Daydreams
Part 2
by
Fantasy
Chapter 4: Harbinger
Cody never tired of the view, made even more special now because she had someone to share it with. The ranch was nestled in a beautiful valley with a fast moving stream that provided water for the stock. The house and outbuildings were built next to the hillside with large pines and Douglas fir used as a buffer against the prevailing westerly winds.
As much as she wanted to go inside take a bath, and rest, she tended the animals first. She took Dusty and Hawk to the barn and removed their saddles and packs. Tyena took the packs full of supplies into the house.
"I’ll get a fire going and fix some coffee and a meal will be ready when you come in." Humm, Cody thought. Having Tyena around all the time just might be all right after all. She fed the horses, rubbed them down, and walked out back to the meadow to check on the other stock. They all cropped grass contentedly as did old ‘Bossy’. Cody had traded a settler an old cantankerous mule for her and she often wondered if that old man had the patience to keep from shooting ‘Ole Rufus’. Cody knew she got the better of the bargain.
"It’s ‘bout time yore gittin’ back here," Buck yelled. "If ya think all I gotta do is take care of this place for ya while you're out a gallivantin’ ‘round, yore dead wrong. I got people who need me mor’un y’all." Cody’s calm was shattered.
"Buck, guess there’s no need askin’ how ya been. Still ornery as ever. "Sides lookin’ after my place is little ‘nough work for all the free meals ya git. And it don’t look like there’s been no wars ‘round here. ‘Peers quiet ‘nough to me."
"Ha! Lot you know! Folks in these parts ‘id jest as soon ya have an accident or somethin’. They figure yore too blamed friendly with them Injuns and they’d like nothin’ better than to run ya out. Mark may words, they’s gonna be hell to pay!" Buck seemed to always overdramatize things, but Cody knew the talk was true, and now there was Tyena to think about.
"Yeah I know. Tyena’s with me."
"What’s that you say?"
"I said Tyena’s come home with me and she’s gonna stay."
"She’s gonna stay…what in the Sam Hell are you gonna do with an Injun squ…woman clear up here? Now y’all be a target for sure! What the hell were ya thinkin’?" That’s the trouble she wasn’t thinking, with her brain anyway. But she wasn’t going to let Buck know that.
"Oh jeeze Buck ya worry too much. Ya always got somethin’ stuck in yore craw. Anyway people have tried before, let ‘em come ahead. They’ll find out how much hell there’ll be. They can burn me out, run off my stock, but before they do, they’re gonna know they were in one helluva rukus. Now I’m gonna go take a bath. Tyena’s fixin supper, you want some or not?" Buck shook his head.
"Nah, I got ta get back to the settlement. They’s needin’ me to go on a mail run." Tyena stepped out onto the porch where Cody joined her and wrapped an arm protectively around her waist. "Ev’nin Tyena, good to see ya. Cody tells me yore gonna try to keep an eye on her. Good luck to ya on that score," Buck chuckled. He fancied himself a bit of a comedian. "And as for the other, don’t say I didn’t warn ya! Be seein’ ya." Buck always tried to get in the last word.
Cody shook her head. Buck hadn’t changed in all the years she’d known him. He was an old trapper and when the beaver and other animals died out, she started carrying supplies for the outlying settlers. You’d often see him and his burrow Zelda (named after a saloon girl) traipsing these mountains providing his needed service. Most folks thought he was an old fool, but Cody and the Indians knew different.
"What was that all about?"
"Nothin’ just ol’ Buck goin’ on. You know how he is." Tyena smiled knowingly.
"Well come inside, I have a pot of stew cooking over the hearth fire and your bath water is heated. Get out of those sweaty buckskins and I’ll clean them for you."
Well if that ain’t the way, Cody thought. Wonder what Buck would say if he witnessed this. Buck thought washing was a waste of time and ",,,downright unhealthy." The sweet undulating sway of Tyena’s beautiful hips as she walked ahead of her caught her attention. Boy it would be really easy to get used to this.
Cody walked through the living room and kitchen to the bathtub, which was out back just outside the kitchen door. It was sheltered under an over hang to protect it from the weather. It was an ingenious affair actually. The tub had its own water supply held in a cistern and was heated in a boiler adjacent to the woodshed. An overhead trough fed the cold water directly into the tub first before the hot water was added. There was a plug on the outside near the bottom to drain the used water. Cody’s father had thought of the idea. As he got older and before he was killed, he enjoyed a good hot bath to help ease all his aches and pains. Cody chuckled to herself; not remembering Tyena’s sensitive hearing could pick up the tiniest of sounds.
