Meeting at Citadel Rock Pt. 2

Meeting at Citadel Rock Pt. 2

Heartlands, 1896

When the wagon train pulled up to the meeting place near Citadel Rock, they were met by a group of tribal men and women. Everyone in the group looked either solemn or angry and Runs with the Wind’s heart ached for them. He knew these people would be losing their land today with the help of him. He was there to make the deal seem sweeter, but Runs with the Wind had never felt more bitter. He wanted to run; to tell these people to keep strong and fight for the land that was rightfully theirs. But it was too late. The wagons slowed to a stop and Samuel once again turned around to Runs with the Wind.

“I want you to listen to me very carefully, boy. The only things you are allowed to tell these…kind people are that they’d be better off findin’ land elsewhere. We’ll be payin’ them a generous sum which will be more than enough money. If they express any doubts, you are to reassure them that this is what’s best for them. Tell ‘em anything you can to get them to agree to this deal. Remember, your life…and now their lives are depending on you.”

Samuel laughed as he stepped down from the wagon and came around to the back. He knew what he was doing was wrong and he loved every minute of it. Runs with the Wind felt the sting of the words Samuel said. The lives of these poor people were in his hands now. If they didn’t hand over their land they’d surely be killed.

“Alright now we’re gonna untie you. Can’t have you lookin’ like a hostage in front of them.” Samuel and the man that had been with him in the back of the wagon both snickered at the remark. “You try to make a run for it and rest assured you’ll be sorry.”

Runs with the Wind was led out of the wagon and untied. It was the first time in almost 3 days he had been free of his ties.

As Runs with the Wind was led over to the tribal members, Samuel’s brother Thomas and his men arrived. Thomas was younger than Samuel, with shoulder-length hair and a clean-shaven face. He dressed differently than Samuel as well. Samuel dressed in suits while Thomas dressed like a rancher. He wore a pair of worn-out blue jeans and his boots had seen better days.

“Thomas, good to see you.” Samuel said as he shook Thomas’ hand. “Ready to get on with it?”

“No time like the present, Sam.” Thomas replied.

Thomas went over and greeted one of the older tribal men of the group.

“Sam, this is Chief Standing Bear, the leader of this tribe.” Thomas said as Samuel walked over to greet them.

“Thomas has told me a lot about you, chief.” Samuel said, shaking Standing Bear’s hand.

“Just as he has told me a lot about you, sir.” Standing Bear replied.

“Good good. Well I hope we can reach an agreement today.” Samuel remarked. “The sooner we get things moving along, the better.”

“Right, well…my people and I have talked things over and while your offer is generous, we just can’t give up our land. Our ancestors lived on this land and some are buried on this ground. While the land we own here is small, it means a great deal to us.” Standing Bear insisted.

Standing Bear spoke like a true leader of his people. He spoke calmly and with authority and made it very clear what his intentions were. Standing Bear reminded Runs with the Wind of Charging Bull, the chief of his own tribe. He cared greatly for his people and would do whatever he could to protect them.

“I was afraid you might say that.” Samuel replied, sounding disappointed and slightly irritated. “The money we have offered you is more than what this land is worth. It should be more than enough to help your tribe find new land and get back on your feet.”

“The money you have offered us matters little! Money cannot replace the memories, the stories, or the life this land holds. It’s not your land to take!” One of the other members charged back.

“That’s enough, Blue Feather.” Standing Bear replied to the young woman. “We must not let our tempers get the best of us.” Standing Bear then turned his attention back to Samuel. “I’m sorry sir, but you will have to purchase land elsewhere.”

Samuel was growing visibly frustrated. He knew the Indians would be insistent on keeping their land, but he wasn’t expecting them to refuse all their offers, no matter how much money he threw at them.

“I understand your concerns, I really do.” Samuel replied, trying to think of anything he can to get them to consider his offer.

“We have a young man with us that might be able to help you see our side of things.” He said as he motioned for Runs with the Wind to come forward. “This young man is a great ally to us. He understands what you are goin’ through. His people struck a deal with us a long time ago and now he works for us.”

Runs with the Wind fought to control his urge to laugh at Samuel’s remark. He had expected Samuel to tell some lies to make a sale, but he had never expected Samuel to use his own people as a pawn. To make it seem like his tribe had willingly given their land to the Wyatts was absurd and it made him sick. The longer he was in Samuel’s presence, the more he hated the man.

