Flower of My Heart
1894
Carson approached the rendezvous point with caution. Lillian had fallen asleep against his shoulder from sheer exhaustion. Carson spotted the campfire and the covered wagon. A man stepped out from behind and spotted the rider.
"I was expecting you yesterday. Is that the latest cargo? She don't look much like a squaw."
"Mr. Crabtree's been after this one for eight years," Carson replied.
"What's so special about this one?"
"Prettiest little songbird you ever heard. And if anything happens to her, Mr. Crabtree will have your head."
"Where she's going her voice won't be the only thing they'll appreciate."
"She's pretty headstrong," Carson said. "You may have to keep her in line. Put her in with some of the more experienced. They'll teach her the ropes. I'll inform Mr. Crabtree. He's going to want to see this one personally." Carson climbed on his horse. "Don't forget, as usual, the cargo must be in San Francisco by the end of the month, all twelve must be in the best condition. Last time we lost three of them. The rest came down with the fever. Couldn't send our shipment for that year. Any one of them get sick, it'll be your responsibility."
*****
Caine approached the village with less than his usual calm. Villagers watched as the strange medicine man who was part white man and part yellow came among them. Surprise shown on some of the faces, not having seen the man for several months. Rumors had traveled on the wind saying this particular man had finally met his end. Children raced up to Caine and he stopped and picked up a young girl. He had saved her and many of her people from a fever that had decimated the village a few years ago. Even the villager's own medicine man had succumbed to it. Then one night, out of the desert, a strange white man came and healed many of their sick. Rumors of the man had been heard of before, but many of the people believed him to be a myth. It was said that he had helped an old Indian to reclaim the land of his birth so he could die. No one had ever done that for the people before. The man became an honored brother.
Caine bowed to the chief of the tribe as he emerged from his lodge.
"Greetings, my friend. My eyes see with joy to know that you still walk among us."
"We must talk," Caine said quietly. "I have come for your aid."
"Come, my wife will fix us something to eat."
Caine and the chief entered the lodge and sat around the fire that graced the center of the room. Off to one side, a woman was mixing cornmeal and preparing flat bread on some hot stones. In a smaller pot, water boiled. The woman opened a terra cotta jar and pulled out some corn on the cob and placed it into the boiling water. Other vegetables followed carrots, onions, and what appeared to be a root of some kind. Usually the natives would eat meat, but when Caine was with them, they would honor his choice of not eating animal flesh, even within his presence. Though Caine understood their customs, he appreciated the gesture just the same.
After the meal was served and consumed, the chief asked Caine, "What brings you to my village?"
"A woman was taken. She was traveling to the home of her father with a friend when they were attacked. The man was injured."
Caine continued to describe the events that Matthew had told him about. He also described the man who had taken Lillian and what Lillian looked like so they would know her if she was spotted by one of their scouts.
"A man and a woman did enter our land yesterday just as you described. We watched as the man met someone else and handed the woman over to that man. Then both departed. The man on horseback went south. The man he met had a covered wagon and headed west. We watched them both until they left."
Caine listened with dismay. If they were no longer in Indian Territory, tracking them was not going to be easy.
"Can you take me to where they were?"
"I will send two braves with you. They will tell you what they have seen. Is this woman important to you?"
Without hesitation, Caine found himself answering more with his heart than he had ever dreamed. "Yes, very much so."
"Then I wish you well, my friend. May the Great Spirit guide you on your quest."
End of Part 12
Alisa Joaquin Copyright@2000.
This story cannot be reprinted or sold in any other form without strict permission from
the author. It is being distributed here solely for your enjoyment.
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