The Comanche Girl's Prayer, Texas Women of Spirit Book 2

by Angela Castillo

  Molly clasped her hands together. “You must have seen so much.”

  Doctor Early pulled at a loose thread on her otherwise immaculate apron. “Yes, I certainly did. And I found the most poverty-stricken people were sometimes the most beautiful.”

  Soonie thought of the women in the settlement who sewed bits of painted bone to tattered buckskin. She nodded.

  “About a year ago,” the doctor continued, “a man came by the building in Harlem where our group of women operated. He brought news of the Fort Sill reservation and showed us photographs of the people. I looked into the sad, haunted eyes staring from the pictures and knew I belonged with them. So I saved my pennies, found a few religious sponsors, and took a train.

  “When I reached the reservation, the children poured out to meet me. I fell in love with them, right there on the spot.”

  Soonie smiled. Exactly like me.

  “So I stayed. I’ve had to fight my way through traditions and mistrust, but most of the people hold at least a grudging respect for me, since I have saved many of their lives.”

  “How are the conditions?” Soonie asked.

  Doctor Early lowered her eyes. “It’s not a happy place. The government is supposed to provide money for food, clothing and supplies, but the people still don’t have enough. Chief Quanah works hard for their rights and has devised ways to earn money from cattlemen driving herds through the reservation, but the need is still great. I’ve spent much of the meager funds given for my own provisions to buy food for the children. When I come to small towns like these, they take up a collection for me. Every penny helps.”

  While they ate the delicious lunch, Doctor Early shared stories about broken bones, babies born, and illnesses fought.

  Soonie found herself wishing they could stay all day.

  Doctor Early paused her story-telling to pat her mouth with a cloth napkin from the basket.

  Molly said, “Doctor Early, do you think there’s a chance . . . a chance I could become a doctor?”

  The doctor’s merry eyes darkened, and she rubbed her chin. “I’m not sure. Since you wrote to me, I’ve given the matter some thought. For a woman of any background a doctor’s certificate is very difficult to obtain. I received mine at an all-women’s college, where ladies had to fight long and hard to have the right to study the same subjects as men. Have either of you ever heard of a woman named Doctor La Fresche?”

  The girls shook their heads.

  “She’s from the Omaha people, born on a reservation. She graduated from the Woman’s College in Pennsylvania in 1886, just a few years ago. Now she serves as the doctor for the Omaha reservation.” She brightened. “So I would say the answer is yes, Molly. It is possible.”

  From a pocket in her apron, she pulled out a paper and pencil. “Molly I would like to find out more about you, so I can send a proper letter to an instructor from my old school. He might have a notion of how we could proceed.”

  “Of course,” said Molly. “What would you like to know?”

  15 Darla

  While Doctor Early questioned Molly about her training and the grades she had received while at the reservation’s school, Soonie’s mind wandered. Blinking, she sat up straight in attempt to keep from dozing off, but the rich food and warm afternoon were taking their effect. She stood and stretched.

  The side wall of the saloon shone between the trunks of the thin stand of trees shading their picnic spot. She was surprised the town would allow such a place to flourish.

  While she mulled this over, the scandalous woman who had smiled at her earlier appeared around the corner. The lady put one slender hand on her hip and with the other, wiped a brow beaded with sweat.

  Soonie remembered the passage of scripture where Jesus said, “I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink.” She snatched a cup of water from the lunch blanket, picked her way through the bushes, and walked over to the lady.

  Up close, the woman looked younger than Soonie had first supposed; only twenty-one or so. She wore a skimpy red chemise.

  “Would you like some water?” Soonie held out the drink.

  The woman’s darkened eyebrows shot up to her fiercely curled bangs, and her red, painted lips puckered into an ‘O.’ “What do you think you’re doing over here, Miss? Most women wouldn’t be caught within fifty feet of this place. And they’d rather die than speak to a saloon girl.” She fluttered a fan made of feathers in front of her face. “But I’d bet your husband might come by.”

  Soonie frowned. “I don’t have a husband. You looked tired, and I thought you might like something to drink.”

