CAPTIVES

Lou's words hung on the air like a heavy fog.

The answer is quite simple. We'll have to be married.

No one said anything for the longest time. They all stood staring at Lou, who looked as if she was in some sort of trance.

Suddenly she seemed to snap out of it. Her eyes roamed the room, and then wordlessly she got up and ran out of the teepee.

Raven Wing began to follow her, but Curly held her arm gently, "Better to let her be by herself right now, I think."

Jimmy nodded. He then bowed his head and massaged his temples with his thumb and index finger.

"You both act as if this is a bad thing!" Raven Wing exclaimed in confusion.

Jimmy looked at her and sighed, "Lou is not really my woman. She was…I mean is, in love with someone else. Curly's blood brother, Kid."

"And Jimmy's friend," Curly explained, his eyes looked to Jimmy, "Will you go through with it?"

Jimmy shrugged, "Lou will insist I do. And even if she didn't, what else could we do? You are all so sure Dark Wolf will kill me, and then she will be his captive anyway."

Raven Wing shook her head, still trying to understand that they were not in love, "But I don't understand! You must love each other! I have seen it so clearly in so many ways!"

"Her heart belongs to someone else. She doesn't love me," Jimmy protested weakly.

Raven Wing instantly noticed that he didn't deny loving her.

"I need to go find her. She's upset and may get into trouble," Jimmy said, and left them. But he didn't begin looking for Lou right away. He walked through the village slowly, patting the heads of children who ran up to hug his legs. The Sioux seemed fond of him already. The braves respected him, the children liked his funny clothes and hat, and the women were always curiously watching him.

Today though, he was occupied with much deeper thoughts. How could he marry Lou? He loved Kid like a brother, even given the way things had been between them before they left. It would be the ultimate betrayal.

So much had happened since he and Lou had come here, though. He'd come to fear what he felt for her. She was his friend too, and he'd always loved her dearly. But now, to force himself to say that he still felt only brotherly love to her would be a betrayal too, a betrayal of his heart.

He was going in circles, he soon realized, and decided to find Lou. They had to come to some sort of understanding, Jimmy thought, or he was going to explode. The best thing he could do was to lay his cards on the table and see if he had a winning hand.

He found her where he thought he might, sitting in the meadow where they had shared their first kiss. Her knees were drawn up, her arms wrapped around them. Her chin rested on her knees and she had her back to him, staring up over the mountains.

The mountains that separate her from Kid, Jimmy thought, and wondered if she was saddened or encouraged by that.

He'd soon find out.

"Lou?" He said softly, announcing himself to her.

She was still startled and flung herself around. Jimmy had expected to find her in floods of tears, but her eyes were curiously dry, her demeanor calm.

Jimmy slipped off his jacket and placed it around her shoulders. He then sat down by her.

"This is an interesting turn of events," He said, trying to make his voice sound light.

She glanced at him to see if he was actually kidding at a time like this.

"I'm sorry Lou, I was just trying to break the ice," Jimmy said.

She shrugged, "I know."

"Lou, you know I'll fight him if you will let me. I'm not so sure this is a good idea."

"You can't fight him! Please don't say anything about that again. I'm not letting you get killed because of me!"

"Why is everyone so sure I'll be killed?" Jimmy wondered indignantly, "Am I that bad of a fighter?"

"Yes," Lou said with a slight smile.

"So we're gonna do this?" Jimmy wondered.

"Yeah, I guess so. When will we be married?" Lou wondered.

"In a few days, I'm sure. If not sooner. It could be tomorrow."

Lou sighed, "Well, I've had some unexpected stuff happen to me before, but this wins. I certainly didn't see myself getting married in a Sioux camp to…"

She stopped suddenly and realized how horrible what she'd started to say sounded.

"To me? To Wild Bill Hickok?" Jimmy wondered, hurt and anger in his voice.

Lou felt tears rise in her eyes and placed a small hand on his arm, "I didn't mean that. I just wouldn't have thought we'd be married!" She sighed, "I mean, I guess I just always thought I'd end up with Kid."

"Then why'd you just turn him down?" Jimmy suddenly snapped.

She looked at him in wide-eyed surprise. He'd nearly bitten her head off with that last remark and she didn't understand it.

She grew angry too and snapped back, "I don't think I owe you any explanation!"

Suddenly the frustration that Jimmy felt over Lou seemed to bubble to the surface completely, and he raised his voice, "Oh yes you do, damn it! Because I'm about to have to betray my best friend to save your life! The very least you could do is offer me an explanation!"

