Cougar of Spirit Lake. Linnette MDiv Eller

EIGHT

      Cougar had told his council he would be gone two moons, maybe more. He had a lot of country to travel in that space of time. He knew how to travel fast and make the best use of his time so he had felt comfortable with his estimate. His horse was a strong hearted animal, large enough to accommodate carrying Cougar's weight for extended periods of time. He had brought back horses to his village more than once, but this horse was something much out of the ordinary.

      Grandfather had given him large amounts of money during his years of education. He never said exactly where this money came from, only vague remarks about an inheritance being passed down. Once, when he gave him a packet of money he had instructed him to return with a stallion of exceptional breeding. Grandfather had told him about the blood lines of the Arabians and that with such a stallion they could breed stock of great quality for the people of the village. During Cougar's travels abroad he searched long and hard for just such a horse. It had taken a long while to find just the right one. Finally, he had done so and was both pleased and immensely impressed with the animal. Although the stallion, like his owner held himself proudly aloof, neither could realize what a stunning picture they made together!

      Cougar would make his first stop at Fort Yates. When he was seventeen he had shared rooms with a young doctor. They had become friends, with much gratitude being felt by Doctor Timothy Graves, towards Cougar. Many times Cougar had made Tim's portion of the rent out of his own pocket. Tim soon learned not to speak of his needs in front of Cougar. He discovered that to do so meant a medical book or instrument that Tim had mentioned needing, and sometimes merely wanting, mysteriously appearing at his small, struggling office. Tim tried every way he could to wring a confession out of Cougar about this, but never quite managed. There was nothing the men would not do for each other, such was their friendship. Tim was aware of Cougar's double identity and guarded that knowledge more closely than even Cougar himself. He was the only white man that shared this secret knowledge.

      Doctor Graves had been at Fort Yates when Cougar had stopped there on his way to his village from the East. Cougar had given his word that he would visit his friend whenever he was within a hundred miles of the Fort. Cougar was going directly to the Fort this time, with the express purpose of seeing his friend. It was very late in the afternoon and Doctor Graves had been pressed into constant and furious service all day with the wagon train being at the Fort and numerous people having him 'take a look' at one thing or another. Fortunately, nothing very serious, but nonetheless making for a hectic day.

      He thought he had seen them all and nearly groaned when he found yet another patient waiting to be seen. The man was bent over double when Doctor Graves approached him. Poor man could not stand up and had to be guided into the examining room still bent in half. Timothy had his mind on what the ailment might be rather than the man himself and was prodding gently about his mid section when he happened to look up and find himself staring into very familiar green eyes and a huge grin.

      “Can I get up now Doc or do you think it might be something serious?”

      “Cougar! What are you doing here? Damn it’s good to see you!”

      "Tim, if you keep pumping my arm up and down like that I may end up needing a doctor after all.”

      “Will you stay awhile with me? Give us some time to catch up on everything that has been going on with you since I saw you last?”

      “I can only stay a day or two Tim, but 'damn it’s good to see you' too!" Cougar grinned at him displaying a row of perfect, dazzling white teeth. “I’m here on business and pleasure, but both with you.”

      “Well, let’s get this business stuff out of the way first and then get on with the pleasure part, if that's agreeable to you.”

      “Fine with me, Tim. I came by to see if you could spare me some medicine. I have instructed Mother, and she is far better at this doctoring stuff than I ever will be, but we have about run out of several things. We still have the trappers around and the mountain men now and you know that always spells trouble for my people. I just want to be prepared. So...can you help me out?”

      “Still have those medical journals I gave you and more important did you read them?”

      “Yes, to both. Even I can read basic medicine and symptoms Tim, but I think Mother has them memorized word for word.”

      “Good! I am set well on everything, just got a full shipment I had ordered come in on this wagon train. I should be able to give you everything you need and some new things as well.”

      “Sounds fine, Tim, and you know I appreciate it. Shall we take care of that in the morning and get you out of this office before somebody else comes in?”

      “You bet! It's been a pretty hard day with the wagon train here, two months business in one day! How about some food, and believe it or not I even have a bottle of brandy hidden in my rooms. Not great brandy, hell, not even good brandy, maybe vinegar for all I know, but I think it’s fitting to share it with my long absent friend. Strictly for medicinal purposes, mind you.”

      “Lead the way my friend.”

      “Wait! I just remembered there is going to be a big potluck dinner tonight, all the wagon train people coming into the Fort. Tables have already been set up on the parade ground and everything; we might get lucky and have some real food tonight. How's that sound to you?”

      “I saw all the commotion on the parade grounds when I came into the compound. Looks like a fairly good-sized train from the amount of people I saw milling around. Whatever kind of food we find out there Tim, it will be better than you or I could do. I remember our days at trying to feed ourselves very well.”

      “Oh, God! Don't remind me, I could get a stomach ache just thinking about some of those delicacies we created back then. It’s a wonder we are still alive to tell about it!”

      “It certainly is! I would like to clean up and put on some clean clothes before we explore the tables. I've been a while in these clothes and wouldn't want to insult the sensibilities of the ladies, or yours either Tim.” Cougar grinned wickedly at his friend.

      “Ha, fat chance of that! You could go out and roll in cow dung and all you would have to do is look at the ladies and they forget their sensibilities, because you strike them plumb senseless. I have a good memory too, and I remember that very well. Hell, I might as well have been invisible when the ladies laid eyes on you!”

      “Now, Tim you're insulting my sensibilities. You make me sound like a ladies’ man and you know I never was that.”

      “Humph! You could've fooled me.”

      CHAPTER NINE

      The Ferrall's were enjoying the potluck dinner. It was a much needed break from the routine of the wagon train for all of the weary travelers. Everyone was in high spirits and outbreaks of laughter could be heard amongst the various groups of people. Tommy and Jacob had eaten so much that Jessica thought for sure they would both end up sick. Papa had told her to leave them be, there was nothing out of the ordinary about growing boys eating such amounts.

      Jessica was enjoying watching Tommy. He was talking to Welthy Carolina, the little blonde girl from a few wagons up the train from them. She knew that he had a secret crush on the girl and that made watching his actions in Welthy's presence even more amusing. He was red in the face, his face never leaving the toes of his boots and kicking at the ground with the toe of those boots. Oh, he was so obvious and she thought he was really sweet too. She was very proud of Tommy. He was going to become a man to be proud of and she was already proud of the boy. He reminded her so very much of Mama and she wished Mama could be here to see her oldest son, and enjoy his progress into manhood. Ah, well, best not be thinking of those things now, this was not a time for melancholy this was a night to enjoy one’s self and she was going to do just that.

      “Papa do you want a piece of cobbler?”

      “Lord no, Jessica, if I eat one more bite I'll burst my britches for sure!”

      “I think I will go and get some,