Strange Dominion

by Lyons, Amanda M.

  “Come on, Jake, snap out of it and blow out that lantern. We got to get up early come tomorra, ta find them gold nuggets we knows up here.”

  Jake just sat there. Didn’t seem to blink much neither. Was that boy sittin’ up sleepin’ or somethin’? He weren’t goin’ ta be no good gold pannin’ if he didn’t sleep no good. What was he thinkin’? Let his fool ex-partner talk him inta bringin’ his grand boy wit him. Was the craziest thin’ he ever thought of. Wasn’t goin’ ta be any gold if he didn’t pull his weight round here.

  Johnny Wacoal first scratched his gray-haired head, then stroked his snow white beard thinkin’ bout what coulda got in Jake’s fool noggin. His grandpa weren’t nothing like this here coot. Why, he had done many a thing wit’ him and made good money doin’ it. He stared fer a while more at Jake, then laid back in his cot, and rolled over, pullin’ his wore out blanket over his head. He just couldn’t believe his luck lately. Weren’t nothing like his younger day, when he could smell gold off a long distance. He got a shiver down his body from the cool air and the holes in his blanket. Bet Jake wouldn’t throw no wood in the heatin’ stove then neither. With that thought, Johnny dropped off to sleep to dream of a better day.

  Right after Johnny went to sleep, a beautiful Indian maiden passed through the wall, into the cabin where they were, and right up to Jake. She took down her braids, then swung her head to have her hair fall back over her shoulders, landin’ down her back and reachin’ the back of her knees. Then she pulled the deer skin strings that held her dress together, pulled the dress down her shoulders, down across her tits and waist until she could drop it down her legs onto the floor. Her firm young tits jiggled slightly as she bent down to help pull her well-shaped legs out of the soft buckskinned dress. She smiled at Jake as she looked up at him, sitting there on the bed with that silly grin. She stood up, staring into his eyes as she glided over the floor to stand by his bed. Jake’s eyes roamed up and down her body, trying to see every inch of her, looking forward to what would be coming next.

  She had been visiting him for more than a month now. Always waiting until the old timer would fall asleep. Then she came through the same wall, came about in the middle of the room undressing, then glided over to him, tempting him with her luscious body. Lord knows he weren’t no saint. He had had a few women in his day, but nothing like this here one. Sure she was a redskin, but what a redskin. Made him want to be one, the way she could make love.

  She always bent over with them mouth waterin’ tits hanging down in his face, tempting him til he grabbed hold of them and sucked them like a baby while he gave them a good squeezin’. Then she would wait for him to undress himself totally, down to his birthday suit, then she would start to commencin’ to feel up on his manhood real good, makin’ him hard as a rock. She must have liked what he had ‘cause she would then use her mouth on his manhood like he ain’t never seen nor felt. All them other women ought ta learn that for sure. She would take it all the way in her mouth. Musta went down her throat too ‘cause ain’t no way it’d fit just in her mouth alone. She would just a keep suckin’ until he couldn’t hold his seed back no more, then she plumb swallowed all the seed that came out of him. Then, takin’ her mouth off his pokin’ stick, she’d lick the tip of his manhood, makin’ sure she got every drop of his seed and not letting any of it go to waste.

  She was really something all right. But she didn’t stop there. No way. She would go about suckin’ again as she would climb up on him slidin’ her womanhood right there onta his mouth. He thought it was strange at first, but decided ta give her a good likin too. She seemed ta like that, so he kept it up while she went and did him again with the swollerin’ and all. She must have been one hungry ghost ‘cause she kept on swollerin’ his seed for a while. After they both had their lickin’ and suckin’, she turned around on him and put her right tit right back in his mouth so he could suck on it some more while she went to fingerin’ her wet womanhood faster and faster.

  Where in the world she learn all that? Jake didn’t really give a doggone because he couldn’t get enough of this redskin ghostly maiden. She was better than any flesh lovin’ woman he had ever met. Whatever he did to deserve this, he was happy he did it. Then, when he was really getting’ ta get down on suckin’ that tit of hers, she pulled it right out of his mouth and slid her body down his while puttin’ his manhood deep within her and fixt ta ride him like a horse. Groanin’ and a moanin’, it was a wonder she didn’t wake up that old man. She went to riding him faster and faster, makin’ her tits bounce all over the place like some snake charmer charmin’ them snakes in a basket.

