Camp Camel: The Heart of Texas

by Eaton, Rosemary

  Just as the old man was about to slam the door in Dallas’ face, Dallas sighed, “Well, I had to ask. Gage was my friend and if there was a chance she actually was his sister, then that baby is your grandchild. You might have enough influence with Jefferson Davis to change it’s fate. They plan to let Sparrow Hawk have the baby once it’s born.”

  Mr. Travis looked at Light Feather’s belly, “My daughter died Major Sanders. Not my concern.”

  Dallas had took a breath, “Sir, she has a disability that might make identification rather easy. She can’t speak. Did you know any young girls that disappeared that couldn’t speak?”

  Mr. Travis looked at Dallas knowingly, “Go to hell and back Major Sanders. I can’t make this any clearer. No, I didn’t know any mutes and Jenny sure wasn’t one. Never, and I mean never bring this squaw back on my ranch. I’ll shoot her myself. You know who’s baby’s in there. You should kill it right now and her with it. My Daughter is out there right next to Gage thanks to those Comanches. Neither of them brought home. You should have brought Gage home!”

  Dallas swallowed, “Lacy risked her life to get his body. They gave him a nice spot in Judsonia, Sir. They thought it best to give him a decent burial, than let his body rot coming home.” Dallas saluted the old man and turned and left. Dallas muttered under his breath, “And that is why he never talked about you old man. I bet he never forgave you for not going after her.” Dallas took his hat off and casually strolled by the two stones. One had Captain Gage Travis’ name and the other said Jenny May Travis.

  Light Feather choked back the emotions that were welling in her chest as she saw Gage’s name on the stone. Her brother was dead? The bitter white haired man in front of her had aged much since she saw him last. It was true what he said. In his mind she had died the minute she had been taken. She needed to remember the name of where they left Gage. She repeated to herself, “Judsonia.” She didn’t know where that was but she would find out someday. The gray clothed soldier who named her Light Feather in white man’s words knew. Maybe others at his camp knew too. Ironically her own name in front of her meant nothing. The girl named Jenny died long ago just as the man said. She disappeared like the sands of the dessert one grain at a time until nothing of her was left and only the sharp blade of the knife called Nahuu remained. She would have been content to spend the rest of her days with Sparrow Hawk, but the gourd of fate once more dipped into the well and she had no choice but to drink of the water offered.

  Dallas made a mental note. Jenny was her name. Alright now what Gage? Give me a clue what to do about this.” Dallas put his hat back on and then he noticed, “Oh God. She didn’t know. He had just told her Gage was dead. Dallas put his hand on her chin and turned it up to him, “Gage? You remember Gage?” It was too late. Her face was back to a blank stare like he hadn’t said a word or heard the cutting remarks by Mr. Travis. Maybe it was just his imagination that there had been some recognition of his name. They had put posters up with a drawing Lacy made of Light Feather asking for anyone who knew who she was to come forward. There had been no reply. If anyone did recognize her, they weren’t saying a word.

  Dallas’ focus returned to the woman in front of him. Her eye’s grew large when Dallas said the word Gage. Dallas had noticed it at Mr. Travis’ ranch and again in the stable. She looked around as if she expected to see him materialize right there in front of them. Her muscles were tensed like a cat ready to pounce. For a moment Bryan thought she was remembering something and then once convinced there was no one there, she slumped back down into the hay.

  Bryan had seen that look in Lacy’s eyes when ever she felt threatened. It was the look of a survivor that had faced their worst fear and wasn’t letting anyone drag them back into the hell hole they crawled out of. Bryan’s mind turned to the day Lacy had helped him retrieved his father’s diamonds on her father’s farm outside Searcy, Arkansas. The terror of the water that burned that almost fried Lacy alive when trapped natural gas exploded in an underground stream. That explosion had sent her over fifty feet underground coming up in their fishing hole with catfish cooked on her skin. He thought for sure he had killed his best friend that day. It was the look in Lacy’s eyes and face that said I’ve lived through hell and you can’t do anything to me that is worse than where I’ve already been. You want me, come get me if you can.

  Bryan shook his head. Gage Travis, one of the Captains who died at the Battle of Cotton Plant was right in front of him except in the form of a middle aged woman in her thirties. She lay in the hay refusing food and water and at this rate would kill herself and her unborn child.

