Ride The Wild Range Read online

  Once she walked away, he turned to me again. "What's bothering you, Will?"

  "That man, Mike Dawkins – I've met him before. He was up to see his grandpa a few years back, and me and Papa, we ran into them in town."

  Jacobi watched me carefully for a moment, then glanced up as across the room, Mike picked up his bowl and handed it to the Colberts' oldest daughter, Emma. He stood and headed for the door, fumbling for his smokes as he went.

  "Do you think he recognized you?" he asked casually. One thing I'd learnt about Jacobi. When he used that tone, it meant he was on guard about things; watching, making sure everything was safe. Even though he might sound free and easy, I knew he was anything but.

  I shook my head. "No, I don't think so. I was just a kid then – seven or eight years old."

  Humor flashed briefly in Jacobi's eyes, along with the caring I knew he felt for me. I wouldn't dare to think of it as a father's love – not yet, anyhow. It was too soon. But I knew he had a deep fondness for me, at least.

  "Well, we won't borrow trouble," he murmured just as Mrs. Colbert rounded the corner from the kitchen. She carried two saucers, each containing a big piece of cherry pie.

  "Here you go!"

  She set the plates down in front of us and I hungrily took the first bite of my portion. The pie was still warm from the oven, and I closed my eyes, savoring the taste.

  "Thank you, Ma'am," I said, remembering my manners at last.

  "You're welcome, young man. It does my heart good to see my pie so well appreciated." She looked at Jacobi. "I've got some fresh cream, if you'd like some to pour over it, Mr. Kane."

  "No, ma'am, thank you. This is just fine without any trappings."

  We made short work of our pie, and Jacobi paid for our meal, then we went outside to get ready to head out on the trail once more. The first thing I saw once we came out into the daylight was how the men were grouping up and talking – which wasn't unusual.

  The second thing I took notice of was that Mike Dawkins and Marshal Eddington had their heads together. I glanced up at Jacobi and saw a look of concern pass over his face before he gave me a forced smile.

  I knew right then we weren't borrowing trouble anymore – it had moved right in and come to stay.

  * * * * *

  Once we all congregated outside the station and mounted up, the arguing commenced.

  As Trask predicted the night before, Marshal Eddington wanted to head back up toward the north and eastward, saying that would be 'new territory' for Laughing Wind's bunch.

  But Trask and Deputy Kelly, along with Sheriff Kilmore and his men, all agreed moving that way would be what Trask called an "error most grievous," and felt we should go west to pick up their trail.

  Though Eddington was in the minority, he never would graciously give in and go the way the others had decided. Instead, he stuck out his lower lip and pouted, and declared he would be going north-northeast.

  Well, Trask and Kilmore just shook their heads. Trask said, "Good luck, Marshal. This is where we part ways."

  When it became obvious that Kilmore and his men, including the two deputies Eddington had so recently fired would be goin' with Trask's group, Eddington turned to Jacobi.

  "Well, surely you see reason, don't you, Kane? Laughing Wind will be eager to make some new conquests in uncharted territory."

  Jacobi's lips turned up in a faint smile. "Except that it is charted – and chartered – to the Muscogee and Cherokee nations, Marshal. I'm afraid I have to agree with Trask and Kilmore – Laughing Wind will return to the area he knows like the back of his hand. You're wasting time pushing farther northeast."

  Eddington's face turned red, and his jowls puffed like a smithy's bellows. He didn't like being told he was wrong. It was in that instant I realized what an enemy he could prove to be by the look in his eyes – something dark and angry lurked there that reminded me of Laughing Wind, who I'd always considered to be more formidable, in some ways, than even Red Eagle had been.

  "Well, you do what you want, Kane," Eddington sneered, "but you just remember that—" he broke off, as if suddenly becoming aware he needed to choose his words carefully.

  "That what, Marshal?" Jacobi's tone was pure ice. "Are you threatening me?"

  "No. I ain't. But I know things about you—"

  "Then, know this too, Oscar. You stay away from me. Don't come near me. I've killed men for less than what you've already said."

  "But I'm a law man!"