"What’s so funny?" See there? Cody began removing her soiled buckskins.
"I was just thinking what Buck would say ‘bout all this," Cody commented as she swept her arm in a circle around her. "Buck thinks takin’ a bath is downright dangerous."
Her attention was brought to the tub when she heard the water move. The manifestation that met her eyes was more like a vision than reality. Tyena’s naked form filled her view, and all Cody could do was try to swallow the lump in her throat, and draw some moisture to her suddenly dry mouth. There was more moisture in the Mojave Desert than in her mouth at the moment.
"Uh…wh…wh..hat…are ya doin’?"
"I need a bath too, and I thought you might need someone to wash your back." Cody’s heart was hammering inside her chest harder than Indians beating on their ceremonial drums at a Pow Wow.
"Ah…s-s-s-ur…sure…heh…why not?" Tyena had lowered her gorgeous form into the water and had crossed her arms on the edge of the tub resting her chin on top of them. Her wet hair was pushed back over her shoulders hanging down the middle of her back.
"Well c’mon then, you don’t want the water to get cold do you?" You’ve got to be kidding. As soon as I step into the tub, the heat from my body will set the waster to boiling, Cody thought.
"No ‘course not." Cody walked forward, not sure her trembling legs could carry her the few steps to the tub, but somehow she managed. She lowered herself into the water and quickly sat between her lover’s legs, embarrassed to have Tyena see her body betray her lustful feelings. She could blame the chill in the air for making her nipples hard and erect, but that couldn’t account for the heat emanating from her boiling center.
"Your shoulder muscles are so tense," Tyena whispered as she began a gentle massage of said body parts. Cody found herself relaxing into the tender touch.
"Mmm, that feels nice." Warm lips began caressing the area where Cody’s neck joined her shoulder. She automatically leaned slightly to the left to expose more of her neck to the loving touch. Strong but gentle fingers moved over the top of Cody’s shoulders and down over the strong taught biceps of the rancher.
"I love touching you like this my love. Your body is so strong and yet so soft at the same time." The busy hands moved further down the rancher’s arms and worked their way up and under until the hands had reached the sides of Cody’s breasts. Cody wasted no time guiding Tyena’s hands over and on top of her breasts; her hands covering her lover’s requesting a more intimate touch. At the instant of contact with her hardened nubs, a sensual groan issued forth from Cody’s parted lips.
"Yes my love, touch me, pinch my nipples. It’s been so long, Please Tyena, love me." With that plea, Cody drew the Indian maiden’s right hand under the waster, down over tight abs until the joined hands reached Cody’s thick patch of course brown pubic hair. "Please baby, go inside. I need you so much." A woman in love who needed the loving contact from her life mate replaced the tough as nails rancher. Her constant moans filled the air as Tyena dragged her fingers back and forth through the drenched folds of her lover’s womanhood.
"My love you are so wet and warm. This feels good doesn’t it? You enjoy my intimate touch, admit it." God this woman was in total control. Cody could deny nothing; her body’s reaction attested too strongly to her need.
"Ye—ee—sss," Cody hissed. The pleasure shot throughout her body bringing her inexorably closer to her impeding release. But Tyena wasn’t ready just yet to let Cody reach the ultimate in pleasure. She began thrusting her hips forward in a steady rhythm forcing her own heated center into Cody’s backside. She scrapped her own hardened nipples lewdly up and down Cody’s back. The rancher leaned back into Tyena’s chest, begging for more contact.
"Please Tyena, don’t tease me, I’m begging you finish it. Let me cum!" The pleading, almost tearful entreaty could not be ignored. Besides, the forceful thrusting against Cody’s firm ass was causing her own orgasm to reach fruition. Tyena thrust three fingers relentlessly inside her lover’s vagina. She could feel the strong muscles of the woman’s cunt clamping down on her loving digits signaling Cody’s impending release. Her own pussy began to spasm warning her own climax was about to explode throughout her body.
"As you wish my love." With just three more quick hard thrusts and her thumb attacking Cody’s clit, both women let their passion overtake them and plunge them into the abyss of pleasure. It was finished. The two women leaned against each other for support. The cooling bath water brought them back to reality. With their breathing under control and their limbs once again able to support them, the two lovers stood and climbed out of the tub. Tyena reached a long arm to a bench where two large soft towels lay. She snagged them both in her hand and wrapped one around her lover and one around herself. Then without warning she lifted the startled rancher and carried her into the house.
