Oregon.
This morning I went over to Adder’s to have coffee with them and saw him and Kilyko and Teru getting in the covered wagon. I asked if there was room for me and they said they were just going to Nebraska to get some supplies. We rode out there, Kilyko and I feeling anxious as we rode through Kansas and Wyoming. While in Nebraska, I picked up some dynamite just in case I needed it. I had the feeling that after the incident with the Apache, something would happen to me. Kilyko seemed on edge about something that happened last night, but she was obviously not ready to talk about it so I didn’t press.
Adder dropped me off in front of my cabin and I went to work making breakfast and coffee, setting aside the dynamite I’d picked up in the office.
Hearing Kilyko whistle loud across the river, I took my coffee with me and headed across to join them. “I rather do love living so close,” I said with a chuckle.
“Aye,” Adder laughed and carried the rest of the supplies inside.
Kilyko moved closer to the water and I went over to her, putting a hand on her arm. “Kilyko...” I started.
“Yes Trin...” she pet my arm but kept her eyes on the distance and I could tell that she was deeply troubled.
I hugged her tightly, making sure not not to spill my coffee. “I don’t know what happened, but I want you to know I’m here for you, whatever happened last night.”
Kilyko leaned into my ear and told me how she’d been taken captive by the Apache that had come by the house the day before, whom Adder had shot. She said that some soldiers had bought her from them and put her on a boat but she jumped overboard. I listened closely and shook my head in anger.
“How dare they...” I started then looked over to Adder coming out of the house. “Let’s go sit in those comfortable chairs by the water.”
“It will be okay but right now... Something needs to be dealt with and I do not know how...” Kilyko stepped forward with a strange look on her face and then started speaking in Cheyenne.
I sat down in one of the chairs with Adder and we watched as Kilyko went across the river to greet a horse who’d arrived. I looked over at Adder and asked, “Which soldiers?”
“No idea. She said she’s never seen them before.”
“We need to find out who,” I breathed with relief, knowing that meant that William hadn’t been included.
“Why did she jump ship after they were just tryin’ to rescue her?” I asked, confused.
“They bought her, not rescued.”
“Oh...” I swallowed, understanding now.
Adder walked across the river and went to stand beside Kilyko. I sighed, though not sure why, and eventually stood to go after them. I didn’t want to intrude but I didn’t want to be left out either.
“Trin, she’s from the Cheyenne lands,” Kilyko told me about the horse. I shrugged, not really fazed by animals as much as the people that owned them.
“She’s pretty,” I commented simply.
“She is a good horse,” Kilyko said with obvious relief.
“Animals can’t control how people act, Kilyko,” I assured her. “People do that. I can’t hold what happened with the Natives against all animals in the world. They didn’t choose who to be with.”
“Mitena is not how do you say... people social type of horse,” Kilyko nodded.
I chuckled and then grew serious. “Kilyko can I ask you just one question about last night? Then I’ll drop it.” I wanted to confirm that William hadn’t actually been involved in any of what happened.
“She’s a nice ride,” Kilyko looked at me with a smirk and it was obvious she was avoiding the question. “I am sure you can ride her with all the horses around now. I do not mind so long as she does not get hurt.”
“Kilyko... Was William there last night?” I asked, seriously hoping he wasn’t.
“No...” She answered and I sighed with relief. Then she looked to Adder questioningly. “She can stay here as well...? She wanders a bit but always returns.”
“I can take good care of her, make sure she gets ridden,” I reached out to try to pet the horse’s mane.
“Aye, this area is all open,” Adder nodded, “So she’s able to come and go as she pleases.”
“I’d appreciate it!” Kilyko exclaimed, looking to me. “I have my hands full with a bunch of dogs and Dream and...” she looked to Adder with a smirk. “That one over there.”
“Good solid shelter for the horses there,” Adder nodded towards the barns, “if they need it.” He shrugged then and said to Kilyko, “My ass wasn’t getting dragged out of a river this morning.”
I stepped back from between them as Kilyko said, “I don’t think she will be on the porch like your horse. She’s a bit more wild. Then again, your horse is a bit not normal,” she looked to Adder. “Well thanks for dragging my ass.”
