hapter 24

Red Bear watched the stoic faces as he held up the message he had collected before returning to the camp, telling the tribal council of its meaning. Yellow Fox glared at him with a disapproving face, but Red Bear chose to ignore him as he carefully chose his words in speaking in favour for a meeting. Yellow Fox had earlier told the council how he had found the white man on their sacred grounds. When Red Bear was finished, he sat down, waiting for the council’s decision. But before that, Yellow Fox stood up and asked for the word.

"That message doesn’t mean anything," he stated vehemently. "It was written by Running Buck. Red Bear’s word are coloured by the love he holds for his white brother."

Red Bear tightened his lips but refrained from saying anything. Getting into an argument with Yellow Fox before the council would not help anything, even if he resented the words just spoken. He had always been loyal to the tribe, and that loyalty had cost him a brother.

"Red Bear?" A’do-eete (Big Tree), one of the elders looked upon him, acknowledging Red Bear the right to answer. Red Bear rose.

"I spoke out of concern for my people," he stated calmly. "True my brother wrote the message, but I have not considered that when speaking to you."

"He’s living among the white. We know nothing about his loyalties." Yellow Fox insisted.

"He proven himself Kiowa. He would not do anything to harm his people."

"Enough. Who wrote this message if of no importance." Man-Of-Dreams stood. "It has no importance for our decision."

Disappointment stood clearly written in Yellow Fox’s face as he was forced to yield on this point. Man-of-Dreams nodded his content when all was seated.

"I’m troubled," he begun, "by bad dreams. The spirits are restless. This is not a good sign. We must think carefully before we reached a decision. Now, who wishes to speak first?"

It took more than an hour for the council to reach a decision. Many on the council opposed the idea of talking with the white men, but even more were hesitant to make a decision that might hurl the tribe into a war and might be upsetting to the spirits. Finally Red Bear was allowed to meet with the white men. He was to bring Yellow Fox and Black Hawk with him. Content with the decision, Red Bear decided for them to head out as soon as possible. He was ready to leave when Yellow Fox approached him. The younger man nodded towards him.

"You left your daughter with your brother, and you say this has no importance?" he asked menacingly.

"It’s not about that," Red Bear replied evenly, wondering where the conversation was heading.

"I don’t believe you."

"Is that a challenge?" Red Bear turned and looked Yellow Fox straight in the eyes.

"No. I would not challenge a chief." Yellow Fox smiled ironically. "But if your brother is a party in that negotiation, I will let the council know about it. Then we’ll see who they believe." With that Yellow Fox agile mounted his horse. "Shall we go?"

Before Red Bear could reply Yellow Fox turned his horse and rode out of the camp. Red Bear mounted with a troubled face. Black Hawk joined him as they followed Yellow Fox.

"What did he say?" Black Hawk wanted to know.

"He has a lot of anger inside him," Red Bear replied, avoiding the question. "I hope it will not bring us trouble."

"Is this the place, Teaspoon?" Noah looked suspiciously down the valley beneath them. It was a place well chosen, a open valley not to deep. It was impossible for anybody to approach without being noticed. The only cover was a set of bushes on the hillside they were standing on. There were some equal sets of bushes on the other side, but all of them were too far away to present any danger.

"Yes. Now Cody, do you think you can keep hidden over there?" Teaspoon pointed at the bushes on their hillside. "I don’t want you to be seen from down there, so you better make it good."

"I can do that. What do you want me to do?"

"I’m gonna trust that you’re as good as you claim to be with that rifle, Cody. Now, me and Noah are gonna be down by that dead tree. You think you can hit a target a bit further off? You won’t get ant second chances."

"No problem. What exactly is it you want me to do, Teaspoon?"

"Be our life insurance."

