Colorado.
This morning, I went to check the mailbox to see if the Chief left me anything in response to my telegram, but the box was empty. Josh walked onto the porch and greeted me. “Hey sis. How are you, kiddo?”
“Quite the day yesterday.”
“Yeah,” he chuckled and looked around. “Yesterday brought back memories of Philadelphia…”
I wasn’t quite in the mood for laughing yet and said, “I have to go get the story from the natives’ side of things. I don’t think I have the full picture yet.”
“That would be a good idea,” he nodded.
“I’ll see you later, okay?” I asked, knowing I needed to make this trip alone.
“Yeah sis, I will be around. Be careful, okay?”
“I will,” I nodded and hugged him tightly. “I just need the truth.”
“I know, kiddo.”
“I’m going to the Apache village, then the Cheyenne, then gonna try the Cherokee. If you need me you can find me between or at those three places,” I told him and headed off.
My first stop was the Apache village on the mountain. I called out for Chief Nah and Tala came over to greet me. “Nah is hunting. Won’t be back for many hours,” Tala told me.
“We can talk as well. I wanted to get your side of the story from the events of yesterday. Do you know much of what happened yesterday?”
“What you want to know? I didn’t fight. I healed. Then went to trade for Chiefs to be released.”
“What happened when you went to trade?”
“Spring Bear too busy to talk. Finally Marsh All comes and lets us all out. I come home, and chiefs go to their homes.”
“Spring Bear? You mean Standing Bear?”
“No. Spring Bear. Skinny, white law woman. Marsh All’s woman. Tala think she in her moon time yesterday,” she smiled nervously.
I was still confused but I knew who was inside the courthouse. “What happened when you were inside the courthouse? How did you try to trade for the chiefs’ freedom?”
“I say Tala will help Miss Ida with healing town. If they let the Chiefs go free.”
“And how did they react to that offer?” I asked, thinking this was the story I really needed to hear.
“I tell you. She too busy to listen. She argue about woman who come to help Tala.”
“Well you’ve actually been very helpful, Tala. I’ll be sure to include your account in the paper. Thank you for your time, Tala.”
“Marshal man come, too. From there. Spring Bear say she shoot him for speaking up for Chiefs. Talk to him”
“Tell Chief Nah I said Dego Te?” I looked at her and raised my eyebrow. “Oh really? Marshal Despres?”
“No. That man, that lives in that first box. He speak for Indians, she say she shoot him,” Tala shook her head and pointed to Chet’s house.
“Chet…” I sighed.
“Yes. Chet. You talk to him, maybe he help.”
“Oh I will, I promise.”
A Native man rode over then and I greeted him as he frowned at me. “What woman want?”
“Nah talks to news lady, she says what he says in paper for white town to read,” Tala explained to the man.
“Tala need work not flap lips all day,” the Native said.
“You’ve seen the column in the paper? The ‘No Boundaries’ column,” I nodded to him.
“Nighthawk not read white paper.”
“I will let you get back to work, Tala. Thank you for your time,” I said. “Sorry to bother you,” I looked between them.
“You do as I say or I sell you,” Nighthawk looked at Tala and grinned. “Paper Lady want to buy her?”
“I’ll be on my way,” I shook my head and got on my horse to ride away.
I waved to Johnny and Sylvia as I rode by and headed on.
Kansas.
I went to the entrance of the Cheyenne village but no one answered when I called, so I continued on my trip.
Bear River.
In Wyoming, I walked up to the entrance of the village and saw a man I didn’t recognize. “Osiyo. Can I help you?” he asked.
“I come in peace... I run a newspaper over in Colorado and I have this column dedicated to sharing the perspectives of the Natives on events that happen.”
“No understand.”
“Yesterday there was an attack on the town from three separate Native tribes. Chief Standing Bear was in the area and I was wondering if I could get a statement from…” I stopped myself and said, “I write stories, you see. You know how stories always have several... points of view…”
“These stories are they like the spirits in the air that our elders tell us about?”
“Kind of. Is Chief Standing Bear here?”
“You medicine woman then?”
“No... I don’t heal with medicine. I heal with words, you could say.”
“He not here right now.”
“I don’t want to ask you questions and get you in trouble with the chief... I can wait until he’s available.”
“White men have been attacking our village and the people. You may not be welcome.”
“I know about that. I used to come here often,” I hesitated and pulled out the bracelet that the Chief gave me, putting it on my wrist to show him.
He examined it and asked, “Do you know Two Stars?”
