“I have come from Tom Johnson’s grave. To say my goodbyes to him. I take my son with me so he can hear the story of how a white man saved an Indian.”
Luke nodded. There weren’t enough stories like that.
Red Hawk paused for a moment as he studied him. “I would have Johnson’s killer found.”
A deep guilt filled Luke when he realized he was going to be leaving without justice.
“I would do so also,” Luke said. “But I don’t know if I can. There are no more trails to follow.”
“As we leave Johnson’s grave,” Red Hawk said, “we cross the creek and begin north…”
Luke held his breath wondering where this was going. The man hadn’t snuck into town for no reason.
“… A stone’s throw. I find a … pile? A straight mound.”
Luke nodded.
“A pile of stones,” Red hawk continued. “Each put on top of the other. Not like the ancient medicine stones of my people. These are fresh, dug from the ground.”
Luke frowned as he tried to understand.
“I have seen these before,” Red Hawk continued. “It is your people’s way of claiming your land. A marker you put upon the earth.”
“Was there more than one?” Luke asked. “A square, far apart. Maybe Johnson would have built them.”
The Indian nodded. “Four piles, I find. Each marking a corner. The same as Johnson’s land on the sunset side of the creek. These are not there when I am saved by Johnson. But they are not new. Since last winter, new grass grows, where the stones were taken from the ground.”
A worried frown creased Luke’s brow as he tried to understand the significance. Someone had claimed that land around the same time Tom Johnson had been killed. Why? Who? The Feltons already ran cows on that range. There was no need to claim it. Not unless they were wanting to stop someone else from getting it.
But again. Why there?
Red Hawk shook his head. “It is not Johnson who puts them there.”
“No, guess not,” Luke said. Then looked up. “Thank you, Red Hawk. You have given me a new trail to follow.”
The Big Indian studied him for a long moment. “I am told that Rebbec-ca is to be your woman.”
Luke couldn’t stop from smiling. “She has honored me by agreeing to be my wife.”
Red Hawk’s eyes narrowed as he studied Luke for a long moment then he seemed to relax. “You do not deserve her. But, then no man does.”
Laughing, Luke nodded. The man saw the truth of things.
“Come see her. She will be angry at me if I let you go without seeing her.”
The Indian shook his head. “It is already unwise for me to be here. Too many of your people do not want me here.”
“I am hoping it will not always be such,” Luke said as he held out his hand.
The big Indian looked down at the outstretched hand then up into Luke’s eyes. He grabbed Luke’s forearm and held him tight as he said, “You will care for Rebecca-ca of the golden hair. If not, I will learn of this and we will fight. And I will not be so easy as the man today.”
Luke studied the man across from him then nodded. It wasn’t a threat. More a promise. But then, he had to agree with the man. Anyone who hurt Becky deserved to die.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Luke stood before the jail and watched the sun come up over the distant mountains. Stretching, he glanced over at the hotel. He’d sent Jake to spend the night there, deciding he’d come to like the jailhouse bunk.
The town looked quiet, he thought. As quiet as it’d looked since he’d gotten there. The tension in the air was gone. Disappeared like smoke in a strong wind.
“Come on Jake,” he mumbled to himself. The sooner his brother showed up. The sooner he could investigate what Red Hawk had told him last night. Thinking of the Indian made him smile. The man had given him a clue. The only problem was that Becky was going to be furious when she found out he hadn’t given up the search for Tom’s killer.
When Jake stepped out of the hotel, Luke had to smile to himself. The boy had grown up tall and straight. A man to be proud of. He’d pulled his weight, done what he’d been told without a ton of back-talk. Zion and Hanna had done a good job. They’d taken an angry boy and turned him around.
“I think I like that bunk better,” Luke’s brother