Sam found Wade standing in the open by the shinnery watching the Comanches bringing out the wounded and dead . They were dropping their guns in a pile in the clear as they came out . Sam stood with him watching , both holding their rifles and looking ready in case there was a problem .
They tied the dead on the horses with saddles , the wounded were helped on the bareback mounts . There were not enough horses left for the uninjured so some walked . Sam and Wade counted twenty four dead , wounded and uninjured . Six dead , eleven injured and seven uninjured . This fight would be talked about for a long time .
Tumbleweeds
Moderators: carlson1, Charles L. Cotton
Re: Tumbleweeds
Wade went to the game trail across from the laundry rock and called ...They are loaded and leaving Captain . Get her to the cabin ! We will both hang back and follow them within their sight to make sure they know they are being followed . I'll drop back and come back here , Sam will fall back and come up in sight at a distance off and on to make them think there are still two following . They are whipped Captain I don't see any trouble from them .
Zeke found his horse upriver and loped to the black mule staked east of the fight and brought him to her and the Captain . Zeke picked her up as gently as he could with the Captain helping and got her on the black mule . Zeke mounted and Captain Jack handed up Nate to him . Zeke lead the black mule to the cabin while the Captain went to find his horse downriver .
Zeke found his horse upriver and loped to the black mule staked east of the fight and brought him to her and the Captain . Zeke picked her up as gently as he could with the Captain helping and got her on the black mule . Zeke mounted and Captain Jack handed up Nate to him . Zeke lead the black mule to the cabin while the Captain went to find his horse downriver .
Re: Tumbleweeds
Zeke got to the cabin and told her ...Just a second and let me put Nate on his pallet . He ran in and laid Nate down , he went out and got her off the mule helping her get in the cabin .
Zeke said ...We got to get your dress off and clean you up and let Captain Jack see what needs be done . She said ...I can do it . Zeke said ...your in no shape to do anything ! I'll help you and get you cleaned up . Your hurting every time you move , don't be hardheaded ! I seen you naked when you couldn't do for yourself so you listen to me ! She said ...Alright .
Zeke helped her get her clothes off and laid down on the bed , she cried out when she sat down and laid down . He got clean sacks and water , she had dried blood all over her . He got to the wound and said ..It's gonna hurt ma'am ...I'll try to be easy . He cleaned it good as he could , two holes five inches apart horizontal barely two inches below her ribs on her left side . Blood was trickling out of both holes steadily .
They heard Captain Jack out front tying his horse to the mesquite tree . She said ...Cover me up ! I will not be naked in front of the other men ! Zeke threw a blanket over her . He asked her ...Is your gown at the river ? She said ...All our clothes are at the river !
Captain Jack came in and said ...Good ! You are cleaned up , I'll see your wound . She pulled the blanket up on her side and he got on his knees looking at it . It was still trickling blood , Zeke had laid down sacks to catch the blood to keep it off the bed .
He looked a good while and said ...Ma'am we got two options , We can cut it open and cauterize it or run a clean rag through it to clean and then keep pressure on it to try and stop the bleeding . Either way is going to be painful but if we don't most likely it will get infected . I would recommend cleaning it with a rag and keeping pressure on it first , if the bleeding doesn't stop we can always cauterize it .
She said … Then do what you need to do . I trust you .
Zeke said ...We got to get your dress off and clean you up and let Captain Jack see what needs be done . She said ...I can do it . Zeke said ...your in no shape to do anything ! I'll help you and get you cleaned up . Your hurting every time you move , don't be hardheaded ! I seen you naked when you couldn't do for yourself so you listen to me ! She said ...Alright .
Zeke helped her get her clothes off and laid down on the bed , she cried out when she sat down and laid down . He got clean sacks and water , she had dried blood all over her . He got to the wound and said ..It's gonna hurt ma'am ...I'll try to be easy . He cleaned it good as he could , two holes five inches apart horizontal barely two inches below her ribs on her left side . Blood was trickling out of both holes steadily .
They heard Captain Jack out front tying his horse to the mesquite tree . She said ...Cover me up ! I will not be naked in front of the other men ! Zeke threw a blanket over her . He asked her ...Is your gown at the river ? She said ...All our clothes are at the river !