Adder went to sit by the water and Kilyko went to sneak up behind him. I chuckled and watched as she waited until he wasn’t paying attention. I walked over to stand beside the horse, thinking it was probably safer to watch from a distance. Adder stood up and Kilyko stood behind him, putting both hands to his back and tried to push him in the water. He stumbled forward and fell into the water and then turned to face Kilyko.
“Get your boots wet?” Kilyko laughed.
“You okay, bro?” I smiled, watching the two interact like siblings.
“Hell, next time I’ll leave you there!” Adder said to Kilyko.
“No you won’t!” she laughed.
I took off my scarf and offered it to him to dry him up. Adder took his left boot, careful not to let the water out, and swung it at Kilyko. I laughed and she looked down at her wet dress and then reached up feeling her drenched hair.
“It is on,” she bent down to cup water in her hands.
I jumped out of the way, not wanting to get wet, but Adder took off his other boot and threw it at Kilyko, but he missed and the water spilled in my direction, soaking me instead.
“That’s for laughing!” Adder said to me.
“Oh, it’s so on, bro,” I moved to tackle him and he side-stepped me, but I moved with him, having years of practice tackling Josh growing up. I reached for his wrists and Kilyko cupped up more water and threw them at us both.
Adder grabbed his boots and ran into the house, making Kilyko and I run after him. “Oh yeah, sure. Go hide inside,” I called after him.
We raced after him into the house and cornered him in the living room. Kilyko took one of the pillows from the couch and hit him with it and Adder said, “I give up!”
“Got him right where I want him,” Kilyko grinned to me and I took one of the pillows from the chair, joining in the fight.
Adder chuckled, lowering his hands to his sides. “You two brought weapons into it...”
“No one said anything about guns,” I giggled.
Kilyko showed him the pillow and threw it in the air. Adder shot at the pillow and the feathers flew everywhere. The gunshot made me jump and Kilyko advanced closer to Adder. “Trin, get some rope,” she said with a smirk.
I laughed at first, but then grew serious, remembering being tied up after Bill had shot me down and then being dragged through the town. It was months ago but the memory was still too vivid to make light of it just yet.
“Now now, if I’m tied up, who’ll shoot the Apaches?” Adder asked Kilyko.
Kilyko nodded and held out her hands. “Gimmie your boots,” she laughed playfully and Adder gave them to her.
I went to sit in one of the chairs, no longer feeling comfortable with the light-heartedness of the subject. I pulled out my flask and drank some whiskey, wishing the memories would stop haunting me from having fun.
Kilyko took the boots to the kitchen and went to work drying them up. I leaned down and pet Teru, who had come over to lick my face. I remembered being cornered in the cave, then in the church, and several times in the sheriff’s office. I felt the tears start to fall and stood, wiping them away, angry with myself. “Guys, I’m going for a ride,” I announced and headed out of the house.
I headed for the stables to find a horse and felt Kilyko coming up behind me. We fed Mitena an apple and then I mounted the horse, ready to get out of there and breathe in the fresh air.
We rode towards Colorado and I tried to let the movement and the comfort of being on a horse relax me. I had a job to do and I couldn’t keep letting the past come in the way of it. Somehow I needed to find information about the Apache, and who the ones were that threatened us yesterday. I also wanted to know where the soldier outposts were so that I could talk to someone involved with last night’s incident with Kilyko. On top of that, I still wanted to find out more names about the Black Bandits and better secure their fort’s location.
When we arrived in Colorado, I dismounted Mitena and tied her to the fence in front of the saloon. I wandered around, looking for anyone who I could talk to, and found a woman that I didn’t recognize walking down the street.
“Miss, I was wondering if you could help me?” I walked over to her with a smile.
“Yes?” she smiled slightly back.
“I’m looking for the nearest soldier’s outpost... Do you know where it is?”
“Sorry, I don’t,” she shook her head.
“Hmm...” I thought, thinking I needed to keep up the appearance that I didn’t know where anything was in the area. “Perhaps do you know if the sheriff is in town?”
“I believe she is but I do not know exactly.”
“She?” I raised an eyebrow. “You have a female sheriff?” I asked, genuinely surprised. I had thought that there was a man who took over Adder’s job.
“I don’t think I am much help at the moment,” she shook her head. “If I am not much help I think it is time for me to depart now.”