"Tyena, dammit put me down. I can walk ya know." Tyena silenced Cody’s protestations with a passionate kiss. When the kiss ended, Cody’s views had changed markedly. "Well, maybe it won’t hurt for you ta carry me just this once." Lips met again as Tyena lowered her precious burden down onto soft, fluffy, warm furs in front of the fire. Slowly and sensually, Tyena began the pleasant task of drying her lover’s damp skin. Each movement of her hands over the rancher’s body was followed my warm soft lips and tongue kissing and licking every square inch of Cody’s body. Each scar and blemish was marked by a gentle caress. As much as Cody was enjoying her lover’s sensitive touch, Cody’s stomach chose that exact moment to make its presence felt.
"Sorry honey, but it’s been a long time since our mid-day meal, and you know how growly my gut is when it needs fed. Besides, I don’t think I could take much more lovin’ right now, as much as I want to. It’s been a tough few days ridin’ to get home to you." Tyena stopped her ministrations and looked up; cobalt met hazel and held for a time. "I love you darlin’, truly I do."
"I love you too, and you’re right. We have a lifetime together; we will be able to love each other everyday if we want. It’s just that I have missed you so much. I…" Cody pulled her life mate closer and rubbed her back reassuringly.
"I know my darlin’, I missed you too. Maybe if I eat a little something I’ll be able to show you how much. I feel my strength commin’ back already." That comment was punctuated my two arched eyebrows waggling mischievously.
"Oh you." Tyena slapped Cody playfully on the arm and reached over to bring the pot of venison stew hanging over the fire close enough to ladle into bowls. Hot biscuits and coffee rounded out the meal. For desert Tyena had brought some apples out of the root cellar and mixed some butter and molasses together and placed them in a covered pan in the hot coals. The result was a sweet, gooey sauce covering the tart apples. Cody couldn’t remember when she enjoyed a simple meal more. Perhaps it was the food, but more than likely it was the company.
"Honey this was the best meal I’ve had since I don’t know when. Thank you." Cody had managed to get some of the sticky molasses on the corner of her mouth. Tyena saw the opening she needed.
"Hold still, you’ve got something on your mouth," she purred as she reached up with her index finger and swiped away the offending molasses. "See?"
Cody grasped her lover’s slender wrist and captured the digit between her teeth and proceeded to lick the sweet mixture from Tyena’s finger. The seductive gesture had the desired affect as the raven-haired beauty produced a breathy moan to be captured by Cody’s mouth. The kiss was a prelude to more intimate activities. The kiss was needful and passionate. Tongues delved deep to explore hot sensuous mouths, enjoying the sweet textures hidden inside.
"Hmmm, Tyena you taste sweet. I want to taste you all over." Swiftly and easily Cody flipped Tyena onto her back and began to thoroughly devour every surface of her lover’s body. Tyena writhed under the onslaught of her mate’s talented tongue as Cody’s mouth devoured the maiden’s generous firm breasts. She suckled each harden nipple in turn circling the turgid bud with her warm oral muscle. She blew cool air over the wet skin causing the aureoles to pebble and harden even more. Tyena’s response was to arch her back forcing her breast further into her lover's ’mouth. Constant groans gushed forth from the tall woman’s throat.
"Oh Cody, yes my love. Suck me. Your mouth feels so good on my hot flesh. Suck me harder; bite me. Oh yes, so good."
Cody continued her ministrations on her lover’s breasts while her hand slowly tracked its way down over tight abs to find gloriously wet black curls covering Tyena’s swollen womanhood. She wasted no time delving into the succulent flesh. Cody wanted to give her lover all the pleasure she wanted but she too needed her lover’s touch.
"Raise your leg my love." Tyena obediently lifted her well-muscled thigh from the furs to allow Cody to straddle the limb. She began thrusting her own sloppy cunt back and forth along the firm appendage. At the same time, Cody plunged three fingers into Tyena’s steaming core. At the forceful invasion, Tyena thrust her hips up to meet the loving digits creating a rhythmic strong pace toward mutual satisfaction, which wasn’t long in coming.
