Forever Ecstasy (41 page)

Joe realized the officer was making valid points. “I do have the authority to work on this mission, Jim— from Tom, Stede, and from the President himself.”

“Authority to kill suspects? By your own admission, you entered camps and attacked men without proof in your favor.”

“They’re guilty!”

“You know it, and I believe you, but what about the law if their friends push for justification? What if this Snake-Man is rich and powerful? What if Zeke and his boys aren’t working for him? Zeke said he was hauling weapons and supplies to trappers and customers in Powder River country. He has receipts to back those sales. Can you prove he did otherwise?”

“He met with a Crow party. Morning Star overheard him say he was carrying them guns and whiskey.”

“Did you actually see the goods exchange hands? No. It’s your word against theirs. You’re the blood brother of the infamous Sun Cloud, son of the infamous Gray Eagle. You’re traveling with the chief’s beautiful daughter. Your best friend was Sun Cloud’s cousin, whose death you want to avenge. The Indian girl as a witness, Joe? She’s from the same band accused of most of the attacks.”

Joe grasped the full seriousness of Jim’s words.

The officer continued. “You could be asking men who think they have good reasons to hate Indians, particularly the Red Hearts, to judge you innocent of slaying white men while aiding and befriending their enemies. You know how Zeke is either feared or revered. Would you want a jury of those men to decide your fate? If I allow you to carry on without approval and at least a few shreds of proof that you’re riding in the right direction, I’m in trouble.”

“If I get Snake-Man and Zeke, neither of us will have to worry.”

“If,
Joe, that’s the hazardous word.”

“After you receive word from Tom and President Fillmore, will we be safe from backlash?”

“Yes. If you remain within the law,” Jim amended.
“Nobody
can break it, Joe, for
any
reason.”

Joe nodded his understanding. “What’s this about a payroll theft by Red Hearts?”

“A unit was coming from Fort Laramie with it. Fifty miles south of what’s called the Badlands, the unit was attacked, robbed and slaughtered. There was one survivor. He exposed the Red Hearts.”

Joe remembered that Jim had said the entire unit had been
killed. At full attention he asked, “When?”

“Last Wednesday. The wounded man got here yesterday. Isn’t the Red Heart band camped on Sunday in or near the Badlands, hunting buffalo?”

“Yes, but they’re not responsible for the slaughter. Sun Cloud promised no attacks, only self-defense. I trust him. You would, too, if you knew him. What made this soldier think it was Red Hearts?”

“The matching symbols on their chests. You probably haven’t seen them prepared for a raid. They paint a red shape like a human heart on their upper left shoulders to show unity or to boast of who they are.”

“Can I question him? Or can you do it for me?”

“As I said, they’re all dead. Dawes, the soldier who made it here, died last night. It took him four grueling days to get here. He might have survived if he’d made it sooner. He lost too much blood along the way. He lived long enough to give a detailed account of the raid and to hand me those items. I had to file a report, Joe. It was a military defeat and other soldiers heard it.”

Joe motioned to the headband and necklace. “How did he get those?”

Jim lifted the knife charm and explained. “This was torn off an attacker’s neck while he was killing a soldier. Dawes pulled the headband off his killer during their struggle. He was left for dead. When he came to, he and the others were missing small scalp locks. I guess you know by now,” he interrupted his answer to say, “Indians don’t cut off the whole head of hair; they just carve out a button size piece to use for decoration. Anyway, Dawes still had Night Stalker’s headband when he awoke. He noticed that
wanapin,
as those charms are called, and figured it could help identify the warriors responsible. I don’t have to tell you how bad this looks for Sun Cloud’s band. That dying soldier had no reason to lie or to aid Snake-Man’s plot.”

Joe glanced at the talisman, so like one he’d seen on a thong around Knife-Slayer’s neck. He fingered the headband with a brown stick figure holding a bow in one hand and a knife in the
other on a black background of artistic beadwork, also so like one he’d seen on his love’s brother. “This leaky boat has bailers, Jim; it isn’t holding the poisoned water Snake-Man tossed in to sink it. Those two warriors wouldn’t be so careless, and they’d never leave behind something so valuable to them;
wanapins
are sacred objects. The band wasn’t under attack from a rescue party and didn’t have to get away fast, so they had time to recover them. It’s part of the frame.”

