It was an hour after sun up . Sam knew the Comanche would be traveling by now and they were not far . He caught up to them with a Comanche tied to the saddle across the rump of his horse . Sam's left arm and side were covered with blood and he rode past them close so they could see . He pulled up a hundred yards ahead of them , cut the man loose tied to the saddle and casually threw him on the ground . He remounted and rode back with his rifle laid across the front of his saddle stopping just ahead of them and motioning to the one Captain Jack had talked to that surrendered .
Sam said ...Everyone of you will put your knifes in a pile right there ! He had the two Comanche's knifes that attacked him stuck in his belt and threw them one at a time on the ground ten feet from him . He said ...those are the knifes of the ones you left at the water hole to kill us , you set a trap for us to try and save face ! I give you the one I dumped off ahead ...he is still alive . The other is dead back at the water hole .
He continued ...If I see one man not throw his knife in this pile I will shoot every horse you have ! We know your traveling to chief Nocona's camp on the Little Wichita River and where to find you if you harm anyone on your way ! You have a long way to go to have to carry this many wounded . I go back now to tell Jack Coffee of your deceit after he gave you mercy and let you surrender ! Wade Mclellan will be following you but you will never see him ! NOW...start piling your knifes and move on ! If you don't I will shoot every horse !
They all threw their knifes in the pile and slowly headed east to the Little Wichita .
Tumbleweeds
Moderators: carlson1, Charles L. Cotton
Re: Tumbleweeds
Sorry ! Duplicate post .
Last edited by chuck j on Sat Oct 06, 2018 4:04 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Tumbleweeds
Sorry , duplicate post . Yea I know but I'm just not very smart .
Last edited by chuck j on Sat Oct 06, 2018 4:07 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Tumbleweeds
Sam sat on his horse with his rifle laying across the saddle as they all walked over to put their knifes in the pile as they past . When they were well past he filled his saddle bags with knifes and wrapped the rest in flour sacks tying them to the back of the saddle . His shoulder was hurting and his arm was swelling bad . He had to get back to the cabin to get it tended to . He had lied to the Comanche about Wade following them but it might keep them from hurting someone else .
He mounted and headed back west , his horse was worn and he took it easy on him . He didn't need to be afoot right now .
He mounted and headed back west , his horse was worn and he took it easy on him . He didn't need to be afoot right now .
Re: Tumbleweeds
Zeke was up early starting a fire from the banked coals . She woke up and they were talking . She said ...Zeke I want to go before Wade and Captain Jack come to eat . Zeke agreed and got the chamber pot , he made her take her time and told her to let him support her . She was not to strain her side at all . It hurt her to sit up even with Zeke raising her , they got it done and her put back on her side in bed . Zeke checked her wound and it seemed to be weeping less than last night but didn't tell her , he would wait for Wade and the Captain's opinion .
He made bacon with gravy and biscuits for breakfast . Wade came in and got a cup of coffee saying Captain Jack was finishing putting out the stock on grass . Wade said he needed to check his cows , he figured some would have wandered upriver by now and needed driven back to the bend in the river . He said the Captain wanted to write up some reports to send to the Ranger station at Fort Graham . They just talked .
Captain Jack came in and said loudly ...Good morning ! They replied the same and he said ...Lets look at your wound ma'am . He and Wade very carefully removed the bloody bandage and gently cleaned the area with warm water . They left it for ten min or so and looked at how much it was weeping . Both of them said it was fifty percent better than last evening ! Zeke agreed and they cleaned the gun belt and put down clean sacks on the bed to catch the drainage then rebandaged it with clean white sack cloth tightening the belt again . Wade very happily said ...It looks to be healing ma'am ! But you must stay in bed and I know you don't like it but if you move around it will undo the healing .
Zeke brought her Nate and had a little mush and chopped bacon and milk telling her to feed him . He said ...Before you feed him feel his top gum ! She did and said aloud ...He has two teeth coming in ! They all made a big deal of it and talked about him going to be eating steak soon and such . Nate was the focus of conversation ! Captain Jack laughed and said ...Well heck ! He's already fought with his mother against the Comanche , he can ride a mule , grandpa Zeke is showing him to hunt and fish ...This boy is way ahead ! He ought to make one heck of a man ! They all laughed but actually it was true and would prove out later .
