Chapter 28

While J.D. stood guard outside the tipi, Buck and Ezra sat with Mapiya while she was busy tending to Chris. He had not woken since last night and Mapiya had expressed her concern at his unresponsiveness to her ministrations.

Buck did not like the way Chris laid so silently on the pallet. Mapiya had wrapped an old Buffalo hide around his body. She said that he was shivering violently and had spoken one word, cold, after losing consciousness again. Buck gently brushed a strand of blonde hair away from Chris’ forehead.

As he did, he felt the cold and clamminess of his skin. “What cha’ trying to do to us, Chris?” he asked softly. “Ya know I got three more gray hairs from this and that ain’t somethin’ the ladies gonna go for on this stud. Why don’t cha’ wake and open those cold green eyes for me, huh?” But there was no acknowledgement from Chris that he had heard him. Buck sighed dejectedly and looked to Ezra who sat not far from their leader.

Ezra watched as Chris Larabee lay so silent and looking almost lifeless. Although Chris was never a man for a lot of words, Ezra still felt that this was definitely out of character. Even though the rest thought of him as selfish and uncaring, Ezra knew that they were so wrong. He cared, especially about his friends and people who had not only saved his life more than once, but people who had redeemed his soul and Chris Larabee was one of them.

Had he not met Chris and his valiant associates in their quest to save some natives from being victimized by a very demented and barbarous ghost of the Confederacy, he would not have ever known this revelation. He most likely would have been found either dead from some gunman’s bullet at some card table or in prison for a very long time. Yes. This man had redeemed his soul and his future. There is nothing that he would not do for this man.

He felt eyes upon his back and turned to find Buck Wilmington staring at him with eyes of pain. Ezra knew just by looking at the tall lawman that he was also suffering as much as was Chris Larabee, their ailing leader. He knew that the friendship of one Buck Wilmington and one Chris Larabee had stood the test of time, anger, love, hate, revenge and a whole lot of other sorted emotions. But through it all, Buck stayed loyal to Chris. As they said once, “To the end.” Ezra was hoping that this was not “the end”, so to speak. He did not think the tall lawman would survive it as he had survived many other trials and tribulations with the unfaltering character that was Chris Larabee.

“Buck, listen. I am sure that Mr. Larabee will survive his ordeal, as he as done many times before."

“I hope ya right, Ezra. Ya know Chris was always chasing after death, trying to follow it to the end just so that he could be with his family. But then one day he found people whom he could call friends. People who had to protect and trust. I think that was what turned him away from following that path that would someday lead to me buryin’ ‘im under six feet of dirt. I just hope he ain’t lost his way again, Ezra. Cause if he has…”

Ezra knew Buck did not have to finish his sentence. He knew what the inevitable would be if Chris had lost his way again. The man was strong as a pillar when it came to gun battles. But when it came to dealing with emotions and other pain, he was a pliable piece of clay with the ability to be pulled into other directions.

Ezra knew if he had no memory of what he would lose, he would not fight and give up this life. But then Ezra’s eyes came to rest on Mapiya, the brown-eyed Native that had captured Larabee’s heart. No. Chris did have something to live for and it came in a most beautiful package.

Ezra leaned in close until he was near Chris’ ear and whispered, “Mr. Larabee, although we have not been friends for long, I can assure you that you would do irrevocable damage to your friends’ and Mapiya’s heart. You have much in your life that any man would live for. You will not die, is that understood.” He did not know if Chris heard him, if he could only hope that some part of it registered.

What Ezra did not see was the look on Buck Wilmington’s face as he caught what was said. Buck decided he would not acknowledge that he had heard Ezra’s little discussion. He did not want to embarrass the gambler about being such a softy or ruin his reputation for being such a stoic cynic and realist. He turned his back to hide the smile that had slowly crept across his face. Yeah. He and Ezra were going to have a little discussion of their own once this was over. His smile grew broader as he thought of how many drinks he was going to get from blackmailing the young man.