Back at the station Rachel did her best to ease the tension between the remaining riders, but every attempt was futile. First, none of the riders wanted to take the run, and Kid didn’t take it lightly when Buck left with reference to that he wasn’t supposed to ride anyway, so he had no part in the decision on who would go. So Buck had left the bunkhouse directly after breakfast to sit with Wun-oan-te-mee, leaving three riders in silence as they fought with the decision. Finally Rachel gave up and decided to leave the matter to the riders to solve for themselves. She was too tired to try and put oil on the waves. She walked briskly back to the house where she found Buck staring out the window, while Wun-oan-te-mee played with the kitten. She looked a lot better, but she was still weak from the poison and the fact that she hadn’t been able to eat anything besides broth. As Rachel entered, the girl looked up and smiled at her.

"How is she?" Rachel asked as she sat down to give Winnie a hug. Buck turned and looked at her.

"She says she’s better." Then he hesitated. "Rachel, I think I should take her back."

"But she hasn’t eaten anything yet! Doc said that he didn’t know if the poison’s still in her body until she can keep food down. If she eats and gets sick---"

"She can’t stay here."

"Why not?"

Buck shook his head.

"I can’t explain it, Rachel, but I’ve decided to take her back. She should be with her father."

"I don’t disagree with you Buck, but it’s too early. I promised you that I’d take care of her, and can you honestly tell me that she’d be all right in the Kiowa camp?"

"She will be better off there than here."

"Did you at all listen to what Doc said?"

"Rachel---"

"No, Buck, you listen to me. You heard what Doc said she could eat to start with. Now, can you guarantee me that that food is available in the camp?"

"No," Buck muttered.

"Then she stays." Rachel smiled at the girl who tugged at her arm for her to see her playing with the kitten, oblivious to the discussion. She looked so fragile, Rachel thought. She was so thin and pale. But she was always smiling, at least now when she had learned that the riders didn’t mean her any harm. Rachel couldn’t help worrying over her. Now and then she reminded her about her father – a certain face or expression or a motion. It was no doubt about her heritage, Rachel pondered. She looked up from the child to see Buck’s concerned looks.

"What is this about?" she asked. "Buck, if this has anything to do with yours and Kid’s differences---"

"He suggested to keep her as a hostage for Jimmy." Rachel could hear the anger behind the word even though Buck did hid best to hide it.

"You heard that?"

"No. But I know he did."

Rachel rose and walked up to him.

"You’re assuming he did. That’s not the same thing as knowing," she corrected. "And he hasn’t done anything for you to accuse him like that."

Buck turned away.

"Buck, you were both upset yesterday, and maybe you both said a few things that you didn’t mean---"

"Still, it might just be a matter of time until he suggest it. If Teaspoon should fail---"

"I don’t want to hear about that," Rachel interrupted. "And even if Teaspoon would fail – God forbid – then nobody would suggest using Winnie as some sort of brick in a game." She turned as she noticed that the girl had stopped playing and was looking at them with a scared hint on her eyes. "It’s OK, honey," Rachel said softly and kneeled beside her. "We’re not mad at each other." The girl smiled faintly at her, surprising her as she didn’t thought that the girl had understood her. She’s so like her father. The thought passed through Rachel’s mind before she had time to react. She reached out and stroke the black hair from the girl’s pale face. Winnie let her do it and then she turned and looked at Buck. Rachel followed her gaze and gazing up at the angry young man she saw it. What first had made her recognise Red Bear. There was a definite likeness between the brothers despite the fact that they only had one parent in common. She looked back at Winnie, as Buck told her something in Kiowa and Rachel couldn’t help but smiling at the family.

"What is it?" Buck asked as he helped the tired girl back into bed.

Rachel shook her head.

"Nothing. You’re just so li---" She was about to say your brother, but stopped herself in time. She was not ready to admit to anybody that she had met Red Bear, not just now.

"What?" Buck frowned.

"You just reminded me of somebody, that’s all," Rachel replied lightly. "We should let Winnie rest." She opened the door and let herself out. Buck followed her after a last glance at the resting girl. Outside she turned to Buck.

"How are you feeling by the way?"

"I’m fine."

"You’re sure? Shouldn’t you let Doc take a second look at that wound?"

"I’m fine," Buck repeated impatiently. He would never admit it, but he had woken up during the night having a hard time breathing. And there was a tenderness in his chest that didn’t appear to disappear. But he feared that if he told the others they would send him back to Doc’s and he really needed to be around the station. So he kept silent, keeping the pain and tenderness to himself.

