Bryan was looking at how tense she was and her hand was shaking. Bryan told her, “Now let go of JC’s hand so he can mind his Daddy. Jenny, that boy is like my own. He’s family.”
Jenny replied, “And he will throw that knife his hand is on if I do not let go?” The storekeeper was back and moving slowly toward the hatchet in his dart board.
Dallas looked a little embarrassed, “I’m afraid so. I’m very good with it Jenny. Don’t make me show you. I don’t want to hurt you, but I will if you don’t turn loose of his hand right now. You’re not taking my son.”
JC looked up and started pulling his hand trying to free his clinched fist from Jenny’s hand and screamed out, “Let go! You’re not my Mommy!”
The storekeeper pulled the hatchet and let it fly toward Jenny’s back. Bryan screamed out, “DUCK!”
Jenny pulled JC up into her body as she rolled and caught the handle with her free hand looking at Dallas and trying to consider whether the man behind her was a greater threat or the man in front of her. Jenny yelled out at the storekeeper, “DO NOT TEST ME OR THIS GOES WHERE YOU WISHED MY MOUTH TO BE!”
Bryan frowned, “What did I miss?”
Jenny lowered JC back to the floor squeezing on his hand even harder, “No, I can not let go little one until this is done.” She turned to Dallas, “You wanted bate, well you have two for price of one. I will not let go. You kill me, you kill him.”
Letting Go
Jenny kept her eyes on Dallas, “Look carefully if you dare. If I let go, this viper will sink his fangs in his wrist. You cut and he bleed to death. You leave it and he dies painfully.”
Dallas’s eyes focused on Jenny’s fist. There was the tip of the head barely visible as Jenny used her own hand to keep a vise grip around the snake’s head and half of JC’s hand. Bryan and Dallas moved quickly over to where Jenny and JC stood. What ever differences they had were set aside as they tried to figure out how to extract the boy and Jenny without either of them getting bit.
Even the storekeeper was trying to help, then decided there was no time like the present considering the odds of her living was looking like slim to none as he asked Bryan, “You consider selling her if she lives? Gets in a lot of trouble doesn’t she?”
Bryan replied, “No, not considering selling her.”
Dallas asked, “Did she pleasure you or scare you? Your front is a little wet.”
The storekeeper looked down at his apron, “Spilled some cream helping her.”
Bryan muttered, “That had better be goat’s milk. I didn’t order cream.”
The snake was small, but looked deadly. They couldn’t see the fangs, but the tip of his tongue was being crushed between the two jaws being forced together. JC started crying again and yelling for his Mommy despite both Bryan and Dallas pleading for quiet. The storekeeper found a piece of rock candy and put it out in front of JC. JC took it with his free hand and put it in his mouth and shut up. Jenny looked at Bryan, “My hand can not keep this up much longer Bryan. If I am dead, Sparrow Hawk will leave. Cut snake’s head off. It is only way.” Then Jenny looked at Dallas, “This is what a knife does. You must cut before the fangs get loose from my grip. Give your knife to me and I will do it myself!”
Dallas looked at Bryan, “No, not yet. Come on Bryan, what have you got in that bag to slow that snake down?”
Bryan said, “Chloroform. The only thing is I don’t know if it affects snakes but it’s the best I’ve got short of feeding it cactus and I don’t think that’s happening without Jenny opening her fist. You could get ready with your knife to whack off the head if it doesn’t work on the snake. You think you’re fast enough?”
Dallas said, “Not much room for error there.”
The storekeeper said, “Maybe you grab it’s tail, you pin it, and I take off it’s head.”
Jenny looked at Bryan, “I am loosing feeling in fingers. Fangs hurt.”
Bryan looked under her fist, “Baby, could you have mentioned this earlier? It’s got to be now Dallas.”
Minutes later Bryan had a rag soaked in Chloroform covering their hands. JC’s eyes were getting glossy in spite of the layers of scarf’s covering his face as Bryan held on to Jenny as they held their breath. Dallas held his bowie knife ready as the storekeeper held on to JC with a thick cloth covering his noise. The minute JC’s finger relaxed Jenny loosened her grip on JC hand and the storekeeper pulled JC’s arm quickly back as Bryan yanked the snake by the tail and threw it clear. Dallas threw his knife pinning it to the floor and the storekeeper whacked it’s head off with a hatchet.