"To save my life!" Lou sputtered, not believing him, "I'm not the one who would die fighting Black Wolf! I'm doing this to save your life, you fool!"

"Why bother!" Jimmy said, as she stood up and flung his jacket back at him. It hit him square in the face and he furiously clawed it away and stood up to tower over her. She didn't back down a bit. Half the men in the territory were intimidated by him, but she, little girl that she was, stood her ground. He growled at her, "Why not just let Black Wolf kill me and then live your life with him until Kid finds you! Then yall can live happily ever after with me out of the way! You'd like that, wouldn't you! I know Kid would!"

He stopped as her eyes filled with tears that slid hotly down her cheeks. He started to apologize, knowing what he had said was unfair and untrue. She interrupted him though, nearly shouting, "I'm marrying you because I care so much about you that I don't know what to think, you idiot! I'm marrying you because the thought of you dying scares me more than anything in the world!"

The words were in the open. Jimmy knew that it was his turn to lay his cards down. She hadn't said she loved him, but she'd admitted she wasn't sure she didn't. If he was ever to tell her the truth, it would have to be now.

He drew a shaky breath and began softly, "Lou, there is something I have to tell you…"

However, her eyes, which had been looking off somewhere over his right shoulder, grew very wide and she tackled him, knocking them both to the ground. "Shhhhh!" She hissed putting a finger to her lips when he would have demanded an explanation.

"What the hell, Lou?" Jimmy whispered anyway. She covered his mouth and nodded her head toward the other end of the field.

Jimmy quickly followed her eyes and then flattened himself in the knee high grass.

A small band of Indians skirted the field. They were obviously not of the Sioux tribe, for their hair was cut close to their head and stood up in mohawks. They were painted and armed for a fight, Jimmy realized, and heading toward the Sioux village.

"They are going up the trail to come into the village by the pond," Lou said softly.

"We have to warn them or it will be a bloodbath," Jimmy said then looked at Lou, "This may be your only chance to escape. Catch one of the horses and ride hard for home! Send help as soon as you get there!"

Lou was already shaking her head, "No! We decided a long time ago that we get out of this together or not at all."

Jimmy jumped to his feet, for the braves had passed out of sight. He pulled her up and wrapped his arms around her tightly, pressing his lips to her forehead, "You fool!" He accused her, but didn't try to make her go, "Come on! There isn't much time!"

He grabbed her hand and they began running as hard as they could to find Curly.

Jimmy found him and quickly informed him that a group of horsemen were circling the village. Curly leaned his head back and gave three piercing yells that bounced off the mountains, and the village sprang into activity.

If our army could mobilize this quickly and efficiently, we'd rule the world, Jimmy thought.

People moved everywhere, knowing exactly what to do. Lou and Jimmy stuck close together. They took shelter behind a huge tree that had overturned in the storm and waited silently. Curly came to crouch beside them, rifle in hand.

"Thought real Indians fought with bows and arrows," Jimmy said dryly.

Curly cut his eyes at his friend, "I'm not a real Indian, remember? I'm half white!"

"So you finally admit it!" Jimmy almost grinned.

Curly looked at Lou, "You shouldn't be here. You should be with the other women!"

"I can help!" She protested.

"No, you may not. It is not an honorable death for a woman to kill a brave."

"These Indians are attacking you! Do you think they deserve an honorable death?" Lou demanded incredulously.

"Every warrior deserves an honorable death," Curly said simply.

"All right, she won't fight. But she's staying with me!" Jimmy said sharply, and by the set of his jaw Curly knew it would be pointless to argue.

"Warning the village will save many lives. Running Horse will be pleased with you."

"Pleased enough to let us go?" Lou wondered.

Curly didn't answer. Instead, he murmured to himself, "It is a good day to die."

Lou and Jimmy exchanged a smile, remembering when Curly had said that before. Jimmy laughed softly. "I still love this guy's attitude!"

That moment the enemy tribe charged into the village, expecting to find it unprepared. They were mortally mistaken.

"Paiutes!" Curly growled as he leveled his rifle. Jimmy readied his gun also. They fired first, and several Paiutes went down. The invaders quickly discovered they had ridden in to a trap. The Sioux stood and closed in on them until they formed a tight circle around them.

"Good, they are surrendering," Jimmy said softly as they threw down their guns. Lou sighed with relief too. They both stayed behind the log, even as Curly went with the others to close in.

