Chapter 34
The End of The Trail
“Here’s your pay, Esben. These are United States greenbacks. The government has used these since 1864. Everyone in the Wyoming Territory knows these are backed by our government and are just as good as gold or silver coins. Just let me know if anyone refuses to accept it and we will lock them up.”
“It was a pleasure working with you and hope you decide to return. More wagon trains will be coming out of the Black Hills next spring so don’t go too far if you want to scout for us again,” Lt Steckel said.
Yellow Hair looked at the greenbacks with a quizzical look. They were new to him. He had never seen them before.
“Thanks, lieutenant. I’ll remember that,” he said as he put the greenbacks in the pouch he wore around his waist.
“Good luck to you, sir.”
“Good luck to you as well, Esben.” Lt. Steckel turned and left the room.
Yellow Hair walked over to the general store and picked out provisions and gun powder and was placing them on the counter when he heard the door open behind him. He turned and a very pretty young woman was walking in his direction. As she passed, Esben glanced down at her long auburn hair, hanging down her shoulders and disappearing behind her back. Her dark almond shaped eyes were looking past him as if he didn’t exist. As she came closer, he noticed how flawless and smooth her milky white skin was. He watched her lithe body move beneath the long thin cotton skirt she wore that reached to her ankles, exposing only the tips of her black riding boots.
“Hi Seth,” she said as she reached the counter.
“Would you please fill this order for me? I will be back to pick it up shortly. I have to run an errand.”
“Sure will Miss Turner,” Seth replied.
She turned and looking up at Esben, smiled and sweetly said, “Hello.”
He nodded as she walked to the door to leave. The back of her was as pleasing to the eye as was the front.
After Yellow Hair was able to gather his composure he asked Seth, “Where did she come from?”
“Someplace in Wisconsin,” Seth replied.
“Her father bought the Plunkett place from the bank and moved in last March. They bought a few head of cattle and are trying to make a go of it out there. Might just do it too, if ol’ Olive leaves ‘em be.”
“Well, I hope he does. She sure is pretty. Isom is bad news,” he replied.
“Well, I better be going Seth, if I am going to beat the rain. See you next month.”
Seth nodded as he proceeded to fill Miss Turner’s order and replied. “Take care of yourself, Esben.”
Yellow Hair turned and lifted the sack that was filled with the merchandise he had just purchased with some of his greenbacks and walked out the door. So far the greenbacks are pretty good, he thought.
The bright sun caused him to squint as he stepped off the porch and looked to where his horse was tied. He noticed an altercation taking place close to a buckboard and it was causing Kodah to move around in fear. The voices grew louder and Kodah started to pull back from the hitching post. She kept pulling and turning side to side trying to get as far away as possible from the commotion that was going on around her.
There were two tough looking wranglers arguing with an older man. Esben grabbed Kodah’s reins as he approached, calming her down and overheard one of the men saying “Why don’t ya’ just pack up and go back where ya’ came from ol’ man?” He then shoved the man in the chest, causing him to fall on his back onto the ground. The old man reached into the back of the buckboard and brought out a Winchester rifle. One of the wranglers grabbed the barrel and threw the rifle on the ground.
“Is there a problem here?” he asked. The larger of the two wranglers turned toward him and without saying a word swung his right fist. Yellow Hair saw it coming but it was too late. The force from the blow snapped his head to the right. He immediately went down and everything went black.
“Back off, Gavin” the old man had retrieved his rifle and was standing pointing it at the chest of the big man.
“Just turn around and get yourself out of here before you make me do something I don’t want to do.”
“You’ll regret this old man. We’ll cross paths again and the next time you won’t be so lucky.”
“I reckon we will. Just remember, don’t pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he’ll just kill ya.”
Coming to, Yellow Hair felt a cool water soaked rag being gently pressed against his jaw. Slowly he opened his eyes and saw the silhouette of a woman bending over him with long hair being blown around her face, captured against the backdrop of the bright orange sun. He tried to focus on her and realized he was gazing into the eyes of the beautiful Miss Turner who he just saw at Seth’s mercantile store. He had no idea where he was, only that he was staring up at the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.
“Thank you for helping my father. I am so sorry you got hurt.”
At this point he didn’t know what she was talking about. He was still trying to figure out where he was and what had happened. When he opened his mouth to reply, a sharp pain shot through his face causing an involuntary groan to escape. He started to sit up but she put her hand on his chest, gently pushing him down, “You took a pretty nasty hit. It’s best you just lie here for a moment before you try to move. I really appreciate you helping my father,” she said again smiling at his swelling face.
“Who were those men?” heasked.
“They are two of Isom Olive’s men. They aren’t too happy that we purchased the Plunkett place next to Olive’s Circle L Ranch. I heard Mr. Olive wanted to buy it as well but didn’t figure on someone buying it out from under him. My father’s cousin told us there was a beautiful ranch just outside of Bosler that the bank took over and was looking for a buyer if we were interested.
Now Mr. Olive is trying to run us off. I guess he doesn’t know my father. He doesn’t back down from anybody.
The right side of your face has swollen up like a watermelon. I hope nothing is broken.”
“Me too. I better get up. I have a long ride ahead of me.”
His legs buckled as soon as he stood up and he grabbed her arm for support. When he bent to pick up his sack of provisions, he started to fall and she reached out and steadied him by holding his arm. Feeling her close to him like this, made it difficult for him to breath.
“Thank you, guess I had better sit a spell before riding out.”
“Where are you going?”
“I am supposed to meet a friend at the Brule Reservation tomorrow.”
“I don’t think you are in any shape to ride anywhere, let alone all the way up there. Climb into the back of our buckboard and we can take you part of the way. Our place is north of town. We can make you a nice meal before you head out. That’s the least we can do for you after you helped my father. What is your name?” she asked.
“My Christian name is Esben, but most people call me Yellow Hair.”
“I can see why, she smiled. My name is Christine, Christine Turner.”
Her father approached and bent down to grab one of Esben’s arms.
“Christine, help me get this gentleman into the back of the wagon. My name is Adam Turner and I appreciate what you did. Hard telling what those two were planning on doing. They have been harassing us ever since we moved here. They work for our neighbor, Mr. Olive, who is as unpleasant as a tooth ache.
Is that buckskin mare yours?” he asked.
Without waiting for an answer, he said, “we will tie her to the back. The least we can do is provide you with a good meal and a dry place to stay tonight. We got them black clouds gathering in the east and they are getting closer by the minute. I know your horse will appreciate a dry stall and some fresh alfalfa hay. We just put up a bunch. Our barn is full and we have plenty. I’ll go in and get our supplies and then we can leave.”
Esben was too groggy to protest “Thank you,” he replied.
Kodah looked at him quizzically as he lay stretched out on the feed sacks in the back of the wagon as they headed to the Turner ranch. A laconic smile begin to fill his face, “Christine”, I like that name. He thought it was nice that he would be spending time with her, something he never thought would happen.
“The nagi tanka - Great Spirit is looking down on me, my little pony.”
She tossed her head and gave a snort clearing the dust being kicked up by the wagon from her nostrils. That was the last thing he remembered before blacking out again.