Captain Jack came in and said ...Good ! You are cleaned up , I'll see your wound . She pulled the blanket up on her side and he got on his knees looking at it . It was still trickling blood , Zeke had laid down sacks to catch the blood to keep it off the bed .
He looked a good while and said ...Ma'am we got two options , We can cut it open and cauterize it or run a clean rag through it to clean and then keep pressure on it to try and stop the bleeding . Either way is going to be painful but if we don't most likely it will get infected . I would recommend cleaning it with a rag and keeping pressure on it first , if the bleeding doesn't stop we can always cauterize it .
She said … Then do what you need to do . I trust you .
Re: Tumbleweeds
They heard someone ride into the yard and Zeke grabbed his rifle and looked out the door ...It was Wade ! Wade came quickly walking in and asked ...How is her wound Captain ? Captain Jack told him what he thought and Wade asked her ...Ma'am may I look at it ? She shook her head yes and pulled up the blanket . He looked it over and stood up saying ...Captain Jack is right , we should clean it and keep pressure on it .
Captain Jack asked Wade ...Why are you back so quick ! Where is Sam ? Wade said ...Sam made me come back . He said he was fine and ya'll might need more help . He knew I was worried about her so made me come , said the Comanche were whipped and not going to be any trouble . I would have gladly stayed with him Captain but he TOLD me to return . Captain Jack said ...I understand ...Sam is always looking out for others . Your help may be needed , you know a lot about these type wounds being in the war . Wade said ...I have seen many shot Captain and we had to take care of our own , there were no doctors .
Zeke said ...Lets get this done ! What do I need to do .
Captain Jack asked Wade ...Why are you back so quick ! Where is Sam ? Wade said ...Sam made me come back . He said he was fine and ya'll might need more help . He knew I was worried about her so made me come , said the Comanche were whipped and not going to be any trouble . I would have gladly stayed with him Captain but he TOLD me to return . Captain Jack said ...I understand ...Sam is always looking out for others . Your help may be needed , you know a lot about these type wounds being in the war . Wade said ...I have seen many shot Captain and we had to take care of our own , there were no doctors .
Zeke said ...Lets get this done ! What do I need to do .
Re: Tumbleweeds
Sam followed the Comanche . He and Wade had followed them a bit and he made Wade return , he knew Wade was extremely worried about her . Wade had put himself at terrible risk today crossing the river and fighting them on the other side of the river by himself . Sam was amazed he survived it ! Sam knew Wade had been wounded several times himself during the war and treated many men , he could be of use to Captain Jack treating her .
But for now Sam followed the Comanche , he made it seem Wade was still with him by dropping back out of sight then coming up from another place at a distance . He would sleep on the ground tonight and have to find water for himself and his horse , he had no food or blanket with him and she had spoiled them with her cooking and taking care of them . He laughed to himself that a night on the ground and being hungry a while wasn't a problem ...they were all still alive . He followed the Comanche .
But for now Sam followed the Comanche , he made it seem Wade was still with him by dropping back out of sight then coming up from another place at a distance . He would sleep on the ground tonight and have to find water for himself and his horse , he had no food or blanket with him and she had spoiled them with her cooking and taking care of them . He laughed to himself that a night on the ground and being hungry a while wasn't a problem ...they were all still alive . He followed the Comanche .
Re: Tumbleweeds
Wade asked her ...Ma'am do you have any whisky or alcohol ? She said ...There is a bottle of some kind of whisky in the second box against the wall we used to make cough medicine . But I'm not drinking it ! Hosea teased me to drink some one time and I spit it out !
Captain Jack said ...NO ! No ma'am we just need it to clean the wound . Wade said ...Zeke find a green switch about a quarter inch round a foot long off the mesquite tree and peel it , keep it clean . Wade was going through her clean folded flour sacks pulling out two white ones then cutting two long strips about a foot and a half long and one inch wide .
Captain Jack was cutting up the rest of the white sacks to bandages and slid her 51 Colt off her gun belt to hold the bandages in place .
Captain Jack said ...NO ! No ma'am we just need it to clean the wound . Wade said ...Zeke find a green switch about a quarter inch round a foot long off the mesquite tree and peel it , keep it clean . Wade was going through her clean folded flour sacks pulling out two white ones then cutting two long strips about a foot and a half long and one inch wide .
