Broken Feather Page 15

  “He has his own life, though. He didn’t seem to like the ranch life as much as he enjoyed working for the army.”

  “Nonetheless, he had promised he would stick around and make sure I was safe.”

  “You have me and the boys to do that,” he insisted.

  “Only when the Comanche came, you and the boys would have been killed, or made captive. Broken Feather told me he heard what the Comanche braves were saying about what they planned to do with you, and you wouldn’t have enjoyed it!”

  “Well, that is what the army is for. They are working on keeping the Comanche at bay. We will just have to be more careful until they are all rounded up and put on reservations.”

  “Anyway, that is why Broken Feather and I argued. I felt like he was abandoning me, after promising he would stay and work here so he would always be there to be my friend. It was just another feeling of being abandoned, since my father also abandoned my mother and me, after the Civil War. First he was gone during the war, and then no sooner was the war over, he takes off again. I barely know my father, so it is no wonder I don’t wish to talk to him about my feeling that Broken Feather was abandoning me, because I felt he had abandoned me too.”

  “Only you have me now, Vanessa. I can be a friend and a husband to you,” he offered.

  “I suppose. It just isn’t the same. It was almost like my friend Zack had returned to me, when Broken Feather came into my life.”

  “Only you said you didn’t like him at first.”

  “It was because I was afraid to become his friend. I was still suffering, after all these years, from losing Zack as a friend, and I didn’t want to become friends with a black person, knowing how society treats them, and knowing just being his friend would cause people to look at me with contempt. My father had discouraged my friendship with Zack, because back then, I was too young to understand the implications of what being friends with black people entailed. I am surprised he even had Broken Feather escort me here.”

  “Perhaps your father has had a change of heart concerning black people. Besides Broken Feather is more Seminole Indian than Maroon.”

  “Well, it doesn’t matter now that he has left me, so I refuse to have anything to do with him any longer. That is why he won’t mention me because I begged him to stay, and he refused, so I told him I never wanted to see him again, if he left.”

  She hadn’t said that, but she wished she had, thinking about how Broken Feather left, regardless of her pleading.

  “He told me if you ever needed his help, he would return, though,” Jason said to make her feel better, while knowing Broken Feather would only return if she took off again, in order to help him find her.

  “I don’t care because he has already forsaken me. My father should leave well enough alone. He is the one who sent me out to you, and had Broken Feather escort me here, which caused our friendship to grow in the first place. Now that I am your wife, he shouldn’t worry whether Broken Feather and I are no longer friends. Broken Feather did his job and then went back to the army. Besides, I have gotten over it now. I didn’t even know him that long anyway.”

  “I suppose it concerns your father because it has been affecting Broken Feather’s performance. Sam say he doesn’t have the kind of drive he used to have, and is always in a bad mood.”

  “That is his problem, not mine,” Vanessa sniffed.

  “It is too bad we are so isolated out here. There isn’t much of a social life for you here, I’m afraid.”

  “It has been hard, since I had an active social life in Louisiana. I miss all my friends.”

  “Well, I need to get back to work, but I am so happy you decided to tell me about your condition. I will send for the doctor tomorrow.”

  Vanessa smiled. She decided she would go up and write her father a letter, telling him how happy she was, and that she was expecting, hoping he would tell Broken Feather, so he would regret ever leaving her behind. It would probably put him in a worse mood she smiled to herself out of revenge.

  Thinking about Broken Feather, made her remember her friendship with Zack. Unlike Broken Feather, Zack had not wanted to leave her. She had been warned by her father several times about becoming too close of friends with Zack, and that slaves were sold all the time, which made it unwise to form a friendship with them.

  Her mother never discouraged her, though, and when Zack was sold, she told Vanessa that she had begged her father not to sell the boy. She knew how much his friendship meant to Vanessa. Vanessa believed that her father had sold Zack on purpose so she couldn’t be friends with him. It was shortly after that, that her father went off to war, and then she didn’t see him for a long time. When he returned, he left again, after arguing with her mother.

  Vanessa had heard the argument, but hadn’t really been listening to the words, except when her mother cried and called her father a bastard, and then her father laughed and said she had a nerve calling him that, after what she had done. Vanessa often wondered what it was her mother had done, but was afraid to ask.

  Now it was too late to ask because she would never have the nerve to ask her father what it was her mother had done. He was far worse, she thought, for leaving them because the army called. After her father had left, it was the quadroon slave who had welts on his back, who consoled both her and her mother. Seth started doing little thoughtful things for both of them, but it didn’t keep her mother from dying in the end, she thought. She blamed her father for that death. No matter how much he had claimed to love her mother, he had still left her, the same way Broken Feather left, even though he claimed to love her.

  In a way, Broken Feather was like that quadroon, she thought, only instead of being three quarters white, he was three quarters Seminole. Still, black was black, no matter how little you had in you, and having Indian blood along with black blood was even less desirable, it seemed. She wondered if there would ever come a day when both the blacks and the Indians would be accepted by society.

