Camp Camel: The Heart of Texas

by Eaton, Rosemary

  Plus there were the men who brought the pox on them and bathed their poxed dead in their drinking water. A whole village had perished including his new wife’s husband and it was justice that they should die before more got sick at their hands. Many fathers had slit the throat of a child with the pox and burned their bodies in sorrow trying to stop the sickness. His father wasn’t happy with the Major. He called him ignorant and foolish. She would have been safe in his camp and turned free to go where she wished, not shamed or made a slave at their fort. John asked, “Why must you keep her until after the child is born?”

  Sergeant Major Vincent looked at John, “Good question, but sometimes those who tell us what to do are stupid and have no knowledge of your ways. They do not understand what a ghost is or why the baby should be born close to the father John. In our world, it makes no difference if the father is not there other than the woman would like him to be with there of course and we know a woman’s opinion means little to us men right? You see, we have bigger problems than if one child has no name. In our war, many men fight far from their women and many children are born or die without seeing their father’s face. The women just keep things going while we fight other white men. We don’t want to fight the Indians too which is why the treaty was signed. The most important chiefs agreed to give up all white hostages now, not later.”

  Dallas walked up and sat beside the Sergeant Major, “Texas has no reservation or land for the tribes. They have given your father much land in this Indian Territory to live on far away from us if he will go now. If Texas thinks he refuses the offer, they will hunt him and try to force your villages to move and many may die. They many even bring Indian soldiers to hunt him from where they want you to go. Surely one child is not worth a village?”

  John said, “You think this Jake is worth all your soldiers, so why not my brother? We think it is not that long until he sees light of day. Why hurry him when all would be well after he comes?”

  Bryan had managed to deliver his newly declared wife from her cave and came down with Paul and Jenny and sat next to the fire. Bryan said, “I’m going to go with her and the boys. I’ll trade myself for Jake and I’ll stay and bring her back once the child is born.”

  Dallas looked at Bryan, “He’ll scalp you before you get that out of your mouth.”

  John nodded, “He will. He is very upset. Even Red Cedar recognizes he will not back down now.”

  Dallas said, “Maybe we take her and let him follow us north. The boys could go back and forth to assure him we mean her no harm, but if he wants to name the baby, he needs to follow us?”

  Paul said, “She is too heavy with child. We should not have taken her. She can not travel fast or far.”

  John agreed, “She needs quiet, not being made a thing the men bet on and tortured with snakes, camels, bad food, crawlers in her blankets to see how she acts.”

  Dallas looked at John, “How she acts? More bets. Was that peyote a gift from you or someone making a bet?”

  John said, “We not use much. But need to give her medicine for broken heart. Hemp stick not ours. That someone else. Snake we put there, but not rattler like they want. Tie rattle to tail and put good snake under table. Give her knife to kill it. She like snake meat. Need better food too.”

  Dallas pulled Gage’s pen knife from his pocket, “Whose knife?”

  Neither boy spoke.

  Bryan asked, “Where did this knife come from. No one is in trouble unless you don’t tell me.”

  Paul said, “The woman you call wife gave it to me so I would remember her. The knife is named Gage. It is mine. I gave it to her. Punish me.”

  Bryan handed the knife back to Paul, “It belonged to your white family to our friend Gage Travis. Keep it for her as she wanted Paaka.” Bryan turned to John, “Itsee, did I say that right?”

  John looked at Bryan, “Yes, Itsee, Juan, John, all my names father Bryan.”

  Bryan looked at Dallas and then to the boys. It was clear how the Friar knew where Jenny was. Their grandmother knew the boys as well. Bryan said, “This trip didn’t help the baby. It would be better to wait for a wagon to move her. No more riding hard and the camels rock back and forth too much…” Bryan had an idea, “Where is the Travis ranch? Are we close?”

  Jenny shook her head no that she didn’t want to go there. Dallas was frowning, but he understood why Bryan asked, “Closer than the fort. A couple of miles or so from here to the north. He’s sick so he probably wouldn’t be at the door stopping us, but we’d expose everyone to measles if they haven’t had it already.”