“We have met.”
“You friends with Two Stars?”
I was grateful he didn’t know my entire history with the tribe and was relieved just to be able to talk to one of them. “I… I should just wait to talk to the Chief. Would you be able to tell him I need to speak with him?”
“You leave now. I tell chief.”
I nodded respectfully and said, “Wado, Sir. Thank you for your time.”
“You not bring anyone back but yourself if he calls for you.”
“Of course. I remember.”
“If so I kill.”
“I wish to share the truth,” I said hesitantly. “I do not fight with violence or bullets. I only present the full story. That is my only aim.”
Another man came over and took out a knife and I backed up, wishing I hadn’t come. “Me not know about story. Oconostota just wants to protect his family from evil white men.”
“I understand that. I wish the same for my family. I will go now. Safe paths, and wado.”
“You go now. Don’t come back until you get message. Where do you stay?”
“He can find me at the newspaper office in Colorado East. My door is always unlocked. Wado, gentlemen. Safe paths.”
I walked on and stopped on the bridge, crying. I walked on, wishing some things had never changed and knowing that I wasn’t as welcomed there as I used to be. When I turned, I saw I was still being followed by the man with the knife.
“What things you speak of?”
“What do you mean, what things?”
“I not know what you talk about. This is Indian land Cherokee land. We protect it with death.”
“I’m going home now. I don’t mean harm, I come without weapon. I only wish to speak with Chief. I will wait to hear word from him.”
“What message you have?”
“Just that I would like to speak with him at his earliest convenience.”
“For what reason?”
“It doesn’t matter. He will decide whether he wants to speak with me or not “I will go now,” I told him and turned towards home.
Nebraska.
I saw someone off in the distance as I headed towards Nebraska and ran over to Tom, never more relieved to see him. “Tom… He had.. and they... and I ran…”
“You okay? What happened?” he asked and I shook my head, falling in his arms in fear. “Who hurt you?”
I cried on his shoulder, knowing it wasn’t safe to talk out in the streets, and said, “Let’s just… let’s go home.”
Kansas.
I hesitated as we walked into Kansas and I had a vision of the knife the man held coming through my mind and the other knife in the cave with Bill. I took off my bracelet, looking at Tom. I debated throwing it in the bushes, but stuffed it in my pocket angrily, knowing I couldn’t get rid of it completely.
Colorado.
When we got home, we stopped in front of the saloon and I looked at him. “Maybe we should get a drink.”
“Not really feeling it. I just want to be with you. All alcohol does is temporarily hides your emotions.”
I nodded and turned for the apartment, holding the door open for him. I sat on the couch and curled up next to him, still shaking. “I’m such an idiot.”
“You’re not an idiot. Just tell me what happened.”
“I went out there to talk to Chief Standing Bear, for the story about yesterday ’cause I…” I stopped and looked at him. “You don’t even know about the attack from yesterday do you?”
“No I don’t. Had to go to Texas to get some supplies,” he shook his head.
“Three tribes attacked Colorado yesterday. The Cheyenne, the Cherokee, and the Apache. Altogether… Josh and I hid in the saloon in Devil’s Ditch while the attack went on. We went out after a while to see if everything was okay... I saw Manipi, the cheyenne dog, outside the courthouse pawing to get in. I opened the door and went in and heard Chels talking with Chief Standing Bear and Chief Hawk in the office of the courthouse. I guess they had both chiefs locked up…”
“Was there anyone who was hurt bad? Or killed?” he looked at me in horror.
“Not killed. Were several injuries though. Could have used you. But... I knew I had to show the full story ’cause all I was hearing was that Natives were bad and attacking, but there had to be a reason for the attack, right?”
“Yes, especially for three different tribes to go at it with us…”
“So I went to the Apache village and talked with Tala, and she said she’d tried to buy the chief’s freedom by offering to heal, but Chels shot her down. And then I guess Sasha was shot down too. I didn’t get much other information though... So I went to see if the Cheyenne tribe was in their village but they weren’t…”
“This Chels person… who is she?”
“Chels? Jake Despres’ girl - she’s a marshal too. Anyway…” I shuddered, getting to the climax of today.
“Passing judgement without reason... She should be hanged for that.”
