Camp Camel: The Heart of Texas

by Eaton, Rosemary

  Jenny looked closely at Daisy moving toward them across the ravine. Yes, not good. Jenny pointed to Bryan to look again.

  Bryan smiled, “Yes Daisy, right there.”

  Jenny turned and looked back. There were braves chasing a man in gray on a horse toward them. Gage, they were chasing Gage. Jenny pulled at Bryan and pointed back behind them.

  Bryan said, “No, we can’t go with them. I’m afraid, they put me aside too.” Then Bryan realized she had never even see the baby’s face. That was it. She wanted to see Chibitty just once before they left.

  Jenny had to find the words before it was too late, “Bryan bad!” She pointed urgently back the direction they came.

  Bryan frowned, “You want to see your father that bad?”

  Jenny swallowed as she considered how safe they were as they were being quickly sandwiched between two groups of braves. She tried pointing forward, “LAAA SEE RRR Uun UH AA GA RRR Uun Bryan RRR Uun.”

  Well, the words hadn’t been perfect, but the tone was making a dent as Bryan looked closer at the dust storm behind Daisy. He could hear whoops and yelling like the braves were doing while eating wokwave behind him now and maybe, yes from the other side of the ravine too. Bryan cussed, “What the hell?” Bryan looked behind and Gage was yelling, “RUN YOU FOOL! HIDE!” Gage’s horse was quickly closing with several braves in hot pursuit in the distance. To the front of him was Daisy carrying just what? Was that Lacy? Bryan felt sick, “Lacy was staying ahead of the Indian ponies but she was coming up on the ravine. They were both trapped between two sets of braves with the bloody ravine between them. Bryan headed for the ravine. Gage road even and looked back to see how much time they might have before the raiding party on his tail caught up.

  Gage yelled over to Bryan, “What the hell did you do Travers? Did you shame him somehow?”

  Bryan was considering what part of the departure might have caused a change in heart, “Maybe we should have left the teepee? You think that’s it?”

  Gage looked at the other camel loaded with Sparrow Hawk’s property, “Damned he didn’t gift it. Why would you take that. Let that camel go. Maybe they’ll follow the camel!”

  Bryan turned loose, but the other camel was following his. It had no way to know they wanted it to go back and was just being a good camel and following it’s companion.

  Gage dropped back and tried to cut in front, but that just made the camel run faster and had his horse wild eyed about to buck him off. Gage swore, “When we get to the ravine I’m going to lead them off. You take Jenny and hide in the cave.”

  Bryan yelled back, “Oh no, you take Jenny and hide in there. I’ll lead them off. I can out run them.”

  Gage shrugged his shoulder, “Your funeral.” He pulled his horse up next to the camel and Bryan slid Jenny over to where Gage reached up and pulled her onto his horse in front of him. Bryan turned his camel to the side and lead the pack camel off at an angle. Gage moved closer to the ravine with his horse hidden behind the two camels’ dust. He took Jenny in his arms and rolled letting his horse run free. They were following the teepee and camels until Gage’s horse dropped back and then they took off after his horse who had decided he wanted nothing more to do with the foul smelling strange beasts.

  Bryan looked across the ravine. Lacy had JC in front her her and was weighing her own options as she approached the drop off. She angled off the same direction as Bryan. Lacy was trying to encourage Daisy to run for her life. The camel stopped running and dropped to her knees. Lacy was getting off with JC and trying to encourage Daisy to follow her down into the ravine. Jenny and Gage were climbing up into the bat cave. He could see Gage pushing Jenny through the small opening. Then Gage continued to climb trying to reach Lacy and JC. Daisy balked at the edge and refused to go further. Something else had her attention as a snake slithered from it’s resting place across the sand in waves of the letter ‘S’. That was all it took for Lacy to abandon Daisy and scamper down the rock with JC.

  Bryan looked at the braves headed for Lacy, JC and Gage, “Hell fire, How much can one teepee be worth?”

  Bryan turned back and yelled to Lacy to get in the cave and started to descend the ridge. He considered his options. He had a single shot musket that was as likely to explode in his hands and shoot someone, a knife, and a hatchet. The hemp for the rabbit snare wasn’t likely to be of help at the moment and the camel was carrying off any clay pots he might have thrown or God forbid tried to trade for their lives.

