"Larry, Moe, and Squirrely!"
Sadie Lynn Outlaw looked up at the clear blue sky to see the three brothers soaring in an aerial majesty. Eagles, that is! They normally showed up when Sadie needed them as her eyes. Squinting against the sun to see them she shaded her brow with her palm. "Afternoon boys! Why the visit today?" As if a mental communication, her mind's eye saw over the horizon where the terrain lowered. Hearing a river flowing and drumbeats in the distance she already knew they were nearing the Water's Edge Comanche reservation.
"Why do you look to the sky?" Dancing Under Stars noted her continual gaze. "There will be no rain today."
"Jus' consultin' my three stooges."
"I see nothing but open sky. What is it you see?"
"Eagle brothers."
"The sun is harsh. You must see what your imagination shows you."
"Dreamwalkin' believer, Dance Card. You see what ya don't see, I'll see what I know I see."
"You are a strange squaw Sadie... "
"L'Amour!" Again, she hid her real last name. It was simply better this way until she knew him better. Maybe their Chief Hawk in Flight would be easier to convince. Newton Tickle Bear in the far future, mentioned good things about Hawk so her fingers were crossed. This side trip could be a good thing or a bad thing. One wrong move could get Ned Potter scalped before he could show her where the bank money was hidden. She knew she couldn't let that happen so showing the tribe her loyalty would benefit her going forward. So far so good. Catching that stray arrow ten miles back and resetting Gnawing Beaver's shoulder was in her favor. Warriors respected warriors! Woman or not! "So, what's your lady friends name? Dancing Under You?" Sadie grinned. The chieftain's son mulled that over wondering why he did not think of that when rechristening her into the tribe over two years ago.
"You are very amusing. Perhaps you will fit in here well with my people."
"No plans on staying Dancer. I appreciate the offer if that's what it was, but I got places to be. This here sightseeing tour is nice of ya, I needed a vacation resort to relax at. That river I hear has my name on it, I surely need a bath. So do my ridin' partners. Ned especially! Jus' so ya know... his Comanche name is Sits in Horse Shit." The girl behind Dancing Under Stars giggled. "Come on Dancer what's her name? Giggles when Farts?" Now that made him chuckle, her a pout.
"Her name is Sunrise on Shoulder."
"That's nice. Hey there, Sunny." She did wave albeit bashfully. "At least she looks happy."
"Carries my child."
"Awww! I bet Hawk in Flight is grinnin' large knowin' he has a grandchild comin'." She did not recall any history of a white woman in the royal family. Newton Tickle Bear must have had his legends wrong. No need to bring that up or Dancing Under Stars would think her crazier than he already did. Talking about the future would be laughed at.
"He is not happy. Sunrise on Shoulder is not born to our tribe."
"Yeah, I get it. That's tough. But at least yer honorable and she has love in her eyes."
"It is good you speak our tongue. Father will understand you. You are different than most pale face squaws. What you wear. How you act."
"I've been places and seen things you'd never see in yer lifetime, Dancer. Other side of the world even. Deserts bigger than this. Places where you and I wouldn't be welcome. They jus' didn't have a choice. I'm curious, Dancer, why didn't you have yer warriors take our guns?"
"You were honest."
"Wow! Thanks for seeing that about me." Reaching the hilltop, they got their first visual of a sprawling reservation on the banks of a wide river bustling with Comanche going about their everyday lives of fishing, weaving, children playing. It was breathtaking. She had only seen black and white photos of such splendor. Colorful teepees, animals grazing, you name it. Of course, she had seen this before hitting the ridge thanks to her three amigos in the sky. Their eyes somehow her eyes. Graceful bastards for sure. Her best guess was that those spirit eagles were tied to some form of tech Wyndham had going on. Her gut wondered enough to enquire. "Tilly Ford?"
"Yes, Sadie Lynn?"
"Have you heard anything around Wyndham about eagle drones? Only I can see them right now at least, but I see through their vision all Beastmaster like if you recall that movie. I really would like to know how that's possible." They rode down the hill toward a greeting of children happy to see them home.
"Nothing I'm afraid. You must understand however, I am not privy to everything that goes on here. I do know, like Corona Wabash and Brandon, there have been many attempts to synch up with Jessup Outlaw. In Corona's case she was only a retriever. A number of males before Brandon went back before Wyndham realized that women coped better. All of them were extracted just as Brandon was, and all came home insane."
"So, if Uncle Brandon's spirit got ripped from his body and now lives in Tarnation here, what's to say those other fellas aren't inside an animal too. Newton Tickle Bear talked about spirit animals a lot growing up. Makes me wonder if my eagles aren't some of those fellas. Only thing scratchin' my head over that idea is how's come only I can see them? Dancing Under Stars here with me doesn't even notice them. Lookin' around I don't think any of his warriors do."
