joint effort of Ella and Scarlet
The slam of a door closing her into a padded cell woke Ella from her nightmare. The recurring dream hadn't gotten to that point since they had left the Starr. With her heart still pounding, she opened her eyes and looked at the night sky. Without her glasses, the stars were a blur. The moon had already set, so it was after midnight.
As her pulse slowed, she started hearing the night sounds more clearly. Tensleep and Scarlet both seemed to be asleep, so Black beard must be the one on watch, which meant it was closer to dawn than midnight, and probably close to her turn for watch. Maybe that was why the dream had gone further this time. Bo and the others always woke her up. Maybe being tired from the day of riding had let her get more sleep before the dream started.
She wasn't going back to sleep, so she put her glasses on and sat up to look around for Black beard. She got out and walked over to when he was perched on a rock at the edge of the camp.
"I can stand watch already, if you want to get a little extra sleep."
His smile was friendly as he gestured for her to sit on the rock across from him. "Two eyes are better than one for a piece." He seemed to be enjoying the starry night.
She settled onto the rock and looked out into the darkness around the camp. Starlight was bright enough to make trees look darker gray than rocks. The faint breeze carried scents of grasses and wildflowers. Ella had recognized only a few of the plants around the camp, and suspected that some of the others were relatives of the wild plants found around Grammy's house.
"My granddad was a ship's captain, taught me how to read the stars when I was a lad. I love those tall ships. He used to take me out with him for long trips. We lost him to the sea. God rest his soul. I suppose that was about the time I deceided the land was a better option."
"I've learned to tell time by the stars. What else do the stars tell you tonight?" asked Ella, gently.
"They've been getting brighter the last couple of nights. The clearer the night sky, the brighter the stars, the colder it's going to get. Look!" he said, pointing to a light that shot across the sky. "Make a wish, Ella."
Ella made the same wish she made at every opportunity: that Alan would agree to settle in El Paso.
After several minutes of silent contemplation of the stars and looking around the camp, Ella asked, "What do you know of Richard Kane?"
"Cyrus's big brother? Why do you ask?"
"I keep noticing him watching me and watching Scarlet. He seems dangerous."
The comment about Richard watching Ella and Scarlet seemed to irritate Black beard.
"He can be a real horse's rump." He said. "Cyrus is good at his job and good with the people that ride with him. Not for him. That's one of the differences. Cyrus will tell folks we ride for him, which we do, but he never treats us any worse than we treat each other. Cyrus, on one hand, runs a tight ship, but not without freedoms if you follow the rules. Don't follow the rules, don't ride with us. Richard is good at his job. Treats his men lesser than equal but has no rules. Half of 'em are drunk slobs and the others would shoot their own mothers to save themselves. Their first rule is watch your own back and it's up to everyone to pull his own rear out of the fire. They could be good men if someone wanted to whip them into shape. All capable, ya know, and when they can pull together, they are good."
Black beard paused for a moment then continued. "Don't underestimate him and don't turn your back on him, Ella. Richard is a jealous lad and I don't doubt some day it will get him killed. Cyrus tries to stay away from him, just bad luck they both ended up at Fetterman. Do you want some one to talk to him about staying away from the two of ya?"
Ella thought a moment before replying, "He might be more likely to take such a talk as a challenge or a dare than to heed it. He ought to be hesitant about trying Scarlet after hearing of her fight with Chris. Even the baldest, most accurate accounts should warn him that she is deadly with that big knife, and not reluctant to use it. I should be okay as long as I continue being careful not to wander off alone."
"Our little family keeps pretty close eye on one another," Black beard smiled at her.
Ella could tell by the smile that the group considered her family and, if she didn't already know it, that they had been watching out for her.
"I was surprised Scarlet would take the chance to sleep in the stall with that stallion." Black beard gestured towards Lucky. "I asked Bo why he didn't worry 'bout some man trying something with her in the stables. He told me to go take a look for myself." Black beard shook his head. "I saw why she feels safe with 'im. We take turns going through the stables at night anyway. We also walk by your quarters. The guards are very aware we go by. Keeps 'em honest. Sides alla o' that, most men know Bo is protective over the both of you. I might be almost as big, but I don't ever want the man gunnin' for my hide. Then there's the Marshal there, who I think is protective of the two of you, too."
"It's nice to be protected by Bo and Tensleep, because they don't think the only way to protect a woman is to wrap her in cotton wool or set her on a pedestal. I'm trying to be seen as a sister or an aunt by 'our little family', including the soldiers we'll be working with. It could sure cause trouble if I were seen as 'available'!"
"You were inquired about but we were told you are married, as is Scarlet. Lucky men, if ya ask me. I'm sure if anybody inquired directly, you would set them straight."
"I worry sometimes that my new 'brothers' might take offense if anyone inquired, especially if the question were phrased rudely. I don't want to be a cause of trouble between our scouts and others at the fort."
More time passed in contemplation of the night sky.
Ella asked, "Do you fence? That is exercise I enjoy, and am missing at the fort."
"Black beard's the name, swords are the game." He chuckled. "Fencing, I've heard that's a gentleman's game. I am no gentleman but I know how to play."
"I thought you would be the most likely sparring partner. I'm most accustomed to rapiers, but Dr. Bill likes sabers, so he and I spar both ways."
He winked, "I prefer a Cutlass. My granddad gave me the one I carry. I also carry a saber." He grinned. "I told Scarlet we were going to swing from ropes while we sparred. I will give you the option of ground or rope." He chuckled.
Ella grinned at him and said, "I'll choose ground, at least for the first match. I would need to practice swinging from ropes before I would want to swordfight from that position." She looked to the east, where the sky was beginning to brighten. "It'll be dawn soon. Thank you for keeping me company when it should have been my turn to stand watch."
"My pleasure, Ella," he replied.
Intermission while lucky people go to End of Trail