  Gage had made his way over to Lacy. He motioned toward the cave with the business end of his pistol. Gage called out, “Give me your gun. Get in cave!” He was running up the jagged trail straight for the top. He’d have some cover if he could reach the edge, but the last thing he wanted to do was to be caught with the braves shooting down on him. Lacy flipped her own revolver to Gage just as a bullet ricocheted off the rock to his side. Gage ducked then came up shooting. A brave clutched his shoulder as he fell tumbling down the ravine until a large bolder stopped his slide. Gage quickly scrambled and took the other gun putting it under his belt. If there was any good news it was the raiding party on the other side were still trying to chase down the camel loaded with Sparrow Hawk’s teepee, furs, food, and blankets. At least they weren’t being shot at from both sides yet.

  Lacy was clutching JC. She lost her footing and started sliding down the path and turned loose of the knife in her hand to try to hang onto JC. As Gage turned his head in the direction of more whoops to the right, another brave rode up to the edge flanking him on the left and jumped arms flung out like deadly talons with two knives in his hands toward Gage. Gage fired at the one on the right, then Lacy heard him cry out, “SUFFER THE WRATH OF TEXAS YOU UNHOLY ABOMINATION!” They were rolling down the hill arm in arm. When they stopped neither man was moving fast.

  JC yelled out, “MOMMY LOOK!” The brave had gotten to his feet and was crouched ready to strike. The shoulder wound wasn’t stopping him. Maybe if she could press her fingers into the wound, but he was mobile enough that she doubted he would give her that chance. Lacy’s eyes focused on the knife in his hand as he grinned and waited for her to slide right into his hands. Lacy twisted pushing JC as far away from her as she could. She clawed at the sandy dirt trying to grab any solid object that would stop her slide or give her a weapon to pound him into the ground. Lacy looked up at JC as he tumbled then caught some low growing brush and hung on screaming with his legs dangling from an over hang.

  Jenny stood below cave entrance in horror as she watched what must have seemed like a flash back before her eyes. The brave had Lacy by her hair and was just one quick slice away from taking her scalp as she struggled against the knee in her back. Her son was about to drop a good twenty feet to his death. Then the brave pushed up her skirt and held her throat in the crook for his elbow as he pushed her legs apart with his knees. Lacy pleaded for JC’s life. He could do anything to her, just don’t let the boy die. He held her pinned to the ground and was going to take her. He didn’t care about the boy. His mind was full of blood and lust and she was there ripe for the taking.

  Jenny yelled her own war cry as loud as she could, “KAAHHUU SARRIE.” Gage looked over to Jenny and grinned as he translated what she said in his mind. She had called him a mouse dog? Or maybe she was telling Mouse that she was sorry? Either way Jenny was climbing the side of the hill with a rock in both hands toward the man.

  It got Kahuu’s attention as the first one hit his backside and he stopped his rutting as he turned just in time for the second to barely miss his breach clout and looked back at the ghost woman and laughed motioning Jenny to come on. He was ready to dispatch her. His smile disappeared and he motioned with his knife in front of his throat that he’d enjoy taking her life. Kahuu called out, “Pʉetʉyai!”

  Gage thought to himself, “Yep he knows Sparrow Hawk set her aside. He just called her a ghost. I guess that must have meant dog.

  Jenny grinned as she got his attention and clawed the dirt and came up
with more rocks and something else. She flung dirt in the air and threw the rocks as she ran toward the brave hitting him in his head, and chest. He was almost a downed dog but she needed to act quickly before more help came over the ridge.”

  Kahuu was considering his good fortune. She was out of rocks, the other squaw could wait, and the Ghost of Sparrow’s Hawk’s wife would be next under his knife or maybe she wouldn’t. No definitely not the next. Who was that brave coming at him like a madman. She must be his. Bryan commanded, “JENNY IN THE CAVE NOW! DAISY GO TO MAMA!” The brave turned toward Bryan and beat his chest in defiance.

