“All right then,” Brandon said as he settled back in the chair. “We’ll just enjoy our tea.” He noticed how beautiful she looked today. Obviously, she was making an effort to fit in with her own people. Her golden, shoulder-length hair was brushed neatly behind her ears and held back with two pearl combs. They had bought her some clothes from a trader that had been at the fort, and today she was wearing a black skirt and a white ruffled blouse that buttoned high up to her chin. Her prim and proper look made Brandon wish he weren’t such a gentleman. If only he could just convince her to use a white name instead of Meadow, the English translation of her Indian name.
“When American soldiers arrive?” Meadow pushed the teacup away and leaned forward to look out the window again.
Her request took Brandon by surprise, and he didn’t even bother to correct her language as he usually did. “Midday, I would imagine, but why do you want to know?”
“Just w-wondering.” She shrugged her shoulders in a nonchalant manner and pulled the teacup back toward her again. As Brandon had taught her, she picked up the teacup by the handle and daintily stuck her pinky finger up in the air as she sipped the hot brew.
“Well, if you like, I could take you out to meet them when they arrive.” Brandon nodded and smiled with approval at the proper way she was holding her cup.
Meadow shrugged again as if she had lost interest in the visitors. “No, I see enough American soldiers to last me a long time,” she said.
Brandon nodded his head in a sympathetic gesture. When she turned to look at him again, Brandon felt his chest grow tight. Her beautiful jade eyes seemed to penetrate into his soul, and her full lips were parted slightly as if they were waiting to be kissed. With no thought to the consequences, Brandon leaned forward to fulfill one of many of his dreams about this lovely young woman.
His impulsive action caused Meadow to gasp loudly and push back her chair in a desperate move to get away. She jumped to her feet and stepped behind her chair in a defensive stance. “What you doing?” she demanded.
Brandon also sprang to his feet. He could feel the heat in his face, and he could see the horrified expression on Meadow’s face. He inwardly berated himself for being so impatient.
“I’m so sorry, Meadow. I just don’t know what came over me. Please…” He reached out toward her, but she flinched and backed farther away from him. “It won’t happen again, I promise.”
“Please leave,” she said in a low voice as she turned her back to him.
Meadow waited until she heard the door close and knew that the lieutenant was gone before she turned back around. Now more than ever she had to find out what she needed to know as soon as possible so that she could go home—to the Sioux—where she would stay forever, this time.
By the time the troop arrived at Fort Walsh shortly after noontime, Meadow had rehearsed her speech a hundred times. Even though Brandon’s constant efforts to teach her En glish were annoying, she had made every effort to learn all that she could from him. Since she knew some of the language already, she had been a quick study. It had only been a little over a week since she had returned to the fort and started speaking the white man’s language, and she could already carry on a conversation. Brandon was convinced that she was learning so quickly because subconsciously she already knew the English language. Meadow thought it was just because she was smart.
With her heart pounding rapidly in her breast, Meadow grabbed the small satchel that contained her few earthly possessions and hurried out of the cabin. The American soldiers had been in meetings with Canadian leaders to discuss a plan to coax the thousands of Indians who had crossed into Canada in the past couple of years back to the American side. Meadow had heard that they were promising the Indians land of their own if they returned, but this was ironic, because the land already belonged to the Indians. It was the white men who had stolen it from them. And, even worse, the land would be deemed reservation land, which meant the white men would be in charge of everything that the Indians did. They would be like prisoners on their own land. Meadow could not imagine Sitting Bull agreeing to this arrangement for his people. But would he be given any choice?
The American soldiers were stopping only long enough to take a quick lunch break at Fort Walsh and then heading out again, so they were all in the mess hall when Meadow put her plan into action. As she entered the building, she immediately caught the attention of all the men who saw her come through the door. There were still no women at this isolated fort, and the mother and daughter she had seen the last time she was here were long gone.
