Read Online Beyond The Horizon by Connie Mason - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Connie Mason
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heels, except for one warrior who lagged behind to issue a warning. Blade recognized him immediately as Big Crow, one of the young men with whom he had been friends when he lived in his mother’s village.
“Beware of Mad Wolf, Swift Blade. He is determined and proud. He will find a way to get what he wants.” He glanced meaningfully at Shannon.
“Why do you follow him, Big Crow? I remember Mad Wolf well. He is ruled by anger and resentment. He is not the kind of leader young men like you should emulate.”
“I follow Mad Wolf because I believe as he does,” Big Crow revealed. “The whites will destroy us if we do not fight back.”
Without waiting for a reply, the young warrior raced off after Mad Wolf and his braves.
Shannon went limp with relief, sagging against Blade for support. “Will they come back?” Her voice shook and her legs trembled, as much from excitement as from terror.
“This is Sioux country.” Blade’s cryptic explanation did little to ease Shannon’s mind. “Come, I’ll help you mount. It’s time we returned to the wagon tram.”
“Did you know those Indians? It seemed as if…” Her sentence trailed off, almost afraid of what she would learn.
“They are from my village,” Blade admitted slowly. “Mad Wolf and I were never great friends. He was too arrogant and hot-headed for my liking. He indicated that he has left the village and is now leader of a band of renegades.”
“Will they attack the wagon train?” Shannon asked. She thought of the dozens of innocent women and children who would die in a raid.
“Perhaps, but I don’t think so,” Blade answered, hoisting Shannon into the saddle. “Something Mad Wolf said led me to believe he was merely observing our comings and goings.”
A question formed in Shannon’s mind but was never voiced as Blade leaped astride Warrior and set both mounts into motion with a slap of the reins. Whatever he wanted to discuss with Shannon was forgotten, pushed aside by more pressing matters.
News of the Indian sighting swept swiftly through the ranks of those traveling with the wagon train. Blade had called the men together shortly after he and Shannon returned and issued a warning. The fact that it had been a war party was taken seriously and immediate precautions were instigated to protect the emigrants should the Sioux reappear. Even the women were instructed in the art of loading and firing a gun and how best to protect themselves and their children. Blade warned against straggling behind and cautioned everyone to remain safely within the camp perimeter at night.
Of all those concerned, Clive Bailey remained strangely unaffected by the Indian sightings, openly scoffing at the danger and voicing his doubt concerning an attack. He appeared so unconcerned that Blade immediately became suspicious. He cursed his luck at being unable to search Clive Bailey’s wagon, for he truly believed he’d find much more than goods and supplies. Did Mad Wolf know Clive Bailey? Were Mad Wolf and his renegades actually protecting the wagon train from other raiders, aware of what it held?
The guards were doubled that night and the camp subdued. Shannon slept fitfully inside the wagon with Callie and the baby. A thunderstorm during the night drove Howie inside and Shannon relaxed somewhat, certain the Indians wouldn’t attack in so violent a storm.
Storms were common on the prairie in the spring and summer, providing brilliant displays of lightning and claps of thunder that shook the wagons. However, when no rain fell for days, as was often the case, they had to contend with alkali dust that lay as deep as six inches on trails, churned into gritty, blinding clouds by wagon wheels and animal hooves.
When Shannon awoke the next morning she learned that some of the cattle had been spooked by the storm and much of the day was spent rounding up the strays. Blade led a group of men out at dawn, and both Shannon and Callie were on hand to watch their
“Beware of Mad Wolf, Swift Blade. He is determined and proud. He will find a way to get what he wants.” He glanced meaningfully at Shannon.
“Why do you follow him, Big Crow? I remember Mad Wolf well. He is ruled by anger and resentment. He is not the kind of leader young men like you should emulate.”
“I follow Mad Wolf because I believe as he does,” Big Crow revealed. “The whites will destroy us if we do not fight back.”
Without waiting for a reply, the young warrior raced off after Mad Wolf and his braves.
Shannon went limp with relief, sagging against Blade for support. “Will they come back?” Her voice shook and her legs trembled, as much from excitement as from terror.
“This is Sioux country.” Blade’s cryptic explanation did little to ease Shannon’s mind. “Come, I’ll help you mount. It’s time we returned to the wagon tram.”
“Did you know those Indians? It seemed as if…” Her sentence trailed off, almost afraid of what she would learn.
“They are from my village,” Blade admitted slowly. “Mad Wolf and I were never great friends. He was too arrogant and hot-headed for my liking. He indicated that he has left the village and is now leader of a band of renegades.”
“Will they attack the wagon train?” Shannon asked. She thought of the dozens of innocent women and children who would die in a raid.
“Perhaps, but I don’t think so,” Blade answered, hoisting Shannon into the saddle. “Something Mad Wolf said led me to believe he was merely observing our comings and goings.”
A question formed in Shannon’s mind but was never voiced as Blade leaped astride Warrior and set both mounts into motion with a slap of the reins. Whatever he wanted to discuss with Shannon was forgotten, pushed aside by more pressing matters.
News of the Indian sighting swept swiftly through the ranks of those traveling with the wagon train. Blade had called the men together shortly after he and Shannon returned and issued a warning. The fact that it had been a war party was taken seriously and immediate precautions were instigated to protect the emigrants should the Sioux reappear. Even the women were instructed in the art of loading and firing a gun and how best to protect themselves and their children. Blade warned against straggling behind and cautioned everyone to remain safely within the camp perimeter at night.
Of all those concerned, Clive Bailey remained strangely unaffected by the Indian sightings, openly scoffing at the danger and voicing his doubt concerning an attack. He appeared so unconcerned that Blade immediately became suspicious. He cursed his luck at being unable to search Clive Bailey’s wagon, for he truly believed he’d find much more than goods and supplies. Did Mad Wolf know Clive Bailey? Were Mad Wolf and his renegades actually protecting the wagon train from other raiders, aware of what it held?
The guards were doubled that night and the camp subdued. Shannon slept fitfully inside the wagon with Callie and the baby. A thunderstorm during the night drove Howie inside and Shannon relaxed somewhat, certain the Indians wouldn’t attack in so violent a storm.
Storms were common on the prairie in the spring and summer, providing brilliant displays of lightning and claps of thunder that shook the wagons. However, when no rain fell for days, as was often the case, they had to contend with alkali dust that lay as deep as six inches on trails, churned into gritty, blinding clouds by wagon wheels and animal hooves.
When Shannon awoke the next morning she learned that some of the cattle had been spooked by the storm and much of the day was spent rounding up the strays. Blade led a group of men out at dawn, and both Shannon and Callie were on hand to watch their
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