BLESSING WAY Chapter Two

Kid could only see two Indians, but there could easily have been more. He quickly looked down at Heyes. His struggling had lessened but there was no way he could move him.

There was no escape.

He would have to fight from where they were. He quickly threw the contents of the coffee pot into the fire dousing the flames. He needed to find more protection if he was going to fight it out. There were some rocks about ten yards behind them. It offered minimal protection but more than they currently had.

The Indians hadn't moved. He recognized the colorful pattern of the Appaloosa even in the low light. Maybe other Indians were moving in behind them, taking their positions.

Kid quickly grabbed a corner of the blanket and pulled it off. He spread it beside Heyes and grabbed his partner under his arms to drag him onto it.

"Sorry. I'm sorry."

Heyes began struggling and moaning in pain. Kid fought to ignore Heyes' pain as he pulled the blanket with Heyes on it as close to the rocks as possible. With the excess blanket, he covered his prone partner. Kid took his position crouched in front of Heyes, pistol in hand and the other on his partner.

He waited.

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Finally the one Indian mounted on the Appaloosa started to slowly advance. Kid watched, his hand tightening on his gun. Fifteen yards away the man stopped. Kid recognized him as the man who had wounded Heyes. He slid off his horse and held his hands out, palm out, as he continued to walk towards Kid.

Kid straightened up, his gun leveled.

"Stop."

The Indian obeyed and stopped. The Indian was carrying no visible weapon, except a knife sheathed on his hip. Kid was confident that his gun could neutralize a knife.

They silently stared at each other for a moment.

"Kola' The Indian carefully lowered a hand and pointed to himself. Then pointed to Kid. "Kola... Friend."

"Help." He pointed behind Kid towards Heyes. He touched his hand to his heart "Help."

Kid studied the man's face. There was genuine pain on the man's face.

Kid's mind was racing. Heyes needed help and quickly. Against his better judgement, Kid lowered his gun.

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The Indian called out to the second rider who rode slowly up to Kid. He was pulling a

travois. It appeared they had come back to help.

Was he making the right decision? He felt like he had no choice.

They carefully moved Heyes to the travois and covered him with a blanket securing it with leather straps. Kid knelt beside his partner. Wide fevered eyes stared back at him. Kid closed his eyes, bowed his head as he laid a hand on his partner's arm and squeezed it.

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Kid rode silently beside the travois, leading Heyes' horse. He had no idea where they were headed. He mentally debated with Heyes, trying to determine if this was truly their only option. For now it seemed to be, but he would keep an open mind to any others that might present themselves.

"Stop," Kid said. He dismounted and grabbed his canteen off his saddle horn and knelt beside his partner. He held it to Heyes' lips trying to encourage him to drink.

"Come on Heyes….You have to drink something."

Kid didn't know whether he had heard or even understood his words. Heyes' eyes were blank and dull. Kid snaked a hand under a corner of the blanket and shirt, gently touching Heyes' bandaged wound. It was wet. Kid withdrew his blood stained hand.

Wherever they were going they needed to get there soon.

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The Indian on the Appaloosa, saw the concern and distress on Kid's face as he looked at the blood on his hand. He pointed towards a ridge off in the distance. Kid nodded, hoping that they were truly that close to their destination. He wiped his hand on his pants before he offered Heyes another drink. Kid capped his canteen, before he quickly mounted.

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The trader could suddenly hear the chatter of excitement, as three riders approached the Indian village. He let the rush of people move him towards the riders.

The trader was a weathered man. Deep grooves and creases crossed his leathered face. Long knotted strings of gray hair hung out from under his fox hat. He eyed the riders, surprised to see a white man riding with Red Cloud and Lame Deer. The man looked more distraught than nervous, as he looked from the curious Indians approaching, to someone laying on the travois. The trapper maneuvered himself so he could see the person. It was another white man. He looked injured or sick...maybe both.

Excited whispers rippled through the Sioux children as they saw the mounted white man. They pressed closer but were immediately reprimanded by their elders and quickly scattered.

The trader smiled. The white rider had deep blue eyes, probably the bluest he had ever seen. He was certain these Indian children had never seen eyes that color. The fabled white buffalo was rumored to have blue eyes, perhaps they thought the sacred buffalo had come back reincarnated as a man.

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With the help of several Indians, Kid hurried to remove Heyes from the travois, into a tent. Inside, they laid Heyes on dried mats. Women quickly and carefully started removing Heyes clothes. Kid slowly and reluctantly moved away from his partner, realizing he was more in the way rather than helpful. Heyes appeared unconscious. His eyes were closed, his mouth slightly opened. After removing Heyes' crude blood soaked bandages, they dipped clean cloths in water. They repeatedly replenished the bloody water with fresh. Kid stood a short distance from his partner, his arms crossed, as he carefully watched every movement. Once the excess blood had been removed Kid could better see the wound. The edges were angry and red with infection.

The herbs had been chopped into a pulp with just enough water to make it into a paste. Kid could smell onion, garlic and other herbs he did not recognize. With a moist cloth one of the women, soothed a thick layer of the cold paste over the wound, to help draw out the infection and soothe the inflamation. The other women busily washed and dried the rest of Heyes body, once cleaned they covered him with clean blankets.

Kid was startled, by a voice to his right. The man was speaking English. Kid looked quickly down at the odd looking man. It was the trader. The man nodded his head at Heyes.

"Besides treating your friend's wound, they're cleaning his body for his journey. The body cannot heal without first driving the angry spirits out. They will be getting the wigwam ready for the Blessing Way ceremony. Your friend is in good hands." He touched Kid's arm. Kid looked from the man's hand to his face. The trader quickly removed his hand. "Lakota are good people."

"Well these good people are the ones that put the arrow in my partner."

With a hard look Kid moved away from the man and took a seat by his partner's side.

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