The Black Jacks (2015) by Jason Manning

Author:Jason Manning [Manning, Jason]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: United States, Westerns, Historical Fiction
Amazon: B01728IR9I
Published: 2015-11-04T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seventeen

Yancey Torrance assumed that Mary and Emily had crossed the river on the ferry with the rest of Grand Cane's women and children, and after the fight was finished he went about helping the other Black Jacks who were trying to contain the fires which the Comanches had started. A few of the men combed the town making sure all the Indians left behind were dead. Now and then a shot rang out. McAllen didn't intervene. No one expected him to. A Comanche prisoner was at the very least a pain in the neck, and dangerous besides.

Even when Brax showed up, Yancey wasn't worried. His son swore he had seen the womenfolk to the ferry and then come to town to help his father. He'd run into a couple of Comanches on the way and killed them both. He was proud of himself. Yancey was perturbed. He'd wanted Brax to remain out of harm's way, but he realized that, had the roles been reversed, he would have done the same.

It was only when the families began to filter back into town and he saw no sign of Mary and Emily, and some of the people who had been on the ferry swore they hadn't seen them, that Yancey experienced a twinge of anxiety. Thinking they might have gone straight home and that in the confusion some of the others on the ferry had not noticed them, he headed down the road to his cabin. McAllen rode along beside him, Joshua in his wake. Arriving at the cabin, they found Morris Riddle and his son doing what they could for Major Stewart.

"He's lost a lot of blood," said the elder Riddle. "Dr. Tice needs to take a look at him."

McAllen nodded. "He'll be along directly. We've got some wounded in town."

"Anybody kilt?"

"Yes. Nathan Ainsworth and George Sellers. Have a feeling Jellicoe Fuller might be dead, too."

"Damn them Comanches," growled Riddle. "Damn their red hides to hell."

"My wife and Emily," said Yancey. "Have you seen them?"

Riddle said he hadn't. Yancey decided to check the ferry. He got up behind McAllen, and Escatawpa carried them to the river crossing. Cedric Cole told them he had not seen the women. They had never arrived at the ferry.

"Dear God in heaven," gasped Yancey. He suddenly had trouble catching his breath. Every bit of color drained from his face.

"We'll check along the river between here and your place," said McAllen. "Maybe they got cut off and found a place to hide."

"Please, Lord, let it be so."

A few minutes later they found Mary Torrance.

McAllen tried to stop Yancey from getting too close, but Yancey was strong as a bull, and he would not be restrained. With a sobbing groan, Yancey fell to his knees beside his wife's body. That was the only sound he made. Gently, he tried to arrange Mary's torn dress more modestly. McAllen stood nearby, watching his friend, his own heart in anguish. He was vaguely aware of Joshua checking the ground for sign.

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