Camp Camel: The Heart of Texas
Page 27
Sparrow Hawk said, “Maybe, maybe not. She did not want to go back to this Delight with her child and no husband. She said she would be shamed and shame her family. She cry much over this and asked why you not come back. I would take her into my teepee, but it can not be if she is truly white. I hoped she was only some white like my sons. She say she go to your father if you not take claim boy and ask him for help.”
Gage looked at the boy shaking his head, “Oh Hell, can’t let Jenny be the only one Dad’s upset with now can I. He’s going to hear about him anyway.” Gage turned to Bryan, “What if she comes back later and wants him or says she didn’t have a choice but to give him up? Or, she might have come to her senses and decided she doesn’t want anything more to do with me but wants the child, should I offer to support him you think?”
Dallas grinned, “How about you go talk to her before you start panicking?”
Gage turned to Bryan, “You’ll help get my son off that cactus juice?”
Dallas asked, “Does this girl have a name?”
Gage was trying hard to think of it, “It was just one night. I can see her face. It’s right on the tip of my tongue.”
Sparrow Hawk said, “Puhibitu, or green like her eyes.”
Gage’s looked like he was in pain as he tried to think hard, “Not her Comanche name. I’m trying to remember her white name.”
Dallas suggested, “Jade Shanahan. She’s fits her description.”
Gage’s eyes lit up, “That’s it. Jade.” Gage turned back to Bryan, “You think she was on it like Jenny?”
Bryan said, “Well, Mouse Dog sure seemed like he was, but I think it might be best to meet her before we judge her sight unseen Gage. I don’t even know that the boy is on it. Pretty sure we’re dealing with colic. He could be a terror for months. But they can eventually grow out of it.” Bryan wasn’t admitting when that happened to Sparrow Hawk after what he told him earlier. Most parents he knew with a baby like this, it felt like a lifetime before they saw a decent amount of rest again. He had no doubt his mother might be frazzled between the baby and the thought of Mouse Dog taking revenge on her. It was one thing to be given to someone and another entirely to have a child that didn’t look at all like the father. But maybe she should be given the chance to keep the boy before he pulled a Sparrow Hawk and claimed the boy for Jenny. Maybe Jenny needed time to mourn without another mouth to worry about and the fact that she was Mouse Dog’s woman brought up other concerns in his mind.
Dallas told Bryan, “You have to go back to the fort. Get Jenny settled, then report back to the fort. Gage might need her and I think Sparrow Hawk is better equipped to protect her for now. I can’t have my doctor off base.
What Does Not Kill Us
Lacy ran to Mrs. Tyler’s looking for the lady that was her part time cook, baby sitter, and house keeper and full time confidant. She had left her infant daughter in her care when she rode off to warn Bryan. There across the yard of the fort was the short well rounded Mexican with a sling over her shoulder cradling Brianna tight to her chest. As she gently reached over into her laundry basket and then back up to hang her husbands shirts and long johns in the hot Texas sun, her body rocked the little girl. She made hanging laundry look like some dance where she was dancing to the rhythm of a slow dance in Captain Tyler’s arms. If Lacy hadn’t been leaking milk from her own breasts as she thought of her young daughter being so close, she might have just stood there watching the dance play out.
But as if sensing her presence Mrs. Tyler looked up and smiled, “Mamacita, God is good, si? You are safe and home. Your man was very worried as were we all.”
Lacy blushed, “Yes, God is great and very understanding of my mistake. I shouldn’t have gone.” Lacy quickly moved over to Mrs. Tyler and took Brianna and moved just inside her door as she pulled her blouse down and let the sleepy eyed girl suckle. Lacy asked, “Was she terrible?”
Mrs. Tyler looked at the child, “Only when she was hungry, but it was of no real matter. Captain Tyler was not here. He rode out with your husband and the others. They did not come back with you?”
Lacy said, “Captain Tyler, he’s back. He came back with the wounded and the bodies. The rest of the troops are still on patrol.”
Mrs. Tyler stopped, “My man, is he alive or dead Mamacita! Do not make me suffer like this.”