“Let me take these along,” Joe suggested. “Maybe the Indians can tell me who made them. From what I’ve learned, they each have their own colors and patterns and use certain specific kinds of beads.”

“I can’t give you the evidence, Joe.”

“Just let me borrow them. I’ll return them in that hollow tree soon. I need to see if the Red Hearts recognize these imitations— and they need to see how cleverly they’re being framed, in addition. This way they’ll understand what we’re up against, let them know why the Army has reason to doubt them.”

Jim mused a moment. “All right, but make it quick,” he agreed.

“I can assure you the Red Hearts aren’t involved, and I’ll prove it.”

“I hope so, Joe. I agree that so-called evidence was left there on purpose to make them look guilty. But what if it was other Indians, another Lakota band? Not many white men can pass for Indians. Getting that many who can fool a soldier is doubtful. Timing proves it wasn’t Zeke or George.”

“Maybe they were Crow; they’re siding with Snake-Man. After we leave, we’re checking some Crow camps and we’ll visit Sun Cloud. If the Red Hearts were involved this time, I’ll be honest with you.”

“What about her?” Jim asked, motioning toward the closed door.

“Whoever is to blame, we’ll report it. She wants peace, too. If her brother and other warriors secretly attacked soldiers, she won’t agree with those actions and she’ll make sure they’re punished.”

Jim watched him. “Sounds like you trust her completely.”

Joe strained to keep his real feelings from showing. “I’ve gotten to know her well, Jim, so I do. She’s taught me all she could, and she hasn’t led me on any wild chases. What about this Corporal George Whatever?” Joe ventured, wanting to change the subject. “If he’s from Fort Laramie, maybe he knew about the payroll. Maybe he was over here to report it to his boss. The timing is perfect for his treachery. We need to learn who he is.”

“I’ll handle that when I send this report to Tom. Check the tree in a few weeks. I know Simon Adams is from New Orleans. I plan to send a trusted man downriver on the next boat to do some checking on him.”

“New Orleans?” Joe echoed, and Jim nodded. “We might have answers sooner than that. Stede Gaston lives in New Orleans. He might know something about him. If he does, he’ll put it in his response to my questions. I strongly implied Adams is our man.”

Jim leaned back in his chair and kept his gaze on Joe. “You told me everything you’ve learned about him, didn’t you?”

“One point I didn’t stress to you is his feelings about women.” Joe went over Simon’s words again, then related what Clem had said concerning Morning Star’s fate at the hands of their boss. “Those two patterns match, Jim. See if you can find out if he keeps Indian girls around and how they’re treated.”

Jim stroked his smooth face. “That’ll be tricky, but I’ll try.”

Joe glanced at the missive to Tanner’s father that revealed all the facts and clues he had gathered. It listed questions about Simon, George, and land buys. In a few weeks, he would have more pieces to this puzzle, hopefully enough to begin solving it. Then, he would be going home soon. That thought reminded Joe to ask Jim to mail a letter to Joseph and Annabelle Lawrence in Virginia.

“That’s all for now, Jim. Thanks,” he said as he concealed the borrowed items.

“Ride carefully, Joe,” the officer said, then walked him outside.

Both men looked at Morning Star, whose expression was
impassive. Jim nodded to her, and Joe joined her. The captain watched as the couple mounted and headed for the gate, then he returned to his desk.

“Hide fast!” Morning Star warned, pulling her mount’s reins to the right. She walked Hanmani around a stable, Joe and the packhorse behind her.

When they were out of sight, she explained her behavior. “I look out big door. See Zeke coming. He not have time to see us.”

They hid until Zeke and Farley halted their wagon at the sutler’s store and went inside, then at a pace that wouldn’t attract unwanted attention, they left the fort at the mouth of the White River and rode north. Within a mile, they had to conceal themselves again when they spotted the suspicious scout named George heading for Fort Tabor.

“That’s strange. Zeke and George arriving at the same time,” Joe observed. “As soon as that snake learned we’d been in Pierre, he headed straight here; probably came to see if we’re reporting to the Army. Then, that dubious scout shows up flying in his tailwind. Could be they’re in this area to collect that stolen payroll from those hired renegades. Damn. This eliminates Orin McMichael as our villain; Snake-Man is too smart to be connected so easily to his hirelings.”

