July 22, 2025 • 27 mins
"The realization he’d been in this canyon before hit him like being kicked by a mule. If he remembered right, it was about twenty years before." There are some memories you can never forget or outrun.
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Host - M.P. Pellicer
www.MPPellicer.com
SUPPORT VIA DONATION
Buy Me A Coffee - www.buymeacoffee.com/Marlene11
Miami Ghost Chronicles: www.MiamiGhstChronicles.com
Nightshade Diary: www.NightshadeDiary.com
Stories of the Supernatural: www.StoriesoftheSupernatural.info
Supernatural Storytime: www.SupernaturalStorytime.com
MY BOOKS:
Amazon: http://amazon.com/author/marlenepardopellicer
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/17113386.Marlene_Pardo_Pellicer
WHERE TO FIND ME:
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Steemit: https://steemit.com/@miamighostchron/posts
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Music - Pixabay.com, Purple-Planet.com
Narration always by a human, no A.I.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/nightshade-diary--2765110/support.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Do you feel a shiver up your spine from fear. Yes,
it's another story from the Night's Shade Diary. You know
what that means. Check under the bed and make sure
no one or nothing is there. Is the closet door
securely shut. Then leave your disbelief behind, amp up your
imagination and hang on tight for another ride into terror
(00:22):
and mystery. And like all good horror stories, just imagine
it's a dark and stormy night, and remember screaming like
a little girl is permitted. Kio A Canyon by James A. Fisher.
(00:43):
Shell Green's breath caught in his throat as he reined
in his horse. The realization he'd been in this canyon
before hit him like being kicked by a mule. If
he remembered right, it was about twenty years before so
Knife the Kiowa stopped and turned his horse, waiting for
shelter catch up with him. It looked like he had
a smile on his face, but that could be the
(01:05):
heat waves coming off the high canyon walls. The thought
that something wasn't quite right about the direction they had
been traveling had been stuck in the back of Shell's
mind for a few days. I didn't like this damn
red skin when we met at the border. And I
trust him even less now, he thought to himself. Shell
(01:26):
squeezed his horse slightly with his knees, and the animals
started walking up the canyon, past the kiwa and around
the bend in the canyon was where the village should
be twenty years Was it really that long ago? That's
over and done with? And I've got other things that
are more important to think about right now, mighty hot
(01:46):
day today, how much further to the water, asked Shell
as he stopped beside stone knife. I'm out and my
horse could use some Wiping his brow with a bandana,
he put his hat back on just ahead his water
Soknife nodded to his ride up the canyon and started
his horse in that direction. Shell moved along behind him,
(02:07):
with butterflies whirling a run in his stomach. By resting
the right one on the grip of his colt and
holding the reins tight in his left, he kept his
hands from shaking Shell in His hired hands had brought
the herd of Maores across the Rio Grande out of Mexico,
west of the Picos River. Shell and the cook had
(02:28):
ridden into the whiskey trader's place to pick up supplies
and found the Indian waiting for them. He was dressed
in white man's clothes except for moccasins that Shell noticed
or kiahwa and a buckskin vest with some beadwork on it.
He gave Shell a letter from Quinn McVeigh, Shell's boss,
turned around and mounted his horse. The country was in
(02:48):
a draft, and McVeigh had hired stone Knife to find
the water hole that hadn't ried up yet. Water was
always a problem, and with two hundred head of horses
in the hottest months of the year, McVeigh wasn't taking
any chances. They were blooded mares from good breeding stocked
down in Mexico, and a lot of money had been
paid for them. So stone Knife was to be the
(03:11):
guide for Shell Green and the herd of horses till
they reached mcveay's ranch. Shell looked up from reading the
letter to the cook and raised his eyebrows, then turned
to the Indian. He hadn't said a word till Shell spoke,
and then he spoke very plain but correct English, which
surprised everyone. What's your name? Shell looked up at him.
(03:32):
After reading the letter stone Knife. His voice was clear
and distinct. What tribe shall ask kiahwa, he answered. Shell
nodded and swung up on his horse. What way should
we be headed? That way I kihwah pointed a bit
west of north. I'll leave trail markers for you. He
(03:52):
started his horse moving first. Water is about ten miles.
I'll be there, nice meeting you. Shell's words were heavy
with sorrow chasm, but stone Knife was out of hearing range,
giving him a guide. Just sure as Hell rubbed Shell
the wrong way. Damn it. I'm a leader, not a follower,
and have been most of my life. Shell was talking
(04:14):
to himself again, just like every day since stone Knife
had become their point man. Why I remember when? No,
I don't want to remember enough. Right now. I have
to get these horses to water, that's all. Shell gave
a gruff half laugh, shook his head, and kicked his
horse into a trot, heading back to the hurt. He'd
(04:36):
start them north again, then he'd head up the trail
looking for the marker's stone Knife would have left to
show the way. It was already seventy degrees at sun up,
and the two hundred Mexican horses started to mill around
in the meadow as the sun broke over the low foothills.
The night guard came in to eat and change horses
(04:57):
for to day's move up the trail. As they rode
up to the wagon where the rest of the wranglers
were finishing their coffee, Greene asked the night guard any
sign of that no good redskin, Nope, said the lead man,
swinging down. He dropped his reins and walked to the fire,
shaking his head as he picked up a cup and
filled it from the coffee pot. I think your bucks.
(05:20):
Scooted back to the reds to impress the squaws with
his new found wealth. Soon as you eat, I want
to get moving. Shell spoke over his shoulder while walking
to his horse. Next water is about five miles, I
think next after is about twelve. Shell swung up into
his saddle. Damn long day. If we have to go twelve,
so eat quick. Everything with you is quick, the lead
(05:43):
man said, eat quick, piss quick, ride quick. How shall
slow down? You're an old man. Just tuck yourself out
of an eating mister, Dump out the coffee cookie and
pack it up. We're moving now. Shell spent horse round
and looped off to the herd and started to yell
at the cowboys to move out. The ones by the
(06:05):
fire just shook their heads and cussed at the lead
man for losing them. What little breakfast they were going
to get, not so much as a cup of bad coffee.
