****
Aiden heard a great uproar and assumed that another troop had brought in more prisoners. It had been going on all day. After a few minutes, someone banged on the door and she hurried to answer, wondering what had happened to the guard.
Eyes snapping, Meeker pushed inside and slammed the door behind him. “They got him. I couldn’t do nothing. Caught him out back of the place where they’re keeping the Cheyenne”
“Oh, no. What’d they do with him?”
“Put him in with the others. He was trying to take food to them. They found it out back in kegs, all the garbage from supper just dumped in there. I’ve a good mind to do me some housecleaning around here. I got me no truck with Injuns, but treating women and kids like that, well, I cain’t stomach it.”
Tears welled up in her eyes and she brushed them away. No time for such nonsense. She had to do something. Now, during all the hubbub.
“Where’s the guard they put on my door?”
Meeker shrugged. “Didn’t see no one. He must’a gone to see what the ruckus was about.”
“Okay, good. Listen, did you mean what you said?”
He nodded, eyes wary as if reconsidering his earlier outburst. “But I don’t aim to get myself killed.”
“No one will get killed. We’re just going to perform a little rescue mission. We have to get Stone Heart out of there, but I’m afraid in order to do that I’ll have to go inside the prison. I’ll need you on the outside once I’m in there. Can you do that?”
“I reckon. But that’s crazy. You go in there, even if the soldiers allow it, which I cain’t see as how the will, them Injuns’ll likely scalp you, or worse.”
“No, I don’t think so.”
“Whatcha got in mind?”
“I’m going to turn Stone Heart into a white man right under their noses, and then he can walk out just like any other soldier, and no one will be the wiser. But we’ll probably have to wait till things settle down a bit. Now, I want you on the outside so you can take care of my guard when the time comes. He’s apt to come back any minute, and I have to be here so they won’t come looking for me. Then when all is still for the night, you need to get me out of here and over to the prison barracks. Can you do that?”
He eyed her for a long moment, rubbed at his beard, then up under the fur hat. “I reckon I can. For a genteel white lady, you sure are addled, is all I can say.”
“You may be right, but I refuse to sit here and do nothing.”
Chapter Twelve
Meeker stared askance at Aiden who wore the uniform she’d stolen for Stone Heart. “You’ll never get away with this. It’s way too big, the legs are dragging the floor and...and, by God, I have to say this, you don’t look like no man.”
“We can roll up the legs and push up the sleeves. It’s dark, they won’t notice.”
“They won’t notice? A blind man would notice. You look like a kid wearing her daddy’s clothes.”
Her eyes burned with unshed tears. “Well, what do you suggest, then?”
“I don’t know. Maybe we could just shoot the guards and break ’em all out, let ’em fend for themselves. At least they’d die free.”
“They’d shoot them down before they got a hundred feet. Meeker, I have to do this. I won’t just sit here and wait for something to happen.”
“Well, hell’s bells,” Meeker hollered and began to shuck off his soiled buckskin shirt.
“What’re you doing?”
“Oh, don’t worry, I ain’t gonna ravage you. I’m big enough to wear the blamed thing, and besides, I’m of the male persuasion. Tell me what you want me to do and I’ll do it. Shoot me for a fool, but I’ll do it.”
Clutching the shirt over her breasts, she stared at him in disbelief. “Are you sure?”
“Better do it afore I change my mind,” he said and went to work peeling off the pants.
Quickly she turned her back and removed the uniform shirt. If this worked it still wouldn’t insure the escape of the prisoners, but it would set Stone Heart free to do what he needed to do. He’d probably get killed in the process, or go away and she’d never see him again. Either way would break her heart.
Without turning around she held out the pants and Meeker took them.
“Keep your back turned till I get my dress back on.” She heard the slither of fabric against skin as he slipped into the stolen lieutenant’s uniform.
“Go ahead, I ain’t looking. But you just remember what you promised. I aim to collect.”
If this worked and saved Stone Heart’s life, she just might be willing to do what Meeker wanted, heaven help her.
“You got a plan or do we just play this by gosh and by golly?” Meeker asked and finished buttoning the uniform jacket. It was a bit loose, but looked better on him than on her.
She studied him, walked around and around. “I don’t know about the beard.”
He fisted up the wild growth. “Hold on a minute, you didn’t say nothing about scraping off my face. I ain’t a gonna do it, and that’s all they is to that. Why, I’d freeze plum to death. This here don’t come off till summer and the bugs come out.”
Holding up a hand to hush him, she circled once more. “It’ll be dark. It’ll have to do. Yes, I have a plan. You’ve been sent to the prison by one of the officers to fetch the Cheyenne they just captured. They want to interrogate him. He may know where the others are hiding. Something like that. Then, you just go in, grab Stone Heart and drag him out. Only instead of taking him to the officer, you bring him here. Discreetly.”
“You mean without anyone seeing?”
“That’s exactly what I mean.”
“What if they don’t buy it? Ain’t they gonna think it peculiar I don’t have on a hat?”
