Western Expansion

Saving John

I dreamt of my mom. My mom was standing in a desert with no water or food. She stood helpless in the scorching sun nowhere to go.

Off in the distance, a black figure comes to her direction. The figure was fast, definitely not walking. Maybe it was her hallucination, maybe it really wasn't there. Just the lack of water empowering her. But it wasn't a trick of the brain.

It was real. The galloping of the horse sped faster than a human heartbeat. Making its was toward my mom. I couldn't scream not make any sound to warn her. But the gallops kept coming.

Soon a boom sound rang off. My mom fell with a thud in the sand of the desert. Tears began to fall from eyes, making my face wet. The galloping stopped.

"Get up!" The Indian that shot my mother yelled at her, or maybe it was me. I couldn't tell from the sun in my eyes.

I wasn't sitting or laying down. I was standing.

"I said Get Up!!!" He yelled making my ears ring.

I felt a sore spot on my stomach, but nothing has hit me.

He yelled again and I opened my eyes. Oh right, that part wasn't a dream. It was real

The Indian that speaks English has thrown me off the horse into the dirt ground. His strong boot, John's boot, nudged me.

"Okay! Okay!"I said sitting up.

He didn't take a no for a answer, so he yanked me up from hair.

"Owww!!" I said staggering forward from him launching me.

He brought his gun out and pointed it toward me.

The leader Indian yelled something.

"Come on! Walk!" The English Indian said to me waving his gun in my direction.

I turned around and walked forward with my feet hurting on every stride.

I looked around for John. The sun's heat covered me with blisters and sickness. There were no trees around, just the hot sun and the dirt to comfort me. But it didn't comfort me, knowing were John is would comfort me.

Whipping my head slowly in every direction trying to make no attention toward me, I found John laying on his stomach on a horse. I couldn't tell if he was breathing.

My breathing became heavier and faster as so did my heart. He had to be alive. It was just a cut into the thy, I could easily fix it up from the training I had at home.

Home.

From the tragic events that have been happening, I had totally forgotten about home.

My dad.

He's probably worried to death in every waking moment that I might not come back. Besides, I was the only family he had left.

"Turn around!" He said raising the gun again.

I turned around facing a horse in front me. The Indian rocked back and forth from the movements of the horse.

I hated being here. I wish my dad didn't ask if I could take over his spot. I mean it wasn't his fault... we needed the money, but still. I'm going to find my way out of this mess one way or another. Ill find a way.

.............................................

Hours and hours have passed. The sun giving me a sun burn on my face. I didn't have my hat with me, probably one of those Indians took it.

"Stop right here." The English Indian said holstering his gun.

I dropped to the ground. My legs tired from walking miles.

My lips were cracked and dry. Even my tongue was not wet.

I felt a object drop on my lap. A shiny can appeared as I opened my eyes. It was a canister. Water

Water, water, water, water, water was all I could think of.

My hands lunged for the canister. I struggled to open at first, but got the top off.

Cold water went down my throat as I chugged it.

The last drop was finally gone and I threw down on the sand. It wasn't cold water, but I was still thankful.

A loud thud sounded behind me. A low moan sounded off. I turned around having a little difficulty.

It was John!

"John!" I yelled reaching for him.

"Hey." He said struggling to stand up.

The Indians were setting up camp as I helped John sit up.

"I'm surprised I'm alive." He said looking at his leg.

"I'm going to try to fix it." I said standing up.

I walked a step closer to the Indians setting up their camp for the night.

"I need water." I said

"You already had some." The English Indian said gathering some sticks.

"It's not for me. I need to bandage John's wound." I said looking back at John.

"He'll live." He said already getting a fire going.

"No he won't. Please." I said begging

"Why should I care if he dies?" He said standing up looking at me.

"Because..." I said staggering. The Indian was right. He wouldn't care. Because he wants him and I dead. I could lie."Because he is one of the governor's son. And if he dies, than so do you and the rest of your kind."

"Your lying. Why would the governor's son be out in the open, doing work like this?"  He asked raising a eyebrow.

"Because... He ran away. And the governor wanted me to retrieve him." I said hoping we would buy it.

"He sent a girl?" He asked again raising his eyebrow.

"Well, he's not very bright." I said.

He sighed. "Wait over there."

I went back over to where John was sitting up.

"He getting the water?" John asked

"I don't know. John if they ask anything about your life. Say your the governor's son." I said fast plain enough for him to understand.

"The governor's son? You lied? Why?" He asked eye wide.

"Yes, just so I could get your leg fixed up. You could get an infection ." I said shifting around the sand.

"We are screwed." He said looking down.

I looked down also. John's boots was off. His feet were covered in dirt and blisters.

Shuffling feet came in my direction. Looking up, the English Indian was above me holding a canister. He dropped it on me.

"Thank you." I said as he walked away.

He didn't say anything, but I didn't care. I had the water.

I opened the top and went over to John's wound.

"Ah shit." He said as I poured the hot water onto his burning wound.

I grabbed his t-shirt and ripped off some.

"Hold still." I said wrapping the fabric around his thy. He didn't scream just whined a little.

"At least you won't get infected, hopefully you won't ." I said as he drunk the rest of the water.

"Thanks." He said