It was going to be a long day. Shell rode
ahead of the horses and wranglers, looking for signs from
the Kiahwa showing him which direction to take their herd
for water today. He rode quite a few miles before
(06:27):
he found the sign, and then it was not what
he had hoped for. The main trail through another canyon
to the next water was blocked by a rock slide,
so stone Knife pointed them through this side canyon. The
only other route would have been around the foothills region
and ten extra miles of travel. Shell took off his
hat and wiped his forehead with a shirt sleep of
(06:48):
his right arm. No use going back and telling the
men were going further though. Read the signed just like
I did, and keep moving, Shell thought, as he headed
his horse in the direction of the rock sign pointed,
what is that damn Indian make me so nervous? There's
something about him in this trip since he's hooked up
with us. That keeps me on edge all the time.
(07:10):
I want to keep looking over my shoulder behind every
thicket and jump out any loud sound. Sorry I didn't
get some whiskey back at the traders, because a shirt
could use a shot or two to keep the thoughts
of calamity from running around in my head. Coming into
the foothills from this direction hadn't registered was Shell until
(07:32):
he reached this point and saw the landmark on the
walls of the canyon. Shell recognized the petroglyphs, or ancient
drawings carved into the stone that were on the canyon walls.
People had been coming to the spring for centuries and
had left their mark with the stone carvings. This had
been the site of one of Shell's early Indian fights
(07:53):
after he return from the Civil War, and his first
against a village. He'd been nervous that day, and he
was just as nervous to day. Rounding the bend in
the canyon on the ground, he had to look closely
to see that a village had once been here. Only
by carefully peering through the grass did you really see
the stone teepee rings? These were the stones that held
(08:16):
down the outside edge of the teepee and in the
middle of them. He could then make out in a
few places the fire rings, an occasional piece of charred
wood looking like part of a teepee pole was scattered
around the area, but nothing else was visible to show
that this place was once home to men, women and children.
(08:36):
Shell stopped, but so Nave continued riding into what had
been the village. In his mind, Shall heard the sounds
from twenty years ago, and a sweat broke out on
his forehead and under his arms. The children and women
were screaming. A Shell and the militue was with rode
through the village, firing at anything that moved and riding
down anything that ran. They had been told no prisoners
(09:01):
the Kihwa fighting age were all away raiding in Mexico
or somewhere with a comanche. Old people, children, and women
did not for much resistance and were soon killed or
had escaped into the many small canyons and washes that
made up this country. Riding back through the burning village,
Shells saw the men laughing and setting fire to the
(09:22):
teepees after taking anything they wanted out of them. Others
were scalping the dead, even the babies, because a reward
was paid for scalps regardless of size. As Shell stopped
to look over the scene, he could hear occasional shots
in the canyons around the village. That meant some of
the villagers had been tracked down more scalps. Turning to
(09:44):
ride back the way he and the other Indian fighters
had come, he realized he hadn't fired the pistol in
his hand. Quickly holstering the pistol's Shell kicked his horse
into a lope, hoping no one had seen him, but
had to raid his horse quickly out of the way.
Coming toward him was Lewis, an old Indian fighter who
had taken him under his wing. Damn, Shell, I was
(10:05):
just bringing you a special present. No call to run
me down. Louis was holding something bloody in his outstretched hand.
Whatever it is, I'm not interested. Not get out of
my way, or I will run you down. Shell was
afraid the stomach was going to come up any minute.
He wanted to be outside of these men. If it did,
that's all right, Shell, I'll fix it up for you.
(10:26):
I've made this many times, Louis called after Shell. Shell
was brought back to the present by his horse, stamping
his hoofs and tossing its head up and down. The
horse then began to dance around, snorting, twitching its ears,
and swishing its tail. Stone Knife had written through the
village side and was waiting for Shell about one hundred
(10:47):
feet away. Reining his horse's head around, Shell tapped him
with his spurs and he started along the tracks left
by stone Knife. When they reached the edge of where
the village had been, his horse spooked and shied to
the left. Shell barely stayed in the saddle. After getting
his horse turned around, he started to look over the
area to see what had caused the horse to act
(11:10):
like that. Looking at stone Knife, Shell saw that he
still sat waiting for him as if nothing had happened.
Shaking his head, Shell brought his horse around and began
to follow stone Knife's tracks again. This time Shell was
paying more attention. At just about the same place, His
horse tried again to turn away from the village, but
(11:31):
Shell was ready this time and stopped him. For the
next ten minutes, Shell tried every trick he could think
of to get him to walk through the village site.
All this time, stone Knife sat on his horse and watched,
not saying a word. Shell was damned if he was
going to dismount and lead his horse in front of
an Indian go check the spring. Shell yelled, I'll be
(11:52):
back with the herd. Shell spun his horse round, mad
because the horse was not obeying him. He gave him
both full force and yelled get up, get up, wigging
him with the ends of his reins as they raced
back to the herd. Shell had ridden out to check
the first of the night guards and was now off
by himself. Building a smoke. He licked the paper, twisted
(12:16):
the ends, and was about to strike a match when
the Indian's voice floated out of the near darkness. Watered
the spring is good. The voice was calm and clear, good,
Shell answered, hoping the Indian didn't see him jump at
his voice. Maybe he'll think I always strike a match
that quick, Shell hoped. Stone Knife rode up beside Shell
(12:38):
and took out a small pipe from his vest pocket,
filled it, lit it, and sat smoking with Shell as
they looked over the herd and the dying light. Shell
finished his cigarette and turned to stone Knife, how were
you able to ride through that village today, and I wasn't.
