Tree Frog and his warriors heard the gunfire nearby and immediately began chase. They had encountered one group of escapees and had sent two warriors with them, hoping to get them to a tribe nearby, and safety.

They entered the grasslands near Red Bear’s hiding place and immediately began chase of the soldiers, who in turn were pursuing one young warrior, heading east.

~*~*~

Teaspoon and the boys heard the first shot and kicked their horses into a run. As they drew closer they saw a young warrior running straight at them followed by a squad of soldiers.

"Damn! That’s Buck!" Teaspoon yelled, loud enough to be heard above the sounds of their galloping horses.

They were still a distance away when they heard another shot and saw the young man’s back arch as the bullet cut through him. Then he fell forward, landing face down in the grass.

One of the soldiers dismounted, planning on examining their fallen friend, when the sound of war cries filled the air. The soldier remounted as his squad moved westward to engage the Kiowa war party, Buck all but forgotten.

Jimmy was first off his horse when they reached Buck, Teaspoon not far behind him. The others sat their horses, knowing that they might have to leave quickly if the Kiowa war party should turn on them, or the Army returned. They waited for the news of their friend.

Jimmy turned Buck over as Teaspoon felt for a pulse. The ground soaked up the blood as it leaked from Buck’s body.

"He’s alive! Barely. We need to get him out of here. Help me get him up."

Jimmy and Teaspoon lifted their friend and carried him to Teaspoon’s horse. Noah dismounted and joined them. The older man mounted as Jimmy and Noah lifted Buck into the his arms. As soon as he was in place he turned his horse and rode off due east. The others followed.

Red Bear watched as Buck’s friends collected his body, for Red Bear was certain that his brother was dead. Then he ran out to join the Kiowa warriors in their fight against the soldiers.

~*~*~

The riders covered as many miles as they could before darkness descended. Teaspoon knew they weren’t helping Buck any, but if they stopped any sooner they risked being caught by either the Kiowa or the army and either could mean death for any or all of them.

When Teaspoon finally allowed them to stop, it was in a rocky area that provided some cover for a small fire and could be easily defended. As Kid and Jimmy helped Buck down from Teaspoons grip, Lou grabbed her bed roll and laid it out as Cody and Noah quickly gathered wood and started a fire. Teaspoon’s shirt was covered in Buck’s blood, but he paid it no mind as he went about examining Buck’s wound.

He wondered about the whip marks, and could see unhealed cuts that had become infected beneath the blood covering the young man. But it was the bullet wound that had him concerned. Teaspoon turned Buck on his side. The bullet had entered the right side of Buck’s back and had exited just above and to the left of his navel.

His friends stood around him silently, knowing the normal outcome of a stomach wound. Their friend would suffer a painful death if the bullet had hit intestine.

"I think it might be high enough to have missed." Teaspoon muttered, hoping to convince himself, as well as the others. Jimmy removed his shirt and handed it to Teaspoon, putting his jacket back on. Teaspoon nodded his thanks as he began to rip the shirt for bandages.

What have I done to you son? Teaspoon thought as he set to work.

On to Chapter Nine