Lacy said, “Alive. Your husband is not dead or wounded.”
Mrs. Tyler said, “And yours?”
Lacy replied, “The Major was alive when we left. There were six killed and I think about seven that were wounded. so far.”
Mrs. Tyler sighed, “We are both lucky women.” She crossed herself as she asked, “You did not bring the cursed one back. She is gone elsewhere? You told Captain Travers?”
Lacy said, “She’s still out there. Bryan and Jenny are out there.” They were coming back from Sparrow Hawk’s camp when we were attacked on this side of the ravine. She gave him her baby. That Comanche has her new born son.” Lacy thought about that, “Maria, How could she do that. Let him have her baby like that, a new born?”
Mrs. Tyler called back, “I do not know Mamacita. They do not think like us. Look how she acted. She was witched.” Captain Tyler told me she had no choice. It was in their treaty that the father would keep the baby. Perhaps she was a slave and not truly a free white woman?”
Lacy switched Brianna to her other breast, “That might make some sense. The way Dallas was writing out that paper like he was selling her to Bryan. You might be right. Bryan’s always had a soft spot for the kids that had speech problems or had something wrong with them back home. She talks now, if you can call that talking.” Lacy thought back to Mouse Dog all over her body. It made her skin crawl like she had worms moving under the hairs of her arms. Lacy said, “Screams too. She certainly yelled loud enough.” Lacy stopped talking. Her mind went deep into some dark place where she was stoning the man to death.
Mrs. Tyler noticed the silence, “Are you alright, Mamacita? Can I fix you some tea or something to fill your belly?”
Lacy swallowed, “I couldn’t keep it down. There were so many of them. All yelling and screaming. I’m never going to say another bad word about Daisy. Maria, she was hit and she just keep running. A horse would have fallen and broke a leg, but she ran.”
Mrs. Tyler chucked, “Probably to save her own scalp. The camels are not dumb, smelly, but not dumb.” Mrs. Tyler put her hand over Lacy’s belly, “Hum, I am not dumb either. You can not eat, maybe you are carrying his child? He has not been a patient man the Major?”
Lacy handed Brianna to her and ran for the porch. She heaved, but nothing but a little spittle came up. Mrs. Tyler went inside cursing men’s lustful body parts as she found a cracker and brought it back for Lacy, “Here eat this and I’m fixing you some nice warm tea. We put you to bed Mamacita. You do not want to lose this little brother or sister to our Brianna, si?”
Lacy said, “Can’t be. It took months last time.”
Maria Tyler grinned, “No it can be. It is no matter. You husband likes children. Maybe you hire me full time, and I can afford a housekeeper to wash my husbands smelly clothes, or we get better housing like those hotels where others cook and clean for us, si?”
Lacy looked down, “Well, I’ve was sick before I left, maybe you’re right. God I hope you’re right. Maybe we should think about cooking steak tonight and have the men who brought us back over. They deserve a good steak don’t you think?”
Maria laughed, “Now you want to cook a steak? Yes, I think you will be asking for pickles next.”
Captain Tyler walked up brushing the dust off with his hat before he kissed Maria. He didn’t let go as he looked her over from top to bottom for an uncomfortable amount of time. Then he spotted Lacy just inside the door and said, “Mrs. Sanders, Mam. Would you mind taking the little lass and relocating for me. I have a fierce desire for my own wife that is not going to wait. I can take her here in front of you or you can give me back my bed.”
Captain Tyler was stripping his wife as he looked back smiling, “Yes, Mam. That would be fine indeed. What are we celebrating?”
Lacy called back, “I think I’m with child!”
Captain Tyler choked, “What?” Captain Tyler suddenly remembered something he needed to do. He pulled his suspenders back on his shoulders and buttoned up his shirt, “Sorry Maria, I think I better help find her a doctor. I don’t think we can wait for Captain Travers.”
Maria grabbed his shirt, “Oh no you don’t. You are not leaving me and the rest of the women helpless for a little morning sickness. She will live. It is normal.”
