“I believe you might be the only one who holds that opinion.”
“Garnett, it’s not an opinion if I say I’m not. I should surely know whether or not I am or am not naïve.”
He walked up to her and wrapped one arm around her waist bringing her up on her tip toes against his chest. She took in the muskiness of him and her long fingers lightly splayed across his shirt. His eyes were so beautiful, he always needed a shave and before she realized it she kissed him. Dominic smiled as he put his rifle up, untangled her as her fingers went to her lips. Garnett smiled as she looked up at Dominic.
“I’m not naïve.”
“No darling you’re not. You just don’t have the ability to know danger when it has blue eyes.”
“Garnett’s not dangerous.”
They enjoyed her childishness, her spontaneous laughter at the drop of a hat, her curiosity that bordered on dangerous and the way she touched when she was talking to someone but mostly they loved how her naïve nature seemed to envelope everything she said or did.
The ride was becoming more enjoyable as she relaxed and began to take in every moment of the trip.
After a good hunt providing healthy plump rabbits, James told Mirisa that he was going to teach her how to skin them for dinner. She squatted next to James near the fire as he gave her his knife and began explaining to her how to peel back the skin on the rabbit while sliding the knife when she let out a blood curdling scream. Garnett pulled his gun as did Dominic. She dropped the knife, the rabbit and put her hand in her mouth as big tears rolled down her cheeks. Dominic walked up to her and tried to take her hand but she shook her head pulling away.
“Mirisa.” Dominic reached for her hand again. “Stop being a child and give me your hand.” He pulled it out of her mouth and looked at it. The blood trickled down Mirisa’s palm to her wrist. Dominic pulled her thumb back and she screamed at him.
“Damn it Dominic that hurts.”
Dominic raised his eyebrows. “Really?”
Garnett got up to look at the small cut just below her thumb. "I don't know Mirisa that looks pretty nasty."
James cut off a piece of cloth from his supply bag handing it to Dominic who wrapped it around her hand telling her to hold it until the bleeding stopped.
Meeks finished skinning the rabbits and James put them over a low fire to roast. The dinner was great though they teased her most of the night about picking up such profane language and who was responsible for being a bad influence on her. She loved their teasing because like her brothers she knew it was a mask for their love.
“If your father finds out that the boys have taught you such profanity, he won’t be pleased.”
“He will accept whatever I do.”
“You believe that?”
“Well, he is my father and he loves me more than any of you do and all of you accept the things I do.” They all looked at her simultaneously as she rocked slowly on her heels waiting for the pain to stop. She looked from one to the other. “Well you do.”
Garnett laughed. “Mirisa you are so damn naïve.”
She sighed. “I am not.”
Traffic on the road heading north became very active as they approached Shreveport. Dominic told her they would be spending a few days at the hotel before heading into Texas. The more she was with them the less she thought about the things Dominic had told her and the closer her bond became with all four of them.
Dominic took Mirisa down to the cobblers to have her feet measured for new boots. He bought her pants, a leather jacket and a new hat. Dominic told her he was going to get a haircut if she wanted to shop in the confectionary store for something that would travel well but not to get much since it would attract bugs. As she was picking out a bag of assorted hard candies, Meeks came in behind her and looked in the case.
“Good morning Mirisa.”
“Good morning Meeks. If you are looking for Dominic, he is next door.”
“I know I was just talking to him. I had to make sure I got everything we needed, however, I didn’t know candy was on the list.”
“It’s nice when you are riding all day and no one wants to stop so you can eat.”
“Mirisa.” He was looking at her seriously. “You are losing too much weight. You really need to eat better.” She was always surprised at his sincere though blunt honesty.
“Then you need to stop more often.”
“No, you need to eat when we stop and be less picky.” He bought a piece of dark, velvety chocolate and handed it to her before he paid for everything. She thanked him and they left the store as Dominic came out of the barber shop.
“Chocolate? I guess that’s not surprising considering you came out of the confectioners store with Meeks.”
She put the piece in her mouth taking a small bite putting the rest in Meeks mouth before turning around and literally running into James. James pulled her closer and whispered in her ear as she sucked the chocolate off her fingers before she kissed him. He told Dominic that he was headed to get staples for the rest of the trip but didn’t want to overload the horse.
“James, can we get supplies for biscuits?”
James still held her up against him enjoying the feel of her body. “Are you tired of dried beef?”
“It’s bad for your teeth and frankly since we have no destination I don’t understand why we cannot stop to cook instead of just getting on the horses to ride more.” Mirisa leaned in closer to him without it being noticeable to anyone except James. “Though, I guess, I should have taken the phrase ‘we’re going for a ride’ quite literally.”
“I can’t argue with you on that except we’re not used to cooking every meal and quite frequently did not have the luxury of starting a fire due to the great danger of our jobs.”
“Then Mr. Alcorn, you should not take on dangerous jobs and I am not used to not having a proper meal.”
James laughed at her formalness while she was deliberately tantalizing him. “Mirisa, you are incredibly spoiled.”
