Part 21 (1/2)

Liza nodded and wiped her eyes. She left the bed sheet and hurried back to the house.

”I'm going to bury it,” Andy said, staring at the creek. ”Make sure this never happens again.”

”That's a good idea,” Tracker said, shaking mud off the vine.

”Give it back,” Andy said.

Tracker looked at the vine. ”I can't. The Doc needs to see it.”

”Not that,” he said impatiently. ”My token. Give it back.” He held out his hand.

”Andy,” Ben said hesitantly. ”I think you're bleeding.”

”Give it back,” he demanded.

Tracker placed the coin into his palm. Andy shoved it into his pocket. Rolling down his sleeves, he said, ”By noon, this creek will be gone. I'll no longer suffer it.”

Chapter Twenty-One.

It hadn't been much of a fight. Billy and Mary bickered with each other by the wagon, but it was hushed and no one could hear. Silas cupped his ear and leaned over so far that he nearly fell into the fire, but still had no luck.

Mary pointed a finger at her husband.

Billy shook his head and motioned to Jack and Charlie.

Finally, Mary nodded, turned on her heel, and marched back toward the fire pit.

”They're done,” Silas said. ”Looks like Billy got his way. Will wonders never cease.”

When they broke camp, Mary sat in the wagon seat with Billy, while Jack, Silas, and Charlie sat in the back. If Charlie was offended by Mary's suspicion, he didn't show it. Jack figured he was just thankful to get a ride.

With a crack of the reins, they continued north, bouncing and jostling their way to Brush town. Although it was nice to be out of the sun and off their feet, they paid for it in noise. The axles rattled and the pots and pans clacked together. Silas jawed about his dream wh.o.r.e and even thought up a song about her. Jack tried to ignore it all by sitting on the edge of the wagon and watching the land, but it didn't help much. People and things always made such a racket. Especially people.

Once Silas had exhausted the topic of wh.o.r.es (which took a very, very long time), he started asking Charlie more questions about the Chewak. Was it true they ate the bones of their enemies? Was it true they could ride a buffalo like a horse? And, most importantly, was it true (as a friend named Picker Tom once told him), that all Indian women could cast spells?

Thinking about it, Charlie nodded and said, ”Yes, it's all true. In fact, the most frightening sight in all of creation is an Indian woman riding a buffalo while waving a white man's leg bone. You see that, and you best run for your life. Because if she catches you, she'll turn you into a toad.”

Silas's mouth fell open. ”No,” he said.

”A toad, if you're lucky,” Charlie added.

”And what if you ain't so lucky?”

Charlie smiled. Leaning back, he tipped the bowler over his eyes and left Silas staring at him.

They stopped only once during the day. Mary built a small campfire and roasted some pork. She had five hunks of corn bread left and handed two to Jack. He a.s.sumed one was for Charlie. She sat close to her husband.

Billy asked Charlie to say grace.

”Of course,” Charlie said.

After he finished, Silas twisted a finger in his ear, saying, ”Yeah, you're a preacher all right. I could've reached Lone Pine, built my house, and planted my crops by now.”

Mary swatted him and hazarded an apologetic glance at Charlie.

”It's all right,” Charlie said, smiling at her.

She looked down at her food and ate quickly.

After eating, they lounged in the gra.s.s while Billy fed and watered the oxen. Compared to the wagon, Jack felt as if he were lying on a bed of goose down. He had nearly fallen asleep when Silas nudged his boot and said, ”We're moving.”

They walked after the wagon and climbed on. Silas jumped aboard, singing, ”Go to town, look around, till you find your pain-ted cat. Pain-ted cats oh the pain-ted cats, fall in bed with a pain-ted cat!”

He clapped his hands and fell back into a sack of flour.

”Silas!” Billy barked.

While Silas rea.s.sured him the flour was fine, Jack turned back to the prairie. All day, he'd kept a look out for the black coyote but hadn't seen a thing. Perhaps the sight of Silas and Billy had scared it off. Perhaps it would finally leave him alone. Jack, of course, was doubtful. At one point, he saw Charlie watching the gra.s.s. He clearly had his doubts as well.

Trying to ignore his thoughts, Jack looked into the sky, eager for the sunset. A few more hours and it would melt like colored wax. No painting could match a prairie sunset. He'd seen some grand sunsets from Hannigan's Tree.

Who did this to you?

Some rancher. It don't matter, Jack.

You can't let them hurt you, Sally. Look at the bruises on your arm. You got all the colors of a sunset and then some.

So? It's sure as h.e.l.l not the first time.

Tell me who did it.

He's gone, you ninny, leave me alone!

”Jack?”

Jack lifted his head from the wagon bow. He turned his head to see Silas and Charlie staring at him. ”Yeah?” he said.

”You hear Billy?” Silas said. ”We're almost there.”

Jack looked out the back of the wagon. The sun was almost gone. ”How long have I been asleep?”

”A while,” Charlie said.

”We tried to rouse you for a game of cards, but you were gone,” Silas said. ”Resting up for the girls, huh?”

From the front, Billy announced, ”You got any weapons other than that rifle, you better get them out now.”