December 20, 1877
There were many tepees and wickiups in the Mescalero Apache Tribe. Many Apache people were training, hunting, cooking, sewing, or making weapons.
At the tender age of twenty-five, a young man stood at five feet and seven inches tall with light beige skin; sweat dripped from his face and neck. His light blue eyes shone like river water, and his curly golden brown hair shined like the sun. The young man's square-shaped face was clean-shaven, and his body was slightly muscular. He sat close to the river with his handmade fishing pole and waited for any fish to take his bait. "¡Malditos peces, cada día se vuelven más inteligentes! (Damn fishes, they become smarter with each passing day)."
He noticed fish swimming close toward his bait from the corner of his eye. "About time!" The fish swam past his bait. Patience was lost as he got one of his handmade knives and threw one at the fish, stabbing it. The other fish tried to swim away, but two of them were stabbed by the thrown knives. "Bulls-eye!" The young man victoriously got his prizes, put them in a bag, and walked back to the tribe.
He arrived at one of the wickiups, where a middle-aged woman sat by a fire, covered with a blanket. Beside her was a young Apache woman of nineteen years of age. She had dark tan skin; her eyes and long, straight hair were black. Her face held innocence, but her eyes held wisdom and iron. Although her appearance was thin and her stature was small, she brewed with confidence and strength. "Emiliano, you're back from fishing. If I had to guess, you used your knives again."
Emiliano cleared his throat as he entered his home. "It's not my fault. The fish aren't just falling for the bait. I decided to use my talent." He gave her the bag of fish.
"It shows that fish have outsmarted you." She took the fish out of the bag, put them on a wooden board, got a knife, and began taking off the scales.
"Yet, I arrived victorious, Gouyen." Emiliano went to the middle-aged woman, who sat silently. His eyes softened. "Mother, are you still feeling ill?"
She smiled while coughing. "No te preocupes, hijo mio. Me siento bien (Don't worry, my son. I feel fine)." She tried standing up, but her legs shook; Emiliano noticed this and gently held his Mother while sitting her back down.
Gouyen stopped cutting the fish. "Laureana, please lay down for a while; your coughing will worsen when you are not resting."
Laureana smiled. "I know that I won't win against either of you. I need to lay down."
Emiliano assisted her onto the handmade cot; she coughed. Emiliano got a cup of water and helped her lift her head as she drank. It hurt to see his Mother in such a state. He once tried to ask the town doctor for assistance but didn't want to be associated with the Apache. "I will go to Yakez for some medicine." Emiliano got out, leaving the two women alone.
Gouyen was silent as she heard Laureana coughing loudly. She went to her and gave her more water. Gouyen viewed Laureana as a Mother since her own Mother died of childbirth; her Father died of disease. Gouyen was left in the care of Ekta, who was her great-aunt. She was introduced to Laureana when she was three years old. When Ekta passed away, Laureana adopted her; she and Emiliano grew up together. "Emiliano will return with some medicine; it will make you feel much better."
Laureana finished drinking the water. "It won't make a difference, Gouyen. No matter how much medicine I drink, I am getting worse. I'm dying."
Gouyen's eyes widened. "Don't say such things! Y-!"
"Yakez told me three days ago; nothing can be done anymore. He can only give me medicine that will ease the pain."
"No, no, you're wrong! Does Emiliano know!?"
The older woman shook her head. "I didn't want him to know; it would devastate him. You know that I don't like to see him in pain." She extended her hand to Gouyen; the young woman held her hand. "I don't have much time and so much to tell him."
"Mama." The two women saw Emiliano carrying a wooden bowl by the entrance. Beside him was Yakez, the tribe's healer.
"Emiliano, Yakez." Laureana noticed the saddened look on her son's face.
Yakez, who was always stern, held sadness in his intense eyes. He gently grabbed the bowl from Emiliano as he walked toward Laureana. "He heard everything."
Sadness filled her being; Laureana noticed the denial in her son's eyes. "Please do not be angry with Yakez. I told him not to say anything." The pain in her chest became worse; she coughed. Blood dripped from her mouth. Yakez gave her the medicine, and Laureana's ragged breathing became calm.
Emiliano went to his Mother. Yakez and Gouyen left the duo alone. "I can't let you suffer like this, Mama. I am going to the nearest town to get medicine! Mamá, no vas a morir. No dejaré que eso suceda (Mom, you will not die. I won't let that happen)."
Laureana smiled and gently touched her son's face. "Emiliano, remember when you were a little boy, you once saw me cry and asked why?"
"Yes, that is the first time I have ever seen you cry. I always saw you as a strong woman."