  Gage Travis was a distant relative of a real live Texas hero of the Alamo. His family had lived in Texas for quite a while. While there was no mention of a sister in the time Bryan had known Gage, it was possible that if she had been captured long enough ago that she wouldn’t have been thought of as a surviving relative.

  Dallas moved a little closer, “Light Feather, this is Bryan. Bryan, Light Feather. Bryan make heap good medicine. He has strong spirits and will help that papoose.” Dallas rubbed his stomach and pointed to hers.

  Bryan looked at Dallas like he had lost his senses but didn’t contradict the Major. Bryan slowly started to move toward Daisy and Light Feather. Daisy let out a threatening noise baring her teeth daring Bryan to try to touch her. Bryan frowned, “Now Daisy, you know I wouldn’t hurt her. You don’t want her to die do you?”

  Dallas thought, “If anyone on the fort could get near Daisy it was Bryan.” Bryan had helped delivery her calf, but unfortunately, it died leaving a very depressed camel until some how Daisy was put in the same stall as his hostage. That in itself was a little disturbing to Dallas, but at the moment he had bigger problems to deal with than the men taking bets on what the squaw would do.

  Bryan continued to talk to the camel as if he were talking to a small child in soft comforting tones. Finally Daisy nudged Light Feather as if she wanted Bryan to look over the wilting woman who didn’t have strength to move on her own. Dallas handed Bryan the keys to her leg irons and Bryan moved in closer unlocking her irons. He gently lifted the squaw continuing to praise Daisy for her vigilant guard of the defenseless mother to be. Light Feather lay limp in his hands as he moved her away from Daisy, then gently placed her on the straw and took her pulse, Bryan asked Dallas, “Her given name?” The two camel boys looked on with amazement as to the medicine man’s power over the camel. They had been trying for over a day to bribe her with every thing a mule would love. But camels weren’t mules and grass was not their favorite treat. Which of course they knew by now. It had worked. She was in his hands and the woman who was their mother would get moved out of the pen into somewhere less guarded before their little brother put in an appearance.

  Dallas said, “Jenny. Try Jenny.”

  Bryan said, “Now Jenny. There is nothing to be afraid of now. You’re safe. I’m not going to let anyone hurt you. I’m a doctor, a medicine man.”

  John said, “She can’t speak to you Medicine Man. This other man has given her a name. She is his.”

  Dallas address John, “He’s a good friend. He won’t hurt her John. She’s not mine. I’m just, well, keeping her safe for now.”

  Bryan replied as he examined her, “She hears just fine Dallas. She noticed when you said Gage’s name. She knows you were talking about her brother.”

  Paul frowned, “You don’t touch her. Your hands wander too far.”

  Light Feather’s eyes popped open as her sons addressed the older men. Her eyes had tears in them as she tried to see their faces but the large sombreros hid them from her view. Light Feather thought to herself, “Didn’t these white men know to say the name of the dead invited their Spirit to walk the earth with them?” Light Feather frowned as she thought to herself, “No, they are ignorant like the Cedar Hawk told her. They only rut like pigs, smell of whiskey, and abandon their children to who ever is brave enough to take them.” Sparrow Hawk would take his child back if she liv
ed long enough to have it. But he would not take her back. All the white hostages were being taken from their camp. Some voluntarily given up for food, blankets, and promises of land in some far away place. Others, were being stolen by the white man’s braves. Strange to go to such trouble for humans not wanted by their own kind anymore. Foolish white men. Take what they don’t have just to take it like the hunters that kill and leave the meat to rot. But this fair faced man in gray cloth was not so foolish. He had something her chief wanted, another son most likely. All her children had been sons.

  Bryan sighed, “Maybe we should try to move you to my office Dear. I’d like to check your baby’s heart beat and you need to drink something. If not for you, for Gage.”

  Light Feather put her hand on her belly and drew the letter ‘S’.”

  Bryan replied, “Sparrow Hawk’s child, that’s right. You need to take care of his child.”

  Light Feather looked straight into Dallas’ eyes and took her finger and ran it across her throat and pointed to him and Bryan and waved it in a circle as if to include the entire camp. There was a slight hint of a smile, then she closed her eyes.

