Camp Camel: The Heart of Texas

by Eaton, Rosemary

  Jenny said, “I think Cole may be his now my mind is clearer. I think he not just want sons in his own tribe in case Red Eagle and Mouse Dog won. He get last laugh when Cole lead tribe one day. Maybe it is Cole that must be friends and they meet in this Santa Fe? Maybe you have found the key to this puzzle or maybe it already in place and that why Sparrow Hawk not care if we die? But how would we ever know if we don’t have him?”

  Bryan said, “So now Cole is not mine? Perhaps I already have a son? I might have lied about never being with Jade you know. She wasn’t from Delight, just passing through there. Maybe that’s why Sparrow Hawk showed up with the boy. I might have confessed secrets to him the night Chibitty was born and he knew the boy was mine. He just said it was Gage’s when he saw you that you shouldn’t take him.” Bryan looked at Jenny like he was confessing to the Priest, “I’ve done things I’m not proud of Jenny. I told you that remember? Don’t you think Mouse Dog would have recognized Gage or Bo? The boy will be better off where he’s going.”

  Jenny tried not to let that get to her as she acknowledged what was probably the truth, “I have puzzled over this since Red Cedar tell me Wasapi great war chief. I debate what I should do and how that would change things and finally I give this to the Great Spirit to decide what is best. Perhaps it is better as you said. I will not say more of this. The boy has a good heart, he will defend Gage’s son as his own.” Jenny stroked his hair, “But tonight you sleep and I will watch to make sure no bear or coyote think we are their super. We should wash our plates and pot. That will smell very good to their noses.”

  Bryan got up quickly and finished off the stew and made a trip down to the stream that ran into the lake. Jenny watched his shadow with the knife gripped in her left hand ready to charge if anything came out of the woods or dared show their eyes too close to Bryan. She took the plates and noticed a small amount of blue green clay stuck to the bottom of one and deftly turned to hide the dirty plate, “Hand will heal, then you not do this for me Bryan. As you say, it will get better will it not? You rest now.”

  Jenny felt something hard in the clay and rubbed her fingers over the lump as she put the plates away. To her surprise, Bryan reached up pulling her down beside him, “Yes, tomorrow we hunt for rocks in the kimberlite clay. That’s the most likely place to find a diamond. There are other stones like garnets, jasper, crystals, but the main thing we want are the oily feeling rocks. I can make a slew to wash off the dirt and clay to make it easier to search to remains. We can save any worms we dig up for fishing. Would you like fish tomorrow? I was pretty good at gutting catfish. I like bottom dwellers cooked in cornmeal.”

  Jenny asked, “Time to see where we are with sextant? We look at map?”

  Bryan was thinking, this is going way to easy. What was she up to? No children, forgave him fro giving Cole to Gage and Bo and now she was going to look at that treasure map. Bryan pulled it out and put it down in front of her and took the Sextant out and showed her how to line it up with the North Star to take a reading, then he pointed to where they were and waited.

  Jenny looked surprised and pointed to all the points where wokwave could be found around El Paso and Laredo. She frowned at Bryan’s suggestion to go to Mexico. She went there once, and the tribe there wasn’t that friendly. They might remember her. Bryan took her hand and pointed to Santa Fe, then on further south to Phoenix and asked which way they went. Jenny smiled, “Both. We go through middle on way and come back along South since we already south and Mojave north.” Jenny pointed to the Colorado River and shook her head, “Can not go back there, they remember me too.”

  Bryan took his finger along the southern route and pointed to Yuma and the desert where the ship was reported, “You think it’s there?”

  Jenny looked at the map, “Not know. Must see it I guess, you have to take me with you Bryan. It out there somewhere. Sometimes it up and sometimes it down under sand dunes. Took mighty sand storm to uncover hole for me to crawl out last time. Sometimes just looks like sinks, but you could die just as easy from sand over head in storm. We need long rope before I go back in there. They have pearls, but Captain’s cabin have something else you like.” Well there is was. She knew where it was and there weren’t any more black pearls, but what would that Captain have stored in his cabin? This might require more undercover work.