Samuel must have known what he was thinking, as he gave Runs with the Wind a cold, stern look.

“Now boy, don’t be shy.” Samuel said as he patted Runs with the Wind on the back. There was a forcefulness in the pat that warned Runs with the Wind he was on thin ice. “Why don’t you tell these fine people why they should sell us their land.”

Runs with the Wind walked up to Standing Bear and shook his hand. He was nervous. He was afraid that Samuel would turn on him and kill them all right there where they stood. He was afraid that he might accidentally say something Samuel didn’t like and be killed for that too. He knew he had to talk to the tribal members in private, where Samuel couldn’t hear.

“It’s an honor to meet you, Chief.” Runs with the Wind said as he nervously shook hands with the other members of the tribe.

“So…you work for the Wyatts?” Standing Bear asked, understandably confused by the concept.

Runs with the Wind briefly turned back to look at Samuel, who looked him dead in the eye with a cold expression. He turned back to Standing Bear and mustered up a reply.

“Yes, Chief.”

“Interesting, indeed.” Standing Bear replied, a questioning air about his voice. “Well then, do you agree that we should sell you our land?”

Runs with the Wind hesitated for a moment, trying to carefully compose his words. He wanted to appease the Wyatts without disappointing the chief. After a few moments, he turned back to Samuel.

“If I may, could I speak with the tribal members in private?”

He knew it was a bold question to ask, but he wanted to be able to talk to Standing Bear and tell him the real reason he should sell the Wyatts his land.

Samuel stood up straight, clearly taken back by the bold request. He seemed to ponder the question for a few moments which made Runs with the Wind nervous, but he wasn’t expecting his reply.

“I’ll allow it.” Samuel replied, much to everyone’s surprise. “But you stay within our sights, and no funny business you hear?”

“Yes, sir.” Runs with the Wind replied as he led the tribe a little ways away to keep out of earshot. He couldn’t believe Samuel had been so trusting. He hoped his plan would work.

As Runs with the Wind lead Standing Bear and the rest of the tribe away, the men that were with the Wyatts began to grab for their guns, assuming Runs with the Wind was trying to make an escape.

“Hold on, now.” Samuel replied, motioning the men to halt. “He can’t really be that stupid as to lead these people to their deaths. I want to see how this plays out.”

Once Runs with the Wind was far enough away from Samuel, he turned to Standing Bear.

“Listen to me, you need to give the Wyatts your land. I know its an absurd request and I don’t agree with it myself, but you have no other choice.” Runs with the Wind pleaded with them, the desperation clearly visible in his voice.

“Now son, you’re asking us to leave everything we’ve ever known behind and let the Wyatts turn this land into an oil field. You of all people should know what a ridiculous-“

“They took my people’s land too.” Runs with the Wind interrupted. “They took our land right out from under us and sold it to Leviticus Cornwall, just like they’ll do to your land.”

“Then why are you-“ Standing Bear tried to cut in again but Runs with the Wind was insistent on making his point.

“They killed my brother. They’re ruthless, evil men who have no problem with murdering innocent people. I don’t work for them - they captured me and are holding me hostage to use me as a pawn. If this deal doesn’t work out for them, they’ll kill me. Just like they killed my brother. And they’ll probably kill you too if you don’t surrender your land. Please. I beg you to consider their offer.”

Tears were starting to form in Runs with the Wind’s eyes as he pleaded with them to take the offer. He needed them to see how important this deal was, even if it meant reopening old wounds.

“Don’t put your people through unnecessary turmoil. Take their offer and move far away from here, away from the Wyatts. My people left these lands and headed north; you could do the same.”

Standing Bear pondered for a moment, visibly moved by the testimony Runs with the Wind had given him. These lands were sacred to him and he hated to see them defiled by white men and their lust for money, but he knew he had no other choice.

“It appears that you are right, my son. I fear we have no other choice. Though we are strong, my people are few. We cannot fight for our land like we once could. It seems as though it is time for us to move on.”

Runs with the Wind wiped the tears from his eyes and reached out to shake Standing Bear’s hand.

“Thank you, Chief. And I’m sorry.”

“I am sorry too, son. But this world is changing, and our time is drawing short.”

Runs with the Wind led the group back to Samuel, where Standing Bear reached out to shake Samuel’s hand.

“It appears as though we have no other choice. We will accept your offer.”

