by F. M. Worden
He said to himself, “I must have her.”
One of the Crows coughed or made some noise. Sam looked to see who or what it was, when he looked back, the girls were gone. Their buckskin dresses and moccasins with the maidens, had vanished into the woods across the way.
The picture of the young Indian girl was imbedded in his mind forever. He told the Crows to stay put, he was going to the village. He crossed the stream and looked for the girl’s trail. Finding it, he followed it to the village. The sun was setting in the western sky, a huge fire was being built in the center of the village.
Sam went straight to Old Gabe and told him of the Indian maiden. “I must find this girl, I’m in love, will you help me?” he pleaded.
“Why shore Sam.” Gabe could see on Sam’s face the love bug had hit him and hit hard.
“Set yourself down with me by the fire, the Indians are gonna have a meal and a circle dance for us to see. She’ll be one of them dancers, I’ll bet my life on it.”
Sam sat crossed leg as did all the other white men. The Squaws had tin plates filled with cooked meat and a flat kinda bread served to each man. Gabe asked what was the meat. A squaw only said “bow-wow.” He asked no other questions. To Sam’s surprise a cup of coffee was given each of the men.
The Indian Men in their finest feathered war bonnets, the squaws with a feather in a head band, stood one man one squaw in a large circle around the fire, the shadows of the people made them seem larger than life.
The drums started, the dancers began their chanting “hy-ya-ya-hy-ya-ya.” They moved in a sideways dancing rhythm, the drums grew louder and louder, the chanting and dancing faster. No white man had never seen this dance before.
Sam watched intently as the dancers moved by, the smoke from the fire made his eyes water. It was hard to distinguish the dancing squaws apart. He got up and moved closer, staring closely into each squaws face as they passed, there she was, her dark eyes flashed as she passed. Sam waited, when she passed again, he entered the dance next to her. He took her hand and looking down at her, smiled the biggest smile he could make, she smiled back and he squeezed her hand hard. Old Gabe came and pulled him from the dance saying, “You’s want-a start a war here and now, them braves ain’t gonna take lightly to your love make-n, your time will come.”
Gabe made Sam set back down, and each time she passed, she turned her head and gave him a big smile. He couldn’t take his eyes off her, she was so beautiful.
Gabe put his arm around him saying, “Sam get back to your Crows, you’s gonna have a war here right now. I’ll find all about this gal you so interested in.”
Sam went back with the Crows and went to bed, he couldn’t sleep, all night he rolled and tumbled in his bed roll, he saw the maiden in his mind all thru the night. “God she is beautiful. I must try my best to have this girl.” He said this over and over to himself. “Somehow she must be mine, I’ll get Gabe to help me.”
At sunrise a scout came to tell him that the treaty was not signed, the gifts had been left in a pile in the middle of the village. Flour, tobacco, coffee and rolls of cloth were scattered all over after the Indians picked thru the piles.
The entire treaty party saddled up and started for Fort Laramie, a failed mission. Sam rode with a heavy heart.
Gabe rode up beside him. “You’s want-a hear about this gal you’re a looking for?”
“What did you learn for me Gabe?” He rode close to hear what Gabe had to tell him.
Gabe told him, “The girl’s ma was a Mexican. Captured as a small yung-n in Mexico and swapped and traded thru the tribes, as a young girl, she ended up in this Sioux tribe. Man Afraid of His Horses took her for his wife, she had a boy baby first, he’s named, Afraid of his Horses too, he’s a war chief. This gal was her second baby, her Ma died having her, she’s been raised by her Pa’s wife’s, he has four Squaws, maybe more.”
“Sam,” Gabe said, “this here gal is all Indian, I got a good look at her, she’s as purty as a picture. I’ll tell you right now she’s all Sioux and you’ll never take the Indian out-a her.”
“I don’t care, I want her, tell me Gabe, what have I gotta, do to get her?” Sam listened hard to get every word Gabe said.
Gabe looked away, a frown on his face, looked up at the sky, then he looked Sam square in the eyes. Leaned over and said, “I’m a bet-n a lot them bucks want her too, the family was camping at Fort Laramie last spring, I see-d her old Pa there, I’m a bet-n thar’ll be thar next spring. If-n she ain’t take-n by then, if-n them young bucks ain’t got her, you’s may have a chance. All you’s can do is wait and see.”
