Together, Eagle and Lucretia dressed the comatose woman and covered her tightly. “Corporal Dryer, you are free to go. Mrs. Sawyer, a moment, if you do not mind.”
Lucretia stood beside the cot and waited for him to say something mean again, but instead he asked kindly, “Are you tired? I know I am. There is a bit of whiskey left and I would like to share it with you.” He handed her the bottle. She took a deep drink, coughed, and grinned as some of it ran down her chin.
Eagle actually smiled at her. “I can see you are a heavy drinker. Probably get snookered every night.” Lucretia laughed with a merriment he had never heard before. It grabbed his heartstrings the same way her smiles did.
Outside, Jeffrey heard her bell-like voice for the first time since she had arrived at the fort. He remembered it from their wedding day and nights in the hotel, before realizing that she felt no reason to laugh like that anymore. That it was in response to something said by some other man caused a shock to run through his body. He pushed the door open to see Eagle handing a whiskey bottle to his wife. “What is going on here?” The jealousy was so clear in his words that they both looked at him in amazement.
“Nothing, Jeffrey. We are just celebrating our success. It appears that Liz will be fine, if she does not get an infection or break the incision open again.”
“Thank you, Captain, on behalf of my wife and myself for saving her Auntie. That will be all. Good night.” He waited until Eagle closed the door behind himself before he spoke again. “Come, it is time to return to our cabin. We have some things to discuss.”
“That was rude, Jeffrey, and uncalled for. As far as I can see, we have nothing to discuss right now. It does not matter anyway, because I am staying with Liz until she awakens.” She turned her back to pull a chair close to her Aunt Liz’s head and took the woman’s hand. She gave him one glance, as if in dismissal, before she began to bathe the wan face of the woman she loved more than anyone on earth, including her husband.
Black Eagle left the cabin and retrieved his horse from the stable. He mounted and rode away from the fort as fast as his steed could run until he knew it had tired. He dismounted under the tree on the hill and hit its trunk in fury. The damn major had ruined the only pleasant moment Eagle had ever had with the woman whose lips promised a million nights of love. He beat the tree until his hands hurt. He did not know how or when, but someday she would be his.
Chapter 34
It was later that day when a ragtag line of five men returned to the fort. Fifteen had marched proudly away, but there was nothing proud about this quintet. All were wounded…two seriously, one semi-seriously, and two with minor afflictions. The seriously hurt would die, Major Sawyer was sure, because they had no doctor and insufficient medicines to treat them.
The women rushed to help. Molly Carter stopped as they moved the men into the enlisted men’s quarter that would be the infirmary. “Where is my husband?” When no one looked at her nor answered, she screamed and covered her face. Lucretia ran to her, holding her small black head against her shoulder, whispering useless comfort words. Molly was inconsolable, even as Lulu walked her back to her cabin. Suddenly, Molly pushed her away. “Your husband did this. He killed my Deke. Get away from me. I hate him and I hate you.” She ran into her cabin, followed by Greta, who closed the door behind her. It was hours before the young woman quieted.
Sergeant O’Brian was semi-seriously hurt, but in good enough condition to rant, rave, and swear as he related what had happened. Quite simply, they rode into a trap. They expected to arrive at the same peaceful village they had visited on earlier occasions. Instead, in a narrow trail by the river, they met an ambush of both rifle and arrows. “It was like shooting ducks swimming in a pond,” he reported. “I know he was too experienced to see the things he missed. I pointed them out to him, but he reminded me that he was in charge and he would make the decisions. His decision led to Lieutenant Deke Carter himself being the first killed.”
Eagle Grant’s black eyes moved from Michael to Jeffery. Major Sawyer felt them even before he looked at him. They were full of fury and admonishment of things better left unsaid. Eagle saw pain and guilt in the eyes and face of his commander.
