The Travelers 1

by Lee Hunnicutt

  An Injun loves drinkin’ and he loves to gamble.

  He gits his brother Injuns all liquored up and then steals from ‘em.”

  He turned in his saddle as he said the last sentence so that he was hollering at Joe Many Hands’ back.

  He then chucked and said in a softer voice to the kids, “Every year I see him ride outta here just like today with horses, squaws and goods that he won from these here drunks and I never expect to see him agin. I always spect that one of these here cutthroats will foller him outta camp and lift his hair but he comes back every year same as last.”

  The Indian encampments were about a half mile from the fort. Once past the teepees they had a better look at the famous Fort Laramie. This was the first permanent settlement in Wyoming. Legend had it that it got its name from a French fur trapper, Jacques Laramie who supposedly was killed by Indians on the river that was later named after him.

  The fort was built on a bluff overlooking the Laramie River which was nothing more than a stream. The town of Fort Laramie lay behind the fort.

  They crossed the river and rode up an incline along the bluff to the fort. They had explained to Johnson that they wanted to get this meeting with the military over with as quickly as possible.

  The three had talked it over and had decided to stay with the story they had told Curly Bob. They had been orphaned on the trail when their parents had died of cholera.

  Jack had said, “I think Sonny should do all of the talking and we will go along with whatever he says.”

  “And why is that?” Beth asked with a little irritation in her voice.

  “Well for two reasons. One, if only one does the talking we are not liable to cross up our story and two, you and I are too close to the issue here. I believe that Sonny will be able to explain our situation a little more dispassionately than you or I.

  You’d want to scalp the son of a bitch and I’d want to shoot him.”

  Beth thought for a moment and said, “OK, I can accept that.

  Do you think you can handle this, Sonny?”

  “Sure,” said Sonny “this way, if I shoot him, I get to keep the scalp.”

  Beth let her shoulders slump and shook her head.

  They rode through the Army post toward a large building called Old Bedlam. It was the oldest building on the fort and use to be bachelor officers’ quarters. Now it doubled as a headquarters building and upstairs was the post commander’s house.

  The four of them dismounted in front of Old Bedlam and went in.

  Forty-five minutes later they exited the building.

  Beth said, “That was short and sweet.”

  “He actually seemed relieved that we’d come in,” said Jack.

  “Yeah,” said Johnson “he was relieved. You comin’ in means he don’t have to go campaignin’ against the Cheyenne lookin’ for some snot nosed white kids who were dumb enough to be taken prisoner by the Cheyenne.”

  Johnson held up his hand against what he knew was coming and said, “I know that warn’t the case with you but you gotta understand most whites think of the Injuns as savages who do nothin’ but rape and slaughter. They view it that no white person in thar right mind could ever enjoy livin’ with Injuns.

  “Someone hears that thar’s white children livin’ with the Cheyenne and the next thing you know the politicians in Washington put pressure on the Army to do sumthin’ about it. It’s just the way things are.

  You’re just one less problem that colonel has to think about this year.”

  Johnson’s explanation stopped the children cold and gave them something to think about.

  They lead their horses towards the post trader’s complex. It was only three buildings away from the headquarters building. The post trader use to be called the sutler but for some reason after the Civil War the name had been changed to post trader. Johnson told them that they could sell their furs to the post trader and pick up most, if not all of their supplies from the trader.

  They tied their horses up at the hitching rail outside of the post trader.

  Johnson turned to the kids and said, “Let me go in first.”

  He approached the door from the side. When he entered, it was quickly and quietly.

  The children were amazed that such a large man could move so quickly and silently. They were right behind him and saw him cover the distance from the door to the counter in a flash.

  The man behind the counter didn’t have a chance. He didn’t see or hear Johnson. The next thing he knew was that he was being hauled across the counter and being slammed down on the floor.

  Everyone in the store froze. The man on the floor was trying to get his breath and with great effort trying to focus his eyes. When he did get them focused and got a look at who had assaulted him, his face turned white and he tried to scutter on his back away from Johnson.

