| on the trail | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Dec 3 2011, 04:30 PM (24 Views) | |
| IBcondemned | Dec 3 2011, 04:30 PM Post #1 |
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*He had led Samantha out through the trail Jacob had located. Now it was time for the others to depart. A few had already slipped by army lines in the dead of night as well. Now it was time for the final group to make their way to safety. Anne would be there....Jacob also and Shannon...Taylor as well. He himself allowed Jacob to take the lead. He knew this trail best....well...maybe second best. The Indian girl....tracker who brought the army down on them in the first place was with them. She had little use for the army....that and her respect for the Jacob and particularly Anne enlisted her help...albeit not without reservation. Her distrust for the white man was not helping. And who could blame her? Baines would again try to reach her.....speaking to Bright Meadow in her tribes own langauge.* We are not your enemies, girl. We fight the injustice of this administration. My family was butchered by men in its employ. Those here....we are the best of the best. We are here for different reasons....but all work toward my desired goal....to enact as much revenge on those that make the policy of this govenment as possible. You would do well to join us. Some one capable of tracking my eccentrics over rocky land is clearly the best tracker I've ever seen. *He paused there. Anne could reach that girl best. He would allow her to continue attempts at recruitment. * *He gestured for the others to keep pace.* Everyone ride in single file. I wish to hide our numbers if the army discovers us. They might have pause to attack if they feel there are many in our little group. Shannon rode on the back of the graceful mare that she had purchased with Jacob's help. Looking back over her shoulder, up the hill, she knew the army was after them. Keeping a firm grip on her reigns, she rode behind Jacob's horse. There was worry deep in her green eyes. Deep down, she knew why this had happaned, Baines may not, but she did. A queeziness entered her stomach and she bit her bottom lip, hard, to keep from thinking about her arrangements. *Taylor was still wondering how Sam had convinced him to get involved in all this, especially when this was going to be his first moments with them. Helping them escape from the army after being so close to being caught just seemed like an odd first meeting but you can't be picky he supposed. He rode with them forming up in single file, his hand always playing on the lasso at his side just incase. His eyes scanned everywhere when he could as he tried to follow right behind the one ahead of him and tried to keep as quiet as possible. Zach was making enough noise for all of them* The middle aged white man addresses her in her own langauge. Impressive that he is capable of telling she is Shoshone. That is probably because of special designs on her deer skin garment. Or maybe it is because he has killed so many O.Ps he now finds it easy to tell the difference between tribes. Bright Meadow does sink so low as to directly speak to the flithy old white. Instead she addresses the O.P. Archer, Anne. She is of a different tribe but one Bright meadow respects. "Tell the white-eyes I am not a child to be impressed by his knowledge of my langauge. Any white buffalo hunter who would slay me for my scalp can learn Shoshone" She will only speak to the black man and the archer. They have likely tasted white lies and the cracks of their whips. The rope master known as Taylor, The woman with dark hair they called Shannon she will not speak too. They are tainted by the stain of being white like the old man. The black man she will talk to now. She talks to him in English. "Gunslinger. Your people were enslaved by devils with white skin. Your people were brought here in chains. Now you are free but you continue to serve a whiteman? Why is this?" Jacob was relieved to have made it down the older, narrow trail that would allow them to return to their mounts. There were sections that were so narrow that they'd have to dismount, which was why the army had been less concerned about blocking this route, but for now they were able to ride, allowing them to make good time. He had not intended on being a part of the conversation between Baines and the Indian lady, a man of few words he preferred to leave the talking to Baines, but it seemed he had little choice when the woman addressed him directly through the silence of the night that was broken only by passing moonlight. "We are all equals here," he responded simply, glancing in her direction for a moment before returning his gaze to the route ahead. He had to remain focused on the trail so they did not misstep and plunge down the steep slope to their left. It was explanation enough for him. Anywhere else he would be paid little for his work and certainly less than any white man, "and I still have my freedom." Anne couldn’t help the small smile that met her lips at her sister’s words. It was wiped away though, as she turned to Baines and spoke to him in English. “She is not impressed that you know her language and thinks anyone who would slay great creatures or her people would be able to learn it.” She said calmly. “As an observation, it may be best to not try and be so familiar with her. We speak the words of friendship, but delicately…” Yes...I caught that Anne. Could you tell her we're not out destroy her people. In fact....oh never mind. I'll let you and Jacob deal with her. I just want to get us out of here without any muss or fuss. *He listened to Jacob and smiled. As usual he stated things quickly....but told it like it was...you had to respect that. Witht hat he went quiet....from this point on he would speak softly....if at all. They were getting closer to army positions....or at least places he believed they would be staked out. But he still....despite his words to Anne....tries one more time with Bright Meadow. This time in English.