Camp Camel: The Heart of Texas
Page 8
Bryan thought about that, “Might not have just been Jenny that made him kill that family. I think I’d move my people away quickly. Apparently it’s going around the ranches now. How do you suppose old man Travis got it?”
Dallas said, “He had a Mexican maid and several workers looked like locals. Her family or maybe one of the workers, but most likely the maid. Maybe the food she prepared? I don’t think he was kissing her if that’s what you meant. He certainly didn’t let us near him or touch him. Didn’t even invite me inside,or offer us a drink of water from the creek.”
Bryan asked, “No wife?”
Dallas replied, “No, when Gage left home, she left. Said she wasn’t staying a day more with a man who wouldn’t try to get Jenny back.”
Bryan asked, “You think she’s alive?”
Dallas answered, “Yes. A nun at the mission. The good Friar took her in. She was volunteering there and she helps educate orphans like John and Paul. Teaches them English.” Dallas frowned, “Shit. Why didn’t I think about asking the Friar. He might make her a nun.”
Bryan’s brow rose, “Really. Jenny a nun? Can you imagine her giving the good father the same treatment she gave us? I don’t think they approve of eating peyote either.”
Dallas leaned back into the saddle, “Well, it was just a thought. The Nun might want her daughter back or be willing to hide her until the child is born.”
Bryan said, “But if the Friar told you where to find her, I doubt he’d be willing to have Sparrow Hawk knock on the mission door and burn him to a crisp, holy water of not. If they suspect he told them, I think it’s safe to say he’s in a world of hurt unless Sparrow Hawk leaves.”
The tracker fell back to the Major, “Sir, they tried to use the creek, but we’ve spotted their trail. The tracks looks like they spit up, but I don’t think so. I think our horses are moving without a rider now. Smart boys. They covered their tracks pretty well for some orphan kids.”
Dallas asked, “Just what do you mean by that Sergeant Major Vincent?”
The Sergeant Major grinned, “You sure they’re not Comanche? Very friendly with your hostage Sir. I don’t take John as stupid enough to walk into Sparrow Hawk’s camp and say how much for your old wife either. But if the boy knew him or some of his relatives, then he wouldn’t get a fight from her or arrows in the chest when they get close.”
Dallas didn’t comment but asked the Sergeant Major, “How long before you can pick up a new trail?”
Sergeant Major Vincent said, “No more than thirty minutes, but we might have to go out a ways to pick them up. If I as them, I head for those mountains. Meet him somewhere you weren’t expecting him to be. Somewhere he could cut us down like flies.”
Dallas replied, “Well, let’s hope we catch up before he gets a chance then Sergeant Major.”
Bryan looked out straight toward the mountains, “What is that?”
Sergeant Major Vincent squinted then smirked, “Three horses going in different directions. Looks like they want to split us up or make you take a risk on following the wrong one. The old shell game Sir. Which one looks like it has a very plump squaw and which two have scrawny boys? Is your eye sight good enough to tell?”
Bryan squinted, “Too much dust.”
Dallas said, “The boys tied sage grass to their horses. They’re covering the hoof prints and stirring up dust. They think they have us out run so they don’t care if we see them.”
Sergeant Major Vincent agreed, “Yes Sir. Like I said, mighty good at covering tracks for some Mexican bastards. Comanche, Apache, or Kiowa half-breeds maybe. Didn’t she have sons by Sparrow Hawk?”
Bryan said, “Four boys. Shoot. Those are my future step sons out there. No body kills them Dallas. You’re not shooting her sons!”
Dallas looked at Bryan, “You sure the peyote has wore off? Are you seeing any colors?”
Bryan said under his breath, “Yes, red all red and I’ll kill the man that hurts them.”
Sergeant Major Vincent backed his horse a little further from Bryan, “In that case, Captain Sir, maybe you’d like to suggest how we get her back without taking more of Sparrow Hawk’s family. My scalp was itching enough with just the squaw in camp, set aside or not. What do you think he’ll do if the Major has three of his sons hostage? You better hope she’s their Auntie.”
