To Dream Anew (12 page)

“I’ve seen no band of renegade Blackfoot,” Dianne answered honestly.

“We tracked at least one man to this ranch.”

“One man?” Cole asked. “The army has time to chase after a single man?”

By this time Koko and her children, along with Ardith and Winona, had come to the porch to join Dianne.

“This woman is a squaw and a renegade,” the captain announced, pointing to Koko. “She and her children must come with us. One of my men will return her to the reservation.”

“I beg your pardon,” Dianne said, casting a glance at Koko. The woman looked positively thunderstruck, while Jamie seemed prepared to do battle. Dianne threw him a cautioning gaze before turning back to the captain. “This is my aunt. You won’t take her anywhere.”

Winona toddled from where Ardith had placed her on the porch. She’d only learned to walk on her first birthday, but already she was getting into everything. The captain motioned to a corporal at his left. “Take that child. She’s a hostile.”

Koko stepped between Winona and the approaching soldier. She said nothing, but the look she gave the man stopped him in his tracks.

“Captain?” the man asked, looking to his leader.

“If you won’t willingly give up, we’ll take you by force,” the man asserted, his eyes narrowing.

Ardith pushed forward. “Where were you when the Sioux took me hostage?” she screamed. “Where were you and all of your men when I was taken against my will?” Her voice grew louder. “You would take innocent women and children from their homes—force them to reservations, but you couldn’t save one white woman from attack?”

The captain looked from Ardith to Dianne and then back again to Ardith. “Ma’am, I’ve no idea what your concern in this matter might be, but I’d advise you to stay out of my corporal’s way.”

“That’s my daughter you’ve sent your man to take,” Ardith hissed. She went to stand beside Koko. “This is my aunt. She’s half white. My daughter is half white. You can’t force them to live on a reservation.”

“The law says otherwise. Besides, I have no way of knowing that your story is true.”

“I don’t care what you know to be true.” Ardith put her hands on her hips and glared at the man. “I don’t care what happens to the other Indians you and your men round up. I’ll happily see them all on reservations where they can’t hurt anybody. But this is my family and you’ll have to kill me before you can take them.”

Dianne stepped forward. “Me too.” Cole did likewise, putting his arm around Dianne.

The captain’s jaw clenched. He seemed to weigh the situation momentarily. “Corporal, back to your horse.” He waited until the young man had followed orders before fixing his gaze on Cole. “Have you encountered any renegade Blackfoot?”

Cole shook his head. “We have not.”

“I’ll leave this matter for now,” the captain said in a low menacing tone, “but we will be back. All Indians are to be on reservations and there will be no exceptions. If we weren’t headed west, I’d force this issue now.”

“This woman and her children live as white,” Cole protested. “There’s no reason to force any issue.”

“They can live as grizzly bears,” the man retorted. “Doesn’t make them one. I have my orders. Our orders are to seek out and capture any renegade hostiles who have left the reservation or have refused to move onto their assigned land. Over in the Big Hole Valley, Colonel Gibbon and his men have encountered warring Nez Perce. Gibbon was defeated and those Indians are headed this way. We caught the trail of renegade Blackfoot, and I figure from the direction they’re moving that they’ll probably join up with the Nez Perce and work together. If that happens, you’ll be guilty of my men’s blood and the blood of your neighbors.”

“Hardly that, Captain. I fully support you and your men. I’m glad for your protection. But this woman and her children are not the enemy. They’ve lived here peaceably for many years. In fact, this woman was married to the owner of the ranch.”

The captain shook his head. “There is no such thing as a legal marriage to a squaw. You should know that as well as anybody. I’ll see these renegades back on the reservation as soon as my campaign in the west is complete.” He gave Dianne a smirk and added, “Or I’ll see them dead.”

Dianne’s mind was already reeling from the news about Colonel Gibbon. Zane was with that regiment—what if he were dead?
Oh, God, please protect him
.

The captain moved his men out, leaving Dianne chilled to the bone by the confrontation. “I can’t believe anyone could be so cruel. Cole, do you suppose he will come back?”

“A man like that is generally driven to see things done in his own way. I think he’ll probably return.”

