Sweet Savage Surrender (45 page)

John
motioned for her to sit down beside him.  "Tell me everything you did and saw.  It is the only way I can even think to set Skyraven free.  The chief of the fort is an evil man.  I can't
let her stay in his clutches."

Desert Flower took a seat beside him, her voice shaking with emotion as she relived the fear and revulsion she had experienced watching
the slaughter of her people. She told him of Skyraven’s bravery in coming to help her and her baby Big Bear flee to safety,
h
ow the soldiers were shooting at the runni
ng Indians, offering no mercy.

"We took refuge in the bank.  Skyraven hid me and my baby in the weeds. I...I think she ran away to lead the soldiers away from my hiding place.  It was then she got captured by two soldiers.
As I told you, they rode right by where I was hiding and it
was then I heard them
mention taking her with them."

"They did not say anything abo
ut going after Indians?"

"No."

"Then in all
likelihood
they did not go with Chivington.  The fort then is the only answer."  John sighed wearily.  Did he dare sneak into the fort to try and free her?  What other choice did he have?  After what he'd seen today there wasn't anything he
would put past
C
hivington or Sedgwick
.  He'd heard that several of the soldiers had even blatantly shot Jack Smith, a man of half white, half Indian blood
merely
because they had some bone to pick with
him. All
Chivington had replied was
,
"I have given the order that no prisoners be taken."  What if
,
after having survived the massacre
,
Skyraven was similarly murdered?  He couldn't take the chance that she might be in danger.  With that thought in mind
, he bounded to his feet.

"You are going to free her?"  Desert Flower tried to smile but managed only
a grimace.  "Then I am glad."

"What of you?"  Knowing how much Skyraven loved her friend and the baby
,
he knew he couldn't just desert the
m.

"Some of us survived.  Not many, but a few.  My husband and Skyraven
's grandfather among them...."

"Her grandfather?"  He rejoiced in that bit of news.  Perhaps
Buffalo
's Brother
did have some magic after all.

"I saw them from the hill, but I was too afraid to come out of hiding to join them.  I returned to camp hoping they might still be here but found only you.  They...th
ey must think that I am dead."

"Where were they headed?"  It was his intent to at least lead Desert Flower to her people before he started back towards the fort.  He couldn't
just leave her here all alone.

"I think they must be headed for the Smokey Hills, where some of our people are still encamped.  The ones who did not want pea
ce.  We will join them there."

"Then I will take you in that direction.  Once you are safe
,
I will go get  Skyraven and we will join you.  Would you take me in, Desert Flower.  Can I become an Indian?  In truth I don'
t want to be a soldier.  Not anymore...."

"Yes, we will take you in, John Hanlen....."  She reached out and took his hand as a sign of good faith, then followed him as he made his way to where his horse was waiting.

             
Chapter Forty-Seven

             
Sounds travel far in the stillness of the plains
.
John soo
n learned that the Indians had hon
ed their sense of hearing.  T
o him, the night appeared silent, but Desert flower listened keenly, and utilized the sounds she alone heard to guide John in the proper direction.
Thus it took less time than he had thought possible to catch up with the party of
surv
iving
Indians headed
north
east.  Taking off his neckerchief
,
he waved it frantically as a sign f peace as he came upon them, though as he came closer he could see that he had little to fear from
the
pathetically
ragged band.

"What do you want, white man?" Blue Fox's initial reaction was hostility
, but then
he saw the precious gift
s
John was bearing as a sign of his good will.  "
My wife!  My child!  How....?"

John aided Desert Flower
, who cradled Big Bear in her arms, to get
down off his horse
and responded to the question
. 
"It's a long story, Blue Fox, o
ne which your wife will tell you as she warms herself by your night fires.  All I want you to know is that I was never against you, that just as you were betrayed by talk of peace by the soldiers, so was I.  Words can never express what I feel at this moment, nor can my sorrow bring back those who died.
All I can tell you is that not all white men are evil. I was not alone in
counseling
against what happened, but men do not always listen to wisdom."

"Skyraven's soldier did not fight us,
H
usband.  And because of that
,
he was taken prisoner by his own.  It is as your father often said, a man must be judged
for what is in his own heart."