"Oh my love you feel so good inside. You are so wet and warm. Your love chamber is so soft to my touch. I love you. Cum for me my love. Tyena spill your love for me onto my hand." At the sound of Cody’s sexy entreaty combined with the thorough finger fucking she was receiving, Tyena screamed her lover’s Indian name to the heavens. Cody came in the same instant, her abundant juices slicking her lover’s thigh. As soon as the dark woman’s spasms subsided, Cody withdrew her fingers from their warm nest. She brought the fingers to her mouth and sensually cleaned each drop of the creamy, musky juice from them while her lover watched.
Tyena barely had time to process the next turn of events before she felt a strong rigid tongue delve deeply into her womanhood, while soft lips sucked and nipped her labia. Tyena had never felt anything like this in her life. She had no frame of reference. No one had ever loved her this way. Never before had she received this most intimate kiss. Cody had never done this to her before, but she instantly decided she wanted more, very soon. For Cody’s part, she was having difficulty holding on to the woman’s bucking hips. She had ridden wild colts with less movement than this, but hold on she did, never once loosing contact with the hot dripping center. She lapped and sucked at her lover’s fount, until she had drank every drop of the woman’s sweet nectar. Tyena had lost control of her body’s movement. Her head was trashing from side to side sending long inky tresses flying across the sleeping furs. He mouth was open in an effort to pull air into her oxygen-starved lungs. Her hips were pistoning up and down at her lover’s ministrations. She was lost in a world of exquisite pleasure she had never before experienced. She tangled her fingers into the thick brown hair on her lover’s head to anchor herself. She felt without it she would fly apart. She could feel the fierce orgasm approaching from far away, and she was afraid she’d explode if she didn’t cum soon.
"Please love. I’m so close. I’m gonna cum. Help me please."
No sooner than the strangled words were out of her mouth than the climax hit. It was so strong, Tyena was sure she would die from the power of it. Her heart was pounding as loud as thunder in her ears; her breathing was harsh and raspy. Colors exploded behind her eyelids that would rival the brilliant colors of a rainbow. Tyena screamed Cody’s name to the heavens and then her body went rigid as her orgasm struck her; strong convulsions caused her body to spasm and then all was still; her world went black. Cody scrambled to her lover’s side ignoring the after shocks of her own powerful orgasm struck, brought on by her lover’s climax. The rancher engulfed the still woman into her arms, stroked her sweaty bangs away from her beautiful face. She could see tears streaming from Tyena’s closed eyes. My God, I’ve hurt her, Cody thought. But then a tiny murmur issued forth from her lover’s lips.
"Cody?"
"Yes darlin’, I’ve got you. Shh, it’s all right; I’m holding you. You’re safe. My love I am so sorry I hurt you. Please forgive me." Deep passion filled blue eyes tried to focus on the woman who was her world.
"Oh my love, you didn’t hurt me. I feel wonderful. I’ve never felt anything like that before. Why did you wait so long to show me this wonderful way to love?" Cody wasn’t sure why all of a sudden she chose this time to love her mate orally.
"Um…I…Tyena I…well…it’s the most intimate way two people can love each other. My mother Yellow Moon told me it was only for life mates to share, and only those blessed by the Great Spirit are truly life mates. I felt like after you followed me and all, and the fact that I felt so lonely…empty really…without you, I wanted to show you how much I loved you in the only way I knew how."
"Have you loved others in this way?"
"No only you, only my life mate, my wife. Um…uh did you like it?"
"Yes very much. I want to do it to you, but I…I…will you teach me what you like?" Tyena’s sleepy question died on her lips as she fell into the sated sleep of the well loved. Cody took her beloved into her arms and pulled the buffalo robe up over their cooling bodies. She tossed another nearby chunk of wood onto the fire. Buzzrd got up from where he had hid under the kitchen table when the loud sexual encounter began, and curled up next to Cody’s left side. He laid his head on Cody’s thigh and gazed intently at the new member of the family. Cody patted the dog’s head and whispered.
"Yeah buddy you know it too don’tcha. She’s gonna be trouble, but the real good kinda trouble." That was the last conscious thought she had before she too joined her lover in peaceful slumber.
*******************
The next few weeks were pretty uneventful, a routine spring. Cody and Tyena managed to get the garden planted. Cody and her mate repaired the winter damage, and the mares foaled without too much trouble. Cody was breaking her two-year-old colts and the old barn cat was raising her last litter of kittens.
