At the same time, Red Wolf having seen the exchanged came riding into the yard from the other direction.
“Get out now and don’t set foot on our land again. Your pay will be handled in town.” Elizabeth told them cracking the whip again. Slowly and deliberately she recoiled it. Both hands got up and went to their horses. As the older one mounted, he snarled over his shoulder.
“Indian lover,” he spat at her. The younger to his credit, looked shame faced but followed his brother and mounted. “You’ll regret this, I’ll make sure you do,” the older one told her. They yanked their horse’s around and rode out.
Elizabeth got down off Star and went to White Dove.
“Are you sure you’re alright?”
“Yes Esa, I am well.”
“Wait till I tell Ben, he should have fired those guys before now. That wasn’t the first time was it?” She fumed.
White Dove looked worried. “No Esa, please do not tell him.”
Elizabeth frowned and held White Dove’s hand. “Why ever not? Where’s Jake and Joe? And Ben should know.”
“I sent Jake and Joe to look for you and I know Ben, he will take this badly.” White Dove told her. “This kind of thing upsets him. Please don’t, it’s over, it will only distress him.”
Frowning she nodded. “Alright as you wish.” Elizabeth shock her head, “let’s get you inside.” Elizabeth turned to Red Wolf, inclined her head, she hadn’t seen him all day and continued to walk with White Dove to the house.
Instinctively knowing Red Wolf and what he had seen, Elizabeth called to him as she walked away towards the house. “Do not harm them it will only start trouble. I want them off our land.”
Red Wolf gazed at her back, not surprised at her knowing. Gathering up his reins he rode after the brothers, as he had always intended to do. Several of his braves going with him.
Elizabeth watched as hands, riders, Ben and the scouts, started to drift back into the ranch yard over the next couple of hours. Ranch life wasn’t easy. It was long days and hard work. She couldn’t get over White Dove sending men out after her. As Ben came in she quickly explained she was ok and that no one should have been worried.
She also felt the need to stress she had told Joe she was heading South. Both Joe and Jake came back in shortly after. They were relieved to see her. Ben had an indulgent smile for her, telling her it was too soon to give him a heart attack.
They all laughed and Elizabeth made herself useful. Helping White Dove and the house staff prepared dinner for 25. Since she could remember, everyone at the Double T ate the same meal. A mixture of Native American, Mexican and American/Irish food. It was hot, favour sum and filling.
Dinner for the hands was kept hot in the outdoor kitchen next to the main house. The stove kept it hot and they came and helped themselves. Dinner for the family was always at 7pm in the dining room. Family included very one with a history with the family and all were welcome.
A tradition started by her father. The older hands, had an open invitation. Sometimes they joined them. Sometimes they didn’t. The house staff had the same invitation. Tonight, dinner at the house was a full-on affair. All wanted to come, and all were welcome.
Elizabeth help to prepare the food and then retired to wash and change her clothes. So had White Dove. The men came in washed and changed and by 6.45pm all those who were having dinner were chatting and having a drink in the parlour, their grand sitting room.
Elizabeth loved the sounds of the house coming alive. She could hear the conversation while she dressed. It was mainly about her and coming home, horses, blood lines and herd pasture. Elizabeth decided to do her hair in the East style she favoured. Put on the one spare dress she had with her. It was simple, elegant and off the shoulder. A style she favoured. Someone had brushed it out and cleaned it for her.
Coming down the stairs, she wasn’t sure what to expect. She’d dressed with care. Wanting to look her best and walked in to join the others. There were plenty of welcomes, smiles and hugs. Several comments on how lovely she looked. Jake offered her a drink. At that moment Ben clinked his glass and everyone was silent.
“I want to welcome home Elizabeth formally, so join me in saying how lovely it is to have her home, everyone Elizabeth.”
There was a chorus of glasses being raised and “Elizabeth” stated loudly.
“Now I believe Anna is trying to tell us dinner is ready, so let’s go eat. I for one am starving.”
There was laughter and joy as those present parted and headed into the dining room. Jake offered her his arm and she took it, thanking him. Turning towards the dining table she thought she was seeing things. There, talking to Ben in full western clothes, stood Red Wolf. His long black hair tied with the similar piece of raw hide he had used on her. Elizabeth couldn’t take her eyes off him. She had never imagined seeing him like this. He was ……stunning. Like a painting of the old masters. Somehow it made him seem…. more.
White Dove touched her arm and Elizabeth almost jumped.
“Esa, come and sit down, I’m sure they will join us soon.”
She nodded. “Yes of course.” And encouraged Jake to carry on.
Red Wolf stood with Ben. This would not be an easy conversation, but it had to be said. He would not hide from it. He had seen Esa make her entrance. She was breathtakingly beautiful. The only light in the room.
“Before we go in, I want to apologise for yesterday with Esa. I am struggling with my emotions where she is concerned. My judgement was poor.” Red Wolf told him honestly.
