Posted May 17, 2018
Inside
"The baby..." Jonah wasn't sure, and he didn't speak any of the native languages any more than anyone else, but the only common factor was the baby. But at that simple word, Mrs. Ford whimpered and drew her knees up.
"Miz Devereau, would you...try to approach the mother..." he nodded to the Indian woman, "see if she will allow you to take the infant to Mrs. Ford...I suspect the child might be hungry." He had no idea why that would be the case, but it was the only thing he could think of. "Just...be cautious...and try to convince Mrs. Ford..." Some folks, he knew were so prejudice against the natives that even an infant was abhorrent.
Posted May 18, 2018
The good doctor had an idea that just maybe the cause of this tense situation was the baby...only not Mrs. Ford's baby but the Indian squaw's. Matilda certainly didn't have any better theories. So was it a trade they were wanting? No, that would be ridiculous. Or giving the baby up? To whites? Unlikely. Thats when the doctor asked her to take a risk. She blinked.
"Me?" a frown came over her face, "Why the hell should I...." She paused and sighed then slowly set down the pistol in her hand onto the table.
Giving the Indians, the squaw in particular a nervous smile, she stepped forward very slow but steady then held out her arms in the hopes the Indian would then place the infant there. And not one of the men suddenly draw a knife. Yeah, Ralph had them covered with a double barrel shotgun but that was not a precision weapon.
"The law is the law."
"Mining's not everyone's choice of hobbies, it just happens to be mine."
Posted May 19, 2018
The door was open, the visitors could be seen inside, and the man at the back of the group was keeping watch...he spotted Addy and Speed and tensed, taking a single step toward them...
"Easy. Doubt this is trouble." Speed said in a low tone, why he had no idea, nor was he quite sure what this man had in mind. His sense told him it was not trouble. His brief experience with Indians was if they were coming for you, You'd well know it, and, there was no paint. He stood, rifle resting on his boot, right hand raised. One of the few signs he knew.
Sit down, shut up, don't touch anythin'
Posted May 20, 2018
Cabin
The air was tense in the little cabin as Matilda moved toward the small band, but rather than be aggressive, the men shuffled slightly aside to let her pass and go up to the woman. At first, the dark-skinned woman hesitated, and although she held her ground, she gripped the baby tighter until one of the men spoke sharply to her and she handed it over.
Outside, Addy and Speed got closer to the group, and she relaxed a little when no weapons were drawn. "Maybe they just want breakfast?" Addy observed, then the Natives had a quick conversation and she frowned.
"Somethin' 'bout th' baby...mother...dead..." She glanced at Speed. "Baby is hungry...I think th' mama died an' it needs ta eat. Mrs. Ford c'n do that." If she was willing. Right now she was just pretty pale!
Posted May 21, 2018
With some reluctance the Indian woman gave up the baby and Matilda now had it in her possession, glancing down at it's dark skinned but cherubic features, once more reminding herself of the child she did not get to raise. Not that she wanted this one. But she also could not abide to see it starve either if the doctor was correct in his guess. Mattie nodded to the Indians, twice, then turned and slowly approached Mrs. Ford.
"Hon, do you think you could help this baby here? It seems it needs milk. The doctor is hoping you will be able to provide but no one's forcing you to do anything you don't want to do, understand?" she forced a wane smile.
Posted May 25, 2018
"I..." the woman stammered, shaking her head as she clutched her own child possessively, "No, it's a savage! I couldn't..."
"It might mean that we live or die," Jonah pointed out quietly, "not to mention the child, and it will cause no harm to your own infant." It was funny, the odd prejudices, and while he was no lover of the natives, he had sympathy for a hungry baby.
Finally, the frightened woman nodded. "Very well..."
"The law is the law."
"Mining's not everyone's choice of hobbies, it just happens to be mine."
Posted May 25, 2018
I'd say that seems to be the problem. Let's just ease on up to the cabin." Speed said softly. He didn't believe they were in any danger, not with a woman and a child present. He didn't know a lot about the Indians ways, but he was pretty sure they weren't any more for risking women and children than the whites were. He eased the hammer down on the Henry rifle.
Posted June 1, 2018
Relieved that Mrs. Ford had given in to help, even if reluctantly, Matilda smiled as she nodded, "Thank you, it's just an innocent and very hungry baby. You are doing your good deed for the day then."
She knelt down then next to the woman, "Here it is. I can hold your little angel. Don't worry, I will not allow the Indians to even touch your baby. They can just stand where they are and watch."
Exchange made, Matilda stood up, cradling the white infant and moved next to Ralph, "You heard me, none of them are going to be touching this child, got it?"
Ralph nodded, "Got it."
Sit down, shut up, don't touch anythin'
Posted June 4, 2018
Reluctantly, Mrs Ford let Matilda take her infant, trusting that the other woman wouldn't let any harm come to it, and that the men, as well, would protect her daughter. But she couldn't help but shudder as she took the dark-skinned baby, turning away and draping her shawl over her chest for modesty. "I don't know if I can," she whispered to Matilda, but after just a few moments her motherly instincts took over and she started to sing softly, rocking a little.
By the door, Addy glanced at Speed. "How are ya at makin' coffee?" She grinned. "Seems like we got guests fer breakfast!"
"The law is the law."
"Mining's not everyone's choice of hobbies, it just happens to be mine."
Posted June 5, 2018
"Well, coffee might just be my specialty." Speed replied with a smile. "Shall we?" He asked as he stepped inside. The room was crowded, or at least it seemed that way to Speed. He took up the coffee pot, filled it with water from the barrel and loaded in the coffee. Setting it on the fire to boil he wondered when they'd be on their way again. Of course, this had been one of those unexpected delays that life provides.