Dallas replied, “I know what you’re hinting at Sergeant. It’s occurred to me that Paul might be Captain Travis’ son. Even more reason to catch to boys alive.”
Sergeant Major Vincent said, “Far be it for me to talk ill about the dead Sir, but Captain Travis did talk about being a guest of certain Indian tribes while they considered whether to accept the treaty or not. I think he met that squaw. Maybe he knew her if you know what I mean. Maybe she got his pen knife directly from the man and not the boy.”
That was all Bryan could take. He glared at Sergeant Major Vincent, “Take that back. How dare you say Jenny had a child by her brother you piece of dirt!”
Sergeant Major Vincent looked him back in the eyes, “Never said that Captain. I said she had a child by the man, not that she was his sister. You said she was his sister. I’ve seen no positive proof of that and lots of people in these parts look like them close enough. Are you saying they’re all old man Travis’ children?”
Dallas stepped in before this turned into a out right brawl, “Enough you two. Us speculating on the past won’t help solve our immediate problem. Without her, this could turn into an all out war just when they’re making progress on the relocation of the tribes. If we can’t get her back we might have to try to steal the Hardgrove boy right out from under his noise.”
Bryan turned to Dallas, “Major, you can’t be seriously considering raiding his village. He’d use them as shields.”
Dallas replied, “Well, we’re not catching them by watching them disappear. Sergeant Major send half the men back to camp and have them bring back camels. We’re going to run them down before they reach those mountains. The rest of us will spit up. Spread the word, “We don’t fire on them unless they fire at us first.”
Less than an hour later three groups of camels were converging on a brush trail of dust that kept crossing itself as if the boys truly were playing a shell game with Dallas trying to make them guess each time which trail held the most promise of delivering Jenny back into their hands. Either their horses were drunk, or the boys were creating a weaving pattern much like the braids of Jenny’s hair. They would take a wide path north or south, then come back to the center and cut the other way or straight toward the west. The sun was shining in their pursuers eyes making it difficult if not down right impossible to tell which horse held the squaw and which the boys. As far as Dallas could tell, the mountains were maybe another hour toward the west, but sunset was approaching as the large ball of fire hit the top of the mountains. The troops approached a large ravine that should have put their target out of sight the length of time it took them to cross. Maybe they had crossed while the soldiers stopped briefly for water. That must have been it. While the men took a brief break from the heat, they must have crossed this ravine.
Dallas gave the boys credit for imagination, but the camels were making a straight path toward them. There was none of this weaving to follow a particular horse. They just created three lines. One to the north, one to the south, and one straight at the middle. Slowly they were narrowing the boy’s furthest path north and south as John and Paul tried to stay well out of sight of the groups on the flanks. If it hadn’t been for the need to slowly traverse the ravine’s ridges and steep slopes up and down, they would have squeezed them into a single group in short order. They had left one person at the top to keep up with their targets while the rest of them disappeared below the scrub brush, cactus, and sand they passed through.
Bryan was rubbing his rear end, “Of course it would be Daisy. Girl you need to drink more water. What happened to your fat? I swear I’ve been sitting on bone.” Daisy raised her nose and let out a rumbli
ng noise from her throat as if she was calling to something head. Bryan talked to her, “I know old girl. You miss her too. Jenny’s out there somewhere.” The camel let out more rumbles and sniffed the air. Bryan chucked, “John and Paul? You miss them too. You say they haven’t feed you? Well at least you can eat that cactus. I’m afraid the Major didn’t pack much of anything for us. They must have good horses. Ours would have dropped dead at this pace we haven’t even seen a water hole yet.”
Dallas muttered, “Thank God for the camels. They can sniff out the water. We might have to let them if we don’t see a water hole soon. You’d think the boys would have had to stop and let their horses rest.”
Sergeant Major Vincent said, “Indian ponies are faster and hard to catch out here. But they still need water. You don’t suppose there were water holes in that path they used?”
Dallas cursed, “Of course there were. They weren’t doing braids for nothing. They were taking turns at water holes and giving their animals a breather while the other two kept creating dust in our faces.”
Sergeant Major Vincent chuckled, “Damned smart John. I sure hope he’s not leading us a poisoned water hole as the last resort.”