"Then to you I will offer my hand in friendship."  Though Blue Fox never thought he could look upon a
white
man's
face again without feeling hatred
,
with John Hanlen
he made the gesture of peace.

They talked briefly, for John was anxious to see to Skyraven's safety, but he did learn that news trav
els quickly among Indians and what
had happened at Sand Creek was  already being retold at the lodge fires of the various tribes.  The reaction of the other plains
chiefs was quick and violent: they were advocating an all-
out Indian war
.

"But that will mean more death, more
destruction...."  John argued.

"That is what Black Kettle is insisting.  He was deeply angry at the slaughter, yet still he does not advocate all-out war.  He continues to believe that the destiny of the
Cheyenne
is to make peace, for both white
and red men to live in peace."

"And what do you b
elieve, Blue Fox?" John asked.

"I think Black Kettle is a fool.  I will not make war on you but I can not promise
the same for other white men."

"I hope that time will cool
your heart
.  That is my prayer." 

John learned that Skyraven's grandfather was in charge of his people's move.  He, as medicine man, was seen to be a man of great power whom the Arapaho would obey.  Now he was leading his group of people in singing prayers to the Great Spirit to insure a safe journey to their new camp.  John made him the promise that if it was within his power he would
see his granddaughter again. 
             

After the massacre
,
many the survivors of Skyraven's people had been given food, blankets and clothing by other tribes who had seen what had happened from a distance.  With winter fast approaching
,
it gave John at least a measure of hope that they would be safe, at least for the moment.  He did, however, warn them to keep an eye ou
t for Chivington's men.

"Lone Wolf is patrol
ling the area with his band of d
og soldiers.  We will be safe," Blue Fox answered.  "But what of you?  What
will you do now, John Hanlen?"

“Now I will attempt to find
Skyraven.  If I am successful
,
I will free her and we will travel back here.  Will you grant me asylum?" Desert Fox could not answer for the others, but after a hasty vote was taken it was agreed
that John would be welcome
.  Then with a nodded farewell, John set o
ff  in a southerly direction toward the fort.

The moon shone through the mist of the night, looking like liquid silver, shedding just enough light by which to travel along.  John saw no sign of either Indians or soldiers until he came
close to the fort. Then he had to be very cautious for m
ost definitely he didn'
t want to run into Chivington.

"So far, so good..." he whispered as he came closer to the fort.  He could see flags flapping in the crisp cool air, could hear the neighing of horses from the cavalry stables
,
but so far no alarm had been sounded and he knew the hope
that he had not been spotted.

John thought quickly.  Chivington knew he had been taken prisoner, Sedgewick knew, and a few of the other soldiers who had been on the Indian raid knew
,
but was it general knowledge at the fort?  Had the soldiers who had been guarding him returned yet? If so
, his return to the
fort
would
be the last thought on their minds and they would be
searching
the
territory
outside
the fort
.

The doors were
barricaded
shut.  There was no way of getting in without using subterfuge.  Were he to try and climb the wall he might be shot
,
but if he entered at the gate
…..
?  He had to take the chance.  Pulling his hat low on his face
,
he pretended to be
very
drunk. 

"Open up the gate to a returning hero," he called out.  "An Indian f
ighter, that's me, yesiree..."

"Who goe
s there?"  called out a voice.

Remembering that a few of the Colorado Third's men had returned and that they were not well known about the fort he shouted out a fictious name.  Herbert Booth at your service.  From the bloody Colorado Third.  Nope, after what we done we're not the "bloodless" any more.  No sir.  And I got
me some
souvenirs
to prove it."

"Let him in,"  called out another voice.  "He's obviously not an Indian.  Let him settle with his commander later on for tr
aipsing in at such an hour. For now just write down his name."

As the gates creaked open John put his saddle blanket up to his face as if assessing his treasures.
It had all been so easy he was nearly afraid to hope that
his luck would continue.
Getting off his horse
,
he pretended to stagger as he headed for the stables and felt immense relief when he was not followed.  Even so
,
he clung to the shadows.  He had to find Sam Dunham.  Sam was the only man he
fully trusted inside the fort and he would know what
was going on
. If
Skyraven
was anywhere within the fort, he undoubtedly knew that as well.

