Grey Warrior

By Jean Fixen

Editor’s note: This is a true story about Jean’s Creek Maiden great-grandmother, Red Leaf and her brave grey stallion, Grey Warrior. Due to length we could not print the complete version in NWHS, but you can read and enjoy the rest of the story on our website at www.nwhorsesource.com

The only life my great-grandmother had ever known as a young child  was living with her Creek parents in the Ohio Valley in the early 1800's. Life as my great- grandmother, Red Leaf had known would soon come to a dismal end.  When the Indian and American Wars had ended, sadly, Red Leaf’s parents and her people found themselves relocated to the Oklahoma Territory. Having traveled the cruelest journey any human being could endure, these noble people were herded like cattle and were given numbers, then placed in Government ran reservation camps.  Before the mass exodus of the Creek Nation, my great- great grand father, fearful for his only daughter, struck a bargain with his long time trapper friend, Yellow Knife.

It was decided with great sacrifice on the part of my great-great grandparents that their beloved daughter, Red Leaf would live with Yellow Knife and his family. There was no other way for Red Leaf to survive the fate that her parents were about to go through. Sadly and reluctantly on the morning of the beginning of the "Trail of Tears", Red Leaf left her heart broken parents to join Yellow Knife and his family for ever. Her first year with the kind family was easy for Red Leaf. She had to learn how to be white and leave her Creek traditions behind with her parents. Language was Red Leaf’s biggest obstacle. Although her father knew how to speak the white mans words, she did not. Fortunately, Yellow Knife’s daughter Mary helped Red Leaf right from the beginning. Soon the young women became friends as well as sisters. Red Leaf learned a great deal from her white family her first year as her new family learned a great deal from Red Leaf.

One summer morning while the entire family sat down for their morning meal, Yellow Knife had announced that there was going to be a horse sale at Fort Lewis. Jessie, Yellow Knife’s son, stopped eating and put down his fork to hear more. The announcement also caught Martha and Mary’s attention.

"Yellow Knife, Red Leaf said in her broken English, " I wish to go on journey to Fort. I want to see horses too.  I want horse of my own." With an expression of hopefulness, she waited for some reply from Yellow Knife.

But before Yellow Knife could respond at all, his son Jessie blurted out, " Pa let Red Leaf come with us. You did say that you would give Red Leaf her own horse real soon. So lets take her Pa with us to Fort Lewis, please" Jessie said in great earnest. Turning towards  Red Leaf with a huge grin on his face, he had hoped he did the right thing by speaking up for her to his Pa. Red Leaf smiled a approving smile at Jessie and then turned her attention back to what Yellow Knife. Yellow Knife said nothing to the optimistic pair, instead he continued eating his food in silence.

When he had finished the last bite of food on his plate, he put down his fork and said in a stern voice, " all right, girl you can come with me and Jessie. We leave at first light in the morning. Now finish your eatin and go get your chores done." With that said, Yellow Knife stood up from the table and left the cabin with Jessie close behind.

The next morning at first light, the trio left for Fort Lewis. When they reached the main gate, it was clear that people from around the Ohio Valley had arrived the night before. Camps were set-up along the fort walls.  As Yellow Knife and his party entered the fort, he busied himself with surveying the crowd. He instructed Red Leaf and Jessie to head over to where the horses were kept bunched together and find a good place to see everything.

Red Leaf was the first one to get off her horse and walk to the corrals railings. Jessie and Yellow Knife soon followed her lead and dismounted their horses.  As she Looked over the nervous horses that were tightly bunched together, Red Leaf noticed that most of them were older mares and with a couple of geldings in the mix. Turning her attention from the group of horses, she panned the other end of the corral for any other horse she may have missed.

Red Leaf studied each horse carefully, until Jessie broke her concentration. "What’s wrong Red Leaf, none of them catch your eye?” Jessie enquired.

Shaking her  head she quietly said to Jessie, " no one horse has spirit Jessie."

"Take your time Red Leaf, Jessie replied trying to help, "You can’t tell what they look like since they are so darn muddy. They look as if they came some distance. Sure didn’t expect them to look so spent."

Everyone hushed as an officer approached the gate of the corral and announced the sale was about to commence. He told everyone interested in the horses that it was cash or approved trade goods that would take the sale that day. One by one the horses were led to the forefront and were sold. As the parade of horses continued, Yellow Knife finally asked Red Leaf if she wanted any of the horses so far.

Red Leaf replied in a voice that lack excitement, " No, no horse, Yellow Knife." ‘They do not have spirit. They do not walk with honor. I will know the horse that Grand Father wishes for me." Red Leaf turned her attention back to the horses. She was it was clear to Yellow Knife and Jessie that she was disappointed. She truly wanted to find her horse that day.

When the horse sale had concluded, the three turned to leave. Red Leaf looked back toward the corral one last time and noticed a soldier bringing out a muddy grey horse from the forts barn. The grey stallion was not shown with the first group of horses. By the horse’s demeanor everyone knew exactly why.