To Keep a Promise (Buckskin Chronicles Book 1) by B.N. Rundell

Author:B.N. Rundell [Rundell, B.N.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-64119-322-1
Publisher: Wolfpack Publishing

14 Honor

The long shadows of dusk were erased by the deeper darkness of night as a distant single wolf hung his lonesome howl on the last quarter of the moon. The diamond tidbits on the black velvet night whispered the secrets of heaven to the numb minds of the slumbering vengeance seekers. It had been a tiring and battle scarred day and the deep-seated memories again badgered the sleep deprived Jeremiah. Seldom did he enjoy a full night's undisturbed rest, with so many unanswered questions regarding the many momentous events of his young life. He couldn't remember how many nights he had startled himself awake with the realistic dreams of loved ones slain. And always the question, why? Why did they have to die? Why couldn't he help them? Ezekiel had said those were questions that a boy shouldn't be asking and that maybe when he became a man he might find the answers. Become a man? I'm full-growed now, I've killed men in battle, ain't I a man now? But I still don't have the answers. And Laughing-Waters, she sure makes me feel like a man. Oh, shut-up, close your eyes and get some sleep, we got travelin' to do!

Two days of uneventful travel brought the three within view of the construction still underway at Fort VanBuren. It was an unexpected sight and the travelers dropped back below the slight rise to be unseen by the fort's occupants.

"What is it that they do? So many white men working there?" inquired Shield of Jeremiah.

"Well, from what I could tell, it looks like they're building a fort of some kind. Probably for tradin' cuz I didn't see sojers there, you know, no uniforms and such," replied Jeremiah.

"Should we go in to trade? Or mebbe go 'round?" mused Shield.

"Well, we got a couple extra horses, and we could use some more coffee. Let's go down and see what we can do. Maybe we can find out somethin' about those renegades, too," answered Jeremiah.

The smile on Laughing Waters face showed her agreement as she leaned into the lead rope of her pack-horse. They followed the path of the renegades to the river crossing and approached the hectic activity of the fort's workers. Two men had shouldered a sizable timber and were carrying their load to the newly turned sod in line with the partially erected wall of timbers. Three others were digging a trough that evidently was for the placement of the uprights for the perimeter. Still others were leaning on ladders on the inside of the already erected river-side wall to secure a walkway to the uprights. On the uphill side of the timber, one man was driving a harnessed horse and pulling a newly felled tree into the open. Two more were trimming previously felled logs of branches and excess bark, making them ready for use as an upright. Several more were busy carrying tools or wood and scurried about with purpose.

With a loud, "Hello, the camp!" the travelers made their way to the clearing beside the construction.

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