Surviving Day by Day (Book 3): Still They Come (4 page)

He started to cover the puppies, but Ceara stopped him. “Alden, why did you say no?”

Alden looked from her to the puppies, there were four and each had its own distinct markings. “You aren’t ready and puppies are loud. You got Max after he was grown, these will take a lot of time and training.”

Ceara got that stubborn look that Alden was hoping to see, “I can decide when I’m ready and I say I am. Niz said we need them to help with the cows so I think we should keep them. You can train them, you trained Tonto!”

Alden reached over and grabbed one of the puppies by the scruff and held him up, “They are yelpers at this age, and we don’t need that.”

Ceara quickly took the puppy, “They haven’t made a sound yet! Please Alden, it’s been three weeks and I know that isn’t that long but we could use them and I bet they would be smarter than… I mean smart.”

She didn’t want to say Maximus was not smart; he was a great dog, just not as well trained as these could be. “Plus you can teach me as you train them.”

Stray Eagle lifted a second puppy in his arms, “These have been taught since birth not to make noise. You won’t have to worry about that.”

Ceara hugged the one to her chest, “Alden, I can take care of them! I promise!”

Alden grinned, “Ok kid, but every training session I want you there, no bitching.”

“DEAL!”

Stray Eagle set his puppy on the ground and motioned for Alden to follow him, once they were away from Ceara he turned smiling at Alden. “That played out just like you said it would.”

Alden leaned on one of the trucks, “I knew if I just said we got new dogs, Ceara would have thought I was not just forgetting Max but replacing him. I had to make her want them and make her think it was her choice.”

“I have one last thing to talk to you about. Our chief wants to meet you. That is why we waited so long to return, he wanted to see if you would survive out here and see if you would try to attack us. Once time had passed, he knew you and your group had passed both those tests. He thinks it would be good to know one another.”

Alden did what he always did, he looked to the horizon and thought, weighing out the pros and cons.

Charlie walked up to Ceara who was holding one of the puppies. “Alden said you can keep them?”

Ceara nuzzled the little pup taking in the puppy scent and smiling, “Yes he did, but I had to almost beg him.”

Charlie reached up and rubbed the little pups head then gave Ceara a kiss on the cheek. He turned and walked over to help Billy and the other young men load the wagon. As he walked, he suddenly was tripped by something under his feet. Looking down one of the pups was running around his feet biting at his pant leg.

Colt was chuckling as Charlie was high stepping to keep from hurting the pup. The pup had other ideas and was nipping and pulling at Charlie’s pant leg and boot laces.

Colt and the other men were laughing at the sight.

“Charlie, if you quit that damn dancing, the dog will quit his playing.” Charlie looked at Colt and stopped. The puppy pulled at his pant leg a couple of times then bit at his boots. When it realized that Charlie no longer wanted to play, it simply laid down across his boot.

Charlie looked at Colt, “Okay Einstein, now what?”
Colt smirked, “You haven’t had much experience with dogs have you?”

Charlie shook his head, “No, the sisters never allowed pets in the orphanage. They said they were dirty little creatures.”

Colt frowned a little realizing he may have struck a nerve. Rebounding quickly, he looked at Charlie then the pup, “Okay here’s what you do. Slowly kneel down and pet his head. Let him know you’re a good guy. Then gently but firmly push him off your boot. He’ll sit up then you pet him again and say c’mon.”

Charlie looked at Colt, “Really, it’s that simple.”

Billy spoke up with a kind tone, “Yea man, it is. The dog feels your spirit and it trusts you, otherwise, it would have stayed with the others.”

Charlie did as he was told, when he started to walk away, the puppy fell in right next to him, its head moving back and forth watching everything that moved.

Charlie got to the trailer and looked at the puppy, then picked it up and set it on a box, “You stay here, I got work to do so you keep an eye out for the bad guys.”

As the men loaded the wagon Charlie looked to Billy, “No offense Billy, but you guys really believe in that animal spirit stuff, don’t ya?”