Meadow focused on finding the man in charge of the American troop. As she passed by the rows of tables, every man jumped up and nodded at her. Meadow thought this white man’s habit was foolish, but she nodded back politely and motioned for them to sit down again. As she approached a table in the center of the room, she spotted Superintendent Walsh. Beside him sat a soldier wearing a dark blue coat with yellow shoulder boards. The four bars that adorned each of the boards were the designation for an officer in the U.S Calvary. Meadow knew that she had found the man she was looking for.
Both men stood as Meadow walked up to their table, and she could tell by the perplexed expression on the superintendent’s face that he was more than a little surprised to see her there. Since she wanted to waste no more time than necessary, she broke into her speech instantly. “I am Meadow. I lived with Hunkpapa Sioux tribe since I was b-baby.” Her uncertainty about how to pronounce some words still frustrated her, so she did not object when superintendent took over and explained her situation to the captain of the American cavalry.
“You must be so relieved to finally be away from those terrible savages,” Captain Smith said as he let his gaze rake down over Meadow’s body.
The uneasiness Meadow felt under the captain’s lustful gaze almost made her forget her plan. Yet her desperation to find out the truth about Black Horse gave her the courage to proceed. “Yes, and eager to find real f-family. I would ask please take me to Fort Keogh with you. I feel I would have better ch-chance to find them if back in my own country.”
The captain looked at Walsh and shrugged. “I see no reason why she could not return to Fort Keogh with us.” He glanced back at Meadow. “We’ll do everything we can to help you find your family. Until then, you would be more than welcome to stay at the fort. We have several families living there, and I would suppose the presence of other white women would be a great comfort to you after your terrible ordeal.”
She gave a feeble nod. Out of the corner of her eye, Meadow noticed a man jump up from his seat. She knew who he was even before she turned to look at him. Brandon Cornett’s mouth was open as if he was ready to voice his opinion, but to Meadow’s relief, Superintendent Walsh did not give him a chance.
“Our only desire for this poor girl has been to help her re unite with any family that she might have.” Walsh cast a threatening look in the lieutenant’s direction. “And being in the presence of other white women would be absolutely wonderful for her introduction back into civilization.” He narrowed his eyes and gave his head a negative shake when Cornett tried to speak again.
“Well, then, Miss—eh—Meadow,” Captain Smith said as he motioned toward her and smiled. “We’ll be leaving within the hour.”
“I’m ready,” she answered. She looked back toward Brandon and then at the superintendent as she added, “I thank you much for what you have—” She paused, trying to think of the words she wanted to say.
“It was the least we could do,” Walsh said as he continued to cast warning glances at Lieutenant Cornett. “Good luck finding your family.”
Meadow nodded and smiled at the superintendent, then let her gaze settle on the lieutenant’s disappointed face. Since she hoped never to see him again after today, she decided to cut all ties with him right now. She motioned for him to follow her out of the mess hall, but when they reached the front stoop, he did not give her a chance to speak.
“Why would you w
ant to leave here?” he demanded. “I am going to help you find your family when the time is right and you are ready.” He reached out and grabbed her by the shoulders. “Can’t you see how hard I have worked to get you back here to your own people where you belong? And I had dared to hope that someday we would have a future together.”
His words left Meadow’s body numb as a sick feeling began to twist her stomach into knots. This man had ruined her future with Black Horse, yet presumed that they would have a future! She dug her fingernails into the palms of her hands and tried to focus on what she had to do.
“I—I really f-feel I have better chance of finding my family if I go to Fort Keogh,” Meadow finally managed to say.
“But that is not a part of my plan for us,” Brandon said in determined tone of voice.
“Being here was not my plan,” Meadow retorted. No longer able to hide her true feelings, she added, “I was to be wife to proud Sioux war chief, Black Horse, and live among my adoptive people.” Tossing her head back, Meadow glared up at the Mountie’s face.
Although she was prepared to engage in an angry confrontation, when his tortured gaze lowered to meet hers, she realized that he really did not understand just how deeply his actions had hurt her. Meadow was reminded of another man who had looked at her in the same way not too long ago. The memory of Walks Tall’s poignant proposal still haunted her thoughts constantly. But there was absolutely nothing else about Brandon Cornett that could even begin to compare with the Sioux warrior.