This particular day started just like any other: Cody was watching Tyena gentle one of the colts she had taken a liking to. Tyena was, not surprisingly, very good with animals, especially horses. They got very few visitors, white ones anyway, because they were so isolated. So Cody was pretty surprised to see dust up the trail leading into the ranch. Buck had come in for a visit and came up from the garden, where he was pulling weeds. Tyena had decided the free rides were over, if Buck wanted to eat, he had to earn it. "Peers we got company. Best I git my rifle," he mumbled.
"Now Buck, that wouldn’t be hospitable. At least we should wait to see who it is we’re shootin’. Just hold on a bit," Cody said.
"Can you tell who it is?" Tyena asked. Cody could already feel a definite distaste in her mouth.
"Yeah. White trash." The rider came within a few yards the three friends. The man eyed Tyena lecherously undressing her with his eyes. Tyena couldn’t help but feel dirty at having the filthy man’s eyes on her. Cody moved instinctually and protectively in front of Tyena and Buck automatically moved up to join her.
"Ansel, what brings you clean out here? The saloon burn down?" Buck asked. Ansel Pike was the closest thing Fort Hall had to a sheriff but was best known for spending all his time in the saloon. That was fine by most folks. They had more faith in the army to protect them than the town drunk, but in his day, Ansel cut a wide swathe; in fact, he and Buck had been partners. But some time or other there was a dispute over an Indian princess and the partnership dissolved. Buck never talked about it, but it was clear it still bothered him. Anyway, Ansel had pretty much gone to seed. So to have him show up clear out here, this early in the day, and sober to boot was something just short of a miracle. Ansel started to dismount, but thought better of it. He’d stay put until he said what he had to say.
"Aw Buck is that anyway to talk to an old friend? After all we meant to each other? Shoot Buck, we was partners. Least ya could do is offer me a drink, it’s been a long ride."
"That’s right…was…ya ain’t nothin’ to me no more. What ya got ta say, ya can say from the saddle. No need gittin’ down. Ya won’t be here that long," Buck said. Cody wasn’t feeling too hospitable any longer either.
"All right you two, that’s ‘nough. Ya sound like a couple of ole grizzes comin’ out of hibernation. What ya got on your mind, Ansel? Spit it out and be on your way."
"There’s trouble with the settlers and the Injuns. They’s puttin pressure on the army to move them Injuns off their land. Seems a settler named Miller found gold up on Harper’s Creek. Now there’s gold fever here ‘bouts and ya know what that means." Ansel hated to be the bearer of such news and was getting more uncomfortable by the minute and it showed, but he continued. "Colonel Foster could go either way. He ain’t made up his mind yet, but ya can bet he’ll side with the settlers. If he don’t they’ll take matters into their own hands." Cody was furious.
"What’s Foster got to say about the 1850 treaty? It’s his job to enforce it. The settlers keep takin’ more and more of the Indian’s land and they won’t stand for it much longer, and ya can’t blame ‘em. Ya delivered your message, thanks for that, now ya can head back to the saloon." Cody turned and stalked off. Ansel, glad to be out of there with his hide still in tack, replied.
"Be seein’ ya, you too ma’am." He nodded lewdly at Tyena, which didn’t go unnoticed by Cody. "Ya gonna send word to Red Cloud?" Cody moved menacingly toward Ansel intending to do him severe bodily harm. Fortunately for Ansel, Buck intervened.
"Ain’t no concern ‘o yor’n what we do, jest git," Buck spat. He turned to catch up with Tyena and Cody who had headed quickly toward the barn. "What are you gonna do?"
"I should have killed Miller when I had the chance," she said. "I guess I’d better get to Red Cloud."
"Don’t guess you’ll have to. Look yonder who’s comin’" Buck pointed to the East.
Red Cloud, Gray Wolf, and several other braves were galloping into the yard. No doubt they had heard about this latest incursion onto their land and were in no mood for socializing.
"Red Cloud and his chiefs are welcome to our home." The ‘our’ was not lost on Gray Wolf. "Please come dismount and we will talk." Cody pointed to a patch of grass under some trees near the porch. The situation was tense. Red Cloud knew the young men wanted war. He had to do something about the settlers quickly.
"I have no choice," he was saying, "I must listen to my people. We will drive the white man from our land. I want you to take this message to the white chief. Tell him he must honor the treaty or we will fight. He has three days."