Gabe could see Sam was excited. Tell me Gabe if she ain’t married what will I have to do to get her?”
“Wa’ll I’m a gonna tell ya, Mind ya now if she ain’t been took, we’ll find out what her Pa likes. I know he wants and likes lots of ponies, we’ll find out what else he likes and I’ll tell ya, them squaws will have some-m to say. If-n they want’s to get rid of her, it’ll be easy, we’ll just have to wait and see.”
Sam shook both clinched fists and said, “By God Gabe, I’ll do my best too make it work, whatever it takes.”
The rest of the summer and into the fall the scouting was slow. Sam and his Crows had made a swing north and turned east looking for the Cheyenne dog soldiers, they were not to be found, they turned south to the Oregon Trail. Stopping on a high ridge there was a sight down on the trail he couldn’t believe, men, women and children pulling and pushing two wheel carts. There must have been near a hundred such conveyances, ever now and then a wagon and oxen was in the mix.
Sam and the Crows rode down to the trail slow. Sam kept a hand up to show they were friends. A rider came up and asked who they were. Sam told him they were scouts from Fort Laramie. Sam asked about these people. “They’re Mormons, on the way to Salt Lake City, most are from Europe. I’m hired to get-m thru, toughest bunch I ever saw, you gonna see a lot more comm-n .Their make-n them carts by the hundreds in St Joseph, next spring thar’ll be thousands a comm-n.” He asked, “How far to the Fort?”
“Yu’ll make it by noon tomorrow if-n you get an early start, I’m sure a troop will come to take you in. Have you seen any Indians?”
“No, it’s been real quite, we ain’t seen hide nor hair of red skins.”
“When we get to the fort, I’ll let the commander know you’re a comm-n.”
Sam and his Crows rode hard for Fort Laramie.
Chapter 8
Fawn and Sam
As soon as Sam reached the fort he reported to the commanding officer and told him of the cart train coming on their way to Salt Lake City. The officer sent a troop to escort the train in to Fort Laramie, the train left the fort in a few days, winter was fast approaching. They were told to hurry or be caught by the snow in the mountain passes. A report came later that the train made a safe passage.
Winter made an early entrance. A blizzard hit in October and stayed for two weeks. Sam spent most of his time in the shop refurbishing military rifles. The weather let up for a month then hit with a vengeance and stayed for weeks.
Late one afternoon, Sam was working in the shop. Amanda came in and asked if he had seen the Indians huddled on a bench out against the store wall. Sam said he hadn’t. “Go see what they want?” Amanda asked him.
Sam put on a coat and opened the door to a biting cold wind and saw four figures trying to cover themselves against the cold with blankets. Sam motioned to the man to come with him inside, the four followed him in to the store, inside the Indian man pushed a rifle at him. “You fix-em?”
Sam took the gun, he could see it was an old trade rifle converted to a cap lock, the hammer would not stay cocked. “Me fix-em,” Sam told the Indian.
Again he motioned for them to follow, he led the four Indians into his shop. The Indians went to the stove, put out their hands trying to get warm. He could see by their hands three of the Indians were women, they were shaking and shivering all over.
Sam took
the rifle to his bench and went to work. Taking the side plates off he could see the sear chocking notch had sheared off. Removing the sear, he began with a piece of flat steel to make a new one. This took several hours. Finished he installed it into the gun with a new hammer spring, he turned to show the man it now would work.
To his amazement, there looking at him was the girl of his dreams standing by the stove, he looked her in the eyes and said, “You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.” She only smiled at him.
Amanda standing in the door, heard his words and said, “Is this the girl you’ve been mooning about? Lord-E-Lord I say she is a beauty, you sure can pick-em. Sam show-em some hospitality, take them to your cabin and fix some of your elk meat. Make points with her family. You’ll never have a better opportunity than this.”
