Free Captive Travelers by Candace Smith Page A

consideration for her needs. Nights with Tocho had been passionate, and he would torment her with pleasure until she was worn out. He changed when he decided to trade her to the farmer. She had begged him, and did not understand why she had to leave the tribe. Clara could see in his dark eyes how he wanted her, yet he treated her worse than a stranger, taking out his anger at Henry on both of them when the warriors came to the farm to collect the travelers.
    “What are the chances of us going someplace to hide? Is there anyplace you’ve heard of?” Kayla asked.
    Clara shook her head. “The Indians know every part of this land, and I doubt you girls have the skills to survive out there. There aren’t any stores or anyplace to get supplies. They’ve never let us get organized enough to build a town. I’ve heard of a couple of homesteads like this one, from my time with the tribe. The biggest group of whites run a ranch twenty miles south of here. I’ve never seen it, but Henry told me the Indians guided some of the men up here to get hay when they had a bad winter.”
    “From what I can figure out… at least, it’s the way I think of it… this is sort of an alternative reality. The Indians’ spirits jumped here and they never let the white man take over. I don’t know if we’re stuck in the 1800’s, or if something like this has happened other places in the world. Maybe this is a payback place, where the more primitive people were ready and squashed the wars and other people conquering them.”
    “You think we’re going to get caught, don’t you?” Aubrey asked.
    “Yes, Aubrey, I think you’ll be caught. And then Henry and I will be punished… and we’ll still open our door to travelers. It’s the only free decision we have. Once we don’t accept the travelers, our spirits will have died.” Clara sighed. “I guess that’s the only way to get back.”
    Henry walked back into the cabin, and Clara asked, “Do you need help with the livestock?”
    “Nah, I took care of it while I was out there. I figured you ladies might do better talking without me around.” He turned to Aubrey. “I’m sorry if I hurt you.”
    “I’m fine, Henry. Thank you so much for trying to help us. I feel awful about how much trouble you’ll be in if they catch us here. Would it be better if we tried to reach the ranch? Clara says that there are more people there,” Aubrey suggested.
    “No,” Henry answered. He leaned against a pole beam support by the stove. “They’ll kill the men if they catch you hiding there. Indians can run the herd and horses until enough whites show up to train. They’ll bust me up, but they won’t kill me. They need me for the wheat.”
    “How long before they show up?” Cici quivered.
    Henry shrugged. “A week, maybe. They’ll already be down from the mountains, hunting and gathering vegetables for the winter, so they aren’t far off.” Henry hated seeing the hopeful nervousness in Clara’s eyes. She was thinking about the damn Indian again.
    “Don’t they check on you?” Kayla asked.
    “Why? Where the hell are we going to go? They’ll send captive harvesters to the field in a month or so, but they never come near the house. Besides, I’ve got a home, a good woman,” he squeezed Clara’s hand, “and they pretty much don’t bother me.”
    “Except when travelers come,” Aubrey whispered.
    “Yep… except when travelers come.” Henry turned to Kayla. “Which mound was it?”
    “It was in Kentucky,” she answered.
    “Same one as Rebecca. Me, I got tripped in Illinois and woke up in a Nebraska cornfield. Clara, she was in New Mexico. Found herself waking up in a field of clover, but we’ve never figured out what state it would have been.”
    “This is all so surreal,” Kayla murmured.
    “It would have made a great final thesis.” Something about Cici mentioning college made all three girls cry again.
    They were silent through dinner, and Clara made a bed on the