"Red Cloud is there no way to convince you not to fight? The whites outnumber my Indian brothers tenfold. You will be destroyed, there will be nothing left," Cody pleaded. Up to this point, Tyena had sat quietly listening to the exchange between the two. When she could keep silent no longer, she spoke.
"Red Cloud, you have been like a father to me since I was a small child. I do not want to see you or my brother die. Is Cody wrong, is there no other way?"
"Do you and Silver Lynx suggest we live as slaves to the whites?" Gray Wolf was incensed. "We will fight and die if we must! The whites will leave our land, honor their treaty, or there will be war!"
"Will my daughter take this message to Fort Hall?" Red Cloud asked.
"Yes, I will go to Colonel Foster, but you must know, if there is war, the Indian way of life will be over," Cody replied sadly.
"If that is true, we will die as warriors, not women!" With that, Red Cloud and the others mounted their ponies, and as they rode away, Red Cloud warned.
"Tell them we will not wait long."
The three friends could only shake their heads. They knew what Colonel Foster’s reaction would be. He didn’t like ultimatums. He was a by-the-book-hard-as-nails soldier. He’d been through the Civil War and decorated many times. He’d seen many a battle and he’d fight if he had to.
"Buck keep an eye on things here. I damn sure didn’t want to have to go back to Fort Hall this soon," Cody said.
"Want I should pack Hawk?"
"No, I’ll be travelin’ hard and fast, just what I can carry in my saddle bags. I’ll kill what I need to eat. I’ll take Shadow Dancer. Saddle him up and I’ll get my gear."
Cody entered the house and into the bedroom. She gathered her weapons, which included her Winchester, Bowie knife, and Colt .45. She took plenty of extra shells as well. She changed into her favorite buckskins and the ever-present long blue headband she wore, it was sort of her trademark. Next she went into the kitchen and put together some venison jerky and parched corn. She grabbed a few apples from the root cellar, and some left over biscuits from breakfast. This would have to do, and she was sure nature would provide her with anything else she needed. She strode purposefully toward the barn finding it odd she hadn’t seen hide nor hair of Tyena. As soon as she entered the barn, the reason she hadn’t seen her was perfectly clear. There she sat mounted on Dusty with Dancer saddled and standing waiting patiently for his master.
"Just what in the hell do you think you’re doin’," Cody demanded, "if you think you’re comin’ along you can just damn well think again. So just haul your little butt down off that horse and head back to the house."
Buzzard detected the oncoming storm long before Cody did and ducked into an empty stall to wait it out. Buck too found something far more important to do out in the garden and slipped silently out the back door of the barn.
"Cody Fleming just who the hell do you think you are? How dare you order me around like you would some child? I’m a grown woman, we are no longer children, and I will make my own decisions about where I go and when. Now if you are through making a damn fool out of yourself, then get mounted and let’s go. My minds made up and there is nothing you can do or say that will make me change it." Cody could only stand in stunned silence as Tyena rode out of the barn headed down the trail toward Fort Hall. Buzzard sneaked a look around the corner of the stall trying to decide whether or not it was safe to come out from hiding.
"Well I’ll be damned. See Buzzard; what’d I tell ya, nothin’ but trouble. Let’s go before we lose her."
Cody jumped up on her huge stallion’s back and rode out of the barn, and kneed Dancer up into an easy canter. He was the biggest, fastest, and strongest horse she had. At one time, he had been Red Cloud’s intended war stallion. He gave him to Cody in hopes he’d never have to go to war. Cody still hoped she wouldn’t have to take him into battle, but she wasn’t going to bet against it. Dancer’s easy stride ate up the ground quickly and easily and it wasn’t long before the pair had caught up to the angry young woman. They would have to ride hard to reach Fort Hall and back in two days or less, and the only other horse who had the least chance of keeping up with Dancer was Dusty. The powerfully built mare was tough as nails, and smart as a whip. She has saved Cody’s life on more than one occasion and she trusted Dusty implicitly with the life of her beloved Tyena. Cody couldn’t help but think about Buck’s parting warning.
"Good luck and be careful," Buck said. "There’s gonna be folks, Injuns and whites, who won’t want you to git to Fort Hall."
"Yeah I know," she’d said, "ya just keep your powder dry. I don’t think no one will bother the ranch ‘cause we’re so close to the Nez Perce here, just the same, look after yourself."
