Mail Order Bride - Westward Changes: A Clean Cowboy Romance Novel (Montana Mail Order Brides Book 14)

by Linda Bridey

  *****

  Dinner lasted much longer than usual since everyone wanted to catch up with each other. The house rang with laughter as stories were swapped and jokes told. Deena teased Eddie about his youthful exploits and Joe said that Eddie better keep after Blake and Annie to come see them so they could hear more stories like that.

  Deena was unselfconscious as Eddie and she held hands off and on. It reminded her of how they’d kept their relationship hidden for a while and held hands under the table. There was no need to hide it any longer and their happiness was apparent to everyone. The evening wouldn’t be complete without some card playing and everyone helped clear away the dishes so that they could play that much sooner.

  It was late when Deena and Eddie got to bed and yet neither one could sleep right away. They were enjoying their first night home as a married couple too much and were reluctant for it to end. They talked and laughed more as the moon began its descent in the sky, neither caring that they might be tired the next day when it was time to return to work once again.

  Deena and Carter laughed as she finished telling him about one of the stories Blake had told her about Eddie. They sat in Morton’s having lunch again. She had come to check on her birthday present for Eddie and was glad she had because Carter’s father, Haden, had ran into a problem with the supplier and he needed to know what she wanted to do about it.

  She hadn’t been able to get to Wolfe Point until a few days after she and Eddie had returned from their honeymoon. Carter had shown up at the Watering Hole on another night after that to let her know the present had arrived and that Haden wanted her to come see it to make sure it was what she wanted. He’d told her while they were dancing. He’d brought Audrey with him that time so that she could keep Eddie entertained while he’d spoken with Deena.

  It was also a good chance to do a little more snooping around about the Lakota. He watched how friendly many of the people were with Reckless and he got an idea about the brave’s fighting ability. It would help him in determining how difficult it was going to be getting into the canyon and how hard it would be to subdue the band. They weren’t sure exactly how many Indians it included since there was word of a split some time ago.

  Carter watched as Reckless sat down at a table with a man who looked as though he were sleeping. He’d seen the man there before, sitting in the same position. Suddenly Reckless kicked the man’s chair and the man in the beat-up leather hat tipped it up and laughed. As quickly as he’d laughed, the man sobered and stood up. He motioned for Reckless to stay seated and headed towards the back of the barroom.

  “Is he a bouncer?” he asked Deena.

  She looked at who he was talking about. “Yeah. That’s Rick. He’s Reckless’ uncle. Sort of. I get confused about all of the different relationships. They’re all intermingled.”

  “So he’s not blood to Reckless?” Carter asked.

  “No. Adopted, I guess you’d say,” she said.

  “I don’t know how you’d keep track of it either. I think I’d need a list or something,” Carter said.

  “Rick is also one of our deputies and a former mountie,” Deena told him.

  “A mountie? How’d he wind up here?” Carter asked.

  “I’m not sure of the whole story, but he came here looking for his father.”

  “Oh. Ok. Well, anyway, when would you and Eddie like to go to dinner?” Carter said, knowing it was time to change the subject before Deena thought it strange how focused he was on the Lakota.

  *****

  That night at the bar, Reckless was restless and felt something amiss in the air. He tapped his foot on the floor as he sat at the bouncers’ table thinking about it.

  Rick watched him and said, “Still can’t figure it out, huh?”

  “No and it is driving me insane. It is very important. I do not know why I am feeling this way.”

  The front door opened and Raven staggered inside, making it over to the bar. Jake looked up and almost smiled at Raven until he saw that Raven bled badly from several different wounds. He immediately came to the brave’s aid, catching Raven when he would have fallen.

  “Raven! What happened?”

  “Reckless … need Reckless.”

  Jake yelled for him and Reckless flew across the barroom, pushing people out of his way. He saw Raven lying on the floor, his body bloodied and sorrow in his eyes. Reckless knelt and spoke in Lakota to his cousin.

  “What has happened?”

