"I guess ironically the Comanche's taught you how to survive in any Indian tribe."
She seemed to reflect on that comment. She turned to stare at him again. "You're right, they did." His statement seemed to open her eyes to the fact.
He wanted to reach out to her, comfort her and her fears. Still, the woman was engaged, promised to another and it wasn't his place to comfort her. What bothered him was that even though he insisted on taking her to her people, he had doubts of her surviving with them. It would be a different kind of survival and not any more pleasant than what she'd been through. After what she'd been through it would take a certain kind of man to understand it. Still, she should have the chance of a good life.
But even she doubted this Bertram, how could Cale not doubt him too?
"When I was traded to Iron Kettle, it was different. It was as if I was just a new person in their camp, not a slave. They treated me fairly. They didn't demand anything of me. But here, I wanted to work. After so long away from my folks, I seemed to lose something of myself, and became more like them. I guess that's normal, when you live so long with them. I lost my identity. I didn't know what it was until today. I've lost my place in the white man's world. My place to belong. And even though these people have been nothing but kind to me, I still don't belong. I can see that now, and it hurts, because I've grown to love them for what they are, a good people. I wonder now, if I ever will belong anywhere again…"
Cale heart nearly broke for her. He knew being a captive was hard, but what he didn't realize is that it took away so much. He felt something deep inside him stir for her. He paced, trying to keep himself from comforting her. That would never do. He couldn't do that to her. She needed the chance to go home, and he'd see she got it. "I wish I could tell you it will be easy to meet your family again, but I can’t. It’s going to take me a while to find them. It may take time…but you will belong again." Cale promise her. "Hopefully, there, but if not, you will belong."
She stared at him a long time. "Alright…we'll have the burial ceremony. And I will wait until you return to leave this place. I'll tell Iron Kettle. I guess I should thank you…"
Cale reached for her hand. It was warm in his. He smiled at her. "It's all gonna work out fine. You'll see."
She nodded, but he could see the disbelief in her eyes.
Chapter Four
Hodge joined Cale. "Is it settled?"
"I think so."
"How will we get her out of here?" Hodge frowned.
"They will bury her on the scaffold, and leave her there; we will come back and get her when they leave." Cale told him.
"That sounds simple enough." Hodge nodded. "I take wife."
"What?" Cale turned on his heels to stare into his friends eyes. "Are you serious?"
"Yes." Hodge stood very still.
"When did you decide this?" Cale asked, his shock beginning to wear off.
"Just now. I speak. Sarah no want to go to reservation. She cries that I leave her. And she wants to go with Amelia. They are friends and she said she needs a friend. I cannot stand tears. I must take her for my wife. I have told Iron Kettle and tonight, he will marry us. He is happy of our decision. Are you?"
"You sure you want to do this?" Cale's brow rose a notch.
"Hodge old, and tired of sleeping on the floor with no one to keep warm. I take wife."
"Fine, Hodge, its fine with me." Cale smiled and patted him on the back. "Everyone should have someone, in their lifetime."
Hodge smiled a little, it was the first smile Cale had seen on him in a long while. "You should take a wife, too."
"Maybe someday…" Cale said wistfully. He'd never considered taking a wife before. Heck, he hadn't even courted a girl before. As old as he was, he figured he'd missed some of the basic instructions for handling affairs of the heart. For Cale would never marry unless he loved a woman, of that he was sure.
Iron Kettle was pleased with Hodge's decision.
He prepared for the ceremony. Many of the Indian squaws gathered around Sarah, including Amelia to make her a wedding dress, and make her look beautiful. Amelia had to be very careful that her hair was covered and that she didn't face the soldier's camp, else they might see her and come running.
"You must present your trade as gifts for the bride." Iron Kettle instructed Hodge.
Hodge studied that thought a minute. "I have brought two mules…I give to her family?"
"Yes…but…"
"Then to make it look real, I'll give you two mules we trade." Hodge offered.
"It is good gift." Iron Kettle told him.
"Yes good." Hodge agreed.