Sergeant O’Brian was a wise man who gained knowledge not from books, but from life itself. He saw the exchange between the two men and understood them both. “Ain’t no reason for getting upset now. Ain’t nothing going to change what happened. If there was, I would go back and flat-out take the command away from the lieutenant, but I did nothing. So I ain’t feeling any better about it than you. The thing now is to plan what we do next.”
Eagle nodded. Jeffrey replied, “You are right, Sergeant. Since you were there and we were not, what is your feel of the situation?”
“That those damn redskins out there are full of hate and anger at all white man for what a few did. We are too few men here to do anything about it, except to warn the settlers and wagon trains to turn back until we get reinforcement to put down this here uprising. First thing is getting the women and wounded out of here. Right now, if it was not so close to sundown.”
“Yes, you are right on all counts. Eagle, will you arrange for transportation to the depot to leave at sunup in the morning? Do you, in your knowledge of the enemy, think they will attack our caravan east? Will our women be safe going?”
Eagle thought a long time before answering. “Yes, perhaps, if they leave now. Sergeant, you need to know that Mrs. Harold must be transported immediately, as her appendix went bad and we removed it this morning. I do not like the looks of it. It appears to have some swelling and dripping that is not good. The sooner she gets to Cottonwood Creek and the train, the better. We will put her in a wagon to look like it is empty, hopefully of no interest to our enemy. The driver will be alone, which should indicate he is of no consequence.”
“Wait a minute. I want Lucretia on that wagon, too, and Mrs. Carter. And Greta, if she wants to go,” said Jeffrey.
“Then you might as well put up a sign that says, “Come get our women.” Eagle looked at his commander with unmoving eyes and no expression. “Tomorrow would be better. No, I do not think they will be safe, but they will be safer on the move than staying here after tonight.”
Later that afternoon, Black Eagle went once again to see the comatose woman. He was not surprised to find Lucretia sitting by the bed, bathing her aunt’s face. She looked up as he entered the room and said, “She is hot. Fever. Is there anything we can do?”
He looked at her face, seeing pain for her aunt and exhaustion for herself. It was not like him to feel sympathy, particularly for a white woman, but he did at that moment.
“There is nothing here that will help her, but perhaps out in the prairie there may still be some plants that might help. My grandmother Summer Swan relied completely on the things she found in there to help her tribe’s people. There were no other medicines then, at least no white man’s medicines. Sometimes, from what I have seen, her medicines were just as good, if not better, than what is available now.”
Lucretia jumped up. “I will get my coat. You get your horse. The buggy will take too long. Hurry, Captain.”
“Whoa, whoa. What are you talking about?”
“The prairie and the plants. We need to go right now.” Without another word, she ran out the door and into her own little cabin, appearing immediately in her coat.
“What are you waiting for?” she asked as she ran into Black Eagle, who was standing in Liz’s doorway. “Get your horse. I will tell Jeffrey. And hurry.”
She ran to the officer’s office and appeared almost immediately with her husband at her side. The major looked at Eagle and said, “If you think you can find something to help Liz, you have my permission to go look for it. However, I don’t think it is necessary for Lulu to go with you, unless I go too, and I can’t leave the fort with you gone.”
“I agree, Major. I will go immediately.”
“Wait, you two. I am going too. Two people can collect fast
er than one. Liz is too hot, Jeffrey, she will surely die if we can’t get her fever down, and this is no time for silly rules of city society. No more arguments. I am going as soon as the captain gets his horse.” Lucretia looked pointedly at the man, who shrugged and ran to the stable. His horse had no saddle when he stopped in front of her.
“Madam, unless you can ride bareback, you will have to stay here.”
“Of course I can ride bareback. Give me a hand, Captain, and a boost, Jeffrey.”
Feeling as if they had been stonewalled, each man did as bid. She sat behind Eagle with her arms around his waist. “Now, let’s go.”
Jeffrey nodded at his captain, who turned the horse and galloped out the gate.
