Spirit of Iron by Janice Shefelman

Author:Janice Shefelman
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781940130248
Publisher: Eakin Press

12

Along the

Comanche Trail

The Comanche trail had disappeared at the San Saba River. Chaa, the bigger and more talkative of the two Lipan guides, said the Comanches broke up here and took different routes.

Captain Allen decided to divide the men into two groups — one under his command, the other under Lieutenant Burleson — and search the riverbank in both directions. Mina, Nakona, and Chaa rode west with Allen and five Rangers, while the lieutenant, Batsosé, Daniel, and the rest of the company headed downriver.

Mina studied the ground ahead. More than anything she wanted to be the one to strike the trail. She searched for a hoofprint, flattened grass, or a dislodged rock, but she found nothing. It seemed the Comanches had vanished at the river, taking Amaya with them. Will I ever see her again? Mina wondered. What is she doing at this very minute? Has she tried to escape? These questions whirled in her mind.

The sun climbed higher in the sky and bore down hot on her back. Mina took off her hat and shook out her short, blonde hair. They rode through groves of trees, tall grass and wildflowers, and across rocks. The group had grown quiet, but locusts filled the air with their raspy songs.

After a while Seth Cooper said, “I reckon the Comanches have outwitted us.”

“Looks that way,” Captain Allen agreed. “It may be that we should give this up and head for the Colorado.” Then he spoke to Chaa and Nakona, asking their advice.

Mina listened but kept her eyes on the ground. Chaa said the Comanches would cover their trail if they thought they were being followed. But Nakona did not think they would be worried this far into Comancheria.

The riders came to a low bluff where rocky ledges descended almost vertically into the river, leaving no bank to ride along. Tucan picked his way up to the top of the bluff as the men continued to talk.

This would not be a good place to cross the river, Mina thought. Unless . . . the idea came so fast it startled her . . . unless you were trying to elude your followers. Then it was the perfect place.

Mina nudged Tucan gently with her heels, and he pulled ahead of the other horses by a couple of lengths. She wanted to have a clear view all around. Concentrating on the ground, she no longer listened to the talk. Her eyes swept back and forth across the ground ahead. A certain urgency seemed to hold her attention and would not allow her to look up.

Then she saw something. A small clump of yellow flowers lay crushed on the rock. Her heart leaped.

“Nakona, look!” She pulled up on Tucan’s reins, dismounted, and stooped to examine the plant.

The men stopped, their conversation abruptly broken off.

Mina searched the ground farther away from the river until she found a hoofprint in the sandy soil.

“It’s the trail!” Mina said, looking up as Nakona, Chaa, Captain Allen, and the rest gathered around.

Nakona

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