by Ginny Dye
Carrie grinned. “Excellent!” As Todd rode off, her attention was caught by a long adobe building that was part of the military compound.
“That’s the hospital,” Matthew said. “I’ve been going over the map of Bosque Redondo the captain gave me.”
Carrie examined it as they drew closer, impressed with the size. Captain Marley rode up before she could comment.
“That is the hospital,” he said.
Carrie stared at it and thought of all the ill, starving people she had seen coming into the compound. “It looks empty. How is that possible? There are nine thousand Indians here!”
Captain Marley scowled. “First of all, there are no longer nine thousand Navajo here. Over a thousand of them have disappeared.”
“Disappeared?” Matthew echoed.
Captain Marley’s lips tightened. “It would be more accurate to say they left. Groups of several hundred at a time slip away during the night.”
“Is the military going after them?” Carolyn asked.
“Not at this point. There are not enough troops.”
Carrie found herself glad for the ones who had escaped, but remembering everything Chooli had told her, she wondered if they could possibly make it back to their homeland, and what they would discover when they arrived. Were they leaving one form of starvation only to encounter another? Rage simmered in her over the Navajos’ treatment, but she decided to focus on the immediate need. “Why are they not coming to the hospital?”
Captain Marley scowled again. “Syphilis.”
Carrie shook her head in disbelief. “A sexually transmitted disease? I don’t understand how that has closed the hospital.” She understood Captain Marley’s surprised look. Though he was more open-minded than most men she knew, it was still considered highly unusual for a woman to know about, much less talk about, sexual diseases. “Pretending sexual diseases don’t exist helps no one,” she said, her patience growing thin.
“Of course,” Captain Marley replied, his surprise giving way to renewed admiration. “The Navajo are used to living scattered throughout their homeland in small groups of a hundred or so. Evidently, putting thousands of them together has unleashed… sexual activity.”
Carrie bit back her smile as he produced the information with a very uncomfortable expression on his face. “I still fail to see how that has closed the hospital. It would seem to me that it would make the hospital that much more imperative.”
“The hospital became overwhelmed,” Captain Marley explained. “Syphilis is not the only issue. They have had mumps ravage Bosque Redondo, but even worse has been the ongoing problem of malaria. There are not many cases right now, but that will change very soon.”
“Malaria?” Nathan asked in shocked voice.
Carrie looked toward the river and understood instantly. Right now it was running freely because of snowmelt in the mountains, but it was neither large nor deep. “The Pecos River becomes stagnant in the summer,” she observed, “and becomes a haven for mosquitoes.”
“Producing malaria, and also dysentery,” Nathan finished for her. “And no one deemed it important to know whether the river would run freely year-round before they put nine thousand Navajo here?” His voice was tight with disbelief.
“They were told,” Captain Marley responded grimly. “There was a commission that made it quite clear this was a very poor location for a reservation, but General Carleton was determined this was the best place to put it. There was no reasoning with him.”
“And so thousands of Navajo are ill and dying,” Carrie snapped. She shook her head and took a deep breath, knowing anger would serve no purpose. She had seen the repercussions of male pride throughout the entire war.
“Yes,” Captain Marley said. He took a deep breath. “General Carleton decided that the most important thing was to keep the syphilis from spreading. It didn’t really matter whether it was being transmitted from Indian to soldier, or vice versa. The soldiers had to stay in good health because they are needed to maintain the peace of the territory.”
Carrie stared at him, quickly grasping the situation. “So he decided to isolate the Indians.”
Carolyn gasped. “Isolate them?” Understanding dawned on her face. “So the Indians aren’t allowed to use this hospital?”
“That was General Carleton’s solution,” Captain Marley agreed. “Two and a half years ago, the Indians were banned from this hospital, and given a small building away from the military compound.”
Suddenly, everything Chooli had told Carrie came back to her. It all made sense now. “They were moved to a building next to the Cebolleta Navajos,” she said. “They are sworn enemies.”
“Felicia?” Captain Marley guessed. “Is that in the book?”
“No.” Carrie’s mind was spinning. “Chooli told me about it. The Cebolleta Navajo are reviled by the rest of the tribe because they betrayed their people. Which means the rest of the Navajo won’t use that hospital because of the proximity. They have been left with nothing.” She kept remembering her conversations with Chooli. “They won’t go to the hospital, so they are relying completely on the medicine men, who really have no knowledge of how to treat diseases they have never seen.”
“Right again,” Captain Marley answered.
“Do the medicine men help them?” Randall asked. “Or are they just allowed to die?”
“The Navajo believe the medicine men can help,” Carrie answered. “Perhaps that is part of it. The Navajo believe that all illnesses are caused supernaturally. They don’t take germs or spreading disease through contact into account. Any treatment must be directed toward the cause of the disease, not the disease itself. The medicine man rituals are meant to put everything back in balance so the person can heal.”
“Does it work?” Melissa asked.
“Obviously not,” Captain Marley snapped.
