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He gave his horse a little kick, causing it to surge forward as the rider leaned low in the saddle. Horse and rider worked as one, jumping over downed trees and sailing over the shallow creek a mile away from their destination. They skidded down a steep hill covered with loose rock and continued on their way without missing a step. The skill of horse and rider was a thing of beauty, if anyone had the opportunity to watch as the pair streaked by.
Emma watched from a distance as the horse and rider drew closer, a smile crossing her face as she watched. It always amazed her, the skill, and lack of fear that her riders possessed. She turned her head toward the bunkhouse, studying the porch, looking for the next rider.
"Rider coming!" she called out and was rewarded with the sound of the bunkhouse door slamming and Cody running across the porch. He jumped on his horse and moved out into the yard waiting for the pass off. He started his horse into motion and was at a slow gallop by the time Buck reached his side. Handing off the mochilla, Buck pulled his horse up short and walked it toward the bunkhouse. Ike stepped off the porch and took the reins from him as he slid tiredly from the saddle. Emma was already climbing the steps to the porch as Ike headed to the corral.
"Buck, you look like you rolled around in the dust."
"I feel like it too, Emma." He said as he knocked some of the dust from his hat. He was so tired that he barely managed a lopsided smile.
"Well, you go wash up and I'll get you some lunch." She stepped into the bunkhouse and came back out with a clean shirt and a towel. Buck disappeared around the corner of the house.
Teaspoon had built a small water tower and rigged a spout underneath to form a shower of sorts. The water was almost always cold, but it did the trick. Buck layed his dirty shirt over the wall that had been built around it for privacy. He removed the rest of his clothes and stepped under the spout. While he showered Emma came around and took his shirt off to be washed, shaking his trousers out before placing them back over the fence.
Feeling a little better, he dressed and headed inside. Emma turned to the fireplace and ladled out a bowl of stew, which she placed on the table alongside a plate of sourdough biscuits. Buck ate slowly and halfheartedly, a fact not lost on Emma. She stepped over to him and placed a hand on his neck, feeling for a fever.
"You feeling okay Buck?"
"Yeah. Just tired."
"Hard ride?"
Buck only had the energy to nod his head.
"Why don't you catch some sleep. The others are in the barn, pretending to do the chores, so it should be quiet for awhile."
"Thanks Emma." He stood and moved stiffly over to his bunk. Lying down, he was almost instantly asleep, not even hearing Emma clean up and leave the room.
Shortly, he began to dream.
He was in a field of wildflowers. His mother was there, sitting by a stream, and he and his brother Red Bear were running through the field. Red Bear was in the lead with a young Running Buck trying his best to catch up to his much adored older brother.
"You'll never catch up, Running Buck! You're too small yet."
Buck realized that he must be around six or seven summers in his dream.
"But you must never give up trying Running Buck!" his mother called to him. Then more to herself she added, "Never give up little one."
In the bunkhouse a pair of squirrels chased each other across the roof.
In the dream thunder rumbled across the plain. Running Buck stopped running and looked up into the sky. It was bright blue, without a cloud to be seen.
"Running Buck, Red Bear! We should go back to the village before it rains." His mother called for them as she stood. He ran toward her, taking her hand and as fifteen summers old Red Bear joined them they began the walk back to the Kiowa village.
It felt as though they walked through the field for hours. But in the blink of an eye, the field changed to their village and he was standing in front of their home. Buck was now ten summers and he entered the teepee with a freshly skinned rabbit. Red Bear and his mother sat around the fire, his mother sipping a cup of tea as Red Bear told of his recent trip with the war party. Red Bear was already on his way to being War Chief.
"Running Buck, your brother has returned. He has news."
"What is it brother?" Buck asked as he handed the rabbit to his mother and sat down on his robes. Red Bear told wonderful stories of his victories in battle.
"The war party encountered a troop of blue coats. We fought them and were victorious. I have captured many ponies and now offer them to Silver Hawk for his daughter. I am to be married little brother."
Outside the bunkhouse a mild breeze blew up, rustling several tree branches, one of them brushing up against the bunkhouse.
