by Jake Logan
He shook his head. He didn’t know if the law there had any warrants to hold Grosbeck and his gang, before he completed his handicraft on the bank.
“Here, Noko. Go set it up. I’ll bring him and his horse.”
He took Waites roughly by the collar, and Snow brought his horse. Noko set the rope over the crossbar and then put the noose around Waites’s neck, with him seated on his saddle. The noose strung on him, Slocum asked if he had any words.
“May you think about my poor mother in Abilene who I send support money to—will you think about my three children in Kansas who I provide money for—think about my lovely sister, Carla, who is a whore in Omaha, and God deliver me from this unfair sentence.”
Slocum nodded at Noko, and he beat the horse on the butt. The rope cinched up with a squeak, and the outlaw’s neck cracked aloud. He swung in death’s arms, and the squaws chanted and stomp danced around the corpse in celebration of his death.
Waites’s pockets yielded forty dollars and some change, and Slocum gave it all to Noko. His man shook his head, but he accepted it. “I will give this to Swan.”
Slocum agreed. The outlaw horses could only carry so much. He expected them to ride, too, so they decided to stash the rest of what the women were saving in a cabin they wouldn’t burn when they set fire to the rest. The women could come back with wagons for what they couldn’t take with them. In the morning, they left three cabins burning hard and consuming the corpses of the gang. Of course, Slocum knew Grosbeck could find more gang members, but these were his most loyal. And they were no more.
Two days later, they arrived at Fort Robinson. The women had reunions. Noko told Slocum he would get married while they were there. Then Slocum and Snow rode over to the military to get Snow back with her people, who were under the army’s command.
A captain met them and told them to take seats. Slocum explained that Snow was separated from her tribe and had been under his protection until she was kidnapped and then rescued. She wished to rejoin her father.
“We get tribe members every few days who come to rejoin their people. Yes, I will give her permission to rejoin them. I am sure her father will be glad to see her. Thanks for your effort to get her here.” He shook Slocum’s hand.
After they left the captain’s office, he and Snow spoke softly about parting. She had forty dollars in a purse for her needs.
“I wish you good fortune in this move.”
“I cannot thank you enough. I will never forget you and, also, you saving me from that terrible man. I know we must separate here. As soiled as I am, I think my people still need me. I wish you your freedom, too.”
“You aren’t soiled. Hold your head up proud. You’re smart, educated, and you will be fine in this new life. Snow, you must lead your people in their new land. They will need a strong woman like you to do that for them.”
She nodded solemnly.
He felt a pain in his chest as he went for his horse. The whole thing about moving her people south was unnecessary. Swinging into the saddle, he headed for the camp, where Noko’s bride waited. Still undecided about sending the telegram to the North Platte officials, he rode into the Sioux camp only to find it in a big stir.
Swan caught him and told him to go to her lodge. Everyone had taken sides, either for Noko marrying his cousin or against it.
“It is stupid. They have been lovers for years. It will be over soon, but you can rest over there in my lodge.” She gathered her buckskin skirt and started to leave, running to another site. “I won’t be long.”
“I’ll be there.”
She smiled, looking back from a distance. “Good.” And then she left him.
He dismounted his buffalo horse, Sitting Bull. The return of his mount was something he really appreciated. The crop-eared gelding that he had never expected to see again had been among the other outlaws’ horses. None of them had ridden him, or else they’d just dismissed him. With his ears half-off, they must have thought he was some old Indian bronc.
A bare-chested Indian walked up bold-like and acted indignant that Slocum had the horse. “White man, where did you get that horse?”
“I bought him at Fort Laramie, from a Sioux.”
“I saw him at the Little Big Horn fight.”
“Who rode him then?”
“A chief I did not know rode him.”
“He’s a good horse to ride. Bad men who killed my partner stole him. I never thought I’d see him again.”
“Bullets could not kill him.”
“You think so?”
“Thousands of horses died in that battle.”
“I’m proud I have him.”
“You are Noko’s friend?”
“Yes. He’s a good man.”
“I am jealous you have Swan.”
“She’s my friend. If you want her, why don’t you court her? I’ll leave here in a few days. What is your name?”
“Buffalo Red.”
“Buffalo Red, my name is Slocum. I’m pleased to meet you.”
Slocum nodded and went on his way, grateful the big Indian wasn’t mad about him staying with Swan or about his possession of the war horse. He wasn’t surprised the gelding had been used at the Little Big Horn—he’d never told Buffalo Red he called the horse Sitting Bull either.
He unsaddled the roan and hobbled him, then went to take a nap. He awoke with a naked woman beside him. It was when his hand touched her bare skin that he opened his eyes and saw her smile.
“They will be married in two days.”
“Good. I have some time to be with you.” His palm ran over the smooth skin on her hip as he enjoyed her being there to pet.
“I sent your horse to the herd.”
“Good. I don’t need him. I have you.”
“I want to kiss you.”