"What are they doing?" Lou suddenly asked as the Sioux raised their rifles and bows.

"Oh no!" Jimmy whispered. Knowing what was about to happen he reached for Lou and pulled her tightly against his chest, shielding her eyes within his arms. He found he couldn't look away as all of the Sioux warriors fired, killing the men.

It was a horrible, bloody scene as the Paiutes slid off their horses, some of them dead instantly, some of them crying in pain. Then the Sioux raised their weapons again, to pick off the ones remaining.

Lou struggled against his hold, knowing she didn't want to see the scene, but also knowing she needed to.

Jimmy attempted to hold her more tightly and whispered, "Don't look, Lou, don't!"

But she broke free of his hold and turned a sickly green at what she saw. "No!" She cried out and tears began rolling down her face. She jumped as if she had been shot when the next round went off.

She broke into sobs and turned her face back into Jimmy's shirt. The Sioux raised their guns for yet another round and Jimmy covered Lou's ear with one hand and pressed the other tightly against him.

"It's almost over," He told her as sobs wracked her body.

It was the bloodiest massacre either of them had ever seen or would ever see again. Men that had surrendered were murdered right in front of their eyes. It was part of the cruel, harsh life of a warrior, Jimmy realized. There was no capture for them. It was kill or be killed.

Apparently there were worse things than being a captive.

When not one Paiute was alive, the Sioux all rushed into the circle of corpses and began slashing at their scalps. Jimmy's eyes instantly found Curly, cutting with the best of them. A wave of nausea washed over him. Still shielding Lou's eyes he picked her up and carried her away from the scene, back to their tee pee.

"That was so horrible," She whispered over and over again, "It was murder!"

"I know sweetheart," Jimmy reassured her.

After he sat her down in the tee pee he suddenly turned and ran out. Lou heard him vomiting not far from the tee pee. She laid on her blanket and curled into a tiny ball, wishing the image of the slaughter to leave her mind's eyes.

Jimmy slowly made his way down to the creek and kneeled beside it, thrusting his head into the cool water. He rinsed his mouth out and waited for the sickness to pass. He couldn't believe how violently the sight had effected him. He'd been with the Sioux only a short while, but he'd grown fond of many of them. Their way of life was simple and honest, but it was peaceful, or so he had thought. Today had reminded him that the Sioux were by no means tame, and that an element of barbarity remained in their culture.

He knew it wasn't fair to judge them on one act. He knew that war in the white man's world was every bit as gruesome and bloody. None of that knowledge really helped as the same word kept running through his mind… Savages!

He made his way back up to the teepee to check on Lou. She was curled up on the blanket, and stared at him as he entered.

"I'm sorry you saw that," He said simply.

She shrugged, "I just can't believe those people that were out there shooting helpless men are the same people that have taken care of us! It makes me so afraid of them!"

Jimmy knew what she felt, but attempted to explain, "It's their way of life. The Paiutes knew when they rode in here either they would win or they would die."

Lou shrugged and sat up. She was silent for awhile before she said, "Kid, there was something you were going to say to me earlier…"

She stopped abruptly as Jimmy looked at her sharply.

"What?" She asked.

"You know what!" He growled at her, turning slightly red.

The look on her face told him that she really had no idea that she'd just called him by Kid's name. That one slip had been enough to make him realize she would never, ever feel the way about him that he felt about her, even if they were held captive for the rest of their lives.

"My name is Jimmy, not Kid!" He said in a low, angry voice.

"I know that!" She protested.

"So don't call me by his name!" Jimmy warned her, and stormed away.

Lou realized her mistake then, and put a hand over her mouth. She'd made Jimmy mad at her twice that day. She suspected his anger went deeper than her words though. He was angry at her for reasons he couldn't even define, much less her. But it didn't make it any easier to bear the brunt of it.

Tears of self pity spilled out of her eyes as she allowed herself the luxury of feeling sorry for herself. She was trapped miles and miles from her home, about to marry a man that seemed to alternately love her and hate her. And all the while she knew another man out there also sorted through his feelings for her, trying to discover if he still loved her or if he hated her as much as he'd like to.

She was afraid that she loved them both.

She sat there for hours, waiting for Jimmy to come back. He didn't. She'd hurt him badly, she realized. Why it had bothered him so that she'd called him Kid wasn't clear to her, but it obviously had.

The sun was setting when she heard someone approaching the teepee. She was half-worried, half-angry at Jimmy's long absence and determined not to be too forgiving of it.

