The Heart of the Storm

Chapter 9

Early one morning

With time to kill

I borrowed Jed’s rifle

And sat on the hill

I saw a lone rider

Crossing the plain

I drew a bead on him

To practice my aim

My brother’s rifle

Went off in my hand

A shot ran out

Across the land

The horse he kept running

The rider was dead

I hung my head, I hung my head.

Sting – I Hung My Head – from the album “Mercury Falling”

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Vin found Kovaahe near his horse at the end of the boardwalk. He started to walk toward him when he saw JD and Josiah along with Ezra and the rest of the Cheyenne warriors walking towards where Kovaahe stood.

Vin sighed despondently and slowly walked over to join them.

When he reached them, Kovaahe was already speaking to his fellow Cheyenne and Vin knew this was not good news.

“Kovaahe!” he called.

Kovaahe stopped his conversation with the other Cheyenne and turned to face his brother’s friend.

“Netse Ôhvo'komaestse, I am happy to see you,” said Kovaahe in English. He then switched to Cheyenne. It was hard to explain what he felt in the white man’s tongue. “I have spoken with ó'kôhóme and our warriors. We have all agreed that we will not let these white men take our brother without a fight.”

Vin could see that Kovaahe was determined on this point and he tried to figure out what he could do to stay the Cheyenne from taking rash actions.

“Kovaahe, I am brother to Emo'ôhtavo vo'e as you are. Can you not trust me to take care of him?” asked Vin bluntly.

Kovaahe did not readily answer. He knew Netse Ôhvo'komaestse’s heart was with his brother. He just did trust him. He just did not trust the white men to act honorable. In his limited experience with them, they had never kept their promises or acted in any honorable way.

“I trust you, but I do not trust these other men. I do not know their heart or what they believe, but I do trust you.”

“Then trust me to keep him safe,” implored Vin.

“I will trust you with this, but if you should fail…” Kovaahe did not finish his sentence. He knew Vin understood his meaning.

“Thank you, Kovaahe,” said Vin and then he walked over to Josiah, Buck, JD and Ezra.

“So what was that about?” asked Buck.

“I asked Kovaahe to trust me to watch Chris’ back,” said Vin simply.

“And he agreed?” queried Ezra.

“Yeah. But I have feelin’ if we fail, there ain’t nothin’ gon’na save those men and this town from Cheyenne justice.”

Buck, JD, Josiah and Ezra all looked on concern. They knew Vin was deadly serious and they knew so were the Cheyenne.

“So what do we do now?” asked Josiah taking his hat off and wiping the sweat off his brow.

“We see the judge. Find out what he feels about all this. Josiah, ya stay with the Cheyenne. Don’t need no trouble before it starts,” said Vin walking towards Mary Travis’ house.

Josiah nodded as he watched Ezra, Buck and JD follow their temporary leader.

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I set off running

To wake from the dream

My brother’s rifle

Went into the stream

I kept on running

Into the salt lands

And that’s where they found me

My head in my hands

The sheriff he asked me

Why had I run

And then it came to me

Just what I had done

All for no reason

Just one piece of lead

I hung my head, I hung my head.

Sting – I Hung My Head – from the album “Mercury Falling”

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Vin and the others sat in Judge Orrin Travis’ temporary office that existed in the house of Mary Travis waiting for him to say something.

Vin had explained to the Judge and Mary what Chris had told him and why they suspected that the bounty had been issued directly by Judge Williams.

Judge Orrin Travis sat at the small desk he had procured as his working desk with his head bowed over the telegram he had just received from Judge Williams. It was not good. Judge Williams had authorization to take one Christopher Michael Larabee into custody to stand trial for the murder of one Lawrence Terence Williams, age fifteen. The warrant was approximately 2 years old, but still valid.

Orrin turned saddened eyes to his peacekeepers and said, “It is a legitimate warrant, authorized by Judge Williams of Broken Bow and the governor of Nebraska Territory. I have been informed that Judge Williams himself is coming here to make sure that Mr. Larabee is transported back to Broken Bow for trial. It seems Judge Williams does not trust the bounty hunters he has hired nor myself with that task.”

“And that means what?” asked Buck angrily that they would even consider recognizing it. “This ain’t Nebraska and he ain’t got no jurisdiction here!”

“But Four Corners is still part of the United States, Mr. Wilmington and as such the warrant or the law cannot be ignored. Chris has every right to be heard and a fair trial, ” said Orrin sorrowfully.

“A fair trial? Chris has already convinced himself that’s he’s guilty! What kind of fair trial do ya think he’s gon’na have with him believin’ he’s guilty?”

“I understand your concern and anger, Mr. Tanner. But I am the law in these here parts and if I ignore the law, I am no better than the men you threw out of town.”

“So ya just gon’na turn Chris over to those bounty hunters and Judge Williams?” asked Vin anxiously.

