by S G Read
‘I have spoken to the two people concerned and although they were hoping for her to start earning her keep soon they will let her go without saying anything to her about her mother.’ Jethro said quietly.
‘Why what sort of people are they?’
‘The sort of people who are persuaded by money, or a gun and in this case I used a gun; your gun. I warned them you would not be well pleased if they caused Sarah any unhappiness.’
‘Well you were right there, I gave Hannah my word and I will keep it.’ Duncan replied too loudly and Jethro signaled him to keep his voice down.
‘Sarah will come to your room later today when she finishes her chores, after that the arrangements will be yours.’ Jethro explained.
‘I have a room?’ Duncan asked.
‘Yes room eight, I booked it for you.’ Jethro slid the key across the table to him. ‘I also bought two open ended train tickets to use to get her to her school.’ He slid those across the table. ‘I paid for them myself. I think Sarah deserves all the help she can get.’
‘Thank you Jethro, for Sarah as well. Will you join me in a beer?’
Jethro fished out his watch and looked at the time. ‘I think I will Duncan, thank you.’
Later that day there was a knock on the door to the room Duncan was waiting in. He was not resting, in fact he was just the opposite, he was restless, nervous about this meeting with a young girl.
‘Come in.’ Duncan called, for once not having his pistol drawn in case of trouble but he did have his hand on the butt of his pistol, just in case, until the young girl came into the room.
‘You must be Sarah.’ He walked over to greet her, not knowing just what he should do and they shook hands. ‘I have news for you. A rich relative has left some money so that you can go to a finishing school in the east.’
‘Was it my mother?’ Sarah asked without blinking an eyelid.
Duncan was taken aback.
‘What Marion?’
‘No, my real mother!’
‘Why don’t you think Marion is not your real mother?’ Duncan asked.
‘Because I have heard people talking, saying that Marion is lucky to have me because she is barren and I was better off with them because of what my mother did for a living.’ Sarah answered bluntly.
‘Who was saying that?’
‘Old Mrs. Pearson was, when she thought no one could hear her.’
‘Who was she talking to?’
‘Molly who runs the whore house. Molly told her to keep what she knew to herself or she would kill her there and then, I liked Molly after that.’
‘Where were you at the time?’ Duncan asked with interest.
‘Under the whore house, I liked to hide there so Jonas couldn’t find me, I was like a slave to them.’
‘What do you know about your real mother Sarah?’ Duncan asked.
‘I know she was a prostitute who worked in the whore house but not which one.’
Duncan took a deep breath before he replied. ‘Hannah was your mother and she has been busy saving money to send you to school.’
‘Why isn’t she here to tell me herself?’
‘She was working out of town and she was caught by a Sioux war party.’ Duncan explained.
Sarah put her hand to her mouth automatically, imagining what had gone on. She had heard what Indians did to white girls. Duncan was standing close and put his arms round her and she sobbed quietly into his chest.
‘What is school like?’ She asked after while and wiping her face with the bottom of her dress.
‘I have to admit that I do not know, as the only school I went to was like the school in town, run by Miss Parsons.’
‘Jonas stopped me going there whenever he could but when he did, something happened and he had to let me go back.’ Sarah retorted.
‘Probably Molly or Hannah said something along the same line of Molly’s warning to Mrs. Pearson.’
Hannah laughed at the thought.
‘It is nice to know someone was looking out for me. When do we leave Mr. Lee?’
‘When you are ready Sarah.’
‘I will be ready as soon as Hannah is buried!’ Sarah retorted. ‘I don’t want to stay here any longer than I have to after the funeral.’
‘If you go to the funeral People will know you are Hannah’s daughter, if not now, soon after you go. Old Mrs. Pearson will see to that.’
‘I hope Molly shoots her. I will go to my mother’s funeral and I will cry, I owe her that much.’
‘As you wish. Now come we must buy you some clothes fit for a school girl and then we came go to my place, where you will learn a few other things.’