  Raven coughed and said, “Army…found us … death …”

  Reckless recoiled a little and told Jake what Raven had said. He was about to ask Raven for more information, but his cousin passed out. Rick knelt by Reckless and said, “Get him to the church. Pastor John will give you both sanctuary. I’ll go out that way and see what I can find out. Don’t you dare come out there, Reckless. I’ll bring Brook and the twins to you or find somewhere to hide them. Not to worry.”

  Jake had Gus take over for him and ran upstairs for Ben. The doctor and Jake helped Reckless get Raven into Ben’s buggy. Ben drove his team as hard as possible while Reckless prayed nonstop as he held Raven.

  Upon reaching the church, they laid Raven on the floor and Ben lit a couple of the lamps. He played piano for some of the church services and knew where things were kept. He set to work on the brave. Reckless ran to the parsonage and came back with Pastor John.

  “Oh, sweet mercy,” John said as he took in Raven’s condition.

  “John, can you go get Marcus to bring me supplies for stabbings and gunshot wounds? Reckless and Raven need sanctuary from the army and there may be more Lakota coming. Will you grant it to them?” Ben asked.

  “Of course. They found them then?”

  Reckless nodded but did not speak.

  John swore and immediately asked for forgiveness before running out the door.

  *****

  This was the day Black Fox had dreaded above all else, even his own death. No, his death would be met with honor and courage, but he feared for his people, especially the women and children. The sentries had contributed greatly to reducing the number of soldiers getting through the hidden canyon entrance, but there were too many soldiers to stave them off indefinitely.

  However, it did give them enough time to get most of the women and children out through the archway leading out along the river. The women had been drilled on how to escape that way should it become necessary. Katie Samuels, Dean Samuels’ thirteen-year-old daughter had been dispatched out another exit at the end of the secondary canyon to go back home that way. There was no telling if they would notice that she was white or strike her down right along with the others.

  She would also alert her family to be ready for any who could reach the ranch. He knew their white family would help them. He had sent Raven to warn Reckless and Marcus and prayed that his son had reached them in time before the army swooped down on the town, as they very well might.

  Black Fox looked heavenward and asked Wakan Tanka to give him the strength to do what he must in order to secure his people’s safety. Every part of his being screamed for him to fight to the death, but another, even stronger inner voice told him that it was time to stop running, to submit to the army in order to preserve as many lives as possible.

  He ran swiftly to his tipi, dodging between soldiers who were intent on killing him or at least wounding him. There were many he touched as he ran and he smiled as he counted coup. On this night of surrender, he would take as much coup with him as possible. It would most likely be the last time he would get the chance to do so. Ducking into his tipi, he retrieved the large white cloth he kept hidden and quickly tied it to a spear.

  Outside once again, he began waving it and screaming for the leader of the white army. He also called out to his soldiers to lay down their arms and surrender. Gradually the fighting ceased as Captain Morgan called for the same thing. White soldiers and Lakota warriors stilled but stared suspiciously at one another, ready to resume fighting at a moment’s not
ice.

  “Chief Black Fox?” Morgan asked as he approached the tall Indian.

  “Captain Morgan.”

  Morgan looked up into a face that could have been made from granite and he knew that if he’d have met this man one on one, he would be dead now. Black Fox was wounded, but the wounds were superficial. At almost fifty-years of age, the Lakota chief was still powerfully built and was as deadly fighter as ever, as some of the soldiers had found out.

  “You have been a most worthy adversary, my friend,” Morgan said. “I didn’t want to have to do things this way, but you wouldn’t cooperate.”

  “You did not have to do it at all. My people are peaceful and bother no one. There is no reason other than a greed for power and land that you must force all Indians to bow to you. There is no honor in this,” Black Fox said as his black eyes raked over the army man in a scathing manner.

  Morgan said in a low voice, “This was not my doing. I have been trying to help you, but I’m afraid my authority was no longer enough. Another officer went over my head and I had my orders. Were it some other officer leading this party, things would be much worse than they are now.”