“I went out to Bear River to talk with Chief Standing Bear… He wasn’t there though, and I was talking with this one native man and it was going well enough… Then this other one showed up and… I tried to show them that I wasn’t wearing a gun, that I wasn’t a healer, but that I heal with words and the truth not with bullets and violence. But this guy... he... He pulled a knife out. Then the first guy, who things had been going well with, he said he’d tell the chief I wanted to talk and I was like okay I’m going to head home then. But the guy with the knife kept following me… Kept asking all these questions. I told him I was going home, and that I don’t intend to bring harm. Then I turned and ran out of there. Then I saw you in Nebraska and I’ve never been more relieved.”
“That’s horrible. Why would he turn a knife on you?”
“He thought I was the enemy. They’re very against paleface showing up on their land. But I showed them the bracelet, I went unarmed… It’s just not worth it, Tom. I’m not going back there again. If Chief wants to talk he knows where to find me.”
“If Chet hears about this.. he will do something…”
“Should we tell him?” I looked at him, knowing he was right.
“It’s up to you.. But I’m probably not gonna stop him this time.”
I nuzzled against him, feeling safe in his arms. I wondered if it would be a good idea to tell Chet, knowing that he would be shut up in being given a chance to get revenge on the Cherokee. I heard the telegraph buzzing and asked, “We should go see what’s coming in.”
“Yes, we should…” He stood and looked out the window and exlaimed, “The saloon is on fire!”
“Let’s go!” I jumped up and ran out with him. Josh was in the street.
“Is there anyone inside?” Tom asked.
“Josh!” I called to my brother as he ran down the street. "Get pics!"
“I don’t think anyone is inside, but we need to put it out before it burns out the rest of the block!” Tom looked at me.
“Get some buckets!” I called and we started to get some buckets and threw water on the fire, with another girl’s help. Adder came over and joined in the bucket process and we eventually put out the flames.
“I gotta get these developed, If you all excuse me I will be working,” Josh walked over to me.
“Thanks, bro,” I nodded to him as we started to calm down from the fire. I looked over at the other girl and remembered something she’d said and asked her, “You saw a man running, Miss?”
She nodded but said, “But it was so fast. I was on my porch minding my own business and and I seen a man running, dark complexion, then a few minutes later the saloon was on fire! Millard where were you? The saloon was on fire!” She looked over at Mill.
“Dark complexion? What was he wearing?” Adder asked.
“At my home,” Mill dismounted from his horse and walked over.
“Oh Sir, it happened so fast, I .... I am not sure,” the girl stammered. “People run down the street all the time, I don’t always pay attention.”
“Anybody get hurt?” Mill asked.
“Long hair or short?” Adder asked.
I went over and put a hand on the girl’s shoulder. “It’s okay, miss. You did good in announcing the fire was happening.”
“I am fine... Just in need of a bath,” Roxanne looked herself over.
“Coat, I think he had a long coat or cape? Oh…” the girl said with frustration.
“Would you recognize him if you saw him again?” Adder asked.
“I might.... though sir it was very quick.”
“Sorry sheriff, wish I could be more help but I’m in the dark as much as you. We were up in our apartment when we saw the telegraph that the saloon was on fire and ran out. Didn’t see anyone suspicious,” I told him my account and he nodded. I found myself getting light headed at the stress of what I’d just witnessed in Bear River, and now the fire, and felt myself going dizzy as they talked.
“You okay?” Tom looked over at me and I reached out for him as I collapsed on the ground, blacking out. When I came to, I reached for Tom’s hand as he put a wet rag over my forehead and wiped down my face. “Trin I’m here. You’re gonna be ok.”
“The poor lady must of gotten too hot, she was working so hard,” the girl said and I continued to cry against Tom’s shoulder.
“What happened over here guys?” Johnny asked, walking over.
“Some bastard tried to burn the saloon down! Sounds like a bloody Indian too!” Adder exclaimed.
“You okay Ma’am?" Mill walked over to me.
“Trin, do you remember what day today is?” Tom looked me over.
“Monday…” I nodded.
“Oh god why would anyone do that?” Johnny asked.
I leaned my head against Tom’s chest, feeling myself calming down as the others continued to talk. I thanked Tom and then looked over at Adder as he ran back from the hill.
“Seems someone left something burning in the camp,” Adder chuckled.
“That’s just terrible,” Tom said.
“Tom… can we… Can we go home?” I looked at him.
“Yeah. Let’s go home now Trin.”
Tom led me across the street and brought me upstairs to the bed. I curled into him and said, “I don’t know why I... It was all just too…”
“Just take it easy, and try to sleep. It’s probably the best thing we can do at this point,” he said and I nodded, falling asleep against his chest.
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