‘I can go to your cabin?’ Sarah exclaimed. ‘I hear people can’t find it, even if they are looking for it!’
‘It is well hidden and once you have been there it will be your secret.’ Duncan explained.
‘I won’t tell anyone, even the Sioux, if they get me!’
‘Well I certainly hope the Sioux don’t get their hands on you, you can never tell what they are likely to do. You might end up as a Sioux slave and that would be worse than still living with Jonas.’
‘Not much worse, I shouldn’t think.’ Sarah retorted.
They walked out to try to dress her out for school, with several dresses to make sure she had a change of clothes when she wanted or needed one. When they returned to the room with the shopping, she tried on one dress.
‘I’ll wear this for the funeral. Can I see my mother before they close the coffin?’
‘I don’t think that is a good idea Sarah, remember her as she was.’
‘Why not?’
Duncan took another deep breath and while he did so he considered whether to tell her or not. In the end he recounted all of what happened, not leaving out anything at all.
Sarah cried openly at the ill treatment meted out by the Sioux on Hannah because she was a white woman. When she stopped crying she looked up at Duncan.
‘I bet she was mad as hell when they did it without paying!’ She declared and it made Duncan laugh.
‘Well she sure had her head screwed on right where money was concerned, when you come of age you have a nice nest egg to start you in life.’ He replied.
The funeral took place in the morning and there was a crowd of people there, some customers and some friends. Molly was as good as her word and the whore house was closed, not only for the funeral but all day.
The girls were buried in the best available coffins, all paid for by Molly and the priest was a man who thought all the townsfolk were his children, so he diligently read the service and spoke of their lives before throwing soil on the coffin.
Duncan, Sarah and Molly stayed while the man filled the graves then Molly put a bunch of flowers on each before returning to the whore house to start the wake.
Duncan put flowers on both graves and then left Sarah standing by her mother’s grave talking to her. He had no idea what she was saying but it was what she wanted to do. Afterwards they left Martinsburg for Duncan’s cabin.
Sarah was surprised when the liveryman put a saddle on a pony, just for her to ride. It was now her saddle and her pony and when she went to school Duncan and Morning Sun would look after it so she could ride it when she came home in the holidays.
‘I will call him William as it is a name I like.’ She declared when she mounted him.
They rode out of town with people nodding or waving as they passed by and then they were out in the countryside. Sarah did not see anyone following, then she was not looking for them but Duncan saw them. It was Crazy Dog and three friends. They had watched the funerals from a distance and then Crazy Dog had taken the time to ride down and put a pebble on Rose’s grave.
They arrived at the valley and Duncan led the way inside to where Morning Sun waited with Duncan Wolf Lee in her arms. Sarah looked alarmed when she saw Morning Sun but when she saw the baby in her arms her fear subsided.
‘You must be Sarah.’ Morning Sun said when th
e two of them stopped in front of her. ‘Come and see Duncan Lee’s son, Duncan Wolf Lee.’
Sarah dismounted and rubbed her bottom, she had not done a lot of riding on a horse.
‘Can I hold him?’ She asked.
‘If you want.’ Morning Sun answered with a disarming smile.
Safe in the valley Duncan and Morning Sun started to teach Sarah the things to keep her alive in the countryside, if she was stranded. Morning Sun took her into the valley and killed a jack rabbit using just a stone. She showed her how to skin and paunch it before cooking the jack rabbit.
Now she had to do it herself and that took a lot of practice as well as a sore arm from throwing stones. Finally she killed her rabbit and skinned it ready but the paunching nearly made her sick.
‘It is that or starve!’ Morning Sun observed when she did not want to do it.
Duncan taught her how to fight, not only punching but wrestling as well, to help her against any young ladies who saw fit to bully her in some way. She rode the pony every day and learned how to cook.
None of this would she learn at the finishing school, it would be all reading writing and deportment. While she was there she practiced her reading and writing and started to teach Morning Sun to read and write. In return Morning Sun taught her to speak Pawnee.