Stone Knife was quiet for a few moments. Then he
reached inside his shirt and drew out a small leather
(12:58):
bag on a braided other thong that went around his neck.
My medicine keeps me safe from many things. Does it
protect your horse too, shall asked quietly. Stone Knife pointed
to a small leather bag hanging from the browband of
the brittle on Kiava's horse. He also has medicine, stone
Knife answered, could you make medicine for me, my men,
(13:21):
and our horses. I don't know how the hell I'll
get this herd to the water unless we have something
like that. Stone Knife could hear the desperation in Shell's voice.
Maybe the Indian turned his horse and started to ride away.
He quickly became part of the night, but his voice
came back to Shell, I'll be back tomorrow. Dawn was
(13:43):
aways off when Shell rode out the next morning. He
didn't want the men to find out about the medicine
bags till he had a chance to ask some more
questions about them. Shell just couldn't figure out why his
horse refused to go into the village. No one was there,
and no animals were in sight. He hadn't seen anything.
They should have spooked a horse or made it afraid
(14:03):
to enter the place. It was all a mystery to
Shall any hope the Indian would answer some of his questions.
Taking out his bag of tobacco and folding a paper,
Shell started to build the smoke. Just as he was
about to strike a match to light, a stone knife
appeared beside him. I have your medicine bags, stone knife spoke.
(14:24):
Will you explain what they are to the men so
they know why they are wearing them? And help put
the ones for the horses on the men's burtles. Shall asked,
I only have two, and therefore horses not men. Stone
Knife said, how am I going to get the herd
to water with only two medicine bags. Shell's voice started
(14:45):
to climb. I'll be here a month. If I can
only take one horse at a time to the water,
I'll be at the spring. Stone Knife tossed Shell something.
As he turned his horse to leave. Shall cop the
wad of leather that the Indian had thrown. The two
medicine bags had been tied together with their drawstrings. Looking
(15:07):
at them, he tried to think how they were going
to help him. He was so mad that his mind
wouldn't work. Jabbing the bags inside his shirt, he rode
back to the cook's fire. After a couple of loaf
cups of coffee, Shell's mind started to clear enough that
he could just start putting a plan together. With only
two medicine bags, all the work was going to fall
(15:28):
on him. He would have to take the herd across
the village site without the help of the hired hands.
Shell mounted his horse and rode out to where he
and the herd had been held for the night. It
was just getting light and the day riders were relieving
the last of the night guard. He rode up to
one of the day riders and stopped to look over
the herd. I'm looking for the bell mare. Shell told
(15:51):
the rider. She's lying down on the other side where
that buckskin is standing. The rider was pointing across the
herd to a couple of horses along the outer edge.
Shell rode around the herd to the bell mare's location.
By the time he got there, she had gotten up
and was pacing around with some of the other horses
looking for water or graze. The herd or most of
(16:12):
it would have to be moved today because the grass
in the area was about used up. Taking down his rope,
Shell toss a loop over the Bell's mare head and
led her out of the herd away to a cedar thicket. Dismounting,
he tied her to one of the cedars and pulled
the medicine back out of his shirt, untangling when he
tied it to the bell's strap that went around the
(16:35):
mare's neck. Turning around, he tied the other bag to
his horse's brittle, leaving the bell mare tied. He rode
to the village site. Shell stopped before he got to
the place where his horse had acted up yesterday. Dismounting
as he dropped his reins, he picked up a couple
of rocks and laid them on both sides of the
tracks the Indian had made going into the village site.
(16:58):
Stepping back to make sure the rocks could be seen
from a distance, Shell mounted his horse and headed back
to the fire. Getting a cup of coffee, Shell called
the men not watching the herd over to the cook
fire to listen to him. Yesterday, I tried to follow
the kiawa to the spring up ahead, but my horse
wouldn't go through where an old Indian village was damned
(17:20):
spirits or ghosts or hell, I don't know. Shell looked
around at the men's expressions to see if they were
any doubting his word. This morning, stone Knife brought me
a couple of medicine bags that he says we'll keep
the ghosts or spirits away. They're only for a couple
of horses, and I don't know how they'll work. Shell
(17:40):
took a sip of his coffee. He didn't see any
questioning look, so he went on, I'm going to have
you cut out about twenty head from the herd, and
I'll try to take them across with a bell mare.
I put one medicine bag on her and the other
on my horse. He was still working out the planet's
head as he went. And we get a running start
from back here. Ways, maybe we can run the bunch
(18:03):
through the village to the water before they can durn
back or scatter. At least that's what I think we
might be able to do. Shell looked at the quiet
men staring at him. Well, shit, let's see if this works.
He threw the rest of the coffee from his cup
into the fire and walked to his horse and swung
up into the saddle. Cut me out a bunch boys,
(18:23):
and some of you right along on each side of them.
I want to get the bunch moving fast and straight
into the place where the Indian went. Shell was taking
down his rope again to use it to haze the
mayors along. Get the bell mare out front of the others,
will follow her, Johnny, get a short piece of rope
from the cook wagon to snub the bell mare up
(18:43):
close to you. Shell had men moving in every direction,
and his nerves were calming down. Just before you get
to the markers, turn her loose and get out of
the way. With his hands, Shell was showing Johnny how
he wanted things to work. Riding up to the wagon,
Shell dismounted, unbuckled his gun belt, and put in the wagon. Next,
(19:05):
he pulled his winchester from its scabbard and laid it
in the wagon. Also, anything to help me go faster,
Shell thought, anything at all well help. Taking a minute
to catch his breath, Shell would have said a prayer
if he had been a praying kind of man. Johnny
had the bell mare snubbed up to his horse, and
(19:26):
the other men had cut out about twenty heads. They
had worked them over to where Shell wanted to get
a start from. The area of the village wasn't in
sight from where they all were, but Shell wasn't worried
about the horses getting away from them because there was
no place to go but ahead to the water or
back to them. Johnny, you get moving, Shell shouted from
(19:48):
the back of the small herd. I'm gone. He and
the bell mare took off at a lope, bunch of
mounk behind her. Shell was waving his hat and yelling
at the other hands to move the horses in behind. Johnny,
get up, get up, Yep, yep. Shell and the men
urged the horses into a gallop around the bed and
the canyon. When they were almost to the markers, Johnny
(20:10):
turned the bell Mare loose and swung off to the left,
with Shell pushing from behind him. The rest of the
men yelling and hollering, the horses headed for the spring
on the other side of the village side. Shell could
see from the back of the small herd that they
were all running straight and not shying or dodging or
acting like anything was bothering them. Then he got to
the edge of the village site, and his world came apart.