Billy smiled, “You white guys, no offense, would do well to listen to your hearts rather than your heads and the books you read. What I have learned from my Fathers and Grandfathers of the tribe would fill volumes of what your people do not know.”

Billy reached down to pick up a few cases of canned goods. Charlie picked up a stack next to it, “You know Billy, when we get this loaded, maybe sometime soon you and I can get together and you can teach me a few things.”

Billy turned and looked at him, “I’ll talk to you but I’m serious when I say, if you laugh or chuckle or make fun of anything about my people, then we will go back to being simple neighbors.”

Colt watched the two as they talked and could see the expression on both their faces. Charlie reached a hand out to Billy and Billy clasped his arm just below the elbow. Charlie’s words were low but firm and serious, “I promise you, I will not laugh. In the last few months, I have learned a lot about Native American ways from Alden.”

Billy looked to where Alden, Stray Eagle and Running Buffalo stood then looked back to Charlie, “He is trusted among the old ones, which tells me that he is a good man.” The two shook arms and went back to work.

Tabitha stood at the back door hidden by the screen door watching everyone. The Indians had seemed to really be getting along with everyone. Beth stood talking to a new female. The girl stood about five foot nothing, very thin in her tight fitting jeans. Her straight, black hair was hitting about the middle of her back. The closer she looked, she realized the girl wasn’t as young as she thought, perhaps in her late twenties or early thirties. Tabitha wondered if she was their in house medic.

Ceara was sitting in the dirt playing with a puppy, “Great, another dog,”Thought Tabitha. Then she spotted the one on the trailer by Charlie, “What did they do? Pawn a whole litter off on us?” Her curiosity got the better of her and she stepped outside.

“Tabitha! Come over here, I want you to meet someone.” Beth was smiling as she motioned her over. “Niz, this is Tabitha… She is the last of our group for you to meet.”

Tabitha’s heart ached when Beth said that but it was getting better every day. She held out her hand to Niz, “Nicetameetcha, you the resident medic for your group?”

Niz laughed, “You can say tribe. It isn’t offensive if that is what we are and no, I’m more like resident know it all, and pain in the ass.”
Tabitha couldn’t help but like the girl, “You’re in luck, that’s my role here. Maybe we can swap tips and tricks some time.” Tabitha turned to Beth, “I’m going to check on things, you guys have fun.”

Tabitha walked over to Ceara, “What’s with the mutts?”

Ceara still sat in the dirt playing, “They brought them for us, we have to train them, but Stray Eagle said they are already trained to be quiet!!”

“Just the two? What did they think we would want them for? Was Alden ok with it?”

Ceara nodded excitedly, “Yep! I had to talk him into it and there are two more in the trailer! Aren’t they cute!? They said we needed them to help with the cows they brought.”

Tabitha shook head and went to the trailer, flipping the cover off them again. The smallest of the litter jumped up trying very hard to get her attention. “Relax mutt, I’ll let you out but you are on your own after that.”

She picked it up and set it on the ground, it ran around her feet as she got the other one. Tabitha smiled as she woke the last one up, “I had to get up, so do you.”

As soon as she set it down, it took off for the group of men, but the other one stayed right with her. Tabitha walked back over to Ceara and the runt followed wagging his little tail. Ceara smiled, “I think he likes you!”

Tabitha glared down at the puppy, “He looks like a rat.”

Ceara laughed harder, “Tabitha… that was mean, just sit down a minute and see if he stays or runs off.”

Tabitha shrugged her shoulders and dropped down with Ceara, “Now what?”

Ceara didn’t have to say a word, the puppy climbed in Tabitha’s lap trying very hard to lick her face. Tabitha had to smile, “Typical male, attention starved for the first woman to pay any attention to them at all.”

Ceara was softly petting her now, sleeping puppy, “Don’t worry, they wear out quick.”

“Yeah well this one is going to be named Mickey.” Ceara gave her a quizzical look and Tabitha picked the puppy up turning it to face Ceara. “See, he looks like a rat, biggest rat I know is Mickey Mouse.”

Ceara burst out laughing, waking her puppy.
Alden walked over to the wagon, “You boys about done?”
Charlie nodded and Colt grinned, “Yeah boss, I think so.”