"Good. You gonna clean…"
Hodge looked down at himself. "I clean…" He shook his head and walked off.
Cale heard that and his head jerked up, Hodge was going to take a bath in the creek and Cale nearly laughed. It wasn't what he said, it was how he scoffed and walked away that made Cale aware that Hodge was making a sacrifice for his new wife.
He was proud to know that Hodge thought enough of Sarah to take a bath.
When the ceremony began, Hodge led his and Cale's mules and trade goods to the ceremony spot and waited.
Sarah walked out of the hut, and came toward him with a smile as big as Texas on her face. Hodge beamed.
Hodge watched her. She looked lovely in her new deerskin dress, with many beads and feathers, and he swallowed hard to keep from telling her.
Iron Kettle preformed the ceremony for them, as was the custom. Their wrists were cut, and bound by leather to each other, as Iron Kettle spoke the prayer over them. The ceremony of North, South, East, and West came next. Corn mush was served. With two fingers, Hodge dipped into the mush in each direction, north, east, south, west, Sarah followed his actions until they had gone around the bowl twice. Iron Kettle smiled and nodded. "You are one now." Hodge kissed Sarah. Once it was over, Hodge guided her off on his horse to a teepee that was separate from the others.
Cale watched the ceremony and the way Hodge seemed to come alive during it. It had him thinking that now that Hodge was married he wouldn't have as much time for Cale as he usually did. Cale smiled, he was happy for his friend. Hodge would put in a days work no matter, but now he'd have someone to come home to. That made Cale feel a little lonely.
He glanced at Amelia from time to time. She really was a lovely woman. Why wouldn't any man be happy to have her? Yet he saw the concern on her face, the apprehension that lurked when she looked at him. He wasn't creating the apprehension. It was his plan to take her to her people that made her apprehensive. Why did it disturb her so? He wished he could assure her that all would be well, but that was impossible too. Cale knew she'd have to make some big adjustments again, and so would her family.
She suddenly vanished into a teepee and Iron Kettle ordered the scaffold be built.
They were preparing for the funeral now.
Two of the squaws built the scaffold and had it up in no time at all. They were so used to the chore that it only took minutes to build. However, the preparations that went into the ceremony of death was bigger than Cale imagined too. They took food, and drink and all manner of gifts to the scaffold.
An army Captain wandered into their camp, his curiosity getting the best of him. His gray eyes scanned the camp thoroughly before he saw Iron Kettle. He walked straight over to him to talk to him.
"We seen the scaffold, did someone die?"
"Yes, we bury now…"
"What did they die of?" the Captain asked.
Iron Kettle produced the toadstools, and mushrooms. "She dies from poison. It is the same reason the Comanche were dying. They found these. Because they were so hungry they did not stop to look at them, but ate them many times. Mushroom as white man calls it can be tricky some times. With no rain it was hard to tell the good from the bad. Squaw ate…squaw die."
"Food poisoning. I see, didn’t she know the difference? I thought Indians were smart about things like that."
&nbs
p; "She ate of the Comanche food, it was tainted and bad with toadstools. We give her funeral to meet Great Spirit in the sky.."
"Then she was Comanche?"
"No…she was Huaco."
"Then why did she eat their food?" The Captain seemed perplexed.
"She friend, friend shared a meal with her. It would be impolite to refuse. Had she seen the toadstools before they cooked them, she would have known for sure. But she did not see, so she die."
"Alright, I’ll have to record the death. Thank you for letting me know."
"Yes, Squaw sick, then die."
"Alright. I’ll mark it in my books and report it. I'll have to take a head count of your people before we leave and make sure you are all accounted for. Thank you. Be ready to leave tomorrow…"
"Yes, be ready." Iron Kettle nodded. "One more leaves our camp to go with white friend, Cale. Hodge white man's friend, marry Sarah from our tribe. Sarah goes with him when they leave. I marry them, as is custom of our people."
"Sarah. All right. Thank you for letting me know about that. I'll give an account of that too. I guess this will be a hard trip for you, huh chief?"
