Violence Warning/Disclaimer: This story depicts scenes of violence and/or their aftermath. Readers who are disturbed by or sensitive to this type of depiction may wish to read something other than this story.
Sexual Violence Warning/Disclaimer: This story depicts scenes of sexual violence and/or their aftermath. Some readers may be disturbed by this type of depiction and anyone who is sensitive to this particular issue may wish to read something other than this story.
Love/Sex Warning/Disclaimer: There are blatant discussions, references and description of sexual relations between consenting adults. You must be over the age of 18 and it must not be a crime to read material of this nature at your present location. Some of the scenes depicted are explicit. If this bothers you, you should find other reading material.
Language Warning: The language is representative of street language. Therefore is quite vulgar. You must be over the age of 18 and it must not be a crime to read material of this nature at your present location. If this bothers you, you should find other reading material.
A special thanks to beta reader archaeo bard.
Part 2
I dint ketch the wagons at the crick. So I follered as quick as I could. When I did ketch 'em, they war talkin' to Porter. I pulled my Colt revolvin' shotgun from my boot and put up my rifle. Then, I took the thongs offin my Navy Colts. I rode up cautious like.
When Porter and his men starts to ride up to me, I eased my shotgun into position. Porter bein' no fool, pulled up short and stopped his men and said, "Mar, whar's the woman and her babe."
"Thar safe Porter. Ya got my word on it."
"Her kin are powerful worried, Mar."
"They ain't worried. They wanna take her babe. Y'all know I kint let that go."
"Mar, iffin Brigham says so I'll come ahuntin'"
"Porter, yar always welcome to my fire, but y'all come ahuntin' bring plenty men and shovels. Y'all knows me. I don't give no quarter. Look to the hole card, y'all knows I's rait."
"Mar, I could take ya now."
"No, ya won't Porter. Y'all be dead. I may get lead, but thar ain't enuff here to stop me, while I got the drop."
"Ya win this time Mar. But I knows Brigham, he'll wont the babe."
"Tell Brigham, iffin he wonts war, he kin have it. And tell 'im I live on Cherokee land."
I heared Porter curse. He knowed to attack me on Cherokee land meant war wit Iron Belly. Porter called out, "Mar, iffin I sees ya on Mormon land I will keel ya."
"Bring ya lunch, Porter. I take a heap of keeling. Porter, I'm headed to Bridger to get my truck and I leave my string when ya pull out."
Porter and his men rode back to the wagons. Sister Ruth war hollerin' and pointin'. But she war cowed by Porter. She got to her wagon. They pulled out and left my string behind.
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Not bein' a trustin' soul, I decided to circle the area a bit. Not seein' the trap I eased down from my mount and walked to my sting. I sar one of my mule's twitch. So, I called out, "Y'all kin come out or I kin jest open up. Yar choice."
Brother Luke, Sister Ruth's husband, jumped up wit his gun leveled at me. So, I fired. The shotgun blast throwed him back several feet. I moved in slowly. Then, Porter and his men came riding up fast. I swung my shotgun and emptied three saddles and got shot in two others. While droppin' my shotgun, I swung into my saddle and pulled two Navy Colts.
Porter and his men pulled up short and held up their hands. I called out, "Porter, that war stupid. Y'all knowed I warnt goin' to fall for no child's trick like that."
"Twarnt my idear, Mar. Told 'em it git 'em kilt, but Sister Ruth is a powerful woman in the church. Her cousin war the Prophet. Iffin she pushes, Brigham is goin' to listen."
"Well, ya listen good, Porter. Y'all opened the ball, but I'm playin' the tunes. So, ya hightail it to Brigham. Iffin I sees ya at Bridger I'll keel ya. Now, shuck yar weapons and bury yar dead. Porter, we've been friends fer a long piece. But ya come ahuntin' and it'll be war."
"Mar, I's sorry bout this. I knowed ya had no choice. Iffin it'd been me, I'd done the same. But iffin Brigham says hunt, I hunt."
"Then, y'all better'n talk to Brigham. Y'all be easier than Crows. Now, youngster, y'all get down off yar mount and fetch me my shotgun. Porter, warn him."
