By Karen

Chapter Four

Sister Ruth sat in her office overlooking the yard. she sighed as she caught sight of young Ike McScwain. She was going to have to do something about him soon. He'd been with them coming up on four years. she still wasn't sure that he realized his family was gone. She wasn't sure of anything when it came to Ike.

"Lord," she prayed, "give me guidance. I need your wisdom to show me what to do. He needs educating, but I don't know how."

She turned away from the courtyard back to the task at hand. After searching of nearly two months she'd finally located Camille's family back East. They would be in on the morning stage. She needed to let Camille know.

"I hope she takes to this idea quicker than she did to changing her name back from her Indian name of Little Bird," said Sister Anne.

"I think she will," replied Sister Ruth. "She knows we've been looking. She hasn't tried to make us stop. She's even asked if we've had word. I think she's even looking forward to it."

"Do you want me to go get her?" inquired Sister Anne.

"There's no need to make her come here. Just take her this letter. Tell her I'm here to talk if she needs to, but otherwise she just needs to gather her things so she will be ready in the morning."

"Yes, sister."

That taken care of sister Ruth returned her gaze back to the courtyard. The children were grouped in many small groups. Some talking, some playing, a few reading or doing school work. As usual, Ike was off by himself. She watched as he stole into the barn. She knew he was going to watch the new baby donkey. She'd never seen anyone with such a relaxed, natural way around animals. If only it would carry over to people.

She closed her eyes and thought back to the day he first arrived. It had been a busy day. News of the massacre of his family had people scared. Ike's strange behaviour hadn't helped. People weren't sure if he could be trusted. There were even some people who thought he was responsible for the whole thing.

Sister Ruth had been pleasantly surprised that he hadn't seemed to be a violent young man. He was just different. True, he didn't make any effort to be accepted by the others, but that didn't give anyone the right to be mean to him the way the others often were.

Her thoughts returned to Camille, and the day she arrived. In just a few short weeks Camille had turned into a beautiful young lady. Once she decided that they meant her no harm she had also become friendly and helpful. Maybe it was because she felt different herself, but she alone had tried to include Ike in things.

Of course, Ike never joined in, and after a while even Camille had stopped trying. Ike didn't make it easy. He acted crazy and chased after the others if they came to close. Most of the Sisters had stopped making him attend class because they were convinced that he couldn't learn and it was so much easier without him present.

Sister Ruth sighed, she'd have to decide what to do with Ike soon. Things would have to change, but it could wait a few more days until this business with Camille was settled.

After the excitement of the morning, the quiet afternoon was a relief. Sister Ruth sat in her office and relived the morning's events. Camille had left with her uncle. She was returning to Boston to be raised by her mother's brother and his wife. He was pleased to have found her, and she seemed happy to have a place to belong. She still longed for her intended, but was willing to accept the fact that he was not coming to get her.

Sister Ruth smiled and turned her gaze outside. Someone new had entered the yard. She watched to see how things would go. There were others down in the yard to greet him so she did not need to go down just yet.

She watch as the stranger watched the crowd. She was impressed with the way he carried himself. She guessed from his size that he was twelve or close to it. His bearing made him seem older. She decided that his story would be interesting.

The stranger stood just inside the gate. He seemed to take in the whole yard at one time. then he watched each little group before glancing up to her window. He smiled and headed towards her building. She heard the door open and a quiet, gentle voice speaking to Sister Anne. She was impressed with the command of English, "Please, I need to see the person in charge."

"Who should I tell her wishes to speak to her?" asked Sister Anne.

"Run. . . , no, Buck. Buck Cross," the voice answered.

"I'll just let her know she has a visitor, Mr. Cross," replied Sister Anne.

The door to Sister Ruth's office opened slowly. "There's a young gentleman by the name of Buck Cross who would like to speak to you."

"Please, show him in," said Sister Ruth.

Sister Anne left and returned shortly followed by the young man from the yard.

"Welcome, Mr. Cross. I am Sister Ruth. This is Sister Anne. How may we help you?"

The boy looked at Sister Ruth. He studied her intensely as she spoke. She could almost feel him sizing her up. She hoped she measured up.