Suddenly a soft sound was heard in the tipi. Mapiya, Buck and Ezra all focused their eyes on the still form of Chris Larabee. They all held their breath, hoping that what they had heard were not their imaginations or some hopeful wishing.

Chris consciousness slowly swam its way up from the darkness towards the light. Although he felt safer in the darkness, there were sounds that kept invading his peace that seemed to have some important meaning to him. He could not remember why he hurt so much or why his head felt as if it was too sizes too big. He also noticed that the heat he had felt earlier was gone and now he felt as if was placed in a block of ice. He tried to raise his right hand to his face and felt hands grabbing his, preventing him from doing so. At the touch he became frightened and started to panic, not remembering where he was and what was wrong with him. His hands flew out to prevent the unknown hands from touching, fighting them off.

“Eneoestse! Emo'ôhtavo vo'e! Please, do not. You will hurt yourself,” said a woman’s voice that he did somehow recognized.

“Come on, Stud. You don’t want this pretty filly here to get mad, now do you?” said a man’s voice that he thought was familiar.

Buck and Mapiya tried to keep Chris from hurting himself. Although there was not much fight in him, it still took all they strength to subdue the gunslinger. He kept trying to loosen their hold.

“Chris, listen. You need to lie still, Pard. We need you to get better so we can go back to that saloon I told you about with those pretty girls. I got one all picked out for you,” Buck said jokingly, taking a hold of Chris’ hands and pushing them down by Chris’ side.

Chris heard the words, but he did not understand them. Buck? Buck was his friend, wasn’t he? Flashes of a memory blazed across his mind. A tall man with a mustache, blue eyes and a smile that would light a darkened sky was shown to him. The man was laughing and holding a young boy on his lap. Adam was his son? More pictures were coming at him. A woman, walking towards the man and the boy, carrying food on a plate. She smiled at them. So much happiness could be seen in her face. Sarah was his wife? Then the pain came. A pain, that was more mental than physical, cut into his soul like a knife. He remembered who Adam and Sarah were. He remembered that he loved them and he remembered that they were murdered. He also remembered that Buck, that tall stranger was the man that had once put his life back together after that tragic day.

Chris moaned as he remembered. He fought against the hands again. He was frightened. Frightened that the people that had killed his family were trying to hurt him and Buck too. He struggled to get up, but was gently pushed back against the pallet. He was tiring fast and he could not get loose from the hands that held him down. He was afraid that he would not be able to save his friend from the danger he thought existed. He would fail him, like he had failed his family.

“No! Not again! Not…again!” came Chris’ frantic screams. “Please. Please let me go. I…ha…have to save him.”

Buck and the others did not understand what was going on. All they knew was that Chris was in pain. Buck looked up into Mapiya’s face. He saw that she was trying to keep Chris from hurting himself and at the same time trying to hold back tears that threatened to form. She almost looked at if she was in pain herself. But Buck knew it was because of Chris’ pain and not one of her own.

Buck quickly turned to Ezra, fear forming a lump in this throat which made him strive to find his voice. “Ezra,” his managed to squeak out. Ezra, who had moved closer to the trio to see if his assistance was needed, waited patiently for the tall lawman to finish his sentence.

“I need ya…I need ya to go get Nathan and Vin. Tell ‘em that I think Chris really needs them.”

“I will do so expediently, Mr. Wilmington,” said Ezra, standing up and walking out of the tipi.

Mapiya, who was quiet during the whole time, began crying openly. She did not care who saw the tears that she was shedding for the man she loved. He was in pain, and his pain was her pain. She could not stand to watch him as he struggled to overcome the pain that now invaded his body. She glanced at Buck, hoping he would know what to do. But Buck, like her, was just as lost.

“Ezra’s gone to get Nathan and Vin. They’ll know what to do,” said Buck, trying to ease her worries.

Mapiya only nodded. She needed her love to be better so that they could start their new journey together into life. She put her love’s hand into hers and held on tight, hoping it would create a lifeline to him. Buck sat next to her, helping her restrain Chris, deep in his own thoughts of what Chris’ future might be.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Once Ezra was outside, he met up with J.D. J.D. had heard the commotion inside the tipi, but knew his responsibility was to guarding the others and warning them of anything that could present a danger to them. When Ezra emerged from the tipi, J.D. had a bad feeling about what was going on in the tipi.

