I do NOT own The Big Valley, nor do I own any of the original Barkley characters. Thanks again to my Beta Reader, for all the time she spent helping me this story.

Against the Crooked Sky

Chapter Twenty- Nine

Unable to sleep, Nick took a chance and walked around the village trying to sort out his thoughts and feelings. He sighed; he'd done exactly the opposite of what his mother had asked, and now there was a wall between Jarrod and he. He was so absorbed in his thoughts he almost bumped into Running Wolf. Quickly, Nick backed up. "I'm sorry." he stiffened slightly, "I guess, I wasn't looking where I was going." He found his heart pounding as he didn't know whether or not the man spoke English. He was relieved as the man replied back in English though he wasn't prepared for the man's question.

"You not like Apache?" Running Wolf kept his eyes on Nick as he, Running Wolf, was an expert at reading people. He'd heard this man's words ringing angrily through the village and figured it meant trouble for Jarrod and Gentle Wind, sooner or later.

Nick didn't need the man getting any wrong ideas. That is, he didn't need it after all that had happened. He also knew very well why the man was asking the question. That being the case, he stood erect and answered, "I don't hate Apaches; I just don't approve of a white man marrying one; it brings too many problems." After everything he'd seen in his life, Nick figured it was the understatement of the year. He was surprised, but relieved, when the man started grinning from ear to ear instead of getting angry.

"I think same. I try get Gentle Wind see same. She say she love Jarrod enough. He says he loves her enough," Running Wolf looked towards the teepee Jarrod and his friend now shared, "I fear for her. I fear for your brother," he paused, thought for a moment, and then looked at Nick in earnest, "They not listen us. Gentle Wind good woman. Your brother good man. You, your light haired brother, you watch them? Protect them same as I and others in village protect them?" Running Wolf spoke as he remembered having to pull his friend, Cochise, and others into keeping an eye on the couple who had insisted on being lovers before the chief gave them to each other. After all, there were some in the village who disapproved even worse than he did.

Nick was taken aback. For whatever reason he had, Nick had assumed that everyone in the village had backed the marriage up. He hadn't stopped to think that Jarrod and Gentle Wind had already suffered persecution by those opposed to an interracial marriage. It was all Nick could do to stand as he heard his father say, "They have suffered and will suffer more, but does it have to be the hand of their own flesh and blood?" Nick felt an inch high as he finally took time to remember the look in his brother's eyes as he'd tried to get Nick to see that he truly loved Gentle Wind and failed. It was a look of a man in great pain; it was the same pained look that had been in his sister-in-law's eyes and voice as she spoke to him down at the river. "Don't worry about that," Nick relaxed and smiled at Running Wolf, "We'll have their backs. If you ever find yourself in Stockton, California feel free to stop by and see us too."

A look of sadness came into Running Wolf's eyes; Nick was confused. He hadn't thought he'd said anything wrong. His confusion showed in his eyes. Running Wolf was not surprised by the look in Nick's eyes. He motioned for Nick to follow him and headed out of the village. Soon the two were far enough away from the village that Running Wolf felt free to talk.

"You may be Sound of Thunder to friend, you still good man. What I say, you not say again?" Running Wolf's voice held such a solemn tone that Nick couldn't help but stand up straight and open his ears wide. What did the man have on his mind?

"I won't repeat anything you tell me if you don't want me to. That is, as long as you're not going to confess any crimes to me." He didn't care to go there at all.

"I have vision three nights," Running Wolf looked in the direction of the village and then back at Nick, "Good you come, good you take brother and Gentle Wind away. I know this, still I sad. I see Gentle Wind no more. She not see me." The Apache waited for what he'd just said to register for Nick. As soon as Nick's eyes widened, Running Wolf knew the man understood and continued. *"I see Apache force off this land. I see Apache made to walk far. I made to go. I not get new home on earth. I see earth is my blanket, I see earth is blanket for many Apache, I see trail filled with tears, pain and suffering. White Chief order it. White warriors obey. Not many Apache return."

Nick felt shock waves go through every inch of him. Brigham had said the rumors of more reservations being made were true, but he hadn't been able to find out the exact details before Nick, Heath and Paul had left. "If you know this, why don't you take your people and go somewhere else?" As soon as Nick asked the question, he knew the answer.

Running Wolf shook his head. "What I see bad. Chief, me, others want take my people, find new home. Where? Where we go? White man everywhere. White chief and white warriors have hungry eyes. See and take, my people suffer and die. White man do this and say all Apache, Paiute, Navajo other tribes savage. I say bad Apache, white savage make trouble for good Apache, good whites. No, I leave this life before next summer, not want Gentle Wind to know. Life give her and Jarrod good and bad, I not give bad. Keep promises. Protect and say nothing." The man didn't really expect Nick to say anything; he just wanted Nick to have something to think about.

Nick found himself admiring the man before him. If Running Wolf was right, he wished with all his heart he could change the man's future. He couldn't though, but he could keep both his promises. He clasped his hand upon the man's shoulder and nodded, "Don't worry, you have my word; I'll keep my promises."

*Information on the removal of the Apaches is at the bottom of Ch. 3, but I've included it here again.

* .org/wiki/Apache#Forced_removal
In 1875, United States military forced the removal of an estimated 1,500 Yavapai and Dilzhe'e Apache from the Rio Verde Indian Reserve and its several thousand acres of treaty lands promised to them by the United States government. At the orders of the Indian Commissioner, L.E. Dudley, U.S. Army troops made the people, young and old, walk through winter-flooded rivers, mountain passes and narrow canyon trails to get to the Indian Agency at San Carlos, 180 miles (290 km) away. The trek resulted in the loss of several hundred lives. The peoples were held there in internment for 25 years while white settlers took over their land. Only a few hundred ever returned to their lands.