Her last lesson was how to shoot a pistol and rifle which she soon showed that she remarkably adept at. With that lesson learned they rode out of the valley to ride to the railway, to stop the next train. As they emerged they saw a line of Indians in front of them.
Sarah not wanting to go the same way as her mother snatched Duncan’s pistol from its holster and fired but Duncan was quick enough to knock the barrel up so that she missed.
‘Meet my father in law Sarah, this is Running Wolf of the Pawnee tribe.’ Duncan said softly, taking the pistol from her hand.
‘It was nearly dead father in law Duncan Lee!’ Running Wolf exclaimed.
Sarah put her hand to her mouth. ‘Sorry I thought you were the Sioux.’
Running Wolf translated and the braves with him laughed. Sarah found she could understand what he said and added in broken Pawnee
‘If you had been Sioux I would have killed you all!’ Which caused more laughter.
‘I like her already.’ Running Wolf declared. ‘We are here to make sure you make it on to the train as there are more Sioux war parties about.’ He issued orders and they were on their way, well protected from any Sioux attack.
By mid afternoon they reached the rail line and settled down to wait for the train, it would stop and take on water. That meant they could board it when it did so. The Indians stayed out of sight of the train so that it would stop. As soon as it did Duncan and Sarah rode out with one brave who was to take the horses.
‘Got two tickets to take us on from here, is that okay?’ Duncan asked politely.
‘Sure thing mister, are the horses coming?’ The conductor answered.
‘No our hand with take them back.’ Duncan answered.
Crazy Dog collected the horses and said nothing.
‘Is that a Sioux?’ The driver asked.
‘No Pawnee.’ Sarah answered. ‘And a good hand.’ She added with a smile which caused Crazy Dog to smile.
The train filled with water and logs and was soon on its way. Running Wolf watched it from his cover.
Duncan and Sarah settled in empty seats and talked quietly, looking out the window as well. They passed through town after town, picking up passengers and letting others off the train until they finally reached Charlotte their destination. They picked their luggage and walked out of the station with Sarah marveling at the sights she was seeing. This was all new to her. The hotel was another marvel and made the hotel in Martinsburg look like a stable. Duncan signed the register and passed his weapons over for safe keeping, as the wearing of firearms was against the law here.
In the morning they left for a meeting at the school Duncan had picked out of all the schools on offer but not at first light as they would have done back home. Here the appointment was at ten o’clock in the morning.
Duncan had spent some time teaching Sarah to curtsey as described in a book he borrowed and Sarah used that skill when she was shown into the headmistresses study. The headmistress, a spinster named Emily Brody, was pleased with the curtsey although Sarah would rather have been riding her pony instead. After the meeting, Duncan signed a check and Sarah was enrolled in class. Duncan stressed when he made his departure that it was what her mother wanted and not to be disrespectful to others unless the others were first disrespectful to her.
He caught the train and headed home, hoping all would be well at the school. He slept most of the way and alighted at the same water stop as he had boarded the train. He had a list of dates to tell him when the school term ended and Sarah needed to be picked up from school.
The train left with a blast on the whistle and Duncan was surrounded by Indians. It was lucky they were Pawnee and not Sioux. On the way back Running Wolf and Duncan talked. Duncan explained to Running Wolf about schools and about school holidays. Running Wolf took note of the dates and Duncan knew that even if he could not get to the water stop to pick her up, she would be met and they would have her pony with them.
Sarah was shown to her dormitory, where there were a line of four beds on each side of the room. One of the two unallocated beds was hers, she chose one and unpacked her belongings. She was not the only newcomer and a little later another girl was shown into the room and shown to the other unallocated bed.
‘Hello I am Sarah.’ Sarah greeted when the woman showing the other girl the bed left.
‘Hi, I’m Becky. Nice to meet you Sarah.’
The fact that they were two new girls made them friends and Sarah felt a little more settled with someone to talk to. They were talking when a group of girls walked in and one walked up to Becky.
