The Reluctant Bounty Hunter

by S G Read

  ‘It hurts but it is hurting less today than it did yesterday. The squaw who is looking after me says I am here for a week, before I can go back to the valley.’

  ‘Duncan is going to be mad at me.’ Sarah sighed.

  ‘Why it was my idea?’ Becky argued.

  ‘But I should have known better!’

  ‘Would they have scalped me?’ Becky asked suddenly.

  ‘They might have, as you were wounded, they might not have wanted to, you know what you.’

  ‘I don’t thing I would have liked to be scalped.’

  ‘Believe me you would not have known much about it.’ Sarah assured her.

  ‘But no hair.’ Becky exclaimed.

  A squaw came in and Sarah was sent out of the tepee. She walked about idly in the Indian village until she came to some young braves practicing their wrestling and joined in. She beat the first young brave and then the second but the third was bigger and stronger than her so she lost. Were it a real fight she might have won as Duncan had shown her a few tricks to help when the odds are against you but here they were just practicing so she contented herself in doing her best. The bigger brave picked her up and acknowledged her skill in wrestling, before he took on the next brave and she watched him fight. As he fought, his young bronzed body shone with sweat and she imagined being his squaw, in their tepee. What would Ms. Brody say about that!

  Duncan sat watching the trail to Andersonsville and saw the preacher approaching with the buckboard. He knew what that meant, the well was not finished yet and they needed more water.

  He spent the rest of the day filling the barrels and starting back toward Andersonsville. He spent the night under the buckboard again, longing for the soft bed in his cabin and his soft wife to cuddle. Did this mean he was getting old? When morning came he started back and the water was collected in the same manner. Duncan stood holding his horse’s reins and watched the buckboard as it disappeared in the distance. While he was watching the buckboard, Little Buck stirred. Duncan looked away to see what had caused him to be interested in the things going on around him, so suddenly.

  A rider was coming at speed and it was an unshod pony. They watched as the brave approached then leapt from his pony dramatically. He hurried up to Little Buck to tell him about Sarah and Becky’s close call with Duncan listening to the story without comment.

  ‘Will you go back now?’ Little Buck asked hopefully.

  ‘No. Sounds like things are under control there and nothing I can do now that would help. Paddling her before she chose to ride outside might have done the trick but it is a bit late now, the lesson is learned.’ Duncan answered.

  ‘Paddling?’ Little Buck asked repeating the word in English as he did not know what the word meant and therefore could not translate it.

  ‘Putting her over my knee and using a paddle on her backside.’ Duncan explained but seeing that Little Buck still did not understand he added. ‘One of those things you use in a canoe.’ And pretended to be paddling a canoe.

  ‘Oh them.’ Little Buck said wisely. ‘My father uses his hand and he has a big hand.’

  The wait continued with the men in Andersonsville digging their well, to bring life back to the town.

  A week later the doctor came out in his rig. Duncan was pleased to see him riding in the rig and not the buckboard. He came up to the barricade and stopped. They knew him and no one issuing a warning to stop.

  ‘No more cases since we stopped drinking from the well and there are only a handful of sick people. Two might recover but the rest will probably die, when that happens I will declare the town open again.’ The doctor advised them from close proximity.

  ‘Any idea what was in the water?’ Duncan asked.

  ‘Looked like a dead animal but we didn’t go down and get it out, just covered it up.’ The doctor answered.

  ‘As soon as you give the word we will allow free movement and let them know in Bluegrass.’ Duncan replied.

  ‘Amen to that.’ The doctor retorted and turned the rig round. ‘Be a lot more in church after this.’ He called and returned to the town.

  It was a week after the incident before Becky was allowed out of the tepee and by then she was getting bored again. Once she was allowed out, she limped about the Indian village just to prove she could. The following day she was tied on to a travois and taken back to the valley with Sarah riding beside her on her pony.

  ‘Where is my pony?’ Becky asked, wanting wanted to ride it back.

