The Reluctant Bounty Hunter

by S G Read

  Ms. Brody spent time going to the Indian village until the squaw was limping about without the splints or bandages and then things returned to normal. She knew she would not be called upon again, unless there was a problem they could not handle and they were not likely to admit that, until it was too late. They did however go out on field trips, not only on to Indian land but all over the country but they always made sure they had company and therefore did not worry about meeting hostile Indians.

  Morning Sun and Duncan started for the Pawnee village, she was very close to being a mother again and they moved slowly. Duncan had his pistol in his hand as they rode as they could not ride fast if trouble came. They reached the crossroad and turned left for the village to find Crazy Dog waiting there.

  ‘It is not a good time to go to the village today.’ He announced.

  He offered no other explanation and they turned back for the valley. Crazy Dog followed some distance behind and watched them go into the valley before riding away. An hour later Little Deer arrived with the old squaws. Duncan was left to ponder what the problem was but no one explained. He rode up his valley to the far end with his rifle and climbed up to spy on the village from the top of the cliff. He lay there with his sight aimed at the village for some time and saw braves coming and going but he did not see Running Wolf at all. Braves went into his tepee and came out a few moments later, some stayed longer than others. He trained his sight on the tepee entrance in hopes of seeing inside but the distance was too great. He watched Little Buck ride up to the tepee, walk in and come out twenty minutes later, his face painted for war. When he came out a war party formed and he led them off, obviously to battle.

  Duncan hurried down and rode back past the cabin. He paused by it for a few seconds then rode out of the valley, making sure no one was about as he went. One old squaw watched him go and there were tears in her eyes. Duncan rode round to pick up their trail and was met by Crazy Dog.

  ‘This is not your fight.’ Crazy Dog exclaimed.

  ‘I am making it my fight.’ Duncan declared and rode past him.

  ‘Then we will fight side by side.’ Crazy Dog replied and caught him up.

  ‘How did it happen?’ Duncan asked.

  ‘How did what happen?’

  ‘How did Running Wolf die?’

  ‘You are very astute.’ Crazy Dog answered which made Duncan look at him in a quizzical way. ‘I was talking with a preacher and he was happy that I did not scalp him. We spoke for some time then and on other occasions. I think he is trying to make me a Christian.’

  Duncan snorted.

  ‘Let him dream Duncan Lee.’ Crazy Dog added. ‘It might happen one day if the Sioux do not get him!’

  ‘I’d like to be around to see it,’ Duncan replied, ‘but it doesn’t answer my question.’

  ‘The Sioux were waiting with a large war party and Running Wolf and all the braves with him were killed. Two braves brought back Running Wolf while the rest made sure the Sioux did not catch them. Now Little Buck is going to kill them all.’

  ‘And you?’

  ‘I was told to keep you safe and it looks like I am not even going to do that.’ Crazy Dog answered.

  ‘Running Wolf was my friend.’ Duncan exclaimed and they rode on.

  They heard the fight sometime before they reached it but they did not slow down. They spurred on their horses and Duncan drew both of his pistols before they reached the scene of the fighting.

  The first thing they found was a Sioux about to kill a Pawnee and Duncan shot him dead then Crazy Dog and Duncan rode in amongst the Sioux, killing all the Sioux they could. In close quarters Duncan fired his pistols until they were empty and then drew a sword. It was an officer’s sword from the war which he had won in battle, now it was used to kill Sioux. The battle went well until a tomahawk hit Duncan and he fell to the floor. He knew no more until he woke and looked up to see Crazy Dog’s face.

  ‘I did keep you safe then, more or less.’ Crazy Dog declared when Duncan opened his eyes.

  Duncan looked about him. ‘Are they all dead?’

  ‘No some escaped and Little Buck has gone after them with the braves who are still able to ride. I think he is angry.’ Crazy Dog answered.

  ‘How many were there?’ Duncan asked. ‘The Sioux, I mean.’

  ‘Two hundred, give or take.’ Crazy Dog answered.

  ‘Two hundred! And how many went after them?’