Rachel looked suspiciously at him as they walked out on the porch. He looked a bit pale and she suspected that he had some tenderness from the way he walked and stood. But if he said he was OK, then there was nothing she could do.

"If you say so," she replied and looked over at the bunkhouse. None of the others were to be seen, so she assumed they still were disputing who should take the run. She cast an eye in Buck’s direction and saw that he too was watching the bunkhouse with a thoughtful look on his face.

"Why don’t you join them?" she suggested.

Buck shook his head.

"I can’t take that run anyway, it’s no point in me being there."

"And you not being there - it has nothing to do with how it is between Kid and you?"

"There’s nothing wrong between Kid and me," Buck replied shortly.

"No, of course not," Rachel said a bit sardonic. "Buck, everybody can see there’s something wrong between you. Why don’t you try and talk to him, and set this, whatever it is, straight?"

"There’s nothing to talk about."

"What is it, Buck ? This is not like you." Rachel said tenderly, gently touching his shoulder.

Before Buck could answer, a dust cloud showed up at the end of the road to Sweetwater. Buck squinted against the sun to see better. It was at least five men and with the memory of the last unexpected visit they had, he turned to Rachel.

"Stay here, I’ll tell the others."

Buck quickly walked over to the bunkhouse and knocked on the door.

"We got visitors," he called to those inside as he kept an eye on the oncoming riders. A second later Kid, Ike and Lou stood beside him, waiting to see what was coming.

"I don’t think they’re coming," Noah said as he stood up for the forth time to see better. He looked up the hill, wondering if Cody felt the same way he did. Not a sign could be seen that there was somebody up there. Cody had done a good job hiding, he pondered, before turning to Teaspoon again.

The older man peered at the horizon with a frown on his forehead.

"We’ll wait a little while. Maybe they didn’t find the message until this morning."

Noah sat down.

"I don’t know what you hope to accomplish with this Teaspoon," he said. "You really think we can get Jimmy out of there?"

"I don’t know. Maybe. When I worked as a ranger we sometimes managed to get captives out by offering a price." Teaspoon silenced, not mentioning that those captives had been abducted and had not broken any Indian rules. Sacred land had always been a touchy subject between whites and Indians, but now, with the diminish of Indian natural hunting grounds and the reservations, it was more than touchy. He just hoped that Jimmy still was alive. As long as there’s life there’s hope, he thought miserably when the sound of a hoof hitting a stone reached his ear.

"What---", Noah begun, when Teaspoon shushed at him.

"I believe we have visitors," he said and slowly rose to show his presence. Noah stood up behind him as three Indians came into view at the hilltop. Teaspoon felt a surge of relief – if they had bothered coming here, then Jimmy was most likely still alive. He looked carefully at them as they approached. Two of them were warriors, there was no doubt in his mind to that. The older of them might even hold some position as chief in the tribe judging by his posture. The younger was not older than his boys and had a stern determination in his face. He was a troublemaker – that was Teaspoon’s first impression. The last rider was a man in his own age, dignified but not to old to fight if necessary. An important group. That was good. Teaspoon took it as a good sign and whispered over his shoulder.

"Now take it easy and do as I do."

"Whatever you say, Teaspoon," Noah murmured back feeling for his gun. No matter how you put it, those guys looked as if they could fight and Noah sure wouldn’t trust them more than necessary.

Red Bear watched the two men who waited for them to reach them. He was relieved when he realised that his brother was nowhere to be seen. The older of the white men watched them calmly without any sign of being nervous. He’s been around Indians before, he thought. The stationmaster. Teaspoon, Rachel had called him. The young man behind the stationmaster surprised him. A black man and a proud one at that. He had not met many black men. Out of habit he scanned the surroundings for any danger or surprises, knowing that Yellow Fox did the same scrutiny. A life spent fighting made you cautious. For a few seconds his eyes lingered at the small gathering of bushes on the hillside behind the two white men, but he soon considered it safe. If anybody was hiding there, he was out of shooting range.