  Vanessa forced herself to focus on writing a crisp, indifferent reply to her father’s letter, telling him how overjoyed she was to be having a child. She did mention it was rather lonely on the ranch, since if he read the letter to Broken Feather, she hoped that Broken Feather would guess that she missed him. She was starting to lose hope, though, that she would ever see Broken Feather again.

  Once she had the baby, she knew she could never leave it behind, to go with Broken Feather, and she couldn’t take it away from Jason either, so she had to accept the fact that she would have to live her life as a rancher’s wife, and Broken Feather would have to go back to Mexico alone. She would have to forget about Broken Feather and even Louisiana and focus her attention on being a mother and learning to like Texas. A thought she was having a hard time dealing with, because it was nothing like Louisiana there in Texas.

  When she was finished with the letter, she took it downstairs and put it in the bowl in the entryway where mail was put for one of the hands to take out to a drop off box, for the mail wagon, which came once a week to leave or pick up mail from the ranch.

  As she started to turn back to the great room, she almost bumped into Bradford.

  “Excuse me,” she mumbled, as she started to sidestep.

  He reached out his hand and steadied her, to keep her from tripping. “How are you feeling?” he asked. “Jason told me about him soon becoming a father.”

  “I am feeling fine,” she murmured. “Jason is very happy about it.”

  “Just as he should be. Only I can’t help but wonder if your little bundle belongs to him or not?”

  Vanessa jerked her head up and glared at him. “What are you implying?” she asked in shock.

  “I was just remembering back when that Seminole scout was staying here, and Jason was gone to get the cattle. He left me here along with Morton and Broken Feather, to take care of things while he was gone, as you may remember.”

  “So?” Vanessa responded.

  “Well it seems there was a hot day
when taking a dip in the river was inviting and it happened that while I was down there, who do you suppose showed up there too?”

  Vanessa widened her eyes.

  “I must admit, I got quite an eyeful, which I thoroughly enjoyed. At the time, I knew Jason was letting you decide if you wanted to remain with him. After you took off, like you did, we didn’t think the two of you would last long. So when I seen you two together at the river, I wasn’t that troubled about it, thinking you had been forced to marry Jason anyway, and you would probably end up going back to your daddy. I was just surprised you were doing it with that Black Seminole.

  “Then when I got gored by that steer, Jason was fit to be tied, worrying about you not coming back for so long, but he trusted that Broken Feather would take good care of you, and I am sure he was doing just that.” Bradford gave her a knowing wink. “For Jason’s sake, I hope it is his child you got cooking in your belly. Only I’m just wondering where your loyalties lie?”

  “Broken Feather never touched me after that incident at the river! I was passed out drunk from drinking so much wine, and he was waiting for me to wake up! That is why it took so long for us to return.”

  “That’s your story, but it doesn’t make it so. Jason is leaving me behind when they go on the drive. He doesn’t think I will be mended well enough for a long, rough ride like that, so I will be staying to keep an eye on things here. I wouldn’t mind keeping a closer eye on you, if you had a mind to give me the time of day.”

  “I’m sure I don’t know what you are suggestion,” Vanessa said in a huff, and started to walk away.

  Bradford grabbed her arm and stopped her short. “Don’t play all innocent now. Jason mentioned you were an independent women and was concerned about you stepping out of line when he least expected it. He would hate to hear about the arrangement you and that scout had. I would keep it all to myself, if you made it worth my while. I can be right pleasing, where women are concerned.”

  “Take your hand off of me!” Vanessa hissed. “You are out of your mind if you think…”

  “I noticed you were getting on better with Jason now. I would hate to see that all changing, if he learned about his wife’s indiscretions. Me and Jason go back a long way. He’ll trust what I tell him is true.”

  “So you suggest I betray your friend… my husband?” She started to laugh. “Talk about my indiscretions! Look to your own! My friendship with Broken Feather, at least, had some meaning. Doing anything with you, would be merely disgusting!”

  “You would choose a black Indian over me?”

  “I fell in love with Broken Feather before I ever met Jason. So, I would choose him over my husband, as well. However, you and I both know that would be impossible, even if I wasn’t married to Jason. My father forced me to come here, so I had little choice about marrying Jason. Therefore, I suggest you find someone else to try and blackmail.”

  “So you just liked having a darky on the side, did you? Apparently, you don’t value your position here, much. No telling what Jason would do if he found out.”

  “If he did, I would confess, and then inform him of what you suggested I do with you in order to keep my secret. So we would both lose out in the end. It is up to you! If Jason kicks me out, because of stories you may tell him, which I will deny, I can always go to Mexico with Broken Feather, and take Jason’s child with me! You, on the other hand, will most likely lose your job and friendship with Jason.”

  “Sorry to disappoint you, but the husband always gets any children after a divorce, or didn’t you know it?”

  “He can’t very well rip it from my body before it is born. The cattle drive will long be over before I give birth. Jason loves me, and if you ruin that for him, he will never forgive either of us, so you are just out of luck!”

  “There is still time for you to think about it,” he chuckled. “The cattle drive is not for a week or two yet. I am sure you will think better of risking your marriage, when it comes down to it.”