Carrie’s anger was immediate. “How can you say that? The Navajo was the most powerful and wealthy tribe in this area until our government set out to destroy them. They were never exposed to syphilis, malaria, dysentery or the mumps. I hardly think they would have survived for this long if the medicine men were not effective.”
“You’re right,” Captain Marley conceded. “But what about now?”
Carrie sighed. “It’s not working,” she admitted. “People are dying.”
Janie slapped her hand against the side of the wagon in frustration. “So what are we going to do? If the Navajo won’t come to either hospital, how are we supposed to help them?”
Carrie was asking herself the same question. She knew their only chance lay with the letter Chooli had written. “We pray Todd can find Chooli’s family. I’m hoping her letter will make them trust us.”
Matthew looked skeptical. “Do you think the medicine men will let us treat their people?”
“That depends on us,” Carrie said. Now that she was here, staring at the horrors all around her, she realized how valuable her conversations with Chooli had been. “If we come in here convinced our way is the only way, they won’t let us help them. We have to respect and appreciate their culture.”
“Even if their people are dying because of it?” Randall asked.
“Especially because their people are dying,” Carrie said firmly. “I choose to believe we can contribute to what they are doing. Chooli’s grandfather is a revered medicine man. If we tell him what he is doing is wrong, then we close off all communication. Putting people on the defensive is never a way to affect change.”
“So what do we do?” Melissa asked in a confused voice. “We have the remedies that will help these people, but only if they take them.”
“That’s true,” Carrie agreed. She stared off into the distance for several moments, and then turned to Captain Marley. “There is no need for us to see the hospital. We will not be using it.” Even if the military agreed to allow her team to bring the Indians there, she was certain they would not come.
“I can take you to the other hospital,” C
aptain Marley said, although his face clearly revealed that he did not agree with her course of action.
Carrie appreciated that their friendship was strong enough to produce a certain level of trust. “We won’t be using that one, either,” she said. Her mind was full of her experiences in Moyamensing. The people there hadn’t refused to go to the hospital—there simply hadn’t been one available. “We are going to go to the people.”
“That is not wise,” Captain Marley objected. “I don’t have enough men to guard you if you are all over the reservation.”
“We won’t need your men,” Carrie said calmly, praying she was right. She also prayed Todd would find Chooli’s family. It was their only chance of creating trust. The Navajo had been betrayed continuously for the last five years. They were not going to easily trust anyone that was white. She knew she wouldn’t if she were in their place. “We are here to help these people. We will do it our way, and we will take our chances.”
Captain Marley stared at her. “Have you always been this hardheaded?” he growled.
“Yes,” Janie replied.
“Always,” Matthew said with a smile. “I also happen to believe she is right.”
Captain Marley sighed. “Fine. I will take you to your quarters.” He turned to look at Carrie. “Will you at least agree with that much?”
“Well, of course, Captain,” Carrie said sweetly. “Where else would we stay?”
Captain Marley chuckled and then waved one of his men over. He conferred with him briefly before bidding them farewell. “I must go give my report. I’ll check on all of you later this evening.”
Carrie reached out and took his hand. “I can’t thank you enough for all you’ve done. It’s because of you that we will be able to help these people.”
“Thank me when I get you out of here alive,” Captain Marley grumbled, but there was a twinkle in his eyes as he said it.
*****
“I am looking for Mrs. Carrie Borden.”
Carrie looked up from the trunk where she was putting away her clothes. She recognized Todd’s voice instantly. She walked outside into the setting sun, taking a moment to appreciate the golden orb dipping low on the horizon. “Hello, Todd. Do you have good news for me?”
Todd smiled. “I do, Carrie. Chooli’s family is looking forward to meeting you.”
“They are all alive?” Carrie pressed. “Her parents? Her grandparents?” Todd nodded, but she assumed from his guarded expression that they were not well.
“I’m sorry, but they are only willing to meet with you.”
Carrie nodded. “That seems reasonable. We will build their trust slowly. May we go tonight?” Now that they were here, she was eager to begin.
“No,” Todd answered. “The Navajo are peaceful for the most part, but the Comanche are known for nighttime raids.”
“Tomorrow morning then,” Carrie agreed immediately. She might be hardheaded, but she hoped she was less foolish than she used to be.
Todd smiled. “I’ll come for you right after sunrise.”
“You have Captain Marley’s approval?” Carrie asked, remembering his statement that he didn’t have enough men to guard their team.
“I am at your disposal during your time here,” Todd assured her. He hesitated for a moment before adding, “The Captain must think you’re special. He’s never done anything like this before.”
“He’s brought a team of doctors led by a woman before?” Carrie asked lightly.
“He’s never done that before either,” Todd replied with a grin.
Carrie smiled as she watched him leave.
“He found them?”
Carrie turned when Janie appeared at her side. “He found them.” The reality sank in with the words as she spoke them. “I don’t think I realized until now how afraid I was that he might not, or that they might have died,” she acknowledged.