“Ever since that first day when I saw you at the Sioux village, I only wanted what was best for you. You must understand that. Will you—? Do you think…that you might want to come back here someday?” Brandon asked quietly.
Meadow looked down at the ground and took a deep breath. There was always the possibility that their paths would cross again someday, but she really hoped that they wouldn’t. Right now, the only thing she wanted was to learn the truth about what happened to her beloved Black Horse. “Good-bye, Lieutenant Cornett,” she said as she turned to leave.
Chapter Nineteen
Fort Keogh had been built even more recently than the Canadian fort in the Cypress Hills that Meadow had just left. After the Battle of the Little Bighorn, the military post was constructed in the hope of being able to control the Indians who were threatening further retaliation against the white men. This fort, however, was already much larger than Fort Walsh, and buildings were still being erected on both sides of the courtyard that stood in the center of the large post.
Even if it was still hundreds of miles away from the wide-open plains of the Dakota Territory that she loved so dearly, Meadow was happy to be on the other side of the Canadian border.
“Miss?”
Meadow jumped at the sound of the voice and turned to look at the man who had suddenly appeared at her side. He was a young, redheaded man, probably not much older than she was, but he was wearing the dark blue uniform of the U.S. Cavalry.
“Hello,” Meadow said clearly. Her English was improving daily.
“Hi. Hello. I’m sorry, I don’t know your name. Miss…?” He smiled at her as he fidgeted nervously with the hat he held in his hand.
Without hesitation, Meadow returned his smile. “Meadow—just Meadow. That’s my name,” she answered.
The young soldier shrugged his shoulders. “Well, I am Private Jensen, and I am here to see to it that you have everything you need.”
“My quarters are quite comfortable. I don’t think there is anything I need at this time. But I am looking forward to exploring the fort,” Meadow answered. This young soldier had no idea just how anxious she really was to learn all about Fort Keogh—especially regarding the Sioux prisoners who had been incarcerated or executed here in the past few months.
The prospect of escorting such a lovely girl around the fort brought an immediate smile to Private Jens-en’s mouth. In a gentlemanly fashion, he crooked his arm and held it out toward Meadow. She hesitated, but remembered that she was supposed to be acting like a white woman now. She slipped her arm through his as he guided her down the front steps that led from the small private room she had been given at the end of a long row of barracks.
“Many wives and children have already relocated to Fort Keogh, so you will have lots of women to keep you company,” the private said as they walked along the dusty street. “We have dances on most Saturday nights, and Sundays are always a very pleasant social event. Everyone attends services at the chapel, and then there is a great meal prepared by all the women. You’ll enjoy those gatherings, I’m sure.”
Meadow managed a weak nod of her head and a faked smile. She could only hope the white women at Fort Keogh would be happy to meet her, but the activities the young soldier had just described did not sound like anything she would enjoy doing. It made her even more anxious to get the information she sought so that she could return to the Sioux village.
“And this is the mess hall, and also where we have our Saturday-night socials,” Private Jensen added as they walked past a large, newly built structure. “Well, that is just about all that there is to see, except for the prison. But I’m sure you want to stay as far away from that place as possible, especially since we have some of the country’s most dangerous Sioux warriors imprisoned there.”
The soldier’s unexpected words took a minute to penetrate into Meadow’s thoughts. But, when she was able to grasp the full meaning of what he had just said, it took all her willpower to keep from grabbing the private and demanding to know just whom it was that he was talking about. A rush of blood to her head made Meadow feel as if she was about to pass out, and the pounding in her chest made her entire body shake.
“Oh, I am so sorry,” gasped Private Jensen. “I can tell by the look on your face that the idea of having any of those animals from the tribe who kidnapped you so close by is terrifying for you.”