Dallas looked around, “Well we’re not camping down here either for the night. I wouldn’t want to wake up to Indians on the high ground. Let’s keep going. Bryan you take the lead and let Daisy have her head. She’s going to lead us right to her baby.”
Sergeant Major Vincent grinned, “Maybe you got some Comanche in you too Major.”
Bryan urged Daisy forward, “Alright girl, go find your baby. Find Jenny for us Daisy.”
Daisy sniff the air and called out then headed down the middle of the ravine at a run. Bryan called out, “Major you sure about this?”
Dallas chucked, “Oh yeah. Sneaky little farts. Come on Daisy, find your baby! Remember don’t shoot them unless they fire on your first boys.”
Daisy was loping easily and in another ten minutes started climbing back up the side of the ravine they had just come down and stood outside a cave bellowing out and then went down on her knees and planted herself in front of the opening. Bryan jumped off. There wasn’t any light in the cave. Dallas and the rest kept their camels in the flat of the ravine. Dallas dismounted and instructed the Sergeant Major to stay at the ready down below. He took his pistol out and slowly climbed up to the side to where Daisy lay and motioned to Bryan to try throwing a stick in the cave. Bryan found a small stick and threw it in. Nothing. Just the sound of the stick hitting the floor. Dallas reached down and found a rock. Bryan was frowning as Dallas lobbed it further into the opening. Still nothing. Then a rustle. Dallas called out, “John, Paul, we know you’re in there. Daisy has you surrounded boys. Bring Jenny and come on out. We won’t hurt you. Nice try, but she can’t go home until after the baby comes.”
There wasn’t a reply. Dallas looked at Bryan, “You try. Maybe they’ll listen to you Daddy.”
Bryan eyebrow rose, “Jenny? Darling? Come out. I know your scared, but things will be alright. I’m not going to let anyone hurt you or the boys.” There was another rustle, but nothing came out. Bryan frowned, “I love you. I want you to be my wife. Not a slave or some second wife, my only wife. They won’t hurt you again, I swear.” Bryan waited, then said, “I’m coming in boys. Don’t shoot me. I just want to talk. I’m not armed.” Bryan took off his gun belt and saber and dropped them by the side of the hill and slowly hunched down on his knees and crawled through the cave opening.
Then Dallas heard a series of high pitched squeals and Bryan cussing and slapping at something as the sky turned black with bats flying out of the cave. Daisy got to her feet and quickly moved out of the way, down the ravine and started climbing up the other side as Sergeant Major Vincent dispatched one of the Privates to chase her down. The rest of the camels weren’t too happy about the bats flying way to close to their heads and were reaching out to grab them with their teeth and shaking their heads wildly. Some went to their knees as others decided to follow Daisy’s example and quickly get the hell out of there.
Bryan crawled out on hands and knees, “Someone shoot them. Shoot them all filthy nasty bats!”
Dallas asked, “Is she in there?”
Bryan held a piece of her buckskin, “Those boys knew that camel would lead us to her. They knew we’d find the bats.” Bryan shuddered, “I hate bats.”
Dallas was looking at the men and camels scattered. Some still had their riders and others were running freely like Daisy for a better place to spend the night. Dallas shook his head, “I really thought we’d find her in there Bryan. You looked good? Could it have opened up further back?”
Bryan looked crossly at Dallas, “No, I didn’t find anything but bat dung and a hell of a lot of bats. If you think she’s still in there, be my guest. Crawl in there. If it opens up, you’ll drop straight to hell before you see it. Black as pitch Dallas.”
Dallas shrugged, “I had to ask. I believe you. You’re the cave expert after all. You didn’t smell gas did you? I thought I smelled gas.”
Bryan started laughing, “Well I think Daisy farted. Scared the heck out of her didn’t it.”
Dallas sat on the rocks, “And me and half the company. We’re not getting any further tonight. Where ever they are, I hope it’s not in that cave. I’d hate to be there when they return tonight.” Dallas called out, “Sergeant Major Vincent, get the men and camels up on the other side. We’ll make camp about a mile further toward the mountains. We’ve lost the light.”
