Introduction
‘Bent Fort’ is a historical adaptation of the American southern plains and Mexico from the early 1800s through the Sand Creek Massacre of November 1864. These historical scenes are based on David Lavender’s book ‘Bent’s Fort.’
https://crackpot.substack.com/t/bent-fort
WILLIAM BENT BRINGS WORD FROM EAST THAT FOX AND SAUK WARRIORS KILLED CERAN ST. VRAIN’S BROTHER FELIX IN BLACKHAWK’S WAR. FELIX’S DAUGHTER 17-YEAR-OLD FELICITY ST. VRAIN HAS BEEN ENTRUSTED INTO CERAN ST. VRAIN’S CARE. KIT CARSON IS DISPATCHED TO BRING FELICITY FROM ST. LOUIS TO BENT’S FORT. THEY HAVE SCARECELY ARRIVED SAFELY AT BENT FORT BEFORE KIT RIDES BACK OUT TO THE FIELD ON A HUNT. FELICITY STAYS AT FORT BENT WHILE CERAN ST. VRAIN MAKES HASTE FROM TAOS TO MEET HER.
ONE DAY KIT CARSON ENTERS THE 2ND STORY CLUBHOUSE WITH BILLIARD TABLE OF ADOBE BENT FORT. KIT IS SURPRISED TO SEE THE ROOM IS EMPTY EXCEPT FOR FELICITY ST. VRAIN SEATED AT THE BAR DRINKING WATER.
KIT CARSON: Hi Felicity.
FELICITY ST. VRAIN: Hello, Mr. Carson.
KIT CARSON LAUGHS.
FELICITY ST. VRAIN: Is something funny, Mr. Carson?
KIT CARSON: No. Just that I get a kick when I hear Mr. Carson. I’m so used everyone calls me Kit, makes me laugh is all. Mind if I sit?
FELICITY SMILES BUT SAYS NOTHING.
KIT CARSON: Would you like a julep?
FELICITY ST. VRAIN: No thank you, Mr. Carson. I get the giggles if I drink julep when I am anxious.
KIT CARSON: Something amiss, miss?
FELICITY ST. VRAIN: How do you mean?
KIT CARSON: You are anxious. Anything I can help with?
FELICITY ST. VRAIN: Oh no nothing like that. Uncle Ceran will be here soon and I am a little anxious.
KIT MAKES A JULEP AND TAKES A SEAT. THE TWO SIT IN SILENCE FOR AWHILE NURSING THEIR DRINKS. THE BILLIARD CLUBHOUSE ROOM IS EMPTY.
FELICITY ST. VRAIN: May I ask you a question?
KIT CARSON: Sure.
FELICITY ST. VRAIN: That scar that cuts across your thumb - how did you get it?
KIT CARSON SCOFFING LOOKS AT HIS HAND SELF-CONCIOUSLY.
KIT CARSON: I’ll answer your question, but why do you ask?
FELICITY ST. VRAIN: I was just curious, I noticed it when we rode in and wondered what happen. You know, riding in the carriage there is not a lot to do except bump along and notice little insignificant things. My mind couldn’t help but pick at things I noticed along the trail.
KIT CARSON: I know what you mean. It’s the same for me. Out there I have to watch each feather of every bird on the wing for fear of missing anything. I got that scar on my thumb cutting onions.
FELICITY ST. VRAIN GUFFAWS.
KIT CARSON: That funny, huh?
FELICITY ST. VRAIN: Oh no! Its just - not what I had on my guess list.
KIT CARSON: Haha. You were guessing I caught a spear tip or arrow point with my bare hand?
FELICITY ST. VRAIN: Yes I suppose I was imagining something melodramatic like that. I’m sorry for speculating.
KIT CARSON: No it’s a funny story. I was nine years old and my brother Moses bumped into me when I was cutting onion. The knife slipped. I was so mad I chased him with the knife the rest of the afternoon bleeding out my thumb. After some time, our brothers followed the red trail and broke us up.
FELICITY ST. VRAIN: Oh my gosh Mr. Carson! What were you going to do if you caught up with him?
KIT CARSON: I don’t know. Probably get my butt kicked! Moses is strong as an ox.
FELICITY ST. VRAIN: Mr. Carson, may I ask another question?
THIRTY MINUTES LATER FELICITY ST. VRAIN AND KIT CARSON ARE CARRYING ON IN LAUGHTER.
FELICITY ST. VRAIN: Mr. Carson, I can’t believe you didn’t say one word to me all the way from Independence until now!
KIT CARSON: You have to be alert on edge all the time out there, even when you are dog tired and falling out of the saddle.
FELICITY ST. VRAIN: Then why do you - (FELICITY TRAILS OFF INTO A MURMUR)
KIT CARSON: Excuse me?
FELICITY ST. VRAIN: I shouldn’t ask you that.
KIT CARSON: Ask what? I meant I didn’t catch your question. Come again?
FELICITY ST. VRAIN: I really shouldn’t ask you this question, you’ll think I am immodest or take affront.
KIT CARSON: You can ask me anything, Felicity.
FELICITY ST. VRAIN: What do you want in life, Mr. Carson?
KIT CARSON: That’s easy. A good wife and a bunch of kids.
