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"She loves you that much?" His mind congested with conflicting fears and foreboding, he studied Hawk carefully. "Enough to live with a tribe?"
"She does."
Jinx shook his head unable to come to grips with the trouble he knew was ahead of them. "You're gonna have pure hell, boy, and you know it."
"Not something I can control Jinx." Hawk stared at him now. "I love her. And I will not give her up."
Jinx studied him a minute. "Well I reckon you do son. I wish you well, you know that. But you're gonna have some hard times. You probably already figured that out too. Them Indians ain't gonna be any happier about havin' her, as the white would havin' you. And you know they ain't too happy with you up there. In fact, the more I think on it, I don't think you should go there. It's just my opinion, but I don't think it would be wise, and it would waste your time, not to mention make you mad in the end. Now, I heard tell there was some Shoshone by the Red on the other side, that you might consider talkin' to. They might perform the ceremony for you, but I wouldn't recommend going to your tribe just yet. Last time I seen any of your bunch, they were beaten down, and angry. They live on the reservation, but they are angry because of it. They're plumb starvin'. You'll just be in for more troubles and I hate to see that. You certainly can't expect her to live on a reservation, she don't deserve that."
Hawk was quiet a moment, considering all that Jinx had said. "I will consider that and possibly talk to them. Are they close?"
"Yeah, about twenty miles over the Red. It's something to consider. Shoshone is peaceable there. The ones on the reservations have given up a lot and they aren't happy about it. Your folks included. The buffalo is all but gone now. Mackenzie and Sherman have seen to that. That was something your people depended on. Most of the Indians depended on the buffalo. The only things they can do when they leave the reservation are killing and stealing. They even tried farming for a while, but there's no way to water crops and it just don't rain enough."
"I know that. Perhaps you are right; perhaps we should talk to these Shoshone and see. Then if things get bad, we'll move on, live out in the sticks somewhere."
"I'm proud you think enough of her to marry her Hawk!" He made a clucking sound. "I reckon you could get lost somewhere easy enough. Up on Sandy Ridge Creek, people says it's haunted, no one goes there. That might be a good place, if things get too hard for you. There's streams up there and you could grow a patch or two."
"I thought of that too. You will not tell anyone?"
"No…not a soul. She must be awful special." Jinx eyed him now.
"She is… I have loved her for two years now, but only from afar. Then the Comanche's got hold of her and her daughter. Her son and I tracked her, and rescued her. To save her, I had to make her mine, but I loved her and now even more. She wants to have my children Jinx. She loves me that much."
He nodded and smiled. "Then God bless you son."
"Thank you Jinx. Can you ferry us across late tonight?"
"Shore…I can do that. We'll wait till late though, no one will see." Jinx promised.
"Again I thank you. You have been a true friend to me, for so long."
"And you've been almost like a son to me. When I look at you, I see a man, not an Indian."
Hawk smiled. "That is why I care for you like a father, Jinx. We have been through much together. You are family."
"Them kids hers?"
"Yes…"
"Where's their Pa?"
"Buried, two years ago." Hawk told him.
Jinx studied on that a moment, then put his hand on Hawk's shoulder. "Better get some rest then, we'll leave about midnight." Jinx told him.
&n
bsp; Hawk winked and walked outside.
The kids were playing in the front of the house. Eve was sitting on the banks of the river, watching the water.
He came to sit beside her. She was very quiet.
"I take it he's an old friend?" She finally glanced at him.
"More like a father than a friend. He'll ferry us over late tonight. You and the kids need to rest."
"And you?"
