Camp Camel: The Heart of Texas

by Eaton, Rosemary

  Bryan turned to Sparrow Hawk, “My fee for showing you how to burp your son is you tell me a truth that I ask of you. Each time you keep the boy and I do something that helps, you answer my questions truthfully.”

  Sparrow Hawk nodded. That seemed simple enough. He didn’t lie anyway.

  Bryan asked, “Why did you give her wokwave?”

  Sparrow Hawk said, “I did not know until Itsee told me of their actions. My sons did not want her to suffer such pain as they saw in her face. Surely Red Cedar never meant for it to be used unless she was dying in child birth to ease her pain. Her mind wants whether it can have it or not, yes? I made them take it away. Her water was not laced with wokwave after you came with her. Try to sweat it out with much pleasure for you.”

  Bryan replied, “Yes, but she suffered greatly as it left her that night. She can not have it again.”

  Sparrow Hawk looked at Bryan, “You are a brave man. She very stubborn when not given wokwave. Did she not please you well before you took her as wife?”

  Bryan blushed, “Yes, very well pleased, but some can not stay on things like this. White man’s poppy the same. It will kill them if they can not be weaned.”

  Sparrow Hawk thought about it, “Can not agree with that. Taking her off hurt more I think. She screamed. She never screamed before. All I could do not to run to Red Cedar and beg for honor piece to help ease her pain.”

  Bryan wasn’t convinced. He had been one cold son of a gun that night when he asked to let her nurse. Maybe he didn’t want to admit he forgot something in front of his new wife. Especially one who was related to Mouse Dog. It might make him look weak. Or maybe he hoped she would tell Mouse Dog he didn’t care for his Knife and they would leave her alone. Perhaps the boy was only an excuse so he could say his apology to Jennie whether she accepted it or not. It wasn’t going to do any good to keep picking at this wound when there was the fate of the treaty at stake. Time to call his bluff and find out what he had in mind. Bryan asked, “So how is this going to work. If you stay, you are in violation of your treaty again.”

  Sparrow Hawk replied as his eyes focused in on Jenny, “I have thought long about this while my son cried. Your Chief is at war. He wears gray, yes?”

  Bryan replied, “Yes, we wear gray like Albert Pike.”

  Sparrow Hawk said, “Then I am at war with Albert Pike’s enemy if I help your Chief with his war here?”

  Bryan blinked, “You would fight other Comanche as our ally with us?”

  Sparrow Hawk answered, “It is my tribe’s leaving that caused this war is it not?”

  Bryan said, “Probably didn’t help. It opened the door for those not going North to claim territory. Is that how you see this?”

  Sparrow Hawk nodded, “Yes. That is how I see it. It is how it has always been, though in the past it might have started with a war chief getting too old to fight or dying.”

  Sparrow Hawk added, “It is best your Chief wins. He is young and they will respect him for many years.”

  Bryan asked, “You lost me there. So if we’re doing the fighting, how is it you’re helping us?”

  Sparrow Hawk said, “I could take their women and children so they do not starve or grow up with great hate in their hearts because there are no fathers to teach them what they need to know. My braves will take many wives and children with us West. We will not fight your other war, but we will not fight you unless you try to move us from land you do not own again.”

  Bryan quizzed, “You don’t think they will drag you into the fight if you hang around waiting for us to kill all their men?”

  Sparrow Hawk replied, “Then we will fight too. We can not know how this ends brother until the now that is not is. While we wait to see, you will be my guest and you can tell your Chief I did not raid the white men. You talk to Chief so he not worry or should I kill him and take back my land?” Well there it was. Perhaps the boy had colic and perhaps the child was a pawn just like Jenny in this bloody mess. Sparrow Hawk wanted an alliance with Dallas and he needed someone who could safely walk into their camp to parley his conditions. If Dallas killed Sparrow Hawk’s competition, it would be easy for Sparrow Hawk to round up their women and children to create a bigger stronger future that could resist the White man. Definitely a crafty son of a bitch.

  Bryan replied, “It’s a long walk.”

  Sparrow Hawk grinned, “Not as long as you think. He is camped close. You tell him I give him safe passage if he want to talk face to face. Not kill him today either unless he fires first.”