(20:33):
Suddenly he was surrounded by wailing and crying ghosts. They
were hitting him and throwing sticks and rocks at him.
He could feel every one that struck him. His horse
was acting like it was deaf and blind, giving no
indication anything was going on. As he moved through the
village site, more and more ghosts screamed and assaulted Shell.
The dust cleared for a moment, and Shell recognized that
(20:56):
these were the ghosts of the people who had lived
in this village and had died here twenty years ago.
They stayed with Shell the whole time he was in
the village area, but left him at the edge. Finally
leaving the village and reaching the spring, Shell again heard
loud voices. He spun around and saw his men yelling
and waving their hats on the other side of the village.
(21:18):
They were excited he'd made it, but had no idea
what he'd gone through. Now Shell had two new problems.
He had to get some of the men over here
to watch the horses he had brought over. He also
had to get back to the other side of the village.
His shirt was soaked with sweat and his hands were shaking.
He didn't know if his legs would hold him upright
(21:40):
if he dismounted, but he needed a drink of water.
You did well. Stone Knife's voice scared Shell, and he
jumped and almost fell down as he was walking to
the spring. Damn it, don't you ever give up? Person
on warning your clothes? Shell Snap. Guess she couldn't see
me in all the dust you kicked up? Stone Knife
answered Shell, just his head and continued to a pool
(22:02):
of water fed by the spring. He knelt and lifted
a cupped handful of water to his dry lips. Now
what do I do next? Shell's mind was racing, send
some hands over, or keep bringing horses and hope they
stay by the spring. I'll need the cook wagons sometime.
Maybe bring it next in with a bunch of horses.
(22:25):
Just slow down and catch your breath and get the
bell mare and the ride back to the herd. Damn,
but I heard everywhere those ghosts hit me. I don't
know how much of this I'm going to be able
to take. It's looking like a long day. Every time
Shell went through the village sight from either direction, he
(22:45):
was attacked by the ghost of the villagers. They screamed,
they yelled, and they threw things that hit Shell on
the arms, chests, back, and face. He was white as
a ghost himself and hollow eyed. By the time he
had made four trips. The cook wagon and two of
the wranglers went with a second bunch of horses. He
sent them in the middle of the bunch, and they
(23:07):
didn't seem to be bothered during the crossing to The
horses from his string, along with most of the wrangler's horses,
went over next. The bell Mare was about winded, and
Shall thought he'd try using one of the saddle horses
from the wrangler's horses as a lead horse. The saddle
horses were used to being together, and one by itself
would try to find its buddies, back and forth, back
(23:29):
and forth. He'd lost truck of how many times he'd
made the trip. The last time he changed horses, Shell's
arm hurt so bad he could hardly lift them, so
one of the men saddled it for him. He couldn't
pick the saddle up off the ground after he removed
it from the horse he'd been riding. We'll be done
before dark, he kept telling himself. We'll be done before.
(23:51):
Dark Shall had noticed that when he came back through
the village with a bell mare snub to his horse,
the ghost couldn't get him very well on that side.
The next time he came back, he put the mare
on his other side, and the same thing happened. Moving
her from side to side helped him keep the ghost
from hurting one side more than the other. Two horses
(24:13):
would keep them away, he thought, but got busy getting
another bunch ready to go and forgot about it. Going
back through the village for the next to the last
bunch of horses, stone Knife rode up alongside Shell, with
the lead horse on one side of him and the
Indian on the other. Shell was not bothered much by
the ghosts. When they reached the horses, they still had
(24:34):
to be driven through the village, Shell dismounted and walked
into the brush to catch his breath and calm down.
When he came back to his horse, the Indian was
still sitting where he was. As Shell swung into the
saddle and turned his horse to ride off, stone Knife
stopped him. How old were you when you were here before?
(24:56):
How did you know I was here? Sheall was looking
at the kioa with thisbelief. The ghost have told me,
Stone Knife replied, too young to know what I was doing.
Shell snapped and rode off to get another bunch, ready
to take a cross. When Shell returned for the last bunch,
stone Knife was still in the same place, waiting for him.
Give me your tobacco pouch. Shell, Green. Stone Knife had
(25:19):
his hands out. What the hell are you talking about,
Shall Growl, Go find the next water hole. Those ghosts
are from when you were here before. Give me the pouch.
Stone Knife's voice was quiet and calm. What's I have
to do with me? Sall was about burned out and
this was not anything he felt like listening to. Those
(25:41):
ghosts are from the people killed here and scalped. They
can't cross over to the other side unless they are
a whole, so they have to stay here and suffer.
Stone Knife was looking Shell in the eyes. We can
hear the pouch crying. I didn't kill anyone here that day,
shall answered with a tired voice. Why are you bothering me?
(26:04):
Because your tobacco pouch is made from one of these
women's breasts and it needs to be buried so one
more part of her is returned. Stone Knif's voice had
dropped to almost a whisper. Shell sat for a couple
of moments, then dismounted. He unbuckled the strap on a
saddle bag and took out a folded piece of cloth.
Turning round, he walked a stone Knife and handed him
(26:26):
the folded cloth. Louis, one of the older fighters back then,
gave this to me a few weeks after we were here.
