Johnny looks down at his prisoner, who has enough grace to blush at having been found out. “Care to explain this?”
“No,” comes the croaking reply.
“Tell me whose money that is!” Johnny whispers urgently, feeling like they will be discovered any moment now.
“Mine.”
“Tell me!” Johnny pulls the rope tighter.
“Mine. Bounties.”
“Liar.”
“I swear.” The lieutenant gasps again, trying to draw a breath, as his air is being choked off once more.
“Prove it.”
The lieutenant points and tries to say something. Involuntarily, he reaches up to the rope, trying to release some of the pressure on it. Johnny lightens the pressure, and the officer once again croaks. It sounds similar to “saddle bags”.
Johnny, keeping the garrote tight with one hand, motions with the other to Josh, pointing towards the head of the cot where the bags are carelessly tossed to the ground.
Josh picks up several of them and opens one of them. Inside are pages with writing all over them. Each page has what appears to be a price at the bottom. Josh stands there reading several for a few moments. He looks up. “These are descriptions of people. They look to be runaway slaves.” He rifles through the bag. All the pages are the same. He lets it fall to the ground, checking the next one. After the third full saddle bag, Josh lets the rest fall to the ground.
Johnny gasps, realizing the implications of the files. “Are you capturing runaway slaves? You’re selling them back to their owners again, aren’t you?” The lieutenant collapses against the rope, apparently strangled. Johnny shakes the rope loose, then smacks the man on the back several times. The man gasps a shuddering breath, still unconscious and begins breathing in a labored manner.
Johnny hears Josh gasp as he holds several pages up.
“What?” Johnny asks in an irritated manner.
Josh’s face is pale, he looks like he has seen a ghost. “These are on us,” he replies. Josh glances at the descriptions once more. “It’s on you, me, and Liz. It names us as the criminals that burned the orphanage. It lists our names directly.”
Johnny is dumbfounded. They blame us for what their own troops did. “We have to get out of here. Think we can get back to your clan’s camp?”
Josh drops the pages, grabs the bag with their gear and rushes out of the tent. He reaches in, grabs Johnny’s belt, and hands it to him. “We should at least try. I doubt anyone will find us with them.”
Suddenly, there are shouts coming from inside other parts of the camp. Both boys turn toward the sounds. They both look at each other and Josh says, “Well, we were bound to be found out sooner rather than later.”
Johnny points over toward the still unconscious man. “What do you think we should do with him?”
They hear the sounds of bugles now, calling the men to arms. “I don’t think we can do anything. We gotta go. We gotta go, now!” Josh urges quietly.
Both boys run towards the horse-lines on the eastern side of the camp. As they approach, a private standing sentry calls out, “Who goes there?”
Johnny replies as they reach the soldier, “Two prisoners escaped custody. The colonel sent us to get the mounts for a patrol, to give chase.”
The sentry grasps his musket, holding it at the ready and says, “Where’s Lt. Daniels? He is the only one I am authorized to release the mounts to!” The private gasps as he looks down to see Josh’s belt knife protruding from below his breast-bone. With a gurgle, the sentry topples to the ground, pulling the knife from Josh’s grasp. Josh reaches down, grabs the knife handle and wrenches it out of the man’s body.
Josh and Johnny both mount a horse and grab the reins of two more horses each. They turn east and ride out at the fastest gallop they can manage.
Not fifty yards away from the horse-lines, Johnny hears the reports of several muskets being fired at them. Johnny turns in the saddle and returns fire from his revolver.
They ride to the east-southeast, then, close to dawn, turn toward the south. The starlit night makes escape difficult, but they are able to lose their pursuers after several miles. They continue to ride throughout the night, switching out their mounts every half hour. Come dawn, they are more than thirty miles from the camp.
Chapter 26
John starts at a noise. Apparently, he’s dozed off. He looks toward the east. It is close to dawn. It looks like he’s been dozing longer than just a little while. There are several troopers moving around. John looks over to what sounds like someone saying his name. He sees a trooper talking to Lyttle and pointing towards the campfire John is lounging in a camp chair by.
Lyttle strides over to John. His bearing speaks volumes. John sees a slight hitch in the man’s step. John grimaces in sympathy. It is obvious the man is dealing with some pretty sever gout on his left foot.
“Mornin,” John greets the pained man in as friendly a manner as he can muster.
“Why is it you are involved in the deaths of three people in less than a week’s time?”
“Because I have a knack for being in the wrong place at the right time. Either that, or fate has an unhealthy interest in me again. Not sure which,” John replies with a wry smile.
“Do you have any idea how much paperwork you’re making for us?”
“Oh, I figure a few reports is really all. Once you guys talk to the witnesses, you’ll see I didn’t have a choice with any of them.”
“We have the reports you have filed. Did you want to add anything before the formal inquest begins later today?”
“Not that I can think of. Have you sent a rider to go get Quan? He, his wife, and Heart-of-Falcon are the only credible witnesses we have for some of these events.”
“Not yet. The inquest will take several days. They’ll be some of the last witnesses we will see.”