  “Just because you are woman-starved, doesn’t mean you can use me like a floozy,” she hissed.

  “Isn’t that what you are, though?” he said through a menacing smile, and then turned from the room.

  Vanessa glared at Bradford’s back as he swaggered away. She had never been very fond of him from the beginning, but now, she considered him an enemy, and thought about insisting Jason get rid of him. The only problem was, Bradford was an old friend of Jason’s, and Vanessa was still trying to work on their marriage. Lately, Jason had less time to spend with her, and now he was getting ready to leave her on her own with a man he thought he could trust. She realized he had thought he could trust her and Broken Feather too, and neither was so.

  “You look upset,” Jason said, as he passed her in the hall, when he came in for lunch.

  “I am just worried about being here on my own, while you are off on the cattle drive,” she murmured. “Even though you are leaving Bradford here to take care of things while you are away, I don’t really like Bradford, and do not want to be left here with him.”

  “I have known Bradford for years. He is my most trusted hand, which is why he is the foreman. Usually, he is in charge of the drive, but I don’t want him to push himself after his accident. He will take good care of you. Morton will be here too.”

  “You may trust him, but I don’t.”

  “Why don’t you trust him?”

  “He has shifty eyes,” she said lamely.

  Jason laughed. “You are merely imagining things,” he chuckled. “You just haven’t gotten to know him well enough.”

  I think I know him too well, she said under her breath, and knew she was not going to get out of being left alone with Bradford.

  “Maybe I could visit my father while you are on the drive,” she suggested.

  “One of the reasons your father wanted me to marry you, was that he said a fort was no place for a woman. That hasn’t changed any since you left,” he pointed out.

  “Maybe Broken Feather would come back and stay here, while you were gone. I would feel safer if he was here.”

  “You told him you didn’t want to see him again. He may not agree to come.”

  “Write my father and ask him,” she suggested.

  “I don’t understand why you are making a fuss. Bradford is perfectly capable of watching over the place while I am gone.”

  “What if the Comanche come while you are away?”

  “You think one more man here will make that big of a difference, if they come?”

  “Broken Feather can speak their language. He could reason with them if they showed up, and he had no other way to protect us.”

  “You worry too much. The Comanche already failed in their first attempt to raid the place. You think they are going to make the same mistake twice? I think they learned their lesson the last time.”

  “I agree,” Bradford said, as he came up beside the two. “That Indian scout is not needed here. If you send for him, you may regret it. I don’t think he likes you that much.”

  “He seemed friendly enough, and saved all of our lives,” Jason pointed out.

  “You can never trust those heathens. I think he had his eye on some of your property, and would have taken it with him, if he had the chance. It was lucky he left when he did.”

  “Broken Feather would never take something that wasn’t his,” Vanessa defended.

  “Really?” Bradford sneered. “I heard different, and I think you know what I am talking about. He couldn’t keep his hands off of things. I caught him in the act of taking something. Vanessa knows about it too. Why don’t you tell him, Vanessa?” he said, glaring at her.

  “It was nothing. He wasn’t trying to take anything. I offered it to him. He wasn’t just taking it!”

  “My wife does have a little say around here,” Jason said. “If she gave Broken Feather something he wanted, there shouldn’t’ be a fuss. After all we owed him our lives.”

  Bradford laughed. “Yeah, I guess he
earned it,” he said and went on into the kitchen to get his share of the lunch MacGregor had made for the work crew.

  “You can see why I don’t like him. He didn’t trust Broken Feather, and he doesn’t like me much either.”

  “Well, you know things have changed since I married you. He and I were always close, but now my spare time is spent with you, and having a woman as part of the household, with a little more say than he has is probably a little daunting to him. There may be some jealousy involved.”

  “Maybe he should find himself a wife. He seems a little woman-starved, and I don’t like the way he looks at me.”

  “You can trust Bradford. He would never touch you.”

  “What if he did?” she asked suddenly.

  “I don’t think he would, but if that was the case, he would be on his way, no matter what kind of friends we have been over the years. If anyone touches my wife, they had better fear for their life.”

  “Yes, I thought as much. I am sure he will mind his manners, then,” she mumbled.

  “I am glad you are willing to trust him,” Jason smiled, “so we won’t have to send for Broken Feather after all.”

  “I suppose it would complicate things if we did. After all, Bradford doesn’t like him, and they may be at each other’s throats, if they had to remain here together while you were away.”

  “I just don’t understand Bradford. That scout saved all of our lives. If it hadn’t have been for Broken Feather, we would be dead in our graves right now.”

  “I don’t think the Indians would have buried you though. They would have left you for the coyotes to eat, after they disfigured your body!” she mumbled.

  “You are probably right, which is all the more reason Bradford needs to put his prejudice behind him.”

  “Since Broken Feather won’t be here, I suppose that is not a worry. I just don’t like the way Bradford keeps accusing Broken Feather of things, and disrespecting me for befriending him.”

  “I will talk to him,” Jason promised, kissing her temple, and squeezing her hand. “I have known Bradford for a long time, and I trust he will treat you with respect, once I give him a good talking to.”