“No, Mr. Tanner. Not at this moment. Currently, Mr. Larabee is unfit for trial or even traveling, as a matter of fact. I believe Mr. Jackson can confirm this as his doctor. Since I don’t think he would try to escape or be a danger to the community, I solely deem that until he is medically sound, that he will be held here in Four Corners under house arrest until at which time it can be either proven he is guilty without reasonable doubt or innocent of all charges,” declared the Judge.

“And when he’s well?” asked JD who did not like the sound of the Judge’s determination.

“I hope that you can find evidence to point to otherwise before that time,” replied Judge Travis. “If you cannot, then I am afraid that Chris would have to be taken into custody and transported back to Broken Bow for trial. I’m sorry, gentlemen, but there is nothing I can do. It was confirmed that the governor of the Nebraska Territory signed it and with it Chris’ freedom.”

The four peacekeepers looked at him astonished. They knew that the Judge just gave them an ultimatum that he did not want to give them. They knew the Judge had no choice.

But Vin and the others thought differently. They had another choice and for Chris, they would go to hell and high water before they would let anyone take their friend away.

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Chris slowly awoke to the feel of a smooth hand on his head. He leaned into it and liking the sensation as it seemed to cool off his already heated forehead.

He opened his eyes and found brown caring eyes of his wife looking at him in concern.

“Husband?” came her soft lilting voice into his ears.

He tried to smile, but his face felt gritty and stiff. He did not know how long he had slept and right now the heat he was feeling was making him woozy and nauseous.

Mapiya could see that her husband was in trouble. His fever had been rising for the past couple of hours.

Her husband’s friend the healer went to get something from his home that he said would help. But Mapiya had her own medicine in her pouch. It was one that her people had used to cure the fever. She was waiting for Nathan to return with boiling water so that she could use it on her husband. She felt the white man’s medicine was not working.

“M…Mapiya,” coughed Chris. “I’m so sorry, honey. I did…I didn’t want things to be this way. I wanted…I wanted us to be home with our child, not here, not where you are not happy.”

“Shhh, my love. I am happy where you are. So is your son,” said Mapiya as she tried to smile.

Chris knew what she was doing and tried to smile back, but grimaced as he felt a pain lance his side. He knew it was the bullet wound. He had overheard Nathan talking to Mapiya about hoping that he would not get an infection on top of the pneumonia that was already settling in his chest. He knew he was not getting better and it worried him.

Not because of his life. His life was always on the edge of life and death and it figured it would not change. It was more to the fact that he might not be around to watch his son grow up or be there to protect Mapiya like a good Cheyenne husband should.

“Mapiya,” said Chris softly. “Please come here.” He motioned for her to move nearer to the bed.

Mapiya got up from her kneeling position and moved to the bed. Lying down next to him, she made sure her body was facing him, one of her arms she draped gently across his chest and held onto to him as if it was for dear life.

Chris turned his green eyes towards her and wanly smiled. His love, his wife, his Mapiya was all that he could see. All he could ever want to see. But his vision was coming in and out of focus and his chest felt heavy with congestion that made it difficult to talk.

Mapiya kissed him gently on the lips. She could see the pain on his face, although he tried to hide it. She hoped Nathan would arrive soon. She knew her husband needed help and fast.

She grabbed his hand into hers and squeezed gently. “I am here, husband,” she whispered to him in Cheyenne. “Rest. I am here.”

Chris sighed at the sound of her voice, reveling in it. He knew she would not leave his side and closed his tired eyes against the pain in his heart of what might come tomorrow.

Mapiya lay next to him, watching him go to sleep and finally as his breathing relaxed, she sighed despondently. It seemed that things were not going well for her family and she did not like it.

She knew Emo'ôhtavo vo'e’s brothers were trying to help, but what she did not understand was why. She heard them talking about something from Emo'ôhtavo vo'e’s past, but did not understand the implications of what was said. She needed to speak to her brother. He was better at understanding the white men and their ways. She was only confused and the only thing she cared about was her son and what lay next to her. Yes. Her brother and Kovaahe would be the ones she would speak to.

She closed her eyes as she felt the beating of Emo'ôhtavo vo'e’s heart against her cheek. Finally the rhythmic sound lulled her to sleep.

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Vin, Ezra, Buck and JD walked out of Mary Travis’ home, all of them with different thoughts on their minds about what was discussed.

They all knew that the Judge had given them the only leeway he could. They had a window in which to prove Chris’ innocence. If they did not, then Chris was destined for the hangman.

Although the others were concerned about this, Vin concern lay somewhere else he thought was more dangerous. It laid in the mind of a lone Cheyenne whose loyalty was unquestionable and whose belief would hold up in blood.