  Dallas asked, “John and Paul have you ever had the pox?”

  John nodded, “Yes, we lived.”

  Dallas asked Sergeant Major Vincent, “What about you?”

  Sergeant Major Vincent said, “My mother said I did. I don’t really remember Sir. I’d rather not find out that she was wrong, but I guess I can see how many others might be exposed that know they haven’t. You’re not thinking about bring a poxed person back to the fort are you?”

  Dallas said, “No. But we might invade Mr. Travis’ ranch and keep her there. If there’s measles, it’s not likely Sparrow Hawk would risk trying to rescue her and Jenny has had it. I had a three day version, what about you Bryan?”

  Bryan replied, “I’ve had the longer version. You can’t come Dallas. This one could kill you. I think it best if it’s just me and Jenny. Brianna and JC might get it from you. The boys might not know the difference either.”

  The Sergeant grinned, “What if young John and Paul lead their father on a wild goose chase. Without the squaw, the camels could keep ahead of Sparrow Hawk and we could lead him up to Indian Territory before Albert Pike decides to take matters in his own hands. Could she ride a stage coach you think? Maybe we could take him to Fort Smith and she could have the baby close enough for him to name it?”

  Paul’s eyes lit up, “You gift us camels?”

  Dallas said, “Yes. We could gift your father two camels. You know how to take care of them and load them. Show him their power and tell him there will be two more when he meets the Indian Agent Albert Pike in Fort Smith but they must never be used in war against the white man or they will turn and cause his animals to scatter to the four winds. You saw Daisy find your mother. They are smart, but can be very mean. If he agrees, he can bring Jake to the fort here or if he feels he must take Jake as a hostage because he fears us, then take him to Fort Smith and hand him to Albert Pike there. But his own son or daughter must be present when Jake is returned. As Albert Pike promised. They will look alike if Jake is intentionally harmed. Her time is near. Too near for her to travel such a long distance as Fort Smith before it is born. We must find a better way for her sake and the one who’s face is not seen yet.”

  Bryan told the boys, “Tell your father that I thank him for the gift of the woman who was your mother. I am greatly honored by how well he has trained her and her warm giving heart. I am well pleased that she knows how to raise a child to be brave and strong and I hope to see her do the same for mine as she did when she was your mother. I will help her reclaim the land that should be hers one day. That land will be yours if you ever decide you want to walk in white man’s world and return to Texas.”

  Dallas started talking and the boys turned their attention back to Dallas, “Tell Sparrow Hawk he has until the moon is full to consult with your elders and other braves and let me know if we can find a peaceful solution that makes both the Comanche and my white father happy.”

  Paul asked Bryan, “Father Bryan, what did you mean? Those words confused me.”

  Bryan looked at the boys, “Jenny’s white father owns a large ranch and it might be yours one day.”

  John nodded, “Yes, Sister Abigail said as much. One day it might be our ranch but she touched with grief for people we not know. The Friar of the mission said she not own anything and should not put such ideas in our head.”

  Bryan looked over to Dallas and back to the boys, “Boys, my wife�
��s white brother, Gage, is dead. He died in the white man’s war. The Major was a good friend of his and I knew him as well. He died bravely and saved many men in his company before the Blue coats killed him. You will own that ranch some day. It is your blood that should inherit it if you claim her as your mother. She is your birth mother. White man’s laws say you are still her sons no matter whether your father Sparrow Hawk puts her aside. If we should be blessed with a child, they will be your brother or sister too and share in this land.”

  John asked, “Would this Gage’s sons and daughters share too?”

  Bryan blinked, “You know of any?”

  John said, “Not mine to say, but what if he had a woman and she had a child but he died before he knew.” John pointed to Jenny, “She would own the land or only boys?

