by S G Read
Many Hands saw the squaws and children from Running Wolf’s village walk into the village. They looked fresh and they were surprised that the children had energy to play as soon as they were with other children. Prairie Fox walked straight up to where Many Hands sat with his many wounds bandaged up.
‘Why are you not out fighting Sioux? I want to fight Sioux.’ He declared hostilely.
‘We are few in numbers now and the bluecoats are killing both Sioux and Pawnee, they make no distinction. You can help by making sure you are ready to fight when we have enough braves again and the bluecoats have gone. The Sioux themselves are few in numbers in this area but there are many tribes. If more come to help we could be overrun even in here.’ Many Hands answered. Normally such a question to a chief would be seen as an insult but Many Hands knew he had traveled far.
‘Give me a horse and I will go alone and fight the Sioux.’ Prairie Fox declared.
‘I would go with you but I have wounds which have to heal and cannot.’ Many Hands answered.
‘Prairie Fox should voice his complaints against his chief.’ Little Buck declared as he used a crutch to walk down to where he stood. ‘I am glad to see Prairie Fox and I have heard that you killed Sioux in the battle. It makes me happy to know I have such braves growing but you will wait until you are ready to do battle again. You have to become a brave, to talk like a brave so I will listen to your exploits in the battle to see if you have proved yourself, when others were hiding or running. When I have made my decision, I will let you know, as I have learnt that decisions made in anger at speed can cause great trouble. Until then you will do what you are told like a child.’
Prairie Fox looked at him but did not answer, instead he walked away, making sure he did not shed any tears.
Carter watched the rider leave with Bradbury who was going back to his line riding and then walked up stairs to the room where the two squaws were. He knocked the door before going in, in case the squaw was dressing. She opened the door to him.
‘How is she?’ He asked by way of an ice breaker.
‘She is alive.’ The squaw answered.
‘Good, I have a message for Duncan Lee about the Sioux which I have to deliver.’
‘I can deliver it when I have looked after Willow Grass.’ The young squaw answered. ‘There will be little change in the time it takes to deliver the message and return.’
Carter took the message out of his vest pocket and held in out. The young squaw took it and slipped it into her clothing. Carter did not see where it went but merely nodded.
‘I will have two armed guards outside this door while you are gone and my daughter will look in on her.’ He added, then closed the door.
He walked downstairs and looked over the horses which were running loose in the corral. There were a lot of Indian ponies amongst them which were yet to be branded and shod.
‘Slim, will you pull out the palomino from the bunch of Indian ponies and put a bridle on it, the squaw will deliver the message.’ He asked.
‘Sure thing boss.’ Slim answered and walked out to do it.
‘Oh and saddle four ponies, so that she has an escort to the wash.’
An hour later the young squaw rode out of the ranch. Carter had explained what the men with her were for and where they would stop to wait for her to return. She did argue that she did not need an escort but Carter was not taking no for an answer. The five rode away to make sure Duncan received his message. They rode on until they reached the spot where Carter had told them to camp and await the squaw’s return and she rode on alone. Not only was she careful not to be spotted but she also made sure she was not followed. At the crossroads she sniffed the air and, satisfied she rode on to the entrance to the valley. After another look round she took the pony into the valley and rode down to the cabin.
Duncan was asleep inside after the effort of leading Morning Sun to the other end of the valley but Morning Sun heard the pony coming despite it being unshod. When she saw the squaw she stepped out of the bushes carrying Duncan’s rifle.
‘You are welcome Star That Shines.’ She said and held the horse so that Star That Shines could dismount.
‘I have a message for Duncan Lee, Morning Sun.’ Star That Shines announced.
‘You may have a message but Duncan Lee was injured by the Sioux and has not recovered yet.’
‘It was sent from the marshal at Bluegrass.’ Star That Shines replied.
‘He still has not recovered yet.’ Morning Sun declared. ‘He is a good man and as his wife I want him to remain alive and not die in battle like my father.’
‘But it is good to die in battle.’ Star That Shines argued.
‘For a Pawnee it is but Duncan Lee is not a Pawnee, although he nearly lost his life making the Sioux pay for killing his friend, my father. They have a different outlook on life and I like it. I want Duncan Wolf Lee and Hannah Sunshine Lee to grow up with their father and grow old, something we do not think a lot of but here they can grow old and weary if they want to or go out of the valley and find their own way in life.’
‘You have changed Morning Sun.’ Star That Shines declared.
‘I have and I think it is for the better. We talk, not about fanciful things but of what will happen. Duncan Lee says the white man is like a plague which cannot be cured. It will kill all the Indians who refuse to do as the white man wants, then Duncan Lee would have a choice to make. Fight alongside my father or let him be swept aside by the white broom. Now there is no choice, I will change and live like a white man’s wife.’
‘But they insult and rape squaws as badly as the Sioux.’ Star That Shines argued.
‘Some do but not all. All the Sioux see us as objects to rape, torture and kill and in here no one does. Come I will prepare some food.’
‘I cannot be long, Willow Grass is at the Carter ranch. She was injured when the Sioux attacked us on our walk to Many Hands village. She saved her brother from being killed.’