“Ezra?” He looked at Ezra face and so that something had spooked him.

“Listen, I need to go find Nathan and Vin,” Ezra replied hurriedly, trying to walk pass him. J.D. quickly grabbed his arm, preventing him from going any further.

“What happened?” he asked. His heart was beating a mile a minute in his chest. If Ezra was this upset, it could not be good.

“J.D., let go. I need to find Nathan and Vin fast!”

“But what’s going? Is Chris…?”

“No, my dear boy. He has not departed our fair company. But unless I go find Nathan and Vin, he may,” replied Ezra, matter-of-factly. He was getting impatient from answering the young man’s question. He had an errand to perform and he would perform it without haste.

“Sorry, Ez. I just…” J.D. lowered his head in resignation and releasing Ezra’s arm.

Ezra now felt guilty at being so brusque with the young Easterner. “I know, J.D.” he said squeezing the young man’s shoulder. “We’re all worried about Mr. Larabee. It’s just it doesn’t look good right now and I need to be on my way to find help.”

“Okay, Ezra.”

“And you my dear sir, keep a diligent watch over our friends, understand?” Ezra cocked his eyes at J.D. confirming that he understood.

“You got it!” answered J.D. standing straighter in front of the tipi.

“Very good, my young man. Now, have you seen our enigmatic tracker of late?”

“Yeah. He was walking over towards that brave’s tipi,…what’s his name Ok…something.”

“ó'kôhóme.”

“Yeah, that’s it. Who is he?”

“The chief’s son. And if what Mr. Tanner told us earlier is true, then he is in danger.”

J.D. glanced at Ezra in confusion. “Huh? How ya figure that, Ezra?”

“My dear naïve young man. Mr. Tanner has decided to walk into the verbal Lion’s Den and I think he’s about to be eaten,” said Ezra, starting to quickly walk over to the tent where Nathan was. “I’m getting Nathan and as soon as that is done, I will find our Tracker before he becomes dinner.” J.D. watched in amazement and shock as Ezra walked towards the tipi that held their own medicine man.

Ezra had finished his business with Nathan and immediately proceeded towards the tipi that Mapiya had told him was that of her brother’s, ó'kôhóme and his wife, Nemene'hehe.

When he reached the tipi, he stopped suddenly, not knowing how to proceed. He did not want to create an incident in an already aggravated situation. But he also needed to find out if his friend had not suffered any harm from the suspected felon in question. He had finally made his decision and was about to pull the flap open, when without warning the flap of the tipi came open and out stepped the person he had come to save.

Vin Tanner was to say the least, a little surprised at Ezra’s appearance at the flap. In fact, he was surprised to see Ezra at all since he was suppose to be protecting Chris from any treachery made by ó'kôhóme or one of his men. Unless there was something wrong with Chris.

Ezra watched as Vin’s face turned to one of shock, then confusion and then to fear. He saw slowly that the young tracker was coming to some conclusions that were not good. Although Chris was not much better, he was not much worst and he was not dead.

Ezra quickly said, “I don’t mean to alarm you, Mr. Tanner, but I came because I feared that you might have come to some grievance by the chief’s son.”

“So, Chris is alright then?”

“Yes and no. Our valorous leader awoke for a minute, but unfortunately it was in one of delirium, I’m afraid. How did your meeting with the chief’s son go? Was it enlightening?”

“No, Ezra, it wasn’t. In fact, he wasn’t there. Only his wife and of course, she says she knows nothin’ of what I’m talkin’ about. But I think she’s lyin’.”

“And how do you come to that conclusion, Mr. Tanner.”

“Let’s just say I can sense things like that, Ezra. She was lyin’ and lyin’ badly, as a matter of fact.” He then motioned for Ezra to follow him back to Chief Aenohe’s tipi.

