Authors: Mercedes Keyes
Separating the front-end of the fort from the settlers lands were fields upon fields of crops to feed the forts inhabitants; with a broad road many of the settlers walked to make their trades for goods. The stables were the first outbuildings one would reach coming from the settlers lands.
In the rear of the stables not far from the corrals, Manny sat with a few of his men; a lot on his mind…such as the question, where were they to go from there. He wanted to find his children. They were out there somewhere…the question was – where? The deliveries were just about done, with one more to go. He sat scared to death…quiet as those around him poked at the campfire, talking about this and that. He was wrestling with sending Leon back with two of the teams and the signed invoices so they would get paid; while fully aware that there was no way Leon would leave his side. He wanted to find his son…find Hope…it was eating him up inside to know they were probably close even now…how in the world could he just up and return North?
The twilight was clear for all the stars to be seen twinkling away above them. Manny stared up wondering about Lena. "I love you lady, my precious princess … do you know – I love you still?" He whispered to himself in melancholia.
More of his men returned from eating, drinking or socializing… asking about the area and generally gossiping. Manny chanced to hear one mention something about a prisoner there. He turned to listen more to what he was saying. "The poor bleeder – they got'em tucked away in a storage shed until the stockades done. Bloody hell – it must be roasting in that place!"
"What has he done?" Leon asked.
"Don't rightly know…just hear he's lucky to be alive…they killed the rest ov'em."
"The rest of whom?"
Manny asked, including himself into the conversation. "His men… some is saying he was a leader. They say he was wanted … the captain here is afraid he'll die before he can tell'im what he wants to know."
Gaitsu looked at Manny and next Leon. "Boss-…" Gaitsu, was cut off by, Manny suddenly standing. "Let's go for a walk." Leon, Gaitsu, and two of his other men stood without hesitation.
"What are you thinking?" Leon asked.
"I want to see this man. I just, want to see him."
"You think he might be Mike?" Leon said with his heart pounding, now wandering the same. "I'm not willing to dismiss the idea. From now on, if I feel something, I'm going with it." Manny stated simply as the five men headed towards the general populace. "The question is, where is this shed?"
“
Let's ask the soldier who offered us assistance." Shelly suggested, his name the shortened nickname for Shelton, given to him by his fellow crew members while they teased; it stuck and he'd grown used to it.
"Good idea." Manny agreed.
"Surely it kin'na be'im?!" Finbar asked, a six foot four, barrel chested Irishmen, hair as red as could be, wild and wiry.
"With all in my past, I can’t risk not checking, I just can’t." Manny explained.
"Say that i'tis? What'll we be doin'baht it cap'n?" Inquired Jarvis, an English Yorkshiremen.
"No sense in gettin all worked up until-…"
"Boss…this man, he your son. Gaitsu knows – when I feel, is always true." Having said it, Gaitsu stopped and ordered as if it were a foregone conclusion, "Boss…bring son to our wagon, I will fix him boss, Gaitsu will fix your son." Saying nothing more he trotted away, leaving Manny standing there thinking him crazy, he wished he hadn't said anything now, everyone was jumping the gun, assuming it was him, when no doubt, this was another cruel twist, just wishful, futile dreaming. He looked at the men who stood around him waiting, looking to see the effects of what they’d all just heard the china man claim.
Manny stared at Leon. "My god, this is getting carried away."
"We're on our way to look… if it's not him, then, it's not him." Leon returned.
"Cap'n – whatever be the outcome, we be here wit'cha to see it through!" Finbar promised.
"Aye…we second that." Jarvis and Shelly backed him.
Before Manny could comment, a man approached them and called out. "Good evening Mr. Webster, I hope all is well with you and your men; will you be in need of anything more sir?" Corp. Harold asked on his way to his quarters.
"Yes…there is something. We've heard talk of a prisoner here, held in one of your storage sheds. I'd like to see him." Manny was not asking; he was insisting.
"I don't understand sir, what has one of our prisoner's to do with you?"
"I won't know that until I see him. Where is he?"
Harold swallowed nervously…not sure of what he should do. "I – I can't grant you that permission sir…only Captain Pryce can allow you access to our prisoner."
"Very well then, take me to him."
"Take you to him?" Harold mumbled.
"Yes – take me – to – him. Him, as in - Captain Pryce, now!"
"Umm, sure…umm – this way sir."
Reaching the captains office, Harold knocked.
"Come in."
"Captain Pryce sir, Mr. Webster from Ram-…"
"Excuse me…I can speak for myself soldier." Manny informed the militiamen as he stepped into the captain’s office behind Corp. Harold. His men following him within, standing steadfastly behind him.
Pryce shot to his feet. "What is the meaning of this intrusion?"
"Nothing to be upset over… there's a prisoner within one of your sheds. I wish to see him." He announced without ceremony.
Manny watched and noticed the captain immediately going pale…then swallowing, a moment of silence passed. Within those few silent seconds – Manny knew. Knew beyond any doubt from the reaction of the captain that their prisoner was his son; he also knew the captain was aware of this, the question was; how had the captain known that he was his son? Why had he not immediately informed him? This clearly told him, he had not intended to tell him.
