The Dog People (The Colter Saga Book 4)

by Joel Baker

  Shannon was nursing the baby, and asked everyone else to leave.

  “What’s wrong, Jezebel?” Shannon asked.

  I’m old and dying, Jezebel said. I’ve had a long and interesting life, Shannon. I couldn’t have asked for a better friend than you. I’ve done all that I could do in this life. I am ready to leave.

  “But who will look after Jessica when you’ve gone?” Shannon asked, tears in her eyes.

  Things are changing with us, Jezebel said. Jake and I are old. We are the past, not the future.

  “Who will look after Jessica?” Shannon asked.

  Max talks with her, Jezebel said. I think he has already attached to her. Max is the future.

  ***

  It was the afternoon of the following day before Matthew and Shannon were alone to talk. They talked about the changes that were happening to the dogs, and especially Max. Matthew told Shannon that Max was certainly different, and he couldn’t tell if it was for the good or bad.

  Molly and Fala came into Shannon’s room, as Matthew was finishing up about the dogs. Molly swooped over and gathered up the baby, telling Shannon to get some sleep.

  Fala stood by Matthew, glancing up at him. Matthew seemed not to notice, and then left the room. Fala frowned, but didn’t say anything. Molly followed Matthew out of the room, coo cooing to the baby.

  “Fala, you look unhappy,” Shannon said. “What’s wrong?”

  “It’s your brother,” Fala said. “I was mean to him when we first met. I think he hates me.”

  “Give Matthew some time,” Shannon said. “He’s like most men. They walk around clueless most of the time.”

  “I just want to be friends with him,” Fala said. “I may have hurt his feelings.”

  “You give Matthew too much credit,” Shannon said. “Give him some time and he’ll finally figure it out.”

  Fala noticed how tired Shannon was, and left the room. She closed the door carefully, and walked over to where Molly sat rocking the baby. She picked up something from the sewing basket and concentrated on threading the needle. Once threaded, she put a thimble on her finger and attacked a sock with a hole in the heel.

  “Is there something bothering you Fala?” Molly asked.

  “I don’t understand the dogs,” Fala said. “I know your family has an attachment to them. But they seem so strange. I mean sometimes the dogs are around. Sometimes they’re not. Sometime they travel with the Colters, sometimes they just disappear. They’re your dogs, but they don’t act like it. Who decides what they’re going to do?”

  “The dogs do,” Molly said laughing. “It can be confusing, Fala. These dogs aren’t like other dogs. They are bigger, faster, and smarter than other dogs. The dogs are especially close to Shannon and Matthew. They’re so close; sometimes it’s as if they know what each other are thinking.”

  “Do you ever worry about the dogs hurting one of you?” Fala asked.

  “Never,” Molly said. “For five generations of Colter, these dogs have fought and died for us. We would do the same for them. It is not something we question.”

  “Could that change?” Fala asked.

  “No,” Molly said. “It would never happen. Now, let me put this baby to bed, and I’ll show you how to darn that sock good as new.”

  ***

  Jezebel died just before Christmas. She’d spent most of the last month of her life in Shannon’s bedroom. At first, Jezebel was company for Shannon. As Shannon grew stronger after the birth of the baby, Jezebel seemed to weaken. Shannon spent all the time she could with her. She put down blankets for a bed on the floor, and one on top of Jezebel to keep her warm.

  Around midnight, on the night Jezebel died, Shannon crawled from bed and lay on the floor by Jezebel. She held the dog in her arms and felt the slow, rhythmic beating of Jezebel’s heart.

  “How are you doing, Jezebel?” Shannon asked.

  I think it’s over, Jezebel said.

  “Don’t be afraid,” Shannon said. “They say it’s like walking through a door into a new world.”

  We had a good life, didn’t we, Shannon? Jezebel asked.

  “Yes we did,” Shannon said. “I wish you could have watched baby Jessica grow up. I think she is going to be something special. Don’t you? Jezebel…, Jezebel? Oh, Jezebel. You’ve gone and left me all alone.”

