Tumbleweeds

[chuck j]

Zeke took the Garcia's back to building the cabins . Lucy put on a pot of beans for supper and laid out potatoes to fry later . Lucy kept Rosa busy helping her and being cheerful telling Rosa everything would be alright and to take care of Nate . Wade asked her out on the porch . They sat down and she took his hand saying ...I know you want to be with Ed and those young Rangers Wade . I know you fear for them but you need to be here also . Who better could you have to lead them than Ed ! Wade said ...Your right just like you always are . I feel terrible about sending them but I'm doing the right thing . I have responsibilities here too . You are my strength , always talk to me . I depend on you .

[chuck j]

The back trail was easy to follow at a lope for a long time . It was evening when they hit a bare place in the prairie and had to slow down . They were traveling much faster that Claud's horse had . They saw where Claud's horse had stepped in a hole and went down . Their hats were still laying there , it would have happened in the dark . It explained Claud's broken ribs , the horse pulling up lame and both men bruised up . Ed wondered how the heck Claud got back on the horse with Ray in the dark having those ribs broke and Ray undoubtedly out of it by then .

Before the horse went down he had been running carrying double a long way . The Comanche had followed them to the place where the horse went down . When Claud and Ray got to the ranch they no longer had their rifles . Ed figured Claud and Ray lost them in the dark when the horse went down .

The Comanche turned around back west after finding the rifles on the their trail . The Rangers followed , by the tracks there were about twelve Comanche .

[chuck j]

Ed found where Claud and Ray had their fight with the Comanche . Cartridge cases were scattered where they had hunkered in a low spot . The Comanche had come in from the north and laid up behind a low saddle to the east and bushwhacked em while Claud and Ray rode east . Most likely when Ray got one or both of his wounds and his horse shot . There was blood on the ground in the low spot and his horse dead beside it .


They kept following the Comanche trail then it intersected with another group of probably around twenty going to the same place west . They kept following .

[chuck j]

Ed told them in the morning they were riding south and would swing back north every ten miles or so and check sign on the trail . They rode another thirty miles riding back north to check the Comanche's trail . There were more horses and many were dragging a travois , this meant they were taking tipi's , families , gear . This was going to be a big encampment , a meet up to reek destruction .

At the end of the second day Ed told Don , Steve and john … Ride south , hit the Brazos and go east to the ranch . Tell Wade there is a big camp building of Comanche west , most likely in Palo Duro Canyon . Stay with the river , do not go on the prairie !

Don quickly said ...Where do you go Ed ? Ed said ...I'll keep checking their trail . I'll report to Fort Stockton out west . The Rangers and army has to know what's happening here ! The Comanche are building for an all out fight . Get this news to Wade , have him dispatch it to Fort Graham they have a telegraph there !


Don looked at Ed and said ...I'll not leave you here alone ! Ed said ...you got your hands tied and full Don . You got to get this news back and get these two Ranger pups back alive . It ain't like I'm doin you any favors son . We both got all we can do . Stay south Don , ain't likely you'll have trouble , go fast but don't kill your horses .


They parted . Ed traveling west after the Comanche and Don , Steve and John headed east to take the news . Don felt heartsick to see Ed ride away to the west alone .

[chuck j]

The wounded were constantly watched and tended . They kept giving Ray water slowly although he choked each time . He just lay still . Claud had awoke several times and looked better by his color but was still hurting bad . Her and Lucy would lay hands on him and talk ...comforting him .

Lucy fretted over Ed and the Rangers in the field . She was worried for them specially Ed . She said ...That ol man ought not be traipsing around on the prairie full of Comanches ! Lord knows he ain't got good sense ! I'm scared for him ! She said ...Ed knows more about the prairie and Comanche that anyone alive Lucy . Lucy said ...I don't care ! He ought not have to be there crippled up like he is ! She had to laugh and said ..Ed's seventy one years old and in better shape than the young Rangers he is leading . Ed is a heck of a man Lucy ! Lucy puckered her lips and got quiet .