Both Jenny and JC were out cold on the floor as the fumes got to both of them. The storekeeper held his breath and copped another feel of Jenny’s breast as he quickly took the chloroform soaked rag outside.
Bryan turned just in time to see the storekeeper’s hand brush her breasts, “Did he do it again?” Bryan moved over to attended Jenny’s hand where the fangs had pressed into her skin. He quickly slit and sucked out what venom he could.
Dallas looked at Bryan, “What do you expect, you didn’t even try to hit the man. Why shouldn’t he make a second pass. Law of the fittest Bryan.”
The storekeeper looked pale as he said, “Major, your company has arrived. He’s asking for the person in charge. So who wants to parley with the big fellow? Just remember, he breaks it or burns it, you’re getting the bill.”
Dallas got up, “I guess that’s me.”
Bryan got up, “My job. I’m the Indian Agent. Bryan took all his weapons off at the door and walked out into the yard as Sparrow Hawk rode up with his face covered with war paint. A set of braves lead two soldiers stripped of their shirts and jackets behind their horses with the hands tied, and mouths gagged. To their surprise there were four more wearing buckskin pants, war paint, and feathers in their hair.
Bryan’s eyebrow went up as he recognized Private White and Corporal Gibbons, “You seem to have found something that belongs to us. Not sure about those others, maybe you can explain why you brought them brother?”
Sparrow Hawk asked, “Where is your white chief? We have business to settle.”
Bryan answered gruffly, “I’m the Indian Agent. You can say your peace to me and we can see if we can settle this without any bloodshed.”
Sparrow Hawk grinned, “You give me Nahuu, I give you these two back and you take men who think they can blame me for their dirty work to your chief in Arkansas. She is alive, is she not?”
Bryan replied, “She lives. I can’t deny it.”
Sparrow Hawk asked Bryan, “Why you do this? She has died twice and twice you bring her back into world where neither white or Indian can keep her. She is lost in between worlds never to feel like she belongs with a heart so broken it will never heal. Gage brought her back to us once when he realized she could never be white again. Then you say she must be white and treat her worse than slave. I could live knowing she died with honor and glory for her son, but not this. Your white chief has gone too far. How he has treated her is a dishonor to my family. I have come to stop this and straighten out mess before soldiers on hill make things worse.”
Bryan took at breath and found himself letting out his own frustrations, “Only your family? I was hoping maybe you were thinking about her pain. But maybe you never really loved her did you? You used her just as bad as we did. What’s the matter? Your new wife can’t hold her breath as long as Jenny or maybe she wants her own children, not hers.”
Sparrow Hawk clinched his fist, “I should pound you into the dirt my brother if it were not for her you would have been dead before Lizard touched one hair of her head. I was foolish to think you would want to come live with us and bring her as your woman. She can not be my family thanks to your great white chief. But you can. How is that?”
Bryan knew what Sparrow Hawk meant. What and who was allowed to stay with or visit his tribe was all dependent on what advantage Albert Pike saw and how it would or would not benefit the CSA’s war against the Union. They need
ed Jenny to show them the treasure room, so in spite of earlier recommendation to let her live out her life with Sparrow Hawk before the war, MacLeod convinced Albert Pike she should be considered white. Bryan admitted, “There are people who want us to fight. But I believe these are on both sides, Indian and white Sparrow Hawk. It is up to us to have cool heads and control our own destiny. Some would say you wish to die before you need cactus juice for old man. But I say you want to live to see Peekwi and Wasapi become strong men like Itsee and Paaka will be soon. It would be a shame if everything you have done to keep them was for nothing. We have both caused this have we not?”
Sparrow Hawk clinched his jaws and admitted, “Yes, we have all played our part, even Itsee and those over there who favor Union ties.”
Bryan seized the moment to get Sparrow Hawk to leave peacefully, “Until you were gone, her sons pull at her heart and she was as you said, neither white nor Indian. Over time she would have gotten better, but we can not go with you today. It is an interesting point of view, but one I don’t know how Albert Pike would have answer.” Bryan looked over at the two Confederate soldiers, “I must ask you to release our men and turn over these others for questioning. You can not have my woman. What else can I do to help you let go of what will surely kill us both.”