  ***

  They buried her on the top of the East Ridge, so she could greet the morning sun each day. The dogs stood quietly as Jezebel was lowered into the ground. Her grave was a shallow grave, because of the frozen ground. They piled rocks on top of her to make sure no animals could get to her. Shannon was the last one to leave her. She listened to the wind blow, and watched as gray clouds lowered, and rolled in from the west.

  “Jezebel,” Shannon said. “It looks like we may have snow this afternoon. I know how much you loved it when it snows. I hope it snows all day. Goodbye, Jezebel... I love you.”

  It started snowing in the afternoon, and continued all the next day. Fala tried to keep her little brother and sister occupied with games. Shannon fed the baby and slept most of the time. Nina and Molly cooked, talked, and laughed. They were becoming good friends. James and Tate kept busy tending the fire, working some leather harness, and cleaning weapons.

  Matthew spent most of his time trying not to look at Fala. She was so pretty, it was hard. The way she laughed. The way she looked after her brother and sister. He wished he hadn’t been such a jerk that first day. Oh, well, he thought. Nothing I can do about that now.

  “I think I’ll go check on the dogs,” Matthew said.

  It was late in the evening of the second day, when the snow stopped. The temperature started dropping just before sunset and seemed to be in freefall. Matthew bundled up stepped out on the snow covered porch. A four foot drift covered the steps and ran almost all the way to the barn. Matthew shoveled a path to the barn and opened the door. It was hard to see in the twilight.

  “Jake, are you in here?” Matthew asked.

  Yes, Jake said. We’re over here in the hay.

  Matthew made his way through the gloom to the pile of hay and saw dogs huddled everywhere. Max was lying next to a full litter of pups, that looked to be only hours old. They seemed warm enough from the collective heat given off from the adult dogs around them.

  “Do you want us to bring the pups into the cabin by the fire?” Matthew asked, noticing there were only six large pups huddled together.

  The pups are good, Max said. We have everything we need.

  “Good then,” Mathew said. “If you need anything let me know.”

  We will, Max said. We’re fine, Matthew.

  Matthew found his way back to the door and out into the gathering darkness. The wind had picked up and was driving snow directly into his face. He stumbled and fell to one side into a drift. Near him lay three dead puppies. One was a small runt, and the other two had white markings on their legs and back. They were frozen stiff.

  Matthew remembered stories of how the dogs would let puppies die if they were different from the other dogs. I wonder if Max is a throwback to the original dogs that came south with the Jesse and Sarah Colter? Matthew thought. He knew he’d better talk to Shannon, who knew all the stories of the trip to Haven.

  ***

  At the end of February, they had a false spring. The snow melted in Colter Canyon, and the rising water crowded the banks of the river. Entire trees were carried in the swirling waters. They piled up on shore. For the first time this winter, firewood was easy to find. James, Nate, and Matthew cut and split firewood for an entire week, replenishing their supply.

  The grass began to green and the puppies finally emerged from the barn. They played ‘follow the leader’, and chased after each other. It seemed an odd way for puppies to play. They also would sit in long lines, one puppy next to another. Shannon remembered hearing the original Colter dogs, would do this as well.

  Jake, and the other older dogs, would soon be dwarfed by the size of the pups. Max
watched the pups, to ensure nothing would interfere with their development. An occasionally reprimand was all that was required from Max. These dogs were different than the ones who left New Liberty. No one knew if the differences would be for good or evil.

  ***

  Lester rode up, just as the men finished stacking the wood they’d cut. At the first sign someone was coming, all the dogs disappeared. One minute they were sitting in a long row, watching Matthew and Nate stack the wood. The next minute they were gone.

  “Hello,” James called, waving his hat in the air.

  “Howdy,” Lester said, riding up to where the three men stood.

  The pack horse behind Lester was heavily loaded.

  “Don’t let me stop you from cutting wood,” Lester said.

  “We need the break,” Matthew said. “Besides, you’re the first person we’ve seen in months.”

  By this time the women had come out of the main cabin. Shannon carried baby Jessica over to Lester and showed him what a little darling she was.