Morning Star asked Joe to explain the words she did not understand, then advised, “Too soon to e-lim-min-nate Orin. He give me bad feelings.”

Joe knew why the man’s undisguised lust made her uneasy, but he took her suggestion to heart. “We can’t go back; it’s too dangerous. And if we hang around to spy on them, it’d be our luck they’d stay for days or leave by boat.” Joe didn’t tell her that if he were alone, he’d do just that. Knowing the open range they would have to cover while trailing those bastards, she would be in too much danger of exposure and capture. Besides, those men might do nothing more than visit, then leave and he’d have wasted days, energy, and supplies. He was eager to get moving to find hard evidence. “I’ll have to depend on Jim to observe them. At least he’ll finally get to meet that baffling scout. Let’s put some miles between us and this place. I’ll
tell you everything when we camp tonight.”

They camped before darkness would cover the land, choosing a shady grove on a calm river.

Joe noticed how silent Morning Star had been along their journey; yet, he hadn’t talked much, either. He was deciding if he should tell her everything and, if so, how. If she didn’t know about the homesteading law, it was best not to
mention it
this soon. Her people felt that the Great Spirit owned the land and it was created for their use. To reveal that his government believed they owned her territory and was selling off parcels would only anger and distress her.

Only their chores drew forth words. Soon, a fire and hot meal were underway.

As they ate, Joe asked, “Did you have any problems at the fort?”

“No. I watch soldiers, but they no come near me.”

“Did you overhear anything we said?”

“No. I stay with horses. I did not want men to think I listen. I know you tell me all when we camp.”

Suppressing a pang of guilt, Joe began his revelations. He explained about Jim’s worries and precautions and related he had told the officer everything they had done and discovered. He knew his tone altered when he talked of Jim’s not knowing George and of the captain’s speculations. He saw concern fill her brown eyes when he exposed his and Jim’s peril if they didn’t get written approval for their actions and eventual proof to back them up. He realized she was as shocked and confused by Zeke’s murder charge as he had been.

“You warned me of danger in killing men we chase. I not want you hurt for helping my people.”

“Don’t worry about me, love. I won’t get into any trouble. But we’ll be more careful from now on. I suspect Zeke was either trying to learn if the Army’s on our side or wants to get the law after us to slow down our tracking. It won’t matter, because Jim believes us. I was suspicious of Jim for a time back there,” he admitted. “But I understand his points.”

When Morning Star queried his talk of arrests, trials, courtmartials, judges, and juries, Joe explained them to her.

“You sure you trust soldier? He say not know scout, but scout come to see him. Zeke come same day. That plenty strange, Joe.”

“Maybe just a coincidence, love.”

“What is co-in-ci-dence?”

“Something that happens at the same time and at the same place— but one isn’t a part of the other. If they were there to see Jim, it was about Zeke’s wild charges and George’s mission or his sneaky work for Snake-Man. He must realize he can’t keep his presence in this area a secret, so he’s covering his tracks. I’m sure he isn’t working for Tom or the Army.”

Morning Star observed Joe as his mood became hesitant. She sensed there was more to his meeting with Jim, something bad. His blue gaze exposed an inner conflict that she waited for him to reveal. He scratched his beard and took a few bites of his food as he seemingly stalled the remainder of his talk. “What is so hard to tell me?” she asked, dread chewing at her.

“Jim asked me if we would expose whoever was guilty, Morning Star, even if it’s your brother or anyone from your band. I told him we would, because we both want peace. I was right, wasn’t I?”

“You know you do not have to ask. Yes, I will do it for peace.”

Joe let out a loud sigh of relief and smiled, his gaze filling with love and gratitude. “I was sure, Morning Star, but I had to ask. I had to make you realize what this mission can demand from you and your people. If anybody from your band commits a crime, we can’t protect them.”

“Father gave his word for no attacks. Did you not believe him?”

“I trust Sun Cloud. I trust most of your people. But I worry over what men like Knife-Slayer, Hawk Eyes… and your brother might do.”

Morning Star grasped how difficult the last name was to mention, but she understood why Joe had that feeling. “They will obey Father and the council. It is our way, our… law.”