Date: Wed, 24 Apr 2002 13:15:59 -0400
From: Lee Mariner <mariner23502@hotmail.com>
Subject: Cherokee Hiker #3

CHEROKEE HIKER
By
Lee Mariner
April 2002

DISCLAIMER: This is a gay fantasy and depicts
homosexual acts between gay boys. IF YOU ARE NOT
OF LEGAL AGE TO BE READING THIS STORY OR YOU DO
NOT APPROVE OF SUCH MATERIAL, PLEASE LEAVE.

All characters are fictional and there is no
relationship intended with any person or persons
living or deceased.

ENGAGING IN UNPROTECTED SEX CAN LEAD TO LIFE
THREATENING CONSEQUENCES AND SHOULD BE AVOIDED.

This work is copyrighted by the author and may
not be reproduced in any form without the
specific written consent of the author. It is
assigned to the Nifty Archives under the terms
of their submission agreement but it may not be
copied or archived on any other site without the
permission of the author.
Copyright: 2002 -- Author: Lee Mariner -- All
Rights are Reserved.

Mariner23502@hotmail.com

* * * * * * *
Chapter #3

The day was warmer then we first thought it would be in
the early morning coolness when we awoke. John and I
removed our heavier outer shirts and wore only walking
shorts and t-shirts. We both had elected to not wear
jockeys and I appreciated the feeling of freedom from
constriction that jockeys forced on men.

The hiking trail had gotten a little rockier and I
followed Jon watching where he walked. He had the
natural Cherokee instinct for picking the right trail.

We recorded several specimens of flora and took pictures
that would verify the record we were making of the hike.
It was not as if we were making discoveries that would
vault us into the annals of science but we both enjoyed
the freedom of the outdoors. The sun had risen almost to
its zenith and we were warm but comfortable protected
from its direct rays as it filtered through the trees.

We both were perspiring and watching Jon's muscles
rippling under his glistening tawny skin as he walked
kept me in a half hard state, my cock rolling from side
to side with each step.  I had unconsciously hidden my
feelings of wanting him deep within me but now,
everything about Jon had become more vivid than it ever
had. His smooth velvety bronze skin and the way he moved
with an athletic almost cat like grace as he chose each
step. The muscles in his calves would tighten as he
stepped on the balls of his feet and they were like
thick ropes as he placed one foot in front of the other
moving with ease up the trail. I knew all of this but
had never really seen it before. Lost in my thoughts I
slipped and my left knee dropped down embedding a sharp
stone in the kneecap and I grunted in pain loud enough
for Jon to hear.

"You okay Ryan?" He said turning to look at me.

"I'm okay, I just slipped. Keep going."

As I straightened up, the blood ran down my shin into my
sock and Jon saw it

"Yeah, you're okay alright. Sit on that rock beside you
and put some pressure on your leg above the knee."

I sat down on the rock while Jon dropped his knapsack
and pulled out the first aid kit we had brought. The
wound in my knee throbbed and stung as he sprayed an
antiseptic spray on it and used alcohol swaps too clean
it trying to stem the flow of blood that probably would
have been heavier if I was not putting pressure just
above the knee. Jon took a roll of gauze and doubling it
he made a tourniquet using a stick so he could twist it
reducing the blood flow.

"Damn Ryan, that's a really nasty gash. I knew we should
have brought a cell phone with us. You need a doctor to
look at that, I think it's going to need stitches."

"Why don't you pull one out of the pocket in your loin
cloth." I said feeling silly and giggling.

"Oh, aren't we cute making jokes about loin cloths?
Indians don't wear them anymore except in special
ceremonies. I've never worn one, wouldn't know how you
put it on."

"I think you would look hot in one. Here, help me with
my knapsack, there's one in the side pocket. Dad put it
in there before he left us yesterday."

"White men and their technology, no wonder we lost the
wars."

"Only half of you lost the wars Jon, the rest is part of
that technology."

"You have to remind me of that do you? Which part did
you fall in love with little brother?"

"Both parts and I'm not any smaller then you are."

Jon pulled the cell phone from the side pocket of my
knapsack after he slipped it off of my shoulders and
dialed his home. My knee was a little numb from the
antiseptic spray he had used in cleaning the wound but I
could still feel a deep throbbing pain and I rubbed my
thigh as he called.