  Bryan gave Jenny a kiss and as his tongue mingled with hers he felt a sense of euphoria. They were both alive. No Dallas. No Gage. No children to interrupt this tender moment. His target was cooperating and even eager to please him. His eyes met hers staring wide eyed at him like he had surprised her in a good way. Bryan came up for air considering his next move.

  Jenny gasped for a breath and grinned like a girl who had been given her first kiss by a boy she liked, “I do not know these bottom dwellers, but you teach me and we will get them.” Jenny looked for a place to put the small remains of her clod of clay and popped it in her mouth and tucked it into her cheek. She was pretty sure she might never find it again if she put it down. Bryan’s hands were stroking her legs and his head cocked to one side as they slowly made their way toward her thigh. Jenny smiled and made an approving noise as the hairs on her leg rose in goose bumps.

  Bryan ran his hands up her dress. Jenny turned her body to face him wrapping her legs around his waist as she let her hands wonder up over his chest and slowly down to his groin until she could feel his body respond to her touch. Bryan moaned as she guided him into her body. His mouth explored her breasts taking small nips as he caused her nipples to peak. Jenny gasped as she felt him push on her rock hard breasts squeezing and sucking hard. Her milk was drying up, but it was not gone and it had been too long since she had emptied them. Bryan felt her milk let down and suckled gently until he could feel the mound soften to his touch. Bryan asked, “You want this? Like he did?”

  Jenny replied, “Only if you wish. You spill your seed where it will not grow.”

  Bryan sucked in air as he pushed deep into the moist warm folds, “Darling, I told you this time would come.” His hips rocked her as he gently kissed one breast after another. Bryan moved to her neck and ears in tender kisses. His hands moved to her hips and he withdrew and considering his options. Then she flipped and he found the perfect spot as his back arched and his seed spilled. Bryan rolled off as Jenny spit the stone into her palm.

  Bryan chuckled, “This is going to be harder than I thought. I really thought I could stop and just pleasure you.”

  Jenny looked over with a smile on her face, “You have no idea how good you are husband. You may not have heard it but I was screaming out in delight.”

  Bryan laughed, “Oh my word. You just spit out a double entendre.”

  Jenny looked worried, “Is that bad? I did not mean to spit on you.”

  A look of amusement crossed Bryan’s face, “You didn’t actually spit, what I meant was your words had two meanings. The town is called Delight and you said you screamed in delight.”

  Jenny handed the little stone to Bryan, “That is good. I thought maybe you meant this. I was trying to wash dirt off to look better when passion came on you like fire on a dry field.”

  Bryan felt the stone. It was slick. Jenny started a fire as they took a better look. Bryan asked, “Where did you find this?”

  Jenny blushed, “Stuck to back of plate. Guess clay in stream stick on when you wash.”

  Bryan had a wry smiled, “Sorry. But at least we know we’re close enough to make it worth looking.”

  Jenny stared at the shiny dark red stone, “Looks like garnet. Where is pouch Major gave me? We can put it with those and save it.”

  Bryan pulled out a new haversack. The only thing left was the Aloe Vera paddies, “I thought you could use this on your skin. The rest we didn’t need to keep in here. More room for the new stones.”

  Jenny asked, “You paid Major to let us have time alone?”

  Bryan said, “The Major figured out how to keep peace in his family and let me keep my promise t
o you. Don’t worry about it. It worked out for all of us.”

  Bryan grinned, “Here this is for you to keep.” He put a medicine bag around her neck. Bryan told Jenny, “Some say crystals have healing powers. I say these are better. These are some my father owned. I trust you to keep them safe for us Jenny. Don’t show them to anyone else. These are not P I U treasure. It’s my own property. We don’t mix the two.”

  Jenny opened the medicine bag and there was Bryan’s yellow diamond, several white ones, two brown ones, and even a black one. Jenny gasped, “These are your special stones? This is what you want me to look for are they not?”

  Bryan nodded, “Yes, these are the ones we look for the most. But anything you like, you pick up. There are dark red garnets like the one you found tonight not to mention jasper, flints, arrow heads and Indian relics and who knows what else out there. The Quapaw and Choctaw lived around here so maybe they left something we can use.”

  Jenny asked, “Will your new chief not expect some stones?”

