Wagon Train/Long Trail

Chapter 7

Matt was leading the way back to the path the wagons had followed earlier. He was ponying Jake Whitton's horse and Silver Dove was following just a half pace behind. She was unaccustomed to riding a saddled horse so did not put her feet in the stirrups but somehow, taking the horse belonging to the dead white man, did seem like some kind of justice.

Matt figured it was about fifteen miles to where the wagons would have rested by the rocks. They were now travelling at a much slower pace now than when he had ridden out this way. The light was already fading and he did not want to continue riding with a prisoner in the dark, there would be too much risk. He was hoping the wagons had made it through the pass by now and well on their way to the railroad camp.

Before night fell he pulled a little way off the trail.

"Get down off your horse Whitton," he instructed the man. The prisoner had been complaining about the handcuffs or telling Matt that no jury would hang him for killing a few Indians ever since they had left the river. In fact he seemed quite proud of himself and what he had done.

The lawman pushed him over towards a tree, undid one of the cuffs and threaded it through a stout branch before fastening it back.

He turned to find that Silver Dove had already jumped down from the horse she was riding.

Whitton started yelling obscenities at the young girl as she walked towards them. Matt wanted to back hand him and send him to the ground – but he would not strike a cuffed prisoner. Whitton didn't stop, after a while the Marshal could stand it no longer. He took off his gun belt and threw it on the ground then indicated to Silver Dove to stay out of the way. He released the man,

"Now Mister let's see if you are man enough to fight someone your own size."

Silver Dove watched in horror as the two men exchanged punches and then rolled on the ground, first one and then the other on top. The man with the sky blue eyes was more powerful but the man who had kidnapped her was fighting for his life. He picked up a handful of dirt and threw it at the lawman's face.

Matt staggered for a minute and cleared his eyes, which gave the kidnapper chance to dive for the gun that had been thrown to the ground. Now he could see again and saw Whitton going for the gun. Silver Dove watched in horror as they grappled for the weapon. She could not tell who had control of it when a loud explosion cut through the night. Neither man moved for what seemed a long time, finally she drew a breath as Blue Eyed Law got to his feet rather clumsily, he was alive. The other man did not move.

Silver Dove was frightened now, there was a look on Law's face that she did not understand. She took a few more breaths and gathered her courage.

"Oneeotse?" she asked him, wondering if he was hurt.

He shook his head. "No I'm fine. I guess I just I don't like killing." She did not understand his words, but continued to stand there looking at him, half in fear.
He made an effort to explain how he felt in the language of her people, trouble was he was not very good at explaining things in English, let alone with his limited Cheyenne vocabulary. She watched as he picked up his gun and placed it back in its holster, but said nothing. He could see her standing there, away from him with her arms wrapped around herself as if in fear. He wanted to tell her everything would be all right, but right now he didn't have the will power. He had a body to bury. He should never have let Whitton goad him into a fight like that. The man's death was his fault.

The effort of burying the body had calmed him somewhat and he set about finding enough wood to start a fire. Silver Dove hadn't moved and he was aware of her dark eyes following him still with fear behind them.

" I'll fix some supper," he told her. He had some beef jerky and a can of beans in his saddlebags together with some coffee. He could still feel her watching him as he worked. Finally the food was ready, he signed to her to come sit by the fire and held a plate of beans out towards her. Timidly she came closer and took the food, still keeping a wary eye on him, but at least she looked a little more relaxed.

Later he set out two bedrolls, leaving a distance between them and indicated to her that she should sleep on one. He took the other, but as usual did not sleep much.

xxx

The night passed without incident and they were back on the trail by the time the sun was up next morning. Silver Dove was surprised that White law had not approached her during the night. She had thought all white men were as the other two had been, but this one was different. He was kind and treated her with respect. He had even removed the saddle from the dead man's horse and turned the animal loose, somehow he cared.

They rode steadily for another two hours. Suddenly he pulled up, hearing something. He told her to stay quiet while he checked it out.

Matt rode forward to where he could see the rocks he had told Johnson to head for. The scene shocked him. Both wagons were there and about 20 Indians where arranged in a line in front of them. This was no hunting party, he could tell that by the way they were dressed. The Indians were starting to move towards the wagons as Silver Dove came up behind him. He could see Johnson and Kitty with rifles at the ready behind the wagons. He should go help them, but he did not know how he could stop what looked to be an all out attack on the small group.

He was so intent on the scene in front of him that he did not notice Silver Dove come up beside him.

"Manahestotse!" she told him, pointing to the Indians moving towards the wagons.

He understood "family", were these her people? He tried to stop her but she urged the horse she was riding forward into a canter. He started to follow her – to bring her back – he didn't want her to get hurt after all she had been through. Then he stopped, she was yelling at the top of her voice and attracted the attention of the leader of the group. He had turned around as she approached him, and was now listening as she recounted what had happened. Matt remained still and quiet, not wanting to attract attention and cause the attack on the wagons to resume. Then the Indian and Silver Dove came riding towards him, he raised his right hand in universal greeting. The man was riding an Appaloosa with black and brown markings, and from the way he was dressed the lawman thought he must be the son of a chief or of another important elder of the tribe.

They stopped about ten feet from Dillon and the Indian raised his right hand in greeting.

"I am Wooden Lance," the man said

"Matt Dillon," he replied

"Silver Dove tells me you are white people's law man."
"That's right, I'm a United States Marshal."

"White man's Law has not been good to my people."

Matt could say nothing – he knew of many treaties that had been broken and the Indians dealt with unfairly. He could not blame them for the way they felt.

"Silver Dove says you rescue her from two white men who killed her family and kidnapped her. She says you are honorable man."
To begin with Matt had no reply, then he said

"Those people in the wagons there, they are my friends."

"We thought they were the ones who had taken Silver Dove. We were going to take her back."

"We would not have done that Wooden Lance."

The Indian turned on his horse and looked at the rest of his people and called them towards him.

"We will go now. You proceed on your way. I thank you for bringing Silver Dove back to us."

The young girl turned to follow the rest of the Cheyenne, but at the last minute turned back and smiled at him.

"Neea'e," she said before following the others. Thank you

He smiled a little and sat watching as they headed off into the distance. Then he turned his attention back to the wagons and the people he was supposed to be taking to the railroad camp.

TBC