He was always laughing about how his pouches would keep
you warm at night. Shall said, I didn't feel right
about what happened here. That's why I never used it,
and I didn't know what to do with it. I'll
bury it where some of the people are buried. Stone
(26:49):
Knife turned and rode back down the canyon. Shell took
the last bunch of the horses to the village site
at a walk. Nothing was thrown at him, no yelling,
no screaming, and the corners's eyes could see things moving around,
quiet ghosts
Do you feel a shiver up your spine from fear. Yes,
it's another story from the Night's Shade Diary. You know
what that means. Check under the bed and make sure
no one or nothing is there. Is the closet door
securely shut. Then leave your disbelief behind, amp up your
imagination and hang on tight for another ride into terror
(00:22):
and mystery. And like all good horror stories, just imagine
it's a dark and stormy night, and remember screaming like
a little girl is permitted. Kio A Canyon by James A. Fisher.
(00:43):
Shell Green's breath caught in his throat as he reined
in his horse. The realization he'd been in this canyon
before hit him like being kicked by a mule. If
he remembered right, it was about twenty years before so
Knife the Kiowa stopped and turned his horse, waiting for
shelter catch up with him. It looked like he had
a smile on his face, but that could be the
(01:05):
heat waves coming off the high canyon walls. The thought
that something wasn't quite right about the direction they had
been traveling had been stuck in the back of Shell's
mind for a few days. I didn't like this damn
red skin when we met at the border. And I
trust him even less now, he thought to himself. Shell
(01:26):
squeezed his horse slightly with his knees, and the animals
started walking up the canyon, past the kiwa and around
the bend in the canyon was where the village should
be twenty years Was it really that long ago? That's
over and done with? And I've got other things that
are more important to think about right now, mighty hot
(01:46):
day today, how much further to the water, asked Shell
as he stopped beside stone knife. I'm out and my
horse could use some Wiping his brow with a bandana,
he put his hat back on just ahead his water
Soknife nodded to his ride up the canyon and started
his horse in that direction. Shell moved along behind him,
(02:07):
with butterflies whirling a run in his stomach. By resting
the right one on the grip of his colt and
holding the reins tight in his left, he kept his
hands from shaking Shell in His hired hands had brought
the herd of Maores across the Rio Grande out of Mexico,
west of the Picos River. Shell and the cook had
(02:28):
ridden into the whiskey trader's place to pick up supplies
and found the Indian waiting for them. He was dressed
in white man's clothes except for moccasins that Shell noticed
or kiahwa and a buckskin vest with some beadwork on it.
He gave Shell a letter from Quinn McVeigh, Shell's boss,
turned around and mounted his horse. The country was in
(02:48):
a draft, and McVeigh had hired stone Knife to find
the water hole that hadn't ried up yet. Water was
always a problem, and with two hundred head of horses
in the hottest months of the year, McVeigh wasn't taking
any chances. They were blooded mares from good breeding stocked
down in Mexico, and a lot of money had been
paid for them. So stone Knife was to be the
(03:11):
guide for Shell Green and the herd of horses till
they reached mcveay's ranch. Shell looked up from reading the
letter to the cook and raised his eyebrows, then turned
to the Indian. He hadn't said a word till Shell spoke,
and then he spoke very plain but correct English, which
surprised everyone. What's your name? Shell looked up at him.
(03:32):
After reading the letter stone Knife. His voice was clear
and distinct. What tribe shall ask kiahwa, he answered. Shell
nodded and swung up on his horse. What way should
we be headed? That way I kihwah pointed a bit
west of north. I'll leave trail markers for you. He
(03:52):
started his horse moving first. Water is about ten miles.
I'll be there, nice meeting you. Shell's words were heavy
with sorrow chasm, but stone Knife was out of hearing range,
giving him a guide. Just sure as Hell rubbed Shell
the wrong way. Damn it. I'm a leader, not a follower,
and have been most of my life. Shell was talking
(04:14):
to himself again, just like every day since stone Knife
had become their point man. Why I remember when? No,
I don't want to remember enough. Right now. I have
to get these horses to water, that's all. Shell gave
a gruff half laugh, shook his head, and kicked his
horse into a trot, heading back to the hurt. He'd
(04:36):
start them north again, then he'd head up the trail
looking for the marker's stone Knife would have left to
show the way. It was already seventy degrees at sun up,
and the two hundred Mexican horses started to mill around
in the meadow as the sun broke over the low foothills.
The night guard came in to eat and change horses
(04:57):
for to day's move up the trail. As they rode
up to the wagon where the rest of the wranglers
were finishing their coffee, Greene asked the night guard any
sign of that no good redskin, Nope, said the lead man,
swinging down. He dropped his reins and walked to the fire,
shaking his head as he picked up a cup and
filled it from the coffee pot. I think your bucks.
(05:20):
Scooted back to the reds to impress the squaws with
his new found wealth. Soon as you eat, I want
to get moving. Shell spoke over his shoulder while walking
to his horse. Next water is about five miles, I
think next after is about twelve. Shell swung up into
his saddle. Damn long day. If we have to go twelve,
so eat quick. Everything with you is quick, the lead
(05:43):
man said, eat quick, piss quick, ride quick. How shall
slow down? You're an old man. Just tuck yourself out
of an eating mister, Dump out the coffee cookie and
pack it up. We're moving now. Shell spent horse round
and looped off to the herd and started to yell
at the cowboys to move out. The ones by the
(06:05):
fire just shook their heads and cussed at the lead
man for losing them. What little breakfast they were going
to get, not so much as a cup of bad coffee.