  “Lester, you are a sight for sore eyes,” Molly said. “I hope Elsie and Rachel are well?”

  “It’s been a long winter,” Lester said. “I thought those two would come to punches, if the weather didn’t break. You know how it is.”

  “We got a lot of snow up here,” James said. “Did you get much snow down at your place?”

  “We got a lot,” Lester said. “We lost quite a few head of cattle. Some froze to death standing up. I brought you some beef on the pack horse. I thought you might be running low.”

  “Come on in,” Molly said. “I’ll make us some lunch and we can talk.”

  “I’d certainly like too, but I got to be getting back,” Lester said. “Elsie sent me with a message. She said that there’s going to be a get together for the kids in a week. She’s done this since Rachel was a little girl. She’s invited all the neighbor’s kids from the ranches around us, to our place, to come celebrate the end of winter. She wanted you to know that your youngsters were invited too.”

  “Are you sure, Lester?” Matthew asked. “Your wife didn’t seem all that friendly to Nate and his family. Are you sure they were invited?”

  “She’s sorry about that,” Lester said. “She feels really bad about how she treated them. She knows how hard it is on the kids, to be cooped up in a cabin all winter. This gives them a chance to run around and be kids again. Half the kids coming will be like them. The kids will stay at our place all weekend. You can just drop them off on Friday and come back for them on Sunday.”

  “I don’t know,” Nate said, looking dubious.

  “Nate, it’s her way of saying she was sorry,” Lester said.

  “I’ll bring them down,” Matthew said. “I may hang around awhile, to make sure Copa and Jacy are comfortable.”

  “Good,” Lester said. “I’m sure Rachel will be glad to see you.”

  “I’ll be coming too,” Fala said, quickly. “Just to make sure the kids are alright.”

  Matthew glanced at Fala with a quizzical look. Fala looked straight ahead, smiling.

  Chapter 22

  A warm breeze came out of the south, and continued all week. The dogs, and their puppies, seemed to thrive now that they were spending most of their time out in the open. Jake mentioned that they’d found a cave for a den, in the hills. Matthew told Shannon, Max thought it would provide a good home for the Dog People.

  “What do you mean Dog People?” Shannon asked.

  “That’s how they refer to themselves, now,” Matthew said. “Remember when they had a run in with the Cheyenne, back when we were in Muskogee?”

  “Yes,” Shannon said. “The Cheyenne took some of their pups. Jake and Luther took revenge.”

  “The Shaman of the tribe called them the Dog People,” Matthew said. “Now the dogs call themselves by that name.”

  “No more calling them Colter Dogs, I guess,” Shannon said.

  “I guess not,” Matthew said.

  That afternoon Matthew met with Molly and James, and told them about the Dog People and their wanting to live separately for a while.

  “This is all Max’s doing.” Molly said. “He’s changing everything. What are we going to do?”

  “Nothing,” James said. “It is all a part of who we are, and who the dogs are. We came together, and we may well fall apart. It was always the dog’s decision to be with us. Now they may go a different direction. Let’s be happy for what we had with the dogs. Nothing lasts forever.”

  “So,” Molly said. “We wait and see.”

  “We wait and see,” James said.

  ***

  The next day the dogs were gone. Both Matthew and Shannon called out to them, but no one answered. Suddenly both of them felt isolated and lonely. They’d lost that sense of belonging, and wondered if the dogs felt the same loss.

  “Matthew,” Shannon said. “I know you’re taking the kids to the Walker place, but I need you back here as soon as their settled. I think we should scout around, and investigate this cave the dog are living in. I’d like to know they’re safe and sheltered. I’ll feel better.”

  ***

  The runoff from the river wasn’t letting up. Nina had told both Copa and Jacy to stay away from the edge of the river, but every time she looked, they seemed to be drawn to it. When she heard they would be going to the Walkers for the weekend, she was concerned and relieved at the same time.