Sam put on his hat and coat and motioned for them to come with him, the four Indians followed him to his cabin. In the cabin Sam lit a lamp and started fires in the stove and fire place. He cut meat from a hanging elk on his enclosed back porch and set to cooking. The two women helped him prepare the meal of meat, beans and fresh baked bread from the fort bakery.
After eating, the man, his squaw and little girl wrapped in their blankets, laid down on the floor next to the bed and went to sleep.
Sam sat in his rocker facing the Indian girl, she sat on the fireplace hearth and put out her hands. Sam took them in his and asked in sign language her name? She said proudly, “I can speak American.”
“You know all the things I’ve said?” He was surprised. “Tell me your name, what are you called?” He leaned close to hear, she spoke so softly he had to listen closely.
“My name is Little Fawn.” She was smiling all the time as she spoke.
“The name fits, you’re as beautiful as a new born deer, I love you Fawn.” Sam stood, pulled her up to him and kissed her on the lips, she pulled away, then came back and rubbed her nose against his face.
“I love you too, Sam.”
“Fawn, do you know what love is?”
“Yes, a Momma loves her baby and a Papoose loves their Momma, I must sleep now.” She wrapped herself in a blanket, lay down with her family and went to sleep.
Sam sat for awhile watching the sleeping figure on the floor. “I can’t believe she said she loves me.” He said it over and over to himself, finally he removed his boots and lay down on the bed, pulled a robe over himself and went to sleep.
Day light had come into the cabin when he woke up. The family was gone, the cabin cold, he jumped from his bed, pulled on his boots and ran outside calling, “Fawn, Fawn where are you?”
The fresh fallen snow had covered their tracks. He returned to the cabin, made coffee and then went up to the store. “Have you seen the Indian family this morning?” he asked the Tullers.
No one had seen the family. Amanda said, “They couldn’t get far in the deep snow, why don’t you take a horse and go have a look? They must have a lodge somewhere close.”
He did as she suggested and rode a big circle, but found no trace of the Indian family, he did find two soldiers that were missing, their frozen bodies were in a group of trees a mile from the fort, they must have lost direction as they had moved away from the fort.
Sam was disappointed and spent his time in the shop, just to keep busy, the winter drug on, Spring came early the year of fifty seven.
Sam was working in the shop when Gabe came in and asked if he had seen the Indian girl and her family camped down on the flats east of the fort.
“What did you say Gabe, did you see them?” Sam couldn’t believe what Gabe had said “Are you sure?”
“Rode as close to her as I am to you, just ten minutes ago, why not go see?” Gabe had a big smile on his face.
“Come on Gabe, I gotta go see her myself.” Sam went running to his cabin, saddled a horse. He and Gabe rode to the camp of the Indians, there tending a fire sat Little Fawn, she stood as they rode up.
“Where have you been Sam?” she asked. “I been waiting for you to come for me.”
Sam was off his horse in a flash and took her in his arms and was kissing her face.
Gabe was yelling, “Sam this ain’t no way to be a court-n. You’re gonna get us killed, back off, back off boy!”
Sam pushed her away and said to Gabe, “I plum got carried away, I love this girl.”
Gabe was off his horse and with his hat in his hand leaning down and looking in the teepee, asked if the man of the family was at home in the Sioux language. Man Afraid of His Horses came forth, followed by two squaws and a little girl. “What you want of me old white man?” he asked in sign language.
“My friend here,” pointing to Sam, “wants your daughter Little Fawn for his wife, he’s willing to pay the great chief for his daughter’s hand.”
The Indian father went to Fawn and in whispers talked to her, she shook her head, yes, yes. Gabe gave Sam a high sign, he and the Indian walked off talking. It took an hour for them to return.
“Sam,” Gabe said, “he wants five ponies, a new rifle and plenty powder and shot. And a little whisky won’t hurt. What them Squaws will want, I don’t know but we must bring lots of gifts for them, I’ll get them ponies you get the rest.”
Sam told Fawn, “I’ll be back tomorrow at high noon, you’re gonna be my wife.”
She stood looking at him and shaking her head, yes.
