The Ghost Dancers (A Crossed Arrows Western Book 2) by Patrick E. Andrews

Author:Patrick E. Andrews
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: us cavalry, the old west, western ebook, the ghost dance, apache indians, the wild west, patrick e andrews, best western ebook online, united states cavalry, 1880s us western
Publisher: Piccadilly Publishing

Chapter Fourteen

A single candle lit the area around the front pews of the Church of Christian Worship in Hope Wells. It was late in the evening, and Pastor Hezekiah Woodward had called a special meeting of Deacon Leo Horton and the three lay brothers Farley Dempsey, Ed Turnbull and Zeke Mason. The pastor had just revealed the purchase of fifty rifles with church funds.

Ed was confused. “Why’d you do that, Pastor?”

Hezekiah knew his answer would be difficult to explain to the brothers. “They was bought for the Apaches on the reservation.”

The blacksmith Farley Dempsey was shaken. “You gave rifles to them Apache Injuns? For the love of God why?”

“The weapons were requested by the Prophet, Brother Farley,” Hezekiah calmly replied.

“That’s the Injun that’s a kind of preacher, ain’t it?” Zeke inquired.

Leo, as calm as the pastor, smiled serenely and answered, “That’s right.”

“But he ain’t a Christian, is he?” Zeke asked.

“Nope,” Leo replied. “He’s a savage heathen.”

Zeke’s dismay was obviously increasing. “Well, I sure don’t like the idea of giving them guns to Apaches. It wasn’t much more’n five or six years ago they was raising hell around here.” He paused in thought for a brief moment. “What kind of rifles are they?”

Hezekiah answered, “They’re Henry repeaters.”

Zeke yelled, “You gave Henry repeating rifles to them Apaches?”

“That’s right,” Hezekiah stated. “And the prophet said they’re gonna be used to kill whites!”

Ed Turnbull leaped to his feet. “Hezekiah! You just started an Injun war!”

Farley Dempsey struggled to calm down. “I know you must’ve had a good reason for what you done, Hezekiah. Will you tell us why you think it was a good idea? Will you do that? Please!”

“I want ever’body to relax,” Hezekiah stated. “Ever’thing I do, is a commandment from the Good Lord. He said that if I kept the faith and go on with the grand plan of the second coming just like I’m told to do, the Injuns won’t even think about killing whites. Instead, at the right time when a roar of thunder and lightning split the sky, they’ll point them guns in the air and shoot just once. The blasts of them rifles will kill all the sinners all over the world. And the righteous will be brought up to heaven.”

Now the three brothers stared in awe at their spiritual shepherd. Farley exclaimed, “God bless you, Pastor Hezekiah!”

“This is surely a miracle,” Zeke declared.

Ed sobbed, “I am so happy to be a part of the second coming. When I think I’ll be able to look into my Savior’s face, I—” He began weeping so hard that he couldn’t say another word.

Hezekiah was also overcome. “Bow your heads, deacon and brothers. Let’s give thanks to the Almighty for this miracle in the great plan he has laid out for his people.”

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