"Dad, Jon. I was hoping you would be home. No, we're all
right but Ryan has had and accident. Nothing broken but
he slipped and he has a pretty nasty gash in his left
kneecap. How bad is it? Pretty bad, the blood won't stop
running and we had to put a tourniquet just above the
knee so we could stop the bleeding. I've cleaned it
pretty good with alcohol and antiseptic but I haven't
bandaged it yet. I think he needs a doctor."

Jon was listening too his father and I could follow the
conversation some but I was feeling just a little giddy
and wanted to lie down. There was a small grassy spot
next to the boulder and I reached out and touched Jon's
arm.

"Jon, wait a minute. I need to lay down, I don't feel so
good."

"Hold a sec Dad, be right back."

Jon pulled a blanket out of his knapsack and spread it
over the grass and helped me lay down.

"I'm back Dad, Ryan wasn't feeling good. He is lying
down on the grass. What are we going to do Dad?"

* * * * * * *

"Release the pressure of that tourniquet Jon and stay on
the phone while I get your mother."

Gilbert Parkers medical experience kicked in
automatically as he called for his wife.  He knew Jon
would not panic but he could detect a note of worry in
his voice and he would not have called if it were not
serious.

"Helen, call the Montgomery's and tell them that Ryan
has had an accident, nothing serious but ask Brett &
Christine to come right over."

"Jon, you still there?"

"Yes sir."

"Your mother is calling Ryan's parents. This is what I
want you to do. Keep the pressure on with the tourniquet
but release it every 5 minutes. Are there any pressure
pads in your med kit?"

"Yes sir, I think there are 3 of them."

"Good, how many wipes do you have left?"

"There are several of them Dad, you want me to keep the
wound clean after we release the pressure?"

"Not the wound, the area around it. Put one of the
pressure pads over the wound but don't tape it on, wrap
it loosely with gauze so it won't slip off. Are you
wearing surgical gloves so you don't get his blood on
you?"

"Damn Dad, this is Ryan we are talking about."

"Christ Jon, I'm sorry, it's an automatic reflex. Hold a
second, Ryan's father is here."

Jon could hear Ryan's father and his over the phone as
they talked.

"What's happened Gil, Helen said something about an
accident? Are the boy's alright?"

"They both are okay except Ryan has had an accident and
from what Jon is telling me, he has injured his left
knee pretty bad from falling on a rock. It's a damn good
thing you put that cell phone in his backpack."

"Let me talk to Jon Gil and ask Helen to stay with
Christine, she's frantic. Jon how's Ryan?"

"He's alright Mr. Montgomery but he has a pretty nasty
gash in his knee and the bleeding won't stop. We put a
tourniquet on his leg and that helps but he needs a
doctor."

"How far on the trail are you, how deep did you get in?"

"I guess maybe 10 or 12 miles. We didn't hike very long
yesterday but we got an early start this morning. Ryan
slipped just as we were reaching the crest that
overlooks Window Rock Flats."

"I know where that is, you're only in about 9 miles.
Will you be okay there until we can get there?"

"Yes sir. He's lying on a grassy place by a big boulder
and Dad's told me what I should do. It's not going to be
easy for him getting out of here though."

"We'll worry about that later. Do what your Dad has told
you and we'll be there as fast as we can. Thanks Jon I
appreciate you taking care of him."

"He's my brother Mr. Montgomery."

"I know that Jon, here's your Dad."

"How large is the wound Jon?"

"It looks like about 2" Dad. It's shaped like a "V" and
you can see where the rock really cut into his knee. It
does not seem to be bleeding as bad as it was at first."

"That's good, the blood is coagulating some. If the
bleeding stops don't remove the tourniquet just loosen
it so you can re-apply pressure if he should start
bleeding again. Keep doing what I've told you and put a
blanket over Ryan so he stays warm. Brett and I will be
there as soon as we can and don't let Ryan move around,
make him as comfortable as you can but movement might
start the blood flowing again."

"Yes sir, I understand."

Jon had been crouching beside me while he was talking
with our parents and he stood up stretching from the
stiffness, flexing his muscles. I felt a little groggy
but he looked magnificent standing over me like a
guardian angel and I felt protected even with the
throbbing in my knee and thigh.