  Lacy was stumbling to her feet and ran for JC just as he fell. She caught him in her arms and quickly sat him down turning to face Kahuu hurdling a rock and a handful of dust of her own. Jenny screamed out to keep Kahuu’s attention on her. More dust flew in the air. Lacy heard something strike the ground by her as Jenny threw more rocks pelting the brave to where he turned his back to Lacy to face the Knife’s head on charge as she came at him with her bare hands clawing her way straight for Kahuu from the other side of the cave opening from where Lacy and JC stood. JC screamed his own yell, “Mamma knife!” Lacy took her bowie knife from JC’s hand and threw it in Kahuu’s back. He turned looked surprised trying to pull the knife free.

  Lacy picked up more rocks pelting the man in the head one rock after another. JC was throwing his own rocks with her. Jenny picked up more and between the three they had the brave down. She heard Bryan yell as he climbed the hill below her, “LACY get JC and get in that cave woman!” Well that was different. But it definitely made you take notice that it wasn’t a request. Her victim wasn’t moving. She had been stoning him for how long? She wanted the man dead and he looked pretty dead.

  Bryan was running toward Lacy and Jenny with the hatchet in one hand and a knife in the other whooping like a whole war party. His camel started making it’s own roaring guttural noises.

  Gage was back up on his feet. His left upper arm was bleeding, but he had his bowie knife out and took a long slice through the man’s belly and finished him off. Gage was firing at another that was trying to decide if he wanted to be the next one at Gage’s feet. He ducked back then fired hitting the rock in front of Gage.

  Gage popped back up and pulled the trigger but nothing happened. He was out of bullets. He ducked quickly as the brave’s companion aimed his rife. Bryan threw his knife into the buck’s chest screaming like a banshee as he reached Gage.

  Gage was loading the guns and yelled, “HELL NO YOU DON’T” He passed one of the pistols to Bryan and fired the other as the remaining brave rushed them from above yelling his own cry of pain and anger, EBI HUUTSUU!” determined to avenge the death of his fallen brother Blue Bird.

  Daisy called out her own roar as she recognized Bryan’s voice and charged toward the edge of the ravine to find Jenny. The Indian’s ponies scattered wide eyed bucking and unseating their remaining riders.

  Bryan topped the ridge with his bloody hatchet in hand ready to do battle. He was still dressed in the buckskin Sparrow Hawk had bestowed on him with his face painted half red and half black and Wolf’s eagle feather hanging down the back of his hair.

  There was a look of surprise on the braves’ faces, then a quick retreat as they spotted a contingent of Sparrow Hawk’s men on the other side of the ravine leading a camel back toward the mountains. They weren’t expecting one of Sparrow’s band. Where one fought, others followed. Sparrow Hawk’s braves had paused, trying to see what the commotion was about on the other side and if it was going to last long enough for them to get in on the fight.

  Daisy was working her way down toward the cave. Jenny had obeyed Bryan and was now inside the mouth of the cave holding her hands to help pull JC to safety. Lacy was handing JC to Jenny’s outstretched hands, “Here take JC Jenny. Keep him safe.” Lacy turned surveying the situation. She had no intention of hiding. Just give her back her pistol or knife and she’d be ready for the next charge. She headed back up the hill toward Gage and Bryan.

  Daisy on the other hand had no personal fight with the savages as along as they left Jenny alone. She planted herself in front of the cave daring any Indian to try to take Jenny back and let out a growl causing the horses to kick their heels up again and run for the shrub brush and prickly pairs.

  Bryan was breathless and panting as he put his hand on his knees trying to catch his breath. Gage looked at the doctor and grinned, “Scared the shit out of them. They must have thought Sparrow Hawk changed his mind.”

  Bryan said, “What?”

  Gage said, “One Chief moves out, another moves in. That’s Red Eagle’s tribe on this side. Now that other side. Well that was Sparrow Hawk’s men getting his property back.”

  Bryan said, “Why did he do that. They left all of that for us.”

  Gage said, “Well, they left it for you to use while you were waiting there, not to take. Comanche steal their enemy’s property. Sort of a lethal game they play with each other. Like a challenge. When you took his stuff, you invited them to try to take it back. I was trying to make sure they really moved out when one of the braves spotted you moving out with Sparrow Hawk’s stuff. Now he’d let you keep the clothes, but that old musket would have killed you if you shot it. Sort of sweet justice for any property theft if you know what I mean. Maybe he hoped you would. It would have given him an excuse to get Jenny back.”

  Bryan looked down toward the cave, “You think he wanted me to do that? She never said anything about not taking it when we packed.”

