A Man Called Hawkes

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

Warnings: AU; angst

Rating: FRT

A Man Called Hawkes
Chapter 5


As the sun peaked over the horizon Jesse was moving down the trail towards the cattle pasture, his sharp eyes tracking his young son's movements of the day before. It wasn't until he reached the pasture and began to move along the fence line, however, that he saw anything important. Kneeling in the dirt, he carefully examined the marks which to his experienced eyes told the story. Pushing himself to his feet, he retraced his steps with a heavy heart.

Jacklyn looked up from cooking breakfast. She frowned as she saw the look on her husband's face. "Jesse, what is it?"

"I decided to track Matt's movements from yesterday."

Jacklyn was confused. "Why would you do that?"

"I needed to see what I could find," Jesse replied.

"You don't believe him?" Jacklyn indignantly asked. She liked White Eagle herself but to doubt their child in favor of an indian boy was something she wouldn't stand for.

Jesse sighed. "I didn't know what to believe," he admitted. "White Eagle considers himself an adult and no man of the Shoshone would hurt a child."

"But he did hurt a child, our child," Jacklyn protested.

"No," Jesse shook his head, "he didn't."

She viciously swiped the fork through the eggs she was scrambling. "Matt wouldn't lie," she insisted, her voice tight with anger on her son's behalf.

"I didn't want that to be true Jacklyn, but the tracks don't lie."

"White Eagle's an indian, he could have come back and hidden the evidence of the attack, couldn't he?"

"He could have, but that would have left a break in Matt's tracks and there wasn't anything like that."

"Or you missed it," Jacklyn snapped. "Matt isn't lying about his wrist, how do you explain that?"

“I found where his horse threw him. Looks like it was spooked by something...”

“White Eagle,” Jacklyn interrupted. “Don't you see Jesse? He must have spooked the horse and that's what caused Matt to fall. That's why you didn't find his tracks, they were probably hidden by the horse's prints and Matt's.” She liked White Eagle, or she had, but forced to choose she would of course side with her child. She couldn't understand why Jesse wasn't.

Jesse shook his head. He understood why she was saying what she was. He didn't want to believe his son could lie either, especially about something so important. He had seen the tracks, though, and he couldn't deny what his eyes had shown him. “Jacklyn, sweetheart, there just wasn't any sign that White Eagle had been there. Besides, Matt never even mentioned the horse throwing him. If it happened like you suggested, then why did our son say White Eagle attacked him? Why didn't he tell us that he was thrown from his horse?”

Jacklyn sighed. “Why would he lie?”

Jesse shrugged. “I don't know, but I intend to find out.” Stepping to the ladder which led into the loft, he softly called to his oldest.

Hearing his name, Matt climbed from bed to peak over the edge of the loft. “Yes Pa?”

“Come down here son.”

“I'll be down in a minute Pa.” Moving away from the opening, he struggled into his clothes. He'd have to ask his father to button them up, it was simply impossible for him right now. Two rungs down the ladder and his father's strong arms wrapped around him, lowering him the remaining distance to the floor. “Thank you,” he mumbled, blushing a bit. He hated that he needed to be helped like a baby.

“You're welcome son,” Jesse said. Turning the boy, he quickly buttoned him up before leading him to the table. “We need to talk about what happened yesterday Matthew.”

Matt swallowed hard. It was never a good sign when his father called him Matthew. “Yes sir?”

“I followed your tracks this morning. Do you have something you want to tell me?”

He blinked rapidly, he wouldn't cry, he wasn't a baby. He knew by the firm tone his father used that he wouldn't stand for another lie. “I lied about White Eagle,” he quietly admitted.

“Why?”

Matt jerked, staring up at his father, his eyes wide with surprise. “Why? He's an injun, he don't belong here.”

“His people were here before us, if anybody belongs here it's him.”

“Well we're here now so they have to go. Mr. Cutler says that injuns ain't no better than rabid wolves. He says they're a danger to decent folks and they should be shot just like ya would a diseased animal.”