  “Oh. Well then.” The girl took the glass, tried a sip of water and wrinkled her nose. “Don’t drink much plain water any more. Kind of refreshing, ain’t it?” She held out her other hand. “My name’s Darla, by the way.”

  “Susannah . . . Soonie Eckhart.” Soonie shook her hand. The absurdity of the conversation hit her and she bit back a giggle.

  Darla didn’t seem to notice. “Say, you aren’t looking for a job, are you? Pretty girl like you wouldn’t have a problem. The boss man ain’t here right now, but he’ll be back soon.” She bent a little closer and Soonie caught a whiff of overly-sweet perfume. “If you ask me though, you’d be better slogging in the field or cookin’ in a hot kitchen than working for Mr. Gandro.”

  “No, I’m not looking for a job.” Soonie hoped her face didn’t betray her shock at the implication. She didn’t want to hurt this lady’s feelings. The girl probably already dealt with her share of rude people.

  “Umm Hmm.” Darla stared at the road over Soonie’s shoulder.

  “Well, have a nice day.” Soonie turned to leave, but a familiar voice from around the front of the saloon made her heart skip a beat.

  ”Boys, ya’ll get those horses put up. I’m gonna whet my whistle.”

  Darla’s eyes widened. “I know that voice. That man is pure evil.”

  “I recognize it too,” Soonie whispered back. “And yes, he is.” She scrunched up against the wall and peeked around the corner.

  It was Hal all right; there was no mistaking that evil grin and shock of white hair. He’d paused to read a sign by the saloon door. “No spurs or spittin’, huh? We’ll see about that, right boys?” He threw back his head and guffawed as he walked into the saloon.

  I can’t believe he’s here. Soonie’s heart thudded against her chest while she inched back around the wall.

  Molly sat with Doctor Early less than fifty feet away, in plain view. The hitching post Hal’s men were gathered around had nothing in front of it. If one of them turned and looked . . . if they saw Molly . . .

  I can’t run over and warn her, they’d be sure to notice. Oh God, what should I do? Maybe they won’t recognize us in these clothes. Should I risk it?

  The saloon girl had made her way almost to the end of the building, and was beckoning to her. “Come over here,” she hissed. “There’s a shed out back where some of us girls hide when Mr. Gandro gets too drunk.”

  Soonie shuddered. The perils of a saloon girl’s life had never been something she’d thought about. She gestured towards Molly. “I can’t leave my friend. Those men have reason to do us great harm if they find out we are here.”

  The eyebrows shot up again. Darla shrugged. “Your business, dear. I don’t need to know any more about it. Here.” She unwound a black mantilla draped around her waist, revealing a pair of scandalous lace pantaloons. “Put this shawl over your hat. Lots of the ladies in town wear dark veils to prevent freckling.”

  “Oh, thank you so much!” Soonie took the veil and covered her straw bonnet and face. Perhaps she looked ridiculous, but it was the best plan they had. “What about you? You can’t walk around like that!”

  Darla put her hands on her hips. “Silly girl. I think you know what I am. Now go over and warn your friend. Be safe.” She darted off towards the back of the saloon in a flurry of red crepe and lace, bright yellow ringlets bobbing around her shoulders.

/>   Pulling the mantilla closer, Soonie forced herself to walk back through the trees at a normal pace and tried not to glance toward the hitching post or the saloon. The streets were full of people, and she couldn’t distinguish one voice from another. The world looked strange through the filtered lace of her mantilla. Though shrouded, she felt more exposed than Darla.

  After an agonizing walk back through the trees, she slid next to Molly on the blanket. “Molly, turn around and duck your head,” she said in a low voice.

  Molly jumped, and her eyes widened. “Soonie, I didn’t recognize . . . you startled me! Why are you wearing that?”

  “Don’t look behind you, Molly,” Soonie whispered. “Hal and his men are here. We must leave at once.”

  Molly’s hand crept up to her mouth. “Oh no.” Her voice lowered to a whisper. “What can we do?”

  Concern filled Doctor Early’s eyes. “What seems to be the trouble, girls?”

  Soonie rose from the blanket. “We don’t have time to tell the story. We have to find my uncle and get out of town.”