It was going to be a long day. Shell rode
ahead of the horses and wranglers, looking for signs from
the Kiahwa showing him which direction to take their herd
for water today. He rode quite a few miles before
(06:27):
he found the sign, and then it was not what
he had hoped for. The main trail through another canyon
to the next water was blocked by a rock slide,
so stone Knife pointed them through this side canyon. The
only other route would have been around the foothills region
and ten extra miles of travel. Shell took off his
hat and wiped his forehead with a shirt sleep of
(06:48):
his right arm. No use going back and telling the
men were going further though. Read the signed just like
I did, and keep moving, Shell thought, as he headed
his horse in the direction of the rock sign pointed,
what is that damn Indian make me so nervous? There's
something about him in this trip since he's hooked up
with us. That keeps me on edge all the time.
(07:10):
I want to keep looking over my shoulder behind every
thicket and jump out any loud sound. Sorry I didn't
get some whiskey back at the traders, because a shirt
could use a shot or two to keep the thoughts
of calamity from running around in my head. Coming into
the foothills from this direction hadn't registered was Shell until
(07:32):
he reached this point and saw the landmark on the
walls of the canyon. Shell recognized the petroglyphs, or ancient
drawings carved into the stone that were on the canyon walls.
People had been coming to the spring for centuries and
had left their mark with the stone carvings. This had
been the site of one of Shell's early Indian fights
(07:53):
after he return from the Civil War, and his first
against a village. He'd been nervous that day, and he
was just as nervous to day. Rounding the bend in
the canyon on the ground, he had to look closely
to see that a village had once been here. Only
by carefully peering through the grass did you really see
the stone teepee rings? These were the stones that held
(08:16):
down the outside edge of the teepee and in the
middle of them. He could then make out in a
few places the fire rings, an occasional piece of charred
wood looking like part of a teepee pole was scattered
around the area, but nothing else was visible to show
that this place was once home to men, women and children.
(08:36):
Shell stopped, but so Nave continued riding into what had
been the village. In his mind, Shall heard the sounds
from twenty years ago, and a sweat broke out on
his forehead and under his arms. The children and women
were screaming. A Shell and the militue was with rode
through the village, firing at anything that moved and riding
down anything that ran. They had been told no prisoners
(09:01):
the Kihwa fighting age were all away raiding in Mexico
or somewhere with a comanche. Old people, children, and women
did not for much resistance and were soon killed or
had escaped into the many small canyons and washes that
made up this country. Riding back through the burning village,
Shells saw the men laughing and setting fire to the
(09:22):
teepees after taking anything they wanted out of them. Others
were scalping the dead, even the babies, because a reward
was paid for scalps regardless of size. As Shell stopped
to look over the scene, he could hear occasional shots
in the canyons around the village. That meant some of
the villagers had been tracked down more scalps. Turning to
(09:44):
ride back the way he and the other Indian fighters
had come, he realized he hadn't fired the pistol in
his hand. Quickly holstering the pistol's Shell kicked his horse
into a lope, hoping no one had seen him, but
had to raid his horse quickly out of the way.
Coming toward him was Lewis, an old Indian fighter who
had taken him under his wing. Damn, Shell, I was
(10:05):
just bringing you a special present. No call to run
me down. Louis was holding something bloody in his outstretched hand.
Whatever it is, I'm not interested. Not get out of
my way, or I will run you down. Shell was
afraid the stomach was going to come up any minute.
He wanted to be outside of these men. If it did,
that's all right, Shell, I'll fix it up for you.
(10:26):
I've made this many times, Louis called after Shell. Shell
was brought back to the present by his horse, stamping
his hoofs and tossing its head up and down. The
horse then began to dance around, snorting, twitching its ears,
and swishing its tail. Stone Knife had written through the
village side and was waiting for Shell about one hundred
(10:47):
feet away. Reining his horse's head around, Shell tapped him
with his spurs and he started along the tracks left
by stone Knife. When they reached the edge of where
the village had been, his horse spooked and shied to
the left. Shell barely stayed in the saddle. After getting
his horse turned around, he started to look over the
area to see what had caused the horse to act
(11:10):
like that. Looking at stone Knife, Shell saw that he
still sat waiting for him as if nothing had happened.
Shaking his head, Shell brought his horse around and began
to follow stone Knife's tracks again. This time Shell was
paying more attention. At just about the same place, His
horse tried again to turn away from the village, but
(11:31):
Shell was ready this time and stopped him. For the
next ten minutes, Shell tried every trick he could think
of to get him to walk through the village site.
All this time, stone Knife sat on his horse and watched,
not saying a word. Shell was damned if he was
going to dismount and lead his horse in front of
an Indian go check the spring. Shell yelled, I'll be
(11:52):
back with the herd. Shell spun his horse round, mad
because the horse was not obeying him. He gave him
both full force and yelled get up, get up, wigging
him with the ends of his reins as they raced
back to the herd. Shell had ridden out to check
the first of the night guards and was now off
by himself. Building a smoke. He licked the paper, twisted
(12:16):
the ends, and was about to strike a match when
the Indian's voice floated out of the near darkness. Watered
the spring is good. The voice was calm and clear, good,
Shell answered, hoping the Indian didn't see him jump at
his voice. Maybe he'll think I always strike a match
that quick, Shell hoped. Stone Knife rode up beside Shell
(12:38):
and took out a small pipe from his vest pocket,
filled it, lit it, and sat smoking with Shell as
they looked over the herd and the dying light. Shell
finished his cigarette and turned to stone Knife, how were
you able to ride through that village today, and I wasn't.
Stone Knife was quiet for a few moments. Then he
reached inside his shirt and drew out a small leather
(12:58):
bag on a braided other thong that went around his neck.
My medicine keeps me safe from many things. Does it
protect your horse too, shall asked quietly. Stone Knife pointed
to a small leather bag hanging from the browband of
the brittle on Kiava's horse. He also has medicine, stone
Knife answered, could you make medicine for me, my men,
(13:21):
and our horses. I don't know how the hell I'll
get this herd to the water unless we have something
like that. Stone Knife could hear the desperation in Shell's voice.