"I am not as strong as you think, Emiliano. Let me tell you a story." She spoke about the Mexican-American war, her former home, family, and heartbreak. Also, about his Father. Throughout Emiliano's childhood, she lied that he died before he was born. It was painful for her to tell her son the truth. "Mama, the man you spoke of, is it my Father?"
She nodded. "I didn't want to speak about him because I didn't want you to try to find him since he has another family." Laureana reached into her shirt and took out a necklace with a golden ring. "I want you to have this. This is the only thing I have of your Father."
The young man eyed the ring as his Mother put it in his hand. He felt many emotions in his heart; he squeezed the ring. "How could he do this to us!? To you!?"
Laureana looked away and closed her eyes. She suddenly felt a pang of pain in her chest. Laureana coughed loudly and harder, and more blood poured out. Gouyen and Yakez entered when they heard her.
"I need to make more medicine! Gouyen, please fetch me more herbs!" Gouyen went as instructed.
Emiliano became fearful; he put the golden ring necklace in his right pocket. "That's it! I have to get a doctor to give me medicine!" When he was about to leave, Laureana grabbed his left hand. "E-Emiliano! Y-Your Fa-Father is-!"
"Mama, save your strength! I will be right back!" Emiliano ran out of his home to go to town. "I have to save my Mama, no matter the cost!" The path seemed endless, but Emiliano eventually arrived in town; he stopped momentarily to catch his breath. He slowly ran towards a small white wooden house that was nicely kept. Emiliano knocked on the door; the door opened. An older man in his late fifties came out. "By golly, young boy. Why do ya knock with such vengeance!?"
"Doctor, please, my Mother is very ill! Her coughing has become nonstop, and she coughs out blood! I know you will not come to the tribe, but please, I ask for some medicine!"
The doctor stood silently and slowly shook his head. "Boy, the way yer describin' things, she's dyin'. There's nothin' I or the medicine can do. Ya gotta accept reality."
"There's something that you have that can help her! At least to ease her pain!"
"Sorry, kiddo. There's no savin' yer ma. Even if I did, ya don't have the money to pay for medicine.
As Emiliano argued with the doctor, he was being watched by a group of unknown men. "That fella sure is blowin' a gasket," said one of the men.
"Who wanna bet that it will turn bloody?" asked another.
Three other men raised their hands. The group leader wasn't paying attention to his men as they swapped money; he kept watching Emiliano. He raised an eyebrow when he saw the doctor trying to calm Emiliano and invited him to his home.
"Ah, shucks! Seems it isn't gonna be bloody; I lost the bet! Come on, boss; they made up. Let us go have a hog-killin' time."
"Quiet, look."
The men looked at what their leader pointed at. Emiliano was seen walking out from the backdoor of the house. "So the chap is out. What's the deal?"
"There is something off about him." He watched as Emiliano walked past many of the townspeople and began to run when he was far enough. "I wonder..." The group leader walked to the doctor's house; his men followed. He knocked on the door; no answer. The door was opened, and the group entered.
"Strange, the doc would've come by now," said a middle-aged man in the group.
The group leader noticed that a particular door was closed; it made him curious. He opened it. His eyes widened when he witnessed the doctor lying on his bed. Everyone else saw him, too.
"Is he dead meat?"
The group leader put two of his fingers on the doctor's neck. "No, he's not dead; he just lost consciousness." The unknown man couldn't help but be impressed. Emiliano made the doctor lose consciousness and wasn't caught by any townspeople. "We need to make a stop; that young man could help us."
Meanwhile, Emiliano ran while feeling victorious; he had a medicine bottle in his pocket. He had to squeeze onto the doctor's neck until he lost consciousness; it gave him time to get what he wanted. There would be consequences later, but he was willing to take the risk. He eventually returned to the tribe but felt something was wrong; dread was in his stomach.
He stopped when he saw all the tribespeople surrounding his home. The people noticed him; they became silent and cleared a pathway for him to enter. There were a few whimpers and soft cries from women. Emiliano felt his feet wobbling with each step he took. Gouyen stood at the entrance; her face was tear-stricken. "Emiliano..." She went and hugged him tightly. "I'm so sorry," she whispered.
"No. I-I have her medicine." Emiliano extended the bottle. "See?"
Yakez exited the wickiup. Everyone was quiet as the elder walked to Emiliano. "Tu madre finalmente está en paz (Your mother is finally in peace)."
The medicine bottle was dropped as Emiliano entered his home; everything was quiet. He saw his Mother lying on the cot; she looked peaceful. Emiliano walked and knelt before her. "Mama." He gently grabbed her left hand; her skin slowly became pale. "I brought you medicine, Mama. All I wanted was to take care of you after all you have done for me." Tears formed and fell onto her hand; his wails echoed throughout the tribe.