"I agree, but I worry for another reason," Naiche said. "My father,
Cochise, long kept the peace. He let the white men run their stages. He
protected their wagons and mail carriers from renegades who would have
destroyed them.
"Then, only a few moons ago, a white chief named Bascom came to Apache
Pass with some soldiers. He summoned Cochise to his tent, saying he
wanted to talk. Suspecting no treachery, Cochise went with five
warriors. Bascom said we Chiricahuas had stolen a boy named Mickey Free
and some cattle. He demanded their return."