  ‘All the fit braves.’ Crazy Dog answered.

  ‘And that would be?’

  ‘Maybe seventy, might be more.’

  ‘Might be less as well!’ Duncan answered. ‘You haven’t got seventy braves!’

  ‘So I can’t count Duncan Lee, they are defeated are they not?’

  ‘They are Crazy Dog.’ Duncan answered. ‘But did you think I would not fight if the odds were not in my favor?’

  ‘I did think it was better for you not to know.’ Crazy Dog answered with a smile. ‘I have seen you fighting when you are angry and it suited me to get you there still angry Duncan Lee. I had no thoughts that you would not fight, it was just how you fought and to coin one of your phrases, you put the fear of God up them, whoever he is!’

  ‘I doubt if you will live long enough to find out Crazy Dog, now I’ll head home to get patched up. I am sure you want to go after the others as soon as possible.’

  ‘As soon as you are safe inside the valley I will Duncan Lee.’ Crazy Dog answered and there was no arguing, it was Little Buck’s orders and he was following them to the letter, well sort of.

  They rode away from the carnage and back to the valley. On the way they passed squaws and old braves going to collect the dead. Crazy Dog stopped to speak to them while Duncan dutifully waited a little way down the track. When the conversation finished, they rode on and Crazy Dog made sure Duncan was in the valley, before he hurried after the rest of the remaining braves.

  Duncan rode to the cabin and dismounted unsteadily. He wanted to unsaddle his horse but the way he felt he did not and stumbled up the steps into the cabin. The squaws inside looked at him sharply but when he crumpled in a heap two moved to catch him and he was laid carefully onto the floor. The bed was occupied, Morning Sun was in the middle of giving birth. The baby let rip with a powerful set of lungs when it decided to make its entrance into the world but Duncan did not hear it. The squaws cleaned the baby and gave it to Morning Sun before one looked at Duncan’s wounds.

  ‘He has fought well, many wounds.’ She announced.

  ‘Make sure he sees his new daughter, as my father will not.’ Morning Sun ordered.

  ‘He is strong, he will live through this daughter of Running Wolf.’ The squaw answered.

  Ms. Brody walked into her parlor to find an Indian in there. She recognized him from the Pawnee camp but what he said she did not understand. She held up her hand, palm forward, to tell him to wait there and walked back though the doorway to the bottom of the stairs.

  ‘Sarah, will you come into the parlor please.’ She called up the stairs and when she heard an answering ‘coming Ms. Brody’ she walked back into the parlor.

  A few moments later Sarah knocked on the parlor door.

  ‘Come in please Sarah.’ Ms. Brody called from where she now sat.

  Sarah opened the door, walked in and closed it again.

  ‘Now will you translate what this young man is saying to me please?’ Ms. Brody asked.

  ‘Hello Wind That Blows, is anything wrong?’ Sarah asked.

  ‘We have heard from Little Buck, the new chief of…’

  ‘Little Buck the new chief! Is Running Wolf dead then?’ Sarah asked, interrupting him.

  ‘Running Wolf and his party were ambushed by a large party of Sioux. Running Wolf was killed in the battle and two braves were able to bring his body back to their village, so that he was not made unfit for the happy hunting ground.’

  Sarah burst into tears and it surprised the Indian brave. He stopped speaking while Ms. Brody comforted Sarah and trie
d to find out what was wrong, fearing the worse for her guardian.

  ‘What is it Sarah, tell me.’ She repeated three times before Sarah answered.

  ‘Running Wolf is dead.’ She blurted out and cried some more.

  ‘We need to find out the rest, should I call Rebecca to ask what it is?’ Ms. Brody asked carefully.

  ‘No. I will ask Ms. Brody.’ Sarah answered wiping her eyes. ‘What happened afterwards, something must have or is that all of it?’ She asked the Indian.

  ‘Little Buck chased the Sioux on to our land and sent a brave to ask for our help as he was short of men. Many Hands went to help with as many brave available and there was a terrible battle as reinforcements arrived for the Sioux. Many died. I have been sent to warn you to stay in town until you hear more, as it is not safe out of town.’

