Read Online Preacher's Peace by William W. Johnstone - Free Book Online

First Cally, and then Angus, turned their pistols around so they were holding them by the ends of the barrels. Then, bending over, they put their guns down, all under the watchful eyes of Dog and Art.
    â€œIt’s after midnight. Seems to me that’s a little late to be making a sociable visit on a man’s camp. So, what are you boys doing here?” Art asked.
    â€œNothing,” Cally replied. “We just seen the boat tied up and was sort of wonderin’ who you was and what you was doin’ here.”
    â€œWho I am is none of your business,” Art said. “And as to what I’m doing here, I was trying to get a little rest.”
    â€œWhat are you carryin’ on that boat of your’n?”
    â€œThat’s none of your business either,” Art said. He made a waving motion with his rifle. “I expect you two boys better get on now.”
    â€œWhat about our guns?”
    â€œLeave ’em.”
    â€œThem guns cost money, mister. We can’t just leave ’em here.”
    â€œCome back for them in the mornin’. I’ll leave ’em in the river.”
    â€œBy the river?”
    â€œIn the river.”
    â€œThey’ll get all rusted.”
    â€œClean them. Now, get.” Art made another wave with his rifle, and the two men, with one final look at Dog, turned and started walking quickly back across the meadow. By the time they reached the tree line, they were both running.
    Art laughed, then rubbed Dog behind the ears. “Well, now, Dog,” he said. “You’re turnin’ into a pretty good partner to a man.”
    Blackfoot Village, Upper Missouri River, Monday, July 5, 1824
    Because Wak Tha Go had a sister who was married to a Blackfoot Indian, he was welcomed in the village of the Blackfeet. This was good, because he was no longer welcome in the village of the Arikara. Four young men who had followed him when he led the war party on an adventure had been killed. The wives and mothers, the sisters and brothers of those who were killed were angry with Wak Tha Go.
    In this way Wak Tha Go was eating dinner in the lodge of his sister when her husband, Yellow Dog, came to him.
    â€œCrazy Wolf is holding a council now, and he wants you to come,” Yellow Dog said.
    â€œI will come,” Wak Tha Go said. He finished the last of the piece of meat he was eating. Wiping his fingers on his chest, he followed the husband of his sister through the village and to the circle where the council was meeting.
    They were seated around the fire. Wak Tha Go sat in the outer ring of the circle. If he sat in the inner circle, and had been asked to move back, it would have brought him dishonor. By sitting in the outer circle, it would bring him honor to be invited to move closer to the fire, which he fully expected to happen.
    â€œWak Tha Go,” Crazy Wolf said. “Come, sit in the inner circle with the elders of this band.”
    There were a few grunts of recognition and respect as Wak Tha Go, his presence now honored by Crazy Wolf’s invitation, moved to the inner circle.
    â€œI will tell a story,” Crazy Wolf said simply once Wak Tha Go was seated.
    â€œDuring the geese-flying time, white soldiers made war on the Arikara people. They came in the night, while the people slept, and they killed many and set fire to the tepees and burned food and blankets. They also stole many horses, but Wak Tha Go, who is a brave warrior, did not forget what the white soldiers did, and he made war against them. But now the Arikara want war no more, and The Peacemaker has said that he will make peace with the white soldiers. But Wak Tha Go will not make peace with the white soldiers, so he has come to us, the Blackfoot people. So I say, from this day until there are no more days, Wak Tha Go will be a Blackfoot.”
    Crazy Wolf pointed to Wak Tha Go as he spoke, and the others smiled and congratulated him for making war against the white