“Okay, Joe. Would you do me a favor? Go by the hacienda and tell Juanita that I’m bringing my son home. She’ll want to prepare a welcome for him. And I want Carmelita to know that she’s going to meet the brother she has heard about.”
“Yes, we’ll be glad to do that. We haven’t seen Juanita for a while and Bonnie will be glad to have a chance to talk with her.”
Chapter 12
The Hacienda
Grant stood up. “Pat,” he said, “we gotta go. We’ve got to get the people of the wagon train situated in houses. We won’t be continuing our journey to California until spring.”
“Well, son,” Sage said. “Let’s go, too. I want to show you your new home and introduce you to your new mother and sister.”
“Since you’re all leaving, I’d better say good-bye to my guest of honor,” Maggie said as she gave Puma a big hug. Puma was embarrassed; he had never been hugged by a woman before. Hugging was something Indians just don’t do. There was so much he had to learn.
Puma led the way out of the cantina. He wanted to get his horse. He was proud of the horse Pat had given him, and he wanted to show it to his father. Sage recognized the horse immediately as the one he had given to Pat. The mare was one of the best he and Joe had raised. She was a combination of mustang and Arabian stock—a combination which produced horses with stamina and speed—a good combination to have under you when there is trouble around.
Sage said, “I like your horse. You can have your pick of the stallions at the ranch, if you don’t like her.”
“Oh, no, I like this one," Puma said. "Her name is Lightning.” He gave a low whistle, and Lightning came running.
“I see why you like her,” Sage said.
They didn’t talk much while they rode, but there was a good feeling between them. Occasionally, they looked at each other and smiled. Sage was impressed by how well Puma rode.
Puma could see the road they were following as it meandered down a long, sloping hill to a haze-covered valley below. The road was just two wagon tracks through the loose-brown dirt, with a strip of grass growing between them. It disappeared here and there, as it crossed gullies and arroyos, then reappeared again as it topped the rise of the next hill. A few hardy flowers had endured the hot summer and were still hanging on, even though the nights were getting cold. The smell of newly disturbed dust hung in the afternoon air. Puma remembered that Joe and Bonnie had gone on ahead to let his new mother and sister know that his father would be bringing him home.
In the shimmering distance, Puma saw the hacienda. It was at the end of the road in a grove of trees near the river. The road led through a wooden gate with a big house just beyond. In back of the house, were many smaller houses with barns and corrals off to one side. To Puma, it looked like a village, but it was unlike any village he had ever seen. The village had an atmosphere of peace and serenity just to look at it gave Puma a good feeling This was an exciting time, and he wondered what lay beyond that gate.
As he and his father rode through the gate, he saw a tall, slender woman standing with a girl at her side. As they rode nearer, he saw that the woman and the girl were smiling and waving. Puma stopped in front of the house, but before he could dismount, the woman ran to him with her arms extended to receive him. She was beautiful. Her hair was long and black like his mother’s. Her eyes were dark, soft and gentle like his mother’s. But this woman’s skin was fair like his father’s. She took him in her arms and held him. Puma was unaccustomed to such close contact, but he liked the feeling of warmth he received from her. He liked her, and he hoped she liked him. After hugging him, she held him at arms length and looked closely at him. She was examining him, and he got the feeling that she was missing nothing. He saw approval in her eyes and relaxed a little.
The woman led him to the girl and said, “Puma, this is your sister, Carmelita.” He saw curiosity. Carmelita was curious, but reluctant to look directly at him. Puma understood her shyness as he, too, was embarrassed. It seemed she didn’t know what to make of him, but he got the feeling that she liked him. He liked her. She was very pretty with green wide-set eyes, fair skin, and her hair was brown with red highlights. She didn’t look like his half-sister who was killed by the Comanche.
Puma was embarrassed. Tears came into his eyes as he remembered his dead family. He saw the questioning look in Carmelita’s eyes as she became aware that he was crying. How could he explain? He didn’t know the words. His father seemed to understand, and placed his hand upon Puma’s shoulder as he stood beside him until Puma regained his composure.