  She rode him a long time, until he gave up his seed one more time. Then she would disappear into nothing while he lay there sweatin’ his fool head off from all that love. Damn, there wasn’t nothin’ that felt so doggone good as that Indian maid. He done felt he was in love with her and didn’t know heads from tails about nothin’ but him havin’ another night with her. Recon he could spend a lifetime doin’ that without a doubt. Only problem was, would she keep comin’ an’ getting him off like that all the time? He sure hoped so.

  ***

  He barely had enough strength to pull on his cloths before he fell asleep with his mind on that ghost. Every morning it took Johnny a long time ta shake Jake awake. Sleepin’ so sound and plain wore out as he was. Made the old timer mad every morning, and he would grumble every day, all the live long day long. But Jake was happy as he could be. Weren’t nothing better than havin’ a good woman ta keep ya happy. And that was what he was. Happy as a Lark.

  The only thing was they weren’t doin’ so great on gold finding. That were a big problem, and Old Johnny might not want ta stay long without gold. That were a big problem. No gold, no ghost injun woman. That weren’t goin ta do good at all! No, siree. So Jake thought he had better git ta findin’ that gold.

  Old Johnny was using his pick axe, hittin’ one rock after anoder looking for the littlest piece to make him feel like he weren’t wastin his time. He didn’t have that much ta waste, he was well into his sixties. Outlived all his family, and wasn’t fixen to start none teither. All the young wiper snappers weren’t no good, no how! Just look at Jake. Day dreamin’ his life away. Wait a minute. Is that boy actually lookin’ this time? Don’t wonders never cease! Maybe we can get some gold after all. Yes, siree. By cracky! It put a smile on Old Johnny’s face.

  Jake weren’t about to lose his lover, so where was them gold nuggets hidin’ anyway? Both spent most of the day slammin’ them pick axes and bustin’ rocks. They just about got tuckered out by almost sunset, and were ready to call it a day when Jake noticed this shiny little thing shinning in the sun. He reached down and picked it up. Why that was pure gold! He took it and bit into it to make sure. Yup, gold all right. Weren’t no nugget neither. Somebody had refined that thing! Way out here!

  As far as he knew there wasn’t no white man around. Never been. This here was Injun territory, and if they were found out they would be in a heap of trouble. They would probably scalp them, least that’s what old Johnny said. He built a cabin real close to their land. They had to ride a ways ta get here ta go lookin’ for that there gold and now they found some.

  “Hey, Johnny, Looky here at what I found.”

  “What ya got, Jake?”

  “Looks like someone was here and mined some ore before us, thought you said there weren’t no white man ever been in these parts before.”

  “Not that I know of. Let me see that what you got. Well doggone! Where you find this at? Looks like it done been flattened out and made into some trinket or somethin’.”

  “Well, ya think someone maybe dropped it off there by accident?”

  “Most likely, but don’t think no white man been here before. Let’s scout around and see what we can find around here. If we’re lucky, we’ll find more of them thingies and get rich maybe.”

  “ I’m ready to be that. I want a lot of them!”

  Both of them started huntin’ arou
nd for more gold. It took them a good while before they found another piece. Here they were with their lanterns lit and leaning close to the ground searchin’. Time was getting later and it was way past dark when they found a cave where they found a third piece at its entrance. They looked at each other. Both were wonderin’ if the other wanted to step inta that there cave with it being so dark outside. They shrugged their shoulders and started inside. They were beginning to get gold fever. Jake was getting it so bad he forgot about his Injun woman ghost back at the cabin.

  ***

  Well, they went on in to see if there were gold. The trail led up to it and made sense to them. Had to be gold in there. They searched every bit of the front before heading on back. The further back they got, the more they heard this sound they couldn’t make out. T’was an awful sound, like spooks were in there hauntin’ the place, Jake decided. He stopped dead in his tracks when he thought of spooks. He was missin’ his nightly visit of a certain lovely pleasant one who made him feel like he was in heaven.