Time was now just a few months later. Running Buck lay in his robes listening to his mother coughing across the room.
Then time took a short jump again and he was in a stand of trees with his friend, Little Bird, whom he also called Camille when they were alone. He knew that he felt sad. His mother had just died the day before. They sat side by side, silent for awhile. Little Bird made a necklace of grass stems, weaving them together tightly. Then she made a bracelet, which she placed over Buck's wrist. They moved closer together, their arms encircling each other in a comforting embrace.
"I will be living with Red Bear now." He told her. "He will be taking me with the next war party. He says that I have already proven myself and have won the right to accompany the warriors. He says I will make a great warrior someday."
"You will be a great warrior, Running Buck." Little Bird replied. "You have a strong heart and would make a great leader. I think your brother will make you his second man. You two think very much alike. He already listens when you talk."
"But the others will not allow that. They see my white side and nothing else."
"I see you for who you really are. They will too. Someday."
Emma had entered the bunkhouse, needing to start supper for the riders. She worked quietly, stoking the fire, placing a roast in a covered baking pan and placing it in the coals. Then she began cutting vegetables to add to the pot. As she reached for a bowl filled with carrots her arm brushed against a plate of biscuits sitting on the edge of the counter and it crashed to the floor, shattering. Her head jerked up to see if she had disturbed Buck's sleep, but the boy barely reacted.
'He must be very tired.' She thought to herself as she picked up the pieces of china.
Running Buck heard the crack of a rifle and felt the bullet whiz by his head. He bent low over his pony. War cries filled the sky, joining the sounds of more guns and screams. A blue coat came riding at him and as the man drew abreast, Buck dove from his horse knocking the man off. His arm raised and he saw there was a knife in it.
He didn't strike downward in the dream, but knew that he must have. He jumped to his feet and ran into the fighting. Then it was over and he was walking beside his brother as Red Bear surveyed the battleground. Red Bear's arm reached out and rested briefly on twelve summers old Running Buck's shoulders. Then the man moved on. Running Buck followed closely, an ever-present shadow in his brother's wake.
Cody came crashing through the bunkhouse door, letting the screen slam behind him.
"Emma? When's su" She cut him off with a glare, her eyes traveling to Buck miraculously still sleeping on his cot. "Sorry Emma." he whispered and silently left the room.
A large gun went off. Buck would later learn it was called a cannon. His village scattered as the cannon ball landed, demolishing several homes. The warriors had all grabbed weapons and began a charge forward as the women grabbed the children and tried to find cover from the big gun. But the battle did not last long, the warriors having to retreat.
Then suddenly he was in a stand of trees once more, Little Bird at his side.
"Don't go Buck! If you go we'll never see each other again."
"Of course we will, Camille."
"No we won't. I just have this feeling."
"But I must go. We must exact revenge on the bluecoats that attacked our village." He held her close to him. "When I come back, I will have all the ponies I need for your bridal fee. The elders will approve of our marriage. I know it."
"But will your brother? We are very young still and he has said this himself."
"He would have married at my age if he had not been on the path to becoming War Chief. He will approve. He knows it is a good match."
She looked down at her feet. Then her eyes met his and she smiled, a sad sort of smile, because she knew that their destinies were about to be split, that their marriage would never occur.
"Still, I would rather you stayed. You can get the rest of the bridal fee next time."
"Red Bear is counting on me. I must go." He turned away as he heard his brother call him. With one last glance at Little Bird, he walked off.
"Buck! Don't leave me! Buck! Buck!.."
"Buck? Buck? Time to wake up."
Buck jumped at Emma's touch on his shoulder. He relaxed, realizing where he was.
"I didn't mean to startle you."
"It's okay. I guess I was dreaming and didn't hear you."
"I hope they were pleasant dreams. Could you go get the others for me? Supper's ready."
"Sure Emma." The last cobwebs of dreams were wiped clean in his memory. He rubbed his eyes, stood up and headed out the door.
The End
'The Young Riders' is an Ogden/Kane Production. No breach of copyright is intended.