They walked into the house and entered a room that was larger than any Indian lodge Puma had ever seen. The room was about fifteen paces long and ten paces wide with a place for a fire in the middle of one of the long walls. The ceiling was held in place with large logs, and in the center was a long table, large enough for a council meeting at his old village. Things to sit on were placed around the table, and the table was piled high with food that smelled delicious.
Puma’s father sat at the end of the table and indicated that he wanted Puma to sit at his right. The beautiful woman sat at his father’s left, and the girl sat beside Puma. They all held hands and with solemn faces looked down at the table. His father spoke in a soft voice. Puma could not understand what his father was saying, but no one else did either because no one answered him. Then they all looked up and smiled.
Two older women with dark hair and brown skin came into the room and began serving food. Puma guessed that the women would eat later, like the Indian women in his village did. He and his father had eaten at Maggie’s, but he was surprised at how hungry he was. The food tasted so good. He noticed that they were watching him eating with his hands. Carmelita showed him how to pick up his food with the fork…. Using the fork was awkward at first, but after trying a few times, he began to get the hang of it. They all laughed with him as he struggled.
Everyone was talking and asking questions. He answered as best he could and realized that he must learn their language as soon as possible.
When the meal was completed, Carmelita took his hand and led him through the hacienda, showing him everything. She was talking so fast that he could understand only a word now and then. He was pleased to have a chance to see these strange and new things.
After showing him through the large house, Carmelita took him outside, showed him all the buildings, explaining everything as they walked, and then she led him to the river. It was a large river. He picked up a rock and tried to throw across it. Carmelita also tried. Puma laughed because she threw just like the Indian girls. She used her arm wrong and couldn’t throw very far. That similarity somehow made him feel less out of place.
They ran a race back to the hacienda. Puma could run faster, but he was surprised by how fast Carmelita could run. Indian girls almost never competed with boys. When they returned to the hacienda, his new mother and his father were sitting in what they called “chairs,” listening to some dark-skinned men making music with instruments like the ones the people of the wagon train used. This music was different; it had a softer, almost mournful sound, but Puma liked it.
The beat of the music changed, and a girl began to dance. She wore a long, soft garment that swirled about her as she danced. In her hands, she held something with which she made clicking sounds. Her movements were smooth and graceful. Puma liked to watch her. The music and her dancing were exciting. It was so different from the beating of drums he was accustomed to.
The people from the other lodges came to see him. They all smiled, and some extended their hands to him. He didn’t know what to do until his father nodded to him, so he extended his hand until their hands touched. They grasped his hand and moved it up and down. This new life was going to take some getting used to, but he thought he was going to like it. The music stopped, and the people who had come to greet him went to their lodges.
Puma’s father and the beautiful woman led him to a room in the big house and explained that this w
as his room. They showed him a table with a small container of water where he could wash. On a chair beside the bed were clean clothes to wear when he woke up in the morning. They told him they would see him tomorrow, and then they left.
Puma was glad to be alone. So much had happened, and he needed time to think. He liked his new family, and he thought they liked him. He wished he could tell his mother Evening Star that he had found his father. She would be pleased. His mind was filled with all the new things he had experienced since leaving his destroyed village. Even though he was tired, sleep wouldn’t come. He walked outside and sat in a chair and listened as the village went to sleep. Puma heard the faint sounds of people and the muted sounds of animals in the corrals. He was used to the sounds of animals, and they comforted him. After the house became quiet, he went to his room, laid down on the strange bed, and was soon asleep.
Puma was awakened by people stirring. He opened his door and saw the two dark-haired women preparing food. He quickly bathed and dressed in the clothes that had been laid out for him. He felt overdressed, but now he didn’t look so different from the others. He went to one of the women and asked, “Where is my father?”