"How long do you think before they get here?"

"You're awake, I thought you had dozed off. I'm not real
sure but maybe 3 hours or less. Your Dad said we had
only come in about 9 miles, I thought it was further."

"He is probably right, he and I walked this trail a
couple of times before. My leg is feeling a little numb
Jon, do you think we should undo the tourniquet?"

"I dunno, lets see. Dad said we could loosen it if the
bleeding had stopped but not take it off."

I sat up watching as Jon untwisted the tourniquet and my
leg felt better right away. A little blood seeped from
the wound but it wasn't flowing like it had been. Jon
put the pressure bandage on my knee like his Dad had
said and he wrapped it loosely with gauze.

"Maybe it's not as bad as it looks Jon. My knee and
thigh still hurt but it's not throbbing like it was."

"We'll keep an eye on it anyway, the pressure bandage
will help some. Dad told me to put another blanket on
you and keep you warm."

Jon opened my pack and pulled the blanket out and one of
my t-shirts getting one of his out of his pack at the
same time telling me to sit up and lift my arms so he
could put the shirt on for me. Straddling my hips on his
knees he started to put the shirt on but the temptation
to kiss his naval was too much for me to resist and when
my lips touched his skin he sucked his stomach in his
muscles tensing.

"Don't start something we can't finish in your
condition."

I didn't answer and I could see the bulge growing in his
crotch and kissed him again hearing him groan as he
dropped his arms down running his hands through my hair.
Unsnapping his shorts, I pulled the zipper down exposing
the base of his cock surrounded by thick black hair.
Kneeling on either side of me, his shorts would only
drop so far but enough so I could reach in and pull his
thick-sheathed rod out for my mouth to swallow sliding
his loose foreskin back with my lips. My cock ached,
confined in my tight shorts but I wanted Jon and this
time I was the aggressor. I moved my head in until I
felt the head of his cock pushing against the roof of my
mouth in as deep as it would go. I held him tight with
my lips twisting my tongue over and under his thickness
as I moved my head sucking his cock like an all-day
sucker. Massaging Jon's balls with one hand I ran the
other over his hard flat stomach tangling my fingers in
his thick silky bush as he groaned arching his back and
holding my head.

"Oh Ryan, Ryan." Jon groaned as I sucked and his hips
moved slightly in and out helping him reach his climax.

I wanted to drain him of every drop of the cream I could
feel churning in his nuts as they drew up slowly.
Leaning over me, holding my head, his thrusts became
longer and faster as his cock hardened swelling and then
gushing thick molten streams into my mouth and down my
throat. I swallowed every bit of his bodily nectar as
his cock slowly softened. Tightening my lips around his
cock I washed his softening meat with my spittle mixing
saliva with his cream and swallowing it feeling it slide
down my throat.

As Jon's soft but still slightly hard cock slipped from
my lips I leaned back on my elbows his hands sliding
down over my chest and he leaned forward with me his
lips on mine. Jon's tongue searched in the depths of my
mouth tasting the residue of his seed as he pressed our
lips tight.

I lay back down on the blanket my eyes closed as the
after glow slowly slipped from me feeling him move from
over me. My cock had softened in the excitement of
taking Jon but I could feel the dampness from pre-cum
that had oozed from my cock. I drifted a little in the
euphoria of Jon massaging my body running his fingers
over the sculpted outline of my chest muscles. I could
hear him very softly humming a tune I didn't remember
hearing before. His fingers sent little tingling shocks
through me as my cock started swelling again at his
touch. It was like being in a dream and I could feel the
warm sun beaming down on us as the birds were singing
and a soft breeze drifted over us. Jon's fingers
unsnapped the top of my shorts and he slowly pulled the
zipper down exposing my rock hard cock lying on my
stomach. I gasped as he kissed it and lifted my hips
slightly so he could push my shorts down as he took the
full length into his mouth and it slid deep into his
throat deeper then I had been able to take him. The
warmth of his mouth radiated upwards over me as his
throat muscles worked my blood-engorged cock. I couldn't
move very much but I didn't need to move as Jon slowly
slid up and down it's thick length his tongue twisting
and curling around the head each time he pulled up.
Ecstatic currents shot through every muscle when I felt
my body stiffen and streams of my body's life giving
sperm erupted in an almost cataclysmic explosion
flooding down his throat surge after surge. I groaned
and collapsed as he drained me, his lips tight
demanding, squeezing the last drops from my wilting
cock.

