"I'll not be lookin' for 'im Violet. I'm headin' to the Fort."
The gelding n its rider left the cried-out woman without sayin' another word 'bout anything to anyone...
*
It were near three hour's on the slow heatin', mostly flat dried land when Gabriel found where Nicholas had stayed the night. A small spent fire said he'd not eaten, the fire meant more for thinkin' then cookin' or warmth. He his own self had stayed many a night the same way over the years. The circlin' stepped on again n again tracks of the Indian Paint showed where Candy had spent its close hobbled night.
"Damn fool kid."
It were odd that 'is trail led northeast, then due west t'wards the Fort after he broke camp. Candy's soon longer strides n deeper set rushin' tracks warned Gabriel of somethin' he didn't want to know.
Six hundred yards further proved it.
Four unshod horses hoof prints mixed wide over Candy's shoed ones promised nothin' but trouble. Mr. Bishop quick started Acorn into a gallop followin' the well-marked trail. It were when Acorn's breathin' started to deepen a bit he heard some scatteret rifle fire. Slowin' the gelding to a stop, he stood high in the chestnut horse's stirrups.
Four spread out Indians: one dead, one setting on a knee with his rifle shouldered, another makin' his self as small as possible while he reloadet a long gun n the last with his bow drawn snug movin' on what could only be Candy laying dead on her side.
Reachin' back n into his right saddle bag, he filled his hand with the sacked.55 caliber cartridges n tucked 'em quick inside his shirt. Filliin' his left hand with the Spencer rife, he touched the gelding's side. As Acorn leapt forward, Mr. Bishops mind flashed to Wilsons Creek n the men dying hard around him. There'd be no one with him today, no Stitch to help if he got shot up er worse...
Twenty long seconds later and well with-in the Spencer's range, he hard pulled Acorn up and fast steppin' down, slapped the chestnut gelding on his hip. Taking aim at the rifle holding Brave, the painted man never got turnt around to search for the fast comin' report of the Spencer rifle. He were struck in his shoulder n drove hard over the ground. A single arrow sliced the air close as the second shot stilled the wounded Brave.
The runnin' towards him, bow fightin' Brave never sure aimed his second arrow before Mr. Bishop took his life, the single shot takin' a good part of his heart n lung through the gaping hole it left. He misset his third shot at the Brave liftin' his long gun. Hard rolling left, the dried earth scattered over him as he took a long breath and aimed the Spencer true before it spoke again. The quick loading Brave never had another chance to respond, his life slippin' away as quick as the blood that were leavin' his body.
Gabriel called out to his brother-in-law. There were no answer.
"Dammit Nicholas, Answer Me!"
Mr. Bishop hard strode towards the dead horse, stoppin' as he saw the laid flat out young man, the Smith carbine restin' over Candy's side. He weren't moving. Never would again; a shot taking his cheek, a good part of his jaw n left side of his neck...
*
Gabriel Bishop rode more then troubled on Acorn, leading the four horses he gathered from the not to far off. Nicholas laid over the best lookin' of the lot, a large bay gelding. He were covered n tied tite in Gabriels own slicker. A dappled gray carried the steel weapons Gabriel had wrappet in the Indian's horse worn blankets. The other's looked to be a two, maybe three-year-old Paint and a Chestnut mare that could be Acorn's little sister. He were headed to the Fort, leavin' the fresh past pretty much as it were.
There'd be no collectin' the secondhand saddle n such he'd bought for Nicholas. The dead Candy had it pinned under her. Didn't matter, no one would want the memory it held. He left the other dead where they'd fallen seein' no reason to do otherwise. If some came lookin', they could try n figure on what happened.
He'd sell three, keepin' the bay or the grey. Both were fine horses with no brand. The Indians Sharps rifle were in good shape, the older Hawkin's could be kept for another house gun, less someone offered a good price. He'd have the bone handled razor sharp knifes rehandled in wood.