  Gage made the same hand sign Jenny did for maybe and maybe not. Gage grinned, “Makes you think about closing you eyes on her doesn’t it. I guess this makes us even now. She saved my skin from Sparrow Hawk and now I’ve saved hers from Red Eagle.” Gage was wrapping his scarf over the cut on his upper arm like it was nothing.

  Bryan reached into his pocket, “You’re a cold hearted bastard you know that? Why are you so determined to squash any happiness out of her life. How long have you been here Gage? None of this would have happened if you’d just claimed her.”

  Gage looked Bryan in the eyes, “Well, maybe today wouldn’t have, but something would. Maybe something worse like Red Eagle and Sparrow Hawk making peace and declaring war on all of the hill country. All in all, it could be worse. You really don’t get it yet? Comanche want to be at war Bryan. It’s just a matter of who’s their friend today while they make war on someone else. Then they’re as likely to make peace with the tribe they’re warring against and turn on their allies. You best remember that if you’re living with one. Lacy may have struck him with her knife, but it was the Knife that set him up for the kill and he was Tatsinuupi’s brother.

  Bryan reached in his pocket. I got a present for you compliments of Itsee. Bryan pulled out the gold coin and flipped it over into Gage’s hands.

  Gage looked at the coin and grunted, “Spanish Gold?”

  Bryan replied, “Itsee says he took it out of the hands of a ghost wearing metal.”

  Gage looked at the cave, “Bet he was lying in bat dung too wasn’t he? Mom would tell me how Dad used Jenny to help him with his engineering projects. Right handy for a girl. Then after I was born, she took me out with her. Matter of fact, right down there is where Sparrow Hawk took her. She was going to show me something her and Dad had rigged up to make it safer the day they got her. That hole he probably told you about leads to a cavern, a big one.”

  Bryan asked, “You know what’s down there?”

  Gage’s lips went up on one side as he thought about that, “There’s snakes, and lots of bats and a drop off that looked like it killed an army down there and too many tunnels and paths. I seem to remember steam. Jenny liked rocks. She showed me lots of rocks. Those that grow up from the floor and come down from the ceiling mostly. We’d have a picnic in some cavern we got to from under our home after she showed me the latest rock formation she found. After she was taken, Dad wouldn’t go back and frankly forbid me to come anywhere near here
when I was younger. He gave up on what ever they had been work on and closed off the entrance.” Gage looked at Bryan like he wanted to say something he needed to understand then changed his mind and addressed Itsee’s coin, “I’m sure Itsee got that from the old bones that was guarding the back of bat cave entrance. Crawl in there far enough and you’ll see him with his purse scattered at his feet along with a small chest with a few more of his coins. I found him a few days before I came across your search party. I could see more, but somehow what I found didn’t seem big enough to be what I remembered but then again I was pretty young and we didn’t normally come out here. She thought she heard something and we climbed right out into his trap. I gave Jenny my knife to cut my throat. Dad always told her to make sure she cut mine first, then hers. She couldn’t do it. Tried to bargain like Lacy did, then cut her own. The Knife couldn’t do it. Sort of ironic don’t you think?”

  Bryan took it in as he spent his story. It was still down there. Now the only question was did Jenny remember where or had that faded from her memory like her words? Bryan nodded like he understood, “Well, like I said. Itsee said to give it to you and tell you what they found. Sounds like you should just take the rest of what’s in there and give the old gent a rest and bury him.”

  Gage said, “Probably. Just Indians are really superstitious. A person could climb down that knotted rope ladder and let the old man make them think twice about following you.” Gage looked down at the cave, “You think that beast is going to let them out? Maybe we should go before they decide the rest of his braves aren’t coming to our aid.”

  Lacy was trying to get Daisy up. She could hear JC calling out inside the cave. Lacy looked up at Gage and Bryan, “A little help? Bryan get down here and help get Daisy will you?” Lacy called out, “They’re gone Jenny. Can you hand me my son?” There wasn’t an answer and no JC coming out. Lacy called out, “Alright, this isn’t funny Jenny. I’m sorry if I did anything you considered wrong. If I killed one of your friends, well I’m not sorry about that. They deserved it you know. That stinking bastard deserves to be buzzard bate.”