West to Bravo by Eric H. Heisner

Author:Eric H. Heisner
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing
Published: 2013-12-31T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 21

Assembling at the top of the rise, the Indians look down on the wagon circle. Even in silhouette, the flare of their horses’ nostrils and the pumping of nervous muscles radiate energy. With a blood curdling war whoop, the hilltop seems to explode in movement as the horseback natives descend on the wagon train in a renewed assault.

The horses thunder down the embankment, greeted by heavy fire from the wagon circle. After the first barrage, Indian foot soldiers pop up from the nearby brush and charge the wagons’ perimeter.

The supply wagon driven by Bear and Holton crests the hill and looks down on the continued attack at the wagon train circle. Putting his rifle easy to his shoulder, Holton pulls back the hammer and looks at Ryan in the wagon. “Here we go, kid . . .”

He watches as Ryan readies his gun and hunkers down in the crates and burlap bags of supplies. Holton turns to Bear and nods. “Let’s get to it.”

Teeth gritting, Bear stands in the wagon box, gives the reins a slap and hollers. “Like I said . . . I was born rooster’d ’nd rarin’ to go!”

All at once, the horses flex under the touch of the reins and dig in. The horse team breaks into a run, and the wagon charges down the hill at the attacking Indians circling the wagon train.

Bear tirelessly slaps the leather reins, and Holton and Ryan hold on to keep from being thrown from the charging wagon as it hops and skips down the rocky embankment. The wagon hits the bottom of the valley and charges toward the melee. Holton shoulders his rifle and snaps off a few shots. “Run ’em down, Bear, head-on!”

“You bet!” Bear turns the wagon with a spray of sand and rocks and drives it straight into the oncoming horseback Indians. Levering his rifle, Holton drops several warriors from their horses. As the Indians rush past, Ryan shoots from the rear of the wagon.

The wagon train defenders watch in renewed hope as Bear drives the supply wagon several passes around the wagon circle. The Indians’ attack becomes a mass of confused riders as they dodge and flee the charging supply wagon.

From horseback, the wagon master rides over, hollers out to several able-bodied men, and ushers them at one of the unhitched wagons.

“Pull one of them wagons aside and let ’em roll in.”

One of the wagons is slowly pushed aside to make an opening for Bear and the supply wagon. Instantly, a horseback warrior rushes past the wagon master. With a vicious whoop, he rides in and puts an arrow into one of the women tending the wounded.

Quick to react, the wagon master’s pistol barks, and the warrior drops from his horse into one of the nearby cook fires.

“Git him out of there! Make sure no more of them Injuns break through!”

Still charging the attacking horseback Indians, Bear stands and urges the team on. Suddenly, he catches an arrow in his chest and slumps forward, almost falling into the running horse team.

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