Colorado.
This morning I walked into the saloon in Devil’s Ditch and made a fresh pot of coffee. Akuma came in and I poured him a coffee. We talked about how he didn’t have any occupation or path yet.
“Can I ask you a question…? Do you believe that there are some bridges between people that just cannot be mended?”
“It is a sad question with an even sadder answer. The bridge could be mended, but it must be rebuilt from both banks. And some just don’t bother.”
“I have tried to come at this bridge from many different angles, Akuma... But I think I realize that maybe I just need to cross it directly.”
“Yes…”
“There are too many voices in between... I need to deal with it directly.”
“Yes you do. Get the correct answer then.”
I sighed, knowing I needed to speak with the chief directly and I knew it wasn’t going to be easy. We continued to talk about Devil’s Ditch and the people we knew that lived in the area and then he headed back to his village.
I went back into town and talked with Roy and Pia who were standing in the middle of the hotel lobby. I asked Roy if he’d written an article about the horse race for me and he said that he was a participant and that I should talk to someone else to write it. He gave me a list of those who were there. I walked out of the hotel and went in search of people from his list.
Roy found me again and I tried to get information from him about the race. Conner came over as Roy was describing the race to me and I wrote while I listened. More people joined us at the saloon and we talked about getting pictures from Chels for the race. She promised to give me the pictures and I told them about the new saloon that Chet and I had opened up in Devil’s Ditch.
“That’s where I live. I’ll have to stop by,” Conner said.
“In the Devil’s Ditch? Keep your guns loaded," Adder raised an eyebrow.
“It isn’t so bad there.”
“The Apache camp has spread all along that mountain side, and when they come down, they’ll hit the Ditch first,” Adder said.
“I like Chief Nah, He’s very calm,” Conner shrugged.
“He wasn’t calm when he threw an explosive at us, was he Chels?”
“that’s true, Adder,” Chels nodded.
I asked Chels about the horse race and she told me about it. Chels said that the next horse race might be next weekend.
I invited Conner to talk with me in Devil’s Ditch and we went to talk at the saloon there. “So what were you doing up in Wyoming?” I asked as we took a seat at the bar.
“Mother had Wyatt and I went to get him. The only thing is that the Cherokee there are kind of touchy now and I had to dress like a native to get there.”
“I don’t doubt that. I haven’t made an attempt to go over there but I think I need to just talk to the chief directly. Mother has been sitting on her front porch there shooting at anything that looks like a pale face. I’m worried about her.”
“I can understand that. She takes a huge risk by living out there and looking that way,” I sighed. “Why do you think I wear this outfit?”
“We are a house divided. She has loyalties with the Cherokee and I am a Law man.”
“That makes it difficult. Maybe I could talk to her…”
“I like you out fit. You look cute form behind when you walk.”
“Convince her that if she’s going to live out there to at least look like the people she’s living near,” I smiled and looked at him. “You’re married, you know.”
“I’m not blind Trin.”
“I’m flattered,” I chuckled.
“The trouble with married men is that they forget how to worship women when the get hitched. I don’t. I worship em all.”
“Conner is your mother home right now?”
“I think she will be about later. We have a time set up in Amiville for a Wyatt hand off.,” he laughed.
“Good to hear. I hope to meet up with her soon.”
“Yeah, I told her I can’t come into Wyoming unless it is an emergency.”
“I don’t blame you.”
“I can pass as native, but I don’t talk like one.”
“I don’t wander out there much anymore either.”
“She is gonna need help planting in the Spring. I guess I’ll have to go eventually.”
“Just watch your back,” I looked at him.
“I’d rather watch yours,” he laughed and we headed out of the saloon to get some work done.
***
This afternoon I walked out of my office and talked with a man named Kiko who I hadn’t met before. Tom came over and I introduced the two men. Canna walked over and I told her we were worried about her living in Bear River. She said that she loves it in Bear River and that there would someday be peace but I told her I doubted that would be possible.
“I am very close with the Cherokee community, they call me sister. In Amiville I’m just another charity case,” she said.
“Well, if you need somewhere, just come on by. Wouldn’t want anyone getting themselves into trouble,” Tom offered and I smiled in agreement.
“The only trouble is when the Law comes and tries to enforce non native ideas on the cherokee.”
“Canna I was wondering if you could do me a favor..”
“What do you need Trin?”
“Well... I understand that the Cherokee think I don’t respect them and their ways... so that is most likely the reason for the tension between us... but I was hoping to reconnect with them and try to mend the bridge between us. I think the only way I can do that is by talking to the chief directly.”
“Would you like to go to him with me?”
“If Tom comes along... I will need to speak to the chief directly once we get there, and alone, but you could accompany me on the way there… Just let me leave my gun in the office.”
“I could do that.,” Tom nodded.
“I think that if you came alone with me without you guns he might speak with you,” Canna said and looked at Tom as I headed in but I could hear her through the open door say, “Mr. Tom if you come with us they will kill you before you have time to set foot anywhere near the camp.”
“What If i go unarmed? I wouldn’t mind meeting them.”
“Once we get to the village, Canna, I will go in alone. They won’t respect me coming with a posse,” I said, coming out of the office.
“We had a raid on the camp just two nights ago and the chiefs wife is almost ready to give birth. It wouldn’t be good for you Tom.”
“But if you wait in Nebraska or somewhere close by, I will know that you’re there,” I suggested and then blinked at Canna, shocked at the news. “Give birth?!”
“Ahawi is pregnant Trin,” she said and I shook my head in amazement.
“Ok, That sounds like a plan. But once you get good with them, could you maybe send someone out to get me? I don’t want to get stuck somewhere and have them attack me. I want to make good with them too,” Tom said.