Captain Travers whispered something in Spanish in Maria’s ears.
Maria’s face turned red, “No, it can no be.”
Captain Travers shook his head, “That thieving Injun planted his seed and it already took hold. God have mercy on her soul and she being happy about it too. She might be crazy in the head for sure and not thinking right. Should I go for the doctor and see if he can end it?”
Maria bit down on her lip, “It could be his. She was sick.”
Captain Travers replied, “Drugged. The boys drugged them and the Major was out with the squaw riding from ranch to ranch and square to square. You think that stuff would cause a child to be ill formed?”
Maria made a sour face, “The Friar says he has seen devil children born from those addicted to it’s curse. But it is a sin to do anything that would harm a child husband. Do not say more of this. The less that know of this the better for her.”
Captain Tyler asked, “And if she tells them she’s with child tonight?”
Maria said, “She may lose it if it is deformed. God is merciful that way. Women lose children early in their time. They will think nothing more than poor woman, it was the cursed Comanche that caused this. And if not, then it is meant to be.” Maria took hold of her husbands red suspenders and pulled him toward her, “Let me feel you inside me. Your blood burns hot from this thing you’ve done for us.”
Captain Tyler looked at Maria with great longing, “It does, but right now I can’t. I can’t think of what a child might look like if I had you in such a fit of rage as I feel right now.” The Captain looked out toward the Major’s home. I think I’ll chop some wood for the fires tonight, sentry fires well out from our perimeter. Maybe we should dig some wide ditches too with pikes to catch their pony’s in the belly. We’ll have steak alright and slaughter a few steers and whack off the heads and let the buzzards eat at them. A Camel’s teeth are very fierce looking. You should have seen their ponies when we charged through them. They were not happy. It was like having an extra regiment fighting with us. Almost pitied the poor buggers. I should put some out where they would have to go through them. They would growl and roar like an alarm I think.” Captain Tyler looked down in her eyes, “You think me some monster capable of doing that to another woman?”
Maria said, “No. Some men are better than others husband. You only do what you must. We have no great walls to protect us. You would leave me a bullet, even if it meant you suffered greatly at their hands, si?”
Captain Tyler said, “Yes, even if they skinned me alive. I’d leave you my last bullet.”
Maria answered, “Then we have work to do before tonight. I will get the women to help cook some steaks and the rest we make jerky with I think. We will find barrows and fill with water, leave the buckets full, keep our water from laundry for putting out fires, melt lead, sharpen your knives, what ever you need. Mrs. Sanders can teach us to fight. She knows. She killed a bear.”
Captain Tyler smiled, “A bear? Well, if we see any bears, she is most welcome to them, but if you see a Comanche, you run. They are on that peyote and she can tell you, you can’t stop the bugger until you kill him at least three times.”
Maria didn’t want to know, but at the same time she did, “Did they kill him?”
Captain Tyler said, “I heard she got him in the back with her bowie knife, after the squaw came after him with rocks and beaned him hard enough to get his attention off her. Then the two of them and JC stoned him to death. And squaw cut off his prick and stuffed it in his mouth. Very nasty business.”
Maria crossed herself, “The men? Where where they?”
Captain Tyler swallowed, “Captain Travis said he was knee deep in one man’s guts trying to free himself of a scalping by one fellow as the next jump him. Captain Travers being a newly converted Comanche was charging up the ravine with a tomahawk and knife all painted from head to toe in war paint like one of Sparrow Hawk’s men and took out a few more that Daisy had missed on the top. Captain Travis thought he saved their scalps for sure. Red Eagle’s men thought they had miscalculated and Sparrow Hawk was coming for the ones left and they ran.
Maria couldn’t believe it, “Our good doctor a Comanche? She has bewitched him.”
Captain Tyler said, “Yes, like all you sinful women, she has made our gentle doctor feel the passion in his blood. I’m beginning to think she remembers a lot more than people think. Certainly had something in for that brave and the rest of them too. Scalped them all and they had a party throwing their scalps into some poor cactus above their heads calling out insults. Mrs. Sanders would have had her throat cut from end to end and JC would have smashed his little head on the rocks if not for her. Certainly sounds like a our good Captain Travis’ fighting style for sure. If he can rise from the grave, why can’t she?”
