Chapter 4 - Yázhí

The next morning Craig and Chief were up early, Mary salved Rainey's back before he got dressed, they ate breakfast and Craig decided to go out for a walk. George and Mary watched the two friends as they strolled down the track towards the forest, George stepped behind his wife, put his arms around her waist and rested his chin on her shoulder as they looked out the window. "Look honey, see how Rainey's walking just off Craig's shoulder? He's looking out for him even here."

Mary looked at her son limping down the track. "Craig hasn't taken his cane with him, where is it?"

George smiled as he watched the two men walking away together. "Relax honey, can you see what Rainey's carrying?"

Mary looked and saw Rainey had the cane slung across his shoulders, his wrists dangling nonchalantly over it as he followed her son.

"I saw him pick it up as Craig walked out the door. Our son's determined to prove he doesn't need help, Rainey knows better. Craig's in good hands honey, Rainey'll keep him safe when they go back."

Craig and Chief reached the forest, they followed the path and ended up by a river. "Let's go on a bit further," said Craig, suppressing a small shiver as he watched the water flowing between the banks. "I think I'll stay well away from rivers for the time being."

"I'd appreciate it," remarked Chief drolly.

Craig set off and pulled up short. "Dammit, my leg's hurting. Can you reach a branch for me? I should have brought my cane after all."

Chief gave his friend a ready grin as he swung the ebony cane off his shoulders. "Here you go Warden, knew you'd need it!"

Craig looked at him and smiled. "You know me too well! Thanks Atsilí." They found a large, sunny clearing, sat on a fallen tree trunk and rested for a while. "Sandy, Paul and the kids will be here shortly. Ma's told them all about you, they're dying to meet you, especially the kids."

Chief's sharp ears heard the sound of a car engine at the house. "Think they just arrived."

"You can hear that?" Chief nodded. Craig leaned back and enjoyed the sun on his face. "Let's give them an hour or two to settle in before we go back. I know I love them but I can't face three boisterous kids at the moment."

GG-GG-GG

An hour later Craig was given no choice. Chief heard feet running down the path, he clicked his fingers. Craig looked up at at the unexpected alert, Chief held up two fingers. "Oh, oh, incoming!" chuckled Garrison, they stood up as two breathless boys ran towards them, they looked to be about seven and nine years old.

"Uncle Craig, Uncle Craig! Grams said you'd be here, so we ran as fast as we could to find you." The two boys ran into Craig's outstretched arms, nearly knocking him over, Chief reached out and steadied him. The boys stepped back and stared curiously at the dark-haired man standing next to their uncle.

"Grams told us you'd be here too. Are you Uncle Craig's friend? Are you really an Indian? What tribe? What's your name?"

Chief folded his arms and regarded the two excited boys, they certainly looked like Garrisons with their light brown hair and hazel/green eyes. "Uh huh, I'm your Uncle's friend. Navajo. Name's Chief."

The boys' eyes opened wide in delight. "You really a warrior? Where's your warpaint? You got a bow and arrows? Can you ride a horse?"

Chief was taken aback at the flurry of questions, he looked to Garrison for support before answering, he was laughing at the audacity of his nephews. "Did you bring your warpaint with you Chief?"

Chief raised an eyebrow. "You know I only wear warpaint when I'm fightin' Krauts Warden." He turned to the boys. "No, I don't have a bow 'n arrows, I carry a knife 'n a rifle 'n yes I can ride a horse."

The eldest boy held out a hand. "Wow. My name's Pete and this is my kid brother Mark." Chief solemnly took the proffered hand and shook it, Mark held out his too. Chief was glad he'd left his blade and sheath back at the house, that would have encouraged even more questions.

Craig looked around. "Shouldn't there be three of you? Where's your sister guys, did you leave her at the house?"

Pete shook his head. "Oh no Uncle Craig, she came running after us but she fell down back up the path. She'll be alright."

Craig glared at the boys. "You left your sister in the middle of nowhere? She's only five, what were you thinking? Damn, come on let's go find her."

Chief held up a hand. "It's ok, stay here with the kids, I'll find her 'n bring her back. What's her name?"

"Katie," answered Craig.