It wasn't Jimmy. Curly poked his head in the door and smiled at her.

Lou found it impossible not to smile back. Like his wife, Curly's vibrance was contagious.

"Where is Jimmy?" He wondered.

"I don't know," She said simply, "Why?"

"Never mind," He said, and Lou knew better than to push him for an explanation. He sighed and held open the flap, "Come on."

"Where to?" Lou wondered, but nonetheless crawled to her feet. She was tired of staring at the animal hide walls.

"There is a celebration tonight," Curly smiled.

Lou's eyes fell on the still damp scalp on his belt and she shuddered, knowing what the celebration was for.

"We do not celebrate their deaths, but our lives," Curly explained.

Lou nodded and followed him. Raven Wing joined them with a wide smile. She wore a beautifully beaded dress and her glass-like hair was braided with a beaded headband.

"You are so beautiful," Lou murmured in amazement.

Raven Wing's high cheekbones were stained with pink at the compliment.

Lou walked with her friends to the center of the village. She'd only ventured this far into the village a few times, but she liked the activity of it. It wasn't that different from Sweetwater.

A huge bonfire billowed in the center of the village. A large spread of food covered many blankets on the ground. Several braves danced rhythmically around the fire to the spirited beating of drums. Lou's eyes stayed fixed on the dancers. They moved with total freedom and grace. She smiled without realizing it at the beauty of the scene.

The celebration was quite enjoyable. The only dim spot in the evening was the absence of Jimmy. Raven Wing assured Lou she'd seen him brooding in the meadow, and Lou was relieved that at least he hadn't left the village or anything that drastic.

Curly broke into her dark thoughts of Jimmy suddenly. He grabbed her hand.

"Come with me!" He told her.

"What?" She wondered. Then as he began dragging her toward the bonfire, she dug her heels in the ground, protesting mightily, "No! I can't do that!"

She giggled hysterically as Curly slowly showed her some of the motions of the dance. She repeated them awkwardly, and they both laughed. He kept hold of her hand and dragged her around the fire with him when she would have dived into the shadows, horrified.

Jimmy approached the scene and leaned against a tree, folding his arms across his chest. He studied Lou carefully, smiling broadly as she laughed at her own attempts to learn the dance.

Then his smile slowly faded as he really looked at her.

Her hair was turned to copper in the firelight, and her eyes glittered with the reflection of the fire. There truly was fire in her, he realized. She was made of fire and had the uncontrollable spirit of fire. He nearly shivered as she moved freely to the primitive music, forgetting her shyness as Curly led her confidently in the dance and as she felt the drive of the drums. She was breathtaking, Jimmy thought. Full of grace and life.

And love, but for another man…

"She is quite beautiful, isn't she?" A soft voice beside him suddenly said.

Jimmy jumped a mile heavenwards and then turned to meet the dark eyes of Raven Wing. She had a knowing look on her face. Jimmy knew that she clearly saw his feelings for Lou.

In fact, she probably knew more about his feelings than he himself did.

"Yes she is," Jimmy sighed, and then smiled gently at her, "But so are you, my friend."

"She's rare too," Raven Wing continued as she turned to study Lou, "Very, spirited, very free, very brave."

"She is at that," Jimmy nodded, his eyes again resting on Lou as he repeated "She certainly is, and you don't know the half of it."

"Things are not well between you?" She asked.

"We'll be all right," Jimmy said defensively, then sighed and told Raven Wing, "I said some things to her that I shouldn't have. I hurt her."

Raven Wing shrugged, "We all say things we don't mean."

Jimmy wondered briefly if Lou was wishing she hadn't said she'd marry him. Then he sighed. Of course she was wishing she didn't have to marry him.

"I know what you are thinking. Don't. She cares for you very much. If you can't see it, everyone else can."

Jimmy shrugged and Raven Wing shook her head in amazement. For such a good, confident, brave man, he seemed so doubtful of the idea that someone cared for him. It made her very sad, and suddenly she wished to see him joyful.

"Come, we cannot let Curly and Lou have all the fun!" She suddenly said, and grabbing his hand started for the fire.

"Oh no!" Jimmy protested.

Her grip, however, was strong, and before he knew it, Jimmy was making a complete fool out of himself.

At one point Lou met his eyes, seeming surprised to see him there. She looked alarmed, as if she was afraid he'd yell at her again. Then, as he stumbled in mid-stride under the weight of her stare, she threw her head back and laughed. Her white teeth gleamed and Jimmy couldn't remember her ever looking happier, or more beautiful.