“It’s alright Miss,” I nodded. “Thanks for your time. Safe paths.”
She waved and wandered north. I decided to go up to the top of the hill where the Apache village used to be and get a better view of where people were. I noticed the ranch and went over to the cabin, knocking on the door. “Hello? Is someone here?” I called out.
A little girl of about four years old came out to greet me and I recognized her as Frank Ingall’s daughter, Francesca. I figured that Frank wouldn’t be far behind and asked her if I could talk to him. We found Frank behind the barn and I asked him if he knew where the outposts were, or anything about the Black Bandits. He said that there was an outpost in Colorado but he didn’t know anything about the bandits. Francesca seemed more informed and told me that I should talk to Cole, the Texas Ranger from Kingsley. I nodded, thinking how I’d already talked with Cole before but maybe I needed to make another trip out there. We talked a bit more and then I said goodbye and headed back down the hill.
Before leaving Colorado, I went to visit Chels Seetan and we talked about what had been happening since Adder and I had left Colorado. It was good to catch up with her again but she didn’t seem to have much information either. I told her to give my regards to Jake and she said to say hello to Adder. It felt strange being there, as there had been so much tension when we’d left. I hugged her and then headed out to find Mitena and rode back to Oregon.
I spent the afternoon sitting on my porch and writing in my journal while I waited for William or Adder to come around. Snowy and Akame came to keep me company as we enjoyed the wonderful spring day.
Oregon.
I walked back into town this evening and waved to Kilyko. She grabbed my arm and dragged me towards the herb patch. I went with her, wondering what was going on. “What’s wrong, Kilyko?”
She released my arm and whispered in my ear, “Sun Stone got shot up...and I hired bandits to burn down Jabuu’s village and shoot him up…”
“Kilyko,” I gasped.
“He is okay now...I patched him up he is resting in the house..I do not want him too excited or....rilled up...Sorry Trin but I had the last straw they shot him...and tried to steal Mitena…”
“They… what?!”
“Exactly...he was defending her..and they shot him for it...now they will get payback…”
“This is getting out of hand,” I sighed. “Has William been around?”
“I have not seen him,” she said, picking some of the herbs nearby.
“And you’re sure Adder is okay?”
“Positive,” she smiled. “I gave him the order not to move from his spot!”
“Good.”
“He listen’s to me…mostly…" she laughed. “I am just replenishing......my herb stock…”
“Of course. I went out to Colorado to get some information but it was somewhat useless... No one seemed to know anything.”
“Screw the lot of them…”
“I want to go talk to Adder. I won’t make him go anywhere but I’m worried about him. I’ll talk to you soon, Kilyko.”
“Go ahead,” she smiled.
I went to knock on on their door and Adder let me in. I saw him laying down on the couch and I walked over to him. “What, you gonna have all the fun without me now?” I winked at him.
“Doctor’s orders!” he pointed at the blanket and laughed.
I squeezed his foot compassionately and pet the couch for Teru to join us, and the puppy jumped up beside me. “Talk to me,” I looked at Adder.
“Two natives, from last night. They were looking to steal a horse, I tried to chase em off, one started firing, the other stayed out of it at first, then started shooting me in the back.”
“They’re starting to get on my nerves.”
“They’ll get what’s coming to them,” he nodded.
“Just wait ’till you’re healed, right?”
“I don’t think it’s got anything to do with me now. They want Kilyko.”
“And me, probably.”
“Well, Kilyko’s been out to hire some.... pest controllers…”
“That’s what she said,” I chuckled. “Which bandits?”
“She didn’t say. I suggested Calaveras or Buu.”
“Buu would do it,” I chuckled. “No questions asked. I went to Colorado today..”
“Oh? Anything happen?”
“Some lady there tried to convince they have a female sheriff. Not quite sure what that’s about. Talked with Frank at his ranch if he knew where the soldiers’ outposts were or anything about the black bandits... He knew nothing.”
“Well... I reckon that guy’s wife wears the pants in that house, so maybe it’s right to say they have a female sheriff,” Adder laughed.
“And Chels says hi. She didn’t know much either.”
“Say hi back,” he said as he offered some jerky to Teru who gobbled up the meat.
I nodded and smiled down at the puppy. “I’m guessing she hasn’t left your side.”
“Nope, she’s a good girl.”
