Old Dogs by Ron Schwab

Author:Ron Schwab [Schwab, Ron]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781943421510
Publisher: Uplands Press
Published: 2021-04-22T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirty-One

The Kwahadi warriors at first appeared uneasy when the wagons from the Lucky Five rolled in, staring at the strangers and keeping some distance from the newcomers as if an invisible barrier separated the encampments. Soon, however, Eagle Eyes and Roper strolled over to the clusters of warriors and began conversing with Roper’s signing and Eagle Eyes’s limited Comanche vocabulary. It was not long before the Lucky Five party and Comanches were intermingling freely and finding ways to talk. Several Comanches knew a smattering of English that helped the dialogue.

Sierra had just finished helping Rudy set up the Dutch ovens filled with biscuit dollops on hot coals. There was no doubt that Rudy was in command of the meal, and he had instructed Nick Iverson to watch the bean pots and start the bacon frying soon. The deer carcass had been butchered and chunks of venison roasted on the iron spits that Rudy stocked. Several warriors were turning some of the spits, and Sierra was pleased that meal preparation had turned into a communal project.

“Just keep an eye on the biscuits,” Rudy admonished. “Them is dessert and main course. Fill a man with good biscuits and jam, and he overlooks burnt meat or dried-out beans. ‘Course I don’t know how Injuns are for biscuits, but I’m guessing they won’t turn them down.”

Sierra stood back to let the ovens work their magic for a spell when she saw the pretty Comanche woman approaching. She guessed that the young lady was about her age or no more than two or three years older. They had not yet met, but Jack had told Sierra a bit about She Who Speaks and her background. While she appeared Comanche, She Who Speaks did not carry a drop of Comanche blood.

Sierra stepped toward She Who Speaks and extended her hand. “I am Sierra. I have been anxious to meet you.”

The Comanche woman accepted her hand and offered a warm smile. “I have wanted to meet you, also, but the older gentleman seemed to be keeping you busy.”

“Yes. He is stern taskmaster, but he is more bark than bite. He is a good person and would die for my Grandpa Jack or me.”

“Your Grandpa Jack is a legend among the Comanche bands and greatly respected, and Tess Wyman—known as Healer’s Daughter among The People—loves him very much. She is the reason we are here.”

“I don’t understand.”

“You will come to know Tess and love her. She feared for Jack’s life when he left on your journey to recover the horse herd. I was at her house with an injured boy the day previous. She asked if warriors from our village might help and suggested we might incidentally turn a good deed to profit.”

“What do you mean?”

“The soldiers have slaughtered most of the Comanche horses. Our lives have been dependent upon the horses, but their destruction was key to starving The People to the reservation. Tess said we could help Jack Wills and run off Comanchero horses to take to the reservation with us.

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