“What will we do to protect Koko and the children?” Dianne asked. She looked past Cole to where Jamie and Susannah huddled against the wall. The fear in their eyes said more than words ever could.

“I don’t know. I suppose going to the authorities won’t help much. They are the authorities,” Cole grumbled.

“But we can’t simply stand by and wait to see what happens. We need to have help. We need to protect them.”

“Dianne, I completely agree. I’m just not sure what we can do about it. Let me think on it,” Cole said, clearly irritated.

Dianne looked to her aunt and sister. “I won’t let them hurt you. Not either of you.”

“Times are getting harder.” Koko shook her head. “I have a feeling they will get much worse before things calm again. People are afraid. I don’t hate the army for what they are doing, but I fear it won’t bring about the changes they hope for. People will die. Soldiers as well as Indians.”

Ardith turned and put her hand on Koko’s shoulder. “Thank you for what you did. I know I’ve been unkind to you, but even so you risked your life for Winona.”

Koko smiled. “You’ve been through much. I didn’t blame you for the way you feel. I might have done the same thing in your place. I love you, just as I love Winona. I would never see harm come to either one of you.”

Ardith nodded. “Thank you.”

“What are we gonna do, boss?” Gus asked from behind Dianne.

Cole and Dianne exchanged a look. Dianne wished she could read answers in her husband’s eyes, but in her heart she knew he had no better idea of how to rectify the situation than she did.

“Yeah, what are we gonna do?” Levi asked. “I think we’re all missing the important issue here. Takes Many Horses had no trouble getting to the house—to the women and children. Then the army talks about tracking a band of renegade Blackfoot—that means there’s a great many more warriors out there who might not treat us very well.”

“Yes, that is a concern,” Cole agreed. “But one man working alone has an easier time of staying undetected. If the Indians attack, they won’t come one man at a time. We’ll wait a few days and see what the news is on the Nez Perce. If they’re captured or head away from the area, I’ll go to Butte and seek help for Koko and the children.”

“And if they head straight for us?” Levi asked.

Cole pulled his hat down and stepped from the porch. “Then we’ll fight.”

Dianne shook her head, trying desperately to dislodge the recurring image of her nightmare. Women and children dead—soldiers too. Cole, Luke, and baby Micah. It was as if they were fighting against the wind—against an unseen force that was bent on destroying them.

CHAPTER
9

October 1877

E
VERYONE SEEMED TO HOLD HIS BREATH WHILE WAITING
for word about the Nez Perce and their warring activities. Dianne hated the long hot days without word from her brother. Zane had always written regularly—at least when time permitted and there was someplace to post a letter. But she hadn’t heard anything from him since earlier in the year. It seemed that after Little Big Horn, Zane had written less and less, almost as if he could no longer bear to share the news. And perhaps he was right to withhold the images, Dianne thought. She often remembered Zane’s vivid description of the massacre that had taken place on the Marias River back in 1870. Sometimes she wished she’d never eavesdropped on his conversation with their uncle; then other times she was glad she had. Knowing the horrors that Zane had been forced to face gave her a greater understanding and sympathy for her brother. It also made her wish he’d give up soldiering and return home to the Diamond V.

Word trickled in little by little that the Nez Perce had eventually been stopped near the Canadian border in the eastern reaches of the Montana Territory. Some had escaped to the north, but for the most part the remaining collection of women, children, and the elderly were taken under control by the army after Chief Joseph surrendered.

Dianne breathed a sigh of relief, as did most of the valley. There had been a time when it looked as though the Nez Perce would travel through their land, heading up the Madison Valley and across the Bozeman Pass as they went east to be with their friends the Crow. But instead, they had gone south to the area of the Yellowstone national lands and east. Knowing Morgan, Zane’s twin, was in that region, Dianne couldn’t help but worry about him as well. Morgan was terrible about keeping in touch, and Dianne was lucky to hear from him once a year. When the Nez Perce had moved through the area without incident, Dianne thanked God for His mercy and continued to pray for everyone’s safety.

Then the newspapers poured forth with information about the capture. There had been several skirmishes along the way, with both Indians and soldiers being killed before the final siege and surrender near the Canadian border. With winter coming, Dianne was glad the Nez Perce had been caught. She felt a bit of sorrow for the loss they would suffer in being sent to reservations, but at the same time she only longed for safety for her brother and family.