"Captain…I pray to god – and so should you, that that prisoner is not my son." Manny warned feeling a rage building in him that he had not felt in years. Captain Pryce looked from Manny to Corp. Harold, then to the men standing behind Manny. Unsure of what to do, he began sweating trying to quickly figure his next move.
"Where is he!?!" Manny blasted and turned grabbing Corp. Harold; his large hand slamming heavily against the man's chest, gathering his shirt and chest hairs; yanking him up to meet him eye to eye. His aggressive burst of anger snapped Pryce out of his trance.
"Unhand him this instant!! Un-hand him or you will find yourself locked in one of our sheds! Don't make me put you behind the very bars you have delivered! Let him go – now!"
Manny turned slowly from Corp. Harold, releasing him with a shove to stare with anger into the eyes of Captain Pryce. "Corporal - leave us." Pryce gave a nod towards the men behind Manny, indicating that he should have them leave as well. Manny turned not wanting to waste time, "Leave us."
"W'be reight' owt doah."
Jarvis warned; the same message flashed in the eyes of the others as they left.
Both men squared off waiting for the other to make the first move.
"Is that prisoner my son?" Manny asked, directly.
"I
have the bandit leader, Miguel, is that your son?"
"Bandit? Leader? Are you insane? Where is he? I want to see him…now!"
"He's wanted for a number of crimes."
"What sort of crimes?"
"Bank robbery, stagecoach hold ups; and – he stole a government order of land deeds; weapons and payroll that were due to arrive at this fort."
"Do you know who I am Captain Pryce? Do you know of my wealth; my lands; ships and property? My son – need only ask and I will provide. I want to know where he is. According to what my men have heard…his life is in danger. It is to your best interest – that he not die; now where is he?"
Pryce needed time. He had to figure a way out if it turned out that his son was indeed innocent. Clearing his throat and turning away from Manny, he walked to the door. "Follow me."
All the men were in line as they strode behind Capt. Pryce across the boardwalk toward the storage sheds. He stopped and the guard watching the door stepped aside for him. "Pass him the lantern." Pryce commanded of the guard, who removed it from its hook, placing it with Manny. As soon as the door opened, the ammonia like odor from within assailed his senses. "My God – how long has he been in here?" Manny demanded. Pryce shrugged. "We had plans to move him first light."
Manny turned from him, steeling himself as he moved through the narrow path…holding the lantern before him to light the way.
At the end of the aisle, the room opened up; and from where he stood, he could see a cot against the wall, a man stretched out upon it. Swallowing his fear, because the man lay still – not moving a muscle. Manny moved closer until he stood directly over him, holding the lantern low to see his face. Stunned, his heart slammed painfully against his chest to see the face, the features, and the dirty blonde hair …his son.
"My son! My son! Leon! Hurry it is Mike! It’s him!”
Leon heard him shout as he waited outside with the others. He wasted not a moment rushing in. Pryce rushed behind Leon, who was speechless with an aching in his throat and tears filling his eyes, he joined Manny by the cot. "Help me get him out of here!" Manny cried…holding his emotions at bay.
"Hold on here, what do you think you're doing?"
"Getting him out of here – grab that end Leon, I'll get this one."
"Where is it you think you're going with him?" Pryce blocked their way. "Look…we can discuss anything you wish to discuss after I've seen to my son, we are not going anywhere. Trust me, I do not intend to leave this fort until things are settled…one way, or the other. Now let us through."
Pryce stood a moment in the dark, stinking enclosure
and he knew that now was not the time to battle. "Very well, as long as you understand that he is still my prisoner. Until his innocence is proven…he belongs to me…your son or not. When a cell is complete with bars, he goes behind them."
"Good enough...” Manny consented. “…let us by." His first concern was getting his son to Gaitsu with the prayer that the old healer was indeed all he said he was.
"He in bad shape, infection growing, wounds bad."
"Help my son please…I'm begging you - please."
"I help him bes’ I can. We mus’ clean him, need lots of water. Cut all clothes away." Gaitsu directed with Manny and Leon in the wagon with him. Jarvis ran to get the water Gaitsu needed to wash Mike's body. Manny, with Leon's help, made quick careful work of cutting away his filthy garments. Gaitsu was mixing a herbal concoction to draw out the toxins.
"Water." Jarvis called to Manny, holding up the bucket for him to grab it. "Wash him fron’ good, we turn him an’ wash back too!" Gaitsu directed.
Quietly, following his lead, Manny did what he was told to do; his mind reeling in disbelief, crying a chant within,
'My son – my son.'
as his eyes watered on and off. Manny cleaned him from head to foot, as thoroughly as was needed. Cleaning places where only a devoted and stern nurse, mother or wife would venture; in Mike's case, a deeply afraid, methodical father. Because time was of the essence, Gaitsu had anticipated Mike's condition and prepared for it. They soaked the bandages that covered his wounds to pull them away without doing further injury.