‘If you have any pocket money you are to hand it over to me.’ She declared.
‘And why should I do that?’ Becky asked.
‘Because I will pull all your hair out if you don’t.’ The girl answered.
‘It is a good job you gave me all your money Becky.’ Sarah exclaimed from where she sat.
The girl turned and looked at her.
‘Who asked you to join in?’ She asked.
‘Oh I am not joining in, as you call it, I am just saying that it is lucky she has not got any to give, as I have it.’ Sarah answered.
‘Then you can give me hers and yours as well.’ The girl declared and walked over to where Sarah sat.
‘Are you being disrespectful?’ Sarah asked quietly.
‘Just give me the money.’ She girl declared, her voice getting louder.
‘Please tell me you are being disrespectful?’ Sarah asked politely, rising to her feet as she asked.
‘Are you silly? Of course I am being disrespectful!’ The girl declared.
‘Jolly good.’ Sarah answered and hit her.
The girl collapsed in a heap on the floor moaning, with Sarah standing over her, looking down.
Becky walked over and looked down at her as well.
‘Now that is what I call a good punch.’ She exclaimed. ‘Is it my turn now?
The other girls fled without waiting to see if the girl on the floor was alright. Sarah and Becky helped her to her feet.
‘That was a nasty fall you had.’ Becky exclaimed as they brushed her down. ‘Now what is all this about money?’
‘Oh nothing really.’ The girl answered. ‘How did you do that?’
‘What the punch? Do you want another one?’ Sarah answered.
‘No! But it was so quick. I am Priscilla by the way, Priscilla Wainthrop.’
‘Nice to meet you Priscilla.’ Sarah replied. ‘If we are friends I will show you.’
‘Well I am not going to be your enemy, if you can punch like that.’ Priscilla declared and they all laughed.
‘This is Becky.’ Sarah added. ‘She is my friend as well.
I see your friends did not stay around long.’
‘They are not really friends, just people I used to hang round with. Here with Cynthia Bracewell running things, it is better to be friends with the right people. I was supposed to take your money to Cynthia but now she can get it herself!’
‘I will look forward to meeting this Cynthia Bracewell, Priscilla.’ Sarah declared.
‘I have no doubt that my so called friends, the ones who have just beaten a hasty retreat, are telling her what went on, as we speak.’ Priscilla replied. ‘So she will be along directly.’
‘We need to plan our strategy then.’ Sarah retorted. ‘And you are the one who will know what she is like Priscilla!’
Duncan left Running Wolf at the crossroads and rode to the valley entrance, making sure no one was looking when he slipped inside. He found Morning Sun braiding Little Deer’s hair while Little Buck was looking after Duncan Wolf Lee.
‘Are you practicing for later in life?’ Duncan asked as he unsaddled his horse.
‘It will not be too long Duncan Lee. I have a squaw and soon I will have a little papoose of my own.’ He answered. ‘I am not like my father, I intend to change the baby when my squaw is tired like you do.’
‘And what does Running Wolf think of that?’ Duncan answered, lighting up his pipe.
‘He said he would rather go out hunting or fighting.’
Duncan laughed.
‘That I can believe. I was surprised when he started talking in my language!’
‘As he was surprised when you started talking in his.’ Little Buck declared. ‘I was taught by Little Deer after she learned from Many Tongues.’
Life remained tranquil for Duncan and Morning Sun for the next two months apart from the interruptions by Duncan Wolf Lee but in Mexico a storm was brewing. The colonel was building an army and using the stolen money to do it with. When they were ready they crossed the Rio Grande and headed for Carson’s Rock, only stopping outside town to size up the opposition before riding in, firing at anyone they saw as they did. Anyone left alive after the first attack was either shot by men going from house to house or, in the case of the pretty young women, they were dragged upstairs to be raped by more than one man. In the end the women were glad when they were finally killed as it was better than staying alive.