We both rested for a few minutes and Jon stretched out
beside me pulling the other blanket over us both. We
hadn't put the t-shirts on or pulled our shorts up as we
drifted off.

* * * * * * *

It was just a little difficult visualizing the injury
Ryan had sustained but from what Jon had described, it
didn't seem that bad but still serious Gilbert was
thinking as he disconnected his cell phone.

"I don't think it is really that bad Brett but we better
get up there. The loss of blood is my main concern but
I'm sure Jon will follow my instructions on what he
should do about that. I'm going to take an emergency
suture kit with me just in case we might need too suture
the wound until we get him to where he can be treated
properly and x-rays taken. I have just about everything
else we will need in my medical bag. You told Jon you
knew where they are located?"

"Yeah, Ryan and I always rested at that spot before
pushing over the crest that Jon described when we hiked
that trail. Should take us about two hours or so before
we reach them. I know Christine will go with us but she
can stay in the SUV while we go in. Maybe Helen could
come along and keep her company?"

"Of course she will." Gilbert said looking for his wife.

"I have packed a lunch for all of us with extra water
Gilbert while you've been talking. Your medical bag is
where you always leave it so you better get the suture
kit you mentioned. Christine is putting some extra
blankets and pillows in the car. When she heard you and
Brett talking about a knee injury she mentioned having a
pair of crutches in the garage she was going to take in
case you needed them."

Gilbert always marveled at the calm efficiency of the
beautiful young Cherokee girl he had married. Nothing
ever seemed to ruffle her and sometimes he felt she
could read his thoughts before he knew what they were.

"You are a wonder. Brett if you will help with this
stuff, I'll get that kit and we can get on our way. The
faster we get there the better."

The SUV loaded, Helen and Christine sat in the back
seat, Helen holding Christine's hand. The drive to the
location where Brett was supposed to meet the boys was
less then an hour and he and Gilbert were on the trail
in just a little over an hour since Jon had called. The
crutches were a little cumbersome but Gilbert had said
it was a good idea that they take them so Ryan would
have some support coming down the trail.

* * * * * * *

Jon woke with a start hearing the bleating of a stag.
The sun had fallen in the west and the shadows were
lengthening. Throwing the blanket back he check the
wound on Ryan's knee and was relieved that the pressure
bandage was still in place. There was no indication that
bleeding had re-started and from what his father had
said, that was good.

Ryan stirred a little as he hovered over him checking
the wound. He grinned a little at the sight of his soft
cock laying snuggly on its soft silky nest and covered
him again. He started to stand when he heard Ryan.

"Jon, what time is it? Shouldn't they be here by now?
It's getting dark."

"They shouldn't be much longer. Can you sit up? We
should try and get dressed before they get here."

"I think so but my leg hurts like hell."

"Before you sit up, lift your hips so I can pull your
shorts up and then we can get your shirt on."

Jon kneeled beside me and pulled my shorts up and then
helped me sit before slipping the t-shirt over my head
and then the heavier shirt we had removed earlier. After
re-arranging the blankets and putting my backpack behind
me so I was half sitting and half lying, he finished
dressing himself.

Gathering some dry materials, Jon scooped a small pit in
the sandy soil under the lee of the large boulder we
were sitting by and started a small fire.

"Boy would I like some hot chocolate about now. Seems
like we haven't eaten since breakfast."

"We haven't but I have some jerky in my pack that we can
chew on. There's water in the canteens if you're
thirsty. I want to check your leg again."

My leg had stiffened and the pain was there but not
throbbing like it had earlier. Jon removed the pressure
bandage and using his flashlight you could see the knee
had swollen quite a bit but the bleeding had stopped.
Taking a couple of the alcohol wipes he cleaned the
dried blood from around the wound before re-applying the
bandage. While Jon was finishing up, I glanced back down
the trail and thought I saw a flash of light.

"Jon, look there isn't that a light coming up the trail?
Right there between the trees, see it?"