“Yes, that’s worried me all along. I don’t know what to do about it, except I’ve noticed that the officers tend to choose a hat to their liking. Like maybe there isn’t a set rule. You’ll have to try and get something. Now, you’ll need a name. There are so many men stationed here no one could possibly know them all, so we’ll use a real simple name. Lieutenant Jones ought to do.”
“What about the name of the officer?”
She had to think about that for a while. “Just say the major and say it real gruff like there’ll be hell to pay if you don’t get your prisoner.”
Going to the window she peered out. “Hurry, get out of here before my guard comes back.”
“How’m I supposed to get this Stone Heart fella past the guard?”
“Sneak up on him and bop him on the head or something. You’ll think of a way.”
“And what happens when he comes to and finds you got yourself a guest?”
“Stop asking questions. We’ll deal with it when the time comes. The important thing is to get Stone Heart out of that prison. Now will you quit jawing and get on your way?”
He hadn’t taken one step toward the door before a gentle rap sounded. “Aiden? Are you in there? It’s Retha. Retha Woods.”
“See? I told you,” he hissed.
She waved a hand at him. “Keep your mouth shut.”
“Yes, Retha, I’m here, but I’m afraid I don’t feel too well.”
“I’m sorry they put a guard on you, but I had a word with Major Klein and he agreed that was wrong of Wessells. Could I bring you some food? I’m sure they could heat up something at officers’ mess.”
Mouthing the major’s name at Meeker, she replied. “Oh, no, that’s okay. I’m just having my monthlies. Nothing to worry about.” She wanted desperately to ask Retha to bring something. Stone Heart would be hungry when he arrived. But she feared having Retha present when and if the two men returned. “Thank you so much for your concern, I really do appreciate it.”
After a long pause, Retha said, “Well, if you’re sure. Perhaps we could get together tomorrow, since you’re no longer confined to quarters. There’s an ever so nice young man here from back east. He writes for one of those newspapers and came here to report
on what’s going on with the Cheyenne. I thought you might like to talk to him, considering...well, the way you feel.”
“A newspaper reporter?” Aiden’s heart leapt in her chest. If the world knew what was going on, would it help or hurt the Cheyenne people? Maybe President Hayes didn’t know what these soldiers were up to. She couldn’t believe he could condone such cruelty. “Yes, I would like that. Thank you.”
“Yes, well, I’ll be going then. See you tomorrow for breakfast?”
“Fine, yes, I’ll see you in the morning.”
Leaning an ear against the wooden panels, she waved Meeker to her side, listened a moment, then unlatched the door and shoved him out. “Don’t come back till you bring me Stone Heart. And remember, it’s Major Klein that sent you.” She flicked at an imaginary speck on the shoulder of the uniform. “Get a hat.”
“Yes’m.” He gave her a mock salute and shuffled off, looking like anything but a lieutenant in the U. S. Army.
Hugging herself in the icy blast, she watched from the opening until the trapper disappeared into the darkness.
****
Stone Heart glanced around the smoky room. The prisoners had built a few scrappy fires from what they could find to burn in the ramshackle building and the flickering light revealed a horrendous sight. He could not bear to look long upon the bloody and battered women and children huddled together for warmth. Several men, some with blood drying on wounds not serious enough to send them to the hospital, watched him warily from cross legged positions on the dirt floor. The stench of blood and human waste clogged his nostrils and his stomach heaved.
One of the men introduced himself, spoke in Cheyenne. “I am called The Sioux. The soldiers took me before I could make the river. What are you called and where do you come from?”
After he told his name, Stone Heart waited a long while before receiving a question in reply. “You are of the Northern Cheyenne, of Dull Knife’s people?”
He hesitated a moment. “Yes, my mother was White Robe.”
“And your father?”
“He is dead, killed at Greasy Creek.”
“His name? Dull Knife’s son Medicine Club was killed at Greasy Creek. And others of our people.”
Stone Heart wanted to lie, to make up the name of a father, but he couldn’t bring himself to do so. “He was a white man.”
“Ahhh, but you are truly Cheyenne?”
“Yes, I am truly Cheyenne.”
“I don’t remember you.”
“I was shot, they left me for dead along with many others at Hat Creek. I’ve only now been able to return. I was bringing you food when they captured me.”
The Sioux did not speak for a very long time. Nearby a child whimpered and a mother’s voice soothed.
“They could use food. Too bad they caught you. It seems I remember a Stone Heart. A son of the long-haired Custer.”
While he searched for a suitable reply, raised voices from outside interrupted the conversation.
At his back, another of the men spoke to The Sioux.
“He is white. We do not need him here to spy on us. There is no escape, we must die with honor.”
Another voice joined in. “Tangle Hair is right, The Sioux. We need no white men, especially not of the blood of the long hair.”
With a sadness in his heart, Stone Heart strained to hear more. He was no longer welcome by these people, who had never before considered his white blood of any consequence. Outside the iron bar clanged to the ground and the doors creaked open.
The soldiers surely weren’t bringing more prisoners this time of night.
The women and children in the dark prison wailed. The soldiers had come to kill them. Crying out, they sheltered their frightened children. Soon, they would die.
The Cheyenne words tore at Stone Heart’s very soul.
A man in uniform stepped inside. “I come for the one called Stone Heart.”
