by Tell Cotten
Lightning flashed, and he could see the horses. They were spooked and moving all about.
Water was pouring into the gully, and the current was remarkably strong. It pulled at Brian, and he had a hard time keeping his footing.
He bent over and reached for a mesquite root. His fingers wrapped around the gnarly root, but suddenly the bank crumbled underneath him. He fell straight down, and he uttered a startled yell.
He made a big splash as he landed in the bottom of the gully. He was on his back, and his rifle landed near him.
The cold water shocked him, but he still managed to grab his rifle. Then, he struggled to his feet.
The swirling water was already knee deep, and Brian could tell that it was rising fast.
He sloshed over to the horses. They were terrified, and he spoke soothing words to them.
He slid his rifle in his scabbard. Then, working as fast as he could, he tethered the horses into one, long line. The horses were jumpy, and Brian experienced great difficulty.
He finally finished, and he sloshed over to his horse. He mounted, grabbed the lead rope, and kicked up his horse.
The terrified horses didn’t want to follow, and Brian had to take a dally around his saddle horn. He pulled them along a ways until they finally started to follow.
Their hooves sunk in the mud with each step, and travel was extremely slow.
Brian could almost touch the running water with his boots, and he swallowed uneasily as he watched the water swirl around them.
“We have to get out of this draw,” he told the horses. “And in a hurry!”
Chapter fifty-one
Another hour came and went, and Yancy and Cooper were now walking back towards the east.
The thunderstorm behind them was impressive. Lightning danced across the sky, and they could feel the moisture from it. There was also an occasional deep rumble of thunder.
Each time lightning flashed, they glanced around quickly, searching for the hill. So far, all they’d seen was flat, sandy ground.
“We’ve walked in a big circle,” Yancy said sourly.
“That was the plan,” Cooper reminded.
“So where’s this hill?”
“In front of us,” Cooper replied. A few seconds passed, and he added, “I think.”
Yancy grunted. Lightning struck again, and they quickly inspected the area before the light faded.
“I’m starting to think we should have gone with the first option,” Yancy said.
“The less strategic one?”
“Not much strategy walking in circles either.”
“We’ll find it,” Cooper replied.
Yancy grunted again, and they walked on.
Another half hour passed, and the lightning never let up.
Yancy was about to say something when Cooper stopped abruptly. He knelt down, and Yancy hunkered beside him.
“See it?” Yancy asked in a whisper.
Cooper nodded and pointed.
“To the left,” he said softly.
Yancy nodded back, but didn’t say anything.
Voices had a way of traveling at nighttime, so there would be no talking now.
Taking their time, they edged toward the hill. The distance was several hundred yards, and it took them half an hour to reach it.
As they got closer, they pulled out their knives. They held their rifles in one hand, and their knives in the other as they crawled forward.
They crossed a clear, open spot and came up behind a sandy dune. Lightning flashed, and Cooper spotted three Indian ponies tied to trees beside the tank of water.
Cooper glanced at Yancy. He’d seen them too, and he nodded.
Cooper turned and studied the ground in front of them.
There were some thick, bushy shrubs off to the side. Cooper gestured at them, and they crawled up amongst them, being careful to avoid any thorns.
Lightning flashed, and they spotted two Indians at the top of the hill. They had dug in behind some brush, and their backs were to them.
Cooper glanced at Yancy. He held up two fingers, and Yancy nodded.
Cooper frowned his disappointment, and then he looked back up the hill.
They didn’t move for a long time. Each time lightning flashed they searched all around them, but the third Indian failed to show himself.
Cooper finally decided that they needed another viewpoint. He glanced at Yancy and gestured at a pile of rocks a short distance away.
Yancy looked and nodded.
Cooper made a motion for Yancy to stay where he was. Yancy understood, and he nodded his agreement.
Cooper returned the nod, and he crawled forward while Yancy covered him.
He was halfway to the rocks when they heard a noise of moving feet.
Before they could react, the third Apache trotted up behind them.
Yancy was flat on the ground, lying on his stomach, between two thick shrubs. His feet were stuck out behind him, and the Apache tripped on his leg.
They heard a surprised grunt, and then the Apache yelled at the top of his voice when he spotted Yancy.
His hand went to his waist, and Yancy saw him raise his tomahawk. With a look of hatred, the Apache leaped forward and attacked.
Chapter fifty-two
Rondo was anxious, but he forced himself to be calm. He moved at a snail’s pace as he crawled forward.
The rain was falling harder. The campfires smoked and hissed as they died, and the pass became darker.
The Indians hardly paid any notice to the captives. All their attention was on building a lean-to as quickly as possible.
The darkness pleased Rondo. And, any noise he made blended perfectly with the storm.
He was near soaked as he came up behind Rachel and April. They sat huddled together, a blanket wrapped around them, shivering in the rain.
“Rachel,” he said softly.
She didn’t hear him.
Rondo inched closer, and he reached out and touched her on the shoulder.
She jumped, but he calmed her quickly.
“It’s me, Rondo!” He hissed.