Cody knew the warning was true. Plenty of hotheads around, Indians and whites, wanted war. Gold meant nothing to the Indians, but the white man had started countless wars many times throughout history for a whole lot less. They’d lie, cheat, steal, and even murder to get want they wanted. If Cody didn’t deliver the message and return quickly, the Indians would act, the war would begin, and no power on earth could stop it. The Indians would be put on reservations, stripped of their dignity, live off handouts, and become ‘Blanket Indians’. She hated to think of her friends, and the only family Tyena had known, living like that.
*******************
Cody knew these mountains like the back of her hand. They’d made good time, better than expected. The part of the trail ahead was just right for an ambush. They had to be damned careful. Luckily, Buzzard acted as a scout further up the trail. But once she and Tyena were in the canyon, there was no turning back, so she called Buzzard back, and she devised a plan. She figured it was best to circle around the downhill side of the trail, but she needed a diversion. She looked at Tyena in the moonlight.
"Listen to me; you must promise to do exactly as I say. Okay?" Tyena nodded. "I want you to wait here. I’m going to circle down around the side hill. When I whistle, you send Dancer barreling down the trail and into the canyon. Buzzard will stay here with you. If there is anybody in there, they won’t be expecting to see a 1200-pound wild stallion charging down on top of ‘em. We’ll have the element of surprise on our side."
When she was in position, she made the sound of the loon, and Tyena sent Dancer charging into the canyon as planned. The plan worked perfectly; the men were in total shock. They were so bewildered and so busy scrambling out of the way of thundering hooves, it allowed Cody take full advantage of the situation.
"Surprised boys? Don’t move or I’ll blow your fucking heads clean off. Ya just turn around real slow. Be careful now, I’d hate to have my finger slip and we’d has us an accident," Cody snarled.
Sweat showed on the men’s faces, shining in the bright moonlight. They realized they were in serious trouble. Still they were determined to survive. They had no time to make a plan, but because Cody was a woman, they felt there was a better than even chance. The fight was over before it began. Cody was to quick and her aim deadly. Two men lay face down in the dust with bullet holes in their chests. A third man lay dead, his sightless eyes staring blankly skyward, a skinning knife sticking out of the man’s chest. A tall dark form dropped down silently from the boulder where she was perched. Tyena pulled the knife out of the man’s chest, and cleaned it on his shirt.
"Always lookin’ after me huh?"
"Always."
Cody walked over to the two other men and looked down. One of the men she had never seen before, but the other man was quite familiar: Miller. Might have known Miller wouldn’t have had the guts to face her, or anyone else for that matter, alone. Well he got what he deserved; he started all this trouble. Buzzard snuffled around the dead bodies, then walked away.
"Careful boy, you might catch somethin’. Let’s go, let the vultures and coyotes pick their bones clean. I got no time to bury ‘em."
It was nearly sunup when the trio reached Fort Hall. They received some disgusted stares from the civilized folks at the fort. But they were an intimidating pair. Cody’s muscular, but compact frame was adorned in full buckskin shirt and pants. Tyena’s clothing, on the other hand, left very little to the imagination. She was dressed, or undressed in a deerskin sleeveless vest and wore only a loincloth covering her pubis and ass. Nothing covered her thighs, and a tantalizing length of leg was open to public view. Her long lean muscular body was impressive, all six feet of her. Her long raven hair fell over her shoulders in a dark black veil, with two tight braids on each side of her face. One blue feather was fastened on the left side of her head.
They went directly to Colonel Foster’s office. The man sat behind his desk smoking a big ol’ cigar. He was a big man, an imposing figure; he was at least 6’4" and weighed in excess of 250 pounds. He was solid as a rock, not an ounce of fat anywhere, and in all his fifty-plus years, Cody supposed he had never backed down to anyone, and wasn’t likely to now. He was every bit as formidable as Red Cloud and demanded as much respect. Cody didn’t bother to knock, just walked directly to the door and started to go inside. The young orderly tried to stop the pair, but a deadly look from tall, dark, and dangerous stopped him dead in his tracks. Cody burst through the door without preamble, Tyena following close behind. The big man nearly swallowed his cigar at the sight of the beautiful woman towering over Cody. Finally he recovered enough to speak.
"I suppose you have a reason for busting in here like this," he demanded. A good show of bravado might work he thought. "What do you want, I’m a busy man?" I’ll give you busy Cody thought. You’ll be busy all right if an Indian war breaks out.
"I came here to deliver a message from Red Cloud. He wants you to honor the treaty ya signed and keep the whites off his land," Cody replied. She tried to remain calm.