“And then we would have traveled by wagon train for almost three months, and endured a blizzard for nothing,” Janie replied with dancing eyes.
Carrie thought about her words. She watched as the sun set. The sky was beautiful, but everything beneath it was a wretched picture of poverty and despair. She turned her eyes away from the reservation, intent on keeping her focus on the horizon. “Not for nothing,” she murmured. “I miss being on the trail,” she admitted. “I’ve seldom felt such peace. Spending hours a day in the saddle…having nothing else to think of except making as many miles as possible each day.”
“Eating dinner under the stars,” Janie added. “And taking baths in cold streams.”
“A person could get used to it,” Carrie said. “Being here…” Her voice trailed away.
“Is like having your senses assaulted with everything we dread,” Janie finished for her.
Carrie took her hand, grateful for her understanding. “Yes.” She took a deep breath. “But this is what we came for,” she said firmly. “I have no idea what the next few months will bring, but we’ll do everything we can to make a difference.”
“And then we have a few months on the Santa Fe Trail going home,” Janie said brightly.
“There is that,” Carrie responded, glad she had it to look forward to.
Everything they had come for would begin tomorrow.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Carrie had risen early to unpack the medicines and stack them on shelves inside their quarters. The oil lanterns provided just enough light. She should have been thankful for a room and bed of her own, but she found she missed the wagon’s cramped quarters. She would gladly give up space in exchange for the peace of the trail. She shook her head. She was at Bosque Redondo. It was time to quit yearning for what she couldn’t have, and settle down to the work she had come to do. She reached for her journal.
I’m here at Bosque Redondo. Finally. I don’t know what I was expecting, but the reality is far worse than my expectations. I can feel the despair in the air. I can almost smell the death that awaits so many of the hollow-eyed people I see. I fear I will go home with nothing but bad news for Chooli, but now that we are here, we must do the best we can. I hope the others don’t regret their decision to join me. I have never seen such utter destitution. I can’t imagine what these people have endured for almost five years. How have they done it?
A noise outside jolted her from her thoughts. Carrie quickly closed her journal and stuffed it under her mattress before she answered the quiet knock on the door. Everyone else was still sleeping, but she had already had coffee and two biscuits. She was tired of nothing but meat and breads, but she had seen no gardens for fresh vegetables, and the produce they had brought on the wagon was long gone.
“Good morning,” Todd said. He was leading Celeste. “We’ll ride since the spring rains have made it muddy. It should only take a few days for things to dry out, and then you can decide if walking is preferable. Captain Marley said you can have her whenever you want.”
Carrie smiled and stroked Celeste’s nose. After only a day, she was already missing the mare, though her heart truly ached for Granite. “Hello, girl,” she whispered. Celeste bobbed her head twice and nudged her hard as if to say she had missed Carrie, too. Carrie laughed and wrapped her arms around the horse’s neck. “We have work to do, girl.” Glad no one seemed to mind her breeches, Carrie mounted and followed Todd away from the building.
The reservation did not look any better in the light of a new day. Squalor spread out before her as far as she could see. She smiled and nodded at people who simply stared and looked away. Their faces were not angry, just devoid of all feeling or expression. Carrie swallowed the bile in her throat, wondering how long it had taken a once-proud people to be so totally beaten down. It made her sick to realize this was happening all over the country to other tribes as well, though Felicia had told her the Navajo were suffering the worst because Bosque Redondo was incapable of sustaining them. “Does it bother you?” she asked.
Todd glanced at her. “To see the Navajo like this? Yes.”
When he hesitated, Carrie remained silent, knowing he had more to say. Several minutes passed before he continued.
“I didn’t care at first. I believed what I was told—that the Indians were a problem that needed to be solved. They needed to be removed from their lands for the safety and the welfare of white Americans. I was told our actions were for the greater good of our country.”
Carrie listened closely, hearing the bitterness behind his words. “You don’t feel that way anymore?”
Todd shook his head. “I was told to learn their language so I could work as a translator. As I learned Navajo, I also got to know the people. The more I learned about them, and the more people I met, the more I realized just what we are doing to them.” His voice was husky. “When Franklin brought Chooli in to clean his place and they fell in love, she became like a little sister to me. I couldn’t bear the thought of something happening to her, or to her baby, when I realized she was pregnant.”
“What is going to happen?” Carrie demanded. “Surely our government isn’t going to stand by while all these people die? Is it really true that part of our country’s plan is to exterminate all the Indians?”
Todd thinned his lips. “I have heard that,” he said. He shook his head. “There are people fighting for things to change. I have to believe something is going to happen.”
Carrie looked away and let her eyes sweep the fields. “I heard they are refusing to plant crops this year.”
“It’s true. They’ve had crop failures every year they have been here. The first year they didn’t have plows or tools so they had to cultivate the fields with their bare hands.”
Carrie shuddered as she looked down at the hard, rocky, unforgiving ground. “I can’t imagine.”