“So what is the next step in the plan, Vin?” asked Ezra, concerned that maybe Vin was making too many assumptions based on his feelings for Chris Larabee and ó'kôhóme.

“Let’s get back ta Chris first. I wan’na see how’s he doin’,” he said, nudging Ezra in the shoulder, urging him forward.

As they walked, Ezra wanted to talk to him about his impetuous actions towards ó'kôhóme.

“Mr. Tanner, if I may be so impertinent as to say that I think you are playing with fire and my get burned.”

“Huh?”

“With ó'kôhóme. You’ve already told us that you may suspect him as someone who has played a diabolical part in Mr. Larabee’s illness. Do you think that he would just stop there? What if you push him just a tad bit too far?”

“Ez, listen. I’ve got this handled.”

“I don’t think so, my young friend. I think you will not only get yourself killed, but us as well.” Ezra stopped walking at that statement. Vin turned towards him to stare at him in bewilderment.

“What are you sayin, Ezra? Ya think I would endanger everyone based on suspicions?”

“No, my dear tracker. I do not. What I do think is that you are going about this the wrong way.”

Vin eyed Ezra curiously. “And,…”

“And I have a plan that I think will spare us from being roasted by your native friends,” replied Ezra casually.

“Well, let’s hear it.”

“I suggest we wait until we among the others of group. They will all have a part to play in this little adventure,” said Ezra, giving Vin one of his charming smiles.

Vin returned the smile, but then his face turned serious. “It better be good, Ezra. We messin’ with Chris’ life, ya know.”

“My dear companion. We are messing, as you say, with all our lives.” Ezra then placed his arm around Vin’s shoulders and led him hurriedly back towards the tipi where Chris and their friends were waiting.

*************************************************************************************************************

Chapter 29

Josiah was sent a message from Mapiya by a young Cheyenne boy named Se'tovaotse. It amazed Josiah that the boy spoke English as well as Mapiya and her father. When he asked the boy who had taught him, he had said that Mapiya teaches all the children in the tribe. She said it would better prepare them when they would have to deal with the white men of this land. Josiah could only agree. Mapiya was a very wise woman, indeed. As they walked, Josiah asked the boy many questions and found that he was eager to speak the white man’s language to the white holy man.

“So, what does your name mean?” asked Se’tovaotse, tentatively.

“Josiah?”

The boy only nodded.

“Josiah is a name of the Bible.”

“Bi…bill?”

“Yes,” said Josiah, smiling gently at the boy. “The Bible. The Bible is the white man’s book of our laws for how a man should live, treat his neighbor and honor his God.”

“Ahhh.”

“And Josiah was the name of a very famous King of Judah. But in Hebrew, Josiah really is pronounced YahWeh, which is another name for God.”

“You are a Ma'heo'o?”

“Ma'heo'o? Oh, I see. No. I am only a man. It was name of the white man’s book of laws. It’s hard to explain.”

“But it is a name of Ma'heo'o?” asked the little Cheyenne boy with wide eyes.

“Sort of. Tell me what does your name mean?”

“In your tongue, it means Smoke Appears.”

“And you are called that because…”

“Because I can not be seen unless I want to be seen.”

“You are one of kind, Se’tovaotse,” replied Josiah, ruffling the young Cheyenne’s hair and smiling gently at him.

“I take that as good, Jo…Josiah. But now, I must take you to your friends or I will have not have done what I am asked by Mapiya,” said Se’tovaotse, smiling back at Josiah.

They then walked quickly towards the home of Chief Aenohe.

Josiah gazed at the young Cheyenne boy, wonderment showing on his face at this little boy’s statement.

When Josiah entered the tipi of Chief Aenohe, after his goodbye and thanks to Se’tovaotse, he found Nathan and Mapiya working feverishly on the ill Chris Larabee. Buck, J.D. and Ezra were sitting around the fire, talking in hush tones as Vin sat stoically and still next to Chris, looking calmly on as Nathan and Mapiya tried to get the liquid into his friend’s mouth.

