A Man Called Hawkes

Disclaimer: I don't own High Mountain Rangers, not making any money, just cheap thrills

Rating: FRT

A Man Called Hawkes
Chapter 3

"Cody Jamison Hawkes you'd better not be bothering my chickens again," Jacklyn warned as she stepped out of the cabin. Her hand went to her chest. "Cody, come here sweetheart," she quietly called to her three-year old.

Cody looked between his mother and the strange boy who had appeared as if by magic from the nearby woods. He really wanted to talk to the boy, but he knew better than to disobey his mother. Turning his back on the boy, he trotted over to his mother.

Jacklyn didn't breathe again until her son was by her side. Gently guiding her son, she moved him behind her as her other hand drew the small revolver from her pocket. She'd thought that Jesse was being paranoid when he handed her the small pocket revolver a couple of months ago, but now she was thankful for his concern. "What do you want?" she asked, forcing her voice to remain calm. The boy in front of her couldn't be much older than Matt, but unlike her son he was a savage and old enough to kill.

White Eagle tilted his head to the side. It amused him that the woman thought he meant to hurt her or the little one. The whites always expected The People to harm them. Amusement fled, sadness taking its place. So fearful were the whites that they attacked anybody who belonged to The People, even the children, some younger than the one peaking from behind the woman's skirts. "No harm," White Eagle replied. "Medicine," he said, drawing out a bundle of plants from the leather pouch at his waist.

"You're gathering plants?" Jacklyn asked, relaxing for the first time since stepping from the cabin.

White Eagle nodded. He understood her language just fine, speaking it was the challenge. "White Eagle," he said, tapping his chest. Pointing at her and the little one, he signed his desire to know their names.

She smiled now, he was just a boy after all, not the fearsome warrior she'd supposed at first. "Jacklyn Hawkes," she said, placing her hand on her chest. "This is my son Cody," she continued, bringing Cody from behind her.

"Hi," Cody shyly said. "You an indian?"

White Eagle smiled sadly, the young one reminding him of his own small brother lost to the white man's disease two winters past. "Shoshone," he proudly replied.

Cody looked at his ma, a question in his deep blue eyes.

Jacklyn smiled down at him, "Yes Cody he's an indian. Shoshone is an indian tribe."

Cody nodded and turned back to White Eagle. Before his mother could stop him, he ran off the porch, coming to a stop in front of the indian and held out his hand. He grinned when White Eagle solemnly took his hand, firmly shaking it once and then releasing him.

"Pehnaho," White Eagle greeted the boy. "Hello," he added as the boy looked at him in confusion.

"Pennyho," Cody dutifully responded.

White Eagle smiled, hiding his amusement at the mangling of the word. He knew children too had pride, it wouldn't be right to step on that pride.

"Are you alone?" Jacklyn asked.

"Others look for medicine," he replied, throwing his arm out in a gesture that encompassed the mountains and woods. "Your man has kuittsun?"

"Kuittson?" Jacklyn carefully pronounced the word. She smiled when the boy raised his hands to either side of his head, extending one finger on each hand and lowing as a cow would. "Yes...kuittson, cattle," she confirmed.

"Cattle," White Eagle repeated the unfamiliar word, feeling it rolling over his tongue. "No cut trees?" he asked. He had thought when he first saw the cabin that they must be with the whites who were taking the trees from the mountains.

Jacklyn shook her head, "Only what we need for firewood and to clear land for our few crops."

"Is good," White Eagle nodded his approval.

Cody tugged on his mother's skirt. "Can White Eagle have lunch?"

"May," Jacklyn automatically corrected her small son. "Would you like to eat with us?" she politely asked. She was glad Cody had asked as she belatedly remembered some of her husband's suggestions for dealing with the local indians if she ever encountered them. She could hardly believe that it had taken this long. Jesse had told them that the Shoshone came to the area every summer to fish, gather plants and generally socialize with each other.

"Your man like?" White Eagle asked. He knew the woman's husband wasn't here, but he had no idea when he would return and the young man had no wish to die today.

"No, no, Jesse wouldn't mind," Jacklyn assured him.

Over lunch they talked, after a fashion, each of them learning a few more words of the other's language. White Eagle spoke of his people, the pride and love he felt easily seen in his eyes. It was a pride and love shared in equal measure by Jacklyn as she spoke of her husband and sons.

"Little one not go with appe, father?" White Eagle asked.

"Oh no, he's too young to go with Jesse and Matt," Jacklyn quickly explained.

White Eagle frowned. The boy was young, it was true, but if he was to learn to be a man he had to spend time with men. "Not woman...man, must learn," White Eagle firmly said.

It took Jacklyn a moment to understand what the boy was trying to tell her. It was a familiar argument. Jesse had been trying to get her to let Cody explore beyond the area around the cabin for a couple of months now. "He's only three," she replied, giving this boy the same excuse she gave to her husband. She knew she was a little over-protective when it came to her youngest, but she couldn't help it. She had been so frightened as the poison from that black widow spider traveled through her when she was carrying him, bringing with it pain the like of which she hadn't felt since her last miscarriage. She had been sure she would lose this babe too. She had prayed as she lay in her bed, promising God that she would never take the blessing of her children for granted if only he would allow her baby to survive. Jacklyn had never forgotten that promise.