  ‘Thank you. We will wait for more news.’ Sarah replied and the brave left by the same window he had come in through. ‘You will really have to have something done about that window!’ Sarah declared as they watched him go.

  ‘Well?’ Ms. Brody asked.

  ‘Little Buck chased the killers of his father on to Many Hands land and asked for his help in the battle. Many Hands took all the braves he could spare and went to help but more Sioux arrived and there was a terrible battle going on. Many Hands sent him to tell us to stay in town while things were in turmoil and we are to await another message.’

  ‘In that case you can pass the word that there will be no more field trips until further notice Sarah.’ Ms. Brody announced. ‘Considering our last meeting with the Sioux, I do not know if we would be that lucky next time and I have your parents to consider.’

  ‘Yes Ms. Brody.’ Sarah answered.

  She returned to what she had been doing and began passing on the news as she did so, sometimes tearfully. Becky cried when she was told about Running Wolf’s death and she was ready to go out there and kill some of the Sioux who were responsible. Both knew that it was never going to happen but it seemed the thing to say.

  The dead braves were laid to rest by the squaws in the village and a wounded brave returned there with news of the battle. Both tribes had suffered terrible casualties and Little Buck was in Many Hands village with an arrow in him. The old squaw was summoned to attend him taking the rest of the tribe with her. The old squaw sat looking at Running Wolf’s body, it was ready to go up on a platform to send him to the happy hunting ground but with the village empty the Sioux would come in and take him for sport.

  ‘We will come after Running Wolf has been allowed to start his final journey.’ She declared. ‘There will no longer be a village here after we have left it.’

  The wounded brave allowed them to see to his injuries before he started back to Many Hands village.

  ‘We suffered many casualties as did our enemy but they still have braves to fight us with while we are few. You should choose your route to Many Hands village carefully.’ He said seriously before he left.

  He rode away, keeping out of sight where he could and finally crossed Carter’s land at speed in case his enemy, the Sioux, were watching. They were and they gave chase, whooping as they went. The brave rode on as fast as he could until another group rode out in front of him. They surrounded him, taunting him as they did so. He raised his tomahawk and charged at the leader, hoping to kill him, before he himself was killed. It was not to be. He was hauled off his horse after killing two braves who stopped him getting at their leader but they did not kill him. They planned to have some fun before he died.

  Duncan woke on the floor. He was on a bed made up on the floor and he ached all over. He looked at the bed and saw Morning Sun looking at him.

  ‘What day is it?’ Duncan asked.

  ‘You have been there for a day husband.’ She answered, not really knowing what day it was herself.

  Next to her on the bed was her daughter who was sleeping peacefully at last, much to the relief of Morning Sun and Duncan Wolf Lee. They had been kept awake by her crying for some hours now and nothing seemed to help. Duncan climbed to his feet, staggered across the room to the bed but fell before he reached it. He crawled the rest of the way.

  ‘I am sorry I weren’t here for her arrival.’ He said when he was finally sitting on the end of the bed.

  He did not know if Morning Sun knew about her father yet so he did not mention it to her. If she mentioned it he would talk about it and the fight which followed. He pulled himself to his feet and managed to stay upright. He had bandages and poultices on his wounds but he did not try to remove them. The squaws new what she was doing and he knew they would help. He looked at Morning Sun but she was asleep, Duncan Wolf Lee was also asleep, so, as he was on his feet he made his way carefully to the door. When he was outside he closed the door and started toward the stream. In his condition it was a long way to go but he planned to use the cold water to bring some sense back to parts which seemed numb. He used a pole as a crutch and walked very slowly to the water. There he lowered himself into the water and sat there, the cold water causing the desired effect. He splashed water over his head to help him recover his senses but it took a while. Finally he crawled out of the water and used the pole to stand up again.

