Comanche Tears

Enjoy!

---

I had just settled down to Christmas dinner at my house in Fort Sill when a knock sounded at my door. I got up and answered it. Standing before me in a coat and top hat, was Baldwin Parker, son of the man I had fought so many years ago.

“Hello, Mackenzie.” The cheif’s son said. “How are you?”

“I’m fine. And you?”

“Doing alright. Anyway, my father has invited you to Christmas dinner.” He leaned in. “Please come. Father will literally scalp me if I don’t get you there.”

I smiled.

“I can imagine just what he said.” I made my voice a deep imitation of Quanah’s, Baldwin’s father. “No ‘ceptions. Must come!”

Baldwin and I shared a laugh. It had been a long while since I had seen Quanah, but apparently he must have still sounded the same.

“Alright, I’ll get my coat.” I ran to get it, put it on, then trudged out into the snow, Baldwin as my guide.

---

Soon we reached the Star House, Quanah’s 2-story mansion with a wrap-around porch on each level. I could hear the commotion from inside as soon as I put my foot on the steps.

“Come on in,” Baldwin said, unlocking the door.

There were tons and tons of children around the dinner table, but Baldwin headed straight through, leading me towards the living room. There, many older kids sat playing with babies, and about 5 women were seated near a tall figure wth a deep, slow, powerful voice that seemed to fill the room. It was seemingly telling a story, but in a language I couldn’t understand.

My eyes followed the voice and found its owner: Quanah!

---

He still had his braids, high cheekbones, and aquiline nose, but instead of the Chief’s costume I had seen him wear so often, he wore a crisp white shirt and black pants. He looked so much different than the man who had lead so many Quahidi Comanche Indians onto the Comanche/Kiowa/Apache reservations.

Quanah finally noticed Baldwin.

“Baldwin! Welcome, my son!” He said tenderly.

“Father, I’ve brought-“

“KENZIE!” Quanah shrieked.

Yep.

Same Quanah.

Quanah jumped out of his chair and wrapped me in a tight bear hug. I let out a puff of air.

“Alright, alright. That’s enough.”

Quanah released me with a playful smirk on his tanned face, his blue eyes lit up with excitement.

“Sir, yes, sir!” He replied, mimicking an army man.

“Stop it, Parker.” I hissed playfully.

He chuckled and rolled his eyes.

“No, Ranald.”

I gave him a death glare, and he returned it just as coldly. After a few moments, my face began to twitch and burst out into laughter. Quanah quickly followed.

“I-I can’t bre-breathe!” He huffed out inbetween fits of laughter.

I laughed harder.

When we caught our breath, Quanah poked me in the shoulder and smiled.

“It’s good to have you back, Mackenzie.”

“Yes, it really is.”

Quanah looked over to the women and children with a fondness in his eye.

“I was actually just telling them a story about us.

“Oh really?”

“Yes.”

I smiled warmly at my old enemy. He smiled softly and nodded.

“Have you noticed the snow outside? I don’t think it’s ever snowed in Fort Sill!”

Quanah cocked his head to the side at looked at me strangely.

“You mean the white stuff falling from the sky?” He asked.

“Exactly.”

“It is quite the sight, isn’t it?” He visibly relaxed.

“Yes. Have you played in it yet?”

“You can play in it?” He practically yelled, causing people to look our way. One women fav Shona warning look, but he shrugged it off. “You can play in it?” He whispered.

“Uh-huh.” I replied.

“I thought it was just for decoration...” His face was elsewhere...then it came right back. “Let’s go, then!”

---

Quanah in the snow was a sight to behold. He frolicked around, laid in it, and threw it at me. It grew oh-so-much worse when I showed him how to make a snowball. I was constantly being pelted be them. At least he was happy.

SMACK! One right in the forehead. Man, that guy had good aim. I pretended to die, as if I had been hit with a bullet, not something closely related to a cotton ball.

“At last! My foe has been defeated!” Quanah yelled as he ran and plopped down on top of me. “REVENGE!”

“Off, you big Indian!”

He rolled off me as he added.

“I said revenge, did I not?”

I grumbled quietly to myself, knowing he was right.

I started to walk back to the Star House, but a gasp form Quanah stopped me. When I turned to face him, he was staring down in obvious awe at something in his outstretched palm. As I walked closer, I could tell it was a tiny snowflake.

“This snow has chosen me as its perch.” Quanah announced softly.

I rolled my eyes.

“Quanah Parker! It just landed there!”

I looked at his face and saw the tears threatening to spill over his icy blue eyes.

“It’s so...beautiful, Mackenzie.”

“Don’t give me those Comanche tears, Quanah.” I warned.

He faced me.

“You know I haven’t known many beautiful things in my life, Mackenzie. Ever since Mother got taken and Father...passed on...” A lone tear slid down his broad cheek.

“It’s alright,” I soothed.

“Yeah.” He wiped it away.

“Merry Christmas, Quanah.” I extended my hand and he took it.

“Merry Christmas to you too, Mackenzie.”

---

YAY!