  ‘It was injured by the same arrow which hurt your leg and it needs time to recover.’ Sarah answered. ‘They said they will bring it back when it is fit but they also said they will scalp you themselves, if you ride out of the valley again!’

  ‘Oh I won’t be doing that, well not for a while.’ Becky answered and drew a glare from Sarah.

  Morning Sun came out to meet them and helped Becky off of the travois, before scolding Sarah but then Sarah knew that was coming and probably worse from Duncan when he returned. Becky refused to go into the cabin and limped down to the stream, while Sarah had to look after her pony. After that he was allowed to wander to feed off the available grass. When she joined Becky by the stream Becky looked up.

  ‘Sorry.’ She said from where she sat dangling her bare feet in the water as it flowed by.

  ‘My fault Becky, I should have said no!’ Sarah replied and sat down beside her to do the same.

  Duncan saw the doctor riding out in his rig and saw a big smile on his face. He opened the barricade to let him through but he stopped short of it.

  ‘Well we have no new cases and no sick people so I am declaring the quarantine over. I would ride out and tell the other fellers but they are a mite trigger happy and having survived the cholera I don’t want to get shot for my troubles, as I am the only doctor.’ He announced.

  ‘I’ll send Wyatt round to tell them they can open up and then go home. They are hardly going to believe anyone telling them that from the other side of the barricade are they now.’ Duncan answered.

  ‘It would be a damned fool who tried and I am no damned fool.’ The doctor answered. He looked at the open barricade but turned back and returned to town.

  ‘Wyatt, you ride to the other end and tell your mates it is all over, then when the barricade is removed you can all return to Bluegrass. Stop and see me before you go so that I know it is all over, then I will ride into town and tell them it is safe to travel, well as safe as it was before we arrived.’ Duncan ordered.

  ‘On my way Dunc. See you back here in about three days.’ Wyatt answered and rode off, he was just as ready to go home as Duncan was.

  Duncan watched Wyatt ride away knowing that there was nothing he could do to hurry things along and settled down to wait. The two Indians were already settled down and had been for some time.

  Three days seemed to take forever but finally Wyatt and the other marshals rode up to let Duncan know they were on their way home. Duncan rode into town to let them know it was safe to travel. When he returned the marshals headed for home and the Indians joined them. They rode in a group not worrying about Indians attacks, which was new for the other marshals, it would be unlucky to run into a stray Sioux war party. They rode all the rest of the day then camped for the night under the stars. Tall Grass and Little Buck chose to camp nearby to keep an eye on things as Little Buck was wanting to clear his debt to Duncan but it was unlikely to happen that night!

  Morning found them parting at the same place they met, the other marshals heading for Bluegrass and Duncan for home, escorted by the two Indians. They parted at the entrance to the valley and Duncan rode inside. He saw Sarah sitting next to Becky on the stoop he had added to the front of the cabin and rode up to them. Sarah threw her arms round him when he slid from his horse and he held her tight before letting her walk his horse away to be groomed and left to wander.

  Becky watched from the stoop and Morning Sun came out for her cuddle, for now it would have to do.

  ‘You heard wha
t happened?’ Morning Sun asked in Pawnee.

  ‘I did.’ Duncan answered in the same language. ‘Boredom is a dangerous thing.’

  ‘I did not punish.’ Morning Sun added.

  ‘I know, I will think on a suitable punishment for the guilty party. How is the leg?’ Duncan asked.

  ‘Getting better.’ Becky answered in Pawnee.

  Duncan looked at her and laughed. ‘I don’t supposed there is much else to do with a bad leg round here, apart from sitting and looking. I am glad some time was well spent. Just remember, a Sioux only knows one thing, how to kill. What they do to you before they kill you, is an art you do not want to learn.’

  ‘I know. It was my fault, I was bored.’ Becky answered in English. ‘A beautiful valley like this and with my best friend and I was bored? It does not make sense.’

  ‘You learned a lesson the hard way but you survived.’ Duncan answered and walked up to where she sat.

  ‘Don’t punish Sarah for what I did?’ She asked and stood up to prove she was getting better.