He made bacon with gravy and biscuits for breakfast . Wade came in and got a cup of coffee saying Captain Jack was finishing putting out the stock on grass . Wade said he needed to check his cows , he figured some would have wandered upriver by now and needed driven back to the bend in the river . He said the Captain wanted to write up some reports to send to the Ranger station at Fort Graham . They just talked .
Captain Jack came in and said loudly ...Good morning ! They replied the same and he said ...Lets look at your wound ma'am . He and Wade very carefully removed the bloody bandage and gently cleaned the area with warm water . They left it for ten min or so and looked at how much it was weeping . Both of them said it was fifty percent better than last evening ! Zeke agreed and they cleaned the gun belt and put down clean sacks on the bed to catch the drainage then rebandaged it with clean white sack cloth tightening the belt again . Wade very happily said ...It looks to be healing ma'am ! But you must stay in bed and I know you don't like it but if you move around it will undo the healing .
Zeke brought her Nate and had a little mush and chopped bacon and milk telling her to feed him . He said ...Before you feed him feel his top gum ! She did and said aloud ...He has two teeth coming in ! They all made a big deal of it and talked about him going to be eating steak soon and such . Nate was the focus of conversation ! Captain Jack laughed and said ...Well heck ! He's already fought with his mother against the Comanche , he can ride a mule , grandpa Zeke is showing him to hunt and fish ...This boy is way ahead ! He ought to make one heck of a man ! They all laughed but actually it was true and would prove out later .
Re: Tumbleweeds
It was near noon . Zeke was with her they talked about many things and they talked about their future and the farm . They wondered if Wade would stay with them . He had been a friend and had really been a help to them . He seemed to be trying really hard to fit in and seemed to like it here but he wanted to minister to spread GOD's word . They decided they would let GOD work this out .
Wade went to check his cows and Captain Jack was digging her up a garden spot to surprise her north of the well where she said she wanted the garden . Zeke was slicing ham , they were going to have ham sandwiches and left over beans for lunch . She was asleep holding Nate . As Zeke sliced the ham to fry he heard the black mule bray ! He picked up his rifle and stepped out on the porch . The mule was looking to the west where a lone rider was coming . Zeke hollered to Captain Jack !
Wade went to check his cows and Captain Jack was digging her up a garden spot to surprise her north of the well where she said she wanted the garden . Zeke was slicing ham , they were going to have ham sandwiches and left over beans for lunch . She was asleep holding Nate . As Zeke sliced the ham to fry he heard the black mule bray ! He picked up his rifle and stepped out on the porch . The mule was looking to the west where a lone rider was coming . Zeke hollered to Captain Jack !
Re: Tumbleweeds
Captain Jack came around the east end of the cabin from where he was digging up the garden . Zeke walked took a few steps back to the cabin door then reach around the frame getting her Henry . The rider was nearly there , there was no time for the captain to fetch his own rifle . Zeke handed it to him and Captain Jack walked boldly to the middle of the yard halfway to the mesquite tree and waited .
The rider wore a flat crowned black Stetson , it look ancient . He had on a homemade grey Lindsey shirt , denim pants and boots . He sat an old Mexican rigged saddle and had a buffalo robe tied on back . It had two rifle boots , in front was a Henry and there was a long cap lock double rifle in the rear boot . He wore a double rig gun belt tied down with two 1851 Colts . There was a ball bag and powder horn round his left shoulder . His horse was a pale sorrel and looked like a thoroughbred , perfect confirmation with long neck and legs .
He kept his head down as he rode slowly into the yard . He seemed old and weak by the way he rode , he didn't seem capable of riding a horse like he sat on . He held the reins in his left hand with his right laying on his leg as he slowly and steadily rode up to the Captain glancing at Zeke . He dismounted off that tall horse without touching leather and stood there in front of the Captain .
Captain Jack held the Henry across his body and said ...I figured you were dead ! Everyone says your dead ! I might just shoot you myself ! The old man said ...You ain't got the guts to shoot me ! Too many have tried !
Zeke muttered to himself as he gripped his rifle tighter ..Lord ! Who is this man ?
The rider wore a flat crowned black Stetson , it look ancient . He had on a homemade grey Lindsey shirt , denim pants and boots . He sat an old Mexican rigged saddle and had a buffalo robe tied on back . It had two rifle boots , in front was a Henry and there was a long cap lock double rifle in the rear boot . He wore a double rig gun belt tied down with two 1851 Colts . There was a ball bag and powder horn round his left shoulder . His horse was a pale sorrel and looked like a thoroughbred , perfect confirmation with long neck and legs .