Nathan looked up from his ministrations and nodded to Josiah. Josiah walked over and knelt down by his side, as he watched Nathan holding up Chris’ head, while Mapiya was spooning water into Chris’ mouth.

“How’s he doing, Nate?”

“Well, the good news is that he ain’t no worst. The bad news is that he ain’t no better either. Did ya find out anything from the medicine man?”

“I think I did.”

At this statement, Vin finally moved and his cold blue eyes turned up to Josiah.

“What did ya find out?” asked Vin in a soft drawl.

“From what I gathered, which was not easy without an interpreter, Ma'emestahke says that he has heard of this type of sickness once before. From what I understood, he thinks Chris has been poisoned, but he does not know by whom.”

“Damn! I knew Chris was in trouble here!” shouted Buck.

“But why?” asked J.D., his voice raising in fear. “Chris ain’t done nothin’ ta hurt these people!”

“Mr. Wilmington, Mr. Dunne, please lower your voices. Remember there is an ill person here,” said Ezra trying to calm their growing anger, although Ezra had his own angry demon to deal with. “And let’s not forget our hostess.” He nodded towards Mapiya.

They had all forgotten about her presence there, except Ezra. Ezra was a man that played the odds and he knew observation was the most important aspect of playing the game. He was watching Mapiya as the others conversation progressed. He saw her face go from anger, to fear and then to concern. He then saw something that he had seen many times before in his companions when someone threatened one of their own. It was love and determination.

Mapiya raised her eyes up at the men that surrounded her in the tipi. She had heard their conversation and understood their fear and concern. It was no different from what she was feeling at that moment. She knew these men only wanted to help Emo'ôhtavo vo'e but she still feared the fact that they might take Emo'ôhtavo vo'e away from her. She knew that she could not live without her love but she knew if she did not help these men find out who had done this and find a cure, then she would lose her love anyway.

“You do not have to…fear me, Eh..zara. I would do no bad to Emo'ôhtavo vo'e. I care…for him.”

“We know that, my dear,” replied Ezra eyeing the others. “You have already demonstrated how much you love him. But we must find out who has done this and why.” It was part of Ezra’s plan to enlist the aid of Mapiya in the investigation. He saw it as their best option considering who she was and how familiar she was her people. These people would not talk to a white man. But they would probably open up to one of their own, especially one so respected by their people. He had scratched Chief Aenohe off the list because he would have to be the judge of the evidence they would find and did not want to put him in a position that could make him loose face among his people.

He had told Vin of his plan to use Mapiya. Of course, at first, Vin had expressed his objections to the plan. In fact, he had in no uncertain terms told Ezra to go straight to hell. Although if this plan did not work, that was probably where he would end up. He did not really want to use the young maiden’s love for Larabee to betray one of her own people. But he knew if they did not Mr. Larabee’s life expectancy would become shorter. Once he had brought this fact out to Vin, Vin agreed to the plan reluctantly.

Mapiya broke his reverie. “I…understand. I will help. But I am…how you say,…Náóétsétáno?” She turned to Vin for help, her brown eyes pleading with him.

“She says she’s worried.”

“Worried about what, Vin?” asked Nathan, now concerned also.

Vin spoke in Cheyenne to Mapiya, relaying Nathan’s question. Mapiya replied hesitantly to him in Cheyenne. She did not want them to get the wrong impression of her loyalty.

“She says she’s worried about her people. She fears if it is one of her people that has done this, then it might cause trouble among the tribe.”

Josiah spoke up first, “Tell her Vin that we don’t want to cause problems for her people. We’re only looking for justice and to get Chris well.”

“I…understand, Jos…siya. But I know Emo'ôhtavo vo'e…Ée'tóhtahe?”

“She says she knows Chris is…”

“I heard her, Vin,” interrupted Josiah quickly. “She says she knows that Chris is afraid. Afraid of what, though?”

“Ée'tóhtahe évaveto.”