  Duncan put his big arms round her and gave her a hug. ‘Punishment is for nearly making a mistake in my book, you went past nearly in a big way and your hair was nearly an ornament on a lodge pole! Just learn from it! And I sincerely hope you will be able to walk into the school when it is time for you to return.’

  ‘I’m working on it.’ Becky declared and walked down to where Sarah was working. ‘I had a word but I don’t know if it will help.’ She said as she leant on the nearby rail.

  ‘I would punish me if I had allowed you to sway me to your way of thinking Becky. My mother was killed by the Sioux. I am told she suffered at their hands and I still let you talk me into going out where I might meet some! There is no two ways about it, I am for it!’

  Sarah finished the horse and then walked into the cabin to find the piece of paper she had been given for helping Priscilla and walked to where Duncan was sitting Morning Sun.

  ‘I was given this for being a good girl.’ She declared and held in out for Duncan to inspect.

  ‘A thousand dollars! What did you do to earn that?’ He asked, his mind turning to her mother’s occupation.

  ‘Some bad men broke into the school and wanted to take one of my friends, so I organized some resistance and shot the last one myself.’ Sarah answered without moving.

  ‘Well as soon as I have paddled your back side we will go into town and put it into the bank. Go and get my canoe paddle.’ Duncan replied.

  Sarah walked to the cabin and then returned with the paddle.

  ‘Why do you have a canoe when there isn’t a river nearby?’ She asked as she gave it to him.

  ‘It was a gift.’ Duncan answered and motioned for her to lay over his lap where he was sitting.

  She did so and Becky saw what was going on. She hurried as fast as her bad leg would allow her but had to shout before she arrived.

  ‘It is me who should be punished.’ She asserted and kept hurrying to get there.

  ‘You are next.’ Duncan declared and tapped Sarah on her backside gently. ‘Next time it will be for real.’

  ‘Oh believe me there will not be a next time.’ Sarah retorted and looked at the approaching Becky.

  Becky had to struggle down to the same position just to receive the same single, gentle blow and then she had to be helped up by Sarah.

  ‘Do we go to town now?’ Sarah asked.

  ‘My horse is tired and Morning Sun needs a man round here today. We will go in the morning.’ Duncan answered.

  They saddled their horses in the morning and rode into town. Becky was forced to stay with Morning Sun, as riding a horse was not possible for her yet but she was able to learn some more Pawnee while they were gone. Duncan and Sarah rode straight to the sheriff’s office, to see if anything untoward was going on, before they went to the bank, then Duncan allowed Sarah to withdraw some of her money to spend in town. She bought sweets and a present for both Becky and Morning Sun. She would have brought Duncan a present but he was with her all the time they were in town and he made no move to leave her alone. When they rode out she asked him about it.

  ‘There are people with wicked tongues in this town and some might choose to say something to you were you on your own that they might not when I am with you.’ Duncan answered carefully.

  ‘What about my mother?’

  ‘Some may say like mother like child, I’ve heard it said by ne’er do wells.’ Duncan answered. ‘And I don’t want you shooting anyone else who steps out of line.’

  ‘You know what they say about sticks and stones.’ Sarah retorted. ‘So I will not shoot them, merely hit them with better words than they could ever dream up.’

  ‘That sounds like Ms. Brody talking.’

  ‘Her idea. Since she knows what my mother did to earn the money to send me to school, she gave me some extra advice, after I shot the intruder. In case I did the same to anyone who spoke out of turn.’ Sarah answered. ‘And since the other incident the subject is bound to come up, as Becky is not one to keep any secret very long. I will swear her to secrecy over the death of my mother just so she feels really bad when she lets it slip.’

  ‘All in all, not a good thing to do.’ Duncan sighed.

  ‘There are only two who will cause trouble and I think I can handle them and the trouble Pa.’

  Duncan looked up. ‘Pa?’

  ‘Better than saying guardian all the time, don’t you think?’ Sarah declared.

  ‘I suppose.’ Duncan answered. ‘Me, I will answer to most things.’

