Native Outlaw

Chapter XIII

Long into the night, we ride. My new horse has trailed behind for this whole time, neighing every once and a while. My head and back is slumped up against Chavez's front, my head is wedged in the crevice of his neck. My eyes are drowsy and I long to sleep, but I can't shake the idea of what Billy did out of my head.  I have known him for as long as I can remember. I trusted him, and just recently, I trusted him with my life. My grandpa at home all alone, I abandoned him for someone that was just going to abandon me. I don't know if I should blame myself for thinking it would work out, or blame Billy for causing a domino effect of screw ups. The question is, Is he even still alive? Did he make it? God please let him be alive. Billy and I had something, maybe more than the title of best friends we have always reserved for each other even when we were miles away. At least I felt that way, but now...everything is jumbled and confused. My mind wanders to my grandpa as the smooth sway of the horse beneath me tries to rock me to sleep. What ever happened to the woman we tried to help? Is she still there with my grandpa?..or is he completely alone? A tear tries to betray me, so I bite my tongue until I know I am in control of it. Everything was fine as it was! My grandpa and I were living a happy life, and many young men expressed interest of me to my grandpa. I could have gotten married and had kids in the very town of my last known (besides my brother) family member! Now I have no telling how much money to my name, and my best friend betrayed me leaving me with a man I had only met so short ago. But isn't excitement what I wanted? Isn't this what I have been trained for by the most wanted outlaw in history, my grandpa? I know the answer, and its yes. The Indian blood that runs through my veins long for me to be free, to express my freedom. Not sit at home and take care of a family 24/7...but I did not know it would hurt this much. And the further I get away from that white town, the harder I yearn for my people. I am a strong believer that everything happens for a reason, and if these were the chain of events that had to occur to unite me with my people...I don't know if I can be too angry.  Sleep soon takes over, and I feel my eye seal shut. Chavez's chest rises and falls against me, giving a very comforting feeling despite the tornado that went on in my head. 

* * * 

                                                                            Chavez's P.O.V 

Jane. That's the only name that fills my mind in the dark hours that we ride. Her backside and her head is completely dependent upon me and I try to refrain from the thoughts that are evoked from that. I hear her mumbling, so I strain to listen. 

"Billy." She mumbles. The blood seems to drain from my face as I hear her speak his name in her sleep. She mumbles some more, but I can't make out much more. She stirs in my arms and seems to immerse herself into an even deeper sleep. I sigh. Of course any man would be lucky to have a woman like this. She's gorgeous first of all. But it's not only that; she doesn't need  a man to watch over her at all hours of the day. She knows right from wrong, and she is one of the strongest women I have ever met. But what draws me to her the most...something that I will have to be careful of if I want to stay out of love,...her free spirit. She is like an eagle or like the wild mustangs in the dessert. Her heart is a butterfly, and she allows it to take her anywhere it wants to go. The wild stallion trailing behind us is just a rendition of it all. He is drawn to her because of her prerogative.  She's as wild as the leaves that fly in the fall, and as wild as the wolves that hunt in the night. 

I make myself stop. I can't let myself think about her too much. Instead I study the path in front of us, being cautious. There are no limits to what can happen in the darkness out here. About five minutes later, I hear hooves on the trail. I look around, hopefully they are just travelers. But the hooves seem to be coming entirely too fast to be travelers. They would have a wagon, women, and children to worry about. I push the horse harder, and I hear the stallion pick up it's speed as well. Jane stirs at the sudden rise in speed. The hooves come faster, gaining on us until they are right behind us. I hear war cries. Indians. Apache or Navajo? They are right on us now. I squint through the dark. I see headbands wrapped around their heads. Apache. I force the horse to go at top speed. I don't know what they want, but I know they are an enemy and I am outnumbered. I hear a gun shot, and I immediately shield Jane with my body. The Apache laugh and then surround me in a circle. Surprisingly Jane did not wake up. We are stopped now, surrounded by enemies. I speak to them in Navajo, they should know a little bit at least.