“Afraid of the past?” Vin asked. He was confused. “Why was Chris afraid of the past?” he thought to himself. Then it came to him. Chris was afraid of what was in his memories. Vin knew Chris was afraid that the person he was before was not something that he could live with. Vin knew that feeling very well when he thought about the memories of his bounty hunting days and when he had to leave his feelings behind and not become judge or jury when taking in a wanted man. But he had dealt with it. And Chris needed to deal with it also or otherwise the life he planned for him and Mapiya would always be haunted by his past.

Vin then turned to Mapiya and grabbed both her hands. He said in Cheyenne, as gently as he could, “Mapiya, he needs to remember. He has to remember. He can’t have a life with you if he tries to run from it. We’ve all had nightmares that we wish we could forget. But you and I both know, that there is good and bad in living and one must go on.”

“What did you tell her, Vin?”

“I told her, J.D., that Chris has to deal with the past in order to live.”

“And you are right, brother. Chris must be strong here,” said Josiah pointing to his chest. “And, if he is strong here, then he can fight anything.”

The others nodded in agreement.

“I will help you. I know he is strong…here,” she answered, putting her hand over Chris’ heart. “I will look for the one who has done this bad thing.”

“And will you do justice?” asked Buck, scrutinizing her face for the truth. Vin turned glaring eyes on him. Vin knew he wanted justice for what was done to Chris and right now it seemed to be clouding what was important to Vin. That was getting Chris well again. Justice was second to Vin’s goals at this moment.

Mapiya saw the look in Buck’s eyes. She knew that look all too well. It haunted her brother’s eyes for too long and put hatred in his heart towards all white men. She did not want that to happen to these men. Too many men were filled with so much bad feelings and nothing good ever came from it. “I will. But it will be Cheyenne Justice. Not the white man’s,” she replied looking into each of the men’s eyes to gage their reactions.

No one objected or said a word. Mapiya took this as a sign of agreement. “Then it will be done.” Mapiya then stood up and started to walk towards the exit. Before she did, she turned to Vin and said, “Come. We have much to do, Vin Tanner.”

The others turned to look at her in surprised when she said “we”. But Vin was not. He got steadily to his feet and walked to where Mapiya stood waiting patiently.

“Take care of ‘im, Nate. We’ll be back later. And with some answers.”

At that, they both exited the tipi, leaving the others to watch and care for Chris Larabee.

Chris slowly awoke from his seemingly long sleep. What he did not remember is that he was not asleep, but unconscious and ill. To Chris, it seemed he had just taken a long nap from being on a drinking binge. As he approached closer to consciousness, he realized that the pain felt like he had been on a drinking binge. His head felt as if it was two sizes too big and his stomach was doing somersaults. His ears felt as if they were stuffed with cotton. He could hear voices but they sounded far in the distance. He cautiously tried to open his eyes, although it seemed a hard task at first, they did pry themselves open. He looked out of his half-opened lids and saw fuzzy images, wavering in and out of darkness. He tried to say something but realized that his throat was parched and it only came out a hoarse whisper.

Nathan had heard a slight sound coming from where Chris Larabee lay. He crawled closer to the gunslinger, afraid that there was something happening to his patient that was not good. When he got close, he saw that Chris green eyes were staring upward, unfocused and glazed, but they were open.

“Hey, ya’ll. Chris is awake.”

At that statement, the others came closer to their leader, hope rising in their hearts that this was a sign that things were changing for the better.

“Hey, Chris. How ya doin’ there, Pard?” asked Buck, wiping the plastered blonde hair away from the man’s face.

Chris said nothing. He could not make the words and what he wanted to say only came out as a croak.

“Take it easy, Chris,” said Nathan, taking a wet cloth and wiping the man’s forehead. After that was done, he turned to J.D. and said, “Get me some water, J.D., quickly.”

J.D. crawled over the water skin and went to complete the task that Nathan had requested. He came back, carrying a wooden cup of water, his hands shaking so much that he was spilling most of what he poured.

“J.D., be careful!” exclaimed Buck. “We don’t want ta get the man soak and wet, now do we?” Buck was trying to calm the young man down. He knew he was excited about Chris waking up.