"You're right, where is that big lamp we brought?"

'Here Jon, in my pack help me move a little."

I leaned over while Jon held me and pulled the larger
lamp from my pack turning it on waving it and calling
out, "Dad, dad. Up here."

My Dad and Dr. Parker were both kneeling beside both Jon
and I hugging us.

"Damn Ryan, you guys look like your bedded down for the
night what with the fire and all, not waiting to be
rescued. How'd this happen? Later, tell us later. How is
the leg Gil?"

"He won't be doing any running for awhile Brett, it's
swollen pretty bad. I can't feel any breaks but we'll
let x-rays tell us that. That pressure bandage Jon
applied really did the trick and stopped the bleeding. I
was more worried about that."

"It's going to be a long trip getting back in the dark
though and those crutches were a good idea. Ryan can use
one and lean on Jon for better support as we go down.
Jon help Mr. Montgomery pack you stuff and put that fire
out. I'm not going to suture the wound but re-apply the
pressure bandage after spraying it with Novocain for the
pain, it'll help a little as we move."

Dr. Parker walked in front with the big lamp and my Dad
walked behind as Jon and I hobbled down the trail. I was
holding a flashlight in my free hand. Off in the
distance the bleating sound of a stag drifted up from
Window Rock Flats meadow and I wondered if it was the
same one that had awakened Jon.

I don't remember exactly how long it took for us to get
down the trail but I do remember thinking about our
special spot as we passed it and I squeezed Jon's neck.
He turned his head looking at me briefly, a smile in his
dark eyes. It wasn't long after that and I heard my
mother calling my name squeezing me in a bear hug my
crutch falling to the ground. It made me feel good
seeing Jon getting the same treatment.

"Okay ladies, give the kids a break. We need to get Ryan
to the hospital so I can check his injuries closer. We
can lay Ryan in the back and Jon can sit between Helen
and Christine."

"I'll sit in back with Ryan if it's okay Dad? It might
get a little bumpy."

"Okay, probably a good idea. Lets get going."

* * * * * * *

We made good time to the hospital and I was being rolled
in on a gurney with Dr. Parker following giving orders
to a nurse and orderly.

The orderly didn't look much older then Jon and I, he
was Cherokee Indian. Rolling the gurney and me into an
examining room he pulled the curtain around the gurney.
Pulling one of those open ended gowns from a pile on the
table he laid it across my hips and started undressing
me taking my shirt off and pulling my shirt over my
head. Slipping my arms in the armholes he pushed me back
down on the gurney. Putting on a pair of latex gloves he
started snipping the left leg of my shorts.

"Hey, what'cha doing? Those are my shorts you're cutting
up."

"Dr. Parker told me to cut the one leg off so they could
be removed. Lay back down and I'll tell you when you can
lift your hips so I can pull them off."

I could feel the scissors cutting the cloth away and
then he ordered me to lift my hips a little. His gloved
fingers pressed against my soft cock as he pulled the
shorts down and off of me. He was grinning as he pulled
the hospital gown down covering me. "Pale meat on a
white boy."

"What would you know about it bud?" Jon said as he
walked into the curtained enclosure. "My father might
like to know his orderlies check out their male
patients."

"Your father is Dr. Parker? I didn't know that."

"What difference does that make, he's a white man or
didn't you know that? Do you want to check out his meat?
It's white like Ryan's but mine is as dark as yours if
you want to check it out. I wonder if you treat Indian
patients the same way you do whites."

Dr. Parker entered at that time with his nurse
following. He had put on his medical smock and latex
gloves.

"I didn't know you were in here Jon, why don't you wait
with Ryan's parents and your mother. I'll let you know
when we are finished. Are you done One Feather?"

"Yes Dr. Parker. Anything else I can help you with?"

"Not right now, I'll call you if I need you."

I noticed Jon look at his father when he called the
orderly by an Indian name but he walked on out as he had
been told taking my cut shorts with him.

Dr. Parker cleaned the wound carefully after
administrating a shot of Novocain on either side of the
kneecap. I could feel the pressure of his fingers as he
gently pressed around the wound but no pain. The x-rays
showed no breaks but the muscles covering the kneecap
had been deeply bruised and blood vessels had been cut
by the sharp edge of the stone I had fallen on.