His destination was the small river, now covered with ice. Along its banks grew willow, which Eagle recalled used for fever. The bark was boiled until it changed color, cooled, and given to the ill person in the form of a tea. Beyond that, he recalled nothing else his grandmother had done.
He dismounted and lifted the pale woman to the ground. She weighed no more than a child, he thought. She smiled and thanked him before turning serious again. Her smile hit him like a rock to his chest. The smile lit up her face, shining in her eyes and showing her small, even teeth. It was something he had seen as she looked at her husband and aunt, but no one else. Until now, when she smiled at him.
Brusquely, he walked away and motioned her to follow. “I will cut the bark and you roll it up. Try not to let it touch your clothes or it will stain. I will tie it when we are done and put it on the back of my horse. You will have to sit in front of me.”
It started snowing, lightly at first, and suddenly it was a blizzard. “Damn,” he said, “I’m sure it will stop in a few minutes, but you are getting soaked. I know of a cave close by where we can go until it stops.” He jumped onto his horse and pulled her up in front of him. He did not even think that she could ride behind him because the willow was still on the ground and was sure to knock her off the back of the horse.
The cave was a small hole in the ground with a rock for cover. Eagle slid from his horse to prod into the space with his rifle butt. He grabbed his blanket from his bedroll and spread it on the ground under the overhang. He lifted her from the horse and carried her to the mouth of the cave.
“It is small, but it will provide protection. Crawl inside and sit. You will be dry.”
Lucretia did as told and sat quietly for a minute before saying, “Aren’t you coming in? You are getting soaked, too.”
“In case you haven’t noticed, Mrs. Sawyer, there is no room for two.”
“Nonsense. You sit first and I will sit on your lap.”
“I feel that is hardly proper, madam.”
“Proper, be damned.” She rose gracefully and walked out to stand beside him. “If you don’t want protection, then neither do I.”
“You are the most stubborn female I have ever met,” he said.
“Then you have not met many females, have you?” She stood firm, leaving him no recourse but to do as she wanted.
He crawled into the cave. It was so short, he had to bend his head to keep from hitting it on the overhang. “Now, get your white butt in here before you melt.”
She laughed, letting his “white butt” comment pass. “What makes you think I will melt, Captain? I am tougher than you think. Why, I have wrestled bears, wrung the necks of wild birds, and outrun a vicious bear, too.”
Black Eagle laughed, a full rolling display of amusement, for the first time in her presence. “I bet you have, Mrs. Sawyer. Now, sit down. I will have to bend over you a bit, unless you want to have me bleed all over you from hitting my head.”
“Bend as you wish, Captain Grant. Now, isn’t this cozy?” She snuggled down as low as she could to give him more room. “Now, tell me about yourself, sir.”
“This is hardly a tea party for small talk. I joined the army just to avoid those things. And now, here in the middle of nowhere, in a cave no bigger than a child’s bed, you want to chat about nothing. Lord, you are something incredible.”
“Hardly incredible, I think. Just trying to make the time go faster. But, if you prefer silence, then that you shall have.” She closed her eyes and within minutes, he felt her muscles slacken and her breathing change. She fell asleep.
He wrapped his arms tighter around her, telling himself she was cold, but in truth, he wanted her as close as he could get. She sighed in her sleep and turned her head to press it against him. He bent his head to rest on the top of her head. He breathed in the woman smell of her. His fingers touched her cheek, feeling the smoothness. His fingers curled in her hair, which was so soft and silky. Suddenly, he realized what he was doing.
This was another man’s wife, not for him, even if she should want it. He doubted that would ever happen, but a man could hope, couldn’t he?
She awoke, grumbling about a stiff neck. “I must have slept like a pig’s tail to get this sore.” She rubbed her neck and shook her head. “Ooh, I forgot not to talk.”
Again, he laughed. “Have you ever been quiet for more than five minutes, unless you were sleeping?”
“Probably not,” answered Lucretia. “And why ever would I want to. Talking, if both parties participate, is the best form of communication, don’t you think?”