  Bryan nodded, “Yes, if we find some valuable stones, he will. I’ll separate out the valuable stones like we did in the camel pen, but they have also promised we can keep some land if we help. That’s what we want out of this. We may not find much and there is no guarantee we’ll find a diamond even if we look hard. But the land can be valuable if we work hard for many years to come.”

  Jenny asked, “Will your chief let you stay here forever?”

  Bryan said, “No, the army here is not a permanent camp. They are only here as long as it makes sense for the war. They will expect me to help take care of their soldiers and they may ask me to move around with where they send the soldiers.”

  Jenny looked at their tent, “So we live in this tent until we can come back?”

  Bryan explained, “We have two weeks to enjoy camping out and find where we want to live, then I’ll serve as the doctor for troops camped in northern Texas and Southwestern Arkansas as long as the Texas Cavalry are stationed in these areas. You can stay here and when I’m in Arkansas, I could spent time with you.” Bryan looked around, “It might be here, or you might find somewhere else you like better while we’re hunting rocks. It’s pretty up here, but as you said, might not be the safest place. And there are a few graves down there that might bother you.”

  Jenny swallowed, “So like man told Itsee, you have to go and I have to stay home waiting for you to come back? You would not want me to travel with you? I would fight these blue coats.”

  Bryan chuckled, “You’d really want to go? No one’s forcing you Jenny. You could stay here with the rest of the women while I travel around to the forts.”

  Jenny asked, “And I would need to be silent so no secrets come out if I stay. I know this. I still say everything in my mind even though I try hard to think first Bryan. If we went West, could I not still talk and you have time to teach me to be better white person?”

  Bryan grinned, “Well, yes. It would just be the two of us for most of the trip. You might need to be quiet sometimes, but most of the time, we could share conversations like tonight. Did I tell you I always wanted to see California? No going back in the ship. Just show a crew where to look.” Bryan watched her eyes. They weren’t scared like the last time he brought it up. Maybe all the wokwave had left while she was under the chloroform and he was dealing with a sane white woman ready to move on with her life. Bryan asked, “Jenny, Gage said you know that sometimes we change our names when we go to new places?”

  Jenny looked at Bryan, “You get a new name, like Comanches take on new names. So we will have new names when we go West?”

  Bryan said, “Yes. Do you mind?”

  Jenny replied, “Gage told me they would give me a new name and a new start so people would not be scared of me because of who I’ve been. It scared me then, but not now. I am ready to take that step.”

  Bryan grinned, “I hoped you’d say that. Your name is May Hunter and mine is Barrett Hunter. Most will call me Captain Hunter, but if you hear Barrett, they mean me.”

  Jenny repeated, “May, I like that. Not scary like Nahuu or sound like young girl like Jenny.”

  Bryan said, “Your middle name was May and Wild Flowers bloom in May. I thought it might be appropriate. Barrett means bear.”

  Jenny laughed, “You picked a name that means bear? Wasapi means bear. My husband is a bear hunter. Let us hope he is a friendly bear when you find him.”

  Bryan grinned, “Couldn’t help it. Just seemed like the perfect name to help me remember it. So, we hunt rocks for two weeks, tell Gage we’re ready to go West, and we find what ever is in that Captain’s cabin and keep going. I figure they owe both of us big time and we’re going to collect.”

  Jenny rubbed Bryan’s shoulders, “You not mind I rub your muscles. You do much for me tonight.”

  Bryan sighed as she worked the kinks out of his muscles, “I could get used to this.”

  Jenny said, “That is good bear hunter because truly we are in this Hell together for a long time I think.”

  A week later the Richardson brood climbed out of the back of an army supply wagon at Camp Verde. There in front of the camel pen was Captain Richardson holding on to Bull’s lead rope and cursing at the top of his lungs as the camel refused to go to his knees. Tommy was on Daisy’s back hanging on for dear life. Candace spotted her Paw and ran over and hugged his waist. Tommy grinned as he got Daisy to stop and slid off onto the ground. Paulie came over and hit his brother in the arm and Daisy turned and spit in Paulie’s face. Paulie looked around ready to complain to his Ma, then realized she was gone and ran over to Lacy, “It spit on me!”