“When she wants to be,” I winked as the dog barked and then licked up the water from Adder’s hand when he took out his canteen to feed her. Teru licked his hand and nudged it.
“It’s okay girl,” Adder stroked the puppy assuredly as she whimpered.
“Poor thing… She’s on edge now.”
“She’ll be fine though, so will I.”
“No doubt,” I nodded as Adder smiled at the puppy assuredly, but the puppy whimpered sadly, as if it knew something was wrong. “Well I should let you get some rest, bro. See you in the morning.”
“Thanks Trin,” he nodded with a yawn.
I headed back to town and found Kilyko near the saloon. “He seems fine. I decided to let him get some sleep. Need to replenish my drink supply.”
“You and me both..” she nodded and I smiled as I headed into the saloon and gathered supplies.
“Shall we go sit on the veranda and have a whiskey…?” Kilyko asked when we’d gathered enough water and whiskey.
“Sounds just about perfect,” I nodded and followed her over to the deck. We sat down on the porch of the saloon and I looked over at her. “So just out of curiosity which bandits did you ask?”
“Want a Cigar Trin?” she asked me.
“No, I don’t smoke that stuff. My only vice is whiskey,” I shook my head as she ignored my question.
“You will find out,” she grinned.
“Uh huh….” I nodded. “Anything from Tulkas lately?”
Kilyko grumbled something about him and shook her head. “Nope…”
“I kinda want to talk to their sheriff there... See what his thoughts are,” I said.
“Leave him a message… Want to go see now?”
“Yeah, I kinda do,” I nodded and stood.
“Can you show me where Teru was locked up too?”
“Sure,” I nodded. “You mean where I bashed her out of jail?” I winked at her.
Nevada.
We walked over to Nevada and knocked on the sheriff’s office door. “Was this where she was locked? What the hell?!” Kilyko looked around as I nodded.
I went to the window and saw the square was still broke where I smashed it. “Guess they either haven’t noticed or haven’t cared,” I chuckled. “Was right in that cell there though. Guess she managed to wiggle her way out. Then she jumped up on the desk and out the window to me.”
“Thanks by the way for doing that… damn dog,” Kilyko laughed.
“No problem. Was easy enough. Seems we’re alone.”
“Their like kids full of hell,” Kilyko grinned and motioned around. “Let’s head home. It is unusually quiet here.”
Oregon.
We went back to my place and I showed her the new furniture I’d bought and we talked about how being romantic got me information. Kilyko asked if I wanted to meet her father and I nodded and said I’d love to meet him.
We walked over to the village and I hesitated, biting my lip as I heard her talk with the Native person. I told myself that I could trust this man if Kilyko did.
“Haahe Neho!” Kilyko grinned at him.
“Hello, Kily,” he said as Kilyko hugged him and she motioned me over. He smiled at me and asked, “Who’s your friend?”
“Neho this is Trin a very good friend and also a sister...she is part Apache..” she smiled. “Trin this is my father…”
“Nice to meet you,” Neho smiled.
“Haahee sir. You have a nice spot up here,” I said politely.
“Neho there is something you need to promise me this night…” Kilyko said to him and I tried hard to relax beside her.
“Thank you,” Neho smiled reassuredly.
“Naca will never hurt you in any form...my father is a good man…” Kilyko reached over to squeeze my arm. I saw him nod and I tried to believe her. “Neho there was some trouble Sun Stone was injured and I hired bandit’s to clean out the indian village in Nevada...promise me you won’t help them..should the apache call you?” she asked him. “They gunned him down when he caught them trying to steal my horse…”
“Only in Nevada?” he asked.
“Just the village in Nevada….” she said.
“So the rumour is true, Sun Stone was attacked?”
“Yes,” she nodded.
I looked at him and gained courage as I asked, “You heard the rumour? From whom?” I didn’t seem fazed that Adder was shot, but then, I’d seen Adder get shot several times and he always came back fine from it.
“If called to help Apache in Nevada, Naca will not assist,” he agreed and said.
“Thank you!” Kilyko hugged him tight. “Neho perhap’s Trin could use your wisdom and guidance..”
I swallowed hard, not sure I was ready to trust another Native man again. He looked at me and asked, “Trin… is it?” When I nodded he said, “Please, sit around the fire and make yourself comfortable.”