“And you, sir, think it is a good thing to not spoil me because we’re out in the wild?”
James slackened his hold and smiled wickedly. “No my dear. If I had my way, I would not only spoil you but I would shoot your husband so I could get you in my bedroll tonight for I would delight you beyond anything you have ever experienced. Ever.”
James lifted her chin making her smile. Dominic told him he was now on the top of the list. James laughed saying it didn’t matter what position he was on the list because she was always so willing to engage and far from naïve. Then James told Dominic that the gunsmith had a very nice small caliber rifle in the window that he needed to check out. Meeks smiled as Dominic pulled her away from James before stepping off the walkway. Meeks love the mischievous little smile that encompassed her eyes.
They crossed the street and in the window was a Henry Rifle. Meeks took it out of the window looking it over as the gunsmith came out from behind the counter and told them that it was brought in to be shortened but no one ever returned to pick it up.
Meeks handed it to Mirisa and had her hold it as though she was shooting so they could check the fit. They discussed price before settling on a deal and Dominic bought it. Garnett joined them and talked Dominic into getting her a knife that would fit her small hands without slipping. They found a leather scabbard and new leather bota bag.
The next morning, James and Garnett came out with their gear and put it on their horses as Meeks tied his horse up to the post. Dominic stepped out with his and Mirisa’s gear setting it on the steps while he checked the straps on her saddle to make sure they weren’t fraying. When they walked into the dining room, Mirisa was sitting at a window table eating a cream filled sconce spilling powder sugar.
“Mirisa, what are you wearing?” She looked up at James.
“Same as you, I suppose.” Mirisa sipped her coffee and batted her eyes over her cup making James laugh. He took the paper away from her as she took another sconce off the plate and
bit into it as the filling squeezed out the end and she caught it with her other hand and put it back in without thinking.
“I don’t think I have ever seen a woman in pants before or at least not a woman who had teeth.”
Garnett sat down next to her and looked sideways. “Are you sharing your pastry?” She handed him a sconce and kissed him leaving powdered sugar on his lips which took everyone by surprise.
“Dominic bought me new boots, too, so I won’t slip out of the stirrups. I wanted those twirly things but he said they were too dangerous.” She held up her leg so they could see her new boots. Dominic shook his head at her description of spurs.
“Your horse will probably thank him for that.”
Meeks looked at her as she ran her finger through the cream oozing out of the end of the pastry. “Decided to eat more than biscuits.”
She handed him one as the waiter poured her a fresh cup of coffee. “I wish they would travel because they are so good but I will have to settle for their ginger cookies.”
“So you are going to bring food with you?”
“Well, James won’t agree to cook good food and I have enough room since I got rid of all my dresses.”
“Mirisa it isn’t that I won’t cook, it is that I can’t carry pots to cook with so we must use things we find along the trail.”
“That’s perfectly understandable James so I bought some utensils since I don’t like eating with my fingers.”
“Pray tell Mirisa, what is it you are doing right now?”
Mirisa smiled at her husband before she bit her bottom lip. Dominic stood up, took out his watch and closed it back up. “The ferry leaves in twenty minutes.” They all got up as the entire dining room watched her with raised eyebrows.
“I can’t believe you let her dress like that. I don’t think anything has aroused me so much in my life.” James was staring at her as she walked away. Garnett hit him upside the head and Meeks just laughed as they walked out behind her. “Dominic.”
“James, get over it she can’t wear dresses on the trail.”
Leading the horses up onto the flat barge, Mirisa held onto the coarse rope as the ferry headed across the narrow strip of river setting down plank next to an old shack as a man with a long stringy beard limped toward the boat tying it up. Their plan was to follow the Red River north along the Texas side and then across the top of Texas through the edge of the Choctaw Indian country before heading to Dallas for the horse auctions. The trail was well travelled and they frequently passed others heading south but the traffic slowed down the further north they travelled. The sides of the river were sometimes steep and other times they could camp closer to the river. The trees were more regal with less underbrush and the river ran faster.
About two weeks into Texas, they turned west following the river when they came to a peak that looked out over the Red River. Every once in a while they would see a band of Indian scouts in the distance but they were never close enough to concern anyone. The ride was easy and the food was plentiful. Mirisa spent the evenings working on attaching beads to the straps on her saddle bags. Meeks frequently sat watching her and discussing her patterns until they broke out the cards. The nights were quiet though they all were acutely aware that not all of the sounds were natural.
As they came along a shallow area of the river, the faint smell of burning wood ensnared their attention. Mirisa pulled back as Garnett reached for her reins. Dominic and Meeks headed across the river slowly while James dismounted pulling out his rifle laying it across his horse. The wagons were in the open a couple hundred yards from the riverbank and the burnt wood of the wagon frames was still hot to the touch and smoldering. Dominic squatted down next to the cooking ring and picked up a turned over coffee pot which had grown cold. Meeks remained saddled turning slowly looking for any sign of life. Any horses were gone and the contents of the wagons that survived the fires were strewn over the area. Dominic stood and surveyed the surrounding countryside.
