Ambush Valley Read Online Free

you,” his sister said.
    â€œNo, I am so grateful to all of you for stopping for a poor Indian woman.”
    â€œCome get in our wagon. I am certain we can move on.”
    Chet nodded and he helped them both into the wagon. With a salute, he mounted up again, gave a shout, and the wagon train was on its way again across great sweeping grassland. The belly-tall grass fascinated him. These regions had never had buffalo like the central plains, so the grass was waving to any stockman who crossed it.
    The day was uneventful, and that evening Chet spoke more to the Indian woman.
    â€œDo you live with your family?”
    â€œNo, I live with an older woman, her name is Grandmother. We have sheep and goats. We weave rugs and blankets for sale.”
    â€œNavajos don’t live in tepees?” he asked.
    â€œNo, we have hogans. Six-sided log cabins. The sun shines in our front door every day.”
    â€œI have seen some that are abandoned.”
    â€œIf a person dies in one, we simply move out of it. No one will ever live in it again.”
    â€œWhere did you learn English?” He was looking at his hands so he did not make her too uncomfortable to talk to him.
    â€œWe had a mission school in my village.”
    â€œDid you go to the prison camp?”
    She nodded about the incarceration of her people down in New Mexico where they died in great numbers before finally the Navajos promised to fight no more. Then the government turned them loose and many more died on the walk back to their land from way down south in New Mexico.
    â€œYou have no husband?”
    â€œNo. Maybe I speak too much.”
    He laughed.
    She drew her spine up. “My people lost many leaders in our confinement down there. We need strong people to keep our nation strong. I must scare men away when I shout, ‘Stand up!’ They say be quiet Judy Bell, the white man may send us back to hell.”
    She amused him with her strong ways. He was reminded of the woman Mary, who led the Yava-pais and who he helped so her people survived. This woman had the same strength.
    That evening he told her about a horse they would give her from their saddle stock. “JD and the other drivers think we have a horse that will pull your wagon home. He will be our gift. He’s a saddle horse and very gentle. You can drive him tomorrow and see so when you have to leave us that he will work for you.”
    â€œThat is very generous of you and your family. I don’t know how I will ever repay you.”
    â€œHe’s a gift.”
    â€œI know a gift. But I am also proud.”
    â€œUnless you can magic-like make a horse, you’ll have to accept our horse.” He shook his head. “I am not being mean or bossy.”
    He thought she would cry.
    She dropped her chin. “I am grateful for all you and your family have done for me.”
    â€œNo need to be sad.”
    She tried to smile. “You wondered why I have no man. I wonder why you have no wife. Your sister may be the reason. She is a great leader for you. She does much work.”
    â€œSusie is a good person. But she’s pushed me at a woman in the past—it did not work out. The woman had to stay there and care for her folks in Texas.”
    â€œOh, I am sorry. We all must do things that are not our cause. I will drive your horse with pride and return him some day.”
    â€œHe is a gift for you to keep.”
    â€œI may want to see your land.”
    â€œYou will be welcome.”
    â€œOh, I am sure of that.”
    â€œI better go check on things.” He excused himself.
    The next afternoon she drove away, headed north on some wagon tracks. He watched her disappear in the brown windswept grass and sagebrush. A strange woman he’d liked to have known more about—but he had a ranch to worry about. Better keep moving.
    â€œYou liked her,” Susie said quietly as he walked her to her wagon.
    â€œI like women. Strong ones. You