Apache Flame (33 page)

“Alisha tells me she’s teaching you to read and write.”

“Yes,” he said proudly. “I can write my name.”

“Your name,” Mitch remarked. “What would you think about
having a white name?”

“White name?” Rides the Buffalo shook his head. “Why?”

“Well, you do have white blood in you, too, you know. When
we get back to town, you might be more comfortable if you had a white name. And
you’ll be going to school soon. It might be easier if you had a name that
sounded like everyone else’s.”

“What name would I have?”

“I don’t know. We’d have to talk it over with your mother
and your grandmother.”

“Do you have a white name?”

“Yes, it’s Mitch Garret.”

“Mitch Garret.” He spoke the words slowly. “What does it
mean? How did you get it?”

“Well, Mitch was my grandfather’s name. And Garret was my
father’s name.”

Rides the Buffalo thought about it a moment, and then
nodded. “Will my name be Garret?”

“Well, your last name will be Garret.”

“Last name?”

“White people have two names, a first name and a last name.
Mitch is my first name.”

Rides the Buffalo looked confused. “Can I wear your name?”

“If you like.”

“Is White Robe going with us to the white man’s city?”

“Yes.” When Mitch had first mentioned it to his mother, she
had said she would never go back to Canyon Creek, but she had quickly relented.
Mitch and Rides the Buffalo were the only family she had left.

“Wal, we’re jest about done here,” Red said. “You two
ready?”

Mitch looked at his son. “I’m ready. How about you?”

“I am ready.”

“Then let’s do it.”

* * * * *

The journey, which should have only taken four days at most,
took seven. Red had suggested a travois for Mitch, but Mitch had refused. He
was tired of being treated like an invalid, tired of the weakness that plagued
him, the ache in his side.

They made quite a little caravan, with Clements riding at
the head, followed by White Robe and Rides the Buffalo, with Mitch and Alisha
bringing up the rear.

They stopped frequently so Mitch and Rides the Buffalo could
rest. Alisha hovered over Mitch, her expression perpetually worried.

Rides the Buffalo was excited by the journey. Mitch had
expected him to be reluctant, maybe even frightened, but his son seemed to be
looking forward to seeing the white man’s world. He was eager to learn to read
and write.

Every evening after dinner he asked Alisha to teach him how
to read and write a new word. At the end of the fifth day, he could read and
write all their names.

They rode into Canyon Creek at midmorning. Mitch took a back
trail to the house, avoiding a trip through the center of town.

Rides the Buffalo slid from the back of his horse, his eyes
wide as he looked at Mitch. “Is this your lodge?”

Mitch nodded.

“It is very big.”

“Yeah, it is that.” Lifting his leg over his horse’s neck,
Mitch slid to the ground. He smiled at Alisha. “I’d like to carry you over the
threshold, but I’m afraid I can’t quite manage it.”

She laughed softly. “That’s okay. We aren’t legally married,
you know.”

Mitch grunted softly. “I guess you’re right. We’ll have to
do something about that.”

“We gonna stand here jawin’ all day,” Clements muttered, “or
go inside?”

“We’re going in, old man.”

“Old! Who you callin’ old?”

Mitch looked at his mother. “You coming, Ma?”

White Robe nodded slowly. She stared at the house for
several moments before dismounting. Her steps were heavy as she climbed the
stairs, her eyes sad, making him wonder if it had been a mistake for him to
bring her back here.

As soon as they were inside, Alisha drew back the drapes and
opened all the windows, then she stood in the middle of the parlor and looked
around.

“Well,” Mitch said, “what do you think?”

“I think it needs a coat of white paint to brighten it up.”

“Yeah.” Mitch grinned. “That’s what my mother always said,
right, Ma?”

White Robe nodded. “Living in this house was like living in
a cave. Always dark.”

“Well,” Alisha said briskly, “if you and Mitch have no
objections, I think we’ll have to do some serious redecorating.”

“Feel free to make any changes you want,” Mitch said, glancing
from Alisha to his mother. “I want the two of you to be happy here.”

Alisha winked at White Robe. “It might cost a lot of money.”

“That’s okay,” Mitch said. “We’ve got a lot of money.” He
sank down on the sofa. “Ma, why don’t you show Rides the Buffalo around. Let
him pick out a room for himself. Red, you’re welcome to stay as long as you’ve
a mind to.”