Claud was awake and hurting , he heard everything they said . He said quiet to Lucy ...Come here ma'am . Lucy went to him and Claud said ...You don't fret over Ed Rawlins ma'am . Too many tried to kill him and Ed don't die ! I knowed Ed for thirty two year and GOD protects him ! You believe that ...GOD protects him ! I seen many times he ought not survied many things but he is still here . He's one tough smart old man ma'am . You need not fear for the likes of him . I'm personally expecting him to come back any time , I got faith in Ed !


Lucy settled down and smiled .

[chuck j]

Don ,Steve and John rode due south till they hit the Brazos . They camped on the river and left at first light following the river east . This far west the river wasn't near as pretty as it was at the ranch . Not much big trees , mainly scrub and shinnery .

John said ...I'll be glad when we get to the ranch and get to rest up a while . Don said ...I figure we will just leave for Fort Graham . Wade has only us to send a message to headquarters and the army . We will see , we'll do what needs doing .

[chuck j]

The walls were steadily going up on all the cabins . It was three days since Ed had left with Don , Steve and John to try and scout the Comanche's trail . Wade had thought they might get back today possibly but they had not returned . It was after supper and everyone was gathered on the porch after eating . Claud was better , he was eating and talking but still hurting bad at the slightest movement .


Wade went in the cabin and sat with him saying ...Tell me the story about getting jumped by the Comanche Claud . Claud said ...We were coming from Matador out west , told to scout for sign of any Comanche movement . We got told of this new field command and planned to stop here and rest a bit then swing north to the Indian Territories scouting . News is out of this command here , you will be getting busy real quick .

They hid behind high ground and laid for us . Ray got shot in the thigh right off . They shot him in the arm us trying to get back to a low place to make a stand . They shot his horse but we made the low place before the horse went down . It was near sundown and we held em off till good dark . Ray was still able to get up behind me on my horse with my help and we fooled em and went backwards to the west . We circled to the south and started east to here again . They wouldn't figure it out till daylight so I pushed my horse loaded double .

My horse went down , he stepped in a hole in the dark . Ray got throwed clear but I couldn't kick out of the stirrups quick enough . Horse rolled on me , the cantle of the saddle broke my ribs . Ray was knocked out and I laid there a while hurting . I don't even know how I got us back on the horse but remember I thought I'd pass out from the pain . I just kept heading east in the dark , my horse was lame and blowing blood but I had to get Ray here . And ya'll found us .

[chuck j]

Wade laid his hand on Claud's shoulder and said ...I'm relieving you and Ray of all responsibilities except to heal up ! I will dispatch a rider soon to Fort Graham letting them know ya'll are here and to notify your families . I will write you a commendation in the dispatch Claud , you went above and beyond to get Ray here .

Claud said ...Thank you Captain . I'm just worried about Ray , He doesn't look any better . The ladies are taking good care of him but he's only able to choke down a little mush thinned with milk . They pray for him all day . I started praying too Captain ...I haven't prayed in a long time . Wade said ...Keep praying Claud , Ray needs all the prayers he can get .

[chuck j]

Don woke and did a lot of thinking just as the eastern horizon started to show the glow of the sun on the few clouds before it rose . He shook Steve and John out and they all fetched their horse staked out and watering them at the river before they saddled them .

They started east , they should get to the ranch today . Don stayed with the river like Ed told him to . Following the twists and turns was taking extra time . They still had jerky , Ed had taken half what they brought ...Ed had a long way to go . Don worried about Ed , water was scarce on the prairie and Ed had to stay hid from the Comanche . Don was just now realizing how much he had learned from Wade , Ed , Captain Jack , Sam , Zeke and her , They were all strong self reliant people but shared work , responsibility , trust and their belief in GOD .

Don rode and said a prayer for Ed as he rode , Steve and John just looked at each other surprised he would pray in front of them .

[chuck j]

Wade , Zeke and the Garcia's worked steady on the cabins . Juan and Simon were flooring the bunkhouse and Carlos , Thomas , Zeke and Wade raised walls still working on both ends of the L shaped connecting cabins . The walls were more than halfway up ! The floor in the bunkhouse was perfectly level ! The wood fitted carefully and the grain chosen to be pretty . They were all proud of their efforts working together .