  With the shopping trip over they rode back to the valley, so that Sarah could give Becky her presents and share the sweets with her.

  The next week was relaxing and they settled into a routine. Duncan showing the girls how to do things or helping them improve something he had already shown them. When Little Deer arrived to have her hair braided for once Little Buck accompanied her and he was soon teaching the girls and Duncan, how to shoot a bow and arrow. During the week Becky found walking was easier and by the start of the next week she rode her pony through the valley. It took a lot out of her and she spent the next day resting but by the end of the week she was riding her pony and firing arrows like Little Buck could, although not always as accurate, as she could not grip her pony firmly enough with her weakened leg. Duncan became reacquainted with Duncan Wolf Lee who was getting into as much mischief as he could. Now the door to the entrance to the valley was firmly closed just in case he strayed that way while no one was looking.

  The friendship between the girls grew and by the end of the holiday they were bronzed and less ladylike when they arrived. So much so that Duncan insisted they change their ways for the last day and did things in a ladylike way, including how they spoke. For them it was like being an actress and each tried hard to be the perfect miss. They spoke with definition and never shortened words, making sure the diction was pronounced the way they had been instructed.

  On the morning of the day they had to go back to school they were both tearful, hugging Morning Sun and holding Duncan Wolf Lee for as long as he would let them. They rode out of the valley after Crazy Dog had arrived to tell them that it was safe to do so and were greeted with a large group of Pawnee led by Running Wolf.

  ‘As they are like a honey is to bees where Sioux are concerned, I thought a full war party was the best idea.’ Running Wolf declared. ‘I understand from my son that the leg has healed.’

  ‘It has Running Wolf and it is mainly thanks to Morning Cloud and her herbs.’ Duncan answered, as he took up a position next to him.

  ‘I will make sure she is available next time there is a holiday.’ Running Wolf answered slyly.

  ‘Mrs. Morning Cloud will not be needed to repair my injuries next time I am here, as I do not intend for there to be any.’ Becky answered politely from behind them.

  ‘I sincerely hope you are right Becky.’ Duncan replied without turning to face her.

  The return journey was like the journey
there with the exception of Becky having to double up on a horse. They rode as far as the water stop and stopped out of sight. If any Sioux saw them they stayed well out of sight as it was a large war party. Crazy Dog took the pony ready to return it to the Carter ranch but not until after he had seen them off, as he was getting attached to them.

  The train puffed along and stopped at the water stop where the two girls, Duncan and Crazy Dog waited. There was a cloud of steam as it stopped in front of the water tower.

  ‘Howdy folks, been waiting long?’ The conductor asked as he dropped the step, for the girls to walk up to get into the carriage on.

  ‘Only an hour.’ Duncan answered. ‘Not long at all in the scheme of things.’

  ‘I wish they all thought like that.’ The conductor replied. ‘Always wanting to rush here and there as though they only had a day to live, some of them!’

  ‘I know what you mean.’ Duncan answered and helped each girl up into the carriage while Crazy Dog brought the luggage.

  Soon it was all over and after another tearful parting the train chuffed away to take the girls back to school. Duncan and Crazy Dog watched until they were a dot on the horizon, before they rejoined the war party. When Crazy Dog left to return the pony four braves went with him, in case there was trouble, the rest rode back to the valley and Running Wolf stopped to see Morning Sun.

  The two girls returned for other holidays while they were at school but none were as exciting as the first one, they made sure of that.

  Duncan had been mulling over whether to offer the valley as a winter home to the tribe while he was stopping anyone leaving Andersonsville and he had come to the conclusion that it was feasible as the water rose near them and crossed behind the cabin before leaving the valley on the other side. The Indians would be at the other end of the valley and would take water when they needed it. It was the plight of Andersonsville which had made him consider the water and keeping it clean.

  He decided it was a possibility but would not talk to Running Wolf, without first asking Morning Sun, as he thought she should have a say in the matter. With that in mind, he brought up the subject after Running Wolf and his personnel escort left for the village.