FAITH
FAITH (after an idea by Nesciri)
Cody swallowed hard and whispered, "There,
by the house. I saw something move." Kid strained to make out the dark
shape that almost appeared to be floating behind the bunkhouse. Cody and Kid
walked as quickly and quietly as they could. Kid motioned for Cody to go right
and he would go left. Hopefully, they could trap whoever it was and put an end
to this game right now. They split up and each made their way to a different
corner of the house. Cody approached slowly trying to time his arrival with
Kid's. He reached the house and crouched low to the ground. He reached the corner
and straightened up with his back against the wall. He held his breath and counted
to three. He was just about to spring around the corner when he heard Kid hit
the ground hard.
Cody leaped around the corner had saw Kid struggling
on the ground. The sight stopped Cody in his tracks, pitchfork still in hand.
He saw Kid underneath a rather large Indian. "Hey! Let him up now!"
Cody screamed as loud as he could. He took a menacing step forward and waved
the pitchfork making a jabbing motion toward the Indian.
Kid stopped struggling and the Indian let him loose
before springing lightly to his feet. Kid stood up and instantly realized he
was looking at Buck's brother. "Red Bear." Kid's voice was solemn.
He had seen Red Bear only at a distance before and he was struck by the image
in front of him. Red Bear was taller than Buck and much more muscular. His hair
flowed down his back and a section was wrapped in otter fur. A single feather
was braided into his hair. What struck Kid the most though was the similarity
between Red Bear and Buck that went beyond the physical. While they had the
same eyes and the same bearing that was almost regal, there was an underlying
dignity that could not be missed. It was the same dignity that held Buck together
when the townspeople spit at him or called him a heathen savage to his face.
Kid thought it would also be the same dignity that would hold Red Bear together
if he were forced to live on a reservation.
The Indian nodded slightly and looked at Cody brandishing
a pitchfork. Cody thought Red Bear's sparkling eyes were almost mocking him
but he put the pitchfork down and met those dark eyes with as much dignity as
he could muster.
"We sent for you because Buck is sick."
Kid spoke slowly and he hoped Red Bear could understand him. "I'm Kid and
this is William Cody." Cody reached to shake hands with Red Bear. Red Bear
paused a moment and returned the handshake.
"Tell me about my brother." When Red Bear
spoke, it wasn't so much a request as a command.
"Strange things have been happening around
here. Everyone is getting hurt and sick," Cody stammered a little. Speaking
to a Kiowa War Chief was intimidating to him and he wasn't sure where to begin.
"Kid disappeared and Buck tracked him to a burial ground at Bitterroot
Springs. We got there and we found him. He was fine but this woman appeared.
She knew who Buck was and she mentioned you too. She cursed us and she said
she had Buck's spirit. Ever since, Buck's been acting real bad…not right."
Red Bear was staring at him intently and nodded for Cody to continue. "She
didn't have a nose."
"Yellow Crane," Red Bear scowled. His eyes narrowed as a dark shadow passed over his face. He knew what this was about now. Yellow Crane was seeking to destroy his brother in a desperate act of revenge. Red Bear knew what he was going to do. First, he would take care of his brother. Then he would make sure Yellow Crane would not hurt anyone again.