* I don't think you're child. I'm not like those that have harmed your people. It's bigotry like that is one of the things I hate most in this world, girl. *He gave Shannon and Taylor a look....which suggested they not address the indian girl. The last thing they needed was her making trouble now when quiet was needed. He would leave her to Jacob and Anne.* Shannon listened to Jacob and smiled. They had become friends almost instantly. She saw them as similar people having gone through similarly horrible upbringings. Shannon had been the drudge of society in Ireland but had been taught to act like the debutantes. It was an easy way to earn a living and thieving was a small price to pay for her comforts. Sitting with perfect posture on her horse, as she had been taught, she worried her bottom lip. Several thoughts going through her mind including her conversation with that Pinkerton fellow. Her grip tightened on her horse's reigns which caused it to whinny and throw her head, she quickly slackened the reigns and breathed out. She did not need Baines' look to know to stay quiet. Shannon hadn't much to say, in fact, she had been almost too quiet since this whole ordeal started. Normally the firey haired lass would have made a comment of some sort. Though the whole escape needed extreme quiet and not her sharp censorus words. Bright meadow is not satisfied by Jacob's answer. Has being a slave to the whites for so long driven the fight from his people? Are they now so cowed they follow the white devils blindly? Her eyes move from one of these eccentrics to another. She does not trust them despite the words of her O.P sister. She believes all she tells bright meadow but she goes by the name Anne. A white woman name. Clearly she has been cowed by the whites into being merely a servant. This will not happen to Bright Meadow. She will not bow before this man, Baines. She is not one to be servant to anyone. Least of all one who comes from a race that holds she and her people in such low regard. She lets this be known, this time addressing Baines directly. "And I am to believe your words, whiteman? I am to believe that you wish me to ride with you as an equal? Many of your years back in your war of 1812, O.Ps were told such stories another man who ranked highly in the white military. Many tribes fought by the side of your old hickory leader, he who you call, Andrew Jackson. The reward for O.P loyalty was to be removed from their fertile plains so that the whites might enjoy the fruits the land would bestow. They were sent on a trial of tears that cost many lives. They watched the Buffalo be hunted, exhausting what seemed an endless food source. I will not be a fool as they were as they are now. She gestures at the completion of that sentence, the back of her hand regarding Anne and Jacob. You might be an outlaw among your people, Baines but the devious taint of your race is in your blood. Lies are part of what you are white-eyes. I will never follow the likes of you. She merely glares at Taylor and Shannon. More whites. More liars. She has pity for Jacob and Anne. Two who serve these evil ones without realizing it. Jacob's brow furrowed a little at Baines inability to remain quiet but the expression was hidden by the darkness and his own dark complexion. They were walking on a knife edge with this woman. At any time she might decide they were no better than the army that employed her and then they would surely be in for a firefight. There were few things any man could say that would get anything less than a measured response from Jacob, years in slavery had taught him to temper his responses, to focus that anger that came from things that he despised. But being accused of being nothing more than a blind slave was crossing a line that cause him to stop his horse in it's track and turn to look her directly in the eyes speaking a lowly, gravelly voice that most of the Eccentrics would not have heard but was not to be taken lightly. "Believe as you will, but do not think that speaking with such blatant ignorance will not bring consequences," he did not care what Baines thought of him in that moment, he would not have this woman speak as though she knew him so well. True she knew a lot about history but nothing about him. “Friends… please.” She said, looking around with concern to them. “Words said out of anger will do no good, especially now. Please… be still now, think on many words to speak later?” she offered, as her gaze lingered on Jacob for a moment longer than it had with any of the others. She drew in a long breath and eyed the path behind them again as she watched for signs of movement. *Baines was talking too much. A foolish mistake on his part. But the fact was it hurt that the grl was not listening to what he had to say. He had lost others he tagged for the group....but none had such an overwhleming hate for him as this little indian tracker. Growing silent....he trotted his horse into a darker...more deeply wooded area. It was the smart play. For sadly...above the moon was full and fat...casting pale illumination upon the landscape. They would have to be extra cafeful not to be spotted. But nearby....off to the side....he heard something in the brush. A snapping of twigs. Someone was out there.* Go. *He said softly.* Everyone. I think that's an army scout. I think we've been spotted. Anne....take him down. We can't risk being revealed. *Ann was the perfect choice to handle this sitaution. Jacob's gun would alert the scouts fellow troop members....but Anne's arrows could kill nearly as easily...and certainly...more quietly.* The sound of the horse's hooves, even on the leaf covered ground of the forrest, would still be loud enough to alert any scouts. Shannon gave a small frown at Jacob's words, his anger was nearly palpable. She was glad to see everyone move their horses as quickly as they could out of the dense area. She hoped they would find a clearing and a safe haven for the night. She needed a quiet moment to speak with Jacob. There was much she had to tell him, he was her one true friend here. |
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1:11 PM Jul 11