Camp Camel: The Heart of Texas

by Eaton, Rosemary

  Lacy looked out through the fire light trying to spot the person who spoke, “Step up into the light. Mrs. Lamont. Your husband served his command bravely. He helped save my son’s life and you have my gratitude and deepest sympathy. If there is anything I can do, let me know.”

  Mrs. Lamont stepped into the light, “You can go home where you belong. That’s what you can do. I heard about you. You think you can go around playing like this is some game where you can hide behind a tree bushwhacking. But there are no trees that will hide you from their arrows Mrs. Sanders. You have to respect the rules or you get good men killed trying to drag you back from places you had no business being. How many died out there because you had to go for a camel ride with your son?”

  Another woman cried out, “I’m Mrs. Owens. My man was Lieutenant Owens and he didn’t die for her. They attacked the stage coach. It’s a blood war going on isn’t it? He told me they had to kill them all or we’d die here. This place is a camel pen, not a real fort. Why weren’t we putting up walls that our men could defend us from behind the minute he brought her into Camp Verde?”

  There was the noise of the crowd as several of the women called out, “Arkansas, she’s from Arkansas.” Another said, “His Daddy’s owns the Bar-S. He should have known better.”

  A soldier yelled out, “You didn’t bring some of that Searcy Spring water and molasses did you Mrs. Sanders? We could give them the runs.”

  Another soldier muttered, “No Injuns there, just hillbillies, swamps, mosquitoes, and measles. We lost more to measles and flux south of Searcy than died at Cotton Plant.”

  Lacy kept serving steaks through the insults. Finally she had her fill about the time her stomach had decided the odors and heat of the fires were more than it could handle and she quickly stepped back and away and heaved the tea and crackers that Mrs. Tyler had given her earlier in the day. The crowd became silent. Lacy felt everyone’s eyes on her and she blushed like every one knew what happened and they were sure she was now carrying the bastard’s child.

  Lacy swallowed her bile and move back into the light, “I know I’m not a native Texan, but I decided a long time ago I was not going to roll over and let this war kill me without a fight. A good friend and comrade in arms Doc Rayburn was one of the men who camped on my farm. My brother Tommy rode with him bushwhacking. Yes we bushwhacked. My father told me, we had more sense than to walk straight into a cannon ball. Not that he wouldn’t, but we were out numbered and out gunned and he didn’t see it smart to fight like that when we did have trees and land we knew better than them. He admired the Indians that fought for Albert Pike at Pea Ridge. They fought on their own terms and then went on to scalp several Yankees much to General Van Dorn’s embarrassment.

  But if you ask me, the one that needed to be embarrassed by his behavior was Van Dorn. He as you said, left Arkansas with our army, our supplies, our guns, and anything that wasn’t tied down for Mississippi. Now I’m not saying Mississippi didn’t need them, but they left women and children to man our home guards and very few soldiers. But we stopped Curtis with Texas soldiers, independent raised units, crazy women, and yes Searcy Spring water and sugar from molasses and strawberries. Searcy Spring Water and sugar made their soldiers ill, and even the bears shit so bad it killed fish for miles on his side of the Red and White Rivers. I think they blamed me for that too, but that seemed to get General Hindman’s approval.”

  There was some laughter as a few of the men remembered what they had seen and heard while in Arkansas. Lacy continued. She was on a roll and not ready to give up her podium now that the insults were turning to grunts and other men sounds that meant they agreed with her remarks. Lacy told them, “I personally drove more wagons that Doc Rayburn stuck in the ruts of muddy roads in front of Curtis’ advance than I can count. My brother Tommy and the Phantom Rangers were making those log they felled look like we had soldiers waiting to shoot those wood cutting Northern bastards. I give them credit, they cut through our logs quick enough. They had to or they were dead men which probably didn’t help when they would come upon me looking all pitiful in that wagon. But I never knew if that Yankee would try to rape me, ignore me completely, or help me. Not many helped, and a few had their paws all over me before Doc made them pay for their rudeness with their lives. Others fought. Sometimes they made us run for the trees when their reinforcements came. But we lived, and we fought again.”