Ben nodded. “You love her son?” Red Wolf turned and looked at Elizabeth walking into the dining room with Jake.
“More than my life Sir.” Ben slapped him on the shoulder.
“The ladies tend to do that to us son. Let’s go eat.”
The dining room was a traditional affair. Set with Elizabeth’s mothers things and built by her father. The furniture had come from back East but instead of the delicate furniture preferred there, this had been picked as much for its sturdiness, as it had for its beauty. The table was highly polished and of dark rich wood. Elizabeth loved to run her fingers over it.
Underneath, there were more than a couple of spur marks, much to her mother’s annoyance she recalled with a smile. Elizabeth loved this table. There were many happy memories around it. She ran her hand along the edge and took her seat between Jake and Anna, with Joe to her left. White Dove sat next to her on the right leaving a space for Ben. A number of family, friends and staff, sat around them and at the end of the table, with several of the family hands, was a space she guessed for Red Wolf. The conversation was light and entertaining.
A recalling of stories of times gone by. Many embarrassing tails were being told. Ben and Red Wolf came in to join them. Elizabeth was made to remember many a story recalling an accident or childhood trick. She cringed and became embarrassed more times that she cared for and told them to stop more than once, but there was no heat in it and enjoyed the evening very much. Everything seemed perfect. As tradition called for, she helped serve the platters around the table. Although she was not good at it, she gave it her best shot and dinner seemed to fly by.
By the time guests retired back to the parlour for after dinner drinks, Elizabeth felt done in. It had been a long evening and after several dinner conversions, guests started to make their way home. Elizabeth made her way across the room to Ben who was now talking to Jed Nelson, a young man not much older than Elizabeth.
A nearby farm owner who lived with his sisters. Their parents sadly having died of the influenza several years ago.
“Jed, how’s the family.” she asked joining them.
“Just fine Elizabeth thanks. They’re glad to see you home. Want to know all the exciting things of Boston.” He told her. Elizabeth smiled.
“Please tell, Cathy and Sarah, I’ll pop over and see them sometime soon.”
Jed nodded. “I will they’ll enjoy catching up. They had wanted to be here, but Cathy has not been
feeling well of late and Sarah did not want to leave her.”
“O my, anything we can do?”
“Thank you no. The Doc been to see her.”
Elizabeth squeezed his arm. “Please wish her better for me. Ben, forgive me.” She turned to him. “But I’m exhausted, please give my apologies, I’m going to go up.”
Ben nodded. “ok honey, see you in the morning.” He bent to kiss her. As Elizabeth went to turn she remembered something.
“Ben tomorrow could White Dove and I go into town. Until my things arrive from New York I’ll need to make some purchases and I’m sure we could stock up on some provisions while we’re there. Maybe we could take a couple of hands to help, and we need a couple of new hands too, I could post a notice for you at the same time?” Ben was about to answer as Red Wolf joined them.
“Ben, father has requested that Black Dog and his braves accompany Esa on any further trips.”
Elizabeth’s draw dropped, his English was perfect, and he’d never even said hello! What the hell? The cheek of the man! Elizabeth got angry.
“I don’t need baby sitters,” she spat out more than she meant too.
“No honey,” Ben told her. “Dull Knife is right, you were gone for over seven hours and anything could have happened.”
Elizabeth frowned. “But it didn’t and I had my rifle.” she moaned agitated. “And I was just fine.”
She said trying to stare down Red Wolf and failing. Conscious of Jed also standing there.
“I’m sorry, Esa, your father has offered the protection and it would be offensive to decline it.”
She narrowed her eyes at Red Wolf. He looked particularly smug. In a huff, Elizabeth turned walking away and called over her shoulder. “I wonder just how much father was involved in that decision.”
She continued across the lounge and climbed the stairs. Both Red Wolf and Ben stared after her. Red Wolf smiled. She still had that fire.
Elizabeth stormed up the stairs to her room. They were all treating her like a child. She wasn’t, and she needed to stamp that out quickly. Elizabeth changed and got ready for bed. Walking over to the window she opened it. People were leaving. Laughter drifted up to her. Elizabeth sighed, turning to look at her dresser. The pictures of her mother, father, the three of them when she was younger and Ben with White Dove sat proudly on it. She loved this room. It was spacious even with the larger bed in it.
As a child, she had lots of room to play. Elizabeth loved the four-poster bed White Dove had purchased for her. At that moment it seemed to be calling to her. She gave in and crawling into the covers and was asleep almost immediately, woken by the morning sun steaming in and White Dove giving her a gentle shake.
“If we are going into town Esa, you must get up.” Elizabeth stretched and smiled, then jumped out of bed, fresh clothes had been laid out.
“White Dove, you must stop doing these things for me, it’s not fair on you.”
White Dove smiled. “Yes it is, now hurry.” White Dove left her and Elizabeth washed and dressed quickly, deciding to leave her hair down in the traditional Indian manner with braids to hold it back.
