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“Put them down,” the old man in the big feather headdress says as he strides towards us.
“We’re handling this, Frank,” the middle aged guy with the biggest gun—a silver Smith and Wesson—says dismissively. “I’m done burying our kids because scum like this is looking to make a quick buck around here. Who disagrees?”
They clearly all agree one hundred percent, judging by the roar that follows.
And a second later, a shot rings out, the bullet passing my head so close, the wind it creates in passage stings my cheek.
I take a split second to make sure Lily’s not hurt, then leap at the guy, grabbing the gun and wrestling it from him. Another split second later, or so it seems, and I’ve got him in a headlock, the silver gun is pointed at his temple, and I have the wide trunk of one of the wide oak trees guarding my back, the guy’s body shielding mine more or less.
I rode with the Devils on some of the biggest jobs they’ve taken on since I was sixteen years old, and proven my worth on every one of them. But all that experience also tells me there’s no way I can win this fight. And what happens to Lily if I don’t?
“I said, I came here to be with Lily,” I say loudly. “But I also came to meet my own family, people I never knew existed until two days ago. My father’s name is Clyde Black Thunder. His sister Ariana lives here. His cousin Dan Runs something or other does too—“
“Runs Above,” one of the men in the ring of men ready to shoot me interrupts as he lowers his pistol.
The look in his eyes is intense as he studies me. “You’re Clyde’s son?”
“Yeah,” I say.
He waves for the others to lower their guns as he approaches. Some do, others don’t.
“Clyde never said he had a son,” he says, but not in as sharp a voice as he used before. I think maybe he recognizes me. I look like my father, I know that.
The old man in the head dress-Frank-is suddenly next to him, his back to me as he turns to the others.
“We gotta stop this craziness and talk now,” he tells them. “You all see that, don’t you?”
One by one they lower their guns. Then he turns to me. “You too, son. Let him go. You’re under my protection now.”
Judging by how harshly he was silenced before, I’m guessing that doesn’t mean a whole lot. But going along with his request is the only way this is gonna end without people dying, I see that too.
So I do as he asks, release the man I’m holding and lower my own gun too. But I don’t release it.
Lily is by my side again, breathing hard as she takes hold of my free hand. And if this was any other situation, I’d consider myself the luckiest man on earth.
But I have a feeling this mess is far from cleared up.
12
LILY
I don’t knowwho that woman screaming hysterically to protect Eagle was, but she’s fading now and I’m starting to feel a lot more like myself. We’re sitting at the edge of the table with all the paper lanterns and candles, Eagle has his arm firmly around my shoulders, and the crowd of people is gathered around us so tightly I can’t see the road, let alone any of the houses behind it. Dogs are barking, but people are silent. All except Frank. He’s been asking Eagle a whole lot of questions, stuff I’d like answers to as well.
Did he know all this about his family origins before and never told me? But no, he’s not that good a liar. It must be true that his father only just now told him all this.
Tina is sitting beside me, Joyce and Miriam next to her. They’ve all got eyes just for Eagle as he tells them what little he actually knows about his family. One thing he does know how to do is embellish things, and I’m not sure if anyone other than me knows he’s doing it right now.
“You’re welcome to stay,” Frank finally says. “For as long as you want to. We are always here, ready to welcome anyone back. But you will want to visit the Oak Grove reservation too. That’s where your father’s family is actually from.”
Eagle nods solemnly. “And I plan to.”
For some reason I’m still holding his hand really tightly and I release it, which makes him look at me sharply, questioningly.
Joyce faces the crowd, and raises her hands to get their attention. “Alright folks, the excitement is over now, so let’s get back to the reason we gathered here today. To remember Greg and all he meant to us.”
Sights and sounds of assent rise from the crowd, which starts to part slowly.
“Everyone, take a lantern,” Miriam instructs and I stand up, sliding from under Eagle’s arm and motion for him to move with me to the edge of the crowd to give everyone else room.