Maybe the Indian turned his horse and started to ride away.
He quickly became part of the night, but his voice
came back to Shell, I'll be back tomorrow. Dawn was
(13:43):
aways off when Shell rode out the next morning. He
didn't want the men to find out about the medicine
bags till he had a chance to ask some more
questions about them. Shell just couldn't figure out why his
horse refused to go into the village. No one was there,
and no animals were in sight. He hadn't seen anything.
They should have spooked a horse or made it afraid
(14:03):
to enter the place. It was all a mystery to
Shall any hope the Indian would answer some of his questions.
Taking out his bag of tobacco and folding a paper,
Shell started to build the smoke. Just as he was
about to strike a match to light, a stone knife
appeared beside him. I have your medicine bags, stone knife spoke.
(14:24):
Will you explain what they are to the men so
they know why they are wearing them? And help put
the ones for the horses on the men's burtles. Shall asked,
I only have two, and therefore horses not men. Stone
Knife said, how am I going to get the herd
to water with only two medicine bags. Shell's voice started
(14:45):
to climb. I'll be here a month. If I can
only take one horse at a time to the water,
I'll be at the spring. Stone Knife tossed Shell something.
As he turned his horse to leave. Shall cop the
wad of leather that the Indian had thrown. The two
medicine bags had been tied together with their drawstrings. Looking
(15:07):
at them, he tried to think how they were going
to help him. He was so mad that his mind
wouldn't work. Jabbing the bags inside his shirt, he rode
back to the cook's fire. After a couple of loaf
cups of coffee, Shell's mind started to clear enough that
he could just start putting a plan together. With only
two medicine bags, all the work was going to fall
(15:28):
on him. He would have to take the herd across
the village site without the help of the hired hands.
Shell mounted his horse and rode out to where he
and the herd had been held for the night. It
was just getting light and the day riders were relieving
the last of the night guard. He rode up to
one of the day riders and stopped to look over
the herd. I'm looking for the bell mare. Shell told
(15:51):
the rider. She's lying down on the other side where
that buckskin is standing. The rider was pointing across the
herd to a couple of horses along the outer edge.
Shell rode around the herd to the bell mare's location.
By the time he got there, she had gotten up
and was pacing around with some of the other horses
looking for water or graze. The herd or most of
(16:12):
it would have to be moved today because the grass
in the area was about used up. Taking down his rope,
Shell toss a loop over the Bell's mare head and
led her out of the herd away to a cedar thicket. Dismounting,
he tied her to one of the cedars and pulled
the medicine back out of his shirt, untangling when he
tied it to the bell's strap that went around the
(16:35):
mare's neck. Turning around, he tied the other bag to
his horse's brittle, leaving the bell mare tied. He rode
to the village site. Shell stopped before he got to
the place where his horse had acted up yesterday. Dismounting
as he dropped his reins, he picked up a couple
of rocks and laid them on both sides of the
tracks the Indian had made going into the village site.
(16:58):
Stepping back to make sure the rocks could be seen
from a distance, Shell mounted his horse and headed back
to the fire. Getting a cup of coffee, Shell called
the men not watching the herd over to the cook
fire to listen to him. Yesterday, I tried to follow
the kiawa to the spring up ahead, but my horse
wouldn't go through where an old Indian village was damned
(17:20):
spirits or ghosts or hell, I don't know. Shell looked
around at the men's expressions to see if they were
any doubting his word. This morning, stone Knife brought me
a couple of medicine bags that he says we'll keep
the ghosts or spirits away. They're only for a couple
of horses, and I don't know how they'll work. Shell
(17:40):
took a sip of his coffee. He didn't see any
questioning look, so he went on, I'm going to have
you cut out about twenty head from the herd, and
I'll try to take them across with a bell mare.
I put one medicine bag on her and the other
on my horse. He was still working out the planet's
head as he went. And we get a running start
from back here. Ways, maybe we can run the bunch
(18:03):
through the village to the water before they can durn
back or scatter. At least that's what I think we
might be able to do. Shell looked at the quiet
men staring at him. Well, shit, let's see if this works.
He threw the rest of the coffee from his cup
into the fire and walked to his horse and swung
up into the saddle. Cut me out a bunch boys,
(18:23):
and some of you right along on each side of them.
I want to get the bunch moving fast and straight
into the place where the Indian went. Shell was taking
down his rope again to use it to haze the
mayors along. Get the bell mare out front of the others,
will follow her, Johnny, get a short piece of rope
from the cook wagon to snub the bell mare up
(18:43):
close to you. Shell had men moving in every direction,
and his nerves were calming down. Just before you get
to the markers, turn her loose and get out of
the way. With his hands, Shell was showing Johnny how
he wanted things to work. Riding up to the wagon,
Shell dismounted, unbuckled his gun belt, and put in the wagon. Next,
(19:05):
he pulled his winchester from its scabbard and laid it
in the wagon. Also, anything to help me go faster,
Shell thought, anything at all well help. Taking a minute
to catch his breath, Shell would have said a prayer
if he had been a praying kind of man. Johnny
had the bell mare snubbed up to his horse, and
(19:26):
the other men had cut out about twenty heads. They
had worked them over to where Shell wanted to get
a start from. The area of the village wasn't in
sight from where they all were, but Shell wasn't worried
about the horses getting away from them because there was
no place to go but ahead to the water or
back to them. Johnny, you get moving, Shell shouted from
(19:48):
the back of the small herd. I'm gone. He and
the bell mare took off at a lope, bunch of
mounk behind her. Shell was waving his hat and yelling
at the other hands to move the horses in behind. Johnny,
get up, get up, Yep, yep. Shell and the men
urged the horses into a gallop around the bed and
the canyon. When they were almost to the markers, Johnny
(20:10):
turned the bell Mare loose and swung off to the left,
with Shell pushing from behind him. The rest of the
men yelling and hollering, the horses headed for the spring
on the other side of the village side. Shell could
see from the back of the small herd that they
were all running straight and not shying or dodging or
acting like anything was bothering them. Then he got to
the edge of the village site, and his world came apart.