“Wonderful news!” Samuel replied enthusiastically. He was surprised his plan had worked so well.

“Thomas has the papers and your money right over here for you.” He said as he gestured over to one of Thomas’ wagons. “We’re very happy we could come to an agreement.”

Once the papers were signed and everything was squared away, the men loaded back into the wagons. Runs with the Wind was led back into Samuel’s wagon, much to his surprise. He had expected them to let him go once the deal was done.

“You did well today, boy.” Samuel said to him, patting him on the shoulder. “You’re gonna make me a lot of money.”

“What do you mean ‘going to’? I did what you asked, now let me go.” Runs with the Wind demanded.

Samuel and the other men began to laugh.

“Did you really think we would just let you go once we were finished, boy? Do you think we’re stupid enough to just let you walk free and give you another chance to try to kill me again?”

Runs with the Wind was confused and angered. He had been taken for a fool.

“I thought you only needed me to help you with this deal, what more do you need me for?” Runs with the Wind asked.

“My boy, there are many other Indians out there just like these folks who are sitting’ on gold mines. There’s land all over this country to be bought and sold for profit; this is only the beginning!” Samuel smirked as he leaned closer to Runs with the Wind. “I don’t intend on stopping until every last Indian is off this land.”

Runs with the Wind felt his anger from the other night resurfacing. Without thinking, he lunged at Samuel and struck him, knocking Samuel to the ground. One of Samuel’s men picked up Runs with the Wind and threw him against the side of the wagon and held his gun to Runs with the Wind’s head.

“Don’t shoot him, we need him!” Samuel said as he picked himself up and brushed the dirt off his coat. He caught his breath and moved closer to Runs with the Wind until he was in his face. “Don’t you ever lay a hand on me again, boy!” He said raising his voice. “I won’t kill you, but you can be damn sure I’ll make your life miserable while you’re in my custody.”

“What makes you think I would ever continue to work for you?” Runs with the Wind replied through gritted teeth. Being thrown against the wagon had knocked the wind out of him, and that paired with his growing anxiety were making it hard to breathe.

“Funny you should ask. You see, I had a backup plan in mind in case things went sour. I’ve got a cousin who owns some ranches up north on the other side of the Grizzlies. When your tribe fled north last year, they passed through my cousin’s land and settled not far from him.”

A lump began to form in Runs with the Wind’s throat. After he was captured, he had figured that Samuel had been keeping tabs on him, but he hadn’t expected Samuel to be following the rest of his tribe.

“You do anythin’ to defy me and I’ll send word to him. Now he’s a bit of a wild man, not as civilized as us folk down here. At my command, he’ll slaughter your entire family and not think twice about it.”

Runs with the Wind couldn’t tell if Samuel was telling the truth or if he was just spinning lies to get Runs with the Wind to comply, but he didn’t want to take the chance. His people had found somewhere safe to settle and he didn’t want to be the one to ruin that.

“Alright, alright.” Runs with the Wind desperately replied. “I’ll do what you ask, just don’t hurt my family.” His breaths were drawing shorter and heavier and the sound of desperation was heavy in his voice.

“Good boy.” Samuel said, knowing he had won.

“Now, Clyde.” He said, speaking to the man who had accompanied Runs with the Wind in the back of the wagon. “Why don’t you men take this wagon and head over to Emerald Ranch. Thomas and I have got some business to attend to with Leviticus Cornwall. Once we’re finished, we’ll meet you there.”

“Yes, sir.” Clyde replied as he shoved Runs with the Wind into the wagon.

“And make sure that one is good and tied up. Can’t have our greatest asset escapin’ on us.”

“Don’t worry, sir. He won’t get away from us.” Clyde replied, grabbing a length of rope.

“Good. Now, get used to this boy, you’ll become very familiar with the back of that wagon.”

Samuel laughed as he climbed into Thomas’ wagon and they rode off toward Cornwall Kerosene and Tar.

Runs with the Wind was so angry he felt like his blood was boiling. The past three days had been hell, and from the sound of it this was only the beginning. He had worked so hard and come so close only to live out the rest of his days as a slave to the Wyatt family. He needed to find a way out somehow. He wanted now more than ever for every member of the Wyatt family and everyone associated with them to pay for the crimes they committed. He wanted every last one of them to suffer the way he and his people had. He knew he would do whatever it took to taste freedom once again. He just needed to be patient.