“What were you doing out this way?”
“Dakota sent us to tell the other tribes about the message you sent. They stopped us and said we were going with them. Something about we were responsible for scalping people. Said they were arresting us for crimes against the community.” He lowered his face into the crook of his friend’s bloody neck then wailed.
The sound of galloping came from behind and Colby turned to see Alicia slowing, Kane running alongside. “Elsu. You should leave. They’ll send others,” Colby said.
“I’m not leaving Mahkah here,” he replied. Colby gave him a hand lifting him onto the back of one of the horses that had taken off and gone a short way down the road. The mares were grazing at the side of the road. Once they had his fallen friend on the back, Elsu climbed up.
“Thank you for helping,” he said.
“Tell Dakota we need his help. I will find out what’s happening with Paco.”
“And the militia? They will come for you now.”
“Maybe,” he said. He patted the horse on the rump and Elsu took off heading west where he would cross the river and make his way around the city and back to the reservation.
Chapter Nineteen
Lieutenant Elijah Hale surveyed the landscape from the bluff that overlooked Humboldt Bay and Bucksport. It seemed as fitting a location as any other for the hanging. The captain had tasked him with securing an area that would give their men access to the water and the town, and at the same time was large enough for the community to gather to witness justice.
And justice would be served today.
It would put to rest questions and accusations.
It was the next step in the captain’s plan.
And what better place to do it than where it all began in Humboldt.
Fort Humboldt State Historic Park had served as a U.S. Army fort between 1853 and 1870 to govern and mediate the conflicts between gold seekers, settlers, and the Native Americans. At one time there had been fourteen buildings, crudely constructed from planks. Now all that remained was the hospital which had been turned into a museum. Inside, it offered the story of the arrival of settlers and the massacre.
It was perfect. It would once again serve to show their dominance over the tribes in the area, over the ones responsible for such a hideous crime. Of course, none of them were to blame but someone had to take the fall, someone had to be the scapegoat, and who better than those who had a history of hatred toward the white man.
“Lieutenant.”
He cast a glance over his shoulder to see Davis hurrying toward him. “We got one but uh…”
“Spit it out, man.”
“Three of ours are dead.”
“What?”
“It was an ambush, at least it appears that way. Jasper just returned. He’s in pretty bad shape. But that’s not all…”
“Tell me on the way,” he said as they hurried across the large field back to a waiting military truck. As they drove, Davis continued.
“One of the Rikers came to their aid, otherwise we would have had three of them.”
He screwed his face up. He thought the captain had dealt with the Rikers. They were meant to be out of the picture before this all played out. They couldn’t have them interfering. From the little he’d learned from Sheriff Wilder, the two families were selfish, loyal only to themselves. “Did you get a description?”
“You’ll have to ask Jasper.”
By the time they arrived at the Humboldt Sheriff’s Office, all hell had broken loose between officers, locals, and the militia. Rifles were raised, everyone was yelling. Elijah pushed out of the vehicle and made his way over to the crowd that was increasing in size. It appeared that it was locals pushing back, many demanding justice after learning that they’d caught one of the ones responsible for the scalpings in the county.
“I knew that family. I say you hand him over to us so we can deal with him.”
People jeered, cursed, and accused the police of shielding a violent criminal.
He knew this would happen. No doubt he would find the captain behind this. They wanted the people to know. They wanted the local authorities to come under scrutiny because they knew they wouldn’t give the people justice. They would lock him up and try to play it by the book, or worse, investigate it and let him go free.
That wasn’t happening.
Once enough of the town had come out to protest, the captain would flip the script and side with the people. They would offer to hang him from the gallows or bring him in front of a firing squad. It would be an execution that everyone could attend. After having already earned their respect by bringing in supplies, this would cement them as leaders, and diminish the role of the police. Elijah smiled at a few of his guys who knew what was happening. They were there to fire up the people, to toss fuel on their anger, and feed into the belief that they had the right man.
He elbowed his way through a throng of people and climbed the steps with Davis. Once inside, he headed for the sheriff’s office. He could already hear the heated discussion between the captain and Wilder. Again, this was just an act but an effective one. “You want to lock him up?”
“I want to ensure justice is served the right way,” Dan replied as Elijah came around the corner into his office.
“Oh, good, lieutenant. Perhaps you can speak some sense into this fool,” Benjamin said, raising both hands and crossing the room to make coffee. Wilder wasn’t done with him.
“I did not give you permission.”
“Oh but you did,” Benjamin said, raising a finger as he emptied some instant coffee into a cup. “You wanted to protect this town. You have been unable to do so. Hence the reason why there are families all over this county dead with their scalps missing. Now if you want to go out there
