The Last Patrol

[Scarlet Angel]

Combined effort of Tensleep and Scarlet

"Scarlet, you OK? Not hurt are you?" Tensleep stopped as she turned looking at him.

"I'll be ok. Thank you." She said softly before turning back around and continuing towards the stables where her gear was.

"Sure? You took a pretty good tumble."

"Isn't the first one and most likely won't be the last. I'd like a cold cloth or something right about now though." She glanced back at Tensleep "And I'm trying to convince myself it would be wrong to cut off his hand and hide it where Ella couldn't find it to sew it back on."

"I know what you mean, I felt that way a couple of times...." Tensleep was stuffing his pipe.

"Wanted to castrate a feller once an'.... well, he was still alive an' I wanted to shut him up. Couldn't stop talking."

"Well if I castrated him and stuffed them down his throat Ella would find them. However I bet she wouldn't choose to sew them back on. Sides they were too small to shut him up." Scarlet managed a smile.

"I reckon yer right." Tensleep lit his pipe. "Look Scarlet, you can't go around just cutting people up, you need to rein in a bit. Wanna talk to me about what yer feeling?"

The statement got him a nasty look as she stopped and faced him. "Cuttin' people up! I shoulda castrated him for the remarks he made about Ella and me. I wouldn't ‘ve touched him if he hadn't taken a swing at me first. Tell me why in the hell a man thinks back handing a woman puts her in her place." Scarlet growled.

"Some men... and I said SOME MEN, are as stupid as a rocks. Some saw how their father treated their mother or think that all women are whores and should be treated like trash.
Any woman who puts herself into a 'man's job' and that's what you have done, makes herself a target for stupid remarks, you know that!"

"And I listened to his stupid remarks. I've also learned if I walk away men like him just get worse. He put ME through the fence. You can talk til yer blue in the face on this on and I will still think I was within my rights. I took a man’s job and I've learned the rules of the game. I will not whine about being in a fight, but I'd like to clean up now." Scarlet stared at him waiting to be dismissed, feeling herself getting angrier because the truth was she hurt, all over, and just wanted to be left alone.

[Elegant Ella]

"I have barely begun to meddle," replied Ella firmly.  She supervised Chris being put to bed, then headed out of the building to talk to Cyrus.  She needed an introduction to whoever was in charge of this fort.  Chris was probably only the first casualty the scouts were going to have, and she needed to be able to treat all of them, from the full-blood Crow Indians like Teddy, through the half-breeds like Chris, to the whites like Billy and Scarlet, without having a drunkard interfere based on his racial prejudices. 

Thinking of Scarlet reminded her that Scarlet needed some tending now as well.  A hot bath would be best, but bruise ointment would help.  Talking to Cyrus could wait, unless that would find her a bath tub.

[Tensleep]

"Go on, clean yerself up, take a cold bath and see Ella, let her check you over. I'll talk to you later." Tensleep lit his pipe again and puffed.

Scarlet turned to walk away. "Keep yer knife on yer belt too." Tensleep chuckled.

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[Scarlet Angel]

Scarlet dug in her saddle bags finding the ointments she was looking for, the flask of Johnny’s home brew looked good too, she went into Lucky’s stall.

The horse stuck his nose out and touched the bottom of her chin while he sniffed at her.

“Yeah I know, been along time since ya seen this face huh?” She said stroking his nose.

Scarlet eyed his water bucket, glad she’d cleaned it and put it in his stall. She intended to dip the corner of her bandana in it and clean her face but seeing her reflection in the water, even though it was dark, told her it was going to take more than that. Scarlet sat down and leaned against the wall. The sting that shot between her shoulder blades told her it wasn’t a good idea to lean back on that spot.

“Hells bells” she mumbled not ready to go and ask anybody where anything might be at the moment. She put some of the liquid from the flask on the tip of her finger thinking she needed to do something about the cut on her lip. Gritting her teeth she looked at her finger and took a deep breath, it was gonna burn and she knew it.

Lucky cocked his head and looked at her. She looked back up at him. “I think it would be better to just put up with the questions and remarks and go find a proper place to clean up.”

[Elegant Ella]

Ella found Cyrus very quickly, since he was heading for the infirmary. 

"Where are the quarters for Scarlet and me, and where can I find a bathtub?" she asked. 

"You two are sharing an officer's room.  There is a bathing room in that building," he replied.  "First, I need your report on what happened."

"Chris was running his mouth off in Crow, which Scarlet understands and I don't.  The men around him were looking uncomfortable at his words, which, based on his hand gestures and glances at us, were nothing I wanted to understand.  Scarlet got tired of listening to him and commented to me in Comanche about the size of his parts.  I responded in the same language.  He heard us, and understands Comanche enough to come over to object to her words.  He hit her, she hit back, he pushed her through the fence into the corral, where they rolled around fighting.  Scarlet came out on top, and got hold of his throat.  She pulled her knife after he called her a whore, specifically a dead whore, which sounded like a threat as well as an insult.  She pinned him down with the knife without doing much damage.  He's resting in the infirmary, in spite of the person imitating a medic.  He won't be comfortable riding or walking any distance for a week." 

