“I see,” he glances up at them and slides the envelope towards him.
Blood Eagle trails a finger over the U. S. Army wax seal, “I heard that he had some trouble,” dark eyes flick up to the quiet one.
“Sir, we were told to stress to you the importance of speed. You will find the contract inside.”
He sighs and pushes his drink away before snapping the seal on the envelope. He reads quietly, and his face shows no response. “Enlistment papers?” he mumbles and reaches for his beer.
“Our job is done, should we convey a response to General Barclay?”
“Tell him the job will be done as requested,” he sneers and folds the papers up before stuffing them in the envelope along with a stack of cash.
“Yes, Sir,” they turn to leave, and before they walk away, the youngest turns back.
“Enlistment papers aren’t a request, Richard.”
Shock flickers over his friend’s face, and they both jump when he stands up and laughs. “True. The Army never requests help, they give orders, and we jump.” His dark eyes narrow as he moves closer to the soldier who subtly reaches for his own gun. “Assassination is a favorite game they like to play. Lucky for them I like money. It buys nice things like guns, knives, women, and...” He steps soundlessly to the stairs and calls back, “unfortunately, I love the hunt.” He continues quietly down the wooden steps, and that’s when they notice the moccasin boots.
“You’d never know he was a savage from a distance. If it weren’t for the boots and hair, he’d look like any other man in a saloon,” the kid says to himself before his friend shoves him.
“What the hell was that? Are you trying to get us killed?”
“Of course not, I just wanted to make sure he was clear on the mission.”
“Your serious? We’ll just stay a while before leaving. I’m not sure I trust him not to wait around for us.”
The letter is heavy in his pocket like a weight pulling him under. They had an agreement after the last job that he was free of this. Now, the General has drawn him back in. Even at double the rate this job will be difficult. The natives are untrustworthy of everyone. Tracking a doctor, a captive Indian, and a soldier should prove simple enough. It’s getting across the land without encountering any of the other tribes that will prove difficult. Difficult, but not impossible. He grins and begins to plan.
Chapter 26
“Esteemed members of the Senate hear my plea. With the sheer size of the land and difficulty of the terrain, the U.S. Army needs your help. Innocent families are being slaughtered, supply wagons are intercepted, trains are being derailed and ambushed. We are down eight Gatling guns and hundreds of cases of weapons and ammunition. We’ve seen what happens when they use our weapons on our Forts.” General Barclay glances at Senator Crowder and nods. The Senator stands and speaks.
“Eight days ago, a band of Sioux led an attack on Fort Darion. They led soldiers away from the fort using a decoy band of Indians, and a second larger band raided the Fort. Killing women, children, young and old. None were spared.” Senator Crowder hands an envelope to the General who opens it and begins to distribute paper copies of tintypes.
“This is the aftermath of these attacks. You will see they mutilated the bodies for sport.” Gasps and groans, followed by shouts of outrage, filter through the men.
“General Barclay tell us what you need,” Senator Wes Briggs asks.
“I’m asking for authorization to conscribe five-hundred Indian Scouts for recon and combat duty. No one knows the territory better. We must ferret them out before they can regroup and attack again,” he demands loudly.
A commotion at the door, has everyone turning to watch a man enter with two U.S. Marshall following close behind. “Excuse the interruption, but I have information that needs to be heard,” Chase Rivers states loudly. “My name is Chase Rivers, retired U.S. Marshall.”
“This is a closed meeting of the Senate, why is a former U.S. Marshall being allowed entrance,” General Barclay shouts.
“The true question, General Barclay, is why you would authorize and carry out an attack on a peaceful tribe of Shoshone under the protection of a treaty? Two hundred men, women and children were slaughtered by your order, General!” Rage has Chase storming across the room, desperate to get to him. His friends struggle to hold him back.
“That’s ridiculous! Where’s your proof?”
“You left one alive, and she will be glad to testify against the atrocities you committed. Not only that, but the dead will speak. You left their bodies as evidence, decimated by Gatling gunfire,” Chase shouts.
“Gatling gun?” General Barclay smiles at the enraged Marshall and thinks, thank you, Marshall, you just brought the evidence I need. He turns to the Senators, “This is what I’ve warned you about! The stolen guns are being used to stage attacks to incite the tribes to join and fight us.”
Senator Briggs shouts, “That’s absurd, they wouldn’t kill their own kind, General.”
“Wouldn’t they? The tribes war with each other all the time. The Apache hunt the Sioux, the Sioux hunt the Cherokee, and so on. They only care for themselves and the salvation of their own tribes. They mutilate and hunt each other for sport all the time.”
“No!” Chase shouts. “They are peaceful people, reacting to the atrocities brought against them.”
“Are you related to Dr. Harris Rivers?” General Barclay asks.
“I am. He’s my brother,” Chase tries to speak, but it quickly cut off again by the General.
“That’s what I thought. I’ve heard rumors about your family and how they share the land with the savages. This Doctor even treated them during the war. You are