“He is here,” The Sioux said before Stone Heart could stop him. No one should be asking for him, and he didn’t trust what might be happening. It was clear The Sioux and some of the others wished him gone.
“The major wants to talk to you, now,” the young soldier said. “Well, get up, breed, get a move on.”
He did as he was bade, stumbled through the doorway where he was grabbed by a bearded man in a lieutenant’s uniform and a hat too small for him. In the darkness he couldn’t make out his features, but thought the smell familiar.
“Come along.” The man grabbed his arm hard.
An inclination to fight back, to stand his ground, held him fast against the other’s grip. “What does he want, the major?”
“Shut up and move,” the man growled, shoved him hard through the door.
For the briefest of instants he wanted to charge the two soldiers, let one of them put a bullet in him now. Stop this hopeless quest once and for all. But hope continued to flare in his heart for the remainder of these brave people and he wished only to see them set free. So weary his bones ached, he stumbled along ahead of the bearded man. They walked along the perimeter of the road, away from the watch fires and a few sentries.
“Are you sure the major asked for Stone Heart?”
“Sure as rain.”
“Where are we going?”
Glancing around in all directions, Stone Heart saw that they were headed away from officer’s quarters. “Where are we going?”
A sentry approached and the bearded man dragged him into an alleyway. “Be quiet.”
“What’s going on here? If you’re going to kill me, do it and be done.”
“Be quiet, will ye? She sent me for you. It’s me, Meeker.”
A’den. She was the only one who could arrange something like this and figure she would get away with it.
When the sentry passed by, his captor signaled him to remain and peered out along the road in both directions. “Okay, all clear. Quit asking so many questions. She sent me to get you out and you’re out. What she’s gonna do with you I have no idea.”
“By ‘she’ you mean A’den?”
“Reckon that’s her name. She’s Mrs. Meeker to some.” The man chortled under his breath.
“What has she got in mind?”
“Blamed if I know.”
A’den’s rescue both angered and pleased Stone Heart. He had wanted to learn more about Dull Knife and those who had escaped after the breakout, yet he looked forward to seeing the red-haired woman again. In his heart he knew that such a thing could only bring further disaster, but God help him, he yearned for her touch, the feel of her soft hands against his flesh.
It would seem he had not cast off his old life quite so completely as he’d thought. Making love to her had been a big mistake. Now he couldn’t forget how it felt to be in her arms. He desperately longed to hold her, lie in the soft, sweet smelling bed. Put behind him the filth of the prison he’d just left, the strife and horrid conditions that would soon be his lot if he remained with the Cheyenne. And most surely, he would soon die.
He was no longer sure that was what he wanted. At the same time, he felt a traitor to his people to be thinking this way.
“Well, lookee there. She was right, there’s no guard.”
Stone Heart left his ruminations behind and saw that they were approaching A’den’s quarters.
Meeker’s arm shot out, blocking his way. “Hold up just a minute, here in the shadows while I take a better look around. She’ll have my head if I get you caught.”
Stone Heart leaned against the barracks in the darkness, his every breath ragged. Weariness seeped into his bones and he longed only to sleep where it was warm. Hunger squeezed at his gut. This was no way to have to live. He cursed the life with the white man that had made him soft.
When Meeker came back to fetch him, he stumbled along in the man’s wake. After a short tapping, she swung the door open and dragged him inside. Leaving Meeker to see to its closing, she threw her arms around him and he embraced her gratefully. Her smell, her to
uch, the warmth of the fire lulled him, and he felt his knees buckling despite a staunch effort to remain upright.
“Help me put him to bed, Meeker,” she said.
He was only half conscious of sinking onto the soft mattress while she took off his clothes and moccasins. Heard Meeker adding wood to the stove while she pulled the covers up under his chin. Her soft, moist lips covered his and her fingers trailed through his hair. His mouth reached for the kiss, then fell away. He took A’den’s caress with him into the sheltering darkness where peace and love greeted him.
Aiden regarded the sleeping man, glanced at Meeker, who had exchanged the uniform for his comfortable trapper’s gear. “I need some shears.”
“Well, don’t look at me. I put my life on the line to bring him here.”
She stared at him.
He looked down at his feet, shuffled. “Where would I get shears, anyway?”
“I don’t know. Is there a barber? There must be. Or maybe at the livery. Or, maybe you could just walk into the mercantile and buy some.”
“Now, there’s an idee. What would I use for money?”
“I don’t know that, either. What do you usually use for money? When you buy other things. Surely you do buy things.”
“When I have pelts to trade, certainly I do.”
“And you must have pelts. You’d been trapping a good part of the season when we came across you.”
“And what pelts I had were left out there when we were dragged to this godforsaken place.”
“Could you go get them?” Aiden rose, went to the bed and lay a palm on Stone Heart’s forehead.
He stirred but didn’t awaken, and she gazed at his face, so keenly sketched in repose. Though gaunt from his recent ordeal, he was beautiful. He would kill himself trying to save these people, and there was nothing she could do about that but help him. The lack of choices left her completely frustrated. And to think all she’d wanted was to go home to Saint Louis what seemed a lifetime ago. Now she loved this man and could see nothing beyond that love.
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