Teaspoon greeted the men and offered for them to be seated. Yellow Fox stood until Teaspoon and Noah had seated themselves, confirming Teaspoon’s opinion about him.

Teaspoon cleared his throat.

"I thank you for coming," he begun, hoping that their English was better than his almost non-existing knowledge of Indian languages. "I’m Teaspoon Hunter, working for the Pony Express. This here’s Noah Dixon, one of my riders."

None of the Indians said anything. Teaspoon smiled faintly at them and continued.

"I believe that one of my riders might have mistakenly entered Kiowa land. We would like to know what has happened to him."

This time Red Bear spoke.

"It is true we found a man on our secret grounds. He is our captive. You have asked us to come and we came. I’m Red Bear and this is Black Hawk, and one of our war chiefs, Yellow Fox. We will listen to your words."

Teaspoon took a deep breath. This was it.

"We would like the young man returned to us. We are prepared to give reasonable –hmmm- gifts to the Kiowa for his life."

Yellow Fox turned to his companions and said something in Kiowa, but Red Bear silenced him. But Yellow Fox would not have that. He turned to Teaspoon.

"You will bring gifts," he sneered. "We don’t care for white men’s gifts. You should chose your words carefully old man. We can kill you right now if we would like."

Teaspoon looked at the young man as he raised an eyebrow.

"I came in peace," he said slowly.

"So?"

"But in case anything should happen to us, I’ve made sure that we would be revenged." Teaspoon said softly, not wanting to make the situation any worse.

"Who would revenge you? When they find you we will be far away."

Teaspoon slowly raised his hand as if he was to push up his hat. Two seconds later a shot hit a cactus inches from Yellow Fox. The young man looked surprised at the plant before he turned to Teaspoon, when Red Bear interrupted.

"Enough." He turned to Yellow Fox and continued in Kiowa. Then he threw an eye up the hill.

"One of your riders?" he asked Teaspoon. Teaspoon nodded. A faint smile passed over Red Bear’s lips.

"He is good," he stated without telling if he referred to the hiding or the shot.

"You spoke about gifts. What had you in mind?" he continued, when Teaspoon remembered where he had heard his name before. Red Bear was Buck’s half brother. Maybe he had made a mistake in not including Buck, he thought. Now he wished he had spoken to the boy before leaving.

"Now, we are prepared to give what we can – food, medicine, blankets, whatever you might need. And we will not ask for anything except the boy. No harm will come over the Kiowa."

"Guns?" Yellow Fox asked harshly. "Like that one." He pointed towards Cody’s hiding.

Teaspoon sighed silently.

"Our laws does not allow me to give guns---"

"Then we stop talking now," Yellow Fox suggested and prepared to leave, when Black Hawk suggested that he sat down again. Black Hawk turned to Teaspoon. Being unfamiliar with English, understanding better than speaking, he begun speaking in Kiowa. Red Bear translated his words for Teaspoon and Noah.

"The boy might have upset our spirits. If so, they demand retribution for the disturbance. However, if the boy can prove that he had no intention of disturbing them and that he is worthy, then the spirits might be pleased with that. This must be done. No gifts can replace that." Black Hawk paused and Teaspoon felt his hope disappear. He could feel the confusion in Noah, but he made a simple hand signal for Noah to stay calm.

"If he fails to prove it, he will die. If he succeeds, he will live. But he will not be allowed to leave the tribe. Unless we can agree on an exchange." Black Hawk silenced and looked at Teaspoon.

"There’s no other way?" Teaspoon asked.

"No." Red Bear replied. "Black Hawk is right."

Teaspoon sat silent for a few minutes. No one else spoke and Noah begun feeling nervous.

"What does he have to do?" Teaspoon finally asked.

"Only the spirits can decide that."

"And if he make it he can leave – if we can make an agreement?"

"Yes."

"This test or trial – are there any rules concerning it?"

"Rules?" Red Bear looked confused at the man. What was he aiming at?

"Who can oversee it and so on?"

Red Bear shook his head.

"I don’t understand."

"If I wanted to be there, would that be accepted?"