Gabe told Sam, “I can have them ponies here in the morning, you’s round up the rest.” Gabe mounted and loped off to the west. Sam went to the Tullers and asked Amanda to help him. They loaded the buckboard with all kinds of things they hoped the squaws would like. Sam was so happy he hardly slept that night, he had never been this happy in his whole life.
Next morning he rose before sunup and went to the store to load the gifts for her Pa. He walked back and forth like a caged lion, the Tullers tried to get him to eat. He just drank coffee and walked around the buckboard and every few minutes he would ask if he had got enough to satisfy her family. Amanda told him he was paying more for this girl than any man ever had. Still Sam wondered if he needed more gifts for the family.
Old Gabe came in before noon, with him were five Shoshone braves and five paint ponies. Gabe said to Sam, “Let’s get on with this before the old Chief changes his mind, they been known to be damn changeable.”
Sam with the Tullers and some off duty soldiers, a few civilian workers, Gabe and his Shoshones, all converged on the Indian village and stopped in front of the family’s tepee. The old Chief came forth and stood, arms folded, dressed in his finest war bonnet and buckskins, not saying a word he looked the crowd over.
Gabe was the first to speak, “Great Chief we have brung you many ponies and gifts, our hearts are open to your kind ways, let your new son bring gifts to you.” He motioned for Sam to bring the ponies. Sam came forward and in sign language gave them to the Chief. The Chief walked slowly around them, and grunted, “Good, good.” A young boy led the ponies away.
Sam came forward with the rifle, shot, powder and caps. The Chief took the rifle and looked it all over again he grunted, “Good, good.” He was pleased.
The Tullers being helpful, started unloading the buckboard. The squaws came from the teepee and stood stone cold behind the Chief not cracking a smile until the gifts were laid at their feet. Then the smiles came. The chief called for Little Fawn to come out. Took her right hand and Sam’s right hand and tied them together with a leather thong saying some words in Sioux. He shook his head yes and untied the thong. Gabe gave a big yell and told Sam, “You’re now a married man.”
The Sioux wedding ceremony was over. The celebration began. Fawn and Sam sat on blankets on the ground as young boys and girls began dancing to flute music and drum beats. They danced in circles making whooping sounds and shaking their hands on raised arms over their heads, all the time turning and dancing in small circles. Fawn rose up and joined with them. This dance was the Sioux wedding dance. The white people started clapping and singing a religious
song, “We’ll All Gather by the River.” The singing was led by Amanda. A jug appeared and was passed around. It was soon empty. Another came forth and it too was soon emptied. Everyone was having a gay old time. Gabe was as happy as Sam and laughed and made hooping sounds of his own. Fawn and Sam were two happy people. Sam hugged and hugged his new bride. She laughed and smiled and danced around him. No two people could be more happy that sunny spring afternoon on the plains of Wyoming.
The celebrating went on the rest of that afternoon. The squaws came with plates of food for the new married couple. Cooked meat, Indian bread and a drink made from an herb. The drink was to make the sexual juices flow, all new Sioux couples tasted this rare treat. As they drank, the squaws and young girls giggled and acted in giddy ways pointing at the couple. The young Indian men smiled, laughed and clapped their hands. All the Indians knew what was in store for this newlywed couple. Except the very young. They too danced and laughed with the elders.
As the sun set in the western sky, Fawn took Sam by the hand and led him to a tepee set up in the trees near the Platte River. Inside in the center of the tepee a fire was made ready to be started. With a fire stick she lit the fire. By the light of the fire Sam could see buffalo robes covered the ground. A strange smell came from the fire. It was also for newlywed couples. It was to encourage the making of papooses. The newlyweds spent an enjoyable night together consummating their marriage.
The next morning Sam took Fawn and her belongings to his cabin. At the cabin, Amanda had prepared a breakfast for the newlyweds. All morning well wishers came to the cabin with food and gifts for the new married couple.
Amanda asked Fawn if she would like to be married in the white man’s church. “Oh, yes,” she said, it would make her very happy. Sam agreed. That evening being Sunday the couple were married in the post Chapel. The Tullers, Old Gabe, Sam’s Crow scouts, several officers and their ladies attended. The wedding was preformed by the post Chaplin. Another celebration was held at the post commander’s quarters.