"Michael, get the shotgun. Don't try nuttin', cause she'll keel ya."
The boy got off his hoss and slowly went and got my shotgun. He handed it to me butt first. I looked into his eyes and knowed he war thinkin' of pullin' iron. So's I looked into his heart and said to him, "Don't try son, ya never make it."
Then I sar fear in his eyes. He turned and runned. I shamed 'im. But I knowed he war better shamed than dead.
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I led my string into the Fort. It looked like word had come ahead, cause I war greeted outside the Fort by Jim. So's I said, "Howdy, Jim, be thar a problem betwixt us."
"Mar, I wont no trouble here. The Mormons do a lot bidness. I kint cross 'em."
"Jim, the Cheyenne ere jest as much yar bidness. I could spread the word wit 'em. Ya knows that."
"Y'all could Mar, but y'all won't. I know ya, Mar. Yar a fair woman. Brigham is a good man, but he has to answer to a lot of people. Y'all answer to yarself. I wont cha to load up your truck and go. And don't come back."
"Jim, I am fair, but y'all not being fair. So's I'm goin' to tell Iron Belly wat has happened here and let 'im decide."
"Mar, y'all knows he thinks of ya as his son. Iffin y'all tell 'em yar banned, he'll take it personal. Y'all knows thar's goin' to be war in the States soon. When that happens thar won't be any troops in the West. Thins could be real bad. I kint have no trouble here."
"Jim, have I ever caused ya trouble? Iffin thar's trouble, it'll not be them that brings it. I give ya my word."
"Ya boxed me for fair, Mar. Come in and git yar truck."
"Thank ye kindly, Jim."
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I had loaded the last of my truck. Then I sar some calico and some purdy ribbons. So's I ups and says, "Jim, give me a couple of bolts of that thar calico and the truck that goes wit 'em. Ya knows ribbons, buttons, needles and setch."
"I kin fix ya up, Mar. Y'all wont some lace and patterns and such."
"Watever she'll need Jim. Y'all knows I don't know bout setch thins."
"Sure, Mar. I'll fix ya up. How bout a bolt of white cotton and patterns for the baby? And maybe some sugar candy."
"Good idear, Jim. Better give me a catalog and anythin' else y'all think she and the baby might like."
"Sure, Mar. I take it off the pelts and robes."
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After adding the new things, I settled up wit Jim. I still had nearly $600 coming to me. I had no idear wat I war savin' the money fer, but Pa always told me to set by a little fer that rainy day.
I war ridin' out of the Fort when Porter shows up. I said to 'im, "I gave my word to Jim. Don't make me break it."
Jest then, Jim Bridger and a couple his boys come forward wit thar weapons. Jim smiles and said, "Porter, why not lite and set for an hour or two? You boys, too."
Porter sar he war boxed and his heart warnt in it. So he said, "Shore, why not. Come on boys. Drinks ere on me."
I pulled a ten dollar gold piece and tossed it to the kid I shamed and said, "No, Porter, they's on me."
As I rides off, I heared Sister Ruth say, "I wont my brother's child. That whore is not fit to raise a child. And you're just a murderer. You killed my husband."
I pulled up and rode to her and said, "No, Ma'am, y'all keeled him. He war no match fer me. Porter told cha, but ya wouldn't listen. Now, he's dead. I don't like keeling, but I'm good at it. So's y'all best be rememberin' that. And iffin y'all call that sweet girl a whore agin, I'll read to ya from the Book."
As I started off agin, I heared her ax Porter, "What does she mean by she'll read to me from the Book?"
Porter said, "It means she'll read to ya from Old Testament. 'He smote the Philistines hip and thigh.' It means she'll beat the tar out of ya. Iffin ya don't behave here, I may hep her."
I picked up the pace. I had somebody awaitin'.
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Becca spent her first days in the cabin cleanin' up. The place war a mess. I ain't set foot in the place in at least a yearen. Mostly, I'd just git my truck and move on witout setting foot in the place. I preferred sleeping under the stahrs.
Thar warnt much in the way of pots and pans and the like. I had me a fryin' pan and a coffeepot. Thar war a Dutch oven for the fireplace.