“Obliged,” Clements said. He said down in the big leather
chair that had been Con Garret’s favorite. “I reckon I’ll be movin’ on in the
mornin’. I’m kinda anxious to get back east.”

“I don’t suppose there’s any food in the house,” Alisha
remarked. “I think I’ll go into town and stock up.”

Mitch nodded. “Good idea.”

“I think I’ll go along with ya,” Red said. “Send Dorothy a
wire to let her know I’m on my way.”

Alisha glanced down at her tunic. “I can’t go into town like
this.”

Mitch grunted softly. “There’s a trunk full of my ma’s
clothes up in the attic. My old man wouldn’t let her take anything with her
when she left.” He looked over at Red. “There’s a buggy out back.”

“I’ll be ready in a few minutes,” Alisha told Red.

With a nod, Clements went outside to hitch his horse to the
buggy.

Eager to get out of her worn and stained tunic, Alisha ran
up the stairs. The attic was dark and musty. The trunk was near the door. She
blew the dust off the top, then opened the lid.

She pulled out several dresses, none of which suited her.
She settled on a white shirtwaist with a froth of lace at the throat, and a
dark blue skirt. She found some undergarments near the bottom, along with a
comb and a brush and a package of pins. She also found some stockings and
several pairs of shoes and boots. Gathering everything together, she went
downstairs.

There were several bedrooms on the second floor. She went
into one, shut the door, and changed her clothes. The shoes were a little too
big, but they would do.

Taking up the brush, she ran it through her hair until all
the tangles were gone, then she pinned it in a neat coil at her nape.

She stared at herself in the mirror. She looked much the
same as always, she thought, except for her sun-tanned skin.

She met White Robe and Rides the Buffalo in the hallway when
she left the bedroom.

Alisha smiled at her son. “So, how do you like the house?”

“It is very big. My…” He frowned, searching for the right
word. “Bedroom is bigger than our wickiup. It has a bed that is softer than a
buffalo robe. And a large kettle to wash in.”

Alisha laughed as she moved down the hallway toward the
stairs. “That’s a bathtub.” She glanced over her shoulder at White Robe. “I’m
going into town. Can I get you anything?”

White Robe shook her head. “No.”

“I hope you don’t mind my wearing your clothes.”

“No. You are welcome to them.”

Alisha paused at the head of the stairs. “Are you coming
down?”

“No. I think I will go up and see if I can find a change of
clothes.” White Robe looked at Rides the Buffalo. “And I think it is time this
one had a bath.”

“I think so, too,” Alisha said. She grinned at her son.
“I’ll see you both later.”

Turning, she went down the stairs.

Red was waiting for her. “You ready?”

“Yes. Do you want anything from town, Mitch?”

He shook his head. “I don’t think so.”

“All right.” Crossing the floor, she bent down and kissed
his cheek. “I’ll be back as soon as I can. Get some rest, all right?”

“I’m fine.”

She kissed him again, then followed Red out the door.

* * * * *

She knew it was only her imagination, but Canyon Creek
seemed bigger than when she left. She nodded at Mrs. Moss and Mrs. Hazelwood as
they drove down the street, conscious of their curious stares. She hadn’t told
anyone but Chloe that she was leaving town, and even then, she hadn’t told her
why.

Alisha laid her hand on Red’s arm when they approached the
office of the Canyon Creek Gazette. “Pull up here, will you, Red?”

With a nod, he reined his horse to a halt. Leaping lightly
to the ground, he rounded the buggy and helped Alisha down.

“I won’t be long. Why don’t you go over to the telegraph
office and send your message, and I’ll meet you at the mercantile?”

“All right, missy.” Climbing up on the seat, he lifted the
reins and clucked to the horse.

Lifting her skirts, Alisha went up the stairs, thinking how
strange it felt to wear petticoats and drawers and stockings again. Opening the
door, she stepped into the newspaper office.

“Hello, Mr. Quimby. Is Chloe here?”

“Miss Faraday! Where in tarnation have you been? Chloe’s
been worried sick about you. Chloe! Come on out here.”