Iron Kettle nodded.
"Remember, only blankets and personal things, no guns, no whiskey, no prisoners."
"Yes…we know."
"Good." The Captain glanced about the grounds and was satisfied.
The officer left and Cale came up to him. “That was close.”
"Yes, …."
"Women prepare her now, will have ceremony."
"Good."
The women carried many things to the scaffold, some they placed on the scaffold with her, some below.
Food and water were carried to the scaffold. Next, they brought her out swaddled in a deerskin blanket, and lay her on the scaffold. They put all her personal things about the scaffold including her horse.
Chants and mourning began too. It looked so real. Cale marveled at the elaborate ceremony they went through.
Cale watched closely. Women cried and wailed. A slow dance about the scaffold began, drums beat to a solitary beat.
"It is done. Tomorrow we go. Tomorrow when the moon comes you take her." Iron Kettle said not looking at Cale now.
"You're gonna miss her aren't you?" Cale whispered.
"Every day…"
"I'm sorry to have to take her, Iron Kettle. After speaking with her, I realize her heart is with you and your people." Cale implied.
"She is white daughter. She will not be forgotten. We will offer prayer for her every day." Iron Kettle finally looked at Cale and Cale saw the sadness from within him.
Iron Kettle paused then looked deep into Cale's eyes. "If she goes to her people, she will have a hard time to become white again. She knows this, and it makes her sad. For she is one of us now. We have accepted her into our tribe, but she cannot go with us. It is a sad day."
"Yes, I guess it is. But know this…I will help her any way I can."
"Cale friend of Iron Kettle long time. Iron Kettle trust you. You are good white man, Cale." Iron Kettle nodded.
After a long silence, Iron Kettle smiled a little. "Hodge make good husband for Sarah. She has missed him."
"I didn't know they were that close." Cale shook his head at his own stupidity. "But if she makes him happy, then I'm happy for them. I guess I never thought about Hodge being lonely at his age."
"It is good man has woman." Iron Kettle turned his head to look Cale in the eye. "My white daughter would be good woman for you."
"Why do you keep saying that Iron Kettle?" Cale demanded to know. "I've told you, she has a man waiting for her. She's promised."
"If he wait…If he accepts her as she is, it is good. If not, it is bad. You are a good man."
"Yes…if he wait." Cale nodded.
"Because woman not have home any more. Woman alone, in this world. Cale has heart. Iron Kettle see over many moons we have met, I see that heart. You make good husband for white daughter. And I not worry over her so if she is with you."
"I promise you one thing, Iron Kettle. If her people won't accept her. If she doesn't want to live with them…then I will see after her…I promise."
"It is good my son. I know you will keep that promise."
Cale glanced at the old chief with surprise. He'd never called him, his son. However, he also knew he had made a promise that would be difficult to keep.
He couldn't fool anyone, he was attracted to Amelia, but he feared she would be like other women when she got home and not see him for what he was…a good man. For he took pride in being a good man.
Cale sighed heavily. He didn't want to promise what he knew might never happen. Amelia had a man, and he'd see she got to him. And maybe check up on her regularly, but that was all he could do if she chose to live with them.
"I could never take a woman that didn't love me Iron Kettle." Cale said softly, almost as though he were talking to himself.
"Cale think too much on other man. But Iron Kettle has seen what is in your heart." Iron Kettle nodded, and then a slow smile spread across his face. "Some day Cale find woman that love."
"Maybe…But right now, we gotta be sure and do this right. We don't want you in trouble with the army, nor her displaced."
"Iron Kettle trusts Cale, and Hodge. Iron Kettle knows that Cale's heart still aches for his mother and sisters. Iron Kettle has prayed to the white God that your heart and hatred will heal itself and you will find new happiness. Peace cannot come until hate leaves the soul."
"I try not to hate, Iron Kettle…but Dolby…"
"Your God is my God friend Cale. Hate is not good for the spirit."
"I know that. But I know he's responsible. I know that in my heart. I just want some sort of justice for it all. Indians have fought for years for justice, surely you can understand mine."