He kept his head down as he rode slowly into the yard . He seemed old and weak by the way he rode , he didn't seem capable of riding a horse like he sat on . He held the reins in his left hand with his right laying on his leg as he slowly and steadily rode up to the Captain glancing at Zeke . He dismounted off that tall horse without touching leather and stood there in front of the Captain .
Captain Jack held the Henry across his body and said ...I figured you were dead ! Everyone says your dead ! I might just shoot you myself ! The old man said ...You ain't got the guts to shoot me ! Too many have tried !
Zeke muttered to himself as he gripped his rifle tighter ..Lord ! Who is this man ?
Re: Tumbleweeds
The stranger said ...I hear tell all you and Big Foot's son Sam do these days is go around to the settlers comin in to settle and build em an outhouse and a clothesline and maybe help em make hay ? Texas Rangers have come down a peg Jack !
Captain Jack started laughing and dropped the Henry to his left hand barrel up walking the few steps between them with his right hand out . They shook hands and Captain Jack said ...How long has it been ? Twelve years ?
Captain Jack started laughing and dropped the Henry to his left hand barrel up walking the few steps between them with his right hand out . They shook hands and Captain Jack said ...How long has it been ? Twelve years ?
Re: Tumbleweeds
They talked a second obviously glad to see each other . Captain Jack motioned Zeke to come and introduced them . He said ...Ed ! This is Zeke . Zeke ! This is Ed Rawlings . They shook hands and Zeke said ...Your Ed Rawlings ..the Ranger ? Ed shook his head yes . Zeke said … I'm proud to meet you but ain't you supposed to be dead ?
Ed Rawlings said … Yes ...and I could be ...but I haven't checked lately . Captain Jack said ...Lets sit in the shade Ed , there's a woman got wounded yesterday in a big fight we had with the Comanche right there on the river . She's resting so lets sit on the porch and catch up . They walked to the porch and Zeke asked ...What would you prefer Ed ...coffee or sweet tea ? Ed said ..sweet tea would be apricated , haven't had any in a long time .
Zeke went in to make the tea and figured they had company so he would fry some potatoes to go with the ham and beans so started peeling them . The Captain and Ed needed to catch up since they hadn't seen each other in so long . Ed Rawlings was a ghost or a lie depending on who you were listening to , he was said to be at the Alamo and all sorts of stories that were far fetched . It was said he got killed in many places and that the Rangers just lied to keep his name alive to scare people . It was said he could shoot a man off a horse at a mile and never went to a town or around people . There were too many stories of him to even tell . It would be interesting him being here !
Ed Rawlings said … Yes ...and I could be ...but I haven't checked lately . Captain Jack said ...Lets sit in the shade Ed , there's a woman got wounded yesterday in a big fight we had with the Comanche right there on the river . She's resting so lets sit on the porch and catch up . They walked to the porch and Zeke asked ...What would you prefer Ed ...coffee or sweet tea ? Ed said ..sweet tea would be apricated , haven't had any in a long time .
Zeke went in to make the tea and figured they had company so he would fry some potatoes to go with the ham and beans so started peeling them . The Captain and Ed needed to catch up since they hadn't seen each other in so long . Ed Rawlings was a ghost or a lie depending on who you were listening to , he was said to be at the Alamo and all sorts of stories that were far fetched . It was said he got killed in many places and that the Rangers just lied to keep his name alive to scare people . It was said he could shoot a man off a horse at a mile and never went to a town or around people . There were too many stories of him to even tell . It would be interesting him being here !
Re: Tumbleweeds
Sam was keeping an eye out for a place to water his horse and he was thirsty himself . He didn't remember any following the Comanche but he hadn't been looking either . When he got to the place on the river where the laundry rock was he would go on and ride another two miles upstream to the ford to cross . His horse was worn out and Sam wasn't going to make him swim the river again in his condition . Sam's upper left arm was swollen twice it's normal size and hurting bad , the blood wasn't draining ...it was clotting up . He needed it opened up . He was feeling sick and wanted to throw up but there was nothing to throw up . He kept riding west .
Re: Tumbleweeds
When Wade got to the bend in the river half his cows had wandered off on the prairie or upstream . He rounded up and choused back the ones out in the prairie then rode upstream pushing the ones he found to the river making it easier on the way back to gather them all at one time . He was near the ford when he saw a horse and rider standing in the distance . It looked like Sam's horse but the rider was slumped over the saddle . He pulled his rifle and put Bud at a gallop till he could see it was Sam . He reached him and Sam didn't look up . Wade dismounted and Sam was past out .