He took the liberty of wrapping his arm around her shoulders because she was shaking visibly, and even though the young man’s attempt to comfort her was misguided, Meadow knew she must continue to play along with whatever it was that he believed. “Th-There are Sioux h-here at th-this fort?” she managed to ask with the little amount of voice she could muster.
“They can’t hurt you,” the private said in a compassionate tone. “There are only a few of the younger warriors and several old men, but they are all kept in heavy chains and haven’t even seen the light of day for months. If they were considered dangerous at one time, I can assure you that they are as meek as kittens now. There is absolutely nothing for you to be afraid of.” His hold around her shoulders tightened when a heavy shudder bolted through her body again. “You poor little thing. You must have suffered terribly at the hands of those savages.”
Meadow desperately tried to corral her wild thoughts and emotions until she could get away from the soldier. Until then, she knew that she had to find a way to convince him that his instincts were correct. “I—I am fine. Thank you for your concern. It will take some time, I’m sure, before I will feel safe again.” Meadow glanced around the fort. “Just so I know what area to avoid…where are the Sioux prisoners kept?”
The young soldier hesitated before answering, “Are you sure you want to know?”
“Yes,” Meadow demanded. “Yes, it is important for me to know…j-just s-so I can stay as far away from there as possible.”
“Well then, you’re in luck, because the stockade is all the way across the courtyard, behind the general’s quarters. There is no way any of those heathens will ever be able to harm anyone again.”
Meadow swallowed hard and fought back the tears that threatened to fall from her eyes. The tone of the young soldier’s voice left her with little doubt as to how much he hated all Indians. She took a deep breath and hoped that she could continue with the act that she knew was crucial at this time.
“Th-thank you f-for everything. I would like to rest up for a bit before dinner.”
Normally, only the enlisted men witho
ut families would eat in the mess hall. Families usually dined in their own living quarters, unless it was a special occasion. Tonight was considered a special occasion, since it was Meadow’s first night at Fort Keogh, and it was everyone’s opinion that she needed to befriend as many of the women as possible to help her get past the horrible ordeal she had been through with the Sioux. She was dreading the eve ning.
“I will call for you shortly before six p.m.,” Private Jensen replied in a less serious tone. “And tomorrow we can start searching for your family. We have been granted full access to all of General Wray’s rec ords regarding any little skirmishes we have had with savages in these parts, so at the very least, we should be able to find a starting date for our search.”
Meadow turned away from the private before he could see how much his words had pained her. Little skirmishes? Is that what soldiers called it when entire villages of Indians—or wagon trains of whites—with women, children and elderly were slaughtered and mutilated as if they were nothing more than a pack of dogs? She swallowed the bitter taste in her mouth.
“I’ll be ready for dinner when you call for me,” Meadow said hoarsely as she hurried into her room. She closed the door behind her and leaned back against it in an attempt to breathe normally again. Was there a white man alive that had any empathy for the plight of the Indians? White Buffalo had told her so many times that all men—red, white or brown—had red blood and hearts that beat the same. She had yet to meet another man who was as insightful as her cherished ate ate.
The thought of White Buffalo returned Meadow’s thoughts to the important task she had to complete here at Fort Keogh. Somehow, she had to get into the stockade where the Sioux prisoners were being held, for two reasons: to find out if they knew anything about Black Horse and to find a way to get them all out of this hellhole!
The evening was a blur as Meadow nodded automatically to the sea of faces belonging to the officers’ wives and daughters she was introduced to at dinner. Although most of the women made an honest attempt to be friendly to Meadow, she sensed that some of them were keeping their distance from her as if they worried that her life with the Sioux had somehow contaminated her. A couple of the women insinuated that decent people would have a difficult time being in her presence, and told her how lucky she was to be at a military base where the residents were more tolerant of women who had been “ruined” by Indian men. Even the girls who looked to be around the same age as she was acted as if they were afraid to sit too close to her. She did not feel a connection with any of them, as she had with the girl she had glimpsed walking down the street with her mother at Fort Walsh the first time she had been there.
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