  Doctor Early stood as well. “Surely you can stay until supper. And don’t you have lodging for the night? The ride here was so long.”

  Soonie darted a look at the front of the saloon. No sign of Hal’s men for the moment, but they could come out of the building at any time. “Brother Jenkins arranged for us to stay with the school master, but we really mustn’t. I can’t explain right now.”

  Molly’s shoulders stiffened, and Soonie could tell she was fighting the urge not to turn around and check the street for herself.

  Doctor Early held out her hand. “Well girls, come on then. You can stay in the town hall until your uncle gets back. I’ll come out and clean up lunch in a moment.”

  “But if they find us in there, we’ll be trapped,” Molly protested.

  The older woman placed her hand over Molly’s trembling fingers. “Don’t worry. I have more powerful tools in my bag than a stethoscope.”

  Feeling safer in her mantilla, Soonie couldn’t resist one backward glance at the saloon as she followed Doctor Early into the building. Was that Darla’s face peering through the bushes? She blinked and the face disappeared.

  Doctor Early led them into the main room which was empty and hot. Rows of crude wooden benches led up to a podium at the front. Small squares of light settled on the floor, let in by windows close to the ceiling. A spider scurried over the rough wooden slats on some tiny mission.

  The doctor closed the door. “Ladies, I will have to leave you here while I fetch your uncle. Now, these men you are afraid of don’t know you are in town. Is that correct?”

  Soonie shook her head. “I don’t know how they could. I think it’s just a terrible coincidence. Our encounter with them happened at least a day’s ride from this place. But if they see Uncle Isak, they might recognize him as a Comanche and get suspicious.”

  “We’ll figure out a way to get him here so no one sees him. Will you be all right while I’m gone?”

  Soonie pulled out her dagger from the hidden sheath in her skirts, just enough for Doctor Early to see the hilt. “We have this.”

  “Good. I’ll return as fast as I’m able.”

  The door clicked behind her.

  Soonie stood on her tiptoes to look out the window. The trees in front of the building were too thick here; she couldn’t see past them to the street. I’m silly to panic. They can’t possibly realize we are here. Doctor Early will warn Uncle Isak. We’ll leave town and no one will know.

  The young man’s face, cold and dead with wide, staring eyes, flashed into her mind. A thought which had been working its way into the murky memories of that day pushed through, like a splinter shoved into skin. He had called Hal . . . “Pa,” she murmured.

  “What?” Molly’s head snapped up.

  “Nothing. I hope we get away soon.”

  “Me too. Oh Soonie, I never thought we’d see those men again. I wish we hadn’t come! I’ve put you and Isak in terrible danger.” Molly’s lip trembled.

  Placing a hand on the girl’s shoulder, Soonie said, “You’re worth it, Molly. You have greatness inside of you, and the ability to do so much for your people. God will keep us safe.”

  She stood to look out the window once more.

  Scarlet and yellow flashed through the trees. Darla? Soonie strained to see better. The girl moved up the porch.

  Soonie went to the door.

  Molly drew back. “What are you doing?”

  “It’s all right. She’s my friend.” Soonie pulled open the latch.

  Darla squeezed inside, and then slammed the door. A fresh red mark bloomed on her pale cheek, and tears brightened the corners of her eyes.

  “My boss made me go in and serve those oafs.” She wiped her cheeks. “I’ve met lots of idiot men in my time, but those fellas . . .” she placed a fluttering hand over her heart. “Well, I’m sure you nice ladies don’t want to hear about that.”

  “We’ve encountered them as well,” said Molly. “We won’t have a fit of vapors if you tell us.”

  Darla’s eyes widened. “They drank down some whiskey mighty quick, then that Hal got to talking. Said some injuns killed his son.” She peered at Soonie. “Are you injun?”

  “Part,” Soonie tapped her fingers against her chin. “So what happened?”

  “He said he’d been up by Fort Sill on a hunting trip. He went by the reservation to see if he recognized anyone, but the soldiers ran him and his men off. Then he’d been asking around, and he caught word of an injun settlement a ways from here . . . a secret one. He’s tryin’ to recruit enough men to flush ‘em out. Says he’ll pay cold, hard cash to anyone who helps find the folks who killed his son.”