  Bryan took a breath, “Well there is that too. I think he might be happier with a live child.” Bryan started to lift her when Dallas frowned, “I think it’s best if she stays in here Bryan. It is the only place in the camp that’s really secure besides the guard house. I can’t have her walking out and I don’t want her in the guard house with a bunch of drunks.”

  Bryan replied, “She’s not walking anywhere except to a quick grave if you don’t let me do my job Dallas. She’s probably dehydrated, and I think she might just be talking to Gage with one foot in the spirit world.”

  Dallas swallowed, “Not funny. How about we don’t talk a lot about him to her yet. She’s having a hard enough time as it is.”

  Bryan picked her up, “Then open that door. I’ll be responsible for her. Don’t you have somewhere you need to be? Daisy is free of her encumbrance so you can load her up. That’s what you wanted me for wasn’t it?”

  Dallas asked, “You think I’m that cold?” The camel boys were already getting Daisy’s saddle on her back and starting to pack up supplies.

  Bryan said, “You took a pregnant woman by force from the only home she had. This wasn’t a young child Dallas. She’s had other babies at her age. You knew what she’d face and you still took her.”

  Dallas said, “You don’t look a gift horse in the mouth Bryan. It’s not like they would have let her relocate with him. I didn’t know who she was, just that we had an opportunity and I took it.” Dallas touched Bryan’s arm, “You’ll sponsor her? I don’t think Lacy would understand if I brought her into the house.”

  Bryan said, “Yes, I’ll sponsor her. How hard could that be. She looks like she’s more than eight months gone, waddles, and doesn’t seem to bite. I know Albert Pike. Maybe he can do something so she can relocate with her baby. Seems to me, she doesn’t object to being his wife, just being separated from the only family she has now.”

  Dallas smiled, “Alright. I’ll bring the papers before I leave Bryan. Oh, just so you know. I have no idea what her white name was for sure, but the tombstone in the Travis’ yard said Jenny May Travis. You should give her a white woman’s name so she thinks of herself as yours. The boys said names had power and the Comanche women get new names if they change husbands or in your case sponsors.”

  Dallas walked out quickly to Bryan’s office and left the papers in his pocket on his desk then mounted up on Rebel, one of the faster camels and joined his supply train. The Major address Sergeant Cook, “I’m going on ahead.” The camels were loaded with homespun dresses and jams and they headed toward San Antonio. Dallas planned to get credit at the larger store in San Antonio for items that their own local trading post had more than ample quantities of already. He’d trade their bartered goods for supplies like sugar, flour, beans and items the women had requested and have one of his men bring them back in a supply wagon. From San Antonio, his train would load the camels with cotton to be shipped from ports in Mexico to England then bring back the guns, powder and supplies off loaded from the ships.

  Bryan wasn’t far behind as he cross the yard with Light Feather in his arms. Lacy was hauling JC out by his ears toward the trough when Bryan gently lowered Light Feather into the water. Her eyes came open and she flailed wildly then grabbed the edges of the trough pulling herself up for a breath. Bryan made sure she got one, then took his hand and dunked her again. By now a crowd was gathered watching the show. Lacy’s mouth was gaping open. Mrs. Tyler was crossing herself. The two camel boys had run across the yard and were standing at the back of Brian’s office. The cook raised his eyebrows and turned and went back to work. The young Privates were google eyed looking at Light Feather like someone had dunked their older sister and were looking around expecting Sparrow Hawk to appear at any minute.

  Bryan looked down at Light Feather and said loudly, “You are Light Feather no more. Your name is Jenny and I baptize you in the name of the Holy Father as Jenny May Travers.” Bryan sprinkled trough water on top of her head then offered his hand and pulled her up taking her in his arms again proceeding at a slow steady pace through the crowd that had gathered toward his office. Bryan nodded, “Good day, Madam. Private, what are you staring at? You’ve never seen a baptism?”

  Private White answered, “Sir? Was that a dunk or sprinkle?”

  Bryan said, “Both. I figured she might need all the help she can get.”

  Private White nodded, “Yes, Sir you might be right about that.” Private White turned slowly and muttered, “So might you Sir. Once Sparrow Hawk hears about this, I wouldn’t want to be you.”

