Son of an Arizona Legend by Stephen Bly

Author:Stephen Bly
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: coming of age, adoption, friendships, family secrets, racial prejudice, family loss, arizona territory, cowboy hero, romance 1800s, honesty and courage
Publisher: Bly Books

And cough.

And cough.

Finally, Brannon pulled the saddle blanket tent away from her face and held both shoulders tight, so she had to remain upright. “Keep wiping her forehead with the cool water,” he ordered.

“She is sweating all over,” Littlefoot said.

“Yeah… it’s like a bad fever… a very bad fever. She was coughing up blood, wasn’t she?”

“Yes, I don’t think she can go on like this very long.”

Elizabeth began to gasp for breath. Her eyes opened wide, and she stared at Brannon.

“Elizabeth?” he whispered.

After a long pause, “Yes?”

“You had a bad spell… we were worried.” Brannon’s voice faltered, but he kept his grip on her. “I would lay you down, but it might be easier to breathe sitting up.”

“Yes,” she whispered. “Hold me up… keep holding me.”

“Mother,” Littlefoot said, “you kept calling for your Jesus. I thought… I thought you were…” He couldn’t force himself to complete the sentence.

“I didn’t know I called out to Jesus, but I could have… He’s the only one I could call to at such a time.”

Littlefoot continued to hold her hand. “I was very worried.”

“Was The Brannon worried?” she asked her son.

Littlefoot shrugged. “He is never worried.”

“You are wrong.” She sighed. “Do not be anxious about me until you see The Brannon worried. I am all right now. We should ride on farther.”

“You need the rest,” Brannon said.

“This is not a very safe-looking camp,” she replied.

“We are not riding on. We will sit here until you are stronger.”

“You are very stubborn.” She offered a smile that came out more like a grimace.

“So I’ve been told. Would you like to try and eat anything?”

“Perhaps I can drink some water.”

Through the rest of the night, Brannon and Red Shirt took turns standing guard along the trail. Littlefoot never left his mother’s side. At daylight, Red Shirt returned from the lookout and sat down cross-legged next to Brannon.

“Will we ride today?”

“I don’t think she’s up to it.” Brannon motioned to the sleeping Elizabeth.

“Do you think they are following us?”

“Yep.”

“Then they will catch us today.”

“That would be my guess.”

Red Shirt continued, “We should find better cover. Even The Brannon cannot hide in this clearing.”

“You ride up the trail and find us some protection. We’ll follow as soon as they stir around.”

Red Shirt saddled his horse. Then he turned back and ran his fingers through his thick, black hair. “Why does The Brannon do all of this for a dying woman who is not one of his people?”

“Because, well… we are friends… and she is one of ‘my’ people. A man’s got to do what’s right.”

“And who tells The Brannon what is right?”

“Why… it’s what God wants me to do, that’s all.”

“I like this God of yours. Is He the Jesus that the Nez Percé calls for in the night?”

“Yeah… that’s the one.”

Red Shirt mounted his horse and turned to the trail. Then he rode back by the campfire. “One day The Brannon should come and visit my lodge and tell us more about his Jesus.”

“That’s a promise you can count on.

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