Jonny and the Comanches

Chapter 15: The Battle

The next day was spent in sadness for Jonny. He wished White-Foot would come back. He solemnly helped his mother do the dishes and clean the ranch's dirty buildings. The only time he could be more happy was if Alisha came and talked to him with her sympathetic words. She knew what he was going through. Then someone shouted, Look! Look! Jonny ran outside and to his surprise and disbelief, there was White-Foot. The poor horse was covered with foam and sweat and had a strange hand made bridle on her. Jonny ripped it off and wiped her down. He then fed her some grain. "Seems that those Indians didn't like her." said Pa. "Yeah, well I'm glad she knows how to get home." exclaimed Charles. Jonny heard Alisha exclaim in a low tone, "I knew she would come back." He looked at her, with a twinkle in her eye and a smile on her face. "I knew you were right." Jonny said.
Two days later a young boy of about Jonny's age rode hard into the Benson ranch. He halted his horse and ran to the door and knocked. "Hello?" answered Ma. "There is a family about six miles from here that are about to be attacked by indians!! I saw them surrounding it on my way to Lake Buckskin. They will need help! But hurry before they kill every one of em!!" he shouted. Pa had heard it all and had already begun to grab guns ammo and horses. Jonny leaped into action and seized his revolver and lever action 30-30 winchester. Willy grabbed a 45 colt revolver and a shotgun. All the cowboys grabbed guns and leaped on horses. Jonny was about to swing up onto White-Foot's back when Alisha said to him, "Be careful and come back to me, please. What would I do without you? You have saved my life so many times." In an emotional voice he said, "Goodbye." She kissed his hand and said, "Be safe." "I will come back to you." he said. With that they all rode off. They had left Clem, Mr. Thomas and Brad at home to keep everything safe. The six of them followed the young boy whose name was Bruce. Soon they topped a knoll and down in a little valley was a house and a barn with corrals surrounding it. All positioned around it was a huge pack of comanches. "Comanches." Pa said in a serious voice. "They must be looking to kill that whole family." said Charles. "Let's move in fellas. We've got a lot of indians to take care of." said Karl. They moved in and just when the door was torn down by two big braves, the party moved in splitting up and raining heavy fire on the indians. Jonny raised his rifle. He tried to point it at an indian but it was hard to because of the bumpy horse ride. He fired but missed. He saw Karl fall off his horse. He saw Pa shoot an indian and Charles was helping Karl. Jonny rode to the other side of the house where all the indians were. He galloped straight through them and trampling one of them. He fired his revolver at another indian who flew five feet and landed on the ground. All of a sudden an arrow struck his arm with searing pain. He was flung off White-Foot and fell to the ground. He hit hard and lay still. He heard fierce jabbing of talking, but it silently drifted away. All was black. Jonny opened his eyes slowly. He saw Alisha standing over him. He felt Brad wrapping his arm. He heard a strange ladies voice in a wailing tone. He saw a look of concern and dread on Alisha's face. When he opened his eyes she came down next to him and said, "Thank the Lord!" Jonny sat up. "Where are we?" he asked. Then he remembered. They had been fighting indians and he had gotten hit by an arrow. "White-Foot, where is White-Foot?" he questioned. Pa said, "The indians stole her." "Where are the indians?", Pa replied, "They retreated and ran away." Then Jonny slumped back to lying flat and the blackness came over him again.