  He knew that if Crazy Dog had not been looking out for him he would be laying where the battle had raged with less hair than he had now, although now it was matted in blood. As he walked back to the cabin, getting faster as he regained the use of his muscles, he looked about. The squaws had gone and there was no one else about that he could see. He reached the cabin, where his saddle was laid over a hitch rail and heard a noise. It was someone coming through the cave into the valley. He pulled his rifle out of the scabbard and sat side saddle on the saddle to wait to see who it was. He watched the old squaw lead a horse through and she was followed by other squaws, then children and braves too young to go into battle.

  ‘What the hell?’ He said quietly to himself and waited for them to reach him.

  By the time they did reach him the rifle was back in its scabbard and he was standing, not using anything for support. On the horse he could see a brave sitting in the saddle but not moving and it was not until they reached him that he recognized Running Wolf.

  ‘I am afraid his enemies will make sport with him if we leave him on our burial grounds.’ The old squaw announced. ‘I have come to ask if we can let him start his new journey from here.’

  ‘Does Morning Sun know of his death?’ Duncan asked.

  ‘She knows of the start of his journey.’ The old squaw answered.

  ‘Then I am sure we can find a good place for him to start his journey from.’ Duncan answered. ‘I have seen where your braves start their journey from and there is a place which will be safe for the great Running Wolf.’

  ‘I thank you.’

  ‘I will need the help of the older braves with you to set up the platform where I have in mind.’ Duncan added.

  ‘We squaws make the platforms, so you will have the help of as many squaws as it takes to do it.’ The old squaw answered.

  ‘Morning Sun is asleep. We will make the platform while she sleeps then wake her when he is placed on it so that she can wish him a safe journey.’ Duncan announced and started down for his horse.

  ‘Duncan Lee will wait here while we fetch his horse.’ A young squaw ordered and put a restraining arm on his shoulder.

  That was all it took. The young squaw ran down and brought the horse up. She also saddled it, with Duncan explaining anything to her that she did not understand, as she did it. When the horse was saddled she helped him into the saddle and the entourage moved off quietly. They traveled the length of the valley and Duncan pointed to a ledge on the far end which was nearly at the top of the cliff.

  ‘A resting place fit for a great chief and a good place to start his journey from.’ He declared.

  The old squaw looked at the ledge. ‘It is a good place.’ She agreed and started issuing orders to the younger squaws.

  Some were sent to cut wood, oth
ers to make rope or fetch rope from Duncan’s store. He offered them the use of his tools and sat on his horse while they worked. He would have liked to done something toward the platform but to go up that high in his condition, was not a sensible thing to do.

  He was amazed by their agility as they climbed up to the ledge and pulled up wood to make it a proper burial site. They made holes in the rock face with hatchets to set in logs as the base of the platform. Then tied on cross members as the platform base with most of it resting on the ledge and the rest protruding out over the long drop below. Even when one squaw lost her footing and nearly fell to her death, it did not deter them, she was helped back up to carry on.

  Finally the platform was ready and they lowered a rope to carry Running Wolf up to his final resting place. Now it was time to fetch Morning Sun and the rest of his family, although his new daughter would know nothing about it. She remained fast asleep. Duncan rode back and helped Morning Sun, who had her baby in her arms, on to his horse, it was easier than saddling his own. Now Duncan Lee had a daughter and she was to be called Hannah Sunshine Lee. Duncan Wolf Lee was lifted onto his horse behind Morning Sun and he walked in front of the horse slowly but getting more active with every step. There was no solemn ceremony when they arrived, Running Wolf’s remains were hoisted on to the platform and left to start his journey. The squaws left soon after, despite Duncan offering to let them stay in the valley. They were following the new chief’s orders as passed on by the brave who came to see them.

  Chapter 12

  Bradbury was riding the same fence when he caught sight of a party of Sioux, they did not see him and he made sure that after he had seen them they did see him at all. He slid off his horse and hid it in bushes, choosing to watch from the same bushes to be able to keep his horse quiet should it decide to make any noise. He watched as a scout rode up, pointed toward the other side of the ranch, the same direction Bradbury had ridden to deliver the note to Duncan.