Jesse was shocked. He knew Matt didn't like White Eagle and that he was forming those opinions, at least partially, based on what Bill Cutler said. He hadn't known, however, that the man was so filled with hate. The worst he'd ever personally heard him say was that all indians should be placed on reservations and kept away from white people. “Mr. Cutler is wrong, I don't want you listening to him again.”

“No he ain't,” the boy stubbornly insisted.

“Isn't,” Jacklyn absently corrected. “You say that White Eagle is a danger to us Matt, but it wasn't an indian who told a lie that could have cost another his life.”

Matt stared at his mother. It was clear he was shocked to hear her defending an injun. He knew she didn't really like injuns either, nor was she comfortable with White Eagle coming to visit. “Pa wouldn't have killed him.”

“No he wouldn't have,” Jacklyn agreed. “How do you think others, like Mr. Cutler, would have reacted at the idea of an indian attacking a white boy?”

Matt paled, he hadn't thought of that. He didn't like White Eagle, nor any other injuns, but he didn't want him dead. “Nobody else knew.”

“They would have.”

“No they wouldn't, not if we didn't tell them.”

Jacklyn sighed. “What would you have done when Jimmy asked you what happened to your wrist? You would have had to tell him the same lie or risk him mentioning your fall to us. He would have told his father and Bill Cutler would have eagerly led the search for White Eagle.” It was true that she wasn't overly fond of indians, but that didn't mean she thought them deserving of death. They had as much right to live as her family did.

“I didn't want him dead,” Matt whispered. He trembled, his body shaking as his mother's arms suddenly wrapped around him.

“Oh honey, we know you didn't.” She shot Jesse an imploring look, couldn't he spare the boy his rightful punishment this time?

Jesse shook his head. He didn't enjoy whipping his children, but sometimes they needed to be taught a lesson and a hiding was the best way he knew of to drive that lesson home. “After breakfast you and I will be taking a trip out behind the barn.”

“Yes sir,” Matt mumbled miserably.

“That's after you explain to your little brother that you lied about his friend.”

His head snapped up so quickly he nearly collided with his mother's chin. “No, please Pa can't you tell him?” He'd rather take a hundred whippings than to have to admit what he'd done to his brother.

“You didn't mind lying to him, making him cry for your pain and hate his friend,” Jesse pointed out. “I think it's only fair that you be the one to tell him the truth.”

Matt heaved a heavy sigh, his shoulders slumping in defeat. When his father spoke in that tone there would be no arguing or pleading for him to change his mind. “Yes sir.”


Breakfast had been a quiet meal that ended too quickly for Matt's comfort. Standing up from the table, he helped his mother clear the table. He knew it wouldn't change anything, but he couldn't help the desire to delay the moment for as long as he could.

“Matthew, do you have something to tell your brother?” Jesse finally asked. He knew what his son was doing, just as he knew the boy was only increasing his own pain by delaying his task.

Cody looked between his father and brother, confusion written on his little face. What else was Matt going to tell him? “Did White...did he doing something else?” Cody asked into the silence. He had thought White Eagle was good, that he was his friend. Now he didn't even want to say his name.

Matt sighed, “No Cody.” Taking a deep breath, he moved back to the table and sat down next to his younger brother. “Cody, I...it was just that he don't belong here...”

Jesse meaningfully cleared his throat.

Matt took another breath, deeper than the first. “I lied Cody, he didn't attack me.”

For a moment nobody spoke. The sound of the chair tumbling to the floor as Cody jumped up startled them all. “You're a mean boy and I...I...I hate you!” Cody yelled before fleeing out the door.

Matt stared at the spot where only a moment before his brother had been sitting. What had he done? Cody would never forgive him for this. He bit back a small sob, his heart breaking with the realization that in trying to keep his brother he might have lost him forever.

