Apache by Jere D. James

Author:Jere D. James
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: western novel, apache, arizona western novel, indian tale, sonoran desert adventure
Publisher: Moonlight Mesa Associates

Eleven

FROM high on the embankment, Nantan Lupan watched the goings-on at the woman’s house. It didn’t surprise him to see the patrol arrive, for he’d known that the search for the escapees would commence immediately. But, the white man who stayed after the soldiers departed concerned him. Something about the man seemed familiar, and Nantan Lupan wondered if the visitor and the woman were family. He’d greeted her like family, not like a lover. If the man were her lover, however, Nantan Lupan vowed he would kill him swiftly. If he were family, he’d decide the man’s fate later, but he would be merciful and there’d be no torture.

Finally, he saw the visitor emerge from the house and sit for some time, appearing downtrodden and worried. Nantan Lupan wondered if the woman had spoken of her newfound love. If so, this revelation might leave him no other choice but to kill the stranger. But, perhaps he judged wrongly. He didn’t really want to kill this unexpected visitor who had the look of nobility and didn’t appear sinister, like most whites.

Reluctantly, Nantan Lupan slipped from his hiding place and began the trek to his camp. Heavy thoughts accompanied him, and he resented the woman causing him this continuous consternation, especially since he now had other obligations. He must get his brother warriors and their families to Mexico. Only there, hidden in the mountains, would they be safe. His decision to take his Sophee remained imperative. The thought that this might not be possible if the man stayed, or took her away himself, enraged him. His brother Apaches required his attention, he kept reminding himself, not the white woman.

Exhausted by the gamut of feelings he’d experienced during the course of the last day, from the sweet piercing stab of love, to the consternation caused by the fleeing Apaches and the killing of Sky Cloud, Nantan Lupan, not an emotional man, felt spent. And now he must prod his tribal members to prepare for the long, dangerous trek to Sonora, made all the more perilous by troops combing the area.

Shock swept through him, however, when he saw the encampment vacated. Only Cavallo remained.

“Nantan Lupan,” Cavallo cried out at his approach.

“Cavallo, where are the others?”

“They would not wait for your return. I told them we would guide them safely to our haven in Mexico, but they refused to listen and left before daybreak.”

Nantan Lupan looked hard at Cavallo and could see that his friend did not tell the whole truth. Cavallo glanced about nervously instead of looking him in the eye, as a truth-teller would. Finally, as Nantan Lupan knew he would, Cavallo reluctantly continued.

“They did not trust your judgment because of your insistence in taking the white woman. They --” Cavallo paused a moment and nervously licked his lips. “They said they would exact revenge as they traveled. No person would be safe, not even your woman. They said all whites deserved to die for what they’ve done to the Apache.”

Nantan Lupan nodded. He understood their bitterness and anger, for they’d been deceived too many times.

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