FAITH
FAITH (after an idea by Nesciri)
Yellow Crane had to find out where they were going.
She swirled around eyeing the soldiers at the fort. She knew a few of them by
name but she knew many more by sight. Most came asking for cures for their too
frequent hangovers. Yellow Crane was growing desperate when she spotted an overweight
red-faced corporal who had asked her to mix him a potion to increase his waning
virility. She smiled. She knew she could count on this man to give her information,
even if she had to bribe him to get it.
"I want to know about those boys that delivered that package this morning
to the Captain."
"Now, you know I can't tell you about the package," the corporal replied
with a condescending tone.
"It's not the package I want to know about, I want to know about the riders."
Yellow Crane held her breath. This man was a fool and it was already taking
much too long.
"Oh. They're riders for the Pony Express. They come through here pretty
regular."
"I've never seen the half-blood before." She was getting to her point
now.
"Well, I haven't seen him for some time. Sure caused a commotion the first
time he came here. Folks don't take well to having their mail carried by an
Injun. Maybe he layed low for a while."
Yellow Crane nodded her head. "Where is he from?" Perhaps her voice
sounded a little too desperate, a little too pleading.
"Why do you want to know?" The soldier narrowed his eyes and Yellow
Crane couldn't miss the hint of greed that sparkled there.
"Just might know him." The two were engaged in a battle for information
and Yellow Crane didn't want to say too much that might give her away.
"Oh, so you want a family reunion, eh? Well, I might be persuaded to share
what I know…for a price." Yellow Crane reached into her money purse
and pulled out a twenty dollar gold piece. She shoved it into the soldier's
hand and he smiled. "He's from Sweetwater."
"Sweetwater, eh?" She closed her eyes and smiled. Then that's where
she was going.
Ike sat on the top rail of the corral fence his
feet hooked under the rail below. He was watching the horses and studying their
graceful movements as they moved inside the ring. He wanted to draw them but
it was more than that. He wanted to capture their strength and beauty. He wanted
to convey strong muscles and manes blowing and eyes dancing. He sighed. He didn't
think he would ever be able to do it.
<Hi Buck> Ike signed without looking away from the horses.
"Hi yourself. Am I bothering you? I just thought I'd come keep you company."
Buck climbed the fence and swung his legs over the top rail so he could join
Ike.
Ike gestured toward the horses. <Thinking about sketching them>. Buck
just nodded his head. Words were never really necessary between them and the
two sat in companionable silence for some time watching the horses and the sunset.
"Hey can anyone join the party?" It was Kid and Lou. The two had been
out walking and saw Ike and Buck when they rounded the corner into the yard.
The two stood close by and Kid put his arm around Lou's shoulder. She leaned
her head onto his shoulder and just rested there feeling safe and comfortable.
No one was really surprised when Jimmy and Cody came walking up to the fence.
Cody climbed onto the bottom rail and leaned over the top rail using his arms
to hang on. "That one sure is going to be fun to break," Cody said
motioning with his chin toward the new red mustang that pranced and snorted
a bit in the ring.
<I've been watching him. Shouldn't be too bad> Ike signed.
"That means you're going first?" Jimmy asked with raised eyebrows.
<Didn't say that>. Buck patted Ike on the shoulder as everyone laughed.
Rachel came out of the bunkhouse with Teaspoon.
They watched the six young people grouped together in various positions around
the corral. It somehow seemed right to them that these people who looked as
if they wouldn't fit in anywhere fit in with each other. "Wish it could
always be this peaceful," Rachel said with a wistful look on her face.
"Well honey, it just might be. We don't have to go lookin' for trouble."
"No, we don't. It just somehow seems to find us." Rachel turned and
went back inside.