Captain Jack was cutting up the rest of the white sacks to bandages and slid her 51 Colt off her gun belt to hold the bandages in place .
Re: Tumbleweeds
Wade pulled off the outer thread from the long sides and ends of the strips of sack till the thread were hard to pull out . Captain Jack got same colored sacks to use to clean blood saving all the white sacks for bandage . He said ...Ma'am we are going to go on and put your gun belt on and pull it up high so when we are through we will not have to torment you putting it on to hold pressure on the wound .
We will follow the path of the bullet and push a clean rag through to clean inside the wound . Ma'am this is going to hurt but there is no help for it , Wade will help me and we are going to get this over as gentle and quick as we can . You must be still or it will hurt worse and make it more difficult . Zeke will put his arms around you and you are to hold to him . We are ready ma'am and I have already prayed in my mind ...are you ready ? She said ...Yes .
They helped her turn on her good side and Zeke kneeled on the floor putting his arms under hers and said ...Put your arms around me and squeeze me hard as you need to ! Captain Jack was sitting on a gun port seat by the bed and put one of Wade's strips on the small end of the mesquite switch by putting the end of the switch in the middle and folding it over to cover the switch . Then he started pushing the strip into the hole left by the bullet by wiggling the stick to find the path . Wade felt the tip of the switch with two fingers to show Captain Jack where it was .
She cried out and pulled Zeke to her squeezing more than Zeke thought possible , he held her tight telling her not to move ! She was trying to not make noise but the pain was hard !
We will follow the path of the bullet and push a clean rag through to clean inside the wound . Ma'am this is going to hurt but there is no help for it , Wade will help me and we are going to get this over as gentle and quick as we can . You must be still or it will hurt worse and make it more difficult . Zeke will put his arms around you and you are to hold to him . We are ready ma'am and I have already prayed in my mind ...are you ready ? She said ...Yes .
They helped her turn on her good side and Zeke kneeled on the floor putting his arms under hers and said ...Put your arms around me and squeeze me hard as you need to ! Captain Jack was sitting on a gun port seat by the bed and put one of Wade's strips on the small end of the mesquite switch by putting the end of the switch in the middle and folding it over to cover the switch . Then he started pushing the strip into the hole left by the bullet by wiggling the stick to find the path . Wade felt the tip of the switch with two fingers to show Captain Jack where it was .
She cried out and pulled Zeke to her squeezing more than Zeke thought possible , he held her tight telling her not to move ! She was trying to not make noise but the pain was hard !
Re: Tumbleweeds
After what seemed a long time for everyone the tip of the switch with the strip came out the other side about an inch . Captain Jack pulled it back very slowly as Wade held the end of the strip . When the switch was pulled out Wade slowly pulled the strip through the bullet hole to clean it of anything that the bullet put in the wound .
She had cried out only when they started , Zeke had his face laying on hers telling her it was nearly over . Wade and Captain Jack were both looking at the strip as it came out closely . When the end came out they examined it all around . Wade rubbed the blood on the strip to turn up any trash it picked up .
She was wearing a green dress and there were tiny pieces of green material thread on the first part that came out along with black grey specks from the bullet . From the middle to the end of the strip there was nothing but blood . Captain Jack shook his head yes to Wade and Wade nodded back . Captain Jack said ...Ma'am it looks clean , we will not use the second strip . Now we will clean it with the whisky and bandage it then tighten the bandages with you belt .
It was bleeding more now and Wade held a clean bandage tightly as the Captain rubbed the area with the whisky and wiped it off . He said ...Lets get the bandage and belt on to slow the bleeding ...and they did . Wade said ...It is over ma'am ! We are through with the hard part . I'm sorry it hurt so much .
She had cried out only when they started , Zeke had his face laying on hers telling her it was nearly over . Wade and Captain Jack were both looking at the strip as it came out closely . When the end came out they examined it all around . Wade rubbed the blood on the strip to turn up any trash it picked up .
She was wearing a green dress and there were tiny pieces of green material thread on the first part that came out along with black grey specks from the bullet . From the middle to the end of the strip there was nothing but blood . Captain Jack shook his head yes to Wade and Wade nodded back . Captain Jack said ...Ma'am it looks clean , we will not use the second strip . Now we will clean it with the whisky and bandage it then tighten the bandages with you belt .