  Both of the children threw a fit, when they were told they were invited to the Walkers. Neither had good memories of their time there, and both were afraid to be left alone. When they found out that both Matthew and Fala would take them, they felt much better.

  With the high canyon walls surrounding them, it was hard to get any idea of the weather. The warm wind from the south, shifted slightly to the southwest, but remained steady and warm. Jacy and Copa were excited to be out of the cabin, and looking forward to playing with other kids.

  Friday morning broke sunny and warm. Copa rode behind Fala. Jacy rode on the pack horse. Matthew was taking two tanned buffalo hides for trade in town. The supplies they brought from Pueblo last fall, were about exhausted. He wanted to set up a line of credit with the supply store in Alamosa, if they had time after delivering the kids.

  “Let’s go, Uncle Matt!” Copa called.

  For some reason, both kids started calling Matthew, Uncle Matt. He was told by Fala it was a title of respect used by their tribe. Usually, it was used to address unrelated males that lived in the same household. She confirmed that was the only reason the kids called him Uncle. Fala smiled every time she heard it. It was a private joke.

  They cleared the canyon walls after the first hour. The sky was bright and clear, except for a small gray line on the far western horizon. Rain on the way home, might be a possibility. Matthew wasn’t sure he even packed his rain gear. The light jacket he wore wasn’t waterproof. Oh well, Matthew thought, I’ve been wet before.

  Fala asked for a stop, after another hour. She and Copa scampered out of sight. Matthew checked the harness on the pack horse, and made sure it was secure. He saw Jacy shading his eyes, looking toward the northwest. There was a dark cloud formation that appeared closer than it had before. Matthew noticed the wind was now coming directly from the west.

  ***

  “You made it,” Elsie called from the porch.

  Matthew waved at Elsie and Rachel standing next to her. He and Fala tied their horses to the hitching rail out front. Copa and Jacy stood close to Fala, until two girls and a boy, about the same age as Copa, ran out onto the porch. Introductions were made, and all the kids disappeared into the house.

  “Elsie. Rachel. This is Fala.” Matthew said, making introductions. “Fala is the oldest daughter of Nate and Nina. She was with them, when they were last here at the ranch.”

  “Please to meet you,” Fala said, flashing her smile at the two women.

  “Good Lord!” Elsie said. “What a beauty! Is this the girl they had hidden away from us in the bar
n? Come up here so we can get a good look at you.”

  Matthew glanced over at Rachel. She was shooting daggers at him with her eyes. She had a fake smile plastered on her face.

  “My father is old fashioned,” Fala said. “He was just trying to protect me.”

  Matthew watched as Fala stepped on to the porch. She wore a thin blouse tucked into her jeans. Her wide belt matched her cowboy boots. The clothes were nothing unusual for a woman on horseback, but on Fala, they looked fitted and special. She really is a knockout, Matthew thought.

  “I’m so pleased to meet you, Fala,” Rachel said. “What must it be like; to live out in those horrid shanties they call cabins? Of course, they’re better than a teepee, aren’t they? Let’s go in and have a decent cup of tea. Your kind drinks tea, don’t they?”

  “Rachel, be nice,” Elsie said. “Come on in Fala. We have some cookies and tea set out. Maybe we can visit.”

  “That sounds just fine, Mrs. Walker,” Fala said. “I’d like some tea.”

  Elsie and Rachel went into the house, followed by Fala and Matthew.

  “I should have brought my knife,” Fala whispered to Matthew as they approached the door.

  “It’s my fault,” Matthew whispered back. “I know Rachel. I should have reminded you.”

  ***

  Elsie had brought in help for the weekend. The children were playing games in the living room. Even Rachel was trying her best to be civil. Fala tried to stay off to one side, but the other women would gravitate to her, and tried to find out more about her.

  Matthew walked out on the front porch in time to see Lester tie his horse off, and hurry towards the barn. He heard the screen door shut behind him, as Fala followed him out on the porch.

  “Lester!” Matthew called. “Where are you going?”

  “I got to get the animals under cover,” Lester said hurrying back to the porch. “If you’re going to head for home, you better do it now.”