She didn’t understand his words, but she knew the word “father,” so she led him to the door and pointed to the barn. When he got to the barn, his father greeted him with a smile and showed him where to get feed for his horse, then explained that the animals had to be taken care of before they could have breakfast.
Lightning greeted him with a nuzzle and a nicker, as he gave her hay and oats. He rubbed her down and petted her, and then helped his father feed the other animals. After they were through, they walked to the house.
His new mother and sister were waiting for them. Puma was hungry. He didn’t recognize some of the food, but it was delicious and ate heartily. Everyone was talking. Puma understood a word now and then but not enough to follow the conversation.
Sage said, “We’re going to help you to learn English. It’s going to be difficult, because there are two languages you must learn. We speak English, but many of the people on the ranch speak Spanish. We’ll teach you English, and you’ll learn Spanish by associating with the Spanish-speaking people. We’ll ask our friend, Pat Connors, to help us. He speaks Arapaho and we can all benefit from his help; it will give us a place to start.”
“We’ll visit Joe and Bonnie today,” Juanita said. “Let’s ask Pat to join us. He’ll be able to help Puma get acquainted with Kile and Cathleen.” Then she explained to Puma, “Kile and Cathleen are the children of Joe and Bonnie Martin. They are near your age, and they are looking forward to meeting you. One of the vaqueros can ride to Santa Fe and ask Pat to join us.”
Carmen jumped up from the table and said, “Let’s go. I want to ride my painted pony. I want to show her to Puma, and I want to see his horse; the one he told me about last night.”
Puma got up from the table and together he and Carmen ran to the barn. Juanita and Sage smiled.
“Puma is a fine boy,” Juanita said. “It’s good to see them happy together. Carmelita needed a playmate.”
Sage replied, “Puma has much to learn. He’s bright. I think he’ll learn quickly. Puma will be saddling their horses. The Indians where Puma learned to ride did not ride with saddles, but Pat has taught him well. I think he feels uncomfortable in the boots we gave him. I know I did, the first time I wore boots. I still feel more comfortable in moccasins, but boots are better for riding with a saddle—they help to keep your feet in the stirrups.” Sage and Juanita walked hand in hand to the corral.
Puma had a bridle on Lightning and was standing with Carmen looking at her pinto pony. The pony had a white face, its legs were white below the knees, and its belly was white. The rest of it was red, except for the white spots on its shoulders and flanks. Carmen was holding the pony’s head in her arms. There was almost a love relationship between her and the horse. The pony was smaller than a regular horse, but it was spirited and would have no difficulty keeping up with the other horses.
Sage saddled the snow-white Arabian mare for Juanita and then saddled his own coal-black Arabian stallion. They were ready to go. Carmen showed Puma how to open the corral gate. They then followed the river on a well-traveled road.
Chapter 13
New Friends
It was a crisp autumn morning, and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains were capped with snow. Their horses made plopping sounds as they walked through the loose dirt. They were a family, and Puma had a feeling of belonging. It was the nearest thing to happy he had been in a long time. They rode, two by two, Carmen was chattering like a chipmunk, telling Puma all the things she thought he might be interested in. Puma understood very little of what she was saying, but he liked her chatter.
After about two hours, they came upon another road. Sage said, “We’ll take this road to the horse ranch managed by my good friend, Joe Martin, whom you met yesterday at Maggie’s Cantina. Pat will meet us there. You’ll meet Joe’s wife, Bonnie, and their children, Kile and Cathleen. Kile is one year younger than you and Cathleen is three years younger.”
After riding for about an hour, Puma saw the ranch house nestled among large trees. The house was old, but it was built of large logs chinked with straw-laced mud. It was big, and it looked solid. There was a peaceful beauty about the place that gave Puma a warm feeling.
A man, a woman, and two children stood near the front. Puma recognized the man as the one he had seen at the cantina. The woman was wearing a green and white dress with a flowing skirt and a broad band of cloth of the same color tied at the waist. The woman’s hair was flaming red. There was an exuberance about her that showed even from a distance.