“I’m pretty sure Red-Feather will want to see his family. Quan and We are staying with them. I think neither the Lings, or Heart-of-Falcon will mind coming out here. In fact, I think if you don’t stop him, he will go get them anyways.”
“We need Red-Feather here to help corroborate accounts. We will send a trooper there to his homestead in a day or so.”
John nods. “I guess that means I’ll see you later then. I would like to try and get some sleep. Was that all?”
“No, but make sure you don’t leave camp until we call for you. We want to be able to find you, when you are needed.”
John nods and says, “I promise. All I want is a little more shut-eye. It’s not like I’ve been able to sleep with everything goin on around here, or anything.”
Lyttle looks at him closely, trying to tell if he is telling the truth, then apparently seeing he is being honest, nods and shoos him back to his tent.
In his exhaustion, John shambles over to his tent, seeing pillow-down all over the cot, flips it over in disgust. He sets it aright, takes his boots off, and lays back down. The cot creaks with his weight, but he doesn’t hear it. By the time his face makes contact with the fabric of the bedding, his eyes are closed and he is already deep asleep.
Chapter 27
They finally found the clan of the Night-owl after searching more than a month and a half. Josh was welcomed back with open arms, Johnny not so much. When Josh reported what the Red-Legs were doing, the news was met with, if not chagrin, then at least a fair level of consternation. Johnny’s news, about possible secession, was met with a stoic understanding.
When the boys were able to find Josh’s extended family, they were on the move. After they were able to tell what happened that night at the evening camp, Josh’s cousin, Gray Moon, came forward and explained they were on their way to a special meeting of all the tribal chiefs. All the clans were called to meet with some lawyer from New Orleans by the name of Pike.
Their clan was on its way to the meeting when the boys caught up with them. That was almost two months ago. When the clan arrived, they were brought forward to speak with the
chiefs and Mister Pike.
Johnny was impressed by the tall, well spoken gentleman. Johnny heard how he’d offered the collected clans a place of their own. The offer started a firestorm of debate amongst the gathered men. The leader of the tribe, John Ross, was all for it at first, but over time, had wavered. Many of the chiefs had spoken of their distrust of the whites and that Pike should not be trusted either.
This Confederacy, this new country, was just another group of untrustworthy politicians they said. Several people were brought forward to state their opinions. The chiefs had listened to the account of people that had survived the trail of tears, of braves that had been mistreated by the whites since, and of the women that were taken as slaves by the whites.
After the first week, Johnny began to wonder if there were ever going to be any decision made at all. It was during that first week, Johnny and Josh performed the blood-brother ceremony. After the second week, Josh began to lose patience with the whole process and made his feelings known to his uncle. His uncle’s response was that an impatient hunter often goes hungry. Josh took the hint and forced his temper down.
It was at the end of the third week, that Josh was called to tell what he knew. He was in front of the chiefs for the better part of the morning telling his story. Around noon, they broke for a lunch consisting of mostly buffalo and fry-bread. It was during the beginning of the second month of deliberations that Johnny was called in front of the council. He was asked to relay everything that had gone on since that fateful day he and Josh had returned to the orphanage, some months ago. Johnny recounted all the details he could, holding nothing back. He described the situations created by the Red-Legs, how their depredations continued throughout Kansas and Missouri.
He had been speaking for several hours before they gave him some water. He went from event to event, explaining all he could, talking from early morning through to the early afternoon. Not all the chiefs could speak English enough to understand him, so they provided him with an interpreter. It made things easier on him, since he wasn’t talking to the gathered masses, he was speaking to the single person.
When Johnny finished his narrative, that’s when the questions began. Josh’s uncle, Sitting-Elk, motions for Johnny to be seated in front of the gathered chiefs.
Grateful to finally be seated, Johnny groans involuntarily as he crosses his legs under him. The collected chiefs, through the interpreter, question him about every aspect of his misadventures of the last number of months. The questions continue through into the early evening, when finally, Chief Ross stops the interview.
“I think we have questioned the boy enough. It is time for us to make our decision. Thank you for your help. You may go see your rest now,” Chief Ross says in his deep bass.
Johnny stands, grunting from having sat in the same position too long and turns to leave. Just as he is exiting the lodge, Johnny is greeted by the sight of Josh talking animatedly to a brave by a nearby campfire. He smiles. His friend can generally strike up a conversation with anyone, anywhere.
Johnny approaches cautiously, not wanting to intrude on a private conversation. As he gets close, however, Johnny’s stomach gives a report of his lack of meal with an extremely loud growl.
Josh laughs and says, “Speak of the devil, eh, Johnny?” He points to the brave he was talking to and says, “This is my cousin, Red-Moon. He’s been working with another clan, trying to get more and better weapons for the last few months. How did things go in there?”
“Long. Obviously. Got any food? I’m starving.”
Josh points to a wooden bowl sitting on a tree stump by him.
Johnny, still feeling stiff in the legs, steps over to the stump, grabs the extremely hot bowl, and puts his foot on the stump, leaning into his knee to help stretch out his stiffness. Josh quickly explains the conversation he was having with his cousin while Johnny shovels the piping hot food in his mouth.