It was bleeding more now and Wade held a clean bandage tightly as the Captain rubbed the area with the whisky and wiped it off . He said ...Lets get the bandage and belt on to slow the bleeding ...and they did . Wade said ...It is over ma'am ! We are through with the hard part . I'm sorry it hurt so much .
Re: Tumbleweeds
She slowly relaxed her arms around Zeke , she was worn out . Zeke gently pulled his arms away and smoothed her hair down gently talking to her . She was worn out , the fight , the fear for Nate , getting shot , having her wound cleaned , loss of blood . Captain Jack walked around the bed as Zeke stood up , he leaned over and kissed her on top of her head and said ...Don't hate us ma'am ...we had to clean it and I know it was hard . I want you to stay on your right side and try to be very still , it is still seeping and we will change the bandages as needed but you must be still . Someone will always be here with you , we will take good care of Nate . You did an amazing job today ma'am , I'd ride with you any time !
She said weakly ...I don't hate you ...I thank you !
She said weakly ...I don't hate you ...I thank you !
Re: Tumbleweeds
Captain Jack motioned Wade to walk out in the yard and they talked . Wade said ...She took it better than most men I have seen ! Now we have to pray the bleeding stops or we'll have to cut it open and try to cauterize it . AND it's hot weather , we have to pray it doesn't get infected !
Sam is still out there , he has no food or water with him ..not even a blanket . I know he can make it fine but hope he gets back here tomorrow . We have to get the laundry to the cabin and there are all those guns across the river that have to be brought across , we still have much to do . Zeke will not leave her side so we can get done what we need to till tonight and we can spell him off so we can all sleep some , it's been a heck of a day . Wade agreed and said ...I agree Captain . I'll take the black mule and fetch the laundry , I have already figured out how we can get the guns across the river so don't worry about that . Captain Jack said ...Good ! I'll take care of all the stock and chores here and be watching her , I'll get Zeke busy feeding Nate and cooking supper to keep him busy . I know he's worried to death over her .
Sam is still out there , he has no food or water with him ..not even a blanket . I know he can make it fine but hope he gets back here tomorrow . We have to get the laundry to the cabin and there are all those guns across the river that have to be brought across , we still have much to do . Zeke will not leave her side so we can get done what we need to till tonight and we can spell him off so we can all sleep some , it's been a heck of a day . Wade agreed and said ...I agree Captain . I'll take the black mule and fetch the laundry , I have already figured out how we can get the guns across the river so don't worry about that . Captain Jack said ...Good ! I'll take care of all the stock and chores here and be watching her , I'll get Zeke busy feeding Nate and cooking supper to keep him busy . I know he's worried to death over her .
Re: Tumbleweeds
Captain Jack got Zeke busy then went to take care of the stock . Zeke started a pot of beans and laid out the makings for cornbread . He made Nate a tiny bit of mush and fed him with some thinned canned milk talking to him quietly , she had gone to sleep . Wade went behind the shed and picked out four short log drops about six feet long each , he went in the shed and got two rounds of quarter inch rope that Zeke had them bring back from Eliasville and a spool of wire . He got the mule and walked to the river and loaded the clean laundry on the sledge then took it to the cabin quietly taking it in the cabin . He took the black mule and sledge behind the shed and loaded the log drops , wire and rope . Then he took it to the river , the sledge had three runners , he wired two log drops on each side on the bottom of the sledge and tied an end of the small rope to each end then got it in the river after struggling with it a while . It floated well and he tied it off to go get Captain Jack riding the black mule back .
Re: Tumbleweeds
In was near dark . Sam watched as the Comanche came to some willows in the distance . They stopped a while , there was most likely a water hole and they were watering their horses and tending their wounded . He sat on his horse and watched thinking they would bed down there but they surprised him and moved on . He waited till they were out of sight and started to the willows to water his horse . He got there and watered the horse deciding to bed down and follow them in the morning . He staked out the horse unsaddling him and gathering some prairie grass for a quick bed , he used his saddle bags to lay his head . The moon was coming up and no need to make a fire because he sure didn't need any more heat and there was nothing to cook . He bedded down with his horse close in case he needed him . The moon was up some and bright . He was dead tired and there was still at least a day of riding to get back to the cabin .