Those were the easy decisions that Mr. Bishop made. The harder ones would be made by Gabriel. Should he say what he found; their oldest son n brother shot dead by Indians. He knew they were Crow: two who were shave headed with a long braided scalplock told him that. But would that make Nicholas's death more understandin' for the family? There were Violet to consider too. She were part of the Tarantella family now. It'd be easy to say he bought the horse, traded for the weapons n knives.
But could he live with that kinda lie, his wife n family waitin' n hoping Nicholas would someday return...
*
Gabriel Bishop guided the single coffin hearse loanet from General Conner onto the trail leadin' to their homestead. The dappled grey mare seemed to know how to draw a wagon, though she were skittish to start. Acorn were long tethered to the ash in pine, finer made coffin. The few other things Gabriel had gotten were rolled n stored in the Army blankets he'd swapped the Indian blankets for. Three to one made a good trade.
He'd bartered away the older Hawkins long gun, the Sharp's rifle n the Smith carbine for two near new Spencer rifles and five hundred rounds of their.55 caliber ammunition. The Indian Paint, Bay and the look alike Chestnut brought six hundred n twenty dollars: ( more 'en half of it in twenty-dollar gold pieces ) and the coffin that held Nicholas's remains.
Joseph called out long n hard when he spotted his brother-in-law, racin' to greet him. Teena n Violet were a twitch of Acorn's ear behind 'im, the rest of the family fast comin' too. The women pullet up short seein' the fancy made coffin behind the alone Gabriel Bishop.
Teena were dumb founded, her words not coming. Violet looket at Gabriel n knew. Francesca's long cry filled the late afternoon air. The slow knowin' of what Gabriel had with him brought a sadness that would never quite leave the so very close Tarantella family.
*
Days had turnet to a week and then another. Violet chose not to leave her n what were Nicholas's home. She wanted to see no one, speak to no one. Sal would visit her twice a day after takin' near two days to choose where and then to bury his oldest son n make the stone marker. He refused all help, even that of Gabriel Bishop.
"He was my oldest son. I bring him here. I will put him to rest here."
Francesca stayet steady, consolin' the children. She would mostly tell 'em that they were lucky there weren't more accidents like the one befallin' their brother Nicholas. It were an accident... They should be thankful those soldiers on patrol that found 'im n Gabriel was at the Fort to bring him home to rest near his family. They should count their blessin's n put the past in the past...
They most let her be on her daily visit to her oldest son's grave.
Joseph lost most his remainin' youth in those days that followed. He still tended Acorn, Knothead n the new dapple-grey mare, 'Candy' ( the other children insistin' that's the name they wanted to give 'er ) and were slow teaching Mario how to do it. The now oldest brother dealt with his pain doin' everything he could do n then some. It were more than once that his father or Gabriel would take a tool from his now hardenin' hands or order him to the supper table.
Button stayed busy, tendin' to Joseph when she could, fetchin' 'im water n what not. She'd often sit outside the closed-up teepee tellin' Violet about the happenin's around the homestead. The youngest daughter would sometimes gather flowers she could find close n lay 'em just inside the hide coveret door.
Mario was lost for bit after puttin' Nicholas to rest. He'd tag along to learn about the horses n mule n then spend the day fetchin' water for the cabin, fillin' the wood box or stackin' the wood Gabriel or his father split. His boyhood innocence was fast comin' to end.
Barbra was the least mournful for some reason or another. She'd fill her days cuttin' n dryin' the meat Gabriel would bring home or smokin' the larger pieces she were asked to. She'd help with other things if her mother or Teena would ask but kept mostly to herself.
Teena stayed busy with little Gabe as her body started to change with her second comin' child. She still prepped n cooked supper though it weren't always with the easy goin' way she used to. She noted the uneasiness in her husband's eyes when he told of Nicholas death... Or what he were told happened. He was as sure as he could be he'd said: then took to stayin' alone more after he refused to open the sealed coffin so Francesca n Salvadore colud take a last look at their son.
"It'd be best remembering Nicholas as you last saw 'im."
Sal understood but his wife didn't like it. Not one bit. When Teena had pressed a bit Gabriel's eyes paled n got as hard as she ever seen 'em.
She too let it go.
