CHAPTER EIGHT

That evening, Buck stopped on the hill overlooking the village. He dismounted and stood watching the activity of the village below. He couldn’t see Tompkins anywhere which meant he was either still recovering or already dead. Buck turned away from the tranquil scene below him. As he rearranged his clothing by removing his shirt and leaving on just his vest so he would be more presentable to the Kiowa, he offered up a prayer that he would be able to resolve this situation without anyone getting injured.

He mounted his horse and carefully made his way down the side of the cliff to the place he’d felt certain he would never return. He knew he’d proven himself to be a true Kiowa, but he also knew he wasn’t really welcome. He was tolerated, but not wanted. His only hope was to find Red Bear quickly, and explain the reality of this situation. If Red Bear had seen the arrows used in this attack, things could be difficult.

Buck managed to make it near Red Bear’s home before he was accosted. He had just dismounted when someone grabbed him and threw him to the ground. “What are you doing here?” Laughing Crow demanded.

“I came to speak to my brother,” Buck said as he started to rise.

Another warrior, Stands Tall, knocked him back to the ground. “What makes you thing he wants to speak with you?”

Buck once more pushed himself to a standing position. This time, when he felt someone place hands on his shoulders Buck pushed back. Laughing Crow stumbled into Stand Tall. “Because I’m his brother,” Buck said as he straightened himself up. “That’s why he would want to see me.” He moved past them to attempt to gain entrance to Red Bear’s home.

Red Bear stepped out just as Buck reached the opening. “We will talk out here,” Red Bear said. “I don’t wish to disturb his rest.” He nodded to the tepee.

Buck nodded and moved aside so Red Bear could come all the way outside. “May we speak in private?” he asked.

Red Bear nodded and the others slowly filed away. Buck and Red Bear moved to a clear area nearby, next to the outdoor cooking fire. They sat on the ground.

“You’ve come for him,” Red Bear stated knowingly.

Buck nodded. “If I don’t take him back, the army will come for him. They won’t care that there are women and children here. They’ll come in shooting.” He paused. “I have two days to get him back or they attack.”

“The others will not let him go easily,” Red Bear stated casting a glance at the men gathered nearby. “They do not trust him to not bring others here. It has been decided to keep him until the winter move.”

“Is he well enough to travel?” Buck asked. “Does he know what is going on?”

Red Bear nodded. “He has been here four days. At first he did not know where he was, but yesterday that changed. Now, most of the time, he is aware of where he is. He speaks loudly and with much anger, but I do not understand his words. Then the fever returns and Shining Star gets him to rest.”

“If I can get him to promise not to come back, will you let him go?” Buck asked.

Red Bear thought for a few minutes. “Would he speak the truth?”

Buck shrugged. “I think so. He’s never lied to me before. He’s yelled at me, threatened me, called me names, and done everything he could to let me know without a doubt how he feels about Indians, but he’s always been honest. When he says he’ll do something, you can count on it.”

Red Bear nodded and sat contemplating this information. He stood and faced Buck. “The council would have to decide if you can take him with you. A promise from him would do much to help persuade them. There are others who want to keep him.”

Buck nodded. “He won’t be a good slave; he’ll never do what he’d told.”

Red Bear shrugged. “All men can be broken,” he said.

Buck shook his head. “He’ll die first.”

“Then so be it,” said Red Bear. “I will go ask if you shall be allowed to try for him. You wait here, and think how you can explain this.” Red Bear handed Buck the arrow the Kiowa had taken from Tompkins’ body.

Buck took the arrow and stared at it. He sat trying to come up with an explanation while he waited.

Red Bear came back after a few minutes. “The council has decided that you shall be allowed to compete for him. If you win, and he promises to not come back, you may take him with you. If you win, but he refuses you must stay or give him to someone. If you lose, he stays; you go.”

Buck nodded. “When do we start?”

“At first light,” said Red Bear. “Before you go to rest the council would like to know why this arrow was found at the scene. Let us go.”

Buck stood and followed Red Bear. He entered the council chamber and stood before the assembled leaders. He kept his eyes on the leader, Lone Wolf, while he did his best to explain the situation. He concluded by saying, “If I could speak with Mr. Tompkins, I can learn more. I think he knows why this is being done.”

Lone Wolf nodded. “Tomorrow. You have had a long day and look tired. Go rest and prepare for the challenge ahead.”

Buck nodded and left the council house with Red Bear. They went to the home of Red Bear’s father. It was late and the waning moon was high in the sky. Buck was tired and wanted nothing more than to sleep.

 “You will stay here,” Red Bear instructed.