  Bryan asked, “You give him safe passage back even if you disagree?”

  Sparrow Hawk laughed, “You drive hard bargain brother. For that you have wife keep boy tonight so I can sleep?”

  Bryan laughed, “She will be with me. Not leaving her.”

  Sparrow Hawk grinned, “Maybe show boy to her brother. He not see this one yet. Room on camel for all.”

  Bryan said, “If I’m your guest, Jenny is your guest. She’s treated with respect and you will protect us from harm?”

  Sparrow Hawk looked at Jenny, “Yes, no harm to guests.”

  Bryan nodded, “We have an agreement. We are your guests and I will talk with my Chief and parley for you. He may still wish to speak his own peace.”

  Sparrow Hawk looked at the boy. He was screaming again. He tried Bryan’s shoulder trick. It had no effect on the amount of unhappiness the child displayed. Eagle Feather whispered something in Sparrow Hawk’s ears. The braves had discovered Mouse Dog chewing on his on prick and several braves missing their scalp. The tall cactus above the ridge displayed their scalps like it had hair of it’s own draping down from it’s spines.

  Sparrow Hawk smiled, “Wokwave, you have been busy since we last parted here. The boy is yours to keep for his father. We both have work to do before this night is over.” Sparrow Hawk handed Bryan the boy, “He is hungry I think. Give you time to pack, then we go see your Chief. I change my mind. I go to him. I want to see face when you show off child.”

  Bryan bounced the boy trying to see if they were truly gone, “What did I say that changed his mind?”

  Jenny rose and looked upon the face of the child in his arms and smiled. She didn’t care what caused the sudden change of heart, she was just glad. Her old husband liked her new husband and had given her a child to raise. In truth she had no way to know if this boy was hers or some other unfortunate woman’s. But for the moment it didn’t matter. He needed her and she needed him. Jenny held out her arms and received the boy from Bryan.

  Just as pretty as you pleased, the child was smiling and cooing at Jenny with his finger wrapped tightly around her pinky. Jenny held him to her breast. The boy latched on and suckled. The sweet relief of rock hard breasts turning into soft mounds again as the boy downed one side and took hold of the other. Jenny smiled. She was happier than she had been since before she knew she must leave her children. She was a mother again.

  Bryan watched patiently, “Certainly seem to have an appetite now. Seems to know what he wants there too Jenny. Maybe he was just hungry. Or maybe the trip disagreed with him?” The more he thought about it, the more his brow formed a frown as Bryan scratched his head in concern trying to lay his finger on what bothered him the most. The fact that Sparrow Hawk gave him the boy so easily or the fact that he was now walking into Dallas’ camp with a Sparrow Hawk who would have a good count of their strength before they left.

  Jenny looked amused, “You worry, but it is all well. See his suckles. His stomach is full. Not scream yet.”

  Bryan asked, “Did that seem a little too easy? All that fuss over this child, then lets us have him as if a baby has never kept him up at night.”

  Jenny said, “My sons sleep.”

  Bryan asked, “Never fussed?”

  Jenny asked, “Give them cactus juice, no fuss.”

  Bryan asked, “You drugged your children with cactus juice? Jenny. You’re white. You should have known better. He’s not getting that you hear me?”
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  Jenny swallowed. Her new husband chided her like a girl with no sense and more or less said every Indian woman was foolish, and new nothing of how to treat a child. She had used the spineless cactus to treat their upset tummies. It was all she had. It worked on tummies, sunburn, made your skin soft, and treated rashes. She wished she had some now. Sparrow Hawk was a good father. He walked his sons and sang to them. If he couldn’t keep this one from crying, and Bryan would not let her use what worked, it had the makings of a long night. Jenny meekly said, “I hear.” Then she packed and created a sling to hold the boy close to her chest.

  Sparrow Hawk was back. He looked into Jenny’s eyes, “You are not pleased?”

  Jenny didn’t know quite how to say this so she told him in Comanche, “I am honored, but I feel I am caught between the past and the future and can not let go of either. Wokwave is not happy with me, but I am pleased.”

  Bryan said, “What you’re talking about me aren’t you? Say it in English. If you’re going to insult me do it to my face.”