  Jacobi spat on the ground. "That doesn't make one bloody damn to me. Stay clear of me."

  He turned his back on Eddington, and we joined Trask's group. Many of them were watching with great interest as Eddington blustered and grumbled to his small band of four followers, who were also showing some doubts about heading northeast.

  "Let's go," Jacobi said, and the rest of our group rode out behind us, with me and Jacobi in the lead.

  With that order to ride out, I understood our group wasn't Trask's or Kilmore's anymore – it had become Jacobi's. He was in charge now, and I rode close beside him. I hadn't ever been any prouder than I was right then.

  Chapter 22

  We rode for two days toward the Wichita Mountains and Fort Sill, back along the harsh trail we'd followed almost a year earlier when Jacobi had stolen me back from Red Eagle and Laughing Wind.

  It came clear to me that Laughing Wind wasn't the only one who knew the terrain like the back of his hand, as Jacobi had put it. Jacobi did, too.

  Trask, Kilmore, and the others asked Jacobi questions out of curiosity or for clarification, but never as a challenge or for argument. It was obvious they knew he understood this land as well as the man we were chasing, and they trusted him.

  The farther we traveled west-northwest, the more I began to remember, and think about the last time we'd been here. After seeing Papa, Mama, and Lisbeth murdered, then spending all those days as Red Eagle's captive, I had lost all hope of getting away. Just when I thought I was done for, Jacobi had walked right into Red Eagle's camp and hauled me off of the bastard. I'd gotten the jump on my captor, knocking him to the ground and sitting astride him as I threw a couple of lucky punches. It was pure satisfaction for me, but I'd have paid with a slow death if not for Jacobi taking me out of there, singlehanded. Jacobi and me rode hard that night and part of the next day to get away, but Red Eagle had caught up with us.

  And when he did, there was a few seconds of pure fear that still made my stomach flip when I thought of it, even now. That instant I'd come awake in the darkness to the sounds of the life and death struggle between Jacobi and Red Eagle still had the power to make my palms turn clammy.

  "Will!" Jacobi had called to me, and I'd held that rifle up and pulled the trigger in the darkness, lit only by the full moon. But it had been good enough light that I'd hit just what I'd aimed at, and ended Red Eagle's life in that moment, while saving Jacobi's.

  I knew Jacobi and I had a kind of understanding between us that I'd never have with another person. I had not been as close to my own father as I was to Jacobi. I understood that he felt maybe I'd regret my killing of Red Eagle as time passed, and we moved further away from the moment of decision and necessity. But it had been nearly a year, and I still felt only an abiding satisfaction at what I'd done when I thought about that murderin' bastard and how he'd killed Papa, Mama, and ... forced Jacobi to do something unimaginable.

  Only, now, I could sort of understand. I'd long since let go of it, and made Jacobi know if there was any forgiveness he felt he needed from me – I had given it.

  I watched as Jacobi came to a slow stop and looked around carefully, as if he'd seen something that gave him a idea that ol' Laughing Wind had passed close by. I'd heard him tell Trask and Kilmore earlier that we'd head on to Fort Sill and check in with General Durham to let him and his men know we were in the area, and see what they might know.

  Right now, putting everything together I knew, I figured we had to be only a few miles south of the fort. We
could be there in less than an hour. I hadn't seen anything, but I knew Jacobi had some reason for stopping.

  "Kane? What's wrong?" Trask rode up beside us, concern etched in his hard features. Kilmore joined us shortly.

  "You see somethin'?"

  Jacobi shook his head slowly. "No. Just...a feelin' I've got."

  "Can we make it to the fort?" Trask's question was bitten off sharply, as if he didn't want to waste words.

  "We're not far. Every mile we ride gives us more safety," Kilmore added, his horse moving as if anxious to be gone. If horses could think about such things, I'd bet he was hoping to get safe too, so he wouldn't become an Indian pony.

  "Let's go," Jacobi said shortly, leading off again, but I had seen his gaze rest briefly on me and I knew he was worried about his responsibility toward keeping me safe, on top of everything else.

