Chapter 37
Four days on the road and Lucky had talked till he was blue in the face. He thought he was making progress with Tempest, but he couldn’t be sure. He’d explained again and again about the Sun Rattler clan, their history, their power, their importance. At first, she hadn’t even pretended to listen, but finally, by the end of day two, he could tell he was catching her interest.
But she wouldn’t let him near her. They bedded down on opposite sides of the campfire. He was hurting, but he could tell that she was hurting just as much, if not more. He didn’t know what else to say to reach her. One thing he did know. They were running out of time.
He didn’t want to arrive in Skullyville with things crossways between them. For that matter, he didn’t want to live the rest of his life that way. But she was mad as an old settin’ hen and stubborn as a mule. She wouldn’t have any reason to be angry at him if she’d just admit that they were both responsible for her being with child, a fact he didn’t doubt after the power of the ceremony. Well, no reason other than the fact that he’d known the probable outcome, hadn’t warned her, and didn’t protect her. But he’d explained that it was the only way to keep her safe from Crawdaddy and other predatory Rattlers. The trouble with that argument was that she’d most likely never encountered a man like Crawdaddy, so she couldn’t begin to understand his ruthlessness.
There was another problem he hadn’t counted on, either. Maybe she didn’t like babies. He couldn’t believe she wouldn’t treasure their child as much as he would, but if she wouldn’t see reason, he’d raise their child on his own with Apokni, or Grandmother Rattler’s help. It wouldn’t be right, and they’d all suffer from the separation, but he’d do it.
“If it’ll ease your mind,” Lucky said, “we can get married the American way as soon as we find a justice of the peace.”
“How kind,” she said, sarcasm dripping from her voice. “What makes you think I’d want to be tied up with you any more than I already am?”
“For the baby’s sake, if not ours.”
“I told you. There is no baby.”
“Tempest, you’re my bride.”
“Our relationship is business now. We should have kept it that way.”
“I explained—”
“No. I’ve heard your story too many times. I’m sick to death of Rattlers, particularly the two-legged kind.”
He clamped his mouth shut. Maybe he hadn’t made as much progress as he’d thought. There was no point in aggravating the situation. He needed to change the subject till she cooled off, if she ever did.
“We’ll be reaching Skullyville soon.” He pointed ahead.
“That’s an odd name for a town.”
“It’s a corruption of the Choctaw word iskuli combined with the French ville. Basically, it means Money Town.”
“But why?”
“From 1831 to 1834, the Choctaw were removed from their homes, farms, and towns in Mississippi and Alabama by the U.S. government. Thousands died en route because soldiers forced them to walk in winter through ice and snow with little food and no shelter. Many of those who survived were sent to the wilderness here where the United States established an agency. In order not to starve, Choctaws came to Skullyville to receive government payments as scant compensation for what was taken from them.”
“That’s terrible. I had no idea. They couldn’t keep their homes?”
“Or their ancient homeland.” He glanced over at her and was surprised to see her put a hand to her stomach, as if in protection. “Some brave souls chose to remain, but their lives were drastically changed by their losses.”
“I don’t understand. Couldn’t the Choctaw bring their household goods, cattle, hogs, chickens?”
“In many cases, Americans stood outside Choctaw homes, waiting for soldiers to remove the residents. American lottery winners walked inside where food was cooking, sat down at Choctaw tables, milked Choctaw cows, and harvested Choctaw farms and gardens.”
“But surely that can’t be legal in the United States. We have a Constitution and a Bill of Rights. Our government can’t just take somebody’s money and property.”
“Indians aren’t American citizens. I am, but I’m mixed-blood. You need to understand that if a government creates a law and has the arms to back it up, the people who represent that government can do anything they like to those without power or the ability to defend themselves.”
“That’s scary. It’s also why you carry so many guns, isn’t it?”
“Anything in life can be taken from you, except knowledge and spirit.”
“Love? Family?”
He looked directly at her, willing her to understand the importance of what they were building together. “Those, too.”
She shook her head as tears filled her eyes. “That explains why you’re Chief of the Secret Order of Sun Rattlers. You’re doing everything you can to preserve your heritage and culture.”
“And my Rattler clan.” He raised his voice. “We will never forget the Trail of Tears. And we will never forget that governments can easily make treaties, but their representatives can just as easily tear them apart. Once a man or woman breaks their word, you can no longer trust them.”
“No exceptions?”
“None, if you value your life.”
“I’m sorry about what happened to the Indians.”
“You didn’t do it.”
“But I’m descended from people who benefited from it.”
“So am I.” He reached over and squeezed her hand. He felt heartened when she didn’t swat him away. “It’s important to remember the past so that we don’t repeat the errors or forget the transgressions. But the present and future are what count now.”
She nodded, not looking at him.
“I want to build a future with you. Will you let me?”
She turned her horse away, putting space between them. “It’s too soon. I understand a lot more now, but it’s still not quite real. I want to complete this job for you, but then—”
“I’m not asking you to make a decision this moment, but please tell me you’ll keep an open mind.”
She looked at him with violet eyes that appeared bruised and puffy from tears. “I can’t stay mad at you forever, but I’m scared and hurt.”
“I apologize again. If I could have handled our situation in any other way, I would have done it.”
She took a deep breath. “Let’s set aside our differences for now, so we can work together.”
“Let’s get the lay of the land in Skullyville.” He smiled at her. “You’ll like the fact that New Hope Seminary, a boarding school for one hundred Choctaw girls, is nearby.”
“That’s impressive.”
“And then seven miles north near the Arkansas River is Fort Coffee. After the buildings were abandoned by the U.S. military, it was established as an academy for Choctaw boys, but then closed during the War Between the States.”
“Sounds like the Choctaw are concerned with educating their children.”
“True. Even more, they consider children their greatest gifts.”
She put a hand to her stomach again. “I think they’re right.”
And he thought he had hope, if he could keep them both alive long enough to rescue the Soleil Wheel.
He’d been distracted on the long ride, but he’d kept watch for gunslingers and outlaws. He’d almost have been relieved if somebody had tried to stop them because it would have meant that all the firepower wasn’t being concentrated on the Mounds near Fort Coffee.
They were riding into danger. He could feel a stirring of the spiderweb like he had in Delaware Bend. Only this time forces were massing at the center. He was almost there with Tempest. And Crawdaddy would know it.
He slipped the leather guard off his Winchester and touched the S&W .44 on his hip. If there was an attack, he had to be quick and deadly.