“Of course, darling. But I want to approach him alone first, or he won’t understand or take me seriously.”
“Ok. I understand.”
“I’ve tried to approach the chief with other people before... it never goes well. Doesn’t matter if they’re a marshal or even a native person,” I looked at him and then back at Canna. “Shall we? We’ll stop in Nebraska and then I’ll carry on alone.”
We walked over to the town of Nebraska and I hesitated, reaching for Tom’s hand as we walked. “I have to do this, right? One of us has to be the bigger person,” I tried to convince myself.
“That is true. Is there any action you could do, or something that you can wear to show you are coming in peace?” Tom asked and I reached in my pocket for the bracelet the chief had given me. “That’s nice. Looks like it took some time to make.”
“Chief gave this to me on the first day that we met. He said to wear it and show the Cherokee that you are friend,” I said and showed them. “Tom, you’ll wait here I guess? Knowing you’re close by will give me strength.”
“Yeah, I suppose. Still wish I could go. But I understand why.”
I hugged him tightly, drawing strength from the contact, then looked at Canna. “Let’s do this.”
Wyoming.
“You want to wait at my cabin?” she asked as we neared the village but I shook my head.
“I don’t think having someone speak in between us will be a good idea. Let me go in there alone. It’s the only way he’ll take me seriously. I can’t hide behind other people anymore.”
We walked into the village and I looked around, not seeing anyone there. “Guess he’s out hunting or something. At least I know how to get here now. I can come back another time and try this again.”
“This is a good thing really. It gives everyone time to settle in and get used to the idea of making new friendships and repairing old ones.”
“I am not so sure it can be repaired, but I have to try and this is the only thing I haven’t done.”
“You will have peace of mind knowing you did everything you could.”
“Let’s head back to Nebraska. We can wait there a bit and then try again.”
Nebraska.
We went back to Nebraska and talked with Tom about how we should wait a while and then try to go to the village again. Canna went back to her cabin and Tom and I went to the saloon for a drink. I realized how long it had been since we had a moment to ourselves.
“We’ve been pretty busy, haven’t we?”
“Yes, perhaps too busy.”
We talked a while and then headed home since we hadn’t heard anything from Canna about the chief being in the village.
Colorado.
As I headed into town I heard shouting from the mountain as Nah shouted, “Apache only follow eagle! Was peaceful! White man drew shoot first!!!”
I saw Chels walk out of the saloon with her gun drawn and wondered what was going on. I looked over at Jake Stone and asked, “Another native attack?”
“Look like it Miss Trin,” he nodded. There was more shooting and Jake said, “Well now that’s three arrows at me. Even a preacher can only stand by for so long.”
“White man put gun away apache stop! You shoot us First! Yell peace we stop!” Nah shouted.
“I’ll be at the bar in devil’s ditch if anyone wants me,” I sighed and headed to Devil’s Ditch, but I could still hear the shouting.
“Stop!!! We talk!!” Nah shouted from a distance.
“ALRIGHT, HOLD FIRE!” Despres shouted back.
“We talk now!”
I saw them talking near Devil’s Ditch and heard Nah say, “Apache follow great eagle fly in town on roof top. We after warrior feather is all. White man pull gun ask why on roof. Apache say why and white man shoot!”
“You chase Feather on your Teepee!” Chels shouted back.
“No, Spring Bear like use metal on Nah arms and put in metal box. Why town shoot when apache say why on roof! Why not Spring Bear talk to man in town and women in red dress like tepee who shot us!” Nah shouted.
“It’s bit weird to be on the roof chief!!!” Free Feather shouted. “Specially after the many attacks lately!”
“You down one of my warriors for all over a feather! Apache tell wy on roof follow eagle we after feather. White man pull gun then bullet hit us! Oh and you kill eagle too! How sad this day!” Nah shouted.
“Then don’t climb on a roof, Chief!” Free shouted.
“All you did was get the eagle killed and no feather!” Chels shouted.
“Now leave we must heal our fallen. And say words for dead eagle. Go in your shame for death of majestic bird!” Nah shouted.
“It’s more sad we have all wounded chief!” Free shouted.
"Our shame...you shame the great eagle...now a lot are wounded from this!” Chels shouted.
“You even shoot a man with no weapons thats shame!” Free called.
“Maybe great eagle take us to town to show us ways of TRUE heart for white man! So eager to shoot apache and not listen!” Nah shouted. “You shoot of Medicine Women! Eagle now dead with bullet in head! How shame is on town not apache! Why I explain why we follow eagle Great Warrior Hawk is shot in arm with bullet! We not even have weapon out!”
“I didn’t shoot no medicine woman… I ran out to see who was shooting… had my gun out… you and your warriors shot me with arrows!” Chels shouted and I perked hearing Hawk’s name, swearing that he’d been shot.
“Then ONLY then apache forced to defend self to get out of town why great eagle fall dead!” Nah shouted.
I saw Tom walking over and sighed as the shouting between Chels and Nah continued. “Sounds like my friend Hawk’s been shot. Care to join me for that drink, darling? We never did get that whiskey over in Nebraska.”
“We could do that. Wonder if the colt wants some too? Seems like he does, the way he’s hovering around you,” he said about the colt sniffing around my gun belt beside me.
“Don’t you even think about it,” I looked down at the colt.
We walked into the saloon and Tom fed the horse some whiskey but the colt sipped a little bit and then shook his head at the taste. Tom and I danced in the little saloon while shouting continued outside and we talked about the colt. It felt so good to be together and we danced until we headed home.
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