“That went well,” Jacklyn sighed. “I'm going to see to Cody.” She shot a look between her husband and son, silently telling Jesse to fix this. Moving to the door, she left Jesse to take care of Matt.

“He's just angry son,” Jesse quietly assured his oldest.

Matt shook his head, “He'll never forgive...”

Jacklyn rushed into the room, startling them both. “He's gone, I can't find him anywhere.” Hurrying to her husband's side, she looked at him with tear filled eyes. “Find him Jess, find my baby,” she begged.

“I will sweetheart,” Jesse assured her. Giving her a quick hug, he headed outside to find his youngest.

“He couldn't go very far Ma, we'll find him,” Matt said. Moving to follow his father, he was surprised when his mother's hand jerked him to a stop. “Ma?”

“You stay here Matt, let your father find Cody.” She was terrified that something would happen to Cody, she couldn't handle having Matt out there too.

“I have to help find him Ma.”

“You're only a child Matthew, it's not your job to find your brother.”

Matt hugged his mother. He hated to see the tears in her eyes. Knowing that he had put them there only made it worse. “It's my fault he ran off, I have to help find him. Please Ma, let me help,” he begged her to understand.

Jacklyn nodded, reluctantly releasing her hold on her firstborn. “Be careful son.”

“I will,” Matt promised. Running out of the house, he began the search for the younger boy.


Jesse had followed the tracks away from the house. A half a mile from the house he was forced to stop. He was surprised that Cody had made it so far in such a short time. A part of him was proud of his youngest. Even in his upset state, the nearly four year old boy had remembered the lessons White Eagle had taught him. He had done his best to hide his tracks and in fact Jesse had lost them a couple of times. Luckily the boy was still young and had only just begun to learn. Jesse sighed, he'd learned enough, he thought as he looked at the rocky ground. It would be nearly impossible to track him over such terrain, certainly it would be time consuming. As he searched he prayed that God would keep his son safe until he could find him.


Matt searched near the house first. The younger boy had barely been out of sight of the yard and house; he didn't think he would go far. By the time he had checked every possible place, Matt had to admit that his younger brother had gone further than he had expected. Not nearly as good as his father, Matt could track enough to follow the prints left by his father for only a short distance. Losing the trail, he stood uncertainly in the middle of the path. A few minutes later he moved on. Even if he couldn't follow any tracks, he could still search for his younger brother.

At first Cody hadn't bothered to hide his tracks. But he knew his father would come looking for him and he didn't want to go home yet. He wanted to find White Eagle. Maybe White Eagle could be his brother now. At least the indian boy had never lied to him. He wiped furious tears away. He was a big boy now, only babies cried.

“What is wrong dawi'?”

Cody whirled around and would have fallen if not for White Eagle's quickness. A strong hand steadied him, pulling him away from the cliff edge. Cody threw his arms around the older boy, no longer able to hold back the tears. “Will you be my brother White Eagle?” he asked after a few minutes.

White Eagle drew back in surprise, examining the boy's face as if he would find the answers to his questions written on the surface. He already saw the boy as a younger brother, but he knew the whites weren't so quick to call one not a brother by blood by that name. “I would be happy if I were your brother,” White Eagle quietly replied before asking any questions. “Why you ask?”

“You don't lie to me, you're not bad.”

“Matt lie?” White Eagle asked. He was beginning to get an idea of what had happened. Truthfully it worried him. Cody wasn't a child easily upset and he obviously loved his older brother. Whatever had happened between them had to be very serious if the child no longer wanted him as a brother.

“He said you hurt him but you didn't. I was mad at you,” Cody admitted. “I thought you hurt my brother, but he lied. He fell and said you hit him.”

White Eagle made a noncommittal sound in the back of his throat. “Why?”

Cody looked up at him. “He was bad.” He didn't understand why White Eagle wanted to know Matt's reason. Didn't he know that he could have been sent away from Cody if Matt hadn't said he lied?