  “Hey, Johnny, Why don’t we go back to the cabin fer the night and get to headin’ back here in the mornin’?”

  “You joshin me, Jake? We are on a gold trail and you want ta get back ta that there wall ya stare at? Get your head straight, boy. More important things than dreamin’.”

  “Well, I was only thinkin’ of you, you old coot! You liable ta get all weak and stuff. Ya older than the hills we’re under.”

  “Yea, well, when I’m tired I’ll just lay down here on this sand bottom, thank ya very much.”

  Jake kicked the sand, pretendin’ he found somethin’, but was really mad ‘cause he was lookin’ forward to her visit tonight. His manhood was getting hard without her even bein’ there. She knew how ta make him sit up and beg all right. Weren’t goin ta be a night worth a darn without her. No, Sir. Not good at all!

  Old Johnny watched as Jake kicked the dirt. Yup, goin’ ta have a tantrum like a little kid. What in tarnation was so special about that wall back at ta cabin? Sure got Jake ta fussin’. Well, that youngin’ needs ta grow up and quit actin’ like he’s in diddies. Ain’t no sense in goin’ back all that ways ta a cabin when they would do nicely in here. T’was warm ‘nough ta keep warm. It would be easy on their legs too. What Jake got on his mind, he can forget it. That’s all there was ta it.

  “Ya find something over there, or ya kickin up a sand storm?”

  “Thought I seen somethin’ shiny is all. It weren’t nothin’ though. We best keep lookin’. But I’ll tell ya right now, don’t like the sound of them spooks in yonder. Further back we get, the louder they screamin’. Ain’t no good we get attacked by no spooks. They all wailin’ and such. Probably rip our hair out if’n we bother ‘em. Don’t see no sense in that no how. Getting attacked by some crazy ghost late at night. They might settle down by mornin’, and we could have a peaceful look see. Be safe too. Yes, sir! We aught ta use sense God gave us’un on this here one. Just sayin’, Johnny. Let’s camp here, where it be safe. Whach ya say ‘bout that, Johnny?”

  “Well, maybe ya right there, Jake. Let’s camp in this here room. Looks like it would do good fer camp. Save our lanterns fer more exploring in the mornin’. Getting kind of tired anyway. Need ta rest a spell least wise.”

  “Ya thin’ it wise we blow out our lanterns? What if them there ghost come this away? They might fix ta hurt us without light.”

  “Now look here. We ain’t goin’ ta leave no light on! They want ta hurt us, they would, light or no light. Ya got ta grow a backbone, Jake! Show some spunk sometime, boy!”

  “Now look here! Ain’t no cause ta doubt my courage here. Ya can hear those spooks same as I can! You heard stories, same as I have. If ya piss off a spirit, it might rip yur hair out by the roots where you’ll be bald for life. Or worse. Might choke you ta death too. For cryin’ out loud, Johnny. Use your brain on this!”

  “Ain’t gone to be no light! No how! No way! Get that through yur thick scull, boy! Supposin’ they do attack and you done burned out all your oil. What we goin ta do then? Run in the dark? Ain’t goin’ ta be me. No, sir! Why I might trip over somethin’ and crack my darn skull wide open. Think about that, why don’t ya!”

  “All right! All right! No darn light then. But don’t go blamin’ me if ya wish ya had!”

  “Not blamin’ you, dern fool! I am makin’ sense. You ain’t! Now shut up and sleep, ya dang fool! I want yur ass up at the crack of dawn, findin’ that there gold in here!”

  “Can’t hear ya, old man. Sleepin’!”

  It got real quiet in the cave between them two, but not fer them dern spooks! They were getting louder and louder. They was a wailin’ and carryin’ on somethin’ fierce. Seemed like they done caught on that there were intruders in their cave. They weren’t none too happy about it. No, sir! They were letting it be known that they didn’t like no visitors. It was by invite only, and they didn’t invite no one at all.