‘How many died?’ Morning Sun asked worriedly.
‘None. Carter was ready for the Sioux and killed them all with his men and then took the others to Many Hands camp. Willow Grass and I will join them if she recovers.’
‘And you say nothing changes. A white rancher kills all the Sioux to save the tribe and then takes in a wounded squaw. How many times have you been raped while you have been there?’ Morning Sun asked.
‘None but I think some would like to take me.’
‘They are men after all and you are a pretty squaw.’ Morning Sun pointed out.
They walked in and ate but Duncan did not stir while Star That Shines was eating. Outside the valley Slim rode up to the entrance, he had looked for it before without success.
‘No wonder I couldn’t find it.’ He declared softly and rode away again, it was enough that he knew how to find it when there were no Pawnee handy.
He rode away, taking the path Star That Shines used to get there to make sure she made it back to the ranch in one piece. He chose a good place to wait for her to pass and settled down out of sight.
Duncan did not stir while Star That Shines was there and Morning Sun made no move to wake him. A lesser mortal would be dead now but not Duncan, he had something to live for. Before marrying Morning Sun, he might have decided that that was the battle to be worthy of his death but now he wanted to live.
Star That Shines road out of the valley, looking out carefully before she emerged and then rode down to the cross roads. She saw no sign and turned to take the route back to where the ranch hands were waiting to escort her back to the ranch. She did not see Slim when she passed him but he saw her and started following, keeping far enough behind not to be seen but close enough to take a hand if there was trouble. They rode for an hour, with Star That Shines in the lead and Slim following. She came to a cluster of rocks which would be an ideal ambush site and paused before she went in. She sniffed the air and looked at the ground then took the long way round but the Sioux had been clever. One brave
was in there and that is who she smelled, he had also made the sign she saw. In front she saw three Sioux braves who whooped in delight that their plan had worked. Star That Shines turned her horse and fled with the Sioux following, she chose to go through the rocks and rode into the clearing to see the last Sioux brave blocking the exit. She had nowhere to go but leapt of her horse and drew her knife, backing up against one of the rocks which was large enough to make sure no one could easily come at her from the side. It also had a very useful overhang which prevented anyone diving on her from above. They would have to kill her before they could have their fun. The Sioux, still mounted lined up in front of them, trying to choose who should disarm her.
‘I want her alive.’ The leader warned.
Suddenly the leader was shot from the horse and then two more in quick succession. The fourth tried to run but he was shot in the back before he made it to safety. Slim rode into the group of rocks.
‘Are you coming, or are you going to stand there all day?’ He asked from horseback.
Star That Shines saw who it was and smiled, something she rarely did. She was not going to die today and she was glad. She jumped on her horse and the two started on the trail. Two hours later they reached the rest of the ranch hands and the group rode back to the ranch. Now Star That Shines felt safe and she reflected on Morning Sun’s words.
Chapter 13
They reached the ranch the next day after a night on the range but they had not been quiet and had a fire to cook bacon and beans. It was a notice to any Sioux about, stay away or die! She looked in on Willow Grass when she reached the ranch, to make sure she was still alive and found the ranchers daughter bathing her.
‘She is doing well.’ Olivia Carter acknowledged, when she saw Star That Shines.
‘It is good of you to look after her while I was gone.’
‘She is a human being and they should all be treated the same, unless they are trying to kill you.’ Olivia answered.
This time Star That Shines laughed.
‘I will remember that.’ She declared.
‘Was it a good journey?’ Olivia asked.
‘I ran into some Sioux when I was on my own but luckily Slim was keeping watch on me and killed them.’ Star That Shines answered.
‘It is keeping an eye on me.’ Olivia corrected.
‘Only one? Why not both?’ Star That Shines asked and it was Olivia’s turn to laugh.
‘It is just a saying. You keep an eye on things when you are told to make sure nothing happens to them. Mostly cooking, you know. Keep an eye on the meat so that it doesn’t burn.’ Olivia explained.
‘Oh we have sayings like that but I cannot translate them or they would not make sense.’
‘They rarely do. Take our saying ‘it was the least I could do’. You help someone but only do the least you could do to help instead of the most. It makes no sense.’ Olivia declared. ‘I think Slim has taken to you.’
‘He has not touched me or even said anything.’ Star That Shines answered in amazement.
‘He thinks that you would not look at him twice when you have all those braves to choose from.’ Olivia explained.
‘There are not so many braves left after that last battle, I might end up, what you call an old maid, so maybe Slim is looking better all the time, especially as I feel safe when I am with him.’
‘You could do a lot worse than marrying Slim.’ Olivia declared. ‘When Willow Grass is up and about again.’
‘I am surprised she is still alive. The Sioux that hit her was trying to kill her brother who was the only Pawnee there killing Sioux. He stood his ground when the Sioux charged him but was unable to load his arrow.’ Star That Shines explained. ‘Willow Grass just put herself between the Sioux and Prairie Fox so the Sioux hit her first but with a blow just to get her out of the way or he would have cleaved her skull in two.’