The boy was a little shorter than Puma. He was lean and strong, with pale blue eyes. His light brown hair showed beneath his western style hat. The hat was like the one Puma was wearing. The boy’s movements were quick and sure.
The girl was the one who demanded Puma’s attention. She was small, but, like her mother, there was an air of excitement about her. She wore a flowing blue and white dress. Her hair was shining, like gold in the sunlight, and reminded Puma of the coins his father left for him in the cave. Her skin was white, and her eyes were the color of the sky. Puma couldn’t take his eyes off her. Her eyes searched his as they rode up. Carmen slid off her pony and ran to her. They embraced. Puma noticed that both girls were very pretty. Their hair, eyes, and skin were different, but they were equally beautiful.
Juanita introduced him all around. He felt Bonnie examining him in an appraising way. Her eyes showed that she liked what she saw. Puma was pleased. He liked them and hoped they liked him. Kile extended his hand and smiled. Puma was glad he had learned what to do when someone extends a hand. Then he was introduced to Cathleen. She looked right into his eyes with an intense but friendly gaze. There was something about her that excited him, and he wanted to make a good impression.
Carmen took Cathleen’s hand, and they dashed away laughing. The parents walked into the house, leaving Puma and Kile standing with Kile holding the reins of their horses. Kile kept the reins of two horses and handed the other two to Puma. He said something that Puma could not understand as they led the horses to a watering trough. Puma remembered his father saying he must take care of the horses first. After the horses drank, they walked them to the barn and fed and rubbed them down with brushes that were hanging on the wall. Puma looked around the barn. Everything there was for the purpose of taking care of horses.
Kile remarked, “I like your horse. She was born right here in this stall. She was beautiful, even as a colt. Pat Connors saw her and wanted her. Your father gave her to him, but she had to remain with her mother until she was weaned, of course.”
Puma was pleased to know about the horse that meant so much to him. He heard a man’s voice; when he turned, he saw Pat riding up on the sorrel he usually rode. Puma took the reins and said, “I will take care of your horse for you.”
Pat said, in Arapaho, “Normally, I
wouldn’t let anyone take care of my horse; I take care of my own horse, but I’ll let you take care of him. Thank you.”
After the horses were cared for and turned loose in the corral, Puma walked with Kile and Pat to the house. Everyone greeted Pat, as an old and dear friend, and then they all sat down at a table piled high with food. Puma was introduced to Martha and Frank. Juanita explained that they were Bonnie’s mother and father. Everyone was talking. Pat translated some of what was being said so that Puma could understand.
When the meal was completed, they sat outside in comfortable chairs in the shade of the big, old trees. Pat helped Puma learn the Language and promised to spend time each day to help him learn enough to continue on his own. The other children chimed in, “We’ll help.”
“I’ll teach him math, geography, and history,” Sage said.
Juanita said, “Carmelita and I will take him shopping, and he can select the clothes he likes. We’ll teach him the finer things in life.”
“Pat tells me you are good with the weapons your father left for you,” Joe said. “Would you show me how well you can use them?" Then Joe patted his guns and said, “With your mother and father’s permission, I’ll teach you to use the tools everyman of the West must learn to use. I’ll teach you to use a rifle and a hand gun. I’ve been teaching Kile, and he’s learning fast. If you have inherited your father’s skill with weapons, you’ll learn fast, also.”
“Thank you, Joe,” Sage said, “I was hoping you would share your knowledge of guns with him.”
Pat said, “I’ll help him to learn English and teach him what I know of the mountains.”
“I’ll teach him what the animals taught me, and how to be the kind of man that other men will respect,” Sage added.
“What can I teach him?” Cathleen wondered. “I know,” she said as her face brightened, “I’ll teach him how to be a boy in a white man’s world. I’ll introduce him to the other children so he’ll have lots of friends.”
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