  Lacy took a breath and pointed to the person who made the comment about where she was from, “So, say all you want about me not being from Texas, but I’m just as proud of Arkansas as you are of Texas. It was Arkansans and some very determined PIU Agents that helped recover the jewels that funded that herd of cattle that went to Mississippi. Seems to me, it’s Mississippi we should be upset with. If they were holding their own, our men would all be home and helping defend our homes not someone else’s. But that isn’t how it is and everyone here knows that we don’t get to choose the orders we obey do we?”

  Lieutenant Garrett yelled out, “Yes Mam, that’s the way of it for sure in this man’s army.”

  Lacy said, “Well since I’m confessing how crazy I am, you might as well know, I have a record in a CSA army file. I can’t tell you what the name was, but let’s just say I was a Private and then I was a Corporal for one day before Bo Callahan busted me back to a buck private for using what passed for soap at the time, mint and wild flowers to wash out my uniform.”

  Private Collins yelled out, “I remember that order. Colonel Parsons thought it made us smell like mint juleps. Now how did you get in the army. I didn’t think women could enlist.”

  Lacy said, “Our local militia was all women after they transferred our men to regular units. But as far as the CSA, I didn’t enlist as a woman. I found myself conscripted one day at West Point when I made the mistake of pretending to be a man to avoid the muggers and rapist running around the countryside. Things are pretty bad up there when it takes a pass to go between cities because you never knew when someone road up if they were going to shoot you or not. Lot of families killed by Union leaning men, and I guess our side wasn’t much better in the northern counties. It was eye for an eye and traveling was a risk, but staying home wasn’t much better. Wait long enough and someone would come knock on your door begging for food then turn and shoot you in the gut or Yankees foraging with small guns and cannons taking out your bedroom windows while they cut your corn fields.”

  One of the men asked from the back, “You ever shoot a Yank?”

  Lacy admitted, “Yes. I shot men and I watched boys die in my hands. I did what I had to do, just like you’ve done, what you had to do.”

  Lacy said, “This is about you tonight, not me. When ants bite you don’t look to see which one is biting, you just swat. Well, that’s where we’re at, we’re swatting. I left to tell Captain Travers and Captain Travis that they needed to start swatting, the Indians where about to swarm. I realize that I made a personal mistake that endangered by son, but I think it took Daisy, JC, and myself to help stop that raiding party that Captain Travers, his wife Jenny, and Captain Travis would have run into whether I was there or not. The one that caught up to me split off from a larger party. You ran into that party, the one that killed our men.”

  Lacy continued, “On hindsight, maybe I should have followed Mrs. Tyler’s advice and cooked my husband a steak with potatoes and made love instead of taking that camel ride. But I can’t turn that clock back and some of you might be glad of that. Maybe it would have been your man fighting the ones we killed.”

  Lacy addressed the casualties, “As for Sergeant Cook, Captain Davidson, Private Edwards, Corporal Lamont, Lieutenant Owens, and Private Vinson, and our wounded, all I can tell you is you should be proud of their service. They fought bravely and performed their duty to Texas and to you. They stopped Red Eagle from reaching the fort. The rest of our men are out there trying to give us enough time to try to get ready to swat. I can personally tell you, if you find yourself in front of one, h
e will not give you mercy or spare your children no matter what you promise the bastard so fight with every bit of your strength. Keep a knife on you and every child that is old enough to stick a pen knife in a log can stick one in their throat or gut. That’s all. Kill the bastards any way you can. My advise to your women is to wear pants, belts with brads, sharp pointed rings, necklaces that would scratch their ugly faces and necks, pointed toe boots, spurs, anything that will make it hard for them to get at you and for you to kick the shit out of their privates and a few good size rocks don’t hurt either. I guess that’s all I got to say except I hope you enjoy the steak.”

  Captain Tyler took the sharp barbeque fork out of Lacy’s hands, “Mrs. Sanders, thank you for that inspiring address and for the steak. Don’t you worry. We intend to kill every one that crosses our lines. Now tonight and every night from here on until we can get a wall around this fort, there will be bomb fires around the perimeter, and guards posted along with camels. We found the beasts most helpful in causing panic in their ponies. The women will bolt themselves in their homes at night after insuring you have enough water and food for three days minimum without having to cook or light a fire. Children will not roam freely without their mothers or other adults attending them. If you hear a lot of camels growling, secure yourselves immediately. Most likely they will alert us to any approaching party. We have dispatched information on the current situation to the Rangers and Indian Affairs. The Major has left men at the stage way station and key points to keep the road free as possible from attack and disruption of our communications and travel, but it is not advised to be traveling without an escort. We will have troops escort any trips for food and supplies. Needless to say your safety and those of your neighbors is dependent on all of us working together and keeping order until the situation changes for the better.” With the speeches done, the men finished their meals. The bomb fires were lit, and guards posted.

