by Chuck Buda
In James’ mind, he just couldn’t stay behind when he knew that Crouching Bear was out there somewhere, being hunted like an animal. Crouching Bear had been his friend and he owed it to him to be the one who would bring him to justice. Plus, he had always itched to go on an adventure and this would be the perfect opportunity to prove he could handle it.
He still found it difficult to reconcile the fact that Crouching Bear had killed Minnie. While all the evidence pointed to Crouching Bear’s guilt, James knew the man he befriended could not be capable of such an act. He wanted to get the truth straight from Crouching Bear, before the town condemned the man without giving him a fair trial.
James examined his knife. He had kept it sharp since the day it was given to him by one of his mother’s customers. The man was a regular and took a liking to James who was too little to be left alone. He would play on the floor in the corner of the room, hidden behind the dressing blind while his mother worked. The man would always bring something new to James to occupy his attention. The knife was the greatest of all the things the man had given him. Sarah had protested that it was dangerous but the man insisted that all boys needed to own a knife and learn how to use one. James tested the edge of the blade, satisfied that it was plenty sharp. He slid the knife back into its leather sheath and fastened it to his belt.
The bedroom door swung open without a knock. George filled the doorway in silence. James rolled his eyes knowing that his mother had gotten George to threaten him against leaving. She knew he was too old to force him to stay, but she probably wanted to try a more persuasive tactic like getting George to scare the crap out of him.
“Where you heading?”
“Look, George. I know my mother sent you here to give me a thrashing about leaving town, but I am going. And there is nothing that she can do to stop me. Including sending you.”
George spat tobacco juice but missed the spittoon. James didn’t care because he wasn’t going to be around to clean it up this time. George took two steps into the room. “You really think you can handle yourself, kid?”
“I’m not a kid anymore. And yes. I got my father’s blood.”
“Blood ain’t gonna matter when you got Injuns attacking you or a six-shot in yer face.” He scratched his stubble and leveled his blue eyes on James.
“It’s my fault that this happened. I have to go.” James slumped down on the bed. For the first time since the meeting he showed his vulnerability. “I brought Crouching Bear into the bar and introduced him to my mother and Minnie. And so if anyone deserves to go out into the dangerous wild to fetch him then it ought to be me.” He sighed out loud.
George looked him over. His dusty leather jacket and chaps creaked as he rested his hands on his gun belt. “Well, you definitely made a big mistake bringing a wild man into the saloon. Big mistake.” He took another two steps toward James. “But you’ll be making a bigger mistake if you go out on your own. You need backup.”
James raised his head. He wasn’t sure but it sounded as if George was agreeing with his plan to go after Crouching Bear. “What?”
“Maybe a man like you needs a man like me to ride with.” George wasn’t smiling but the tone of his voice suggested a smile was behind the words.
“Are you serious? But what about your job? And my mom? And what about Sheriff Danvers?”
George scratched his stubble and looked down at his boots. “Well, I reckon Filler don’t really need me on account of him being able to handle himself. And your mother asked me to watch over you once she realized you were going to go no matter what she said.” He looked back at James. “And I don’t like Danvers so I don’t much care for what he thinks.”
James jumped off the bed and ran over to George. He hugged the large man as tight as he could and then stepped back. George made a face that showed his discomfort. James noticed and apologized for his excited gesture. “I thought you didn’t like me.”
“I don’t. But I want to get that Injun that killed Minnie. And I respect your momma for how she has always treated me like a person, unlike every other turd in this town.” He pushed James back a step. “So let’s get something clear. I don’t like you. At all. And there will not be any more touching me of any sorts. I’m doing this for revenge and for your momma. Nothing else.” George thought about it a second. “Well, maybe to anger Danvers and Filler too.”
James clapped his hands together. He was excited that he was finally going on an adventure, even though it was for a bad reason. He snatched up his sack and spun around to get started. When he turned, George’s outstretched hand contained a silver pistol with a worn wooden handle. He held it by the barrel with the handle toward James. James’ eyes opened wide as he admired the pistol. “You’ll be needing one of these once we get outside town.” He handed James the gun. James turned the pistol over in his hands as he admired every square inch of it. As he spun it around the barrel pointed at George. “Don’t. Point it. At me.”
James realized he wasn’t holding a toy and began to handle it more carefully. He tucked the pistol inside his belt loop against his back so he could hide it under his jacket. He was floating in the clouds now that he was a man with a gun going on an adventure. As soon as he realized the serious nature of his travels, he got more serious. “Okay. Before we go, I have one more thing to do.”
Chapter 15
“Where’d she go?”
James took a deep breath before replying to Carson. “Well, she got a telegram that one of her relatives was real sick and needed her help. So she packed up and took the first coach out of town.” He helped Carson climb out of the hiding spot.
“Which relative?”
“I’m not sure.” He started to sweat because Carson was making him work hard on this lie. “She didn’t have time to say. She just said she would be gone for a while and that I was to look after you.” James knocked a burr off Carson’s sleeve.