Thar war a woodstove wit an oven, too. It war a gift from some pilgrims that I hepped while they war apassin' through. They wonted to lighten thar load. So I got me that thar stove, the cushioned char by the fireplace and a box of books. I couldn't read, so the books jest stayed in the box.
Becca brung in her pots and setch. Then, she set to cookin' and bakin'. She baked up ten batches of cookies and put'em in a jar. She redone my place and made it mo homey like. She had curtains, which she put on the winders and a table cloth on the table. She had two rugs that she put on the floor. And she had her a rockin' char that she put next to the cushioned char.
On the third day, Becca found the box of books. She told her son, "Look what I found Matty, who would have thought she would have this treasure. Look Thoreaux, Hawthorne, Cooper, Dickens, Shakespeare, Pope... Well, son, we'll have something to do at night from now on."
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When I rode up to my cabin, I had to check to see if I war at the rait homestead. Thar war a garden out front and curtains on the winders. Becca came out to greet me. She war wavin' like she war happy to see me.
I got down from my hoss and walked my string to her. I said, "Becca, don't be skeered cause I'm goin'ta call down a friend. He's been lookin' out fer ya."
So's I gives an owl call. I heared the magpie answer. Then out steps Two Crows. I yell in Cheyenne, "Hello, brother. Thank you for watching the woman and her child for me. It fills my heart to have such a brother."
"Would you not do the same for me, Brother?"
"Anytime. Let me introduce you."
He came over to whar we war standin' wit his hands extended and said, "Hello. How are you?"
I said, "Becca, take his hand and say 'Fine. Thank you. How are you?' I'm afeared that be all the American he know."
Becca smiled her understandin' and took his hand. Then she said, "Fine. Thank you. How are you?"
Two Crows replied, "Fine."
Then Two Crows said in Cheyenne, "Notaxe Ma'exanestse, her hair is the color of a sunset. Her eyes are the color of the spring grasses. She is a special woman. You are lucky, my brother, to have such a woman in your home. She will bring much luck."
I translated for Becca, "He says yar purdy and yar goin' bring me luck."
"Oh, tell him thank you. I think he is a fine warrior."
"Ah, Becca ya mightn't wont to say that, cause he might think yar settin yar cap fer 'im."
"Oh, ah, no, ah, invite him for dinner."
"My brother, she asks that you join us for a meal and tobacco."
"I have seen her work and I have heard her sing. Now, I will see if she can cook. I may want to buy this woman for my wife."
"Brother, she is not for you. She must mourn her husband for four seasons. It is our custom. I thought you were in love with another. You built your lodge. I thought you were ready to ask whoever it is," I said. I had no idear who he set his cap fer. He wouldn't tell me.
"I understand, Brother. We will talk later."
I don't raitly know why it bother me so. Two Crows war a rait fine ketch, but I dint like the notion atol. So, I changed the subject, "The last four mules are the supplies for your father. Bring them to him and return for the meal. I must unpack my goods as well."
"Did you get it all, my brother?"
"Of course, brother, none will question Notaxe Ma'exanestse."
"To your face, you mean."
"That is true."
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I started unpackin' my string, while Two Crows war takin' the Cheyenne supplies. Becca came over wit the baby and axed, "Where is your friend going, isn't he staying for dinner."
"He'll be back. He went to bring the supplies I brung for the Cheyenne to his pa."
"You buy supplies for the Cheyenne. Can't they buy their own?"
"I trade fer 'em. I don't buy 'em. Thar ere some things that thar not allowed to buy that I git fer 'em."
"You mean guns. You get them guns and ammunition."
"Yes, Ma'am, I do," I said proudly and sort of defensively. Most whites thought that sellin' guns to the injuns war criminal, "Becca, Iron Belly took keer of me when my pa war keeled. They don't stand much of a chance wit white folks movin' in, but they sorta depend on me to protect 'em from the whites."
"How can you do that? You're only one person."
"Becca, they'd a vision of me fightin' off the whites fer 'em. Visions don't lie. So's I does wat I kin. This here cabin lies between the settlements and Iron Belly's village. They've gotta go through me to git to 'em"
Everytime this gal talked to me I durn near wet my britches. I ain't felt nuttin like I feel wit this gal. I don't like talkin' much, but fer some reason this gal's opinion of me mattered. So's when she said, "Why that is so noble of you. You're their hero."