  Drops of sweat poured down Soonie’s forehead and stung her eyes. “Molly, we have to tell the sheriff. Maybe he would believe our side of the story and help us.”

  “Oh, my stars and heavens!” Darla clutched her hands together. “Sheriff Winters is kin to Hal! He’ll lock you up, sure as sure. Rumor is that Hal’s been bribing the sheriff to let him do as he wishes. Hal’s pretty rich, he trades with a fur dealer who comes in from the east.”

  Rocks crunched outside the building and Soonie peered out the window.

  A wagon clattered into the yard with Doctor Early driving. A canvas covered the back. The doctor jumped down, tied the horse to the porch rail, and peered around the yard before lifting the covering.

  Uncle Isak crept out, and he and the doctor hurried towards the building.

  Soonie turned to the saloon girl. “Darla, it looks like they’re here. Thank you so much for warning us. And here’s your shawl.”

  “You’re welcome.” Darla dabbed her face with the cloth. “Oooh, the saloon boss’ll kill me dead for leaving those men all lonesome.”

  Soonie touched her shoulder. “Come with us, then.”

  Darla’s lips formed a smile, but her eyes grew weary, and looked as old as Grandmother Eagle’s. “No, I’d better stay here, where I belong.” Her blue eyes searched Soonie’s face, then Molly’s. “I don’t care what anyone says about savage Comanches. You girls are true ladies.”

  “And so are you,” Soonie replied.

  Darla stepped through the door and was gone.

  16 Escape

  Evening had coaxed the moon over the silent town before Uncle Isak was convinced it would be safe to leave the small white building.

  “Hal doesn’t have an army organized yet,” he told the frightened girls. “For all we know, it might just be a drunk man talking big.”

  Molly picked up a piece of bread from the supper Doctor Early had brought them, stared at the crumbling crust for a moment, then put it back down. She looked up. “If the sheriff is really on Hal’s side, he could convince the townspeople to join the search party,”

  Uncle Isak bowed his head. “True.”

  The dark patch of sky in the windows brightened as the moon rose. Uncle Isak got up from his chair. “Let’s go. If we are trav
elling by night, then we need to be able to see the road.”

  Brother Jenkins and Doctor Early had already said their goodbyes. They needed to rest before their journey to Fort Sill on the morrow, and Uncle Isak didn’t want anyone to know they were associated with them in case trouble did arise.

  The group of three slipped out of the building and into the darkened street. The thick scent of manure and stagnant water rose to meet them.

  Lively fiddle music and laughter came from the direction of the saloon. A few dogs raised shaggy heads to watch as they passed by homes and storefronts. Otherwise the town was quiet.

  Uncle Isak led the way to an alley behind the building. “Brother Jenkins said he’d move the horses to the stable by the schoolhouse. That way no one would wonder who they belonged to.”

  “Or steal them,” Molly muttered.

  Rocks crunching beneath Soonie’s feet sounded like a mule eating oats. If only I had my moccasins. Why do women even wear these ridiculous shoes? She picked at her corset, which had been digging into her ribs all day. No, I haven’t missed wearing town clothes one bit.

  Finally, they reached the stable. Uncle Isak glided through the doors and brought out their horses, one by one.

  Soonie patted Stone Brother’s nose. “Let’s get home, boy.”

  His ear bent back to catch her whisper, and he whinnied softly.

  The moon was full and shining, like a new dollar coin from the bank.

  The horses’ hooves sent up clouds of dust in the moonlight.

  Soonie didn’t see the crumpled form by the side of the road, but Stone Brother did. He snorted and reared his head back.

  “Uncle Isak,” she cried. She slid off her horse and ran to the girl’s side. “It’s Darla!”

  Darla peered up through her mantilla. “Soonie? I figured you’d be by. Can I ride with you, just until we reach a town where I can stay? I can’t work for that man anymore.” She pushed the cloth back, and Soonie saw a thin stream of blood trickling from a cut on her forehead. “Work’s not worth dying for. I’ll figure out some other way to fill my belly.”