Jonny and the Comanches

Chapter 3: The Night of the Rescue

It was dark and the sun was gone already. To keep suspicion down Jonny slid out his window and and tip-toed to the corral. He did not want his family to know what he was doing. He rode off with White-Foot in the direction of the Thomas's. He made her go as fast as she could. Soon he came to the hill and stopped. He saw a bunch of indians lined up on the other side of the hill looking down on the house. "Sure enough look at them." he muttered as if to someone. He silently rode over to where the creek rushed down the hill and he descended among the trees to keep the indians from seeing him. He then tied White-Foot to a tree and he snuck over to the house. Just as he reached the house he heard an owl call. He knew it was not an owl. It was how the indians communicated. It sent shivers down his chilly back. He stood outside the girls window and whispered loudly, "Alisha!" surprisingly she immediately answered, "Yes?" "It's me, Jonny. The Indians are surrounding your house. They already attacked us. We are all safe but you are not." "Oh no," she exclaimed softly. "I'll wake Tasha and Willy, and then after that I'll wake the rest." "We must escape through the window." Jonny whispered. "And get away." "I'll try my best." she said. Jonny knew she was brave. He waited there for a little while. After a few minutes she came to the window, "I have us all." Willy lifted Tasha down to Jonny. And then Alisha jumped down then Willy said "The indians are breaking the door down right now!" "Jump out, no time to wake anyone else." said Jonny. They ran a few yards without being seen to the woods and to where Jonny had tied White-Foot. Jonny helped Alisha up and then he got up. "I am going to sneak over and get Bright, one of our horses." said Willy. He snuck off holding Tasha's hand. Alisha whispered in his ear, "What made you come tonight?" "Because I knew you weren't safe. I had to rescue you." "I wish I could repay." she said. Just then they both heard a sound. Jonny looked toward it and saw about a five hundred feet away was 10 familiar men on horses. One was Jonny's father the other Charles, Clem, Brad, Ben, Clarence and some of the Rangers. "Looks like we got help there." He whispered to Alisha. "I was wondering who that was. Do you think the rest of my family will be safe?" "I would think so. But those Indians are savage. I wish I had an answer" All of a sudden the riders on the hill went racing down toward the house. Jonny let White-Foot walk over to the edge of the trees so they had a better view. They saw the roof going ablaze and that sent dread into Jonny's stomach. "What about my parents?" Alisha quivered. Jonny could tell she was about to cry. "I don't know, all I know is that you and Willy and Tasha are safe. I hope that the Rangers can save them. Jonny saw an Indian dragging someone toward the hill. "That's Mark!" cried Alisha silently. She then burst into tears. He tried to comfort her. He heard gunshots and then the indian that was dragging Mark fell down dead. He saw Alisha's mother lying on the ground and Ben was stooping over her. Alisha stopped crying and faintly with the light from the fire Jonny saw Mark get up slowly and limp to where his mother was. All of a sudden Jonny and Alisha heard a stick crack behind them. White-Foot snorted and lurched forward Alisha turned to see a mean looking Indian. Jonny turned and the Indian snatched Alisha from off the back of the White-Foot. Jonny leaped off and picked up a big rock and hurled it at the indian hitting him in the face. The Indian dropped Alisha and Jonny took her hand and quickly helped her up onto White- Foot. He turned and saw the indian topple over. He kicked White-foots sides and she started to gallop into the woods on the other side of the creek. They galloped for a long time—about two hours. Then Alisha said "Wait what about Willy and Tasha?" "They never came back to us to think of it. We must find them." "Then Jonny made a screech owl call but there was no answer. "We must find a place to sleep." They found a little place in a small hollow in which to sleep and Jonny tied White-Foot to a bush that was out of sight from the clearing. Alisha pulled a gunny sack from her back and pulled out some food, water and blankets. Jonny had not even noticed that she brought it. She was a smart girl alright and brave too. He couldn't blame her for crying though. After some food, they fell asleep.