“Haa,” White Eagle agreed. “He always bad?”

Cody shook his head.

“He must have reason,” White Eagle reasonably stated.

“I don't know,” Cody shrugged.

White Eagle sat down, pulling the small boy down beside him. “What you think?”

“He hates you?”

“Haa, why?”

Cody struggled to think of a reason, but the only one he could come up with was one that didn't make sense to him. “Cause you're an indian.”

“He tells himself this,” White Eagle agreed. “It is not reason.”

“It isn't? Do you know?”

“He is frightened.”

Cody stared at his friend. “But you ain't hurt him.”

“Not me...you frighten him.”

“Me?” Cody blinked. He was more confused now than he'd been before. “That don't make sense White Eagle.”

“He is frightened to lose you.”

Cody scrunched his face up. “So he lied to me?” This was more than his young mind could understand.

“He is frightened you love me more. If he can make me go away then you will love him more.”

“That's stupid,” Cody declared.

“Not to him.”

“Well I hate him.”

“No,” White Eagle contradicted, “you love him.”

“No I don't.”

“Then why upset?”

“Cause he lied to me,” Cody replied as if it was the most sensible thing in the world.

“If you hate him, his lies don't matter. It angers you because you care,” White Eagle explained.

“Ain't you mad at him?”

“No. It is foolish to be angry at him for protecting himself.” White Eagle said nothing more. He sat in silence, allowing the young boy to think over his words for himself. He knew the boy wouldn't understand everything, but he would understand enough.

“I should forgive him?” Cody asked in a small voice.

White Eagle hid a smile. He was proud that the boy had come to realize this without any further need of words. “Haa,” he agreed.

“Will you still be my brother?”

“I won't anger if you change your mind,” White Eagle assured the young boy.

Cody's eyes widened and he quickly jumped to his feet, wrapping his arms around White Eagle's neck, hugging him tightly. “I want you to be my brother,” he declared.

“I won't take brother's place.”

“No,” Cody agreed. “Matt is still my brother, but I want you too.”

White Eagle smiled. “You have always been my dawi', my younger brother.”

“That's what dawi' means?” Cody was surprised. White Eagle had been calling him that for a long time. He thought it was his name in Shoshone. “What word means older brother?”

“Papi.”

Cody grinned. “Then you're my papi,” he quickly decided.

“Haa,” White Eagle agreed, returning the boy's smile. “Ready to go home dawi'?”

“Haa papi,” Cody grinned. The grin slid from his face as he turned back to the trail.

Seeing this, White Eagle was on his feet facing the trail and stepping in front of Cody in one swift move. “You heard?”

Matt nodded.

“You mad?” He wouldn't hurt this child, but he wouldn't allow him to hurt his dawi' either.

Matt shook his head. “I'm sorry for lying.”

“I forgive,” White Eagle said.

Cody peaked out from behind White Eagle. “I forgive you Matt.”

Matt felt relief course through him. Though he had listened to their conversation, he hadn't been sure his little brother would forgive him. Hearing the words made it real. “Can I have a hug?”

Cody ran to his older brother, wrapping his arms around him.

Matt looked at White Eagle. “You think you could teach me how to track? Just in case Cody ever runs off again,” he added in a teasing tone.

“Haa,” White Eagle nodded.

Matt smiled. “You coming to the house?”

“Haa.”

“Come on then.” Matt took Cody's hand in his and turned towards home.

“Come on papi,” Cody called, holding out his other hand to White Eagle.

Matt waited for the older boy to take Cody's hand before beginning the hike home. He still wasn't sure about being friends with an injun, but after listening to him talking to Cody he realized the boy wasn't so bad. White Eagle could have encouraged Cody to hate him. It was what he would have done if the situation had been reversed and it shamed him to admit it, if only to himself. Maybe they would never be best friends, but he owed the boy for his brother's forgiveness, he could at least give him a chance.

TBC

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Dawi' = younger brother

papi= older brother