"Take it out, throw it away, and forgive, for it is you it hurts to hate."
Cale stared at the old Indian for a long moment, and he nodded. "I'll try."
"Good."
"Thank you, and I trust you. I appreciate your prayers Iron Kettle. "Cale shook his hand. "And I will heal when I find the men that did it. Or when justice is served."
Iron Kettle nodded. "Give this curse to your white God and he will handle…"
"You've been to too many mission schools my friend."
"Humph…." The old chief grunted. "Mission schools teach not to hate the white man. You think that easy. At first, this was very hard lesson to learn. I carried hate like a festering sore for many years for my people that were killed. No different than you, friend Cale. Then one day…I saw the hate…the Great Spirit taught me. then I learned to let it go. Because the hate hurt me, more than it hurt them. So I turn it lose, and now, Iron Kettle is at peace."
"What exactly changed you?" Cale asked with great interest. "How did you see the hate?"
"I carry hate like you…but then one day when Comanche raid a big ranch. I watched as the tribe killed, and scalped. Until that day, I not understand the heart of a white man. Then, I saw this white man on his knees, over his children, weeping like a squaw. Braves stood over him, ready to kill him, but he kept crying and praying to your God. It tore at my heart, as I wept for my people when killed. I soon knew that no matter what color the skin, we all weep, we all hurt. The big white rancher cried for his children, as I cried for mine. We feel the same sorrows. I did not know this until I saw it with my own eyes. So I let go of the hate…and my people live in peace with the white man ever since. Remember that friend Cale. Inside the darkest soul, is a misery of a lost spirit. Forgiveness means letting go of the hate. And your reward is peace!"
"That's a pretty profound statement chief. I'll remember it always." Cale stared at him in wonder. "Maybe someday it'll take hold of me…too."
The next morning, the squaws were tearing down the teepees and gathering the supplies they would take with them. Hodge and Sarah came out of their teepee, smiling. Sarah went to help the other squaws, Hodge came to him.
/> "They leave now?"
"Yeah, looks like it. The soldiers are breaking camp too. Gonna be a long journey for them." Cale watched them.
"When we get white squaw?"
"Tonight." Cale glanced at the scaffold. She hadn't moved an inch. He wondered how she could lie so still.
A soldier rode up to them, staring at Cale. He looked suspiciously at them.
His expression was one of curiosity and dismay.
"You got business here Mr.?" The soldier asked Cale directly.
"Yeah," Cale glanced up at him. "We've been trading with the Huaco's. Got a couple of winter hides for coats and a little food. Had a bad crop this year because of all the drought." Cale explained. "Figured it was a good time for them to get rid of things they didn't need."
"They give you any guns or whiskey?"
"No, of course not. Huaco's are a peaceful bunch. They are a lot like me, a farmer."
"Where you from?"
"North of here, got a farm. I know from experience that a bad year of crops can leave you for a hard winter. Thought I might do some trading before the Huaco's moved." Cale exclaimed.
"You give them anything?"
"Just some mules for Hodge's wedding, some tobacco seeds, and blankets."
The soldier stared at him a moment. "You headed home now?"
"Soon, we thought we'd do a little fishing first." Cale pointed to the river.
"We tried that too," The soldier finally smiled, as the tension drained from his face. "Not much luck. I’m told there are trout in that river, but we never caught any. Well…good luck to you." Then he spotted Sarah. "Why is she here? She belongs with the other Indians."
"That's Sarah, Hodge's wife. Iron Kettle married them yesterday. Didn't you see the ceremony?"
"Married her, huh? I'll make a note of it. Her name is Sarah?"
"That's right."
"Alright, thanks…good luck with your fishing."
"You think they'll be happy on the Brazos?" Cale asked the soldier, eyeing him keenly.
The soldier shrugged indifferently. "I don't care if they are happy. Only that they are peaceful." The soldier chuckled. "It's a job to me."
"Good luck…" Cale muttered thickly.
Heart of a Captive Page 4