"I'd like to be able to stay here. I need a place to learn how to fit into the white mans world. I wish to learn to read and write the white mans words," the boy explained honestly.

"Why do you wish to enter what you call the white man's world?" Sister Ruth inquired.

The boy gave her a sad smile. He sighed, then said, "My mother was Kiowa. The man who took her was white. I have lived in the Kiowa world and know about it and that part of myself. I need to learn about the white part. I need to know about the white mans world so I can know me. There was a girl in my village. She was white. She tried to teach me, she told me about places like this. If you don't want me, I will go somewhere else."

"Why wouldn't we want you?" Sister Ruth asked startled by the sadness and yearning she sensed in the boy.

"I don't know. Because I'm not one thing of the other. I don't belong either place. To most white people I am Indian. To the Indians I am white," he explained.

"Well, you can belong here if you want. Your friend taught you well. I'm not sure we have much to offer."

"Yes, she taught me to speak. We had no way for her to teach me to read and write. I need to learn how to make the marks and understand those marks when I see them."

"Yes, that would be helpful. We can do that. Do you know your age? I guess you are around 12, but I could be wrong."

"I'm not sure about my age in your way of counting. I think you are probably right."

"Fine, Sister Anne will show you where you will stay. Do you have any belongings?"

"Just my clothes, my bedroll, and my horse," the boy smiled.

"Fine. You go with Sister Anne. She'll show you where to keep your horse. She will also show you where you can clean up and get some more clothes. Then, she will introduce you to the other boys in your house. Classes will start bright and early in the morning."

"Thank you, ma'am," said the boy.

"It's Sister Ruth, and you are most welcome, Buck Cross. I hope your stay with us is pleasant as well as educational.

Chapter Five

"Does he ever interact with the other boys?" Sister Mary asked.

"Not that I've noticed," replied Sister Anne. "He seems just to watch them. He's always so serious. His school work is always perfect. I almost wish he would do something wrong so I'd know he was really human."

"How long has he been here?" Sister Mary inquired.

"Almost a month. Tomorrow is his first trip into town. Maybe that will help him relax," said Sister Ruth. "I do wish he'd try to make friends. I'm sure the others would accept him if he'd give them a chance."

"Maybe we could assign him to work with someone else," suggested Sister Mary.

"He's almost as good with the animals as Ike McSwain. Maybe he could help Ike down at the stables," said Sister Anne.

"He spends a lot of time down there anyway. He does his studying there, and he also tends his own horse," said Sister Mary.

"We'll see what happens tomorrow," said Sister Ruth. "If he doesn't interact with the others more, we'll try something new. I'm not sure Ike is the right person though. I'm not sure Ike should stay here much longer. We may have to send him to the asylum."

The next morning all the boys and girls ages 12 and older who had been at the mission school for over two weeks were loaded into buckboards and driven into town.

"Children, you have two hours to spend in town. You may go to most of the shop, but stay away from the gunsmith's and the saloon. Buy whatever you have money for. Stay out of trouble, and you will be allowed to come again next month. Go have fun," Sister Ruth instructed.

The children split off into small groups and entered the town. Buck stayed seated on the back of the buckboard.

"Aren't you going with the others," inquired Sister Ruth.

"I would rather sit here and watch the activity. I learn much by observing," replied Buck.

"That's true. You can learn much by experiencing too. Don't spend the entire time here. Get out and explore. There is much to observe in the other parts of town."

"I will, Sister. I promise. I need to go to the store and buy some things," smiled Buck.

Sister Ruth and the other sisters headed to the general store. They needed to check on supplies.

Buck sensed that someone was watching him. He suspected it was that strange, silent boy from the school. He knew the boy watched him often. He decided to go to the store and purchasing his needed items. He jumped gracefully down from the buckboard, straightened his clothes, and headed across the street. When he reached the middle of the street, he realized he was in trouble. There was group of five or six older town boys headed his way. They were spreading out so as to make it impossible for him to be able to get around them, and he was too proud to run away. He kept walking. A few feet away from the sidewalk the largest boy bumped into him, knocking him down.

"What's the big idea of getting in my way, Half-breed? You think you're good enough to use the sidewalk with us?"