Eventually the drums slowed and Lou and Curly came to join Raven Wing and Jimmy who'd retired from the fireside long ago to sit on the ground and watch their counterparts circle the fire again and again.

They were both covered in sweat and laughing. Lou met Jimmy's eyes shyly, wondering if he was still upset with her.

He smiled and reached for her hand, squeezing it gently, "Wait till Kid hears that you really have turned into Pocohontas!"

Lou studied him, realizing that the remark was his way of letting her know he understood she still thought of Kid. Her eyes dropped for a moment, as she considered his generosity. He was going to marry her and protect her anyway, even knowing that she loved another. There was great honor in his sacrifice, and when she raised her head her eyes glowed bright with tears.

Again the confusion tore at her heart as his generosity of spirit made her memory of Kid seem very dim.

Jimmy rose to stand beside her as Curly collapsed on the ground beside his wife. He touched her abdomen lightly and spoke to his unborn child, "Hello my lovely daughter! How are you tonight?"

"Son," Raven Wing corrected him.

"We'll name him Little Flower," Curly grinned, still convinced his firstborn would be a girl.

"The other boys will laugh at him," Raven Wing warned her husband, lovingly stroking his hair.

Jimmy and Lou laughed, but both of them looked on with a little envy.

Curly looked at Raven Wing, "Our friend here has almost killed me! I believe she could have gone on dancing for two more moons!"

"Three," Lou admitted, grinning.

Suddenly a horse came thundering into the village. The brave on its back yelled three short, sharp yells, and a chill took over Lou as she recognized the war cry from earlier that day.

Curly was instantly on his feet, as was Raven Wing.

"What's going on?" Jimmy demanded.

"It is a cry of attack!"

The camp burst into a frenzy once again. However, this time braves ran for their horses.

"We must ride out to meet them! It is more Paiutes, and they cannot reach the village! They are a greater number and will attack the weakest first!" Curly breathlessly told Jimmy after consulting with another man.

"I'm going with you!" Jimmy insisted.

"Jimmy!" Lou protested, grabbing his arm, "This isn't your fight!"

Curly nodded, "She is right. You do not have to go!"

"I don't want to see these children slaughtered any more than you do!" Jimmy yelled over the activity.

"I will get our horses!" Curly said, and Raven Wing was close to his side as he took off for the meadow.

"Jimmy, please don't go!" Lou cried out when she was alone with him.

"Ah, Lou, this isn't any different than any fight we've ever been in and you've never stopped me before!"

"Yes it is! You don't know the first thing about how the Paiutes or the Sioux fight, except that the side that loses dies! What if you lose?" Lou demanded.

The fear in her eyes was quite touching. Jimmy reached out to tilt her chin up, "I don't plan on losing, and neither does anyone else! We'll be fine!"

Lou looked at the ground, angry at him for going but not able to find an excuse that would make him stay.

"It will be all right Lou," He assured her, "This will probably help us get out of here."

Lou spotted Curly leading the horses towards them and knew her time with Jimmy was limited.

"Remember you have to be back by tomorrow," Lou said, trying to keep the tears out of her eyes, "You have to make me a bride!"

Her voice wavered in fear. Her eyes sparkled with tears.

"Please don't cry Lou," Jimmy pleaded.

Lou nodded and bravely tried to blink down her tears, "Okay." She stepped forward and kissed him softly on the cheek, resisting the urge to kiss him fully on the mouth.

"What was that for?" Jimmy grinned.

"For luck!" Lou told him, then pleaded, "Please be careful!"

Jimmy looked deep into her eyes and smiled, "I will be."

He turned to go, and Lou suddenly flung herself into his arms, hugging him tightly. He hugged her back and then looked down into her eyes again. He sought permission, found it, and then leaned down to kiss her very briefly.

"We should go," Curly said, as he stepped away from Raven Wing who was hanging on to his neck also.

They mounted their horses. Lou reached for Jimmy's hand once more.

"Ride safe, Jimmy," She whispered.

"Always," He said confidently, and they rode away, leaving Lou and Raven Wing standing there with their arms around one another.

Lou watched Jimmy until he disappeared in the darkness, a horrible feeling gnawing at her. She felt something dangerous in the air, almost like a storm coming.

Only much more frightening, and with infinitely more serious consequences…

To be continued…On toChapter IX

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Fan Fiction
Way Station

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