“Dominic.”
Dominic turned to Meeks who pointed with his rifle at something five hundred yards north of the wagons where the buzzards were circling. Dominic mounted his horse and they both dismounted next to the body of a young boy. Dominic turned him over but it was obvious that he had been dead for a few hours as the buzzards had already taken away parts of his body.
James mounted and slowly headed across the river dismounting near the body. “I’m going to perimeter the area to see if there are any survivors since it appears the buzzards have found more casualties.”
Meeks went back to the wagons and found something to dig with so they could bury the young man. He went through his pockets finding no identification. It was hard to tell how many people were in the group but with two wagons it was either a large family with children or maybe a few families. He stood as he pulled his hat lower in the front. No one ever warned settlers that defending yourself out west was no safer than sitting in the midst of a war.
James came back to the wagons indicating there were other bodies and there were horse prints heading southeast toward the river. Dominic mounted his horse and headed east as Meeks headed back across the river. Garnett and Mirisa were under a stand of large trees on the edge of the river watching them. He nodded to Garnett. Mirisa was biting her lower lip and her eyes were questioning but it was obvious she didn’t want any answers.
Dominic dismounted next to the bodies and turned them over. They had been shot with what looked like Army issued ammunition. He took out his knife and removed the bullet fragment before he picked up several spent shells.
“Definitely military issued.” Dominic stood and looked around the area as James remained on his horse. “Are there any footsteps beyond this point?”
“Only shoed horses.”
“Shoed?” Dominic lit his cigar and threw the match in the dirt snubbing it out with his boot. “Which direction?”
“East.”
“We’ll have to be extra vigilant in case they circle back.” James nodded. He dismounted digging a hole to bury the two women and three small children. James picked up the smallest child and walked over to the hole laying her carefully down. He brushed her hair away from her face and brushed away his emotions. They rode back to the wagons and buried the young man.
“They’re young enough that there should be more children.”
“Maybe they took them.”
James took off his hat running his hand through his hair before putting his hat back on and mounting his horse. “I’m going to do a wider search.”
Dominic nodded and mounted his horse as they headed north. Mirisa watched them and turned to Meeks. “What are they doing?”
“They’re doing a wider search.” Garnett told Mirisa to dismount. He tied up her horse and wrapped his arms around her. Garnett quietly talked to her. Meeks watched him and realized that all of them talked to her quietly when they thought she needed protection from something. She always responded like a small child.
Dominic and James returned after they determined that there were no signs that anyone had been taken. They didn’t discuss the incident in front of Mirisa and she didn’t ask them anything because she was still digesting the images of the smoldering wagons. They all mounted and headed west.
A threatening storm began building on the far western horizon early in the afternoon forcing them to find cover in a thick stand of trees. The thunder rolled over the hills and as they set up the camp she quietly sat on her horse looking west.
THE CHOCTAW Indian Nation rose from the fathers of the Mississippi Valley. The tribe traveled through rough terrain and dense forest for months on end, carrying the numerous bones of their dead; with each passing day of their seemingly unending journey. When they thought they could go no further, they came upon a creek and decided they would use it as their encampment for the winter. By springtime the tribe was healthier from the long rest and an abundance of food from the surrounding area, so they decided to make the creek their permanent hom
e. The creek fed into the great river and overlooking the creek was a steep hill with an indent in one side.
The Nunih Waya, which was often referred to as "The Mother Mound", from which the first Choctaw emerged from the earth, was lost when the last of the tribe left Mississippi.
Efe’ Hvresse had been made chief with the passing of the last moon and had been a feared and respected warrior for many moons. He was tall; wore his jet black hair braided back with a hawk feather hanging down. Like all warriors in the Sun family, he had the tattoo of a circle with a drum in it on his upper bicep. When he went through his coming of age, he sat on the Mother Mound for four days, fasting and praying to the spirit. A vision from his guide, the Dog, visited him at midnight on the third day. It was a vision of a lane’ hakte standing on the Nunih Waya in the sliver of the moonlight. She was pale and her hair was the color of the sun. It was told to him that she would bring to him the soul of his ancestor for she was the lost child of their nation. It was then told that she must come to him and that he must accept what she has to give in order for the ancestors to be released and peace be brought into his heart. She would come following his being made the Chief and that her coming would make him stronger for the people. He was an extremely fierce warrior who would never find peace in the heavens until she came to release all those who wore the mark of that curse. The bear in the night sky would herald her coming.
The stories of the lane’ hakte were told with each full moon and the village would dance in an effort to call her forth from the Sun gods. The women would chant to the drums the song that was taught to them by their mothers and the warriors would dance until the night was gone. Efe’ Hvresse, whose name meant the Dog Moon, knew that the time was near because he could feel her and when he had his visions he could see her face as it rose to meet his. He had been sending out hunting parties for days and they followed the small band of men who were riding along the river. They always returned to tell him of their slow movement. He told them that they must not be killed because they were her protection.
The Visitor_Texas 1863_1869 Page 3