I looked to Kilyko before taking a seat at the fire and felt comfort of being in nature. I wished it wasn’t so easy as logically I should have backed away at the sight of the teepee.
“And..perhaps Neho could have a student to learn apache language…” Kilyko suggested with a smile.
“Could I offer you both some tea or something else?” Neho asked.
“I would love some tea,” I nodded.
“Trin you can trust Neho with any and everything as I do,” Kilyko smiled at me and I watched him move. I had a flashback to the last time I’d been in a native village and being this welcome and sighed, staring into the fire.
“Since Naca has lived here in Oregon, he has become more…….civilized…” he looked at Kilyko.
“But you still have the heart of a warrior that shall never change..” she said.
“I am sorry I’m so quiet…” I said at length, not wanting to seem rude.
“I have a few things to attend to… you two have a nice visit,” Kilyko stood then and left a bundle next to her father as she left. I swallowed nervously and she came over to put a hand on my shoulder. “You’ve nothing to fear or worry about with Neho...best man I know aside from Sun Stone….”
“Adder... Sun Stone, as you call him... He’s been like a brother to me for a very long time. We met seven months ago…” I looked over at Naca. “He is my best friend. When he took in Kilyko after what happened to her... She quickly became a close friend as well. Now aside from a soldier that I met the other day... They are all I really have.” He raised an eyebrow at the word ‘soldier’ and I realized what I’d said. “We had a very long talk yesterday about both our histories with the Apache... Neither story is a good one. But he did not hold it against me that I had Apache in my background... It is four generations back but I know that it is there. I have been very lonely lately,” I looked over at him with a sigh. “Before I decided to put this badge on again... it felt like I had nothing left. Then I realized that they needed information. And that has always been my purpose... to share the truth. So I figured... maybe people would respect me more if I put on this badge again.”
He looked at me with compassion and said, “You must be what makes you the happiest without hurting others.”
“It’s all I have,” I sighed.
“What makes you happy, Trin....is it people, peace, exploring or something else?”
I looked at him, not sure anymore. “I haven’t felt much peace lately.. People, with the exception of Adder and Kilyko, let you down. Exploring often leads to danger... I was robbed just the other day..”
“Robbed?” he asked and I nodded. “Where?”
“Idaho West... Black Bandits took one hundred coins from me. I asked who they were and they gave me their flag. I’ve been trying to get information on them since. Who they are, where they are..”
“Black Hills Gang?”
“Black Bandits from what I knew of them. Perhaps they have other names.”
“There’s a gang by that name near Nebraska, I heard.”
“So I’ve been told, that’s where one of their outposts is. About five of them, supposedly.”
“I’ve heard they started trouble here, too, with Kily. Naca has not come face to face with them.”
“I hope you never do,” I said honestly. “Kilyko speaks highly of you.. You’ll have to forgive my hesitancy, Naca.. I have not had good experiences with people in Native tribes.”
“How many were there who robbed you?” he asked as I heard a woman walk over. I wondered why a woman would just walk in without announcing herself but I stayed seated and let him handle it.
“Soua, meet Trin, a friend of Kily’s,” Naca introduced. I stood, feeling somewhat stupid now. “Trin meet Soua, a tribe member and dear friend.”
“Soua, hello,” I greeted her.
“Hows ya’ll doin’?” Soua asked.
“We all don’t look like regular native,” Naca said to me. “Naca is well. How are you?”
“I’m very fine, thanks.”
“Won’t you join us by the fire? Trin was telling me about the Black Hills Gang,” he smiled.
“Sure, I will…” Soua said and sat down with us.
“They robbed her nearby,” Naca told her.
“Oh my goodness… what a shame… hopes ya alright,” she said.
“In Idaho West. I was riding through and they said I could do it the hard way or the easy way. It was only money so I just handed it to them. I didn’t want more trouble,” I said. “Then I asked who they were and they gave me a flag, showing the black bandits name on it. “
“Do you still have the flag?" he asked and I nodded and reached for the flag from my pocket, handing it to him. He looked at it closely and nodded.
Teru wandered over and barked at me. “It’s Kilyko’s dog,” I told Naca and stood. “”What’s wrong, girl?” I asked it. Teru kept barking and I leaned down to pet her. She licked my hand and howled and I told Naca, “Something’s wrong. I should follow her.”
