Chapter 9

It took us 26 days to make the trip, we had to rest a few more days than I thought. Our new friends were just so tired and run down that we would sometimes start late and stop early. But we finely made it to where Joe and I would live and ranch. I had Spirit Walker have her people set up for an extended stay. Putting up tipis for the first time in the ranch yard made me think of some old westerns on tv.

Over the next few days, it was nice seeing everyone relaxing and seeming to be getting healthier, kids running around playing. I talked to Spirit Walker and the rest of the people often and Joe and I looked over the map in the cabin and we got an idea of where we wanted to head towards to find a place for the tribe to live. Now let me say this, the maps we had were crude and you had to use the legends to try to figure anything out. Where we were looking was mostly about 20 miles N by NW. From what we could make out a large lake that was spring fed sat right below a nice mountain range. After talking to Spirit Walker, I knew she and a married couple were going with us to pick out a place and the rest were staying here until we returned.

We took 2 of the pack horses mostly to carry a large tarp and some hand tools that would be needed and a bit of food staples. It took a few days to find a place we thought would work as a home for the tribe. A lot of clear land going up towards the mountains and trees to build with. You could tell that game would be plentiful and with some horses they could go off several miles to hunt. The cleared land looked like it could easily grow crops. Joe and I got up early on the third day and went a short distance away and shot 2 deer. We put them on the horses and walked back to camp and we left them for the couple to take care of. We figured that if we left right now, we could be back at the ranch by dark. So, Spirit Walker left with us, and we figured to be back within the next few days. The couple had plenty of meat and enough staples to last several days, so figured they could get some post cut and get things ready while we were bringing the tribe back.

It took 4 days to get back with all the supplies we were going to leave and all the people. Resting at our ranch had helped to strengthen the older ones. The whole tribe needed lots of rest and good food along with a dry, safe place to live. The couple that we left had cut poles for the teepees, so all they had to do was put the skins on. By winter I hoped to help them have a lodge with a fireplace built that would give them a place for the worst part of winter. In a few years cabins for all of them.

Joe and I left a few days later, we left all the supplies and hand tools we had, keeping only a bit of food and coffee for lunch. We would be back at the ranch by dark, if we didn’t have the horses and packs to take back it would only be a four-to-five-hour ride. I wanted them close yet far enough away that could try to retain their culture. I knew they had to adapt over time or perish. I also wanted them to remember and keep close their beliefs. Theirs was an ancient tribe more Myan than American Indian. With so few the mixing of blood would soon dilute the race so customs, beliefs and closeness would be their lifeline.