White Eagle said no more, recognizing by the stubborn set of her jaw that the woman would not be convinced. It was too bad, the boy could grow to be a strong man if he were allowed to be as a boy should. Still it was clear that the little one was a brave child, standing his ground when he first saw him rather than running away. It had only been when the mother arrived that the boy had tried to hide and White Eagle thought that was more because of the woman than the child's natural way.

"Can you come see me again?" Cody asked, interrupting the older boy's thoughts and unwittingly giving him an idea.

White Eagle smiled. His people saw him as a young man, but he knew that to the whites he was but a boy himself. Maybe he could use that. "Teach me to talk more good?" he asked.

Cody grinned, turning to his mother. "Can I ma? Please," he added, turning the full force of his big blue eyes on her.

"I suppose you may," Jacklyn hesitantly replied. "If your father says it's okay." She didn't think Jesse would say no, he was always saying that they should learn to live with those who were here first. Besides, White Eagle seemed like a nice boy, for an indian. "You'll stay near the house?" she asked the older boy.

White Eagle nodded. Even if the woman never allowed him to take the boy from the sight of the house he could help teach the little one how to be a strong man. "Teach now?"

They spent the afternoon sitting outside, using sticks to draw pictures in the dirt as they taught each other their languages and though Cody didn't know it, some of the Shohone way as well. It was to this scene that Jesse and Matt returned.

"Cody get away from him," Matt ordered. Striding forward, he grabbed his younger brother's arm and pulled him towards their father. "You shouldn't be playing with him, he's an injun," Matt admonished the younger boy.

"Matthew," Jesse warned before his oldest could say anything else. The boy had been spending too much time with the Cutlers. Jesse liked Bill, but the man made no secret of his hatred and distrust for all indians. It was an attitude that was beginning to rub off on his son and he didn't like it.

"But Pa he's a filthy..."

"Matthew Robert Hawkes," Jesse snapped. "I would suggest you not finish that sentence young man." He smiled down at Cody, the boy didn't seem to be hurt nor frightened. "You gonna introduce us to your friend son?"

"Yes sir," Cody nodded uncertainly. Pa didn't seem upset, but Matt obviously didn't like his new friend. Pulling away from his brother's hold, he took Jesse's hand and led him over to where White Eagle now stood. "This is White Eagle Pa," he said. "I'm teaching him to talk gooder," he proudly explained.

"Better son, you're teaching him to talk better," Jesse smiled. "Hello, I'm Jesse Hawkes," he said, holding out his hand to the boy. He was relieved when the boy took it. "This is my other son Matt," he added.

Matt stepped forward, sullenly mumbling a greeting. The look on his father's face clearly told him that he'd better be polite, though he didn't understand why they were being polite to an injun.

"Is my wife in the house?" Jesse asked.

"She cooks," White Eagle replied. "Little one teaches me, I teach him."

"I'm a tuine," Cody told his father. "That means boy," he helpfully explained.

Jesse smiled, "That's very good son. Now, why don't you and your brother take our packages into the house for your mother."

"Yes sir," Cody grinned. "Come on Matt." He grabbed his brother's hand and pulled him towards the pack horse.

White Eagle braced himself, he was sure that Cody's father was about to tell him that he had to leave.

"Do your people know you're here?"

White Eagle hid his surprise. "I gather medicine," he explained. "I go all, everywhere."

"So they don't know?" Jesse frowned, he didn't want any trouble with the Shoshone. "Maybe you should tell somebody where you are before they worry."

"Not worry," White Eagle shook his head. "I'm a man...not tuine."

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend you White Eagle," Jesse quickly apologized.

"You want me to go?" White Eagle asked. He suspected that was the real reason for Jesse's words.

Jesse shook his head, "You're welcome here anytime White Eagle. I just don't want any trouble for any of us."

White Eagle grinned. He had seen this man in the last few years, moving through the woods with confidence and strength, he hadn't expected him to be as frightened as the other whites. "Why trouble?"

Jesse shrugged uncertainly, he didn't want to chance offending the boy again. "I don't suppose there will be, as long as your people are okay with you coming here. Will you stay to supper?" he asked, hoping to soothe any feathers he had ruffled.

"Please White Eagle, please," Cody begged as he joined them.

He looked between father and son, seeing nothing but sincere welcome on their faces. Glancing behind them he saw the older boy. There was one who did not welcome him. "I will stay," he decided. Perhaps it would be uncomfortable but he could not teach the little one to be a man if he didn't not act as a man.

TBC

I know it's a bit boring, but it was necessary for the transition to later events. Hope y'all liked it, please feed the muse with reviews, she's getting quite hungry. If you would like a reply to your review please include your email in the body of the review.

A/N: The gun Jacklyn is carrying, or one similar to this, can be found here: http://www.19thcenturyweapons.com/707/newline22.html