“There are other forms I like better,” he answered, trying to erase the vision of her naked under him from his head.
“What might that be, Captain? Oh, look, the snow is stopping.”
She was right and he was relieved that he did not have to come up with an answer to her question. She climbed off his lap and went outside. She turned to face him, extending her hand. “Here, let me help you. You were all curled up like a cloth doll and you must hurt all over.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Sawyer, but I am fine.” As he slid on his butt out of the cave, his joints made little noises.
Her laughter was like bells ringing. “Yes, sir, you are fine. For an old guy.” She laughed again and started running.
Before he realized what he was doing, he found himself chasing her. He caught her around the waist causing them both to fall. He looked into her eyes as she lay under him and saw only her innocence there. He stood and took her hand. “Next time, I will give you a head start,” he said. “How about a mile head start.”
She laughed and he joined her. In that moment, something changed.
They gathered the willow bark, now covered with snow, bound it to the horse, and rode at a full run back to the fort. Inside the gates, they found Major Sawyer mounting his steed. “We were just on our way to search for you.”
Lucretia slid from the horse and ran to her husband, giggling. “How were you going to search when your scout was not here? Actually, Jeffrey, Captain Grant found a cave where we sat out the snow. And we got the willow bark, too. Now, I have to go boil it for Aunt Liz.” She turned to look up at Black Eagle, who was still on his horse, and said, “Thank you, sir, for keeping me from the storm and for finding a something that will help for my aunt.” With that, she turned and ran toward the cooking shack.
The two men looked at each other for a long time before Jeffrey spoke. “Yes, my thanks too. Now come, let us go inside and you can tell me all about it.”
Morning came too soon. Lulu forced the smelly tea down her aunt’s throat and was signed happily to find the fever dropping. Outside there was turmoil.
“I am taking Liz to Cottonwood Creek myself,” insisted Sergeant O’Brian. “I can easily drive a pair of horses, even with my little sore shoulder. Besides, if we do not make it, I would rather be with her than back here wondering.” No one argued with him. Instead, they helped him mount the wagon after they padded the back, and lay the prone woman under a half-torn tarp that looked like it covered nothing.
“Here are your papers, Sergeant,” said Jeffrey as he handed them to the man on the wagon. “You are on furlough for as long as it takes. Keep me abreast of happenings by telegraphing Cottonwood Creek.” Michael nodded an
d urged the horses into a slow walk to make sure the ride was as easy as possible for the woman in the back.
A few hours later, Liz awoke. She was in pain, but aware that she was in the wagon. “Where am I going?” she asked in a ragged voice.
“Oh, my darling Liz, I have been so worried about you. Do not sit up, or even try to. We are heading for Cottonwood Creek to the train. Captain Grant took out your ailing appendix, but you are not healing right. Major said to take you back to St. Louis, and whatever the major says is what I do. Now you go back to sleep, my wonderful Liz, and let me take care of you.” Whether she heard him or not, he did not know, because she did not answer. Sergeant O’Brian had not been to church since he was a child, but this night he prayed, begging for the life of the first woman he had ever wanted to marry.
Chapter 35
At daybreak, the second wagon was ready. “I ask permission to lead the group, sir,” Eagle requested, but knew he would be refused.
“I would feel better, Captain, if you stayed here at the fort and oversaw preparations for the attack I think is coming. I would like to take my wife myself to safety, and the others as well.”
The decision made, they separated. Jeffrey found his wife bandaging one of the dying men. He slid his arm around her waist, pulling her close to apologize for his behavior. Lucretia wanted to accompany Liz, but understand why she could not. Her heart was so full of pain, she let him embrace her.
Eagle stood in the shadows, watching. He knew that once again, the major was wrong, but he would follow orders. He listened to the quiet words the newlyweds exchanged, not feeling any guilt for eavesdropping. One did not learn by feeling guilty.
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