"I can't believe it. I can't believe he's here and that we've finally found him." Leon whispered. Just then, Mike moved and groaned. "Water, please…water…" He croaked out, his voice weak and raspy; on his back once again and modestly covered.
Leon leapt from his place, jumped off the side of the open wagon to fetch him fresh cold water; they only had the warm to wash his body. "Son – Mike… can you hear me, son?"
Leon returned with fresh cool water and a cup handing it up to Manny. "Mike…son, here – let me lift you."
Mike groaned and whimpered from the movement; it could not be helped, Manny did not want him to choke lying flat while he drank. With his son's head and shoulders on his lap he knelt beside him and held the cup of cool water to his lips. "Drink your fill – there's plenty." The back of Manny's throat ached from the swelling of raw emotion. Memories of him as a babe being born flashed in his mind.
Lena straining, grunting and pushing to expel him; right in the kitchen of the mansion with Morris standing shocked behind him. He had been stunned and amazed at the look of the babe…so totally and completely like him – even as a newborn child all had known he was a copy of him. Manny used his shoulder to catch a rolling tear as his son felt the cool water on his lips and clamped a strong hand on the cup; shaking and afraid it would be taken away; drinking greedily, as if his life were in the small tin cup. Manny sniffed, surprised at his strength despite his condition.
"Come on Michael, let it go son…I'll give you more."
"Water…please."
Manny had to force the cup from his desperate grasp, to refill it; feeling something else build within him again. Pure anger as he looked over his battered body.
"Enough water…we have lots to do." Gaitsu complained. "Here take this…rub into cuts everywhere – rub in good…a lot a lot, no matter how it burn him, no matter how it hurt. Rub in."
The moment Manny applied the warm substance to his shoulder injury – Mike roared attempting to bolt up. Leon leapt in to hold him down. Manny looked up at Gaitsu unsure. "No look at me – do - everywhere!"
"It's burning him!" Manny yelled over Mike's outcry and struggle.
"Fine…don't do! We cut off arm…cut off leg!"
Manny's eyes grew huge, his heart pounding. "Do as Gaitsu say! Do it now!"
Manny turned back to his son, Finbar and Jarvis returned to the wagon after hearing Mike's shouting. Finbar climbed in. "I'ah help ye'."
So he did, as well as Jarvis holding Mike's head, Leon to one side of him, as Finbar held down the other while Manny rubbed in the pungent herbal pack. Gaitsu had a tea steeping for Mike to drink once they’d finished cleaning his body and tending his wounds. By the time Manny moved on to his thigh injury – Mike was out again.
They left the pack on his wounds until Gaitsu said clear it away. Afterwards, a new application was administered; this went on for hours through the night. After the eighth removal and re-application, Gaitsu wrapped his wounds in soaked gauze. "Now – we need him drink tea. Wake him." Manny looked up at the Chinese man, who stood tireless; the hours they had put into working on Mike seemed not to affect him one bit.
"Michael…wake up son. Wake up…I need you to drink something." Manny coaxed gently. Gaitsu scooted over to Mike and slapped his cheeks. A resounding (smack, smack, smack) to each side, that stirred him. "Wake up, boy! Gaitsu say wake now!" He spoke gruffly.
Manny sighed. Mike groaned. "Give him tea now." Gaitsu ordered. The taste of it as it went into Mike's mouth made him shudder and turn his mouth away. "Does he really need this? What if he won't drink it?"
"He no take in mouth…we put up ass!"
Hearing that, Leon, Finbar and Jarvis took off, leaping from the wagon. "Son! You have to drink this! Now! Trust me…the alternative is not something, you nor I wish to endure." Manny wrestled with him for some time…but he eventually got it down his throat.
"I go res’ now. You res’ too boss. We see if boy okay after while."
Manny nodded, left alone now on the wagon parked beside the paddock. He sat by his son's side watching him sleep, staring as his eyes suddenly opened looking straight back at him.
Mike stared up at a vision of his father, a somewhat older image of himself. He did not care to examine if what he saw was real or not, because in his mind – chances were that it was not, yet, the vision spoke to him, as if it were real, not a dream, saying to him.
"Sleep son – sleep, I promise you, everything will be as it should, from this day forward, I am with you."
Tears gathered and rolled from Mike's eyes as he stared, a weak smile played at the corners of his mouth. He did not want the image to go away, real or not it comforted him. Yet, it was fading as he stared.
"Don't…leave me, please … I - I need you … please … fa-father … don't … leave … me…"
"Oh no Michael, I'm not going anywhere…not without you my son. Not without you." Manny declared softly as Mike drifted back off to sleep. Manny stretched out beside him, ignoring the discomfort. This was his son. Finally, after so many years, here he was right beside him.
"I found him Lena. I found our son. I don't know what is going on; or what has happened; but I've a feeling this captain has something to hide; something is up with him, something not right. Know this lady, no matter what, now that I have him – I will let nothing happen to your son, our son." Manny spoke in low hushed tones as if Lena was indeed with him. "There is also on my mind the whereabouts of our daughter? Mike’s wife and children; where are they? Moreover – where my love – where are you? I'm coming, God is my witness…I'm coming."