Jonny and the Comanches

Chapter 17: Night of Terror

A month had passed by. It had gone so quickly. Dealing with indian raids and attacks, everything was just getting a bit hairy. It was evening and the sun cast orange on everything as it said goodbye and disappeared over the prairie. Jonny sat around the bonfire along with Willy and Alisha. Six-year-old Natasha came running out of the house and came over to join them. Alisha was now fifteen, Jonny was sixteen, and Willy was seventeen. They all talked of indians and the perilous times ahead. "I dread what things will come upon us this summer." said Willy. "Yes, I mean, think about what happened to us last year, we barely escaped alive!" Jonny exclaimed. "I know." Willy admitted. "We can't let anything separate us though, Jonny." Alisha said as if only to him. "I couldn't agree more. But horrific times will come and we need to be ready." added Jonny. After a few minutes more they all went to bed. The Thomas's went to their little cabin, which was right next to the Benson's, and the Benson's went to theirs. Jonny pulled the soft covers over his head and fell asleep. He dreamed dreams of Indian battles and White-Foot. All of a sudden he sat straight up in bed. He heard something. A blood curdling scream rang out. It sent shivers of fear through his body. He then heard an owl call. But he knew that was no owl call. It was an indian communication call. "Jonny, wake up!" a terrified voice said. It came from outside his window. "I am already awake." Jonny said still not knowing who it was. "Hurry, It's me Alisha. We have to get out of here!" she whispered. Jonny couldn't believe what she was doing. Quickly he grabbed his gun, food, and a big blanket and jumped out his window to the ground. Just as he did so, a big indian with a tomahawk came around the corner of the house and seized Alisha. Jonny whipped out his gun and shot the indian. He realized that Alisha was very weak. He gathered her into his arms and ran toward the horse corral still carrying his gun, food, and blanket. He set her down by the fence and told her to use his revolver if she needed to. "I'll be right back." he ran toward the house and leaped into his window just dodging an arrow. He noticed that none of his family was in the house. He grabbed his lever-action rifle and ran out the window again just to see an indian set the Thomas's roof on fire. He ran full speed to Alisha. "Are you ok? Do you feel sick?" he asked sympathetically. "Oh no, just been through a lot tonight." she answered. "Well I am going to get us out of here." he leaped over the fence, grabbed Sid who still had a halter and a saddle on and took him through the gate. He draped the blanket over him, slid the rifle in the rifle place tied the food bag to the saddle and strapped his revolver onto himself. Gently he helped Alisha onto Sid's back and then Jonny swung up behind her, and grabbed the reins. He kicked Sid into a trot and they were off toward the creek willows. "What happened to the rest of the families?" Jonny dreadfully asked. "I'll tell you the story. My father woke me up, and said that indians had surrounded the ranch. I asked him how did he know and he said that he had gone outside in the moonlight and saw them. He had warned your father about it too. He had the guns ready, and things and then an indian came right in the door. I leaped behind a big stack of crates and plugged my ears. My father shot him. But more and more came in and they bound my father and mother up and hauled them out. I got up from my hiding place and grabbed Natasha. I heard Willy call to me from outside my window. He told me to help Natasha out of the window to him. I did and jumped out the window myself. The only thing I could think of was you. As I quietly made my way to your window I saw your father carrying your mother and running away from the house. He ran past me and said, "Save him!" I knew that he was talking about you. I saw your older brothers running away and Ben, Karl, and Clem were being tied up. I ran to your window and that is when you heard me." "Wow so you had quite a night. I wish I could have been there when you were." By now they were far out. They stopped and set up a little camp. They were enjoying a little warm fire when they heard horse hoofs. Out of the trees came, Willy, Natasha, Charles and Brad! They all joined and told their stories. "What happened to the rest?" Jonny asked. "Well, Pa and Ma got away, Clarence is with them. And Alisha, as for your parents, I think that they might be dead or captured. And as for Ben, Clem, and Karl, Ben is dead, I think, and Clem and Karl were taken captive." said Brad. They all were lost in their thoughts after that statement. A tear rolled down Alisha's face. Jonny put his arm around her and whispered, "I'll take full care of you now." Though through tears, she looked up and smiled. Brad and Charles hung their heads and Willy just stared into the fire as if in a totally different world, and Natasha fell asleep on his lap. The poor little one, she doesn't even understand. Jonny thought. Alisha stopped silently crying and looked around at everyone. Her eyes resting on her sister. She carefully got up and took her into her arms and came back over to Jonny's side.
The next day, they all went back and to their surprise and happiness, Ma, Pa, Clarence, Clem, and Karl, were there. No one said anything about the others, because they all knew. Pa said, "I think we all know what happened to the others, and we could cause more grief if we talk about it. I am so very sorry, Alisha and Willy, about your parents, but it is a miracle we are all here. And if it wasn't providence's will that your parents lived than so be it. I am going to miss, Conrad and Katelynn. But we will never be normal again if we constantly think about what's lost. We must come closer together. Alisha, I am proud of you my girl, for saving, Jonny. Willy I am proud of you for what you did. I am proud of you all, and I think your father would be proud of you too, Alisha and Willy if he was here. Now Alisha, Willy, and little Natasha are now part of the family." as he said this he picked up Natasha into his arms. Ma said, "I greatly appreciate all of you, for what you did to save each other. We all have each other's back and will never leave each other's side unless by death." They all sat there around the fireplace, in quietude, lost in there thoughts.