Ella paused for a moment, waiting for another question, then said, "Excuse me, I need to see to Scarlet now.  Does she know where our quarters are?"

Cyrus replied, "Probably not.  I forgot to tell her." 

"Then I know where to find her," replied Ella, turning away and heading for the stable. 

[1stSgt Fritz King]

Fritz grunted.  He'd made good time.  He'd been out eight days, and made over 400 miles.  "Half way there," he said, folding up the map.  Strider snorted his approval.

He supposed he should've taken the train, but he need the trip to clear his head.  He needed to be in the proper mindset when he got there.  Fritz felt that comfortable leaness, that tightness in the belly he always got before a good fight.  The stubble on his head matched that on his chin.  Maybe he'd shave tonight...maybe not.  Seemed a waste of hot water.  The pack saddle was lighter than when they'd started out.  Forage for man and horse was down by half.  They'd grazed and foraged where they could.  He knew he wouldn't go hungry.  There were plenty of cartridges on his belt.

He thought apout Scarlet.  Was she well?  Was she home or at work?  Did they share the same sunrises and sunsets?  Once this was over, he'd never leave her again.

[Elegant Ella]

Scarlet was right where Ella expected to find her, in Lucky's stall.  "Scarlet, there's supposed to be a bathing room in the officers' quarters, and our room is in that building.  Let's go get cleaned up, and I can put ointment on your bruises.  Going through the fence must have given you some you won't be able to reach." 

Ella collected their bedrolls to put in their room.  Saddle bags with medical supplies were still riding on her shoulder. 
"I'm glad of the hand-to-hand fighting lessons I've gotten from you and Patches, and even gladder that I haven't had to use them much.  I doubt you can win a fight, or even end a fight, staying on the defensive, but I don't know what it would take to make me go on the offensive."

[Scarlet Angel]

“Dad always taught me if you were going to draw the weapon you’d best be prepared to use it and not leave your enemy breathing. If there are witnesses you best be sure you are in your rights.” Scarlet was reciting the rules of engagement she’d learned over the years.

“Travis taught me every once in a while to show mercy on your enemy and not take his life when it indeed belongs to you is good especially when you have witnesses and depending on the enemy. I don’t think Chis has the nerve to shoot me in the back.”   

“I believe for you to go on the offensive Ella you would have to fear for your life or the life of someone you cared about.”

They were now carrying their gear towards the officer’s quarters. Scarlet glanced over at Ella “By the way, since you were the one who offered the reason not to kill him you are now responsible for his actions, that little piece of logic is weaved in many cultures. But Cyrus was the one who told me to stand down so maybe he is responsible. I’m not sure.” She grinned figuring Ella didn’t want the responsibility of Chris’s actions.

[Elegant Ella]

"I'll have to see if I can figure out how to make Chris behave," replied Ella. "I make up stories about people when I'm trying to understand why they behave as they do.  My story for Chris, an obvious half-breed who gets a little respect by being bigger and stronger than some of the others, is that his white father lived with a Crow tribe.  Having attitudes about women much like his son, he had trouble being accepted as a mate by any of the women in the tribe.  He finally was able to buy a Comanche woman slave to father his child, or children, but I sure hope the Chris is unique.  Chris grew up learning English from his father, Comanche from his mother, and Crow from the rest of the tribe."

There was two privates on guard at the officers' quarters.  One escorted them to their room and pointed out the bathing room, then returned to his post.  Scarlet and Ella put their things down, then went to check out the bathing room. 

"They must have trouble getting officers to come to this post," exclaimed Ella on seeing the luxury of the bathing chamber.  There were two tubs behind screens, a massage table, a stove with cans of water already heating, and a tap that seemed to supply water from a tank on the roof. 

[Scarlet Angel]

“I guess I didn’t help Chris’s mental state. Being beaten by a woman coming from a family you describe is gonna piss him off. Perhaps he will shoot me in the back the first chance he gets.” Scarlet replied looking around the bathing quarters.

“This ain’t right.” She mumbled. “Cyrus told me the baths would be cold and semi private at best, we would probably have to have one of the men we trust stand guard. How are those men supposed to take us seriously when we’re staying in here and I've heard the conditions they will be getting are not as good as what Lucky has, did you notice the room?"

[Elegant Ella]

"Sounds like Cyrus doesn't know how much the officers here pamper themselves.  I wonder if two guards at the door to the officers quarters is normal on military posts or is specific to this fort.  Cyrus said the men were not happy about being sent here," replied Ella.  "If the scouts are housed in quarters no better than stalls, then that poor-excuse-for-a-medic's attitude towards Indians is probably shared by the officers. They may not know any difference between Siouz, Crow, Navajo, Comanche and Apache, and just believe that all Indians are trouble.   Right now, I prescribe a hot bath for you, then application of ointment.  After that, we will see what we can do about improving conditions for the scouts." 

[Scarlet Angel]

“I can’t imagine all the officers quarters are like that. I wonder who he was and what happened to him. More so we wonder why we got lucky enough to be put there.”