Stray Eagle looked at Billy and the others, “Billy, Alden is going to be returning with us. I want you to go with”, He paused and looked at Charlie, “Charlie is it?” Charlie nodded. “Go with Charlie and get him a horse saddled up”

Alden turned to Colt who was looking wide eyed, “You go saddle one for yourself and get us a couple of rifles, you’re going too.”
Tabitha saw them go into the barn and followed along with Ceara.

“What are you guys up to?”
Colt turned, “Alden and I are going back to their camp.” He said as he finished putting the saddle on his horse.

Tabitha looked at Ceara and it was Ceara’s turn, “And why is that?”
Charlie had Alden’s horse saddled and Bill had the reins as they started to walk out. Charlie looked at the girls, “Beats me. I’m just doing what I was told.”

Tabitha and Ceara walked out of the barn ahead of the others, right up to Alden.
Alden, Running Buffalo, and Stray Eagle turned to them.
Ceara had her hands on her hips and Tabitha had her arms crossed when they both spoke at the same time, “Is there something you’d like to tell us?”

Alden grinned, “Not really, why?”

Ceara’s face turned red as she exploded, “WHAT THE HELL DO YOU MEAN NO? WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU GOING?”

Tabitha reached over to grab her shoulder, “Now Red, calm down.”
“Calm down, my ass,” Ceara looked at Alden he was smiling, looking at Tabitha as she continued, “You listen hear Mr. Man, Mr. Alden Godfrey. The time has come for you to start trusting us.”

Alden looked at Ceara then at Tabitha, “I’ve told you before, it’s a need to know and I’m sure by now you know where I’m going as well as Colt. So why repeat it. I’m leaving Charlie here and Running Buffalo is going to leave Niz and Billy here to keep our numbers strong.”

It was Niz’s turn to speak up as she turned to Stray Eagle, “And just when were you going to tell me and Billy?”

Stray Eagles face was stern his eyes were coal black and his voice was low and serious. “In about five minutes from now.”

Running Buffalo was standing back with Charlie watching the scene unfold. “Feisty women you got there, son.”

Charlie turned and saw Running Buffalo wink at him. Charlie was trying hard not to chuckle as he replied, “Yeah well Niz ain’t no lamb.”

Stray Eagle looked at Alden, “You were right, our women are a lot alike. Both of the men stepped forward. Alden gave Tabitha a peck on the cheek as he reached down and grabbed her hand. He turned and gave Ceara a peck on her cheek and placed Tabitha’s hand in hers, “I’m counting on you two to take care of things and be hospitable to our guests.”

Running Buffalo stepped up to Niz, “You two behave and make sure Billy minds his manners.”

Niz glanced over to Billy, “Yeah, fat chance of that. I’ll go spend some time with Beth, she seemed to be the one I will get along with.”

The men mounted up and rode out as Niz stepped over to Beth, “You’re awful quiet over here.”

Beth smiled, “Just learned to let things play out how they will, no good throwing fits around Alden.”

Niz looked over at Ceara, “Yep, we saw that first hand didn’t we?” Niz started laughing, “How about I make you a dinner tonight?”

Beth smiled, “No need, Colt started chicken and dumplings earlier, he seemed to be awful proud of that too.”

Beth led the way to the picnic table and they both sat down, “So tell me about your village.”

Niz smirked, “Not so sure it’s much of a village anymore, we have about twenty-five or thirty left. It was really strange at first. A lot of our people just refused to believe that we should be shut off from the world. They called my father crazy and accused him of living in the past, scared of the ‘white man’. I guess they all learned the truth, it wasn’t fear of the white man, it was just fear of man, period.”

Beth looked over at Ceara playing with her new puppy and then to Tabitha with hers. She had to smile because Tabitha was trying to pretend she didn’t like the dog. Beth turned back to Niz, “So you going to tell me why the boys had to go with them?”

Niz curled her lip, “I may be the chief’s daughter but there are still things they don’t tell me. I had no idea this was about to happen.”