Buck didn't answer. He knew from past experience that anything he said would be wrong. He stood up and turned to leave. A second boy grabbed him and spun him back around to face the first boy. The next thing he knew he was once again on the ground because of a punch to the stomach that drove the air from his lungs. As soon as he hit the ground all six of the others began kicking and hitting him.

Buck tried to block the blows and protect himself. The first chance he got he drug one of his attackers down to the ground with him, and used the body to protect himself from the blows.

This slowed the attack down just enough to allow him to get up and out of the center of the circle. Again he turned to leave. this time as they surrounded him there was someone else at his back trying to protect and help him. Just before he blacked out he caught a glimpse of the strange, silent boy falling to the ground and heard someone shouting to break it up.

Chapter Six

Buck opened his eyes, and tried to sit up. The movement caused pain to shoot through every part of his body. He hadn't hurt this badly in a long time. As he collapsed back into the bed, Sister Anne dabbed his face with a damp cloth. "Welcome back," she said.

"Where am I?" Buck asked. "How long have I been out? The other boy, is he ..."

"You're back at the school. It has been two days since we went into town. Ike is in about the same shape you are. He woke up a couple of hours ago. Doc says you will both be fine with a few days rest."

"Do you have any idea why he jumped in to help me," Buck asked.

"No, Buck, I don't. Chances are we will never know. Ike's not much on communicating," said Sister Anne.

"I'd like to see him, and thank him," said Buck.

"When you can sit up by yourself, I'll be happy to take you to him. I'll bring him here if he's up and around first. Now, lets get some food into you," said Sister Anne.

She gently helped Buck sit up in the bed, and helped him eat. When he'd finished, she helped him lay back down. "Thank you, Little Bird," he mumbled as he drifted back into unconsciousness.

Sister Anne started at the name. She hadn't heard it in a while. She'd have to remember to tell Sister Ruth.

A couple of days later Sister Anne brought Ike into Buck's room. Buck was sitting up in the bed. He had gotten to where he could sit up by himself without much pain, but he still had trouble standing.

"Buck," said Sister Anne, "do you feel like having visitors?"

"Yes ma'am," said Buck.

"Good. I'd like you to meet Ike McSwain."

"IKe. Thank you for trying to help. I do not know many people who would risk their lives for a stranger."

Ike just shrugged.

"You hear me okay?" asked Buck.

Ike nodded.

"You read or write?"

Ike shook his head.

"How about I teach you Indian sign language, and then I can talk for you? Just until you learn to read and write." Buck suggested.

Ike glanced at Sister Anne.

She smiled and nodded.

Ike nodded too.

"Fine," said Buck. "Sit down, and we'll start right now if you want."

By the time Buck was up and around the two boys were inseparable. Ike even started attending classes again. The Sisters were all amazed at how quickly he learned. It was like he was a new person.

"It's little wonder," Sister Ruth stated. "It must have been frustrating to not be able to express yourself in a way anyone could understand."

"It makes me think of how I felt when I was trying to get Camille to realize she was no longer Little Bird," said Sister Mary.

"Oh, that reminds me," said Sister Anne. "I think we've found Camille's intended."

"What!" asked Sister Ruth.

"Remember how she kept telling us she wanted to go back because she had been promised. She wanted to explain what happened to him and see if he would come with her. Didn't she tell us his name was something Buck? or Buck something?"

"Yes," said Sister Mary. "She would always talk about her intended, Running Buck."

"I think her Running Buck is Buck," said Sister Anne.

"Why? Just because of his name?" asked Sister Mary.

"No, when I was tending him while he was ill, at times he would call me Little Bird," explained Sister Anne.

"Maybe you could write Camille and let her know. Even when she was leaving to go live with her uncle, she hadn't given up on finding him," continued Sister Anne.

"I think I'll do that," said Sister Ruth. "It's a pity he didn't show up a day or two earlier. Chances are they would have seen each other."

"My guess," said Sister Mary, "is that God had other plans for Buck. I think he was sent here to help Ike, and for Ike to help him."

"Amen to that," said Sister Ruth and Sister Anne, "Amen, to that."