Chapter 11: One Down Three Step Up

Everyone was trying not to smile or giggle as the four of us made the walk of shame following the three young girls to the firepit to eat lunch. I sat next to Standing Badger and my wives sat next to me with White Hawk on my left, Pretty Woman on her left and Dark Moon on her left. I started calling White Hawk just Hawk and Pretty Woman just PW and Dark Moon just DM.

At first everyone else still called them by their long name, but after a week or so everyone started to call them as I had named them. The girls didn’t mind and in fact thought it was special.

Word had come from one of the patrols that COL McBride wanted to see me. I would ride out first thing in the morning, I was planning to go alone when all my women said they would be going with me. At first, I started to object but thought that maybe if all three were with me Chief Eagle might not send any braves with me. I was almost right, he just sent Grey Hawk with us.

Each of my wives had her shoulder holster and .32 revolver under a deer hide leather vest open in front. A bowie across the small of their back attached to a belt. They all were wearing cotton blouses that were somewhere between off-white and tan color. The leather skirts were split for riding and had the panel sewn in between to make them appear to be a skirt but more pants like.

Grey Hawk had a Henry and revolver that both fired .45 cartridges, his bow and 30 arrows, a bowie and stone club tomahawk. The holster he wore was a cross-draw like I wear and had 35 LC rounds in loops around the belt for both revolver and Henry.

I was in buckskins with my .32s in the cross-draw rig. I also had the Governor in a western thigh holster. The Greener next to my left knee and my Sharps next to my right knee. I had a bandoleer that held 20 rounds of 00buckshot and 10 45-70 rounds for the Greener. There was a shooters hip-bag with 50 rounds for the Sharps hanging opposite my canteen. I also had my Bowie and Tomahawk.

The five of us left right after breakfast, when we reached the fort, we were welcomed and quickly escorted to COL McBride’s office.

COL McBride was quick to say that three young women had been taken, by Indians, it appeared. They had gone to a swimming hole and after failing to return by the required time, two fathers went to collect them. Their carriage and horse along with their over clothing were all that was found. A search of the area showed signs of six to eight horses without shoes, which most likely meant Indian horses, came, and left from the direction of our camp.

Before I could say anything, COL McBride said, ‘I know that none of your Indians are responsible. So, can you help me prove none of your people are responsible by helping me find the three girls.’

I asked how long it had been and he said today was day three, two days ago they went swimming and just before dark were discovered to have been taken. Yesterday a good search showed the sign/tracks toward your Indian camp. I sent word yesterday as soon as I was briefed on what was found. Today is day three.

I said we would start the search immediately. COL McBride apologized and said that five of his men and a nurse would be going with us. He named LT Frank Tenor, CPL Andy Roberts, Scout Chavo, PVTs Carl West and David Vogal along with Nurse Mary Sue Jones just in case.

I agreed and thanked him for sending Nurse Jones. I also asked if he could send one of his Indian scouts to tell Chief White Eagle what has happened so more of our Indians could join the search.

When he asked why I didn’t send my wives, they told him they would be going with me and Grey Hawk.

We were already moving toward our horses as we were talking and when the gate was opened were not surprised to see Grey Wolf, Winter Cat, Loud Duck, Standing Silent, Tall Grass, Singing Elk, Dark Raven, and Sitting Buck riding up.

They were coming to tell me and COL McBride that several Pawnee braves had attacked one of our hunting parties with both sides fleeing after wounding a couple from both sides. Grey Wolf said he had an arrow cut across his outer upper arm showing the bandage and added that two horses were hit by an arrow would be fine. Two Pawnee braves were wounded, one took an arrow in a thigh and the other a bullet to his torso Grey Wolf was not sure where.

The COL was glad to hear he was right that our people had not been responsible.

One of the fathers rode up demanding to go with us but with my nodding ‘NO’ COL McBride stopped him and said he would only slow us down and might even get his daughter killed by going with us.

When he started to argue I asked him to dismount his horse, draw his pistol, shoot a small catus about 15 feet away, and then mount while holstering his pistol. If he could beat my wife Hawk, I would let him join our group. He laughed and said she didn’t have a pistol.

Hawk drew her pistol from her shoulder holster shot the catus, as she slid out of the saddle, shot the cactus again when she was on the ground, then she reholstered her pistol as she showed off by crow-hopped her horse into a gallop as she swung back into the saddle. drew her pistol again and shot the catus again. Reholstering her pistol as she turned her horse and rode back to our group.

COL McBride shook his head and asked where he had her pistol as he could not see it as Hawk rode up next to me.

All my wives pulled back their vests showing the shoulder holsters each wore.

COL McBride introduced the husband along with his wife and the other two parents as they walked up, he was Mathew Ingles his wife Sarah their daughter’s name is Lanah. The other two families were James Garner and his wife Annette, their daughter’s name is Mariann, and Steven Marks and his wife Rose their daughter’s name is Bethany.

Then he turned to me and asked where I got the idea to hide their pistols under a vest.

I laughed and said, ‘Nobody expects a woman to be able to shoot, so if a woman has a pistol on it makes people wonder if they might know how to use that pistol. But by hiding the pistol under their vest no one expects them to be a threat and, in most cases, an easy target.’

COL McBride said out loud to nobody, ‘I should do the same for my two.’

I leaned over and whispered get a .32 if you can, NO bigger than a .36 if you have to.

Wide eyed, COL McBride looked at me and then smiled, nodding his understanding.

Mathew said, ‘I apologize, I am not sure I could hit that catus standing here with both my hands holding my pistol. I sometimes need help getting up on my horse. I also see you all have bedrolls and probably kits to stay out overnight. Please bring all our daughters back quickly.’ Then turned and hugged his wife. It looked like he was crying.

We took out heading toward where the tracks had been found, Chavo was taking us to the spot.

Once on their trail we found where they had spent the night as the fire was dead and cold, we spent the night there and used their firepit. We were up before sunrise and the watch had the coffee made so after a cup of coffee, a piece of jerky, and dried bread we were off again.