"You want to be there? During the trial?"

"Yes."

Red Bear looked at his companions. He had never heard about anything like that before. Black Hawk looked at him with a thoughtful look and spoke in Kiowa. While they were talking Noah leaned forward and whispered.

"What are you doing, Teaspoon?"

"Wait a minute, Noah."

Red Bear turned to Teaspoon again.

"Why do you wanna do this?" he asked.

"The boy is like a son to me. He should not have to go through anything like this alone."

Black Hawk nodded softly at Teaspoon’s reply. He could understand that. He was inclined to grant the man’s request. Apparently so was Red Bear.

"If you want to do that, you must come with us now," Red Bear stated. "But we can’t let you know where the camp is, so you’ll have to go blindfolded and unarmed."

"And after the boy’s trial I can walk out as a free man, whatever the outcome?"

"You have my word on that."

Teaspoon nodded.

"And if the boy passes the trial I want him with me."

"Then you bring guns and horses," Yellow Fox stated.

"I can’t do that. Our horses have been stolen. But I’m prepared to offer you other necessities that can help you survive."

It took some time negotiating but they finally came to an agreement. Jimmy would be allowed to leave. Teaspoon knew it would be heavy on their finances, but he didn’t care. Now all he had to do was help Jimmy through whatever trial they came up with for him. All of them rose and Teaspoon turned to a visibly upset Noah.

"What are you thinking of Teaspoon? Isn’t it enough that Jimmy’s already there? I don’t like this – what if they decide to kill you as well?"

"I got the chief’s word on that it won’t happen. Now, a chief’s word is better than any legal document as we know’em. Now, I’m going with them – somebody have to look after Jimmy."

He removed his gun belt and handed it to Noah.

"Here’s what I want you to do. You heard what we agreed upon. See that you get those supplies from Thompkins. If he refuse to give credit, there’s some extra money hidden in my room. You can use that. Now you’ll wait here until we’ve left and then you and Cody head back. Whatever you do, don’t follow. And I mean that. If they think they’re followed I might be killed right there for not honouring the agreement. Understood?"

Noah nodded surly.

"What shall we do with the supplies?"

"Bring’em to this meeting place tomorrow night. If all have been going well, I hope to show up with Jimmy."

"By tomorrow?"

"If I’m right, then his trial begins today. Tomorrow it will all be over – one way or another."

Teaspoon gently tapped Noah’s shoulder before turning and walking over to where the Indians were waiting. Still dazed by the situation, Noah stood still watching him mount up. Red Bear reached for the reins as Black Hawk blindfolded him. Then they moved off. Noah looked up the hill, knowing that Cody must be more confused than he was right now. But there was no movement from the bushes. It wasn’t until the Indians and Teaspoon were further away, that Cody rose from his hiding. Noah pointed towards the town to let him know they were supposed to head home. From Cody’s reaction he seemed to think it was a bad idea, but he started to walk over to his horse anyway. Noah sighed and mounted. The others would not like what they had to tell them when they got back.

Yellow Fox turned in his saddle for the umpteenth time. Bringing up the rear as they headed to the camp, nobody had question him constantly looking over his shoulder. But this time what he saw brought a fleeing smile to his lips. The blond man that rose from the bushes was easy to recognise. And Yellow Fox intended to remember him. He had been insulted and one day the blond man would have to pay for it.

The four standing on the bunkhouse porch watched cautiously the group of riders approach the station, hands held close to their guns, expecting the worse. Rachel stood by the door, watching nervously. Teaspoon had thought that the thieves wouldn’t return, but what if he was wrong?

It was Kid who first discovered who they were.

"It’s the army," he stated with obvious relief. Lou and Ike relaxed and started to walk down to meet them. Only Buck remained at the porch. He too had recognised them – it was the same company that had "arrested" him earlier. But that didn’t bother him. Any army unit would look hostile to him as long as Wun-oan-te-mee was at the station, especially now, when he wasn’t sure if he could count on Kid anymore. Suspicious he watched them ride into the station with only one worried thought in his mind. Why was the army here?

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