  There was a snicker of the two youths upon hearing Private White’s thoughts. John fully agreed that their father would take a very dim view of what just happened if he had seen it, but Sparrow Hawk was probably busy with his new wife and the ill begotten spawn of some spoiled woman who never taught Jake what a boy should behave like. The last message their Grandfather Red Cedar had gotten to them said he was still crying like a coyotes in the desert moon. If it didn’t get better soon, he was going to leave him on the door of the good Friar with or without his son.

  The newly baptized Jenny May Travers was wide awake. It was amazing what water could do whether taken internally or in this case a quick bath washing off the stink of camel, and various odors that had stuck to her from the friendly folks she passed on the way through the country side. Bryan could vaguely smell rotting eggs, waste water, urine which by the Sergeant’s account was Daisy’s marking her property clearly for Major Sander’s benefit. She hadn’t been given a chance to bathe since arriving at Camp Verde. While the trough wasn’t a proper bath, at least it took the top layer of filth off. She would need a proper bath, but not until Bryan felt he had some control over what would surely be a very slippery situation. As the water washed off her hair, Bryan noticed the ends of her braids were streaked with red like they had been died. Well maybe Daisy pee had been used on her. Camel pee turned hair the color of henna. He might need Lacy’s help too if he had to trim that off.

  As Bryan passed Lacy, Brianna, and JC he calmly said, “A word Lacy. Can you find a dress that might fit and some under garments, perhaps a sturdy comb or brush for her hair? Oh, yes,I’m going to need plenty of lye soap. Maybe enough to take the last ten years of grime off her skin.”

  Lacy looked at the woman, “You’re sponsoring her? Oh Bryan, you didn’t.”

  Bryan tried not to sound concerned, “Not sure what you’re implying there Lacy. I’m a doctor and she’s my patient, at least until that baby’s born.” Bryan kept moving until he was well inside his office then sat her on his surgery table and instructed her, “Lay down woman. I need to examine you. This shouldn’t hurt.”

  Light Feather looked at Bryan. This table he sat her on was hard and stained with blood. What type of man had claimed her. Did he cause his women to bleed so? It had been a long time since
the white man’s words rang in her ears. It was almost shocking how many she understood. They came flooding back like water over rocks. She knew her sons had been instructed in both Spanish and English so they could trade, but she hadn’t been out of the camp and since she didn’t speak, the words had fallen out of her mind until the Major took her back. Her memories were some what hampered, but they were coming back. She touched the blood stain and looked back at Bryan with questions. Then her eyes saw the blades, saws, bandages, needles, knives. Maybe he didn’t want her as a wife. Maybe the man intended to cut her to pieces and eat her? Did he eat his enemy? Perhaps. He washed her off, now he planned to slaughter her. If she wasn’t as heavy with child, she would have tried to run. She guessed it was too late to say she was just making an observation about what Sparrow Hawk might do, not that she wanted him dead personally. Apparently he took it the wrong way.

  Bryan repeated in a softer voice, “Lean back for me. I want to …” Bryan stopped abruptly. Bryan didn’t move an inch. There was a large rattle snake down by his feet giving a warning. Light Feather heard it and looked around with alarm carefully pulling her feet up toward her body.

  Light Feather thought, “A medicine man. Their chief called him a medicine man. Was he one who worshiped the snake and like to prove how brave he was by charming a snake?”

  Bryan whispered, “Now Dear, just stay up there. That’s right, don’t move. Let’s not anger his Highness down there shall we?”

  Light Feather’s face broke out into a half smile as if she caught the irony of his message. The bloody butcher was afraid of the snake with no blood. So not a snake charmer. Light Feather’s smile disappeared. Someone hoped it would be her, not him that the snake found first. Someone wanted her dead and the only thing between her and death was this medicine man who used sharp objects that caused the sick to bleed. It was definitely not a good day. Light Feather silently got up on her toes in the middle of the table looking around. The medicine man didn’t carry a gun, but he had a hat which might scare it right into striking. Light Feather considered her moves. She could jump on top of the man and hope to spring off him toward the door as she flung him into the snake. Who ever put it in here was probably waiting outside for an excuse to shoot her for running.