Re: Tumbleweeds
Captain Jack and Ed talked a long time , Zeke had taken them tea and was trying to let them talk knowing they hadn't seen one another for a long time . She was resting and Nate was asleep with the pup on his pallet . That pup sure was protective of Nate , Zeke figured it was a good thing .
Wade gently tried to rouse Sam awake . He was hot with fever and his wound was obvious ! Sam finally opened his eyes and Wade told him ...Hold onto the horn Sam ! I'll lead you to the cabin where we can tend you ...Stay awake a little longer brother ! Wade mounted and grabbed Sam's reins keeping his horse close beside Bud to help hold him on . The cabin seemed far away .
Wade gently tried to rouse Sam awake . He was hot with fever and his wound was obvious ! Sam finally opened his eyes and Wade told him ...Hold onto the horn Sam ! I'll lead you to the cabin where we can tend you ...Stay awake a little longer brother ! Wade mounted and grabbed Sam's reins keeping his horse close beside Bud to help hold him on . The cabin seemed far away .
Re: Tumbleweeds
Wade went as fast as he could and help Sam stay in the saddle , he dang sure didn't need to fall on that arm . Finally the cabin came in sight , Wade was steady talking to Sam trying to keep him holding the saddle horn ! Captain Jack was showing Ed all the guns taken from the Comanche , Ed was impressed ! Captain Jack was telling the story of the fight , Ed said I ought to have got here yesterday ! Sounds like a heck of a scrap Jack ! All at once they heard someone in the yard ...I NEED SOME HELP !
Both ran out of the shed and Zeke was running out of the cabin . Zeke got to Wade and Sam first seeing the situation he grabbed Sam and held him in the saddle till Wade could dismount . By then Ed and Captain Jack were there and they all eased him down and carried him in the cabin laying him on the table . Zeke grabbed some flour sacks to lay his head .
Both ran out of the shed and Zeke was running out of the cabin . Zeke got to Wade and Sam first seeing the situation he grabbed Sam and held him in the saddle till Wade could dismount . By then Ed and Captain Jack were there and they all eased him down and carried him in the cabin laying him on the table . Zeke grabbed some flour sacks to lay his head .
Re: Tumbleweeds
She woke and was looking over her shoulder , she said ...What's wrong with Sam ! Who is that man !
Zeke went around the bed and explained quickly to her as the rest of them took Sam's shirt off , Wade cut down the left sleve to get it off without hurting Sam or making the wound worse .
Captain Jack asked ...Can you heat some water Zeke and find a butter knife , we will need sacks and white bandage ? Zeke said ..Yes sir ! Ed was looking at the wound and said ...Stab wound ...it's clotted . Clean it and get it draining . Captain Jack said ...Yes ! It's getting septic ...Needs be done now !
She said ...How bad is it ! Zeke said ...It's bad ma'am . You be still ! Don't get your wound running again , there are plenty here to help .
Zeke went around the bed and explained quickly to her as the rest of them took Sam's shirt off , Wade cut down the left sleve to get it off without hurting Sam or making the wound worse .
Captain Jack asked ...Can you heat some water Zeke and find a butter knife , we will need sacks and white bandage ? Zeke said ..Yes sir ! Ed was looking at the wound and said ...Stab wound ...it's clotted . Clean it and get it draining . Captain Jack said ...Yes ! It's getting septic ...Needs be done now !
She said ...How bad is it ! Zeke said ...It's bad ma'am . You be still ! Don't get your wound running again , there are plenty here to help .
Re: Tumbleweeds
Wade went to the shed where he had taken all their clean bedding and got Sam's bedding taking it to the cabin where he would be for a time . Zeke was warming water in a metal bucket and gathering a butter knife . Captain Jack said ...We need another switch Zeke , can you get one ? Zeke said ...Yes sir !
The pup was scared pushed up against Nate . She was trying to watch everything over her shoulder and being worried . There was a lot happening then Sam started trying to vomit . They raised him up so he wouldn't choke on it and the Captain held a bucket catching bile water he threw up . They laid him down when he stopped ...he never woke up .
The pup was scared pushed up against Nate . She was trying to watch everything over her shoulder and being worried . There was a lot happening then Sam started trying to vomit . They raised him up so he wouldn't choke on it and the Captain held a bucket catching bile water he threw up . They laid him down when he stopped ...he never woke up .