  Dallas asked, “John, that’s pretty specific for you not to know anything. Let’s just suppose Gage had a child that his father didn’t know about. Maybe his mother did and maybe she didn’t. That child was a girl. Well Gage being the son and Jenny being a girl, the land would go to Gage if he was alive when his father died and when he died it would go to his daughter. If he had a son, it would go to the son and not his daughter. If Gage died before his father, like now, then as long as the child was born before he died, it would still inherit the land. But if it was born after Gage died or after your white grandfather died, the land goes to Jenny and her heirs. But lets say Gage died without a son or daughter, then the land would go to Jenny and her family unless Jenny was dead and then it would go to all the grandchildren, I think. Let’s say Jenny inherits the land, then her sons would share in the land when she died which would make it yours, Paul’s and your two younger brothers and possibly the child without a face. Girls don’t get the land if there is a boy heir. Only if their father specifically says they should or they out live all the boys which happens a lot when there is war or fighting amongst the men. If there was a will that said all children boys and girls alike share, then the white man’s laws would divide it as their father stated no matter if they were boys or girls. When a girl marries, her husband manages her land so your new white father would decide if you and your brothers could come and live with them so be good to him.”

  John looked at Dallas, “Too many choices in your law. Our father give us what he want and be done with it. If he die, brother or grandfather decide. Girls not own anything. The one who was my mother was beloved because she is silent and good with her hands as my new white father knows. She was his Knife and honored for her bravery” John was careful not to mention the Major or his wife. He would not shame his new white father. John added, “But my father has all to consider, not just his wants so he gave her up, but not his son.”

  Bryan smiled, “Much wiser than ours John. Now, do you have any cousins that look like the one who was your mother or her brother Gage?”

  John smiled, “Not my story to tell. The old Nun say our eyes and face remind her of her Ghosts and told us stories of her children. She say she married to her white God now so she put aside her man and children. This Gage sound like he wild boy, so there might be. She thought Paaka a wild oat seed, but she not see Peekwi and Wasapi yet. They hide their mischief well and we get the blame. Grandfather say it is their white blood that causes them to be like thieves in the night with their mischief. They are more like her and have lighter skin and hair.”

  Bryan smiled, “Well now, that’s nice. Maybe if I’m lucky I’ll get to met them some day.”

  Paul grinned just like Gage used to do, “You luckier if you don’t father Bryan. Your head look strange without scalp.”

  Private Reed shivered and let out a curse as the fire flamed up then died back down, “Jesus Christ, Holy Mary, May God protect us for sure! Himself right there in the boy. That be him in the living flesh.”

  Another man muttered, “She’s our old captain’s sister alright. I saw it when I first saw her cut throat just like Sergeant Callahan said.”

  Corporal Wayne muttered, “He’s too old to be his son unless the laddie was buggering her when he was but getting his balls filled out.”

  The Sergeant Major cleared his throat. This talk needed to stop, “I’m sorry Captain Travers, Sir. Forgive the men’s course comments. It was the flame and the way it lit the sky for sure that stirred up his memory in our minds. I have to apologize for thinking unsightly thoughts that she might have entertained our roustabout Captain and the Major’s step-brother like that. But you see they were both very friendly with the woman folk, white and Injun.”

  Bryan looked at the Sergeant Major and the rest of the men huddled around the fire, “I’m not sure if I should hit you or thank you Sergeant Major, but I would appreciate if you and the men didn’t say one word more about Captain Travis or Bo Callahan in front of Jenny.”

  Jenny’s face was white and she was grabbing her belly and looked at the fire like she had seen a ghost. She was scooting back and trying to roll over and gain her feet under her when a man walked up into the light, “Well, what have we here? Captain Crockett trying to use Sparrow Hawk’s wife to get my land? Why Dallas Crockett what in the heck got into your head to think my father would ever take her back or even admit she lived? Come to think of it, why aren’t you in Arkansas? Did Lacy turn you out?” Jenny fainted as Bryan quickly moved to catch her. Both boys stood up looking at the man and back to the woman who was their mother.

  John frowned, “Ghost be gone! I name you FIRE WALKER!”

  The man chuckled, “Sticks and stone may break my bones, but names will never hurt me boy.”