  Sparrow Hawk grinned, “She said she loves me best and you can lay with my first wife Tatsinuupi when you are my guest. She will stay with me and keep the child.”

  Bryan’s head cocked to one side as he noticed Jenny’s mouth turning up into a slight smile, “You are a funny man my brother. Why is it I have the feeling she has two husbands instead of me having one wife?” Jenny was confused by that. She did not understand Bryan’s humor. She thought he meant he had agreed to share her with Sparrow Hawk. That made her Indian again and as such she had done an unmentionable act to her husband’s family.

  Jenny said slowly and softly, “I have dishonored your wife’s family. I took Mouse Dog’s prick and fed it to him when he could not defend himself any more. So that you know I speak the truth, it was hardly one bite. I scalped and took revenge for the white Chief’s woman against my own.”

  Sparrow Hawk looked at Jenny like a man who didn’t recognize the woman in front of him, “You did this? It was not Gage or my Brother here? A Woman did this?”

  Bryan said, “Jenny. You didn’t.”

  Jenny held her head up, “It was me. I do not regret it.” She did not say what Mouse Dog had done. It would not matter and she would not shame the woman more to save her own skin.

  Sparrow Hawk considered this. No longer fully Indian, she was torn between what she thought it was to be white and to be Indian. His brother was foolish for encouraging her to talk back to him. She had courage, but no honor. She no longer respected the consequences for her actions. He would see if her heart was hardened like the brave she tried to be or not.

  Sparrow Hawk said, “I must say something that may cause her pain my Brother before we go to your Chief’s camp. I would not have you shamed by her when men need to think with level heads.”

  Bryan’s blood was stirred, shocked and concerned for Jenny. Bryan answered, “You weren’t there. How can you judge her without knowing how events came about? You knew her, you think she would do this without good cause?”

  Sparrow Hawk touched Bryan’s arm and his fingers gently stroked his pulse, “I do not know this woman who is so determined to be a man. It is best we settle this now before you find the boy smothered for having man parts or your own manhood taken in your sleep.”

  Bryan looked at Jenny and the baby. Bryan defended Jenny in the only example he could come up with and blurted out, “She would not hurt Chibitty. She fought with every breath in her body to bring him into the light for you.”

  Bryan thought he saw Sparrow Hawk suck in air like an arrow had pierced him. Then the Chief collected himself and admitted, “This is not my son. Not Chibitty. Chibitty is not with us. I have buried my son.”

  Bryan took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Babies died, but this one had almost started a war. Maybe that was why Sparrow Hawk was back. He wanted his own revenge, but against who?

  Jenny didn’t look up from the child, “Then it is good he is not my son to mourn or I would take your prick like Mouse Dog’s and put it in your mouth to chew on your choices.” Sparrow Hawk frowned and looked at Bryan expecting him to hit her.

  Bryan saw his surprise. He would have made a point of Jenny for saying such a thing. Sparrow Hawk was considering if he needed to beat her raw for what she did to the brave, deserved or not. Bryan frowned, “Jenny, say you’re sorry. I’m sure he did everything he could for the boy. You know that.”

  Yes she knew that but she wanted him to know the pain that was in her heart and the anger at him for never giving her a chance to know what he looked like or to nourish him as he should have been or let her mourn. She was not ready to hear this. That this child was not hers, yes, but not that her son was gone never to be seen again on this earth.

  Sparrow Hawk started to speak and Bryan stopped him, “My wife. Let me.” Sparrow Hawk nodded expecting Bryan to slap her or cut some stick to beat her. Bryan placed his hands over hers and gently rubbed her fingers like he’d seen Sparrow Hawk do in their teepee. He could feel her chest rising as she struggled to hold back the tears. Bryan said softly, “I couldn’t save him forever. His heart wasn’t in this world Jenny. He was dying the minute I put him in my Brother’s hands. He could have let you find out when this boy meets his father. He is better than Mouse Dog or you wouldn’t have had four good sons and still love him. Say you are sorry for the hateful words. Being white doesn’t mean being cruel.”

  Jenny wiped the tears on her sleeve as she said, “Forgive me. I will not say such things. I will remember better.”