He held a finger to her lips. “I want to kiss you, but a man spoke to me and said he wanted to court you.”
“Who was he?”
“Buffalo Red.”
“He is part of the old way.” She shook her head. “That is what got my man killed.”
“I think he’s had time to think. He told me he was there, but he never said, ‘We will win the next fight.’”
“I will listen to him, but being a dead man’s wife is not easy. If I marry someone, I want him to live with me and not ride off to wars he can’t win today.” She leaned over and kissed him. “And he must kiss me, too.”
They both laughed. In a short while, they were making fierce love on her pallet, and Slocum forgot about anything but enjoying her body. That evening, they went to a feast celebrating the coming wedding for Noko and his cousin, Yellow Flower. A large half buffalo roasted over a great fire, turned by diligent women. Seated on the ground beside Swan, Slocum ate with his fingers, among the chattering Sioux. He felt almost alone, but the food was so good he didn’t give a damn, as he recalled his days on a jerky diet. Swan brought him some fry bread, and he nodded his approval.
“I forget you don’t speak Sioux.”
“I’m enjoying this good food. Don’t worry about me. I’ll have more fun after all this than I can imagine.”
She agreed.
• • •
The wedding was a happy affair. Children ran about the camp all excited. Dogs shared their enthusiasm. Swan held Slocum’s arm and led him around with her head high. There was much feasting, and she found him some huckleberry jam and fresh fry bread to eat. The sweet blue berries had a tartness that his tongue enjoyed, and he decided he would weigh twenty pounds more before Noko was even married.
When the women teased Swan about the big white man she tagged along with, Swan laughed a lot. “They are only jealous I have you. Many of them don’t know where you came from and how I got you.”
“I understand. I think you’re having lots of fun dragging me about.”
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br /> “Yes, and I am over being a head-down widow, thanks to you.” She threw her shoulders back, and her neat breasts pushed the deerskin dress out.
“Good.”
“Where will you go after this?” she asked.
“I must find this killer who murdered Sam.”
She nodded. “For now, you are my man. I want you to meet my sister. She just arrived.”
Her sister, Blue Bird, shared Swan’s tall frame. She had some small children with her, and her man gave Slocum a cold look when they met.
“He is not a soldier,” Swan said. “He saved four Sioux women who were being held against their will by outlaws. Have you saved any of our women lately?”
The man chuckled at her obvious anger toward him for not accepting Slocum.
“Good man, I will shake your hand.”
“Good. Where do you live?”
“Our village is north of here on a stream. Where do you live?”
“Under the stars.”
He laughed. “Good place. I liked that better than the place I have now.”
“A young woman I rescued is a Cheyenne. They are taking her people to the Indian Territory next spring.”
“I have heard about that.” He shook his head. “I would hate to have to go there.”
“Me, too.”
Swan gathered them and their children and, with her arm locked on Slocum’s, took them to a place in the camp where they were fed buffalo stew and fry bread. More food to eat—all part of the camp’s celebration. They used their fingers and bread to eat, then Swan found Slocum a spoon.
The day passed quickly, and the wedding was held. Noko and his bride rode off on hand-painted horses with a red circle around the right eye on each. Slocum never found out the reason for the artwork, if there was one. Having partied all day with Swan, he was grateful to be back in her tepee. Alone there, she made him undress and lie facedown. Then she sat astraddle him to massage his back muscles. Under her powerful hands, the tension in his muscles soon dissolved.
“I could pack you along to do that every day.”
“Oh, I am a Sioux, and I need to be with my people, even though I have had much fun showing you off.”
“I understand. I’ve enjoyed your pride, too. But I must go look for this killer of my friend.”
“You can stay a few days more. You are just getting over the damage they did to you.”
He rolled over and pulled her down to kiss her mouth. Sprawled on top of him, she laughed. “You are a real lover. I know I will miss you. But I know you, like me, have things you must do.”
They made love in her bed. After her massage, as well as their sex, he slept good. The next dawn, he had one of the boys bring him his horse. He sat cross-legged in his saddle and ate the food Swan fetched for him.
“I know you will not return, so I can long for you. But I also know you think I should marry a man. It may not be Buffalo Red, but I will search hard for him.”
“You’ll find him.”
“You sound so sure.”
“I’m sure.”
She stretched up, and he leaned down so she could kiss him. “For that, I am grateful.”
• • •
He left the Red Cloud Agency to see if he could find Grosbeck. His venture heading south might make him vulnerable to arrest, but he couldn’t let that delay his purpose. This wasn’t the first time he’d been falsely accused of a crime he didn’t commit. But that could be handled, too, if necessary. He simply didn’t want any lengthy stall in an arrest holding him back from finding Grosbeck and settling this business between them.
He stopped over at the Borne ranch for the night, telling them about their success and Noko’s wedding. Nelly had many questions and asked if the boy would ever come back to work for them.
“Yes. He likes working here and considers himself to be a modern Indian.”
Bill nodded from his end of the table. “I think you know that boy well.”