‘Her beauty might have saved her, the Sioux might have been swayed by that.’ Olivia theorized.
‘Possibly but I have known Sioux to kill first and rape afterwards, there is no struggle then. My mother died in that way so I know about Sioux.’
Willow Grass groaned and the conversation stopped. They both looked her way as her eyes opened, she looked round the room and then her eyes closed again. Olivia and Star That Shines looked at each other.
‘Is that a good sign?’ Olivia asked.
‘If she stayed awake long enough to eat and drink it would be better.’ Star That Shines answered.
Duncan opened his eyes at the same time but his stayed open. He looked up at the cabin ceiling and let his vision clear. His head hurt and he reflected on what he could remember. Running Wolf was dead and at the end of the valley and somehow he had taken Morning Sun and his two children there to let her see him start his journey. He moved his head but it hurt when he did so he stopped. Seconds later a wet cloth was placed on his forehead which certainly helped.
‘Hello Duncan Lee.’ Morning Sun said quietly.
‘Hello wife and mother of my children, is there anything I should know about?’ Duncan asked despite the pain it caused.
Morning Sun recounted the story of the tribe’s journey to Many Hands village and the attack by the Sioux. She told of Carter’s intervention and his taking the tribe to the village to make sure they were not attacked again. She told of Star That Shines visit and Willow Grass’s injury. Duncan just listened without speaking until Morning Sun finished.
‘Do I know Willow Grass?’ He asked.
‘She is Prairie Fox’s brother and Crazy Dogs niece.’ Morning Sun answered.
‘So she is Crazy Fox’s daughter? It’s funny, you look at Crazy Fox and imagine that he won’t sire any kids but with Crazy Dog you see him with a passel of kids.’ Duncan declared. ‘Still not much I can do about anything for the moment, is there?’
‘No my husband, lie there and get well.’ Morning Sun fed him and made sure he drank water before he fell asleep again.
Over the next few months Duncan grew stronger, his wounds healed and he started walking round the valley, sometimes with Morning Sun and other times alone. Every time he ended up below Running Wolfs burial platform and wished him a safe journey.
Sarah sat in the classroom. For once they were all quiet, it was examination time and they were all studiously writing answers on their papers. She had sat exams before but this was the last exam and this was not under Ms. Brody’s charge but a woman from Philadelphia, who had come especially. There was complete silence as they worked, not in fear of the woman but to make sure Ms. Brody’s school was shown in a good light.
The woman walked up and down to make sure there was no cheating and no passing of notes during the exam. The whole senior year had already sat three exams and this one was English, Sarah’s favorite subject. One section was to write a short story about part of their life and she had thought deeply about it, wasting precious time before she decided to write about her mother. She knew the rest would probably write about the Sioux attacking the train they were on or the men trying to kidnap Prissy and she wanted to be different. Another hour went past and the woman looked at her watch.
‘Put down you pencils please.’ She asked but it was not a request, it was an order.
The girls put their pencils into the groove in the desk, where they were kept and then they all folded their arms as Ms. Brody had shown them.
‘You may leave the room now.’ The woman continued when they all had their arms folded.
The girls stood beside their desks as they had been taught and then filed out quietly. Once outside they headed for their respective dormitories to discuss the exams, without any teachers listening.
‘What did you write about Sarah?’ Becky asked.
‘I wrote about my mother and her love for me.’ Sarah answered. ‘What did you write about Becky?’
‘I wrote about the time I persuaded you to come out of the valley with me and I was hit by that Sioux arrow.’
‘You wrote about the hidden valle
y?’ Sarah asked seriously.
‘No I improvised, said it was a fort and we sneaked out only to run into a bunch of Indians. The rest was true though, being saved by the Pawnee and owing my life to them.’ Becky answered.
‘Didn’t you mention it in your story then?’ Becky asked.
‘No I was living in town then working for Jonas McCredie at the time, so I could tell it just as it was with the exception of Duncan taking me into his valley, teaching me how to fight and shoot a gun in there. In my story we did it out on the prairie, out of sight of prying eyes.’ Sarah answered. ‘I thought you would write about the attack on the train.’
‘I thought everyone would write about that and all the stories would be different, so I wrote about something only two of us knew about.’
‘Makes sense. Prissy what did you write about?’ Sarah asked across the room.
‘When they tried to kidnap me and you stopped them, that way I could make sure they knew my dad stumped up a thousand dollars when I was saved.’ Priscilla answered.
‘It’s always money with her.’ Becky declared.
‘It always is with those who have it.’ Sarah agreed. ‘I wonder how she would do as a poor person.’
‘It doesn’t bear thinking about.’ Becky answered. ‘Will Duncan come to the presentation?’
‘I surely hope so, I did not go through all this schooling for no one to see me get my certificate from Philadelphia!’ Sarah replied. ‘But there is no way to send him a message with all the Indians about… unless…’
‘Unless what?’ Becky asked.
‘I could send a telegraph message to Bluegrass for them to pass on to him.’ Sarah answered.
‘Best ask Ms. Brody about that Sarah.’ Becky advised. ‘When the examiners have gone home.’