  He said in a voice filled with panic “Mr. Johnson, I didn’t ….”

  Johnson put his foot on the man’s chest and pushed the air out of his lungs. The man was now having a hard time breathing.

  “I don’t want any of your slimy excuses, you little worm.

  Where can we go talk?”

  The trader made a feeble gesture toward an office in the back of the store.

  Johnson reached down and picked him up as if he was a rag doll. As he dusted the trader off, he said in a low voice, “Tell all yer customers that everything is all right.”

  In a loud shaky voice, the trader said, “Everything’s all right. Just a little misunderstanding.” He managed a weak smile, “Everything’s all right. Just carry on. Bob’ll take care of you.” He pointed to a young man at the end of the room.

  He and Johnson disappeared into the office.

  There was a glass window in the office so the trader could watch the store even when he was in the office.

  They could see Johnson throw the trader into the chair behind the trader’s desk. Johnson’s back was to the window.

  Nobody in the store had moved. Everybody, the clerk, two women and a young soldier, were looking at the office window in stunned silence.

  All they could hear through the door were muffled voices. At first, it was obvious from his facial express that the trader was pleading. When he mustered some courage his face became stern and his muffled voice turned angry.

  Jack thought “He’s trying to bluff Johnson.”

  Although they couldn’t see Johnson’s hands, they could see his right arm move like he was putting his right hand on his belt buckle and then the right elbow moved out from his body a few inches.

  The trader put his hands up and squealed. His face was an ashen white and he slumped in his chair. He was nodding his head and you could hear a muffled, “All right, all right.”

  Sonny chuckled and thought, “Johnson’s showing him his Bowie knife.”

  Johnson’s elbow moved back towards his body and he reached down, grabbed the front of the trader’s shirt and plucked him out of the chair.

  They emerged from the office with Johnson’s arm around the trader’s shoulders. Johnson had a large smile on his face. The trader looked and smelled like he had just filled his pants.

  Johnson said, “Mr. Pervis here has just agreed to buy your furs at St. Louis prices. Ain’t that right, Mr. Pervis?”

  The trader weakly nodded his head.

  He’s also agreed to sell you all of your supplies, wagon and rig at a good and fair price. Ain’t that right Mr. Pervis?”

  Each time Johnson asked Pervis a question, he gave him a bone crushing squeeze on the shoulder.

  “That’s two thou… no two thousand five hunerd dollars for the furs, right?

  Pervis hesitated for a second. Johnson squeezed. Pervis gave a tortured little squeak and nodded his head again. It was all Pervis could do to keep from fainting from pain and fear.

  Johnson said to the kids “Go git the furs so he can pay you now. Give the clerk your list of supplies so he can start fillin’ your order.”

  Jack gave
the clerk their supply list and the kids went out to bring in the furs.

  The three spectators, the young soldier and the two women took this opportunity to scurry out of the store.

  Johnson and Pervis went back into Pervis’ office so that Pervis could get the money for the furs.

  When the kids had unloaded the packhorses, Pervis didn’t even look at the furs. With a shaky hand, he just gave the kids the money.

  Johnson turned to Pervis and said, “Tell yer clerk that you will finish the order and for him to take the four horses outside and hook ‘em up to your best wagon and harnesses. Then bring it around front so we can load up the supplies. Oh, and throw in a tarp, tools and a spare wheel too.”

  The clerk looked at Pervis questioningly.

  Pervis snapped “You heard him. Make sure it’s our best rig and get back here fast.”

  Johnson said to the kids, “Get the rest of your supplies off the shelves and stack them out front.”

  After the kids had done as Johnson had said, Jack approached Pervis with the money Pervis had just given them and said, “How much do we owe you?”

  Pervis who was shaking like a leaf said, “Nothing, nothing. Just take ‘em and leave.”

  “With yer blessings.” prompted Johnson.

  “With my blessings. No hard feelings, it was my pleasure.” Pervis looked like he was about to break down and cry.

