Lone Jack Kid: The Buffalo Hunt (The Lone Jack Kid Book 3)
Page 20
Charlie laughed aloud. “Is tomorrow morning too soon for you, Sheriff?”
“Hell no. It’s tonight I’m worried about. Tomorrow seems like forever, son. ”
Epilogue
They had enough supplies in their saddlebags for the three-day trip and they rode the entire day, stopping only to eat. Then they were back in the saddle until they found a perfect spot to make camp, just as the sun began fading in the west. The campsite was in a little recess in the cliffs alongside a small, bubbling stream. The recess was too shallow to be considered a cave, but it was formed into a hollow by waters coursing over the rocky surface of the mountain thousands of years ago. It was nice, just the three of them sitting under the stars. Ban-Chu snuggled close to Charlie, with Wild Eagle sitting on the other side of the recess.
“You’ll be home soon and you’ll have a lot of stories to tell your braves when you’re sitting around the campfire.”
Wild Eagle gave Charlie one of his rare smiles.
“Yes. Many adventures to tell tribe.” He added, “And many scalps to show them.”
Charlie stirred the fire, then added more wood.
“Wild Eagle?”
“Yes, Charlie.”
“I don’t think I told you how much I appreciate all you’ve done for me. I want to thank you for riding with me and for watching my back. You are more than my blood brother, Wild Eagle. You are my family and I will miss you when I go west again.”
Wild Eagle looked down and was silent for a long moment. Charlie thought he wasn’t going to say anything, but he looked up at Charlie.
“You are a great warrior, Charlie, and it is an honor to be your blood brother and to ride with you. Our path is in books now written by your friend, and when people read books, it brings honor to the Kaw Nation.”
He was quiet again, thinking of what else to say, and then he shook his head.
“Wild Eagle happy that Charlie is his brother, happy that he have opportunity to ride with him.”
This was a soul-searching moment and both men knew it.
“Wild Eagle, I don’t know when or if I’ll ever see you again, but if ever you need me, use the telegraph to contact me in Omaha. And remember this, you and your tribe are always welcome to build your lodges on my land. You will always have a home there.”
Wild Eagle nodded but didn’t say anything, so Charlie kept talking.
“I don’t know what the future holds for me or what adventures will follow, but I do know that this time, I’m going back to settle down with a good woman. But you want to know something, Wild Eagle? I kind of got used to the fame and the notoriety of being the Lone Jack Kid. I never told that to anyone, and I don’t dare tell that old walrus Ned Buntline, because I don’t want to give him the satisfaction of knowing he was right.” The kid opened his bedroll, getting ready for sleep and he thought to himself: Will there be another Lone Jack Kid adventure, or will he just fade away into obscurity? I guess only time will tell.
Charlie felt the drama of the day weigh heavily on him as he suddenly realized he was exhausted. He yawned and lay down on his bedroll, and covered himself with a blanket. He took a last look at Wild Eagle, who sat with his back against the cave wall, staring at the stars above shining like diamonds against the blackness of the night. He closed his eyes.
“Good night, my friend.”
©Black Horse Publishing
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Lone Jack Kid Series
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