  Black Fox sneered at him. “You do not think it is bad now? Look around you at my people who are dead now, their blood mingling with the grass. Is that not bad enough?”

  Morgan sighed. “I am truly sorry, Black Fox. I am, but if you had just come peacefully when the call first came for Indians to turn themselves in, this could have been avoided. Will you come peacefully now?”

  “Yes, provided we can reach an agreement on some things.”

  “Which are?”

  Black Fox sighed. “We need three days to tend to our dead and pack our belongings to travel to the reservation. You will also allow some of our family to come visit us freely.”

  “I can guarantee the first two things, but not the third. There’s too much of a security risk. From what I understand you have a lot of white family.”

  The thought of not being able to see them brought Black Fox great sorrow, but he didn’t let it show. “We will work on that one. There are children to think of who will be greatly hurt that they cannot come see us.”

  A commotion broke out behind Morgan and both men turned to see what was going on. Three soldiers dragged a struggling Lakota brave along with them and roughly shoved him to the ground.

  “Sir, this one is white.”

  Mike kicked out viciously at the closest soldier and hit him on the side of the knee. The soldier screamed and went down as his kneecap cracked.

  “Mike! Enough!” Black Fox commanded him.

  Mike stood and faced the other two, fury snapping in his eyes. “I told you I would come with you willingly. I didn’t need you to drag me, you idiots.”

  “Are you hurt?” Black Fox asked.

  “I’ll live. I was trying to help some people, but they came along and interrupted me,” he said.

  Black Fox said, “This is my nephew, Mike Samuels, and he is a medicine man.”

  Morgan looked at Mike. “He looks young for that.” He took in the fact that Mike wore only a breechclout and thought it odd for a white man to dress as such.

  “I’m a medical student at Rush Medical College, but I’ve been actively practicing medicine since I was sixteen. I am also being ….” His voice cracked. “Was being trained as a medicine man for the tribe. He is gone, uncle.”

  “You mean?”

  “Yes. Dead. We are now without a medicine man,” Mike said as he looked at Morgan with hate in his eyes. “I hope you’re satisfied with yourself.”

  Morgan was confused. “You’re white, but you were being trained as a medicine man?”

  “Is there a more simplistic way I should explain it to you so you understand it? Even my six-year-old cousin comprehends it better than you,” Mike retorted.

  “Mike,” Black Fox warned. “Go home now so your family knows you are safe.”

  “No. There are people who need helped and until Uncle Marcus and Ben can get here, I’m all we’ve got,” Mike said and stomped away.

  *****

  Reckless paced frantically as Ben and his Uncle Marcus worked on Raven. Finally they were able to stabilize him. He regained consciousness and smiled when he saw Marcus. “Uncle,’ he said weakly. “Reckless?”

  Reckless was at his side instantly. “I am here.”

  “We fought bravely, but there were too many. I … we will have many to bury.” Raven looked between Marcus and Reckless and said, “Reckless, your parents … I am sorry.”

  “What? No!” the brave felt dizzy.

  “I saw them … fought beside my uncle … shot down.” Tears created a wet path from the corners of his eyes. “My aunt … tried to protect her … too many … so sorry.”

  Reckless rocked back on his haunches while Marcus asked, “What about your parents?”

  “They yet live … sister, too. Medicine man dead … many others.”

  “What of my wife and children?” Reckless demanded.

  “I do not know,” Raven responded before he passed out again.

  Reckless screamed in grief and fury and would have ran from the church had not Marcus and Ben tackled him.

  Ben said, “Reckless, Rick will bring them to you. You need to stay here, son.”

  Though Marcus cried and shook with the same emotions Reckless was feeling, he said, “Listen to Ben, nephew. You can’t leave. Rick will keep them safe.”

  Reckless became still and said, “Leave me up. I will stay.”

  There were a growing number of voices outside the church and Marcus went to peek out a window. “What the hell?”