  “Where in the Hell is that damned clerk!” Pervis sobbed. His breathing was coming in short gasps and he kept pounding his fist on the counter.

  To stop the pounding, Johnson covered Pervis’ fist with his huge hand.

  Pervis’ head made a quick bird like movement to look at Johnson. He grimaced and said, “Sorry,” he looked at the kids “I’m just a little nervous. That’s all.”

  He then began to give a little whimpering cry. The crying continued for a few minutes.

  Johnson looked away in disgust.

  It was plain that Pervis was terrified of Johnson. It was also clear that his life was in question as long as Johnson was around.

  The three kids actually began to feel sorry for him but they didn’t say anything. Something was going on here that they didn’t understand.

  About that time the wagon pulled up in front of the store.

  Johnson told the kids, “Get the clerk to help you load up the wagon.”

  When they went outside, Johnson grabbed Pervis by the throat with his right hand. His hand was so big his fingers almost went around Pervis’ neck to meet the thumb on the other side. Johnson squeezed the neck and said in a low viscous voice “What happened here today is between you and me. Them kids had nothing to do with this.

  If I hear that they drown crossing a river, get jumped by Pawnees or one of ‘em gets a splinter in his hand, I’m comin’ back here for you and I’ll skin you alive.”

  Pervis’ veins had popped out in his neck and face and his face was turning blue.

  Johnson threw Pervis backwards against the wall.

  As Pervis slid down the wall Johnson said, “Do you understand me?”

  Pervis gave a weak attempt to speak but all that would come out was little whistling sounds so he nodded his head.

  Johnson turned on his heel and much to Pervis’ relief walked out of the store.

  With the clerks help all of the supplies had been loaded into the wagon.

  Jack and Sonny had wrestled a potbellied stove to one of the forward corners of the wagon and were in the process of tying it down so that it wouldn’t slide around the wagon bed.

  Johnson climbed up into the wagon’s seat and took the reins. He turned and said, “Yew about finished?”

  “Yes sir,” said Sonny.

  They jumped out of the wagon.

  Jack took Johnson’s horse’s reins and Sonny grabbed the lead line for Johnson’s pack animals.

  Johnson slapped the reins on the rumps of the horses, gave a big smile and said, “Let’s head for town.”

  Beth thought “He’s in a great mood. He really enjoyed himself in there.”

  As they rode to town, Jack asked Johnson, “What was going on back there?”

  Johnson gave out a roaring laugh and said laughingly, “Pervis is just a great hoomanitarian. He just loves to help out little orphan children like you.”

  This struck Johnson as really funny and he started to howl with laughter. Tears came to his eyes. He had to stop the wagon and he began to laugh harder and slap his thigh.

  “Wait’ll I tell Hatchet…”

  He couldn’t finish the sentence. He crossed his arms and grabbed his upper arms with his hands and rolled sideways on the wagon seat. His mouth wide open, his eyes squeezed tightly shut and his face contorted in what looked like agony.

  Jack thought he was having some kind of an attack.

  Johnson took a long deep breath making a squeaky sound. As soon as he filled his lungs with air, he expelled it in a roaring laugh.

  After a minute or two of this, he weakly pushed himself back up on the seat and tried once again to talk.

  “Wait’ll I tell ….”

  He couldn’t finish the sentence as he broke into laughter again.

  The kids just looked at each other in puzzlement.

  Johnson finally leaned back onto the wagon seat’s backrest and spread his arms over the back of the seat. He was gasping for breath. Every once in a while a gasping laugh would escape.

  Finally, he was able to speak. He was weak from laughter so he grabbed the back of the seat for support and said, “Hatchet Jack, Mad Mose and me was up north on the Yellow Stone last Fall. We was goin’ ta travel together a couple a more days and then I was to head Southwest to meet up with Del Gue and Hatchet Jack and Mad Mose were ta head on up near the Canadian border.

