Carter "Bill" Williamson


The Pondarusa, Nevada, United States.
Late summer 1867.


The sun was getting dimmer every day. Not by much, but to one who'd been out nearly every day for the whole summer, one took notice of the small shifts in daylight that meant one thing and one thing only; autumn was approaching. In the heat of Nevada that was the first indication of the coming season, but eventually the temperatures would drop down just enough for the snow to start falling. And that was why this visit to the Indian tribe of the Paiute was important to get over with. When the snow came, seeing them was more effort than it was worth during the snowy winter.

So best just getting it over with.

Carter, or just Bill to his friends and closest ones, was one of the few people in town who dared visit the Indians. Carter could understand why, but knew better than to fall for their superstitions and fears of the Paiute. The pay was too good. Riding on his horse "Copenhagen", the cowboy steared the herd of cattle in front of him on their merry way to the trade. It had become an annual affair between him and the Paiute's Chieftain. Carter sold his yearly amount of cattle to the tribe, and in return he was given furs and pelts of the highest quality, better than what you could get from the most experienced of Canadian trappers. It was a good trade, and Carter didn't expect anything to change this year either.

Approaching the tribe in the distance, he could easily make out the figure of the Chieftain himself. Tall, strong and as proud as he was old and wise. Holding his hand in greetings to the White Man with cattle, Carter raised his own hand in acknowledgement of the meeting, and trodded Copenhagen around the herd to meet him. It was the same proceedure as every year, with Carter approaching the Chieftain and letting him open the meeting. "All be well to you, white Carter of Pondarusa. It is well to see you in good form."

"Howdy there, Chieftain. The pleasure is all mine. I am glad to make it here before the autumn weather settles in. All is well in your village, Chieftain?" Carter greeted the Chieftain, moving Copenhagen up before him and dismounting the horse, finally standing in front of the tribe's leader. "How is your family, Chieftain?"

The old man smiled wisely at the white cowboy, letting him get off his horse and signalling for his own men to take care of the cattle. The Chieftain himself gestured for Carter to follow him into the village. Nothing new, just like how Carter liked it. "Oh all is well with me and my family. The tribe too, now that you have brought us big herd. Good herd, I will say, you make good on your promise Carter."

"When you make such a mighty fine trade as you've made with me these past years, what else am I to offer to you and your people? You get good cattle and I get good furs. It's what we call a "Win-Win situation." Carter laughed lightly, dusting off his cowboy hat from the accumulated dust after the long journey. It was a trip worth taking. The Chieftain smiled even so as they entered the village, the sight of Indian men, women and children appearing before Carter. It was a quaint little town in itself, a lot smaller than Pondarusa but quiet and nice. The people eyed Carter as he approached, some in fear or curiosity but most out of recognition. He was not as uncommon as the other white men after all. "Yes, you win and we win, yes. But you more this year, out of your generous to us. Wife, bring Carter his gift."

A gift? Well that was new. "Oh please, Chieftain. I appriciate it, but that really shouldn't be..." Carter stopped dead in his tracks as he saw what was brought before him. No, not what, but who. A woman. Carter looked at her in confusion, then at the Chieftain and back at her. "Ehm...there must be some missunderstanding, Chieftain. Is She my 'gift'? Or...You have my head hung by a coyote's tail."

This was anything but the normal.