Maria thought about it, “Perhaps she has, but you are a gossip husband. I shall have to get you to talk more often. You know more scandals than the whores in town.”
Captain Tyler put his hands up, “If they talk where my ears can hear, who am I not to listen Maria. Where do you suppose JC got a Spanish Conquistador helmet?”
Maria said, “El Conquistadore?” Maria said, “She was taken they say at Dessert Sands. Maybe your ghost found more ghosts of the past. They say the bones of los Conquistadores guard Spanish Gold.”
Captain Tyler thought about that, “Let’s just keep that to ourselves. All we need is a bunch of civilians making a dash for hidden treasure and getting their scalps lifted.”
Maria asked, “You think the Major and Captain Travis are here for the gold?”
Captain Tyler considered it, “Well, Major Callahan didn’t find it while he was here with Beale. It may be it’s not a coincidence we have three of them in our mist now. It could go a long way to even up this fight if the old stories are real. Then again, the Comanche say the gold is cursed, so maybe someone took some already.”
By the end of day, Captain Tyler had organized the men into parties that made Camp Verde look like some Indian burial grounds with long horn heads on pikes, sharpened stakes lined the dry moats. Camels were tied out around the insides of the moats behind a line of crates that had been weighted down with rocks to give another barrier that might trip up a horse, or provide cover for a line of soldiers with rifles. Out past the dry moats there were bomb fires piles that could be lit giving the guards a good view of anyone trying to sneak up on them from inside the compound. The window shutters were checked and the bolts inspected to make sure they could be locked from the inside. The women soaked the wood with water from their laundry to try to make it where it wouldn’t burn so easily. Lacy and the women made straw soldiers using their husband’s thread worn uniforms, sombrero hats, ponchos and sticks painted black with tar and hid them in corners, peaking out of wagons, in the scrub brush, and on top of flat roofs. The water was stacked inside each barracks and house for emergency use.
Lacy lit the fires for the wood chip grills and the aroma of steaks grilling and potatoes cooked in the coals floated on the air. Those on night time guard duty were served first. There were nervous co
mments as the men took a plate.
Private White looked down at the large juicy steak and grinned, “Mighty fine meal Mam. You’d think we were facing the hangman’s noose for sure.”
Corporal Franklin poked him in the ribs, “Now son, nothing to worry about. Unless you bet that we’d be alive by next week. Why Captain Tyler even invited the buzzards tonight so they’d get to know us before they peck our eyes out.”
Private White muttered, “I don’t think Sergeant Cook would have appreciated that joke Sir. It’s was real enough for him and the others.”
Captain Tyler walked up and took a plate, “Now then boys, no need to get into a ruckus. You’ll get your share of the fighting soon enough. The Sergeant wouldn’t want you wasting your blood on each other when there will be plenty of Injuns to concern yourself with soon enough. Just enjoy these fine steaks while we can. The Major will be proud of the work you did today.”
Private Wells said, “Seems to me he pulled a Van Dorn on us. Left us stripped of men, weapons, and supplies to do what, try to get every Comanche in Texas mad at us. They should have let them have the squaw and let them fight it out between themselves. No treaty with a Comanche is worth the paper it’s written on Sir.”
Sergeant Campbell frowned, “Private, watch you mouth.”
Lacy blushed, “Sergeant, it’s alright. I know they’re thinking it. I probably said worse before Cotton Plant about General Hindman myself. I cussed him to hell and back when I saw what was left of the Twelfth. I know Dallas is doing everything he can to try to get this settled with the least amount of bloodshed. At least our bloodshed.” That got a nervous laugh from some of the men who had returned with her.
In the yard one of the wives said loud enough for everyone to hear, “Fine for you to say that, but my man came back on one of those horses covered with a blanket today. What makes you think you know anything about how things work down here Mrs. Sanders?”