  Well, on the other hand, Jake’s Ghost Injun lover showed up at the cabin. She was ready for some more all night lovin’ from that pale face. That white body of his turned her on. She had drowned a virgin in the river close by the cabin when she had just gotten old enough to marry. A flash flood came while she was bathing nude to prepare for her wedding day. She was singing as she bathed, as happy as she could be about the brave she would soon have. She was dreaming of her wedding night with him. Thinking of that had made her hot with passion. Her wait was over when Tall Bear brought four horses for her hand to her father. That day was going to be a day of joy and the nights to come hot with passion. She had imagined being with him for many moons.

  A smile was on her lips as she sang, not noticing the river go down a bit around her. Had she seen it, she might have made it out in time. Instead the river came like a hungry bear, devouring things in its path. It grabbed hold of her, dragged her to the bottom, and filled her lungs with its raging waters. Holding her down as it washed her far down the river, it smashed her against the rocks until there was no more life in her, releasing her spirit from its flesh. She quickly floated back upriver to find her Tall Bear, but when she came back to her love he and all the village had gotten scared of her. They ran from her and moved the village up the river to get away from her.

  The ones who built the cabin were too old for her, but this one was young and hung like a horse. She was starved for affection and now got plenty from him. She was well satisfied with his manhood. She searched the cabin to find him. Her heart sank when he was nowhere to be found. She sat down on his bed and started to cry. Another one had deserted her. Was there no chance for her to have a lasting love? She thought of her sadness, crying all the while until she heard the sounds of her ancestors wailing from a distance. She knew they were there, but would not go there because she didn’t want to be with the dead, only the living. She was not ready to accept not being alive yet. She had not had her time.

  Through her sadness, she started to listen to the words of her ancestors. There were two white men in their burial cave. They were after their treasures, the ones that was buried with them. They would have none of that! The white men must die!

  No! Not again, she thought as she rushed through the wall, heading for the cave. She rushed as fast as she could. Ancestors or not, she would let no one take her lover. She was his. He did not care she was a spirit now. She may never find another in this world who could please her so much or even be with her. She had to stop them!

  When she arrived at the cave she found them on the floor, sleeping. She heard her ancestors coming for them. She reached down and shook Jake’s shoulder, then she shook it again. He woke up with a jerk. He saw her leaning over him, glowing in the darkness. He smiled as he recognized her, reaching out for her. She stood up and shook her head, pointing the way of the deeper cave. Jake was confused by her actions. What was she wanting him to do?

  “You want I should go further in the cave so we can be alone?”

  She did not understand the white man’s tongue. It alway
s made strange sounds to her. Did he not understand she was warning him they were coming? Now was not the time to be in his arms. Perhaps she should try to speak to him. She bent down toward him, still pointing toward the danger. She spoke in her native tongue, that of the Cherokee.

  “Run, my love! My ancestors will kill you for desecrating their resting place to steal their gold! Run like the wind!”

  “I’m sorry, darlin’, but I don’t speak your lingo. Speak English, like me.”

  She shook her head again, moving her hand back and forth to let him know it was important to look at the danger coming. She repeated her warning.

  “Oh, come on, darlin’. That old man won’t hear us. He would sleep through a thunderstorm. Give me some more lovin’ like you always do.”

  “You ignoramus. She ain’t fixin’ to love up on your fool self. She is warnin’ you of somethin’! Get your head out of yer pants!”

  “Shit! You awake, Johnny? I was fixin’ to love up on this injun woman! You talk Injun?”

  “Enough to know she ain’t in the mood for shakin’ yur manhood, boy. Lookin’ at how she’s actin’ tells you that. That rackets getting louder same place she’s a pointin’! Christ o’ mighty, boy. Get yur ass up off that ground!”

  Both got up quick, lookin’ the way of the noise. Old Johnny was reachin’ for his rifle until he realized he didn’t bring it for fear of the injuns thinkin’ he wanted to fight wit’ them. Fine time to be without his gun!

  She reached out and caressed his face with her hand. She felt so sorry for him. He could not understand her warning. She looked very sad, with the most mournful eyes on him. Then she turned toward the noise of the approaching danger. She would face it with her love if he chose to face it! Her face turned to the expression of a seasoned warrior of the fiercest kind. She wanted her ancestors to know she would fight for their lives to the end, even if it meant she had to go the happy hunting grounds with them. She trembled at the thought of having to leave her lover, but if she must, she would fight with all that was in her.