“Can I sent her a letter?” Carson blinked incessantly with the sun in his eyes.
“It’s send, not sent. Uh, I guess so. We can write her a letter in a few days when I get back to town.” James ruffled Carson’s hair.
“Where are you going, James?”
“I, uh, have to go see if we can find Crouching Bear. He’s, um, lost.” James kicked at the dirt to avoid eye contact with Carson who seemed to look right through him.
“I wanna go too. He’s my friend and I don’t want him lost.”
James cursed himself under his breath. He loved Carson like a brother but this kid was making things so difficult. “It’s just that, um, where Crouching Bear is lost might be real dangerous. And I don’t want you to get hurt.”
“But if it is dangerous, won’t you get hurt too?”
James looked to the blue skies for answers. He thought to himself that he really should have spent more time preparing for this conversation. He figured it would be relatively easy since Carson was slow. Suddenly, Carson was a schoolhouse graduate. “Nah, it isn’t too dangerous for adults, just kids. You know, lots of Indians and big animals and junk. But I’ll be okay.” He knew his reasoning was lame but he hoped it did the trick. “George will be coming with me as protection.”
“George doesn’t like you though.”
James smiled at Carson. He sometimes realized that Carson was sharper than people gave him credit for being. He knew that firsthand as Carson whipped him every time they played cards. “No, he doesn’t like me very much. But he promised to look after me while we search for Crouching Bear.”
“But I will be lonely without you and my momma. Who will play cards with me?” Carson moped with his chin on his chest.
“My mother will play cards with you. And she will help you handle my chores while I am gone. So you will have plenty to keep you busy.” James tossed in the chores concept at the last second.
“Oh boy. You mean, Mister Filler will let me sweep the floor and wipe the tables and squeeze the wet rags on the porch?” For the first time this morning, Carson looked ha
ppy. James nodded and looked off in the distance. He found it harder to keep up the lie with each successive answer. He knew it was all for Carson’s own good to keep him in the dark about the true nature behind the travel. Or was it? Was it just more important that he go off on an adventure than live up to his responsibilities? Responsibilities he undertook willingly and publicly? James tried not to think too deeply about it, afraid he wouldn’t like the answer he arrived at.
“You understand that I will always protect you, right?”
“Sure, James. You are my brother from a different mother like my momma says.” Carson smiled up at James with one eye closed to avoid the sun. He punched James in the shoulder.
James’ eyes watered as he thought about how much Carson meant to him. He really was like his little brother and he loved Carson so much. “Yup, brothers from a different mother.” James repeated, trying not to remember the horrific image of Minnie torn apart.
Chapter 16
Crouching Bear scanned the blue sky for answers. The warmth of the sun dried the last tears that wet his cheeks. A mild breeze from the west blew his long black hair across his face. The tall, dry weeds tickled his bottom as they danced in the wind. The smell of his bowel movement disgusted him as it was putrid with human remains.
He tried to shift his thoughts from the previous night toward his survival but it was no use. Each time he thought of where to hide or how he was going to eat, it reminded him of why he was now in this predicament.
Crouching Bear felt horrible for what he had done to Minnie. More importantly, he felt that he had betrayed James and Carson. After all, they were the first whites to treat him well and they were really the only people who accepted him for who he was. Without conditions. Even his tribesmen only accepted him for his fighting skills and bravery. None of the tribe ever spoke to him about their dreams or their thoughts. It was all about fighting and loyalty to the tribe.
As he finished cleaning up, Crouching Bear wondered what James and Carson were doing. He figured that Carson was devastated that his mother was killed, and by one of his very own friends. Crouching Bear knew that Carson was a special child by the way he saw the world. He had encountered a similar child in his tribe when he was a youth. But the child was sacrificed in order to benefit the tribe. The elders knew the child would be another mouth to feed without providing skills like hunting or fighting. So the elders convinced the child’s parents to allow the sacrifice in order to appease the spirits for a bountiful hunting season. It was tragic but necessary in the small tribe.
He imagined Carson crying, failing to understand the loss of his mother. And then he pictured James consoling the youngster. Crouching Bear knew James would do whatever it took to look out for the young boy. He could see the brotherly love that James had for Carson. How he always stood close to him and how he would put his arm around the boy’s small shoulders. James was always careful to speak to Carson as if he was normal rather than treating him as a lesser human being. He winced at the thought of betraying James’ trust. He lowered his head and squeezed his eyes closed for a moment to blot out the hurt he felt in his gut.
Crouching Bear looked east toward the town. He had traveled far enough that the town was no longer in sight. But he still worried about the posse he knew would come after him. He was a wanted man twice over now. It would be a race to see which group of hunters would find him first. The tribe or the white men?