  The front door of the church opened and Joe entered, bringing Minx with him. She saw Reckless and ran to him. He held her and guided her to a pew. “Are you all right?”

  “Yes.” She spotted Raven and gasped. “What about our cousin?”

  “He will be fine. He came to warn me at the bar.”

  “Uncle Dean came to get Joe. He says we are to stay here for now. What about the rest of us?” Minx asked.

  “I do not know,” Reckless said as he held her hands. “Minx, you must be brave now. Do you promise me to be brave?”

  “Yes, but why do you say this to me?”

  “Our mother and father are dead.”

  She stared at Reckless a long time before letting out her own cry of pain. “I will kill them! Every filthy white soldier I see!” She nimbly jumped over the pew on which they sat, scrambling towards the door.

  Reckless and Joe caught her and she screamed in protest.

  “Let me go! They have killed them! I did not get to see them again! Nooo!”

  Marcus took her from them and sat her down again, hugging her.

  Joe said, “You and Minx stay in here, no matter what. I’ll be damned if we all lose any more people if I can help it. That army isn’t getting in here, not by long shot. There’s a whole bunch of people out there who aren’t gonna budge.”

  The front door opened again and a soldier entered the sanctuary. Reckless and Joe ran to block him.

  “Whoa! Tex, Sitting Duck! Hold up there! It’s just me,” Rick said as he took off his hat.

  “What the hell are you doin’?” Joe demanded.

  “What better way to get around the army than to impersonate one of them?” Rick said. “Reckless, your wife and babies are fine. They’re up the road at Dean and Tessa’s. It was closer than trying to get them here. I have to go back to camp. I’ll gather more information and be back.”

  “How did you get that uniform?” Joe asked.

  “Funny you should ask that.” Rick unbuttoned his uniform shirt and reached inside. He pulled out Curtis and handed him to Joe. “I had some help from a very angry critter. I’ll tell you all about it, later.” Rick ran back out the door.

  Joe was so shocked at Rick daring to impersonate a soldier that he didn’t think much about holding the ferret. He looked over at Reckless who sank down on his knees in a prayer of thanksgiving
for the lives of his wife and children. Curtis squirmed and Joe came back to himself. “Jesus!” he yelled when it registered with him that he held the furry animal. He dropped Curtis as if scalded.

  Ben stooped and picked him up from the floor. “It’s ok, Curtis.”

  Joe moved over to Raven and knelt by him. “Is he gonna be ok, Ben?”

  “I think so. It’s hard to tell right now. Tomorrow will tell.”

  “I tried so hard to avoid this. I tried so hard to get them to leave our tribe alone,” Joe said in an emotion-choked voice as he stroked Raven’s hair. He stood quickly and strode out the door again.

  He moved through the throng of people who stood with guns. Several people ran in his direction. Jack came with his wife, Sparrow, and their son, Danny, and their infant daughter, Sophie. He helped her inside with the kids and came back out. Marcus’ brother, Owl, his wife, Hannah, and their son, Bobby were next. Owl had also collected Claire and their three children and he and Joe assisted in getting all of them inside.

  As the newly arrived occupants of the church were informed of the deaths of their loved ones, cries of anguish were heard clearly outside and those outside mourned along with them. Joe had informed Jack and he had simply nodded. He took out his pocket knife and cut off a patch of his hair on the front of his head so that all who looked at him knew that he mourned.

  Mitch, who stood by him, watched Jack and then held out his hand for Jack’s knife. Jack passed it over and the sheriff did the same to his own hair. One by one, person by person, they all took that knife and cut their hair, showing their solidarity with their Indian brothers and sisters who had fallen. The knife would make it back to Jack later on and he would never use it again.

  The night air was heavy with tension as they waited for the army. It was little more than a half hour later that the sound of many boots was heard coming in the direction of the church. Joe pushed to the front of the crowd to stand in between Mitch and Jack. Captain Morgan came into view and Joe’s hand tightened on the gun he held.