The fort was a rectangle of rock quarters, stuck together with clay mortar, with flat, dirt-covered roofs and dirt floors.  Facing each other from the east and west were two rows of soldiers' barracks
.  T
o the south were the corrals where John supposed the "stray" Indian ponies were being held,
in
the north were the officer's quarters, eight of them
for the important officers who
until tonight had included him.  Sam's quarters were right in between the soldiers' barracks and the officers' units, the place he headed for now.  Oh how he hoped Sam was
inside and not out drinking.

Using the shadows
to hide, John ducked from building to building.  Upon reaching Sam's room
,
he paused to look over his shoulder, put his ear to the door, and hearing Sam's loud snoring, knocked loudly.  When the door went unanswered h
e knocked again, calling out Sam’s
name
loudly.
At last th
e door was opened.

"Maj.....!"  John blocked off his exclamation by putting his hand over Sam's mouth and pushing him inside the room.  He kicked the door  shut behind him and then and only then removed his hand.  "What are you doing here?  Are you crazy?  Have you taken total leave of your senses?  Sedgwick is as mad as a hornet.  When those men came back and told him you'd escaped I thought he was going to have apop
lexy right then and there...."

"I came back for Skyraven.  One of the Indians I talked with seemed to think she was brought back here as a prisoner. 
Is that so?

Sam shook his head "yes". 

"Where is she?"

"Sedgwick has her."

"Sedgwick!"  It was exactly what John had feared.  "I'll wring his neck
.  Where have they taken her?"

Sam touched his arm.  "It's not as bad as you think.  Mrs. Sedgwick took a
liking to her, wanted a maid."

"A maid?"  John could never imagine Skyraven working in such a capac
ity with her fiercesome pride.

"Skyraven is living with the Sedgwicks.  She has her own room.  Actually she's being treated rather well."  He sens
ed John's intent.  "Don't...."

"I have to.  I can't trust Sedgwick.  If she were to anger him
he might harm her.
  I want to free her and take her a
way with me."

"As far away as you can go, Major.  They're calling for y
our head on a silver platter."

"I'll take my chances.  But I have to do this, Sam.  I love her more than I ever thought it possible to
love a woman.  She's my life.” He tried to smile.
"Wish me luck.  And don't get yourself involved in any of this.  If anyone asks
,
you never
laid eyes on me.  All right?"

"Laid eyes on who?  What?"  Sam grinned.  "Good luck.  Get the hell out of here
. Y
ou tw
o
try to be happy
…i
f you can
,
after what has happened."  He pushed John towa
rds the door.  "Now hurry!"

John didn't have to be told, though he knew that now he entered the most dangerous phase of his journey.  How was he going to sneak Skyraven out from beneath Sedgwick's very nose? 
Undoubtedly they'd have her
locked up
somewhere, for
Sedgwick wouldn
't  want her to escape.  Then the
thought entered John's mind
, that
it
was
possible that Henry had any inkling that Skyraven was the Indian girl he loved?  If so
,
her being under Sedgwick's care could very well be a trap.  Could he take the chance?  His heart
answered for him.  He had to.

John made his way to the officers' quarters cautioning himself to be twice as wary.  Undoubtedly anyone he met now would recognize him at on
ce.  He would not be able to fool those men into thinking he was Herbert Booth.
Pausing for just a moment to slip back into the shadows
,
he took off his boots, not wanting the squeak of his soles or the  clatter of his heels to give him away.  Discarding them in a corner where he could retri
eve them, he crept in stocking
feet down the boardwalk.  Was he crazy in thinking he could maneuver Skyraven's rescue.  He was beginning to think that he was, yet knew there was no other way.  He wouldn
't leave the fort without her.

Seeing the tall, lithe figure of an army officer in uniform, he hastily ducked behind a pole.  Sedgwick.  It had to be. Peering from behind the pole
,
he ascertained that
indeed it was the lieutenant c
olonel. John didn't know where he wa
s going but certainly his absenc
e would make everything much easier. 
He knew that Sedgwick’s wife,
Gw
en Ella was a sensible woman and doubted
she'd give him much trouble.  Of course he'd have to tie her up, which he deeply regrett
ed, but it couldn't be helped.