  We came over a ridge and down below us was Pervis and bout forty Sioux. He was sellin’ ‘em guns. They was too intent on what they was doin’ to see us so we backed off and watched ‘em for a while.

  There was too many of ‘em for us ta do anything so we left real quiet like and went on our way.

  I was gonna turn him in ta the colonel and I might still do that but as we was travelin’ to

  Fort Laramie, I got ta thinkin’ it would hurt ole Pervis a lot more if I hit him where it hurts, in the wallet.

  Hell, you needed a wagon and all them supplies. You needed the best start you could get, so well, I thought what the Hell. This would help you out and maybe teach Pervis a lesson.

  Besides after my little chat with him, I don’t think he’ll be sellin’ rifles to the Injuns any time soon.”

  The kids sat on their horses not knowing what to say.

  Finally, Jack said, “Thanks John, we don’t know what to say. Thanks.”

  Jack felt a little awkward. They had just given a pretty good stash of weapons to Two Feathers. The three of them had a different perspective on the Indians than Johnson did.

  Johnson responded with a smile and said, “Twern’t nothin’. I kinda enjoyed it.”

  An awkward moment passed and Johnson clucked at the horses, flicked the reins and they once again set off towards town.

  Between the fort and the town was a saw mill.

  Sonny pointed to it and said, “We need to go there before we leave and get planks for the sluice box. Maybe tomorrow, huh?”

  “Sure,” said Beth.

  Johnson said, “I’ll show how to harness and unharness the rig and tomorrow we’ll do a wet crossin’ of the Laramie and you can practice drivin’ the rig.”

  That sounded great to all three of them.

  “What’ll we do with the rig tonight and how do we keep it safe from thieves? We don’t want to lose the rig and all of our stuff,” said Jack.

  “We can leave it at Cassidy’s livery. I’ve done business with him over the years. I trust him. He’ll take care of the horses and feed them.”

  On the right was a large nondescript building. The weather was mild and there were five or six tired, worn, bored looking women sitting outside.


  As the wagon past by them, one of the women perked up and leaned forward and hollered “John? John, is that you?

  Hey girls, it’s Johnny Johnson.”

  Johnson looked straight ahead and squirmed in his seat.

  Beth looked at him enjoying his discomfort and said, “Johnny Johnson? Johnny?”

  Even though it was cool Johnson began to sweat. He kept looking straight ahead.

  By now all of the women were on their feet. One of them yelled, “What’s wrong Johnny? Gotten too good for us? Don’t want to speak to your old friends?”

  Another one yelled “You weren’t so quiet last time you saw me, John.”

  They all howled at that.

  They were hooting and hollering when a plain looking young woman came through the door. When she saw what all of the women were laughing at, her face lit up and she ran out to the wagon and grabbed one of the lead horses by the halter, stopping the wagon.

  Up to this point, Johnson had looked like he had wanted the Earth to open up and swallow him but when he saw the young woman, his facial expression changed from one of embarrassment to one of affection.

  The young woman said, “Well if it ain’t the Liver Eater hisself.”

  The worn out women on the porch were wearing dresses and one was in her petticoats but this young woman was wearing dirty buckskins and boots.

  Johnson looked down at her and smiled “Well Marthy Jane, how ye been?”

  He didn’t wait for an answer. He said, “Last time I seen yew, yew was mule skinnin’ down Arizone way.”

  Johnson got a concerned look on his face and said, “What are ye doin’ in a place like the Hog Ranch?”

  Jane looked up at him with feigned anger and said, “Don’t git yer bowels in an uproar. That mule skinnin’ played out. I did a little scoutin’ for the Army for a while and well I just ended up here.

  “A girl’s gotta eat.

  All the jobs I like; they don’t want to hire wimmin. I’m better than most men at shootin’, ridin’, scoutin’ and you name it but they just won’t hire me and I’ll be damned if I’ll clerk in a store. So here I am! And don’t you be lookin’ down yer nose at me!”

  “Why, Jane, you know I’d never do that.

  How about goin’ into town with us and I’ll buy you supper?”