Scarlet half grinned at Ella “Right now I am not going to argue about your prescription.” Scarlet said laying her gun neatly on a stool that she could reach easily if needed then sliding into the hot bath.   

“There are a lot of different kinds of education Ella, unfortunately a lot of people don’t take the time to educate themselves on their neighbors. I’m sure you’ve seen that being you are from a different religious background. To a lot of folk one redskin is as same as the other is the way they would put it. They don’t stop to think all Indians don’t speak the same language and have different beliefs.” Scarlet leaned forward and put her head under the water to washer her hair and face.

The red and blue welt across her shoulders was easy to see along with some of the other faded scars.   

[Elegant Ella]

"Scarlet, you are going to be real happy for a soft bed for the next couple nights.  Sleeping on your back even on a cushion is going to be rough," commented Ella.  "There can be advantages to being female. That's probably why we have quarters in this building.  Some men want to admire women, and treat them as though they were made of fine crystal.  Unfortunately, many of those men also think that women are as fragile as crystal, and have to be protected instead of being given enough rights and education to make their own decisions.  Women need rights to be able to defend themselves against drunkard and abusive husbands."

"Grammy told me about the speakers at the Women's Convention in Ohio in 1851.  The one I remember best, probably because she made a big impression on Grammy, was a former slave named Sojourner Truth.  Grammy had her speech copied down in a notebook.  Part of it was, 'That man over there says that women need to be helped into carriages, and lifted over ditches, and to have the best place everywhere. Nobody ever helps me into carriages, or over mud-puddles, or gives me any best place! And ain't I a woman? Look at me! Look at my arm! I have ploughed and planted, and gathered into barns, and no man could head me! And ain't I a woman? I could work as much and eat as much as a man - when I could get it - and bear the lash as well! And ain't I a woman? I have borne thirteen children, and seen most all sold off to slavery, and when I cried out with my mother's grief, none but Jesus heard me! And ain't I a woman?' "

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/sojtruth-woman.html

[Scarlet Angel]

Scarlet finished with her bath and was drying out her hair as they talked.

“I have known a few women who enjoy being treated like crystal. They wouldn’t have it any other way. I have known some strange women who believe if their men don’t beat them they don’t love them.”

Scarlet looked at her face in the mirror. “Been in a lot of fights but I’ve only ever had a couple try and back hand me. Bo crushed the hand of the last one that tried it. I can’t imagine wanting to stay with a man that hit ya, but they do. But I will admit there are times I like the advantages of being female and helped into the carriage.”

Ella and Scarlet no sooner reached their room from finishing their baths when a knock came at the door.

“You ladies decent?” came Bo’s voice.

Scarlet stepped over to the door and let him in.

“The food wasn’t bad, figured the two of you might like something after the day you’ve had.” He said setting the tray on the small table. “and I wanted to make sure you both were alright.”

[Elegant Ella]

"Thank you, Bo," said Ella with a warm smile.  "I wonder if anyone fed Chris?  It won't do him any harm to miss a meal if no one thought of him.  I'll need to check on his bandage in the morning, and I will take a couple of men with me when I do." 

[Scarlet Angel]

“You’re welcome.” Bo said returning her smile. “I didn’t hear anybody asking about him at the mess tent. Cept wondering if he’d given you a difficult time trying to treat him. I don’t think he is very popular with the group. Cyrus says he’s good at his job and a few of the men hang around him but most don’t socialize with him outside duties.”

[Elegant Ella]

"Teddy and the other three made sure he didn't give me any trouble," replied Ella.  "The medic could be a problem, though.  He didn't want to allow Chris or any 'Injun' to stay in his infirmary, and wouldn't treat him.  I doubt his medical skill and wouldn't allow him to treat anyone I cared about.  He's a drunkard, for one thing, and doesn't keep the infirmary clean for another."

[Scarlet Angel]

A rather wicked mischievous smile played across Bo’s lips. “Perhaps it would be in our best interest someone speaks to him or the C.O. If he doesn’t have any skills the least he could do is keep the place clean.”

[Elegant Ella]

"I was hoping you would know how to approach the C.O." replied Ella.  "I already chewed out the medic.  It was rather a relief to have someone to vent at after treating Chris.  There are times when I almost wish I hadn't taken the Healer's Oath, so I could refuse to treat people like him."

[Scarlet Angel]

“They’re all just folk, you just have to know how to appeal to their senses.” Bo replied looking around the room.

“Yeah I know just what I’m gonna say.” He laughed softly.

He looked at Scarlet. “You were diplomatic out there.”

Scarlet raised an eyebrow. “How’s that?”

“You didn’t tell Cyrus to go to hell and cut that man up.”

“Diplomatic. Wouldn’t be what others would say.” She replied.

Bo shrugged his shoulders. “You ok?”

“My back will be a little sore in the morning and I’m not gonna be kissing you any time soon.” She smiled back.

Bo kissed her cheek. “If you ladies need anything you send one of those guards to find me.”

Bo closed the door behind him and went to find the C.O.

Scarlet watched the close door for a moment then said “I really want to know what he’s going to say or do.”