Private Reed looked at the Sergeant Major and asked, “Is he daft? There still an hour of light or more?”
Sergeant Major Vincent looked up to see the Major and Captain position themselves on the far sides of the cave entrance waving at him with their hands to get out of sight. The Sergeant Major grinned, “He thinks they’re in there still. Let’s move boys.”
Dallas moved and motioned to Bryan to make noise like he was leaving. Bryan threw a few pebbles down the slope and they stayed perfectly still.
It was nearly an hour later when the light in the ravine faded to the last rays of twilight when they heard a sound of something crawling toward the opening. Slowly a head looked out toward the bottom checking for any men or camels and John crawled out on his knees. Dallas grabbed the boy and put his hand over his mouth. John bit his hand and kicked him in the ribs and yelled something Dallas didn’t recognize then stopped struggling and spoke in English, “Dog, you shamed her. You’ll not catch her now. Do what you will with me. My father has her.”
Bryan put his hand on his arm, “Now John. We’re pretty sure you have her in that cave. Tell Paul to bring her out. You gave us a good chase, but it’s over now. Don’t make her suffer the bats when they come back.”
John said defiantly, “She’s not in there. You don’t believe me crawl in there yourself.”
Bryan called out, “Paul, come out son. You don’t want to be in there when the bats come back in. Bring your mother.”
John said, “She is not our mother. You should not call her that. Tatsinuupi is our mother.”
Bryan frowned, “Tatsinuupi didn’t carry you for nine months and go through labor to deliver you, wipe your bun when you shit yourself for two years or peed on yourself and still love you. That woman you won’t name did son. She loves you. She will always love you. Now you will not let her suffer through this night in bat shit! YOU UNDERSTAND SON?”
John eyes were big, “Yes, I understand. You are her man?”
Bryan frowned, “YES, I AM HER MAN AND YOUR SECOND FATHER SO MIND ME OR YOU’LL WISH YOU HAD.”
John swallowed, “Paaka, bring his wife out.” In another few minutes Jenny’s head was peeking out of the cave and she slowly turned sideways as Paul tried to push her through the narrow opening. Bryan tried to reach in and realized, “MY GOD. SHE’S STUCK. Paul don’t push. Let me think how we’re going to get her out. Jenny maybe if you could turn your shoulders a little then …”
Dallas took John by t
he seat of his pants and climbed down the slope, “Where are your horses?”
John shrugged, “Dragging brush. She needed rest.”
Dallas handed the boy over to the Sergeant, “Try not to damage him. His second father wants the privilege of tanning his hide himself.” Dallas looked around, “We might need him if his first father shows up before we get our camels back too.”
Sergeant Major Vincent’s eyes rose as he shook his head, “Son, there is a place for you in this man’s army if you decide to give up on being Comanche. You did well, but time to let the good Major try to save our hides from your father. Why would you try to bring her back. Perhaps you can explain what’s to be gained by that better than those Indian agents. Did he set her aside or not?”
Sergeant Major Vincent considered his options. He really didn’t want to tie up the lad. That wouldn’t encourage him to talk. The good Sergeant Major took some tobacco out of his pocket and rolled up a cigarette. He handed it to John and struck a match and told him to draw in the smoke. The boy looked at him, then sat and took a draw and coughed, but looked pleased and handed the nasty thing back to the Sergeant Major. Next the Sergeant Major took a long draw and held it. Then he let the smoke leave in little circles. John took another draw and tried to do the same. The Sergeant showed him how to hold his mouth and tongue and before the tobacco was gone John had blown smoke in a circle and was extremely pleased with himself. By that time the Sergeant had the boy starting to talk.
John explained the problem. The child had to be named by the father right after birth or if it died, it wouldn’t know it’s name and would wonder the earth as a ghost. As much as John loved the woman who was his mother once, they would not keep her. His father had already set her aside, but the Major shamed her by offering her to others before his father could set her free and that must have been why the white men he offered her to in the village and on that ranch shamed her by not seeing how beautiful she was. They could see her heart broken into tiny pieces and tried to heal her, but it wasn’t enough to stop her pain.