  I wanted to tell him he just needed to worry about himself and not be concerned with me, but then I realized I was worried about him too. So, I couldn't very well tell him what I wanted to say since I was feeling the same way. And there wasn't no need, really. Tension seemed to ripple through the air now.

  Just as I was startin' to let myself feel a little easier about everything, I saw a flash from one of the distant mountains ahead of us. A mirrored signal that would have only come from one source – the Indians we were tracking.

  At first, I doubted myself, but the more I thought on it, the more I knew I'd seen it. I trusted myself, as Jacobi always said I should. I knew that was the reason he'd stopped a few minutes earlier. He'd had the feeling we were being watched, and he'd been right.

  "Jaco – Pa—"

  He glanced at me.

  "I saw a flash back there."

  He nodded grimly. "I know. I saw it, too. We'll just keep on riding, Will. There's no cover out here to speak of, but we're no more than thirty minutes from the fort."

  I nodded my understanding, and we said no more. We had to keep our concentration and our wits. Talking would slow us down, too. Suddenly, I began to feel the cold grip of fear take hold in my belly. What if Laughing Wind did overtake us? Our horses were tired and the heat of this last day of June was harsh on them and us too. All I could think of now was his leering, painted face as he'd goaded Red Eagle to go ahead and murder me. If I became his prisoner again, my time would certainly be short-lived.

  As we closed the distance between the openness of the fort, I kept my eyes peeled for more of what I'd seen earlier – the flash of sunlight on a piece of silvered glass – but it never came again. I could feel urgency among our group to reach the sturdy stockade of the fort, but the immediate fear that had become like a live snake writhing among the men in our posse began to fade as we neared Fort Sill.

  When the outpost flag came into view, some of the men began to yell and cheer – but Jacobi wasn't one of them. I knew he was relieved, but he wouldn't give them Injuns the satisfaction of knowing it, if they were within hearing distance.

  The gates swung wide for us, and it was only then, when I knew we were safe, that I understood how afraid I had been. But I would never, never let Jacobi know.

  We dismounted, and I took our horses for a drink while Jacobi, Trask, and Kilmore vanished inside General Durham's office.

  It was just as well, I thought. I knew right now if I tried to talk, my voice would come out all warbly, like some bird or somethin'. I tried to convince myself I wasn't scared. Never had been. Not really.

  But all the same, I was awful relieved to be enclosed in those stockade fences, and especially glad for a safe place for ol' Blackie and Arrow. Though it was fairly early in the day, I felt sure we'd be bedding down here tonight, giving our horses and ourselves a rest from the heat and riding that we all needed. We were close now. We couldn't afford to make one mistake.

  * * * * *

  That night, even though I was tired, sleep wouldn't come over me. I lay on my back looking up at the clear, open sky with more stars staring back down at me than anybody could count.

  I knew Jacobi was awake too, on account of the way he was breathing, and because he seemed even more restless than I felt.

  I wondered if he was thinking about his first wife, and his two children that had all been killed. It was only natural to think about the people we'd lost that had been dear to us – before we'd become a family. When I thought on my sister, Lisbeth, that was what hurt the most. She'd been older than me by four years, but she had been a good sister. Someone I could talk to.

  A thought hit me so hard it made me sit up on my sleeping roll in the dark. Had Lisbeth hoped for a baby sister for herself like I hoped for Laura to have a brother for me? She had to have wanted a sister. What girl would ever hope for a brother? How disappointed she must have felt when they brought me out and told her she only had me.

  "Will? What's wrong, son?" Jacobi propped up on his elbow, watching me in the dim-lit darkness.

  "I was thinkin' 'bout Lisbeth just now... About how – disappointed – she must've been to find out Mama had me instead of havin' another girl."

  Jacobi just smiled, but he didn't disagree with me. "I'm sure she changed her mind once she understood a baby brother could be lovable too." He waited a minute before he went on. "You know, Will, you're a lot older than Lisbeth was when you came along. So...it's natural you'd think about it differently than she did. She was only four. You're going on twelve."

