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"She ain't, ma'am. That's what he told them."
"Why?" Gloria looked totally confused.
"Because those bushwhackers that had her, let it slip that the Major fully intended to make an example of her when Aiden got back and hang her. Not only that, he was going to hang Aiden with her. Well, he got one, not two."
"My God, she's a woman. He'd do such a thing?"
"Yes, he would. And if they ever did, the Cheyenne would come down out of those hills and massacre this place. With the Sioux right behind them."
"I can't believe anyone would even contemplate hanging a woman."
"They don't consider her a woman, they think of her only as an Indian. You see that's what Aiden was trying to explain about bringing her to the fort in the first place. He trusted Major Marsh, but there's more brewin'. First, I gotta tell you, the Major never liked Aiden to begin with because Aiden saw the Indian side of the story. I'm not even sure he believes that Lucy is dead. But if he does, then she is safe, for now."
"Is Pumpkin in danger here too?"
"Not as long as I'm with her. The scouts all know she's my wife. They'll protect her. But I'm gonna bust Aiden out of there. I'll have to go with him, because they'll hang me for doing it."
"Can we help?" Frank asked.
Angus smiled, "I'm glad you asked. I do need you two to go see Aiden, the guard will be there with the key in his back pocket. If Gloria can get that key away while you talk to him, we'll get him out there."
"I can do that." Gloria smiled. She got up and poured the coffee. "After all we've been through, now this?"
"Thanks, I'd ask Pumpkin, but she don't need to be around there. If they saw her around him, and then him gone, they'd hang her for sure. You see Major Marsh is known for his temper. He seems to hate the Indians, all of them. All they need is an excuse to hang her too. We'll go with Aiden."
"If you can get the key, I'll get the horses, Frank you get him to the barn. Then you two go about your business. Might be advisable to take him a meal or something. That way it would look more practical."
"Will do, when?"
"Tomorrow."
They nodded.
"Good, about noon. Now, there's something else I want to talk to you two about. If war breaks out, an Aiden is almost sure Sitting Bull is gathering quite an army, this fort isn't going to be safe, because those Indians although they want Custer, they don't like Gibbon either. They are liable to attack here. Lucy is at the Ferguson farm, it's just the other side of Bozeman. If things get rough, I want you two to pack up and head that way too. It's a secluded little farm. No one has ever attacked them. You'd be safe there, as long as you don't tell anyone where you are going. So, head that way if you hear of any trouble. The Sioux are gathering an army if those smoke signals are not an illusion, and that's not good news. Custer is just itchin' for a fight and Gibbon is in Washington right now to plan an attack on Sitting Bull, that much I know from talk of the soldiers around here. Everyone is on edge. Both men seek to get promotions out of all of this. The Major planned this Lucy thing, and thought he'd gets some attention from Gibbon for it."
Frank nodded. "We thank you for telling us about the farm. We weren't planning on staying here long anyway."
"Just don't want you two to get hurt, is all." Angus smiled. "We've all been through a lot, and I'd like to see your misses keep that pretty hair of hers." He winked.
Frank smiled. "We'll come runnin' if things get bad."
"They are liable to. Seen the signs. It might be a while before it happens, I don't know. Just want you both to be aware of it. Smoke signals all over. It means there's gonna be a big war. I don't know what's happening for sure, but they are gathering."
Gloria shook her head sadly, "This west of yours is never boring, is it?"
"No ma'am ain't got time for that either." He chuckled and drank his coffee.
"If anything goes wrong, get word to me, I'm gonna go have a stone made for Lucy."
"But… isn't she alive?"'
"Yeah, but don't let on to that fact. Aiden wants the Indians and the whites to think she's dead. This will put an end to The White Silver Fox. And then Lucy can go on with her life, with Aiden."
"They're in love, aren't they?" Gloria smiled.
"Yep, they sure are. But the stone is to convince others that the White Silver Fox is gone forever. Then she can start leading a life of her own, for the first time as a white lady, if that's what she wants."
"Well that is good news. There's something else, Angus. My baby, Angus, what will happen to her?"