  Paul pulled out the pen knife and flipped it open, “Then GAGE will Fire Walker. LEAVE my brother. He is not yours to take.”

  Gage Travis grinned just like Paul. A shiver ran through the entire group gathered in the ravine as the man in a gray CSA Colonel’s uniform put his hands on his waist as if daring the lad to try, “Gage? My old pen knife’s name is Gage? Well I guess it would be with my name written on it like that Paaka. You don’t remember me do you? White soldier in your camp a couple years ago? Oh well, didn’t make an impression then, but I see Nahuu hasn’t forgotten me or should I call you Jenny now? Me Big Chief, higher than the one you smoke tobacco with or his chief or even that medicine man. Jenny, my sister, and Camp Verde, my command. You’re relieved of your command Major. I’m taking charge of the prisoner.”

  And the Dead Shall Rise

  Gage grinned at Paaka, “Looks a little like me doesn’t he? But your correct of course Sergeant. He’s not mine. Travis stamp their children apparently. My sister and I could be twins.”

  Bryan was waving his scarf over Jenny trying to bring her around, “Except maybe for a matter of what year you were born in Colonel Travis. Just how did you climb out of that grave in Judsonia may I ask? If this is the rapture, I’ve missed it.”

  Gage chuckled, “Travers if they take you in the rapture, I’m a monkey’s uncle. Not that they’d take any of us mind you. Not even the man of ten thousand names there. You should have seen my Daddy when I showed up. I thought for sure I’d killed him.”

  Dallas asked, “Bryan swear you see him to me. It’s not more peyote.”

  Bryan said, “If it’s peyote, we’re all having the same dream. He looks solid to me. No colors Dallas.”

  Gage smiled, “Good to see you too Dallas. So Stuart, did he make it and what about Nance?”

  Dallas was still staring at Gage like Jenny was, “Stuart? He made it. Broken leg, but they sent him back to the front. Nance was given a discharge. Mighty bad what they did to his face and body, but he lived. But where were you if that wasn’t you?”

  Gage stopped smiling, “Prisoner of war. I escaped. No one getting paroles now. Lincoln decided they were facing the same people they had just paroled and put us in some hell hole up north. Stayed there too until Morgan raided the place. A dozen of us crawled out with him and ran and kept running until we found ourselves back home. But the good news is I’m a certified hero and got the stripes to prove it.”


  Bryan wasn’t sure he wanted to know, but he had to ask, “Just how did you find us?”

  Gage sighed, “Your fire. Their horses. Albert Pike sent me south to talk with Sparrow Hawk. You see we’re old buddies. He thought things had gotten out of hand, and when you took Jenny there, it created quite the rift Dallas. Now we have people stirred up about scalps, murdered immigrants, and children taken hostage. Plus that’s my nephew, half-breed or not that they’re going to cut up if Sparrow Hawk loses his temper and cuts up that boy Jake. Can’t have that can we Itsee?”

  John walked over and pushed his hand against Gage a time or two, “Not Ghost?”

  Gage smiled back, “Not dead yet. I’d like to keep it that way if you don’t mind. I came to help. The Major needs a little help yes?”

  John looked at Dallas, “Yes. Not understand. You fix it?”

  Gage said, “I hope so.”

  Gage was looking at Bryan, “That better just be medical help you’re offering over the Captain Travers. Just how are you still alive. I thought for sure Hindman would have had you hung by now.”

  Bryan’s expression was one of shock, “I’ll have you know I was instrumental in providing the resources that funded Beauregard’s cattle drive. I have lived up to the conditions of my parole and more. You don’t grudge me for not wanting to stay in Arkansas surely?”

  Gage mouth curled up, “No I can’t say I miss the swamps or mineral water.” Gage paused, “You’re the camp doctor?”

  Bryan nodded, “Yes.”

  Gage looked at Dallas, “Bo? Did you leave him climbing those trees or did you get it?”

  Dallas said, “We found it and more.”

  Paul looked down at the pen knife. He folded the blade and put his hand out with it in it offering it to Gage, “Yours.”