He tried to think of the best plan of escape. The town was east and his tribe would be coming from the northeast. It would be natural to run further west or south to put distance between himself and the parties. Yet, part of him thought he might be wiser to double back a bit to the north. The hunters would probably follow the reasoning of his trail southwest. So doubling back to the north would be opposite of what they would expect him to do. However, it would bring him closer to danger. He carefully considered his options as he scanned the horizon for signs of travelers.
The loneliness began to settle inside him. He had gotten a second chance at life and it was gone as quickly as it had arrived. The images of Carson and James flashed in his mind. He had found two friends when it seemed as if the whole world had cast him out. And then he blew it. He was doomed to roam the earth alone forever. Cursed. He could never be with people again, even people he cared for because he might eventually get mad and kill them. And if he didn’t kill the people he cared for he might harm others, putting his loved ones’ safety in jeopardy. His thoughts explored suicide for a brief moment but then vanished. Suicide would only damn his soul to wander the earth for eternity, thus extending his curse beyond the physical world.
Crouching Bear started to run through the tall, amber weeds. He had to keep moving with constant vigilance if he were to survive this plight. His shadow followed along in the afternoon sun. The running made him feel free and alive, out here on the vast plains. Flat lands all around and a wide open sky above gave him hope that the walls could only close in on him within his mind. His renewed sense of freedom spurred him on faster now. He felt the wind in his hair as the tall weeds brushed against his legs. He closed his eyes while he ran, feeling the earth unfold beneath his feet. His mind reached out to the heavens as if he were a soaring eagle. He opened his eyes and continued to run as fast as he could. For a moment, Crouching Bear smiled.
Chapter 17
James had butterflies in his stomach. He and George had been traveling for a little over an hour now but his nervousness had still not subsided. The sheer excitement of going on an adventure like he had always dreamed about had worn off pretty quickly. The realization of the nature of the adventure had slammed home and settled deep in his gut. This adventure wasn’t going to be fun after all. He had to hunt down his new friend, Crouching Bear. And he left behind his mother and his best friend for the first time in his life. James had never experienced a longing for home and family before now. He didn’t really like how it felt.
George rode alongside James quietly. James knew George was a man of few words but he realized this was going to be a long, lonely trip. He looked over at the large man who appeared monstrous on top of his dark horse. George felt James’ eyes upon him and returned his gaze. He spat a juicy plume of tobacco between the horses and then turned his head forward. James sighed to himself that at least he wouldn’t have to clean up George’s mess out here.
James had argued with George as they prepped the horses. George wanted to put an all-time beating on Crouching Bear and then drag him back to town, literally. James preferred a more subtle approach of tracking down his Indian friend and asking him what happened. He still didn’t think that Crouching Bear would just do something so randomly violent. But he figured if he did, there had to be a real good reason for it. After James got his answer, he intended to bind Crouching Bear’s hands and ride with him back into town to answer to the charges. The thought of a trial caused James concern as he knew there would be no way to hide the truth from Carson at that point. A pang of sorrow for his little buddy rumbled through his chest.
George stopped his horse and James followed suit. The large man lifted his hat off his sweaty forehead and took a swig from his canteen. James’ stomach took an extra turn when he realized that George drank the water and swallowed it while the tobacco was still lumped in his cheek. George squinted at the sun above and then pointed to the ground a few feet behind them.
“That there is an Injun mark.” James grimaced with confusion and asked what George meant. “Yer red pal was here by the looks of that print. Animals leave prints with claws. Boots leave a toe and heal print. Injuns leave a flat, elongated print like that on account of their moccasins.” He reset the brim of his hat to shadow his eyes from the sun.
James thought to himself how glad he was that George had come along with him. Even though he didn’t particularly like George, he knew skills like this were going to be critical. And they were skills James didn’t have. He wasn’t searching the ground for indications at all. James thought following the line
of the horizon for movement or puffs of smoke would lead him to Crouching Bear. But it was quickly becoming apparent that finding the man was going to be much more difficult than he had originally imagined.
“Well, at least we appear to be headed in the right direction.”
“It ain’t by chance that we came across that print, kid. I’ve been scouting sign since we left town. Yer red pal is good about keeping to grassy land but when we hit these dried out patches there ain’t no hiding.” George leaned over the horn of the saddle and rubbed his horse’s neck. “He’s got a head start on us but we’ll catch up if we play it right.” George spat and wiped the dark juice from his stubble with the sleeve of his jacket. “And when we do, I’m gonna wring his red neck.”
“Nobody is going to touch him, George.” James’ anger spiked before he could check his words. “I mean, we are supposed to bring him back to town for trial. So we can’t hurt him without cause. I don’t want to talk about this again.” James shifted his eyes away from George when he sensed George’s agitation.
“How can you live with yerself knowing what that savage did to Minnie? He just waltzed into town and took advantage of our hospitality like that and you are ready to fergive him for it?” George glared at James.
“Look, we don’t know all the facts, is all I’m saying. Crouching Bear will answer for it but not at our hands. It ain’t right.”
“Was it right fer him to tear her up like that and leave that dumb boy an orphan?”