I could see that thar pride in her eyes fer me, but I warnt no hero. I jest war talked out. So's I went back to my unloadin'.
When I brung a load into the storeroom, I plumb near dropped it when I sar my storeroom. It war always cluttered. I jest put stuff in and took it out when I needed it. Becca'd straightened everythin out. Stuffed war stacked neat and all. Becca came in and said, "Some of the crates were empty so I broke them up for kindling. Then I organized the room by items. Can goods are over there. Flour, sugar and the like are over there. Trade goods are over there. I found a bundle of fox pelts and put them over there."
I war amazed. All I could do war say, "Thank you, Becca."
She gave me the purdiest smile as a reward and left me to my work. That smile flushed me some. I ain't never felt like that afore. That woman war special like Two Crows said. Not that I would know, I war never lookin' fer a man or nuttin. The Cheyenne give up on me being a woman when I rode into a Crow huntin' camp and took six scalps when I war 13 years old. Then after the Green River battle, they done give up on me bein' human. Thin war I agreed wit 'em. But here I war a pinin' over a slip of gal and me a gal, too. The Lord just gives me one trial afthather.
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I finished my unloadin'. Then, I put up my hoss and mules. I rubbed 'em down and feed 'em. Thar war an old sack of corn in the barn. I smelt it. It war good enuff for the animals, but war too dry fer millin'. So I give it to 'em. My hoss looked at me like I war atrying to poison her. She war used to just grazin' or hay in winter. I looked at her and said, "Well, thar seem to be some changes, Hoss. Let's jest make do and see whar it leads."
When I gets to the cabin I see a warsh basin, a bucket of water, a bar of soap and a towel. So's I takes the hints and warshes up some. As I'm warshing, Two Crows walks up. I hands him the soap and goes inside.
When I opened the door, you'da been able to keel me over wit a feather. The place war spotless. Thar war rugs on the floor. Thar war curtains. Thar war new furniture and a table cloth. Thar war fine dishes and cups on the table. Agin I looked outside to see if I war in the rait house. I looked back to check on Two Crows. He war ascrubbing his face. I jest smiled and wiped my boots on my pant's leg.
Becca war a floatin' round the kitchen adoin' this and that. All the time she war ahummin' a rait purdy tune. I sar the babe in his crib by the rocker and my char. I went to look at the little fellar and see if how he war adoin'. He war fast asleep. So I injuned over to my pipe and tobacky. Two Crows and I would need to smoke. Twar important.
She'd still not sar me. So's not to skeer her, I cleared my throat. She war a bit startled and said, "You walk very quietly. I didn't hear you come in."
"Yes, Ma'am, iffin y'all wont to live out thar, ya better be a good injun. Becca, I hope smoke don't bother y'all none, cause it's sort of a ritual fer me and Two Crows to smoke the pipe."
"Oh no, it won't bother me. My father smoked the pipe. It will remind me of home. But try to keep it from the baby, please."
"Oh, shore enuff. Wouldn't wont to choke the babe."
So's I ambled over to the door. Jest then Two Crows comes in wit a clean face. I took a hard pull on the pipe and done the ritual greetin' and handed the pipe to Two Crows. Then he done the ritual greetin'.
I said, "Brother, let us sit and enjoy the meal before us."
"Ah, Brother, the smells are for the Gods. I will treasure this moment," he picked up a sugar cube and put it in his medicine bag, then continued, "A token to remember this moment."
I war rait pleased wit his action. That made this meal mighty impotent. I knowed I'd haveta tell Becca bout it later. In honor of his gesture, I took a sugar cube and put it in my medicine bag and smiled.
I only had the one pipe. So like always Two Crows and I shared. Becca went in the back for a moment and came out and gave me the purdiest pipe y'all ever did lay yar eyes on. I had no idear of wat to say so's I said, "Thank you, Becca."
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Dinner war the best I et in some time. Thar war a roast of venison and boiled taters wit sage. Thar war creamed corn and fresh bread. She'd baked a cake wit icing for desert. Ol' Two Crows war in love now fer shore. And that really bothered me.