Sparrow Hawk grunted in acknowledgment of the words Bryan said, but didn’t flinch, “You may wish you had not hesitated to return her. They are not the only ones I have. Your Major was expecting family was he not? Four children, two boys, and two girls are safe in my camp for now. How much are their lives worth to him? Is it worth one woman’s life to save five he holds dear?”
Bryan looked at the braves with bows in their hands, “You intended to kill her? Like she shot those boys we buried on the trail?”
Sparrow Hawk looked back at his braves, “They are good shots. She will not suffer and this will be over for both of us brother. Many lives are at stake here if word that she lives spreads.”
Bryan swallowed, “Well, you’re too late. She was bitten by a viper. She is in what I call the dark sleep. She is not in her body and she feels no pain. Perhaps you wish to see for yourself to say goodbye? Or maybe you should take my word and leave before the trap door shuts behind all of us. The choice is yours.” Bryan hoped Sparrow Hawk had taken the hint. There was no way Dallas would have risked Lacy’s brother’s and sisters so if he was using Jenny as bate, it was here. Why else would those two fools be that close to his camp if not to lure the big man to the bate.
Sparrow Hawk drew his knife and pointed toward the door, “If you think you can kill me before I put this in you back, you would be wrong brother. Not one of you will live to see the end of this day. It is as good a day to die as any.” Sparrow Hawk walked behind Bryan as he brought him into the store.
Bryan muttered, “You leave those boys as orphans and helpless to be slaughtered and she will haunt you forever. Their lives depend on you being alive, more than a challenge can kill them before they’re grown, brother. Do this for her memory and love of her family.”
The storekeeper looked up, “I think I’ll just go to the back and check my inventory.” He quickly left.
Dallas managed to wake up JC after dousing his face in water and had his son by the seat of his pants sitting on his lap and a pistol drawn behind JC. JC stared wide eyed at the imposing Indian as he woke and blurted out as Dallas poked at his back, “You Wasapi’s father?”
Sparrow Hawk looked down on the boy, “You not scared of me?”
JC shook his head, “Auntie said you were big and strong, but my Daddy is stronger. He could beat you.”
Sparrow Hawk frowned as he pointed to Jenny, “Did she say that?” As Sparrow Hawk engaged the boy, Bryan mouthed to Dallas, “He has Lacy.” Dallas kept a straight face and spotted the knife in Bryan’s back.
JC shook his head, “No, Mommy did. Auntie say you beat my bottom until I learn to mind when I picked up snake.” Bryan thought about that. So much for him not deserving her wrath. He was lucky it was his Auntie. Anyone else might hesitated.
Sparrow Hawk nodded his head, “She is right. I have beat hers enough, but never had to beat Wasapi. He see Paaka get in trouble and knows what will happen if he acts that way. He follows Peekwi. What Peekwi does, he does. You have brother?”
JC shook his head, “Sister. But maybe brother next. I know Jake. He told me about Wasapi and Peekwi. One day they teach me to tickle fish, give me pony to ride, teach me to throw knife and make fire.” Dallas looked a little disconcerted that JC thought he had to visit Sparrow Hawk’s camp in order to learn those things and it showed on his face much to Sparrow Hawk’s amusement.
Sparrow Hawk had a wry look on his face, “You can not do these now?”
JC said, “No, but I can ride a camel. Even John and Paul can’t do that yet. Even Auntie can’t ride camel.” Dallas’s chagrin turned to a smirk.
Sparrow smiled, “That is true. Horses are better for Indians. Camels not get along so well with horses.” Sparrow Hawk pushed on Bryan’s shoulders until they were both squatting down by Jenny, “I have never seen her look this bad. Perhaps young chief want Nahuu and he has done this so she set you aside. He tempted her with child before you could give her one?” Sparrow Hawk watched Dallas’s cheek blush. The end of Sparrow Hawk’s mouth curled up, “Or maybe with four children like his wife bring back? I see your lips move, he knows I have them, but does he know who brought them to me? We are in a bigger trap than the one he set are we not?”
