Part 12 (1/2)
”Alone?” asked McDuff, and the whole group of men hooted in response.
”I sure know I wouldn't be iffena” said Skidder with a knowing look, leaving his comment dangling.
There were more nods and hoots in general agreement.
Laramie felt the back of his neck crawl. He didn't like the talk. Didn't like the crude insinuations. ”Anybody want a game of cards?” he asked, hoping to turn the attention of the cabin to other things.
His invitation was quickly accepted, and a group of the men pulled their log stools close to the rough-hewed table.
Laramie shuffled the cards, let Shadow cut, then began to deal.
”What say we up the ante,” said Skidder with a leer. ”Winner gits to guard the prisoner.”
All eyes turned toward Laramie to catch his reaction. He never flinched. Never moved a muscle except for the ones needed to distribute the cards. Even his deep eyes did not betray him.
He nodded slowly. ” 'Bout time someone else took a turna”but a.s.signments are up to the boss. He decides who does what,” he answered easily.
”Ya wanna gamble the girla”thet's yer doin',” responded Will in his gravelly voice, ”long as she stays in camp.”
Laramie nodded his consent without giving his true feelings away. He studied the cards in his hand. He wished he hadn't gotten himself cornered. Now he was in deep, for sure. What would happen ifa”? No, he wouldn't even think about it. This was one card game he had no intention of losinga”the stakes were too high.
”Ya really think this is gonna work?” asked Sam after the cabin had cleared of all but him and his boss.
Will's chuckle was not a pleasant sound. ”Ya saw 'im,” he snorted. ”He acted like he couldn'ta cared lessa”but I'm thinkin' thet if someone else had won thet card game, there'da been gunplay.”
Sam was surprised. ”An' you'da”you'd welcome thet?” he asked, dumbfounded.
”It wouldn'ta been the Kid we'd carried out,” said Will simply.
”Noa”but it mighta been a good man. An' we got a little trip to make 'afore long, to my recollection.”
The boss nodded.
”I want this here thing settled before we make the next raid,” he said, scowling. ”It's drug on far too long already.”
Sam nodded. ”The boys have been more patient then I woulda expected,” he agreed.
”Mighta worked out a lot sooner iffen he didn't keep her hidden away in thet cabin,” growled the big man. ”No one even gits to see what she looks like.”
”Tell 'im. Tell 'im. Yer the boss.”
”Yeah, but what do I tell 'im? I told 'im to take care of her. The weather's been mean as a rattlesnake. What reason could I dream up for 'im to make her come out in the cold?”
”Well, the weather should be on the upturn anytime now. Been winter far too long,” observed Sam.
”Hope so,” exclaimed the boss. ”I'm sick an' tired of these here beans.”
Sam stopped chewing on his plug of tobacco long enough to give that some thought. ”Ya reckon he eats with the girl?” he asked at last.
”I've watched him comin' an' goin'. He don't hang around there long enough to eat,” growled Will. ”He's in an' out like he was plumb scared of her or somethin'.”
”Wella”he don't seem to be losin' no weight,” observed Sam. ”Funny, ain't it?”
”I've got to get her out of there,” Laramie told White Eagle.
His tone of voice and eyes gave away his intense feelings, even though he worked to keep his face expressionless.
”Something wrong?” asked the young brave.
”Yeahayeah, things areaareaI don't know. I can jest feel the tension mountin'. IaI can't keep her safeathere anymore. Even the locka”
He began to pace again.
It wasn't just the banter of the boys. Something had been happening since Laramie had been spending his days and nights reading his mother's Bible. Something he didn't understand. It was just therea”deep within him. He was beginning to see that this life of hisa”this way of living was all wrong. And bringing her to the camp and keeping her there against her willa”that was about as far wrong as they could get.
”How?” asked White Eagle, his simple question forcing Laramie back to the present.
He stopped his pacing. ”I'll need yer help,” he said, looking straight into the eyes of his friend.
”White Brother have my help,” promised the Indian solemnly.
”Look, White Eagle. This will be dangerous. I know that. You must know that. My paa”he'd shoot to kill. He said so. In front of the whole gang. He'd not hesitatea””
White Eagle nodded. ”You have gun,” he interjected.
Laramie was shocked. ”But I couldn't use ita”couldn't shoot my own pa,” he said quickly.
White Eagle looked thoughtful. Then he nodded again. ”You more Indian than White,” he told Laramie. ”Have honor.”
But Laramie brushed aside the words. He was deeply sorry about the fact that White Eagle felt as he did about the white race, but perhaps some of the animosity had been deserved. He wished things had been different.
He took a deep breath. ”I'm not asking you to risk your life,” he continued.
”I owe White Brother,” replied the brave.
”No. No,” responded Laramie. ”You don't owe me. Sure I helped you outa””
”You save my life.”
”Okaya”I saved yer lifea”but thet doesn't meana””
”White Eagle owe,” the brave said firmly.
Laramie thought on his words, then accepted them with a silent nod. He had to allow White Eagle his Indian ways. Had to give him an opportunity to repay whatever debt he felt he owed.
”I won't pretend I'm not grateful,” he responded. ”I don't think I could manage it alone.”