  Mrs. Tyler put JC and Brianna to bed and helped Lacy put out the cook fires. Mrs. Tyler brought a jar of freshly squeezed lemonade for Lacy along with more crackers and jerky. She looked at Lacy, “It is alright to cry if you need to Mamacita. Drink the lemonade. It will help on this hot night. Should I stay?”

  Lacy looked around, “No, you go home. I’m not really sleepy yet. I think I’ll write a letter home before retiring. Maybe one to Jenny’s father too. Maybe he’d like to know she save our lives.”

  Lacy waited until Mrs. Tyler left, then pour the lemonade out and brought out Dallas’ bottle of Scotch whiskey and poured a stiff drink. Given what had transpired over the last few days, she needed something a lot stronger if she was going to get any sleep tonight.

  Jaded

  With the terms of their treaty worked out, Bryan, Gage, the boy, and Sparrow Hawk’s braves left the camp and headed back to pickup Wolf and Jenny. They proceeded on to where Sparrow Hawk had stopped about ten miles from his original location. The sun was rising in the East and the baby was squalling at the top of it’s lungs. Some of the braves had gone on to make ready for their arrive. Those were the fortunate ones. They had drawn lots and the winners left. Jenny had reached out with her hands offering to hold the baby. But Gage had quickly said, “My son. I best get used to it.”

  Bryan looked over, “He’s Puhibitu’s child. She may need to nurse as well. We’ll be there soon. He’ll be fine.”

  Apparently there was an uneasiness by the men to turn the little boy over to the prick whacker. She heard the name they called her behind her back. Yes there would be no more said about what happened, just her, how Bryan flayed her skin with his belt, and bets on whether she wouldn’t dare speak another word out loud. She mourned for Chibitty silently as a slow stream of tears fell. She felt empty where just days before his legs kicked and she could feel him move inside her.

  Jenny sighed like she was fixing to say something and Bryan gave her the evil eye and puckered his lips like if I hear one more word, you’ll wish you had not tested me. Jenny looked back with her own stare just daring him to try. She was on a horse now, not some filthy beast and she’d ride circles around him. Their unspoken argument spoke louder than words as Gage cringed and tried to comfort the crying boy who seemed confused why something he found so good was being intentionally kept from him.

  Sparrow Hawk watched the white men with amazement. He had given him an excuse to beat her and earn her respect. He had given her brother a child to present to her to raise for him. He could have hid this one, but he didn’t. He was white despite his dark hair. Stubborn beyond belief this man she chose. His anger was fierce, but he could be gentle and kind. His anger had it’s uses. It took her mind from Chibitty for a few precious minutes and then the tears started again as her emotions swung like a pendulum between anger and grief. Denied even the privilege of cutting herself to mourn her dead son, the only thing left to his brother’s wife was to cry until her tear ducts had no more water, then wait while the anger built back up until the hopelessness of the situation made her crash and cry some more. This was no good. Why did he ever think he could use his knife one more time. It would be a miracle if he wasn’t challenged by his own men at this rate.

  Jenny glanced at the man by her side. Bryan might regret not letting her bleed until there was no more blood to give. She was pretty sure he regretted the paper he scribbled on already.

  On her other side, her brother Gage carried his own son. How funny was it the boy didn’t look like him to her except for the way his mouth yawned sort of reminded her of their father, but also a dozen other men. What was that compared to his spitting image of her own sons. Yet he never claimed them as an Uncle might and he had left no doubt in her mind of what he thought about the possibility that Wasapi might be his son. That subject was taboo. But some how, what she was charged not to do under threats, was only a suggestion for the man involved. It was a man’s world and she had forgotten her place. A fact that was quickly pointed out.