Ol' Two Crows knowed he'd haveta go to the village. His pa would wont to git a buffalo hunt together wit the new Sharps rifles before the snows came. They'd probably wont me to come. I wander iffin Becca wont to come. The boy war old enuff for a hunt.
I thought about taking her, 'I'd haveta make her a carrier. I could do that in the morn. I figger fer 'em to come bout noon or so. They'd need to git the women and warriors together. I decided to make the carrier and let Becca decide.'
Becca made the best coffee and it went real good wit that thar cake. Two Crows dint wont to leave but he knowed when he war needed by his pa. So's he said, "Brother, it was a meal for the Gods. If you were a man, I would give you the horses for her myself."
"Brother, as Iron Belly says the Gods gave me a woman's body and a warrior's heart."
"He also says that God made you a woman, because you would conquer the heavens and moon if you were a man. He says the Gods fear you as much as the Crows fear you."
"May the Great Spirit guide your path, Nese Okohkeo'o"
"I know he guides yours, Notaxe Ma'exanestse"
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After Two Crows left, Becca cleaned the table and I offered to help. Becca handed me a towel and said, "I wash. You dry. So how was dinner?"
"Two Crows said it war a dinner fer the Gods. And I agree."
"Thank you, that was the best compliment I have ever received."
"I won't call ya a liar, Ma'am. But I do find that hard to believe."
"Oh, believe it. My father and mother were not much on compliments. They were better at criticism. Then my husband was so reserved. Compliments were hard for him."
"Well, Ma'am ya DEserve 'em and mo. I wish I'd the words to give 'em to ya."
"Thank you. What did your friend say as he left?"
"I told ya wat he said bout dinner. He also said you were worth a lot of hosses and that if I war a man, he'd give 'em to me fer ya."
"Horses."
"Yes, Ma'am. When a man wonts to git a bride he brings presents to win her over."
"Oh," she said wit a blush. She blushed nice and then she said, "And I thought you were going to call me Becca."
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After doing the dishes, we sat by the fire. She packed the new pipe she give me and lit it fer me. Then, she got out one of my books and said, "I hope you don't mind me reading your books, but you have such a good collection."
"Becca, ya kin have 'em. I kint read anyway."
"You want to learn. I could teach you?"
"Why, I would admire that. I been ahankerin' to read, but ne'er I learnt."
"How about tonight I read to you. This is 'The Pathfinder' by James Fenimore Cooper.
We set. I smoked. She read 'til the baby woke for a feedin'. It war pleasant settin' thar a smokin' wit the baby asucklin' and Becca readin'. She enjoyed the story so much, I dint have the heart to tell injuns warnt like that and that Hawkeye guy wouldn't last a day on the plains.
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It warnt first light when I woke up. I jumped down from the loft and landed lightly on my feet. Becca and Matt war still asleep in the bedroom and I dint wont to wake 'em. I lit the fire in the fireplace. Then I lit the stove and went to fetch mo wood. After filling the wood box, I went to the barn to build a carrier fer the baby.
It war crackin' dawn when I finished the carrier. I brung it wit me into the cabin. Becca war up feedin' the baby asettin in the rocker. I set the carrier by the fireplace and set in my char. I lit my pipe and said, "Becca, thar's goin'ta be a buffalo hunt wit the Cheyenne. I'll be agoin' wit 'em. And I thought ya might like to come. All the Cheyenne women will be thar and it be a good time to meet 'em. I really don't wont to leave ya by yarself."
"But the baby, Mar."
"Well, I made a carrier for him, see. Come here and let me show ya."
I put Matt in the carrier and then put the carrier on her back. Then I said, "See ya kin walk and work and still have the babe wit ya."
"This is great. You made this for me. Thank you so much. This will help when I have to go to the storeroom or the barn. But I don't know what to do on a buffalo hunt."
"Thather women will show ya. I jest don't wont to leave ya here by yarself. I don't think they'll come up here, but they might. I'd rather ya be wit me. So's I kin protect ya."
"Protect me. I must admit that I haven't felt safer than I have wit you. It's like you were part of the land, part of these mountains."
"But I am, Becca. I war born to these mountains. I knowed nother life."