“I don’t suppose they’ll simply allow the Indians to return to their reservation without punishment,” Faith said as she finished washing the last of the dinner dishes.

“No, I suppose not,” Dianne said softly.

She looked at the clock. It was nearly two in the afternoon. Cole should have been home by now. He and some of the ranch hands had taken a herd of cattle over to Fort Ellis the week earlier, but he had promised to return by the morning of the twelfth. That was today. Dianne had begged Cole to let her travel with him to Fort Ellis on the chance that there might be word about Zane. But Cole had been firm that her place was at home with the children, and while Dianne agreed, she was also angry that he would deny her this simple request.

“Don’t imagine he’ll get here any quicker with you watching the clock,” Faith said in her jovial manner.

“I just don’t understand why he isn’t here yet.”

“Worrying won’t change that fact. You have to have faith that the Good Lord is watching over him. We’ve known a good time of peace, and I have to believe that everything will come around right.”

Things had relaxed a bit around the ranch, and for that Dianne was grateful. Micah seemed to have outgrown his colicky stomach, and the other children remained healthy. Blessings to be sure.

Portia continued to be a headache, but with the assurance that the men would soon return to Fort Ellis and Fort Shaw now that the Nez Perce were captured, Dianne prayed that Portia’s father would come quickly to claim her. In fact, Cole had hoped to learn how soon the soldiers would be back so that he could bring the news to Portia and perhaps even arrange for her return to Bozeman. Dianne knew he was as anxious as anyone to see Portia removed from the ranch.

“I think I’ll ride out and see if I can spot them coming in,” Dianne said, pulling her apron off.

“Cole won’t think much of that,” Faith said firmly. She turned and faced Dianne with a stern expression. “You have to let that man be in charge. If you go disobeying him and ride out away from the house, he’s not going to be happy about it.”

“Don’t lecture me,” Dianne snapped. “The threat of attack is over—at least for the time. It can’t be that dangerous to ride to the top of the ridge. Why, everyone can see me from there.”

“But it’s not what he asked you to do,” Faith replied, seeming unmoved by Dianne’s curtness.

“I’m tired of doing things his way,” Dianne admitted. “Uncle Bram trusted me to know how to see things through. He gave me the ranch, knowing that I was capable. But Cole treats me like I’m some sort of frail ninny who can’t do anything but watch over her children.”

“That’s a mighty awesome responsibility,” Faith commented.

Dianne knew Faith’s three children—Mercy, Daniel, and little Lucy—were her absolute joy. Faith adored each one as the most precious of gifts.

“It
is
an awesome responsibility, and I love Luke and Micah with all of my heart,” Dianne began, “but I also love my brothers, the ranch, my friends. I want to be useful, and I don’t want to be treated like a child.”

“So maybe you shouldn’t be stomping your foot and throwing fits like a child,” Faith said with a grin.

Dianne crossed her arms. She knew Faith was right, but she had no desire to cool her heels pacing the kitchen. For a moment she said nothing. “Oh bother.” She plopped down on a chair, arms still folded.

“Don’t fret. He’ll be here before you know it,” Faith said, coming to where Dianne sat. She gently touched Dianne’s shoulder. “It’ll be all right. You’ll see.”

“He doesn’t understand me,” Dianne said softly. Things between her and Cole could be so good at times. They’d been married now for six years. Shouldn’t their relationship start to get easier? “Sometimes being a wife is so hard.”

Faith laughed. “Don’t fret over the fact that he doesn’t understand you. Why, I don’t think Malachi has a clear idea of what I’m all about.”

“But Cole doesn’t even seem to realize how he hurts me.”

“Hurts you?”

Dianne shook her head. “He doesn’t physically hurt me, but he wounds me in my heart. He doesn’t seek my opinions on how To run the ranch. He doesn’t ask me about things the way he used to.”

“He’s a man, Dianne. He needs to run this place on his own two feet or his men will never respect him.”

“That’s what he’s always saying to me. He thinks I interfere with his authority.”

“And do you?”

Dianne sighed. “There are just times when I know better how a thing ought to be done. I’ve been at this a lot longer than he has.”