“Sorry, Nathan.” J.D. handed the cup smoothly over to Nathan and turned to see Buck with a smile on his face. He could see that Buck was happy about the turn of events as so were they all.

“Here, Chris.” Nathan helped Chris sit up and take a sip of the life giving liquid.

Chris felt the cool water ease the dryness in his throat and the emptiness in his belly. It felt so good and when he tried to drink even more, he was displeased when Nathan took the cup away.

“Not too much just yet, Chris. We have ta see how your stomach handles it first. Ya haven’t had anythin’ ta drink or eat in awhile.”

“Thank you…,” They saw the confusion on Chris’ face as he tried to remember something.

“Nathan. My name is Nathan.”

“Nathan. Thank you.” Chris then scanned the area as if looking for something or someone.

“Whatcha lookin’ for, Chris?” asked J.D. innocently.

“Mapiya? Where is she?” He was starting to panic. If these men had done something to his beloved, he would not know what he would do. He tried to rise from his sick pallet, but Nathan and Josiah quickly pushed him back.

“She’ll be back, Chris,” said the tall gray-haired white man. “She and Vin went on an errand.”

“She and Vin? Is she alright?” These men were beginning to frighten him. He did not know what had become of Mapiya but he knew she would never leave his side unless something terrible had happened. And Vin Tanner, well, he had come to trust the man, with his life and Mapiya’s. Maybe there was another reason for their absence.

“They’re fine, Pard. We were all worried about you.”

“Worried about me?” asked Chris confused. The past few days were only jagged images and feelings of pain. “Why? What’s wrong with me?”

“Nothin’ ta worry yourself about, Chris. We’re here ta take care of ya,” said Nathan, bringing the cup to his mouth again. He figured that since Chris had held down the water, he could have some more.

Chris sat up slowly reaching for the cup this time and held it, as Nathan helped him keep it steady as he drank a long draught of the water. Once Chris had enough, he gently moved the cup away from and Nathan took it and put it on the floor of the tipi next to the bed.

“Thank you again, Nathan for your kindness.”

Nathan felt unaccustomed to hearing Chris speaking to him as if he was a stranger. “You’re welcome, Chris.”

“Emo'ôhtavo vo'e.”

“Huh?” asked Buck, now confused.

“My name is Emo'ôhtavo vo'e.” Chris repeated firmly this time.

“Oh, yeah. Emo…oh…tavo?”

“No, Buck. He said Emo'ôhtavo vo'e,” interjected Ezra. He smiled at Buck, feeling smug in his translation.

“Thanks, Ezra. Next time I’ll let ya know when I want you to translate for me, okay?” said Buck, his voice low with anger. He was peeved at Ezra’s attempt at showing off. But he also knew it was not the time to loose his control on his anger. Chris was looking at them and he could see suspicion crossing the chiseled features. He knew that Chris was trying to figure out if they were really friends as they claim to be or if this was some ploy into tricking him into believing him. He just could not comprehend Chris Larabee not trusting his own men. But this was not the Chris Larabee that he knew. This was someone else with Chris’ face and body. But the mind and heart belonged to a Cheyenne.

Chris watched as the tall man with the mustache and the young man in the red jacket threw words at each other that he knew was not as companionable as it seemed to be. They claimed that they were his friends, like Vin Tanner, but he still had no memory of them. When he slept, he had dreamed, but the dreams were flitting and intangible. Once he had awoken, he could not remember the dreams. He only knew that when he did awake he was more confused and unsteady.

“Listen, Emo'ôhtavo vo'e. I need ya ta take it easy right now. You’ve been real sick and ya probably don’t feel so good right now. I got somethin’ I want ya ta drink and then I want ya ta try and sleep. By the time ya wake up, Mapiya will be back. Okay?”

Chris face became hard and he glared at the one named Nathan. He tried to see if there was any deception, but he could see none at the present time. The man looked as if he was really concerned and only wanted to help. And Chris had to admit, he did feel weak as a newborn. But he could not show weakness to these men. It was not in his nature.