When Gabriel returnet from the Fort havin' to take back the hearse n sellin' the Ox, he was near his old self again. He even wasted some of that money on candy n some wantin' goods instead of just needin' things...
*
It was at the second Sunday supper after Gabriel returned from the Fort that Salvadore took note of the long faces n uneasy quiet.
"We have mournt long enough. Our son an your brothur rests here, with us. It is like your Muther say, we have been blesset... All of us. Teena is havin' another child. She shoult not mourn... She shoult be happy. All of us be happy. We have a wonderful home, plentee to eat... We have ah fast growing garden..."
He shrugged his shoulders.
"... N Joseph, you shoult be proud too... Holdin' your head high instead of lookin' down all the time... You do a man's work eveery day... You teach Mario like Nicholas teach you... We are a good familee!
He was near sitin' down when he straightened again.
"Mama, It is up to you to bring Violet back into our Familee... You too Barbra. She should not be alone all the time. She needs the sun n evereebody's love... To start living again."
The patron of the family pauset n took a deep breath, then looked around the table.
"She thinks she carries Nicholas's child, our grand baby Mama."...
*
It took some more time 'fore the smilin' n laughter come back like near it were. Violet left her teepee more, doin' pretty much what she were doin' before; tannin' hides, drying meat and keepin' a tite eye the youngest. Teena noticed she were already makin' the liver n herb Pemmican. She would often bring a still hot cup mixed with water for Teena to share as they'd sit n talk. The changes in both women were slow in comin', but their new friendship weren't.
"Thick as thieves."
Sal would say, a wide smile splitting his salt n pepper bearded face. When Gabriel n Teena's home were near finishet, there were some evenin' talk of Violet stayin' with them when the winter came. Gabriel most stayet quiet during these times, lettin' everybody that mite listen that it were Teena's decision ta make.
Francesca favored it, both women bein' so close together with their pregnancies. It'd be easier for her to come to them when the time came. If the weather got real bad, they'd all share the larger cabin if need be like they'd done the year before. 'Sides, two new cryin' babies with two mother's in the other cabin just made sense fer all of them: only problem bein' keeping two homes warm. Sal winket at Gabriel when that particular thought come up...
Button n then Barbra were slow takin' to teepee sleepin' after Francesca, their mother, suggested it. It were mostly cool at night and Salvadore's sometimes snorin' would be far away. The girls liked sharing the quiet and Violet's slow returnin' happiness. All in all, things started to settle and were slow gettin' better...
As the nights cooled, it were comin' fast time for a last visit to the Fort. Joseph were itchin' to ride Candy more then just around some. True, there weren't no saddle n scabbard like Gabriel let him use from time to time, but the fast growin' man-child had earned the right. Sal n Gabe had talket it through with Francesca and agreed.
There were a Spencer rifle now with his Hawkings n Sal's long gun. Barbra was likin' the Spencer more in more after she had to learn how to load n fire the two long guns. She were a fair shot after gettin' past the closin' of her eyes before she fired. Teena wanted nothin' to do with any of it. Violet the same.
It were a week before the two 'men' were going to the Fort. Gabriel, a fresh killet buck tied behind his saddle spotted the boy over a small rise n through a not to long ago lightin' struck tree. He were set quiet behind a small stand of new growin' evergreen. His gifted Spencer were leant against a larger ash tree as he peeked around some for a minute then duck behind the smaller evergreens. The older man tied Acorn to a near hangin' branch n slow stepped towards where Joseph was. In less then thirty quiet steps, Gabriel saw what the boy was peekin' at.
Violet were takin' a cold-water bath in the slow runnin' part of the creek, not to far away from where he his self had watched the same thing. She were a sight to behold then n still were. The only difference now were her slow swellin' copper skinned belly. Her hard nippled breasts movet a little more now as she bent washin' her hair, her smooth bottom a bit rounder. The dark edges of her wispy hair covered womanhood stood out to the older man...
Gabriel slow backed up, quiet untied Acorn n steppin' into his saddle, made a little fuss about the slippin' buck tied behind 'im. He gave Joseph enough time to lite out before returnin' a bit slower to their stone n adobe homes...