(20:33):
Suddenly he was surrounded by wailing and crying ghosts. They
were hitting him and throwing sticks and rocks at him.
He could feel every one that struck him. His horse
was acting like it was deaf and blind, giving no
indication anything was going on. As he moved through the
village site, more and more ghosts screamed and assaulted Shell.
The dust cleared for a moment, and Shell recognized that
(20:56):
these were the ghosts of the people who had lived
in this village and had died here twenty years ago.
They stayed with Shell the whole time he was in
the village area, but left him at the edge. Finally
leaving the village and reaching the spring, Shell again heard
loud voices. He spun around and saw his men yelling
and waving their hats on the other side of the village.
(21:18):
They were excited he'd made it, but had no idea
what he'd gone through. Now Shell had two new problems.
He had to get some of the men over here
to watch the horses he had brought over. He also
had to get back to the other side of the village.
His shirt was soaked with sweat and his hands were shaking.
He didn't know if his legs would hold him upright
(21:40):
if he dismounted, but he needed a drink of water.
You did well. Stone Knife's voice scared Shell, and he
jumped and almost fell down as he was walking to
the spring. Damn it, don't you ever give up? Person
on warning your clothes? Shell Snap. Guess she couldn't see
me in all the dust you kicked up? Stone Knife
answered Shell, just his head and continued to a pool
(22:02):
of water fed by the spring. He knelt and lifted
a cupped handful of water to his dry lips. Now
what do I do next? Shell's mind was racing, send
some hands over, or keep bringing horses and hope they
stay by the spring. I'll need the cook wagons sometime.
Maybe bring it next in with a bunch of horses.
(22:25):
Just slow down and catch your breath and get the
bell mare and the ride back to the herd. Damn,
but I heard everywhere those ghosts hit me. I don't
know how much of this I'm going to be able
to take. It's looking like a long day. Every time
Shell went through the village sight from either direction, he
(22:45):
was attacked by the ghost of the villagers. They screamed,
they yelled, and they threw things that hit Shell on
the arms, chests, back, and face. He was white as
a ghost himself and hollow eyed. By the time he
had made four trips. The cook wagon and two of
the wranglers went with a second bunch of horses. He
sent them in the middle of the bunch, and they
(23:07):
didn't seem to be bothered during the crossing to The
horses from his string, along with most of the wrangler's horses,
went over next. The bell Mare was about winded, and
Shall thought he'd try using one of the saddle horses
from the wrangler's horses as a lead horse. The saddle
horses were used to being together, and one by itself
would try to find its buddies, back and forth, back
(23:29):
and forth. He'd lost truck of how many times he'd
made the trip. The last time he changed horses, Shell's
arm hurt so bad he could hardly lift them, so
one of the men saddled it for him. He couldn't
pick the saddle up off the ground after he removed
it from the horse he'd been riding. We'll be done
before dark, he kept telling himself. We'll be done before.
(23:51):
Dark Shall had noticed that when he came back through
the village with a bell mare snub to his horse,
the ghost couldn't get him very well on that side.
The next time he came back, he put the mare
on his other side, and the same thing happened. Moving
her from side to side helped him keep the ghost
from hurting one side more than the other. Two horses
(24:13):
would keep them away, he thought, but got busy getting
another bunch ready to go and forgot about it. Going
back through the village for the next to the last
bunch of horses, stone Knife rode up alongside Shell, with
the lead horse on one side of him and the
Indian on the other. Shell was not bothered much by
the ghosts. When they reached the horses, they still had
(24:34):
to be driven through the village, Shell dismounted and walked
into the brush to catch his breath and calm down.
When he came back to his horse, the Indian was
still sitting where he was. As Shell swung into the
saddle and turned his horse to ride off, stone Knife
stopped him. How old were you when you were here before?
(24:56):
How did you know I was here? Sheall was looking
at the kioa with thisbelief. The ghost have told me,
Stone Knife replied, too young to know what I was doing.
Shell snapped and rode off to get another bunch, ready
to take a cross. When Shell returned for the last bunch,
stone Knife was still in the same place, waiting for him.
Give me your tobacco pouch. Shell, Green. Stone Knife had
(25:19):
his hands out. What the hell are you talking about,
Shall Growl, Go find the next water hole. Those ghosts
are from when you were here before. Give me the pouch.
Stone Knife's voice was quiet and calm. What's I have
to do with me? Sall was about burned out and
this was not anything he felt like listening to. Those
(25:41):
ghosts are from the people killed here and scalped. They
can't cross over to the other side unless they are
a whole, so they have to stay here and suffer.
Stone Knife was looking Shell in the eyes. We can
hear the pouch crying. I didn't kill anyone here that day,
shall answered with a tired voice. Why are you bothering me?
(26:04):
Because your tobacco pouch is made from one of these
women's breasts and it needs to be buried so one
more part of her is returned. Stone Knif's voice had
dropped to almost a whisper. Shell sat for a couple
of moments, then dismounted. He unbuckled the strap on a
saddle bag and took out a folded piece of cloth.
Turning round, he walked a stone Knife and handed him
(26:26):
the folded cloth. Louis, one of the older fighters back then,
gave this to me a few weeks after we were here.
He was always laughing about how his pouches would keep
you warm at night. Shall said, I didn't feel right
about what happened here. That's why I never used it,
and I didn't know what to do with it. I'll
bury it where some of the people are buried. Stone
(26:49):
Knife turned and rode back down the canyon. Shell took
the last bunch of the horses to the village site
at a walk. Nothing was thrown at him, no yelling,
no screaming, and the corners's eyes could see things moving around,
quiet ghosts
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