“Because they won’t have enough sense to figure out that we’re the ones that started all the trouble.”
“Yeah,” Regret said. He smiled. “Yeah, that’s right, ain’t it?”
“The mayor is holding another meeting tonight, and he’s invited the officers.”
“Colored? Comin’ to a town meetin’?” Davis asked. “How’s the rest of the town goin’ to take that?”
“The officers are white.”
“Oh. Well then, I reckon that will be all right.”
Clayton was lying in bed now with fresh bandages on the wound on his side, and wrapped around his arm. His daughter Diane was sitting on the bed beside him. Mrs. Clayton, Falcon, Cody, and Ingraham were in the bedroom as well.
“I can’t thank you enough for bringing my husband home safely,” Mrs. Clayton said.
“He had a lot to do with it himself,” Falcon said. “Don’t forget, he held the Indians off for twenty-four hours.”
“And he was all alone,” Cody added.
“I wasn’t quite alone,” Clayton said. “I had Diane with me.”
“I wasn’t with you, Daddy,” Diane said.
Clayton had already told his wife about the dream in which Diane warned him of the Indian, so she smiled and reached over to put her arm around her daughter.
“He means you were with him in spirit, dear,” she said.
“And I owe thanks to Oliver Bowman as well,” Clayton said. “I know now, what an ordeal he went through to find help. But what I can’t understand is why the Indians have suddenly gone bad. We have lived here for ten years without the slightest bit of trouble. In fact, we have had Indian guests in our home.”
“I’ve dealt with Indians for most of my life,” Cody said. “And the most important thing I have learned is that they are always unpredictable.”
“They’re having a town meeting tonight in DeMaris Springs,” Ingraham said. “Do you plan to go?”
“Yes,” Falcon said. “I think we need to.”
“I heard that they have brought in the cavalry,” Mrs. Clayton said. “I’m glad. I hate it that it has come to this, but since it has, I feel safer knowing that the cavalry has been called in.”
“When you men go to that meeting in town, give them my excuses for not being there,” Clayton said.
Cody chuckled. “I’m sure they will understand.”
“Why have the whites turned on us?” Grey Dog asked.
“Did we not fight at their side against the Sioux?” Black Hand asked.
“Now we know, they are our enemy.”
“Soldiers have come,” Running Elk told High Hawk.
“Where are the soldiers?”
“They are very near to here,” Running Elk said. “They are camped along the river the whites call Stinking Water.”
“I think that is good,” High Hawk said.
“Why do you think it is good?”
“I think the soldiers will see that we are not the ones doing these terrible things. And I think they will stop the whites from attacking us.”
Again, the citizens of the town gathered in the town center for a meeting called by Mayor Joe Cravens. As before, Pierre Bellefontaine was seated at the head table with the mayor, but joining them tonight was Major Benteen. Falcon, Cody, and Prentiss Ingraham were, once more, in the front row. And though Clayton had been unable to attend due to his wounds, Oliver Bowman, still showing the effects of his ordeal, was present.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” Mayor Cravens said. “We are met again to discuss the Indian problem. In a few minutes, I’m going to call on Mr. Oliver Bowman to give us a firsthand report of his experience with the Indians, but first I want to introduce Major Benteen and his gallant officers. Would you gentlemen stand, please?”
Benteen and his officers stood to acknowledge the applause.
“Major Benteen and his soldiers are camped out on Stinking Water River, some west of here. I know that will make you feel better to realize that they are between us and the Crow village.”
“If all the officers are here, who is in charge of the soldiers right now?” Don Bailey asked. Bailey worked for Bellefontaine as a freight-wagon driver.
“Sergeant Major Coletrain is in charge at the moment,” Benteen answered.
“I understand all your soldiers are colored. Is this fella Coletrain a colored man as well?”
“He is.”
“Well, what if the Injuns decide to attack tonight, while you and all your officers are here? Do you think it is safe to leave a colored man in charge?”