"And if I refuse?" Foster asked.
"It’s simple, he’ll move ‘em off hisself, whatever it takes," Cody said flatly.
"That sounds very much like an ultimatum, and you know how I feel about that. What makes you think you can come in here and make demands?" Foster’s tone was measured with a hint of hostility.
"Ya can call it what ya want, I’d call it fact, Red Cloud will do what he says. Ya know the treaty was signed and you have ta honor it!"
"Don’t tell me what to do! What do I tell the others? Just move out and let the Indians have it? The settlers mean progress. How do you suppose Miller would react to that? There’s no more discussion, the Indians will just have to get used to it." Foster sure was full of himself, Cody thought, now it was her turn.
"Ya know the Nez Perce won’t take that. They wanted to live in peace with the whites, but you won’t let them. As for Miller, ya won’t have to worry ‘bout him so more. We killed him and two other scoundrels on our way here. They tried to ambush us." The Colonel eyes us both suspiciously.
"Why doesn’t that surprise me? Miller was a hothead and he was headed for a bad end. Anyway, his cronies won’t be pleased. I suppose you can prove it was self-defense?"
"There weren’t no witnesses, lest ya ask our dog, and he ain’t talkin’."
"Can’t you convince Red Cloud of the hopelessness of the situation? Surely, there must be some reasoning with him." Foster was almost sympathetic.
"My people are tired of the white man’s lies," Tyena snarled. "You kill our families, kill the buffalo, and steal our land, and then dishonor us by lying to us. We are tired, we don’t want to fight, but you leave us no choice." Cody wrapped her arm around her life mate, a gesture that wasn’t lost on Foster. His lips curled up in disgust.
"Tyena’s right, and besides, I’m not sure I’d want to even if I could. Guess he figures it’s better to die a warrior than live on a reservation."
"What about the woman, children, and old people. They wanna die like warriors too?"
"Well are prepared to do what we must to survive," Tyena warned.
"That’s too bad," Foster sighed.
"That mean ya ain’t gonna honor the treaty?" Cody asked angrily.
"What treaty? This message just arrived by courier. Congress voted to revoke all treaties, and the President went along. The land where the gold was found on Harper’s Creek has been deeded to the settlers and the Nez Perce have to move. There’s nothing I can do, it’s out of my hands and I have to enforce the law," Foster said in a defeated voice.
"Guess that’s it then," Cody felt drained. "Mor’un likely there’ll be a war.
*******************
It wasn’t a long war. The Nez Perce, although they fought valiantly, were badly outnumbered. Red Cloud and his warriors were killed and only the old men, women, and children were left. The old men surrendered and got what they could for those who remained. The women and children would be assimilated into the white culture. A way of life was over.
Cody and Tyena stood in front of their smoldering house and barn. They didn’t have much left, just the horses they rode in on and Buzzard.
"We can start rebuildin’ tomorrow," Buck said, but the two life mates hardly heard him. Still Cody found her voice.
"Nope not no more. Ain’t nothin’ ‘round here gonna be the same."
"Where are you two gonna go then? What ya gonna do?’
"Don’t know, might go to Canada. Could even end up in California. Whatever we do or go we’ll do it together." Cody took the reins from Tyena, mounted and rode away. "Take care Buck, keep your powder dry!"
*******************
The ringing of the phone brought Cody up off the couch; she was so startled, she nearly had to scrape herself off the ceiling. God damned phone.
"Hello. Oh hi Lu, what’s up?" Cody didn’t feel like talking to anyone, let alone someone from the hospital.
"I have revoked Bartlet’s privileges for misconduct. It seems he’s been taking kickbacks from drug companies in return for using their drugs on his patients. I want you to come back to work? What do you say?"
"Until admin backs you into a corner again and you cave. You know I’m not likely to change. If I see a doctor acting unprofessionally, or not thinking of patients interests first above everything else, I’m gonna call them on it. If you’re not prepared to back me or more importantly the patients interests, then I want no part of you or the hospital." There was dead silence on the other end.
"Guess that answers my question. No Lu I don’t think so. I think it’s time for a career change. I have an uncle who has a ranch near Calgary, and he’s been after me to come up and help him run it. I’ve been thinking about it for some time, and you just helped me make up my mind. I’m through putting up with the Dr. Barlets of this world," Cody said as she hung up the phone.
That’s the end of this thing. Of course I’m interested in knowing what you think.