“What’s wrong, Sylvester? You don’t have to shout. I’m
not…Alisha!” Wiping her hands on the big white apron that covered her dress,
Chloe hurried across the room and embraced the younger woman. “Where have you
been? I’ve been worried to death.”

“I took a rather long trip.”

Chloe held Alisha at arm’s length and looked her up and
down. “Well, you don’t look any the worse for the journey. Where on earth did
you go?”

“It’s a long story, Chloe.” Alisha glanced at Sylvester.
“I’ll tell you all about it some other time, all right?”

Chloe nodded, but her expression was doubtful.

“I need to pick up my things. Are they still here?”

“No, they’re up at the house. Where are you staying? I’ll
have Sylvester drop them off on after work.”

“I don’t want to put him to any trouble.”

“Oh, pish posh, it’s no trouble at all. Just tell us where
you want them.”

Alisha took a deep breath. “I’m staying up at the Garret
place.”

Chloe blinked several times, slowly. “The Garret place?”

“Yes.”

“The Garret place,” Chloe repeated. “Why would you be
staying there?”

“Well.” Alisha glanced from Chloe to Sylvester and back
again. “That’s where my husband lives.”

“Husband!” Chloe exclaimed.

“Husband!” Sylvester blurted.

Chloe drooped into the chair beside her husband’s desk.
“When did this happen?”

“Recently.”

“I really need to go,” Alisha said.

“Oh, no, you don’t!” Chloe jumped out of the chair and
grabbed Alisha by the arm. “You’re not leaving here until you tell me
everything.”

* * * * *

Red Clements was sitting in a rocker outside the general
store when Alisha arrived.

“Wal, I about give up on ya,” he said.

“I’m sorry. I got detained.”

Red grunted. “I been waitin’ here near an hour.”

“I know. I’m sorry. I won’t be long.”

With an apologetic smile, Alisha opened the door and stepped
inside. She nodded at Mr. Halstead, picked up a basket from beside the front
counter, and made her way down the first aisle.

It was Saturday afternoon, and the store was crowded. She
was aware of the whispers that followed her, people wondering where she had
been, what she was going to do now that her father was gone and the school
board had hired a new teacher.

Alisha felt a twinge of regret when she heard about the new
teacher. She had loved teaching and hoped she might be able to go back to it,
but it was her own fault they had replaced her. She should have notified the
school board before she left town, but she simply hadn’t thought of it until it
was too late.

She walked up and down the aisles, automatically filling her
basket with food stuffs. But food was the farthest thing from her mind. She was
a mother now, with a son to think of, yet they were still strangers to each
other. Her mother-in-law was living with her, and she wondered what problems
that was going to cause. White Robe had been Rides the Buffalo’s mother for the
last four years. She was accustomed to raising him, disciplining him. It
wouldn’t be easy for her to relinquish that position. And Mitch… They were
married, and yet that marriage, performed by an Apache medicine man, would not
be recognized here in town.

She moved to the back of the store where the clothing was
kept. Rides the Buffalo needed clothing. She picked out a couple of shirts that
looked to be the right size, two pairs of corduroy trousers, a suit of
underwear, several pairs of socks, a pair of boots. She wondered how he would
feel about his new clothes, if he would object to giving up buckskin in favor
of corduroy and cotton.

She paid for her purchases at the counter, waited while Mr.
Halstead wrapped them for her.

Red stood up when she exited the store. Coming forward, he
took a couple of her packages. “Got everything you need?”

“Yes, I think so.”

They stowed her purchases under the seat, then Red helped
her into the buggy and they were on their way.

“Somethin’ troubling you, missy?” he asked as he put the
horse into a trot.

“No. Yes. I don’t know.”

Red grunted. “Well, which is it?”

“Oh, Red, I’m so confused. I was so eager to find my son, I
never thought past that. Now he’s here, and I’m not sure what to do. I’m his
mother, but I’m not, really. White Robe is. She raised him. She’s the one who’s
taken care of him his whole life.” She sniffed back her tears, torn by the
question that had plagued her from the beginning. “What if he never thinks of
me as his mother?”

“Here, now,” Red chided. Reining the horse to a halt, he
patted her shoulder. “Give the boy some time. Lotta changes in his life, kind
of sudden like, you know.”

“I know.” She sniffed.

“Lotta changes in your life, too, I reckon.”