiled in anticipation. He goaded his horse to go a little faster, taking the south bank, watching gray smoke curl upward from the narrow chimney. Not until he was 20 yards from his destination did he spy the freshly dug grave and reined up.
The low mound of earth was situated ten yards to the south of the cabin, in an open area.
The rider took a firmer grip of his rifle and rode closer. That was when he saw the Indian and his eyes widened.
Someone had placed the body 30 yards away, simply dumped it on the hard ground and left it there to rot. The warrior lay on his back. He had been scalped.
“Can I help you?”
The hard tone drew the rider around to the north. A man was standing at the northeast corner, a rifle in his hands, a man with green eyes and black hair, wearing buckskins and a red Mackinaw coat. “Howdy, neighbor,” the rider said in a friendly fashion. “Who might you be?”
“You’re the one who’s trespassing in my valley,” the man responded. “Who are you?”
“Folks hereabouts call me Shakespeare.”
“You’re Shakespeare?” the man in red replied, and took several strides forward. “Zeke told me to expect you.”
“And who are you?”
“His nephew.”
Shakespeare scarcely concealed his surprise. “You’re Nathaniel?”
“Nate. Nate King.”
“Well, I’m right pleased to meet you.” Shakespeare glanced at the grave. “Is that who I think it is?”
“Zeke was killed by a Kiowa.”
Sadness etched the rugged mountain man’s features. “Alas, poor Ezekiel. I knew him well. A fellow of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy; he bore me on his back a thousand times.”
“What?”
The mountain man stared at the man in red. “That’s Shakespeare, Nate. Of a sort, anyway. And that’s why folks call me by that name. ” He reached back and thumped a rolled blanket tied behind his saddle. “I never go anywhere without my book on old William S.”
“I’m pleased to make your acquaintance,” Nate said. “Why don’t you climb down and share some elk meat with me?”
“I don’t mind if I do,” Shakespeare answered. He rode up to the cabin and dismounted.
“We can leave for the rendezvous in the morning,” Nate stated.
“You want to go to the rendezvous?”
“I do. My uncle told me I can trust you, that you’ll teach me everything I need to know.”
The mountain man grinned. “It seems like I’m making it my life’s business to teach Kings the facts of life.”
“I already know them,” Nate said, and motioned at the open door. “Come on in. I want you to tell me all about Zeke.”
Shakespeare laughed. “That’d take a year.”
“I have the time.” Nate turned and entered the cabin.
Chuckling, Shakespeare took a step, about to go in, when his gaze fell on the scalp nailed to the front of the door, a scalp recently removed. He looked back at the dead Indian, then at the hair hanging in front of him. “What’s this?” he asked.
The reply was a full ten seconds in coming. w
“Nothing. Nothing at all.”
Enjoy the Wilderness series by David Thompson from the very beginning!
#1: KING OF THE MOUNTAIN
#2: LURE OF THE WILD
#3: SAVAGE RENDEZVOUS
#4: BLOOD FURY
#5: TOMAHAWK REVENGE
#6: BLACK POWDER JUSTICE
#7: VENGEANCE TRAIL
#8: DEATH HUNT
#9: MOUNTAIN DEVIL
HAWKEN FURY (Giant Edition)
#10: BLACKFOOT MASSACRE
#11: NORTHWEST PASSAGE
#12: APACHE BLOOD
#13: MOUNTAIN MANHUNT
#14: TENDERFOOT
#15: WINTERKILL
#16: BLOOD TRUCE
#17: TRAPPER’S BLOOD
#18: MOUNTAIN CAT
#19: IRON WARRIOR
#20: WOLF PACK
#21: BLACK POWDER
#22: TRAIL’S END
#23: THE LOST VALLEY
#24: MOUNTAIN MADNESS
#25: FRONTIER MAYHEM
#26: BLOOD FEUD
#27: GOLD RAGE
#28: THE QUEST
#29: MOUNTAIN NIGHTMARE
#30: SAVAGES
#31: BLOOD KING
#32: THE WESTWARD TIDE
#33: FANG AND CLAW
#34: TRACKDOWN
#35: FRONTIER FURY
#36: THE TEMPEST
#37: PERILS OF THE WIND
#38: MOUNTAIN MAN
#39: FIREWATER
#40: SCAR
#41: BY DUTY BOUND
#42: FLAMES OF JUSTICE
#43: VENGEANCE
#44: SHADOW REALMS
#45: IN CRUEL CLUTCHES
#46: UNTAMED COUNTRY
#47: REAP THE WHIRLWIND
#48: LORD GRIZZLY
#49: WOLVERINE
#50: PEOPLE OF THE FOREST (Giant Edition)
#51: COMANCHE MOON
#52: GLACIER TERROR
#53: THE RISING STORM
#54: PURE OF HEART
#55: INTO THE UNKNOWN
h friends
King of the Mountain (Wilderness # 1) Page 16