He went to sleep on the ground glad to get some rest ...it would be a long day tomorrow , he wondered how she was doing and it worried him not knowing . He knew Captain Jack , Zeke and Wade could handle it but the not knowing troubled him ...he would know tomorrow with luck . He said a prayer for them in his mind before he drifted to sleep .
He awoke hearing his horse blowing and making noise moving around . When he opened his eyes there was a Comanche standing over him with a knife drawn back to stab in his chest . As the Indian swung the knife downward Sam hit him in the head with a hard right . Instead of the knife going in Sam's chest it went in his upper arm . The Comanche was knocked off his feet and was scrambling up with the knife still in his hand as Sam came up then Sam saw another one running in with a knife . Sam's gun belt was too far away and he pulled his belt knife as they both attacked him !
He went to sleep on the ground glad to get some rest ...it would be a long day tomorrow , he wondered how she was doing and it worried him not knowing . He knew Captain Jack , Zeke and Wade could handle it but the not knowing troubled him ...he would know tomorrow with luck . He said a prayer for them in his mind before he drifted to sleep .
He awoke hearing his horse blowing and making noise moving around . When he opened his eyes there was a Comanche standing over him with a knife drawn back to stab in his chest . As the Indian swung the knife downward Sam hit him in the head with a hard right . Instead of the knife going in Sam's chest it went in his upper arm . The Comanche was knocked off his feet and was scrambling up with the knife still in his hand as Sam came up then Sam saw another one running in with a knife . Sam's gun belt was too far away and he pulled his belt knife as they both attacked him !
Re: Tumbleweeds
Wade got to the cabin and Captain Jack was sitting by her on a seat talking , Zeke was checking his beans for water and looked like he was rolling out a pie crust but it looked odd . Wade said ...Are you ready to fetch the guns Captain ? He said ...Yes ! Let me get my horse ! Do you have everything ready ? Wade said ...Yes sir ! we are ready . The Captain said ...Sit down with this lovely young lady and talk to her a bit while I get my horse up .
Wade sat down and took her hand and said ...You are lovely ! You do know that ...don't you ? She started blushing and said ...Don't embarrass me ! I don't look very lovely right now , I'm a mess . Wade said ...You always look pretty ! I never saw you when you were not pretty !
Zeke said ...Wade's just tellin the truth ! Wade said ...Yep ! It's unanimous ! You are pretty ! She said ...Ya'll are embarrassing me ! Quit teasing me ! Wade squeezed her hand and said ...I'm not teasing and I don't have to lie ……...YOU ARE PRETTY !
Captain Jack hollered from the yard and Wade said ...I got to go but is there anything we can do for you before we leave ? She said ...Yes . Be careful , take care of each other and come back . I was so afraid I would lose one of you today . Wade kissed her on the head and smiled saying ...We will be back !
He mounted his horse leading the black mule .
Wade sat down and took her hand and said ...You are lovely ! You do know that ...don't you ? She started blushing and said ...Don't embarrass me ! I don't look very lovely right now , I'm a mess . Wade said ...You always look pretty ! I never saw you when you were not pretty !
Zeke said ...Wade's just tellin the truth ! Wade said ...Yep ! It's unanimous ! You are pretty ! She said ...Ya'll are embarrassing me ! Quit teasing me ! Wade squeezed her hand and said ...I'm not teasing and I don't have to lie ……...YOU ARE PRETTY !
Captain Jack hollered from the yard and Wade said ...I got to go but is there anything we can do for you before we leave ? She said ...Yes . Be careful , take care of each other and come back . I was so afraid I would lose one of you today . Wade kissed her on the head and smiled saying ...We will be back !
He mounted his horse leading the black mule .
Re: Tumbleweeds
Wade and the Captain got to the river and the sledge raft was still tied to the bank . Wade took off his shirt and boots , laying his boots on the raft with a clean sack to dry his feet on the other side . He said … I'll swim over and pull the raft over and load it . You can pull it back and unload it till we get all the guns and ammunition over then I'll swim back . We will haul the raft out and unwrap the wire holding the logs and use the sledge to haul them to the shed . Captain Jack said ...Well you have this figured out ...lets get busy .
