Final Justice by Al Lacy

Author:Al Lacy [Lacy, Al]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-307-78049-2
Publisher: The Crown Publishing Group
Published: 2011-05-04T00:00:00+00:00

12

THE MEN PASSENGERS who wore side arms touched their revolvers as the Indians rode up. Women and children looked on, wide-eyed and nervous.

When Iron Hawk and Running Fox drew rein, they raised their hands in a sign of peace, then looked down at the three Cheyenne boys stretched out on the ground.

Hungry Dog looked at Breanna and said, “These are warriors from our village.”

“I am Iron Hawk,” said the huskier of the two. “This is Running Fox. These boys left the village without permission from their fathers or Chief War Bonnet. We were sent to find them and bring them back.”

Breanna rose to her feet. “Iron Hawk, my name is Mrs. Breanna Brockman, and I am a nurse. Do you understand what a nurse is?”

The young warrior nodded as he slid from his pinto’s back. Running Fox also dismounted.

“Hungry Dog tells me that many are sick in your village with this disease, and some have died.”

Iron Hawk’s expression was solemn as he said, “Our shamans are bathing the sick in water and using the smudging, as well as offering prayers.”

“But our people continue to become ill … and to die,” said Hungry Dog. “The prayers of the shamans … are not being answered by our gods. This is why we left the village … and rode this way. We were going to Kimball … to bring doctor.”

While the Indians talked, Breanna took the cup from the conductor’s hand, poured water into it, and took an envelope of salicylic acid from her medical bag. She poured a measured amount into the cup and began stirring it.

“But you should not have tried to ride when you were becoming ill yourselves,” Running Fox said to Hungry Dog.

“We did not know we … were so sick.”

Spotted Bull set his dull gaze on Iron Hawk. “Did Essie Bird Woman … die?”

“No. She still lives.”

“And does Broken Hand still live?” asked Hungry Dog.

Running Fox’s head drooped, and he shut his eyes in sorrow.

Iron Hawk’s features looked bleak as he said, “Broken Hand is dead.”

Hungry Dog swallowed with difficulty, but he no longer spoke so haltingly. “Heammawihio and Aktunowihio have forsaken us. They even allow a medicine man to die. We must have help from whites, or we all die.”

“But He-Who-Walks-in-Rain said if we bring white doctor and his medicine, it will offend our gods,” said Iron Hawk.

Hungry Dog’s voice increased slightly in volume. “Heammawihio and Aktunowihio do not care about us. Why should we care if we offend them? This nurse woman is making us medicine. She was going to bring us to village. Someone will bring more medicine from Cheyenne City … to help all of our sick ones.”

The warriors turned their gaze on Breanna.

“This was my plan,” she said.

Iron Hawk and Running Fox exchanged fearful glances, then Iron Hawk said, “Our people do not wish to bring the wrath of our gods by turning from them to white man’s medicine.”

Breanna held up the cup in her hand and said, “I am offering to come to the village with my medicine, if your chief will let me.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.