FELICITY ST. VRAIN SCOFFS THEN COVERS HER MOUTH AND BLUSHES.
KIT CARSON: What’s funny about that?
FELICITY ST. VRAIN: You’ll think I am rotten.
KIT CARSON: I won’t. Go ahead. ask.
FELICITY ST. VRAIN: They say you roam all over the territory, Mr. Carson.
KIT CARSON: So?
FELICITY ST. VRAIN: Won’t your wife and kids be at home while you roam?
KIT CARSON: You think I want to run to and fro? It’s the only way to make a buck in this country.
FELICITY ST. VRAIN: Yes. In St. Louis they say you - have a wife in every tribe wherever you go.
KIT CARSON: (exploding in rage) Blast that Blood and Thunder claptrap!
FELICITY ST. VRAIN: I am sorry, Mr. Carson. You must hate me to ask so an impudent question. I guess I thought you should know the rumors swirling over your head back east.
KIT CARSON: Thanks for letting me know. If half the stuff that gets in print about me were true, I’d be dead. Packs of lies.
FELICITY ST. VRAIN: Then what is the truth about you Mr. Carson?
KIT CARSON: The truth is that I am a cog. The truth is Hermes of the plains is a glorified errand runner. I ride fast to so they can’t catch and skin my hide. No matter how fast I ride, I can’t catch the carrot nor shake-off the stick.
FELICITY ST. VRAIN: You want to stop?
KIT CARSON: Yes.
FELICITY ST. VRAIN: You feel trapped?
KIT CARSON: I do. And scared when I am out there, all the time. Wife in every tribe - truth is I am more afraid of the women than the men.
FELICITY ST. VRAIN: What - why?
KIT CARSON: There is a place called Pawnee rock upcountry yonder aways. There the Sioux chased a Pawnee war party up a mesa after the Pawnee tried to steal their horses. At last the Pawnee had nowhere to go so they jumped off the cliff. The Sioux women were waiting below with rocks to finish off the wounded survivors of the fall. They bashed them with rocks until their heads were like jelly. We come upon the place after it happened -
FELICITY ST. VRAIN GRABS KIT CARSON BY THE EARS AND PRESSES HER LIPS TO HIS. KIT BREATHES NERVOUSLY HIS EYES WILD THEN SUBMITS TO A PASSIONATE KISS.
KIT CARSON: Why did you do that?
FELICITY ST. VRAIN: To make you stop! I’ll do it again if you talk.
KIT CARSON: I’m sorry Felicity. Sometimes it’s like I am back there - it’s all I can see clear as day in memory.
CERAN ST. VRAIN APPEARS IN THE DOORWAY.
CERAN ST. VRAIN: Hello, Mr. Carson.
KIT CARSON: Monsieur Vrain. Call me Kit.
CERAN ST. VRAIN: Thanks for watching over our Felicity and bringing her in.
KIT CARSON: You bet.
CERAN ST. VRAIN: Mr. Kit Carson who crosses back and forth over the country like Mercury in its retrograde motions.
KIT CARSON: If you say so.
CERAN ST. VRAIN: I understand you are the best man on the plains, Mr. Kit.
KIT CARSON: Sure - if you say so.
CERAN ST. VRAIN: I am in your debt, sir. We’re heading back to Taos. Come along, Felicity. Ciao, Mr. Carson.
KIT CARSON: Bye.
FELICITY ST. VRAIN WAVES GOODBYE TO KIT AND LEAVES WITH CERAN.
NOVEMBER 25, 1864 - A FADED KIT CARSON STANDS ATOP THE RUINED BENT FORTS SCORCHED, CRUMBLING WALLS. KITS SOLDIERS HAVE TAKEN UP DEFENSIVE POSITIONS AND FORMED BREASTWORKS FROM FALLEN ADOBE BRICK. KIT IS HAUNTED BY MEMORIES OF BENT FORT IN BETTER DAYS. KIT FEELS GRIPPED BY FEAR BY WHAT HE SEES OUT ON THE PRAIRIE. MASSES OF UTE, COMANCHE AND KIOWA WARRIORS WERE MASSING IN GREAT NUMBERS. WAVE AFTER WAVE RACED TOWARD ADOBE WALLS, THEN CIRCLE BACK TO ATTACK AGAIN AND AGAIN. HOWITZER SHELLS EXPLODE ON THE BATTLEFIELD. A KIOWA THAT KNEW THE CAVALRY BUGLE CALLS FOR ACTION SOWS CHAOS BY PHREAKIN ORDERS WITH A BUGLE; WHEN KIT’S BUGLER SOUNDED ADVANCE THE KIOWA WOULD IMMEDIATELY BLOW THE SIGNAL FOR RETREAT. AFTER A FEW HOURS OF FIGHTING, COLONEL KIT ORDERS A RETREAT.
KIT CARSON: We’re whipped, boys. Skin out!
KIOWA AND COMANCHE WARRIORS HARASS CARSON’S COLUMN IN FLIGHT DOWN THE CANADIEN RIVER. THE COMANCHE START A GRASS FIRE TO SMOKE OUT CARSON’S FLANKS. THE WARRIORS GIVE UP THE CHASE AT DUSK.