Buck was a bit surprised, but knew better than to argue. Buck went in and found his old resting place. He made himself as comfortable as possible, and tried to get some rest. As he nodded off, he noticed that the first arrow he’d ever made was resting in the area where his mother used to sleep. He wondered why it was there. He’d have to remember to ask.

The next morning, as the sun was just beginning to spread its light over the horizon, Red Bear woke Buck. “It is time to begin the challenge. The first task is to race up the path to the smoking rock and back. The others are gathering at the council house.”

Buck nodded, quickly pulled on his boots, and exited the tepee. He met his competitors, Laughing Crow and Stands Tall. He could tell by the way they looked at him that this was going to be a long day. They weren’t planning on playing fair. It didn’t take long for him to learn he was right. As soon as they were out of sight of the village, the two of them stopped. They grabbed Buck and wrestled him to the ground. While one of them held him, the other kicked his ribs and head. Then they traded places. Finally, they bound and gagged him before hanging him by his feet from a tree that reached out over the edge of the cliff. They made sure the knot would eventually work itself out of the rope, dropping him to the rocks below.

Buck watched them leave before he started to try and free himself. He stopped as he realized that it was only untying the knot more quickly. His mind raced as he tried to figure out what to do. He closed his eyes to offer up a silent prayer when he sensed someone near him.

“Do not open your eyes,” a voice instructed.

Buck nodded to show that he understood. He felt himself being pulled toward the safety of the path. Then strong hands held him while someone untied him. As soon as the last bond fell from his arms, the hands let go of him and his savior disappeared into the surrounding underbrush.

Buck carefully stood, checked for injuries, and then continued down the path. He noticed as he ran that his ribs felt a bit sore. He prayed it wasn’t serious, and continued on his way.

Fortunately, the other two had separated. He caught Stands Tall first. Buck tackled him and pushed him off the side of the path into a tangle of brush. Buck quickly regain his footing and began running along the path once more.  After a few more minutes, he caught up with Laughing Crow. Buck pushed past him, knocking him back down the hill just as the smoking rock came into view. Now, as long as he could stay ahead he was safe.

The others caught up to him just as they made the turn into the village. They couldn’t do anything without being seen. Buck managed to stumble into the village neck and neck with them.

“What happened?” Red Bear asked when he saw the scratches on Buck’s arms and face.

“I tripped,” Buck answered with a look at the others, daring them to say differently.

Red Bear turned to them. “And you?” he asked.

“The path was steep and the rocks were loose,” answered Stands Tall. Laughing Crow nodded his agreement.

Buck caught his breath before asking, “What’s next?”

“You may clean up and rest until mid-day. Then you must each face the other two in wrestling. You will draw stones to see who goes first,” said Lone Wolf.

Buck headed back to the place he was staying. Red Bear caught him just before he went inside. “The man is awake. You can talk to him now.”

Buck nodded and followed Red Bear to his home. As soon as he entered, Tompkins shouted, “When the hell do I get to go home?”

Buck sank to the ground in front of him with a groan. It hurt to move. He sighed and said, “Please, stop shouting. You’ll get to go home as soon as I win your freedom, and you promise not to bring anyone back here.”

“You want me to do what?” Tompkins asked indignantly.

“I want you to give your word that you won’t come back here to get revenge. These people have done nothing but help you. You know that, don’t you?” Buck asked.

“No,” said Tompkins. “I don’t know for sure what happened when they first brought me here. I haven’t been real clear headed until this morning, and at the present time they won’t let me leave this hovel. I want to go home now!” He started to stand.

Buck reached out and put a hand on his shoulder. “You can’t,” he said quietly, calmly. “If you don’t stay here until I tell you differently, they’ll kill us both.” He sighed. “I know the idea of me being dead pleases you greatly, but are you ready to die to have it happen?”

Tompkins sat back down. “No,” he said matching Buck’s calmer tone. “I just want to get home. I’ve been away too long. I won’t come back here. I give my word. I do know that they didn’t attack me; it was some men from Blue Creek.”

Buck relaxed. The whole mess was beginning to make sense - the lies, the arrows, the unexplained raids. It was some white men trying to get land. Now all he had to do was figure out how to beat the other two men in hand to hand combat and they could go home. “Good,” said Buck. “I’m going to rest for a bit. Then I’ll finish the work on getting us home.”

Tompkins nodded as he watched Buck lay down. He hoped this boy had it in him to finish whatever competition he was involved in. It sure didn’t look like he had much of a chance of winning anything. ‘I may just have to fight my own way out,’ he thought as he lay back down and listened to Buck’s labored breathing.