They approached Josiah, who stood where Kovaahe, ó'kôhóme and the rest of the Cheyenne were waiting. He saw as they got closer that Josiah was having an argument with ó'kôhóme, while Kovaahe stood by listening intently. Vin did not like what he was seeing and knew it could not be good.

“Hey, Josiah, what’s goin’ on?” asked Vin as he went to stand in front of them.

“It seems ó'kôhóme here feels that we’re keeping something from them,” replied Josiah eyeing the Cheyenne who stood in front of him.

ó'kôhóme eyed Josiah and Vin with determination. He knew something was wrong and although Kovaahe had explained the situation and had assured him that Netse Ôhvo'komaestse promised he would keep him safe, he did not fail to notice that the white brothers of his brother-in-law looked angry and worried.

He talked to the white holy man until he was blue in the face but the man kept telling him that they would handle it. They did not understand. Emo'ôhtavo vo'e was Cheyenne and Cheyenne would take care of their own. He had seen before how the white man justice worked. It was short and vindictive. A man was tried without honor, without knowing his true or untrue guilt. He saw it only as impassionate and distance, without responsibility for taking a warrior’s life.

Vin saw the look that ó'kôhóme was giving him and Josiah. He knew the Cheyenne would not hold back for long. Vin then turned pleading eyes towards Kovaahe. It was he who he had struck the bargain with and it was him who he knew would stand by it. He needed Kovaahe to intervene before things got out of hand and a war would start between the Cheyenne and the people of Four Corners.

Kovaahe understood what Netse Ôhvo'komaestse wanted, but did not know if he could deliver. In fact, he did not know if he wanted to deliver. He also did not trust the white man’s justice as much as ó'kôhóme did. But he did trust Netse Ôhvo'komaestse.

“ó'kôhóme,” said Kovaahe in Cheyenne. “Netse Ôhvo'komaestse has given his word. We must let him try.”

“Netse Ôhvo'komaestse may be true, but how do we know we can trust this white man’s justice?” queried ó'kôhóme looking at him apprehensively.

“We do not. But we trust Netse Ôhvo'komaestse and that is enough…for now,” answered Kovaahe.

ó'kôhóme nodded, but he still had his doubts. Kovaahe was currently the leader of the group since his father, Chief Aenohe, still did not wholly trust him. This task to bring Emo'ôhtavo vo'e and Mapiya home was set to him in order to redeem himself in his father’s eyes. He was determined not to fail.

Vin and Josiah had heard the conversation and both waited with bated breath for the outcome. They both sighed silently as they saw ó'kôhóme’s confirmation that he would wait. But Vin knew if he failed to prove Chris’ innocence, the town would be burnt to cinder if any white man tried to take Chris’ away from them.

“Epeva'e, ó'kôhóme, Kovaahe,” said Vin to both men.

“I would like to see my sister,” said ó'kôhóme.

Vin nodded and turned to JD. “JD, take ó'kôhóme to see Chris and Mapiya.”

“Right, Vin,” said JD motioning for the Cheyenne to come. ó'kôhóme nodded and slowly followed JD towards the boarding house.

Kovaahe then turned to two of his Cheyenne warriors and said, “Follow him.” The two Cheyenne quickly pursued after ó'kôhóme.

Kovaahe then said to Vin, “We will wait outside of your village, Netse Ôhvo'komaestse. We will return when the sun rises again.”

Vin looked at the young Cheyenne man confused. “Where do you go?” he asked him.

“We will be camped not far from here. My people cannot stay here. It is hard to breathe here and we cannot see the sky or the land. Your teepees block all that is of the Sun and the Earth and it smells of white man. We will leave ó'kôhóme and two others here to guard our people. We will return,” said Kovaahe as he mounted his horse. As he did, the other Cheyenne warriors did the same, leaving four of the horses behind for the others.

“How will I find you?” asked Vin.

“We will find you,” said Kovaahe and then he and his Cheyenne warriors rode quickly off out of town.

Buck, Ezra and Josiah came to stand next to Vin as they watched the Cheyenne leave.

“Where did they go?” asked Buck curiously.

“Out of town,” replied Vin as he stared after the dust the Cheyenne left behind as they rode out. “They can’t stand bein’ cooped up in town.”

“I assume that means the same as you, Mr. Tanner.”

Vin just smirked at him. “I think we need to find out that evidence.”

“And how we gon’na do that?” asked Buck.

“I have an idea, gentlemen,” piped up Ezra.

“You do, brother?” questioned Josiah shocked.

Ezra glanced at Josiah smiling. “Do you underestimate me, Mr. Sanchez?”

Josiah smiled too. “Nope, Ezra. Never do.”

“Come, gentlemen. I believe this best discussed over some libations,” said Ezra walking towards the saloon.

Vin, Buck and Josiah eyes rose in surprise, but they followed the gambler anyway.

TBC.

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