  Sparrow Hawk turned to Bryan, “We have dug a pit and buried them with their hair and other parts. We missed a good fight, yes? But I think it best you punish her in front of my braves. She has admitted to this deed. It is her husband’s duty to punish her my brother. I will hold the child. A woman that could do that might do anything.”

  Bryan asked, “Punish? You think she deserves to be punished? In our laws there are exceptions for those who’s minds are not theirs to control.”

  Sparrow Hawk replied, “She has not asked for mercy. She shows no regret of her actions or her words.”

  Bryan countered, “She’s confused. She goes to sleep in one world and wakes up in another. She saw her own death and part of her mind was ripped from her like her children and every thing she knew.”

  Sparrow Hawk paused. That had struck a cord in his heart, but his tribe looked to him to deal out justice to those who broke their laws. He said, “Many have sorrows and still obey the law. That will not excuse this. She was not crazy when she left us. I know this.”

  Bryan said, “She is. She has a sickness that makes her crave the wokwave. I was stripping it from her blood. She was not fully well. She yelled strange things, moved like a ghost possessed. She took a boy and ran after the attack like she was trying to stop something that haunted her past. She was running with Gage from you, Sparrow Hawk. She would not come out or free the boy until the peyote let go of her mind.”

  Sparrow Hawk sighed as he remembered the day. Perhaps she was crazy or it was the peyote her sons had given her. He would have to think harder on this. Sparrow Hawk said, “We move while I think about what you said.” Sparrow Hawk covered Jenny’s eyes and took the child from her hands. She held Bryan’s hand as Sparrow Hawk led them through the passages. There was no thirty foot wall or opening full of bat dung to crawl through. He lead the way to another cavern sloped upward to the surface and a passage hidden behind falling water and Bryan realized he was in the back of the cave at Sparrow Hawk’s old camp. Sparrow Hawk didn’t try to hide it from Bryan. There were lots of twists and turns that one could take that lead to dead ends and places one might not find their way back from. He could hear Bryan asking Jenny, “You knew about this all the time?” Sparrow Hawk stopped in the lower part of the cavern. He took her blind fold off facing Bryan, it is time. You must punish her for her crime against men or there will be no respect for the paper we write tonight.”

  Bryan swallowed, “I won’t. Th
at pitiful excuse for man deserved what he got and more. The only reason I didn’t do it myself was I was treating the injuries that depraved maniac incurred on the white Chief’s family. You want him as an ally, then by God, you better not show up with this woman beaten by me or anyone else. Mouse Dog was a coward, a filth bag, and afraid to fight a man! Our women and children killed the fucking bastard. He wasn’t a man, he was a mouse. And seems to me he was a dog that bites his master. He wanted her scalp so he could wave it in front of your face as you left!” There was a murmur behind them as Wolf, Eagle Feather and several other braves made their own comments. There were some that agreed fully with Wokwave, but others that felt it did not matter. What would their women think if such was allowed to happen.

  Jenny eyes were wide as the braves waited to see how this would be settled. Bryan had drawn a line in the sand putting Sparrow Hawk’s treaty at stake. Jenny said with a contrite heart, “I ate wokwave. I saw the knife in his back and asked the man it belonged to if he wanted his scalp for what Mouse Dog tried to do to him and his child since he was my husband’s family, but he was a she when I woke.”

  Bryan looked at Sparrow Hawk then back to Jenny, “JENNY come here! I told you to never eat wokwave again. It was forbidden. You found some. You weren’t taking JC just to visit that cursed gold chest, you came here and ate peyote. I trusted you with their life and you were full of wokwave. Woman what have your done.”

  Jenny looked down. She knew what would come next if either of them were leaving this room, “You must beat me hard.”

  Bryan bulled his belt from his pants, walked over, took her across his knee and swung the belt hard across her bottom as she screamed to blood hell as the first stripe went across her backside. By the fourth stroke there was no sound coming from her as she bit down on her arm bringing a new stream of blood from each time he hit her. There was just the crack of the leather as it striped her backside and thighs. When Bryan had finished there was a sense of unease as the men cringed as Bryan displayed the bruising and whelps already appearing on her legs.