  Lacy wiped the drool off Paulie, “Don’t hit your brother. She doesn’t know you’re joking. She was defending him.”

  Little Gracie jumped down in a buckskin dress with beaded fringe. Captain Richardson gave Bull’s reigns to Captain Tyler. He moved quickly to take his daughter’s hand as she reached out for the male camel and he growled showing his sharp teeth. Gracie’s eye grew big as she screamed. The camel started to lunge but Captain Tyler ordered Bull down to his knees and he reluctantly complied complaining about the new arrival ear splitting sound. Captain Richardson looked at Gracie, “What Injuns get you girl?”

  Gracie nodded, “Eh huh. Boys are mean.”

  Dallas grimaced as his father-in-law looked for an explanation for his daughter’s dress. Lacy piped up, “Union deserters dressed as Indians stopped the stage and tried to trade us to Sparrow Hawk. Her dress got torn playing with Lark’s son and she gave this to us. Nice bead work don’t you think?” Lacy looked at Dallas like she had seen lipstick on his collar. She turned loose of Harry and he ran for his father’s legs. John lifted Harry up with his free arm while Dallas took Brianna so Lacy could hang onto JC who was trying to get free. She lost her grip and JC ran for Sergeant Major Vincent’s house to show Jake his new pin knife instead of greeting his Grandfather. Dallas shrugged his shoulders, “His best friend. He’ll be back in a minute Sir.”

  Captain Richardson addressed Dallas, “Major Sanders, you don’t need to call me Sir. You’re my commander now.”

  Dallas thought about it and wisely decided, “No, I think I’ll still call you Sir. Can’t really call you Paw in front of the men, but you’ve definitely earned my respect. I don’t know how you did it Sir.”

  Captain Richards chuckled, “Well I had help. Luke, Lacy, Tommy, and now Candace. They all pitched in. So you’re expecting another? If you’re lucky this one will be a boy too. Sure worked well enough for me.”

  Lacy looked around, there was her Paw gathering in his youngsters while Tommy pointed to the tents they had put up next to their home. It wasn’t their farm home, but they would do until the construction to add more rooms could be completed on the house Gage had used before he moved his family to the ranch. They were almost all there, except for Luke and Ma and the little sister she would never know, Lilith. Lacy looked around. Bryan’s office was empty and a new shingle was being hung for Doctor La
Blanc. The new young doctor from Camp Davis was unloading some equipment and making himself at home. Bo and Victoria had left, and her little part of Texas was quiet. Sparrow Hawk was safely headed toward the western boundaries of Indian Territory, the four men who had taken them off the stage were being escorted to the guard house, and there was no crazy white woman taking a child off into dreams of days past to worry about.

  Dallas grinned as he surveyed his domain. Captain Richardson and Tommy could take care of their own family with Candace watching the children and Lacy’s help. Bryan wouldn’t be walking in on him and Lacy before he was ready to get out of bed. There would be Grandfather Richardson to send JC and Brianna off to when they wanted more time alone. He felt a little guilty about the lies, but not that guilty.

  Jenny would have her rocks and people who she could relate to while their men were off on patrols. She was certainly capable of taking care of herself and living off the land and probably would prefer that to sewing circles and lady’s socials. Bryan would find Major Traywick had a lot in common with his own Indian wife. Bryan was far enough away from the men who had served with General Curtis to be safe and neither of them were on some wild goose chase trying to find some ship in the middle of the dessert that most likely would have sunk again by the time they got there.

  Bo had Cole and Victoria. They were headed for Santa Fe to visit Anna Maria. Red Cedar’s lost pearl was found and returned.

  Gage had Hope and Mary Jane and the water had almost receded enough to try for the mule. Then Gage could join Bo headed West or decide to stay and rebuild the ranch.

  Life was good at Camp Camel and that new doctor would surely get a promotion to another spot before Lacy was due. He would find some excuse to borrow Bryan long enough to deliver the next Sanders heir into this world. Maybe he would even take Lacy to meet his stepfather and Bo’s mother. Maybe he had mellowed, and if not, Lacy would never bug him to go back. It might even be fun to watch his wife tell his step-father off when he made some rude remark about JC parentage.