Rachel couldn’t believe her ears, and she glanced wide-eyed at April. Her senses reeled, and she started to turn around.
“Stay still! Both of you!” Rondo hissed.
Rachel nodded numbly. She wanted to cry as she clutched April’s arm.
“Are you both all right?”
They nodded.
“Good. We’re going to try and reach that big rock behind us. Can you do that?”
Again, they nodded.
“All right. Don’t make any sudden moves. Stand slowly, and move back. Any shooting starts, run for that rock. Let’s go.”
Standing as one, they took small steps back. Rondo kept his hand on Rachel’s shoulder as he guided them.
Across the camp, No Worries was busy supervising the hastily built lean-to. They needed more cover for the roof, and his eyes surveyed the surrounding area for anything useful.
He spotted the captives up and moving, and he uttered a surprised grunt. He squinted against the darkness as he watched them.
Was that a darker figure looming behind them?
Lightning flashed, and No Worries’ eyes grew wide. He gave an Apache yell and leaped toward his rifle.
Chapter fifty-three
Yancy was out of position to grab his Colt, and he didn’t have the time to swing his rifle up.
As the Apache swung down with his tomahawk, Yancy flipped over onto his back. He managed to block the blow with his forearm and knife.
Yancy was pinned. The Apache raised his tomahawk for another blow, and Yancy struggled mightily.
A rifle shot from Cooper bellowed out, followed by the thumping sound of a bullet hitting flesh. The Apache’s body was flipped over backwards. He hit the ground on his back, kicked out, and was still.
With his rifle in hand, Cooper spun back around.
The two remaining Apaches were bent over, running down the hill. The clos
est warrior snapped off a shot, and Cooper heard a sharp whistling sound as the bullet fanned air close by his head.
Cooper returned the gunfire. He saw the Apache’s body jerk, but he never broke stride as both Apaches disappeared into the darkness.
Cooper took a quick look over his shoulder.
Yancy was getting untangled from the shrubs. He grabbed his rifle and joined Cooper.
“You all right?” Cooper asked.
“I’m fine.”
Cooper nodded, relieved.
“I heard shots,” Yancy said. “Did you get one?”
“No. Just nicked him.”
“You must be slipping,” Yancy scolded.
Cooper shot his brother a dark look.
“I did just save your life,” he reminded.
“I didn’t say you were falling completely apart,” Yancy said as he squinted into the darkness. “Where’d they go?”
“That way,” Cooper gestured.
“Think they’ll be back?”
“I figure they will. They’ll want their horses.”
Yancy nodded his agreement.
“Can’t let them have ’em,” he declared.
“I know,” Cooper replied, and they made their way over to the dirt tank.
There was plenty of cover. They positioned themselves on either side of the horses, and they watched and waited with keen eyes. Each time lightning flashed, they quickly searched all around them.
A few minutes passed, and Cooper chuckled gruffly.
“What’s so funny?” Yancy asked in a hushed voice.
“The hunters have just become the hunted,” Cooper explained in a whisper.
“It appears so,” Yancy whispered back.
Chapter fifty-four
As the campfires flickered out from the rain, Winchester lost track of Rondo. So he watched the captives instead, and his keen eyes caught some movement as Rondo crawled up behind them.
“He’s there,” Winchester whispered.
Lee and Jeremiah nodded.
The pouring rain had already soaked them. However, they ignored the storm as they focused their full attention on the Apaches.
From the corner of his eye, Winchester saw Rachel and April stand and step back.
He expected them to be spotted any second now, and he gripped his rifle in anticipation.
A loud war cry suddenly sounded out, and the Apaches stirred like a nest of hornets.
Winchester drew a bead on an Apache running toward the captives. He let out his breath and pulled the trigger.
The driving impact of the bullet struck the Apache in his torso. He took one more small, jerky step, and then fell as his knees buckled.
Lee and Jeremiah opened fire, and flame exploded from their rifles as they fired one shot after another. Below them, Rachel, April, and Rondo made it to safety behind the rock.
The Apaches were taken by complete surprise, and several warriors fell as they grabbed their rifles.
The rain fell harder, and it became a drenching downpour. However, Winchester, Lee, and Jeremiah kept up the furious gunfire as they sprayed the pass with bullets.
More Apaches fell, and they had no choice but to retreat.
But they couldn’t leave the horses. So, while a few returned the gunfire, the rest grabbed the horses and led them down the pass. Then, the few Apaches that remained withdrew after them, still firing their rifles. However, none of the shots came close.
The Apaches disappeared into the darkness, and Winchester made a motion to quit firing.
“They’ve had enough!” He shouted through the rain.
“Now what?” Jeremiah yelled back.
“We get out of here!”
Lee and Jeremiah nodded. They reloaded their rifles, and then they stood and started to turn.
Lightning suddenly flashed.
They didn’t know it, but an Apache had stayed below. He was crouched behind the lean-to, and he held his rifle ready as he waited for a shot.