Chief set off to look for the little girl. Craig turned on the two boys and put his hands on his hips, his voice was the low one he used on his team when they'd been trying his patience. "If anything's happened to your sister I'll personally put you over my knee and give you a good hiding! Go play over there and keep out of trouble while we wait for Chief to get back with her."

Chief loped along the path, past the river and towards the house, there was no sign of anyone. The track ran straight for a good half mile and he could see it was empty, he slowed down and started to search for anything that would tell him where the child was. He saw a small trail leading off to his right into the trees, the grass had been flattened, he turned off and followed it for a few yards before he heard the sound of soft sobbing. He drifted silently forward and saw a small girl sitting in the grass, she had light brown hair, was wearing a pretty summer dress, socks and sandals. He paused, he didn't want to scare her, he looked around and spied a patch of blue and yellow flowers, he picked a dozen and approached her. "Hey little one, you must be Katie. The Ward... your Uncle sent me to find you," he said as he carefully sat down beside her. He gave her the flowers. "He said to look for the prettiest thing I could find 'n here you are."

The little girl took the flowers and looked up at him with a big frown. "Who are you?"

Chief gave her a gentle smile and rested back on one elbow to make himself less threatening. "I'm your Uncle's friend, Chief. I'm stayin' with your grandparents at the house. I've been lookin' forward to meetin' you."

She looked around and gave a small sob. "My brothers left me when I fell over, my knee hurts 'n now I'm lost."

Chief looked at her tear-stained face and smiled. "Don't worry Yázhí, I found you, I'll take you to your Uncle," he said gently.

Katie looked at him. "What does ...yashee mean?"

"Little One in my language." Chief stood up, smiled and held out his hand. "Let's go find your Uncle, he ain't far."

The little girl stood up and cried out. "My knee really hurts, can you carry me?" She raised her arms to be picked up, Chief bent down and scooped her up, he settled her on his right hip and walked slowly back to the track. Katie's arms crept round his neck and she looked into his face. "Is your name really Chief? That's not a real name, it's like Mister. What's your real name?"

Chief's dark brown eyes looked into her wide-open hazel/green ones, he smiled. "It's Rainey," he said quietly.

Katie's tear-streaked face broke into a smile. "I like that name. If you're Uncle Craig's friend can I call you Uncle Rainey?"

Chief nodded. "I'd like that Little One."

GG-GG-GG

It had been over half an hour, Craig was all for setting off down the path when he saw Chief walking slowly back with the little girl sitting on his hip, her arms wrapped round his neck, she was holding some blue and yellow flowers, Craig raised an eyebrow as he noticed she'd woven some into Chief's hair. He was smiling and talking to her, her eyes were fixed on his face as she listened intently, Chief stopped. "Here we are Yázhí, here's your Uncle, he's been waitin' for you." He swung her down next to Garrison.

Craig pulled the little girl into his arms. "Katie are you alright? I've told your brothers off for leaving you."

Katie frowned as she looked down at her grubby legs and dress. "I fell over and hurt my knee. I got lost in the trees but Uncle Rainey found me, he gave me some flowers and carried me to find you. He's been telling me a story about Coyote, he's a trickster, did you know that Uncle Craig?"

Craig looked up at his scout with a grin. "Uncle Rainey eh?"

Chief took a step back and held up his hands. "Sorry Warden. What can I say? Must run in the family, only took a minute to get my name outta me this time."

Craig laughed. "No bacon and eggs either. Never thought you'd be such a soft touch Chief! I like the flowers by the way!"

Craig turned to the children. "Ok, kids let's go back to the house." He picked up his cane and set off. Katie stood still as the boys ran ahead, Craig and Chief stopped and turned around to see where she was, she raised her arms. "My knee still hurts, can you carry me Uncle Rainey?"

Chief looked at Garrison for permission, he nodded and watched as his scout lifted the little girl in the air, whirled her around and settled her back on his hip, she flung her arms happily round his neck. "Tell me more about Coyote, Uncle Rainey," she said as they strolled down the path.

They walked out of the forest and headed towards the house, a few minutes later they saw four adults walking along the track towards them. The two boys ran to meet their parents and grandparents. "Mom, Dad, Uncle Craig's cross with us 'cos Katie fell down and we left her. She got lost."