  I sighed in the darkness. "I'm practically growed up! I won't ever have a chance to play with him when he's born. He'll be too little. And if Laura has a girl... Well, I won't have anybody at all, then."

  "That's not true, Will. No matter what, we'll all be family. A little sister might be something you'll be happy for."

  I felt myself go all stiff, and knew the shock at what he'd said showed plainly on my face, but I couldn't stop it. "I don't see how!"

  Jacobi just laughed in that unconcerned way he had and lay back down on his back. "Life's full of surprises," he said.

  "I guess so," I muttered. He laughed again and I wanted to ask him what he thought was so dang funny, but I ended up going off to sleep before I could think on it anymore. It felt good to be safe, and I had me some good dreams that night about maybe bein' a cavalry man.

  * * * * *

  Next morning, we got up early and had us a good breakfast over at the mess hall. July had just started, and it was already 'hot as the breath of hell,' as Marshal Trask said. But we had to get on with our business.

  "Kane, you're welcome to leave your boy here at the fort," Captain Stockton said as he sat down on the other side of Jacobi.

  I wanted to tell him to mind his own beeswax, and I guess Jacobi knew it, because I felt his big hand atop my knee in a silent squeeze of warning. I could also tell he was tempted to take the captain up on his offer by his hesitation before he answered.

  "No, thank you, Captain. I'll keep him with me."

  I kept my eyes lowered.

  "Just thinkin' it would be safer for him here—"

  "Well, you're right about that, Captain. But I believe I'll just keep him alongside me. I'd be dead if it hadn't been for his quick action one time before."

  "Is that so?" The captain looked interested, but Jacobi didn't go into it any further, and I was glad. Even though it had been necessary to kill Red Eagle, I didn't want to go around bragging about it or anything. It had happened, and it was over now; I'd just as soon forget that night altogether.

  "Yes," Jacobi answered firmly. "But thanks for your offer."

  Captain Stockton stood up and nodded to Jacobi. "Well, if you change your mind—"

  "Thanks, Captain."

  Jacobi glanced at me as Stockton walked away. "I should leave you here. You know that."

  I raised my eyes to his. "I'd follow you, first chance I got."

  The way he looked at me made me almost feel sorry for him. I could tell he wasn't sure what to do with me. Since we became a family, I had always obeyed him...up to now. So, he had to know just how strong I felt a
bout stayin' with him.

  "You might need me again," I said, hoping to drive the point home; to remind him without coming out and saying it.

  "Yep. I might." He pushed his chair back and stood up. "I'm ready to end this and get home. How 'bout you?"

  I nodded and came to my feet. "Yes, sir." He was thinkin' 'bout Laura when he said that, plain as day. That worried me 'cause Jacobi himself was the one who'd taught me that havin' your mind elsewhere could cause you to be careless. And that could lead to gettin' you killed.

  I was sure glad I was there with him. I didn't see how he'd be able not to think about Laura, and the fact that, by the time we got home, my new brother could already have been born. Maybe Jacobi was as worried as me that Laura might end up havin' a girl.

  Chapter 23

  We rode north along with a detachment from the garrison toward Medicine Creek, farther into the lands the Apache and Comanche both shared. The mountains were around us, but Jacobi seemed to know where each trail and water hole was, and we traveled steadily until noontime when we stopped at a leg of Medicine Creek to let the horses rest and drink.

  A few miles earlier, the cavalrymen had broken away from us to travel east. Jacobi had shown no hesitation in continuing north, then west when we'd come to the creek. Not one man questioned him – except Captain Stockton.

  But Jacobi thanked him for his concern, shook his hand, and we'd gone our separate ways.

  Big elm and oak trees shaded the little space of ground where we'd come to a stop, and the grass was green and thick, even in the heat of the summer. The horses drank thirstily and we all did too.

  I stretched my legs, but the whole time, I noticed that Jacobi seemed uneasy about stopping here. He didn't relax for one minute, like the others did. He kept watch, but careful-like. He didn't look all around like I'd seen ol' Marshal Eddington do when we were all riding together. Jacobi did it without seeming to, and probably, if I hadn't been around him so long, I wouldn't of known it, either.