Dallas swallowed, “Only if we take their bate. I wouldn’t have risked my son on purpose. He was going to see his Grandfather when this came up.”
Bryan needed to get Sparrow Hawk’s mind off the young buck that wasn’t any more likely to back down than Sparrow Hawk himself and drew his attention back to Jenny. Bryan motioned to his wife, “I used something we call chloroform to keep her from suffering. We use it on men when we cut off limbs in war. They don’t dream or feel pain. It is like death. It can also cause their memory to lose time and forget what happened after they wake like her brother Gage. That is why you didn’t kill him is it not?”
Dallas remembered his time in the hospital tent after Cotton Plant, “That’s true. He used that on me once, I couldn’t remember details or even seeing the blue coats take Gage off the field. I thought he died.”
Sparrow Hawk said a little sadly, “The one we called McCloud was a mighty warrior once, but the one that came to my camp didn’t even remember he was my blood brother after bringing my Knife home wiser and less of a pain in first wife’s side. He is touched by the spirits and we do not punish those who can not do otherwise.”
Bryan was still having a pissing match with Dallas and ignored what Sparrow Hawk said and improvised. The more they talked the more time the big guy had to calm down and think about his sons, “You would have tried to go after Gage and bled out. It was the only way to get you to stay put.”
Dallas looked at Bryan like someone who had been stabbed in the back, “You could have told me later.”
Bryan sighed, “Gage could have told us all he was here too. But I don’t see you blaming him.” Sparrow Hawk’s mind was getting tired of listening to the problems between the two men that didn’t matter and turned his attention back to Nahuu.
Sparrow saw the remains of the small snake. Bryan turned her palm over where Sparrow Hawk could see the cut where Bryan had tried to suck out venom. Bryan said softly, “She tried to keep the snake from biting the boy and it had it’s fangs pushed into her palm when she dragged him in here to get help. She wanted us to cut her hand off.” Sparrow Hawk sucked in air, “An arrow would have been kinder. That snake is small, but the venom burns like fire.” Bryan realized that if he moved, the knife in his back might end up in Jenny’s chest. The man was willing to sacrifice his life to end the abuse he saw before his eyes.
Bryan slowly took the haversack off her neck, “She’s not dead yet. You’re going to have to put that knife through me before it reaches her
. She will haunt us both if that happens. She wanted me to give this to you and her sons from us if I got word where you were camped. Treaties may force us to be apart for now, but they can’t change who is our real family. It is only a piece of paper is it not?”
Sparrow Hawk looked at the leather pouch, “Carry pouch?”
Bryan said, “Look inside.” Bryan showed him how it opened.
Sparrow Hawk look surprised, “For me?”
Bryan said, “I insist.”
Sparrow Hawk’s brow rose, “You are very generous brother. I have misjudged you, but you should keep Aloe Vera cactus paddies. They are good for burns, aches and pains. Red Cedar use this often. Soak them in plenty of water and drink the juice for your knees and joints.”
Bryan’s brow frowned as Sparrow Hawk handed him the cactus paddies, “Old men’s medicine? Not wokwave?”
Sparrow Hawk looked at Jenny, “Yes not wokwave, that is better for pain. If you cut yourself in mourning, use juice on skin. It will help it heal faster.”
Bryan glared at Dallas, “Very funny Major. You knew didn’t you?”
Dallas tried to look shocked, “What? I didn’t put that in there. The pearl was my contribution. Maybe Jenny asked Lacy to find some. You know she was telling you that you needed it. Better than what you’re using for sure.”
Sparrow Hawk took the black pearl and rubbed it in his hands, “Red Cedar will like this black bobble. I hunt everywhere, but could not find the one he lost in the caves. Father get many from boy soldier when Gage bring her back.”
Sparrow Hawk asked Dallas, “Why you bring her here? You wish to fight today? All this nice, but gifts not matter if I am dead does it? You use her as bate. You want them caught so they tell me she is alive and under my nose.” The friendly atmosphere had turned deadly serious in a blink of an eye.
Camp Camel: The Heart of Texas Page 58