"You're going to be uncomfortable for a few days Ryan
but there is no permanent damage except for a scar. I'm
going to keep you here for the night for observation,
I'll see you in the morning."

After Dr. Parker placed the sutures his nurse gave me a
shot.

"That will help you sleep tonight."

* * * * * * * *

The following morning I woke up and Jon was sitting at
the side of the bed and it was only about 6AM.

"What did you do Jon, sleep here all night?"

"I wanted too but Mom and Dad wouldn't let me, how're
you feeling?"

"My leg hurts and I'm hungry but most of all I'd love a
shower."

"Sorry Ryan, no showers for a couple of days." Dr.
Parker said as he walked into the room. "I don't want
your knee getting wet until its had time to start
healing. I'll send in an orderly and he can give you a
sponge bath after I check the wound. How did you sleep
last night?"

"I don't remember much after the nurse gave me that shot
Dr. Parker. If I can't shower, why can't Jon help me
bathe"?

"No reason he can't but the orderly is trained in
bathing patients and I don't want you twisting your leg.
You aren't shy are you Ryan?"

"No sir. I'd just rather have Jon do it then someone I
don't know. Besides, someone is going to have to help me
at home if you won't let me shower and Mom and Dad won't
be home during the day."

"Good point Ryan, I guess Jon can handle it and I think
I know where he will be until your back on your feet.
The wound looks pretty good and the swelling has gone
down some. You really landed on that rock when you
slipped. Jon tells me you only grunted; most people
would have done more than that when a rock is driven
into their kneecap. I'll write a prescription for
Tylenol Codeine and that will help with the pain. Those
bruised muscles are going to hurt for a while. I won't
bandage it right now while Jon is bathing you. Wash
around it but don't get it wet Jon, I'll dress it after
you're finished."

"I can handle it Dad, where's the stuff I'll need?"

"Everything you need is in the cabinet. Remember, don't
wet the wound or your grounded."

Dr. Parker closed the curtain around the bed as he left
and Jon grinned at me.

"I didn't think he was going to let me do it at first,
you talked him into it. Lets get you out of those shirts
first. I'm surprised they didn't take them off last
night when that guy cut your shorts off."

"That guy was a jerk. Did you hear your dad call him One
Feather? That surprised me. What surprised me more was
the way he pressed his hand down on my cock while he
pulled those shorts off and what he said."

"He is a reservation Indian Ryan and most of them don't
like using American names. They think it is an offense
to the Sioux Nation if they use a name other then a
native one. Jobs are usually pretty hard for them to
find is the only reason I didn't say something to Dad."

Jon dropped the dirty shirts into a shopping bag the
hospital provides for personal items and went outside
the curtain. It was a little chilly lying in bed naked
and I couldn't help but think hospitals always seemed
cold as I pulled the thin thermal blanket up over me. I
could hear Jon getting the stuff he needed for bathing
me and I could feel myself getting excited at the idea
of Jon giving me a bath and he must have noticed it when
he came back in with the water basin, sponge and towels.

Placing the basin on the bedside cabinet top he turned
looking at me his eyes glistening and my cock was hard
as steel. My breathing quickened as he placed his hand
over the outline of my cock, squeezing it and leaned
down kissing me softly whispering "not here little
brother, later when we are alone and have more time."

I let my hand fall from the bed and squeezed his hard
cock; he wasn't wearing any jockeys under his shorts.

"I don't know if I can wait that long Jon, it feels like
I'm going to shoot a load any second and when you start
washing me with that sponge, I know I will."

"If you keep squeezing me like you are, we both will."
Jon said with a devilish grin his eyes gleaming.

That was not the first time Jon bathed me but it was the
hardest. We both managed to control ourselves with
effort. Every time he washed around or touched my cock
and washed my crotch and balls, I almost shot my load
and I could tell he was having fun teasing me.

"No wonder they called your people savages Jon. You're
having fun torturing me aren't you?"

"You bring out the savage in me and you're loving every
minute of it. What's the matter can't take it?"

"I didn't do this when you broke your arm."

"No, but we didn't know then what we know now did we?
Sit up so I can wash your back and don't put any
pressure on that leg when you do. Dad will kill me if
those sutures break."