“I’m fine, Nathan,” Chris replied.

They all started chuckling at the comment, which made Chris glared in confusion even harder. He did not know what he had said that was so funny.

They saw the confusion on his face. He heard the one Josiah say, “Well, some things never change.”

“Did I say something funny?”

“No, Pard. We just glad ta have ya back among the living is all,” replied the one named Buck, his smile even wider than before.

Chris did not know why, but he was starting to like this smiling white man.

“Very well, Nathan. I will do what you have asked.”

At that, the others then started laughing again.

“What did I say?” Chris asked Nathan.

“Don’t worry about it, Emo'ôhtavo vo'e. It’s nothin’. Just the boys bein’ the boys is all,” answered Nathan, turning around to scowl at the others. He then grabbed a cup that was not far from the fire and held it out to Chris. “Now, here. Drink this. It’s a tea that will help with the pain and the fever.”

Chris took the cup into his hands. It was warm to the touch, but not hot. He sipped at the liquid, making a face as it slid down his throat. “Ugh! What the hell is this stuff?!” he yelled as the noxious liquid landed in his stomach.

“It’ll help, Chris. Believe me,” said Nathan trying to pacify the ill man, while at the same time trying to stifle the giggles that he heard behind him.

After two more sips of the liquid and two more disgusting looks from Nathan at the audience in back, Chris finally pushed the cup away and he lay back down upon his bed. He did feel sleepy and the tea seemed to calm his head and stomach somewhat. As his eyes started to drift close, he opened them wide one last time and said, “Wake me as soon as Mapiya comes back. Promise me.” He watched Nathan nod as sleep finally overtook him to a peaceful darkness.

Once Chris was breathing regularly and seemed settled, Nathan turned to the others. He motioned them for quiet, although they were still giggling from hearing Chris’ comments on Nathan’s tea. Nathan understood their excitement and knew that their hopes looked as if they were coming true since some of the old Chris personality had shown through a couple of times. But Chris still needed the rest and the less excited he got, the less his strength would be taxed by physical exertion and Nathan had hoped that it would be enough to sustain him until the cure could be found. He then went to the pot of stew that Mapiya had been cooking and started serving the others. They needed to keep their strength up also. He already had one patient too many and he did not need anymore.

They all ate in silence, hoping and praying that Mapiya and Vin would be back with some answers soon.

***********************************************************************************************************

Chapter 30

Mapiya and Vin had walked through the Cheyenne camp talking to several of the people. Most of them were women or elderly. None had anything to offer them.

Mapiya knew that the hardest part would come when they needed to talk to some of the men of the different clans that existed within the tribe. Outsiders were not welcomed among these men easily. It was an amazing thing that they had accepted Emo'ôhtavo vo'e as one of their own. But of course, he had proven himself to the people as a human being and he was planning on marrying into the Cheyenne nation, which made him a rare individual indeed. Mapiya hoped that this would sway them enough to talk to them. But she knew that with two of the clans, it would not be that easy. The Buffalo Clan, and the Wolf Clan, the one led by her brother, would not be willing to talk to a white man. In fact, they would be lucky if they did not accuse Vin Tanner of being the cause of the problem. She would have to question them alone, without Vin Tanner and without her brother’s presence among them.

The Dog Clan, her father’s clan, was of course different. When she had brought Vin to talk to them, they were eager in trying to discover who would try to harm one who was to become one of their own. Kovaahe, who was one of the up and coming Dog Men voiced loudly what he would do if he found the person who had done such a shameful thing. A Cheyenne warrior, who called himself a human being, would never think to do something like Mapiya had suggested someone had accomplished. It would shame their ancestors, their people and their family. It would be an act without honor. It would be better for that person to die under the arrows of their enemies than to be branded a coward. For only a coward would strike their enemy in such a way.

As Mapiya and Vin sat in the ceremonial tipi of the Dog Men, or Dog Soldiers as they were called by the white man and talked to them, he found that he liked them and admired them. They had a courage that Vin had not seen since his time among the Comanche.