The Apache caught a glimpse of figures on the flat rock. He aimed and fired, and he grunted in satisfaction when he heard the loud thump of a bullet hitting flesh.
Chapter fifty-five
To Brian’s relief, the rain lightened as he rode east. There was still swirling water all around them, but the horses had calmed down some.
Brian was wet, cold, muddy, and miserable. He shivered in the saddle, and the horses struggled through the thick mud.
He figured he had gone maybe two miles when he spotted an opening in the steep wall of the gully. He pulled up and inspected it, and he figured the bank had crumbled from water pouring in.
He frowned thoughtfully, and he nodded as he came to a decision.
He rode in as close as he could and dismounted.
The bank was slick, and he had difficulty climbing it. He yanked on the reins, and his horse reluctantly followed.
Some of the horses down the line balked in protest, but they had no choice but to follow the next horse.
The last horse finally climbed out, and Brian heaved a sigh of relief. They were still in running water, but it wasn’t nearly as deep.
Brian sloshed over to his horse, stepped into the saddle, and then sat there a moment. Each time lightning flashed, he studied his surroundings.
He was beside a tall mountain, and he figured the pass was on the other side.
He knew Winchester and the others would be coming from the west, so he turned back and followed the gully. He was careful to keep some distance between him and the crumbling bank.
The rain was hitting him in the face now. And, even though the rain had lightened, the horses didn’t like riding into it. Brian had to take another dally around the saddle horn and drag them along, and travel was slow.
An hour passed.
By now the gully and mountain had drawn closer together, leaving a narrow ledge for Brian to go down.
He didn’t want to chance falling into the gully. He rode in as close as he dared, and then he pulled up. He dismounted, checked on the horses, and sat on a nearby tree trunk.
“Now we wait,” he told the horses, and he hunched his shoulders against the light rain.
Chapter fifty-six
As soon as they were concealed behind the rock, Rondo and Rachel embraced. Tears ran down her face, and they held each other fiercely.
Winchester, Lee, and Jeremiah were firing one gunshot after another, but Rondo couldn’t let go just yet.
“Are you all right?” Rondo asked, his face anxious.
“I’m fine,” Rachel said.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, we’re all right. Both of us.”
Rondo was flooded with relief, and he hugged her even tighter.
“Is June all right?” April spoke up anxiously.
“She’s fine,” Rondo reassured. “She’s with the Tomlins.”
April looked relieved, and Rondo looked down at Rachel.
“I’m sorry it took us so long,” he murmured. “We got here fast as we could.”
“I knew you would come for us,” Rachel said, and her eyes shown brightly at him.
The rain was easing up. They were soaked, but Rondo and Rachel didn’t care as they held each other.
Rondo finally released her and turned, ready to lend a hand. However, the gunfire had stopped, and the others were climbing off the rock.
Lightning flashed. A rifle shot bellowed out, and Rondo heard the thumping sound of a bullet hitting flesh.
Both Lee and Jeremiah fell. Lee landed on his feet and sprinted forward to keep his balance, but Jeremiah landed in a heap.
Winchester slid down behind them, and everybody gathered around Jeremiah.
They propped him against a ragged boulder. Blood was already staining the front of his shirt, and his face was chalky as he grasped his belly with both hands.
“Take it easy now,” Lee urged.
April uttered a gasp of despair as she knelt and examined the wound. He was gut shot, and blood was going eve
rywhere.
Tears streamed down her face. She looked up at everybody for help, but they just stood there, their faces solemn.
Winchester glanced at Lee and Rondo. Without saying a word, he turned and slipped around the big rock to keep watch.
Jeremiah took in a few deep breaths, and his body trembled in shock.
“How ’bout this?” He said, his voice shaky.
“Don’t talk,” April encouraged. “Save your strength.”
“For what?” Jeremiah gasped. “I’m gut shot.”
“We’ll carry you out,” Lee spoke up.
Jeremiah shook his head and gasped.
“That would slow you down.”
“You want us to leave you here?” April asked, her eyes wide.
“What I want,” Jeremiah paused for a sharp pain to pass, “is for you to get out.”
He raised a bloody hand before she could say anything.
“I’m dying,” he said matter-of-factly.
April sobbed in protest, and Jeremiah looked at Lee.
“I fold,” he said.
“What?” Lee didn’t understand.
“Our bet,” Jeremiah reminded. “You win. I fold.”
Lee nodded but didn’t reply.
“Take care of her,” Jeremiah said, and his voice trembled again.
“I will,” Lee promised softly.
Jeremiah nodded and looked back at April, who was still sobbing gently.
He reached out and ran his finger down her cheek.
“Don’t cry for me,” he said. “I want you to get out of here and live a long, happy life. You hear me?”
April managed to nod.
“All right then,” Jeremiah said, and he glanced at Rondo and Lee. “Get me on that rock, and I’ll hold ’em for as long as I can.”
They nodded somberly. Being as gentle as possible, they picked him up. The pain was severe, and Jeremiah cried out.
They pushed him up onto the rock. Lee and Rondo crawled up beside him, and Rondo handed him his rifle.