“He is a brave, tough, young man.” Slocum dropped his head to concentrate on the rich food Nelly had served. Enough said—in the morning he’d be gone south and on his way to find Grosbeck. A needle in a haystack maybe, but he would sure try to avoid any arrest and locate him.
That night, in bed by himself he wondered how Snow was doing rejoined with her tribe. He missed her not being with him—a lot. And where was that killer Grosbeck?
13
He knew a rancher above North Platte who would help him, so the next day Slocum pushed southeast. That evening, a rancher named Hiram Yates put him and Bull up for the night. Yates, a bachelor with four Texas cowhands, was learning the ins and outs of ranching in the north country. His brand was the HYK, and he, like the rest of the displaced Lone Star cattlemen up there, couldn’t believe the grass they’d found. Yates had his men busy mowing and stacking hay, so Slocum decided the man was realistic about the Nebraska winter he faced.
A friendly bunch, they asked Slocum a lot of questions while they sat around the supper table.
One young man said, “Ain’t nothing wrong with Hiram’s cooking, but if you ever find a nice lady that would cook, send her up here. It might help all our dispositions.”
“Hell, Curly, ain’t no nice lady coming up here.”
“He might find one. We damn sure ain’t got the time to go looking.”
“Send her on,” Hiram said and laughed. “We’d treat her damn nice.”
“If I find one, I’ll send her up here to cook for you all.”
“Great,” Curly said.
Next morning, he rode southeast again through the waving prairie. About dark, he found a place that looked deserted, with a sod house and corrals, way out in the middle of nowhere. When he came around the south side, a haggard young woman opened the door. She pushed the hair back from her face and looked hard at him.
When he stepped down from his saddle, her knees buckled, and she fainted.
Too late to save her fall, he swept her up in his arms and carried her inside. The main room was dimly lit, for sod houses had few windows save the open doorway. He laid her on the bed, then went to find a washcloth and some water to bathe her face.
Slow-like, she came to and blinked her eyes.
“Who are you?” he asked, with a million more questions behind his tongue.
“Diane—Stokes . . .”
“You disappeared in Kansas after a bank robbery?”
Her brows furrowed at him. “How did you know that?”
“The guy who robbed it said he was John Slocum. That’s my name.”
“His real name was Billy Hank Spurlock. You know him?”
Slocum shook his head. “Were you kidnapped?”
“In a way, yes. That lying bastard told me he’d marry me if I went away with him. I didn’t know he was planning to rob a bank, and I wanted out desperately from my husband and my life there. He knew that, too.”
“Where is Spurlock now?”
“They rode off without me. Two days ago.”
“You have any food?”
She sat up, fussed with her hair. “Not much. They tied me in that chair and said good-bye. I got loose.”
“What were you planning to do?”
“Hang myself.”
“My God, girl!” He turned and saw the rope around the open rafter and the spilled chair.
“Rope broke.”
“Thank God that it did.”
“Easy for you to say. I’m not going back to Kansas. I’m not going to work in a brothel, and I’m not going to be gang-raped by outlaws again, either.”
“Let’s find some food from my saddlebags and we can fix something to eat. Then I’m taking you to a nice ranch tomorrow that needs you. You can cook, can’t you?”
“Sure. Why?”
“They want a woman cook and they’ll trea
t you nice.”
“I don’t have any clothes. I have nothing.”
“They’ll accept you for who you are and hide your identity.”
“How do you know them?”
“Trust me, I know people, Diane. I need to know where those bank robbers went.”
“What will you do with them?”
“Clear my damn name, for one thing.”
“I understand. I’ll meet these men who need a cook. But I ain’t saying I’ll stay there.”
“It’s the perfect place to stay.”
“I’ll have to see. Maybe I can find a better rope.” By this time, they were beside his horse, and he took out some provisions.
“Here’s some real coffee. Enough brown beans to have a meal. An onion I got from their garden and some bacon. Now, go be a cook. I’ll hobble Bull and be along in a few minutes.”
Her hands full, she simply stood there. “Damn, I ain’t had any Arbuckle coffee since I left Kansas. You bend over, so I can kiss you.”
“Good. I need to be kissed.” He grabbed her up and hugged groceries and all in their kiss.
“You work on that ranch?”
“No, ma’am, but you’ll like them.”
“Slocum, I can’t hardly believe a ranch would hire me to cook for them.”
“This one would and you’ll see tomorrow evening.”
“Where were you headed anyway, coming by here?” she asked.
“I was trying to cut off some other bank robbers who were going to rob the North Platte Bank. They looked at it and decided it might be too damn tough a deal for them to handle. Billy Hank thought it would be a good to place to get shot up.”
He finished hobbling Bull so he could graze. “He probably was wise not to hold up another bank and use my damn name.”
He took her back to the house. “They all rape you?”
“The last night. Every one of them. There’s seven of them. Tied me on the damn bed and had their fun. I finally fainted, and they still raped me.”