"Your theory has merit. At least you have them watching your back."
"True enough! So, you can't see them when you see through my eyes?"
"I cannot."
"Weird! Alright! Do yer best to keep that to yerself. I don't need Wyndham boys hasslin' Newton. Sit purdy Tilly we're comin' to a halt. I see trouble brewin' already."
"As can I."
"Oh, yeah!" She would never be fully used to sharing her eyes. As Dancing Under Stars helped Sunrise down, she scurried off with other squaws leading her away. Warriors surrounded Dorieann and Ned, then Sadie herself. She knew this was a strategic defense to protect their Chief. The biggest teepee was straight ahead so that part was obvious.
Dancing Under Stars dismounted and let a warrior lead his horse away to feed and water him. Forcing Dorie and Ned down they took Dorie's horse and belongings with them. Sadie dropping down took her saddle bag but left her Winchester. She still had her Glock, but her spare clips were in the bag. Reaching into her bag as guns and arrows both pointed at her untrustingly, she removed two carrots and fed them to Tarnation. "Take a seat before they try'n haul you away too. I don't need you shot for goin' off the handle. Listen to me for once." Chewing the carrot Tarnation sat down on his ass and remained calm. The children about laughed over his actions. Patting his nose after that second carrot she moved over to Dancing Under Stars and dipped into her bag for her gumballs. Handing him one she smiled. "For the children."
Nodding he made a biting motion toward them then handed the one in his hand to a young boy. Popping it into his mouth he immediately smiled brightly at the sweet taste. From there Sadie passed out the rest until they were gone. Sadly, there were disappointed kids everywhere, but there were only so many gumballs. At least she looked as if no threat. Regardless warriors stood their ground. Gnawing Beaver chattered over how she caught an arrow and broke it in her clenched fist. Not many believed him until others confirmed it. That alone made them strengthen their ranks.
"Let's get this war party started, Dancing Under Stars. Am I meetin' yer daddy?"
"He is resting." A glance at the tent to see his mother peeking out confirmed that this was not the time. "You and your friends may bathe in the river."
"Surrounded by yer Moccasin Boys?"
"They will stand guard." Sadie nodded and took her saddle bag back to Tarnation with the exception of a bar of soap she had gotten from the mercantile. Handkerchief her washcloth she unbuckled her gun belt and laid it over her saddle horn. Trust needed to be maintained. As long as nobody took her things she was fine going by her intuition.
"Good! Tarnation here will stand guard over my stuff. Word of advice to yer young fellas, don't get too close he might break a few more bones before he's done. Stay put!" She ordered her Uncle Brandon within spiritually. Nodding at her she stripped her clothing off right in front of the warriors. Spotting her tattoos every single one of them showed hesitance to go near her. They simply did not know what to make of her. Between the artwork, her muscles, and her shaved bikini area fear was creeping in. Hat on her saddle horn she turned with her soap and hanky and marched right on through the gauntlet. Dancing Under Stars studied her behavior well. He agreed with his warriors that she had a very nice ass. "I HEARD THAT!" Chuckles had to happen.
Dorie and Ned followed her toward the river thinking she was insane but knowing they needed her to get out of this nightmare alive. Warriors quickly followed her to prevent her from attempting any escape. Mostly to watch her hot body. Boys would be boys! In this day and age children seeing nudity was common so there was no real disrespect.
"Sadie? What are ye doin'?"
"What does it look like? I'm takin' a bath. Come on in Ned the water's fine. Rinse some stink off yerself. Who knows the fish might jump out on the shore because yer so rank. Dinner served might be in our favor, if'n not our flavor."
"HA HA!" He nervously moved around Dorie and removed his poncho then his boots setting them on the shoreline. Tiptoeing into the river to join Sadie, he submerged himself and erupted back up spitting water. "Woooweeeee! Sure, feels good after sweatin' all day. You comin' in Miss Dorie?"
"I ain't gettin' nekkid in front of so many eyes."
"She means fellas!" Sadie chuckled, "They won't hurt ya, Derby. They gotta go through me first." Scrubbing her pits and under her breasts Sadie ignored the warriors lining up on the shore. Dorieann panicked as they began to surround her and just took off walking into the water fully dressed. Laughter at her expense made her temperamental. "Derby? Yer gettin' yer gun wet. Ya do realize if they were truly threatened by ya they'd have taken yer pistol and boot knife."
"Why ain't they disarmin' us noways?"
"Women are the weaker sex in their eyes. As far as they're concerned that there Colt probably squirts water. Well, now that ya done drowned it, that's a certain."
"Shit!" Her shirt drenched it clung to Dorie's chest like a second skin, nipples rising at the chill of the river water. Ned certainly noticed but for once kept his mouth shut. "What are we doin' here Sadie?"