  Gage was telling Bryan that his son had a fine set of balls. Bryan responded, “Much like his father’s I suppose?” There was an air of humor in Bryan’s reply. Jenny couldn’t help it, she let out a snort, then tried to pretend her nose needed to be cleared before she got slapped for catching Bryan knew something about newborn boys that obviously her macho brother did not.

  Gage looked over, “That was funny? Prick Whacker, now that’s funny.” Jenny’s face flushed redder than it already was from her tears.

  Jenny bit her lip. She would have loved to tell him all boys balls were swollen when they were born. It would go down and then would he still be his child? Gage might regret scribbling his name on the paper soon too. Puhibitu’s child. Mouse Dog’s woman was his mother and Gage his father? It did not make sense to her. There didn’t seem to be enough time for him to have fathered this one. When had he been here? Her man was scum, and she was a trickster like Mouse Dog. Maybe not Mouse Dog’s child, but maybe not her brother’s either. What game was this green eyed foreigner playing?

  Jenny could feel Bryan staring at her. She glanced up as his eyes met hers. She blushed as he caught her thinking bad thoughts about Puhibitu. Bryan told her in no uncertain tone, “Don’t say it. It’s been a long night. Besides you wore my arm out.”

  Jenny swallowed as she thought, “I wore it out? Did I hit myself with your arm? No, I would remember that. I would have remembered his face if you had but turned him toward me just once. How many boys will there be called Chibitty? Did he even know that was his name?” Jenny rocked back and forth like she held a child that was not there in her arms. She closed her eyes and rocked until their horses stopped in front of a teepee.

  Bryan dismounted. Gage asked, “What you’re not coming?”

  Bryan looked at the rocking woman with her eyes closed as he said, “Go on. I’ll deal with Jenny.”

  Gage looked at her, “What’s wrong with her?”

  Sparrow Hawk kept riding and called to Gage, “This way. Your woman is this way. Leave her to Wokwave for now. She mourns. My inf
ant son did not live but a few hours. She is rocking him to sleep in her arms.”

  Gage said, “I thought she couldn’t eat that. You gave her more peyote? Well, she’s not getting the boy now.”

  Sparrow Hawk grunted, “Bryan my brother’s other name is Wokwave, in honor of his cactus fight. Thought that funny, but not so funny now I think.”

  Gage’s horse caught up to Sparrow Hawk and he replied, “I don’t know, that was pretty good. But it is confusing. Maybe you should just call him Bryan and her Jenny so she isn’t so confused by which world claims her?”

  Sparrow Hawk thought about it, “Some times you have a good idea. I will try.”

  Gage looked back at Jenny, “She looks like someone beat her senseless.”

  Sparrow Hawk said, “He did. Not call her Prick Whacker for no reason. Ask Mouse Dog. She took beating for crime against men.”

  Gage said, “But she did it for Major Sander’s wife.”

  Sparrow Hawk replied, “Yes, his wife told her to do this and the white Chief says she has balls so she did what a man told her. Otherwise, it could have gone much worse than jokes about Prick Whacker. My warriors think I grow old or not care to fight.” That certainly brought up questions, but Sparrow Hawk saying he was losing the respect of his warriors brought up red flags. The alliance that had been negotiated was only good as long as the war chief lived.

  Sparrow Hawk pointed to Tatsinuupi and Puhibitu by the fires. I must tell Tatsinuupi she is guest of white fort. You come if she put my clothes out. I want witness.” Sparrow Hawk laughed, “Then Bryan have fun trip taking her back to fort after she hears about Mouse Dog and Prick Whacker. I think I show her Jenny’s marks. Make her think before she not mind him. Make her think about what she do for her own life too when she sees my heart treated so.”

  Gage looked at Jade. He had forgotten how pretty she was. Her coal black hair braided with ribbons. Her laughter could be heard floating on the wind. The curve of her figure made a perfect hour glass. Large breasts, a waist that his hands fit around perfectly, and hips that made him want to do what. Gage realized that something was wrong with this picture. Who was the brave next to her with the short black braids? Paaka called out as he saw his father’s horse approaching. Tatsinuupi looked up. The smile on her face disappeared as if she had seen a Ghost. There was the look of a plan gone wrong that crossed Jade and the brave’s face, then they recovered quickly.