“So, do you think they are gonna side with the secessionists?” Josh asks as Johnny finishes his first bowl, going to the pot for seconds.
“Mmh. Not sure. I think they are having a hard time trying to decide. Better question is, do we go along if they do, or do we go our own way?” Johnny looks at Josh seriously. “This really isn’t our fight, you know. I just want the chance to kill as many Red-Legs as I can.”
“I think I’ll follow my clan. They are blood after all. Considering we are blood brothers, they will accept you, if I ask.”
“Let’s see what the chiefs decide.”
They stood by the campfire for another hour, swapping stories with Red-Moon, when they are both approached by a brave of no more than thirteen years of age. The boy asks, “You two the ones that just come from Kansas?”
Josh and Johnny nod yes.
“Mr. Pike asks me to take you to him. If you would follow me, please.”
They both look at each other, then their guide, then back at each other.
Johnny shrugs. “Why not?” He sets his now empty bowl back down on the tree stump and both boys follow the youngster.
The first impression Johnny has of the man is a sense of presence. Though he stands a full six feet in height, the man’s imposing presence makes him seem to be of gigantic proportions.
The imposing gentleman greets them in his soft, deep voice, “Come in, gentlemen.”
The two of them enter, apprehensive at being called by such an important person.
“You two act like you are being sent to the headmaster’s office. Relax. I have heard some of the troubles you have been going through recently, and would like to hear it straight from the horse’s mouth.”
Johnny’s mouth goes dry. He knows what we’ve done? The two boys look at each other, but don’t say anything.
“Come, now. I have tried plenty of murder cases. You can’t tell me anything that would surprise me. I am primarily interested in what the blue-bellies are doing. We are at war gentlemen, and we need information, most desperately.”
Johnny is stunned. He’d heard talk of secession, but outright war? What has been going on here? “What do you mean, war? War with who?”
“Most of the southern states have voted to secede from the union and to form their own country. The federal government has started to gather troops and is invading the states of the south. There has already been a battle at Fort Sumter in South Carolina. The north is an invading force to our country, gentlemen, and I aim to get as much information as I can about what their troops are doing.”
Johnny looks at Josh questioningly.
Josh returns the look, shrugs, then motions forward. Why not? Go ahead.
Johnny looks around and seeing several camp chairs set up in a rough approximation of a circle, moves toward them. Seating himself, Johnny says, “Sorry, I really need to sit down.” He groans as he sits on the canvas covered chair. “I don’t know that we know much about their troops or troop movements at all, but we will tell you what we know.”
The statesman grins and seats himself across from Johnny. “In my experience, people know more about what is going on than they may understand. I would like to hear what you have been through, and we can figure out what information lies in there.” He motions to the front of the lodge for someone to come forward. The brave that led the two boys here comes over and Pike says, “Can we get some coffee for each of us please?”
The brave nods and walks away, returning several moments later with several steaming tin cups of coffee.
“Now, that we have something to keep our throats wet, please tell me what you have seen.”
For the next two hours, Josh and Johnny relay a version of their story to the large man. Once they get to the more recent events, talking about the muster, Pike motions again to the brave and requests a map be brought in for them to show the camp and troops gathering points they observed.
After several clarifying questions about distances and times, the two boys are dismissed with a thanks and a request if they remember anything else to please report it
at once. Both boys find their way back to the lodge shared with Josh’s uncle and now cousins. Both boys fall into their sleeping pallets, exhausted.
The following day, it is announced the tribe will be siding with the Confederacy. Sitting-Elk tells Johnny his description of the crimes the Red-Legs were committing helped sway Chief Ross into making the decision he did.
Johnny feels an almost crushing sense of responsibility on hearing that. He knows people are going to die. A lot of people. All because he told someone what he saw, what he felt. He convinced an entire race of people to join a fight that wasn’t exactly concerning them.
After talking with Sitting-Elk, Johnny excuses himself and walks to the edge of the camp. He watches the sun set on the prairie. As it sets, the horizon seems to take aflame, in its numerous shades of red and orange. The sunset looks to him like the firestorm he just started with his words.
Slowly, contemplatively, he walks back to their lodge. As he enters, he sees Josh sitting on a fur, talking expressively with Red-Moon. Josh looks up in the middle of a sentence and, seeing the look in his blood-brother’s face, asks, “Uh, Johnny? You alright?”
John looks over at his friend and says, “We’re not kids anymore, man. I think we need to join up and fight with the tribe. From now on, I think the time of using my childish name of Johnny is gone, and I will now go by John.”
Chapter 28
John wakes in the mid-morning to the sound of shouts and that of men gathering equipment in a hurry. John rolls out of the cot, gun in hand.
He rushes out of his tent to see a scene of almost pandemonium. He stops one of the troopers while the trooper is running toward the horse-lines with saddle in hand. “What’s going on here?” John demands of the soldier.
“Jacobson somehow killed Johnston and Dewar, then escaped custody.”
With a low muttered curse, John rushes back into his tent, throws his boots on, and runs from the camp back to town. When he makes it in the door of Hotel Denver, he is almost run over by Lt. Woodson on his way out.
The Marshal of Denver Page 13