"Then help me get up."

Jon was drying me off when his Dad and mine came into
the room laughing.

"Morning son, I see the hospital has a new nurse. How're
you doing Jon, is he a good patient?"

"Morning Mr. Montgomery, he's not bad. I didn't know he
was ticklish before I gave him his bath."

"Well you would be ticklish too with someone washing you
with a sponge and you know it."

"See Brett, I told you he was okay. When they don't fuss
at each other is when you know they are sick. I've
already discharged him so you can take him home when
he's ready. Just keep an eye on him and if he develops a
temperature, call me right away. Follow the instructions
we talked about and he should be fine but don't use the
pain medication unless he really needs it."

"Thanks for everything Gil, I really appreciate it."

"No thanks needed Brett, I'll see you later. Jon, your
mother needs some help at home so as soon as you finish
helping Mr. Montgomery get Ryan home, you head on home."

"Yes sir, I will but I'd like to hang with Ryan in case
he needs me."

"I have no problem with that son but you have chores at
home as well."

"I'll see that he goes right home Gil and we will see
what kind of schedule we can work out if Ryan needs
help."

Jon helped me dress in the clothes my dad had brought
while he drove the SUV up to the front doors of the
hospital and signed some final forms. Hospital policy
required that departing patients be escorted out in a
wheelchair and the orderly One Feather was sent in with
one to assist in helping me leave. Jon wouldn't let him
touch me and he picked me up lowering me in the chair
and pushing me out as the orderly followed.

Dad was sitting behind the wheel waiting as Jon pushed
the wheelchair around to the left side of the truck
opening the door. I stood on my good leg and Jon helped
me into the truck while One Feather pulled the chair
away so I could slide my injured leg up on the seat as I
slid across.

Things were going pretty good until I heard One Feather.

"Is the good little Indian boy going to sleep with the
poor little white boy?"

>From where I was sitting in the truck, I saw Jon stiffen
and turn facing the orderly clenching his fists.

"It's Indians like you that keep our people down.
Instead of trying to live with other people you have to
keep making nasty prejudiced comments getting those of
us that are trying to do better into trouble. When are
you going to learn that the wars were over a long time
ago and we all have to learn to live together? My father
is probably one of the reasons you have a job at the
hospital but you don't appreciate it."

"That's the difference between being a half-breed and
being a Cherokee, you don't know who you are. Your white
father has nothing to do with me or any Indian working
here, that's up to the Indian Agency and the Council."

Dad opened the door and got out hearing what was being
said between Jon and the orderly.

"Get in the truck Jon. Young man, that half-breed as you
call him is probably a better Cherokee then you will
ever be and he is right. You and your kind hurt the
Cherokee people more then you help with your vile hatred
of white people. Look around the hospital and you will
see both Indian and white doctors working together
helping both races not trying to drive them apart with
hateful rhetoric such as you are spreading. If you
weren't working in the hospital, where would you be?
Probably on the reservation feeling sorry for yourself
drinking and shooting drugs. You're just as bad as the
white racial bigots and their hateful organizations.
Wake up and see what you are doing, hurting yourself and
others. You are also very wrong about Dr. Parker, the
Indian Agency and Council. Dr. Parker is the Medical
Director of the hospital and works with the Agency and
the Council. He has a lot to do with you and others
working here and in other clinics and hospitals. Take
that wheelchair back inside and do your job and learn
something besides how to run off at the mouth. There are
a lot of wrongs to be worked out but you aren't
helping."

I had never heard my dad talk like he had before and I
could feel my chest swelling with pride as he got back
in the truck leaving One Feather standing with his mouth
open.

"Thanks Mr. Montgomery." Jon said looking at my father
and me. "He's just mixed up."

"He may be Jon but there is a lot he needs to learn if
the Cherokee people are ever going to improve their
standards of living and education. His type only keep
the racial witches brew boiling."

Nothing else was said as we drove the short distance
home. Jon's mother and mine came running out to the
truck as we pulled up the drive. I sighed softly,
resigning myself to being babied and I could see Jon
grinning as mom was hugging my neck almost choking me.

* * * * * * *

"Even if you are on the right track, you'll get run over
if you just sit there."
                              Will Rogers