The Cursed Girl

A new member joins the cast

Part Seven

The Cursed Girl

Spring arrived late in 71'. It was June. Sam snarled about time wasted and being held captive by winter's fury.

Light Feather gathered their belongings and loaded them onto a sled that attached around her waist.

It was a light load as she and Sam had little in the way of personal possessions.

An ax, several knives, cookware, what little clothing they had, and Light Feather's buffalo hide blanket.

On a Saturday morning, during one of the winter storms, the horses died. Sam and Light Feather ate them two days later. It was a necessity for survival in this wonderland of snow and ice.

Traveling now was hard. The ground was covered with mud, snowy slush, and freezing cold streams of winter thaw.

Three days passed before they saw the smoke coming from the town of Pueblo, most likely from chimneys inside snug little cabins warming the occupants cuddled inside.

In a few hours Sam and the squaw would find themselves in the middle of the muddy streets of Pueblo.

Pueblo, it is claimed, was developed by two trappers named James Beckworth and George Simpson.

Two other gentlemen by the names of Mathew Kinkead and John Brown were also said to have been a part of the development of the plaza.

Like so many other towns of the old west, Pueblo had it's dark side.

The Fort Pueblo Massacre, which occurred on the dates between December 23 through December 25, 1855, were as dark as any. Some called it The Great Christmas Massacre.

According to accounts by residence and traders, which included George Simpson, some 15 to 19 men were killed. Also several woman and children were captured.

The raid was supposedly led by Tierra Blanca, a Ute chief. The war tribes consisted of Utes and members of the Jicarilla.

After the raid the trading post was abandoned until 1858 and 59 when it came back to life during the Great Colorado Gold Rush.

On a corner step made of wood that looked to be well worn, a young girl sat, head stooped in her lap. She must have been no more than twelve years old, or, at least, that was Sam's guesstimate.

Towns people passed by as though she were invisible.

Light Feather saw her first and walked over to her, sat down beside her, and asked,

“Why tears?”

The girl didn't reply. She never looked up.

Her cloths were shabby and soaking wet. It was plain she had been out in the weather all night.

“Mother, father, where?” asked Light Feather.

The girl said nothing, only rocked back and forth.

“I'd leave that one alone if I were you,” replied a stranger.

“Why is that?” asked Sam.

“Cursed,” the man answered. “The whole family were wiped out during the storms. No good has come to this place since then.

No one will take her in cause of it.”

“Some bring her bits of food now and then, but just enough ta keep her alive, that's bout it.

Some folks who git too close always seem ta end up either dead, or wishin they was. No sir, I'd say leave her be.”

The man walked on, careful not to make eye contact with the girl.

Light Feather slowly looked up at Sam,

“Girl not cursed as white man say.”

Sam looked at Light Feather. By now he had come to trust her instincts.

“How do you know?” asked Sam.

She reached for the girl's left arm and pulled it out so Sam could see.

“No sign, always have sign of dark spirit. Look, no sign.”

Sam nodded his head,

“Okay then, what is it?” he asked.

“Not sure,” replied Light Feather.

The girl pulled her arm away and hid it under her tattered blanket.

Light Feather stood and faced Sam, “We take girl with us. She stay, she die.”

Sam argued with Light Feather about all the reasons why they shouldn't and couldn't take the girl. For one, what would they do with her? How could the two of them take care of the needs of a young girl? What kind of life would she have staying in the company of a man intent on hunting down and killing a woman who had betrayed him? What lesson's would she, or could she learn from him? It was impossible.

But Light Feather was insistent.

They finally came to an agreement. The girl would go with them until they could find a family that would take her in.

Sam was not real happy about it, but it pleased Light Feather.

That was something else Sam had learned about Light Feather. It was easier to agree with her than not.

“Girl be big help. Me teach to make food. Maybe she teach me things in book, what white man's sign mean. She make good company too.”

Sam only scowled.