They made several loads across the river with Captain Jack stacking rifles and pistols up and against the laundry rock plus the pile of ammunition and bags . Then they hauled it to the shed organizing everything . Captain Jack said … I must make a detailed inventory to turn into headquarters .Letting them know how a raiding party this size is armed . It's almost unheard of to collect all the weapons to evaluate firepower .
They got it all in the shed and went in the cabin .
They made several loads across the river with Captain Jack stacking rifles and pistols up and against the laundry rock plus the pile of ammunition and bags . Then they hauled it to the shed organizing everything . Captain Jack said … I must make a detailed inventory to turn into headquarters .Letting them know how a raiding party this size is armed . It's almost unheard of to collect all the weapons to evaluate firepower .
They got it all in the shed and went in the cabin .
Re: Tumbleweeds
Supper was ready ...beans , cornbread and a pie of sorts that had fallen apart . Zeke had made sweet tea and put the plates on the table dragging two more seats by her bed so she could eat and have a place for her bowl , he would eat by her . When Wade and the Captain came in they checked her wound , it was still seeping but seemed maybe not quite so much .
They ate and talked , she had to eat laying down with her left hand and it was kind of awkward . They talked about Sam and were concerned about him . Captain Jack said ...I rode with Sam when he joined the Rangers , being his father was Big Foot Wallace he knew much already . He has turned down advancement in the Rangers to stay in the field . He wanted to sign up in the army during the war but when most of the young men left to join the Comanche were taking West and North Texas apart ! The Mexicans were stealing herds of cattle and killing everywhere up and down the Rio Grande . It was a terrible time , we lived in the saddle without rest . There were not enough of us and we were always out numbered . Sam wants to retire from the Rangers and I don't blame him , he has a wife and small son he seldom sees . His wife is a wonderful person , Sam has more than done his part for the Rangers . When they called me up to hunt down those two killing bushwhackers they asked me who I wanted to ride with me and I immediately with no hesitation said ...Sam Wallace !
They got to the pie and Zeke was giving everyone a piece and said ...A good while back when she had the heat sickness me and Nate went hunting and talked about making a pie using tortilla dough so I did but it fell apart . I got to get her to show me how to make a good pie crust ! They all said it tasted ok and they would just call it cobbler . It got a laugh .
Wade and the Captain helped pick up , the sun was going down . Zeke went to the shed and bathed , he would sleep on the floor in the cabin to be with her in case she needed something . Wade and the Captain offered to spell him off but he said no and told them to rest up . They checked her wound and discussed if to change the bandage and decided not to . They didn't want to disturb it hoping the bleeding would lessen or stop . It could be done in the morning . They bedded down .
They ate and talked , she had to eat laying down with her left hand and it was kind of awkward . They talked about Sam and were concerned about him . Captain Jack said ...I rode with Sam when he joined the Rangers , being his father was Big Foot Wallace he knew much already . He has turned down advancement in the Rangers to stay in the field . He wanted to sign up in the army during the war but when most of the young men left to join the Comanche were taking West and North Texas apart ! The Mexicans were stealing herds of cattle and killing everywhere up and down the Rio Grande . It was a terrible time , we lived in the saddle without rest . There were not enough of us and we were always out numbered . Sam wants to retire from the Rangers and I don't blame him , he has a wife and small son he seldom sees . His wife is a wonderful person , Sam has more than done his part for the Rangers . When they called me up to hunt down those two killing bushwhackers they asked me who I wanted to ride with me and I immediately with no hesitation said ...Sam Wallace !
They got to the pie and Zeke was giving everyone a piece and said ...A good while back when she had the heat sickness me and Nate went hunting and talked about making a pie using tortilla dough so I did but it fell apart . I got to get her to show me how to make a good pie crust ! They all said it tasted ok and they would just call it cobbler . It got a laugh .
Wade and the Captain helped pick up , the sun was going down . Zeke went to the shed and bathed , he would sleep on the floor in the cabin to be with her in case she needed something . Wade and the Captain offered to spell him off but he said no and told them to rest up . They checked her wound and discussed if to change the bandage and decided not to . They didn't want to disturb it hoping the bleeding would lessen or stop . It could be done in the morning . They bedded down .