The adults looked up in alarm to see the little girl sitting happily on Chief's hip, she'd managed to thread the rest of the flowers in his hair, Craig limped forward to hug and kiss his sister. "Hi Sandy, don't worry about Katie, Chief found her. She's fine apart from a hurt knee, I'm sure she can walk but she conned him into carrying her home." He shook Paul's hand "Good to see you Doc, it's been a while."

"See you've been in the wars again Craig," grinned Paul as he took in the plaster cast and the cane.

Craig rolled his eyes. "Just that big one in Europe!"

Mary stepped forward and held out her arms. "I'll take Katie off you Rainey, it must be hurting you to carry her." He started to hand the child over to her grandmother but she tightened her hold round his neck to stop him.

"No Grams, I want Uncle Rainey to carry me." She looked into his eyes. "Does it hurt you to carry me Uncle Rainey?"

Chief smiled and brushed a lock of hair off her face. "No Yázhí, I'll carry you home if you want me to, you don't hurt me." He turned to her parents. "Ok with you?"

Craig looked fondly at his friend and then at everyone else. "Sorry, forgot the introductions. Sandy, Paul this is Chief. Chief meet my little sister, Sandra and her husband Paul. They're both doctors so we'll be in good hands while we're here."

Katie turned to her Uncle and said matter-of-factly like most five year olds. "Uncle Craig his name's Rainey not Chief, you should know that if he's your friend." She turned to her mother. "Uncle Rainey gave me a new name. It's Yázhí, it means Little One doesn't it Uncle Rainey?"

Sandy smiled at her daughter. "I love that name, is it Navajo?" Chief nodded. "Can we call you that too?"

Katie shook her head. "No, you call me Katie, only Uncle Rainey can call me Yázhí, it's his special name for me!"

George waved his hand back to the house. "Let's go home, there's a haunch of venison in the oven courtesy of Rainey, I'm looking forward to a good, home-cooked meal tonight." He set off with Paul at his side, Chief followed behind, carrying Katie. The boys ran ahead, shouting and play fighting.

Craig pulled his mother and sister close as they dawdled behind the others, he kissed both of them on the cheek. "It's so good being with you guys. I've missed having my family round me."

Sandy punched his arm. "Haven't missed you one bit big bro."

Craig mussed her hair. "You can be such a brat Sandy, love you too."

Sandy looked at her daughter, she was happily perched on Rainey's hip with her arms round his neck, laughing and chattering to him. "I can't believe Katie, can you Ma?"

Mary laughed "No that's totally out of character for her I must admit."

Craig looked puzzled. "What do you mean?"

Sandy hugged his arm. "Katie's very shy, she doesn't talk to anyone she doesn't know, let alone insist they carry her."

Craig looked at Chief, he was talking to the little girl in his arms, presumably telling more tales about Coyote, he shook his head in bemusement. "I don't know what's happened to Chief either, he's never let anyone put flowers in his hair before."

Mary leaned forward and pulled the medallion around her son's neck out to have a closer look. "I noticed this earlier, I haven't seen you wear it before, where did you get it?"

Craig gently took it out of her hand and held it tight. "It was Chief's, he put it on me when he took my place in that Kraut hellhole. It's the only thing he ever owned and it was his parting gift to me, something to remember him by. I was unconscious when he did it, I've tried to give it back to him but he won't take it, he said it was a gift for his brother."

Sandy looked at him. "Brother?"

"Chief and I are blood brothers, he gave me nearly half his blood when he saved my life getting me out of Norway. I gave him some of mine to keep him alive when we were in France, I'm fifty per cent Chief, he's ten per cent Garrison."

Sandy looked at him sternly. "He gave you half his blood? He could have died, how could you let him do that?"

Craig shook his head. "Sis, I was out of it at the time, the doctor told me Chief held him off at knifepoint until he passed out."

Mary looked at her daughter. "Craig told us all about it last night"

Craig glanced at her. "I couldn't tell you everything, I only know part of what happened myself. Chief hasn't told me the whole story yet, I doubt he ever will."

Mary looked at Rainey as he carried her granddaughter back to the house and confirmed a decision she'd been considering for a while. "Let's get home son."