She rushed down the stairs, headed into the bathroom eager to get going and did her toilette. Moving quickly she heading into the dining room grabbed some biscuits from the table as she went by and glass of milk and walked outside.
What awaited her was quite a sight. Red Wolf had clearly waited for her to come down and show herself. He sat on his pony glaring at her. Elizabeth drank her milk and nibbled on the biscuit.
She was still pissed at him about last night. Then he turned, and she watched him ride out. He’d had a point to make and made it. Not fair, she wanted to scream. Standing before her, were Black Dog and his six braves, they were about eight years older than her and she remembered being quite scared of them when younger.
Well, for all of a couple of weeks, till one day they helped her catch a pony. They didn’t say a lot and used the old hand signals for most of what they needed to say. Elizabeth had learned it wanting to be like them but when they spoke English, it was as good as any. They just chose not to. And that was ok with her. She liked their silence.
She stuffed the last of the biscuit in her mouth. In front of them, was the loveliest Indian pony she’d ever seen. Mainly white with coloured patches and boy was she a beauty.
Elizabeth couldn’t stop the excited squeal that came out of her mouth as Black Dog signalled it was hers. She clapped and smiled even with the braves standing there. She didn’t care. She acknowledged Black Dog and his men and welcomed them to her home in the traditional manner as she ran over to the pony. She raised her hand and followed the Indian way of greeting a horse.
“Hello Patches.” She whispered in his ear and he whinnied in return. Ben stood behind her. She turned.
“Mine?”
“Yes,” he told her looking the animal over.
“He’s lovely, thank you.” Ben frowned.
“No Elizabeth it’s not my gift, its Red Wolfs. One of his best I understand.” Elizabeth must have looked surprised. Ben continued. “The pony is used to a saddle and it’s from White Dove and me. She also mentioned, that you should carry the bullwhip from now on, so it’s been greased and tempered.”
Elizabeth went to him and hugged him.
“I asked Jake and Joe to go with you and while you’re in town, you should go to the bank and make sure all is well and as you would want it.” He told her patting her back.
Elizabeth nodded then turned to White Dove.
“Let’s go.” She couldn’t hold back the excited grin.
Elizabeth mounted her pony with ease and the party with Jake on the buckboard with White Dove, headed to Brownsville. The journey took them four hours. Elizabeth loved every moment of it. With each mile came a memory. She used the time to get to know her mount. She walked and cantered him, then dropped back to a walk, then galloped off for a bit and brought him back. He was a fine animal. She couldn’t stop grinning at Black Dog when he came up to her.
It seemed to go too quickly. Spying the town in the distance. Elizabeth was reminded of how it used to look.
A simple town supporting a large community of people spread wide throughout the area. A main single road down the centre of town. Several small side streets that went for a couple of blocks and that was it. The post station and livery were at the far end. Several shops, saloons, laundry and a wash house were some of them. The Sheriff’s office in the middle near the bank. The Doctor had his house at the opposite end to the livery. Next door to him was a Guest House. It was popular with travelling men and women who wanted something a bit more than the Saloon. She’d always loved coming to town.
They entered Brownsville with Elizabeth leading them in, closely followed by Black Dog and several of his braves. White Dove came next with the buckboard and Jake and the rest of the braves and Joe bringing up the rear.
Elizabeth had no idea just what an unusual sight she made. It was so natural for her to have the company of both Americans and Indians that it didn’t even cross her mind. She wore buckskin top and canvass trousers. Her hat off her head. As they rode down the street, several people stopped and stared, for the sight of her alone, as much for the Indians. Elizabeth, all wavy golden autumn hair was in its glory.
The Indian style only adding to her. It made her a rich combination of western and native and her entourage made her look like what she was. Indian royalty, if not by birth, then by design. She stopped outside of the General Store. Bo Jenkins came out to see what all the commotion was about.
Elizabeth greeted him. “Good morning Mr. Jenkins, it’s been a long time. How are you?”
“Elizabeth? Is that you child,” he chuckled coming forward. “My goodness. All grown up now. You are a sight for sore old eyes. It is good to see you.”
Elizabeth smiled she liked Mr. Jenkins very much, he had been kind to her as a child.
“Thank you. Yes sir, I believe Mrs. Trelawney has a huge list for you
, I hope you can help?”
Mr Jenkins smiled wiping his hands. “Yes of course, come in come in. Mrs. Trelawney how are you today, please do come in.”
“Also Mr Jenkins, we have a spot for a couple of hands, could you put up our notice while I’m in town?” Elizabeth asked him handing it one of the hands.
He nodded. “Sure thing Elizabeth.” He told her going inside. White Dove made to get down. Elizabeth caught her arm.
“Are you able to shop alone?”
White Dove smiled, “yes I have done it often.”
Elizabeth smiled. “In that case, I will go to the bank and see you back here. Jake, Joe, you’re with White Dove.” Both men nodded to her and dismounted. White Dove smiled at her. Stepped down and went inside.
Elizabeth signalled for the braves to stay with White Dove.
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