“Come get Naca if needed,” he insisted.
“I will. Thank you, Naca,” I said and ran down after Teru down the hill, calling for her.
“What is going on?” Kilyko asked curiously.
“I was up talking with Naca and Teru came and circled the camp a few times, barking and howling. I thought something was wrong so I told Naca that I should go follow her and came down here.” I saw that everything was normal, and wondered what that was all about.
“That damn dog has been acting strange sin Sun Stone got hurt...I am trying to keep it quiet so he can sleep....why don’t you take her with you?”
“Sure. Let’s go trouble maker,” I said to Teru and she barked at me.
“Just keep her safe...and yourself…" she said.
Teru kept howling as we walked back up to the hill and I leaned down to the dog. “Now listen here. We’re fine, okay? Nothing’s wrong. Naca is good man. You behave, got it?” I asked, taking the dog back up the hill.
“Is everything okay?” Naca asked me when he saw us.
“Sit girl,” I pointed to the ground and sat down at the fire with a sigh. “Everything’s fine. She’s just a bit on edge since Adder was hurt.” I pet Teru as she howled again and motioned for her to lay down as I scratched her belly.
“Yes I think so,” he nodded. “You were saying you are part Apache?”
“I didn’t know it until recently though. At the worst possible time,” I nodded. “My brother came to visit a couple months back ... to tell me our father had been killed.”
“Teru get back here,” I called after her but she kept barking and ran off. I looked back at Naca and said, “He was going through some estate papers and we discovered there was Apache... four generations back. The problem was... the Apache had just declared war on Colorado. Adder being sheriff... it caused some tension. But we moved past it. Now that we’re here... seems the apache followed us both.”
“Apache is large tribe....to the north and to the south,” Naca nodded.
“They threatened to burn down Kily’s house.... but not with the animals there. Come here Teru,” I poured whiskey into my hand and held it out for the puppy as she came over to lick it up excitedly.
“Naca lived among the Apache in Mexico and Arizona, but not with Apache near Colorado,” Naca said. “It may comfort you to know that you also sit with mixed bloods at this moment.”
“Now are you going to sit and be a good guest?” I asked the dog and nodded to Naca.
“Naca is made up of all kinds of blood.”
“The Apache said I had to choose between living in the village or living in town. I eventually made the difficult decision and…” I stopped, looking around for the dog who’d wandered off again. “That dang dog,” I sighed.
“Let the dog be...it is restless and the moon is full,” Naca told me.
“I just don’t want anything to happen to her…” I nodded.
“Soua is also mixed,” Naca nodded to the other woman.
“How did you meet Naca?” I asked her curiously.
“I was walking cold and hungry ...looks to Naca and smiles...he invited me up to this here camp,” she said.
“He sounds like a good man,” I smiled over at him.
“I had been walking and wandering for sometime..after I left the plantation. I was very much pleased that he helped me,” Soua went on.
“I was living quietly, away from all the fighting and struggling among the brothers and sisters and great spirit brings me together with people who feel the same,” Naca said.
“Maybe that is why we are all called to this area... We are free to live both lives, for once…” I said with some relief.
“It not matters what you look like, but where your heart is. But if you are federal soldier, bandit, or trouble-making brother, then you better run,” Naca stated.
I looked into the sky and saw the stars coming out, and looked back to him as he said ‘soldier’. I wondered where William was today and why I hadn’t seen him. I hoped that our conversation hadn’t driven him away. “I suppose I should go find Teru and call it a night,” I said, standing. “If I go back there without Teru beside me it’ll be my head.”
“Not like lawman who keeps the peace. But soldier who works for the people who separate our families....Naca lost his wife and children to these soldiers.”
“I am sorry to hear that,” I put my hand on his shoulder.
“Then stay here, among us for a while.”
“But…” I started.
“Naca is not much different that you,” he said.
I removed my hand back from him and looked around, remembering the last time I slept in a tipi, and shuddered slightly.
“Do you need a place to sleep for the night?” he asked.
“I have a home but I really want to find Teru... I’m growing worried. I appreciate your hospitality though... and I will come visit often,” I promised and waved goodnight as I headed off to find the puppy.
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