Ghost Dance by TC Donivan

Author:TC Donivan
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: adventure, fantasy, paranormal, philosophy, western, american frontier, karmic

Chapter 20 – The Trial

We awoke well past dawn, a late hour for travelers in the wilderness. I took some breakfast to Spencer but he refused it and fed it to the dog. We sat together, shrouded in our gloomy thoughts. He began to speak finally, his once powerful voice, small and quiet like a man at confession.

“Did you see what they did to her?” He asked.

I had, but could not acknowledge it. “Let’s not speak of it,” I begged.

Spencer took no heed and began to list the abominations done to the poor, dead girl. I could not bear to hear it, so I got up and walked away, feeling as if worms had been let loose in my head. He continued to repeat the horrors, their litany drifting away on the wind. The others were busy picking up the camp, preparing to leave. They had built a travois stretcher as the Indians use to transport their elderly and infirm, fixing a rawhide stretcher between two sturdy saplings for Sebastian. Hawker and Annie were cleaning up the fire to leave as little trace as possible of our presence.

“How is he?” Hawker asked.

“I’m not sure he’s ready to leave.”

“We should go, the longer we wait, the more likely someone will stumble onto the grave,” Annie said.

I went to Spencer and voiced their concerns. He was unmoved and incommunicative, his ghoulish outburst having passed. The others were packed and ready to go. I did not relish remaining in that place, but my friendship for Spencer would not allow me to abandon him. I returned to the others.

“I’ll stay with him. When he’s ready, we’ll start back,” I told them.

“I’ll stay too,” Annie said.

“And so will I,” Tree Owl agreed.

I noticed Mozart saddling his horse. “Aren’t you going to stay?” I asked him.

He shook his head indicating Sosanna, who stood, trancelike, beside her pony, stroking its neck. “The lil missy needs to be away from this place. The air in these parts can choke a man’s spirit.”

I understood, but was surprised at his abandoning his former master just the same. I noticed too, that his demeanor had returned to its previous folksy condition, making me wonder if I had imagined the surreal conversation the night before we had overtaken the kidnappers. As if conjuring my thoughts, he gave a quick, intelligent look that spoke of things unsaid.

Hawker clapped one of his large hands on my shoulder and the other on Annie in a fatherly gesture. “Sorry, but Noah and me have business to take care of. The traders only come once a year and we have supplies and traps to purchase. You should be all right. There’s no sign of any other hostiles. If you don’t mind, we’ll take the remuda of Indian ponies with us and trade them at the Fort. We’ll split the money later.” He called out to Mordecai, but the dog appeared not to hear him. Hawker shook his head. “Looks like the pooch has set his cap for Spence.

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