It was getting evening and Lucy and her were cooking catfish on forked sticks in the fireplace . They had cornbread and fried potatoes with onions . She gave Rosa a lard bucket of sweet tea and told her to take it to the men behind the shed . Rosa ran out the door carrying the tea and Nate with the pup running at her heels barking .Lucy said ...The Rangers have been gone too long sweetie and I'm worried about them . She sat down and said ...Lucy They will be alright . Ed is there and he can deal with anything . Lucy sat down and just came out and said ...You reacon Ed would marry me ? She didn't know what in the world to tell Lucy ! Lucy said ...I like Ed ! He's a good man an good men are hard to come by . She said ...Lucy I don't know . Talk to Ed and tell him how you feel ...don't bad mouth him . Ya'll figure this out . I love you both ..married or not .

[chuck j]

It was time to send Rosa to tell the men to come eat . They had hardly stopped working except to eat . Lucy was about to tell her to fetch them and the black mule brayed .

She and Lucy told Rosa to get behind the bed . The men poured from around the shed to the yard . Wade told the Garcia's to fort up in the shed . Zeke ran to the back of the cabin to check the north . Wade saw men coming from the west and hollered at Zeke . They watched from the yard as the men got closer . Wade said ...It's Don , Steve and John ! They called out to everyone who it was .


They rode in slow and dismounted . Lucy ran out and said ...Where is Ed ! Don told her he was still tracking the Comanche . She went back in the cabin . Wade said ...It's time to eat supper and I know all of you are hungry .The Rangers washed up and the Garcia's took their horses putting them up .

Over supper Don told everything that had happened till they returned . Wade said ...Rest well tonight . You ride to Fort Graham tomorrow . I will write dispatches to take . During Don telling of the trip when he said Ed left on his own to track the Comanche Lucy got up quietly and went out . She went out while they were all eating and Lucy was sobbing at the end of the bench . She comforted Lucy .

[chuck j]

Ed stood in the wash he had lead his horse into to hide them . Peering through the prairie grass head high he watched about sixty Comanche pass two hundred yards to the north . Small bands had been joining , they were slowly turning northwest in the direction of Palo Duro . He and his horse hadn't had water since yesterday morning when he found a seep . It would be another dry camp tonight .


If he went back now he could only report where he ..thought..they would gather . He would follow , this was worth taking a big chance . Tomorrow his horse had to have water , there was no chance he could walk out on foot

[chuck j]

She and Lucy made a breakfast of bacon and all the pancakes they wanted . Don ,Steve and John had four days of riding at least to get to Fort Graham . Each was to take the pack horses , water would be carried in lard buckets making it an easier crossing .

Wade and her sat up with lamplight , Wade wrote the dispatches of Ed, Don ,Steve and John backtracking Claud and Ray . Telling Claud and Ray's story . She copied his daily logbook .

Lucy and her packed jerky , fresh and dried cornbread , cookies , and two buckets of sweet tea . They were to ride straight to Ranger's headquarters and on their return stop in Eliasville to load more supplies coming back to the ranch . They could not make the crossing without serving all needs possible . The Garcia's had the pack horses ready and loaded , goodbyes were said and instructions given .


Don , Steve and John pulled out heading to the ford , Juan and Simon rode with them to make sure they got across the river alright . Wade had a feeling big things were about to start happening here at the ranch . They needed those cabins finished .

[chuck j]

After the Rangers departed and the men went to work on the cabins her and Lucy cleaned the mess from breakfast . She put dried meat to simmer planning on making stew and cornbread for lunch . Lucy got material out and started measuring for a denim shirt . She asked Lucy ...Who do you make a shirt for ? Lucy said ...For Ed ...He is coming back ! She sat down and said ...Let me help you and yes ! Ed is coming back , we will surprise him !

Zeke was sawing boards for the bunkhouse floor . A lot was happening , Zeke knew everyone had a lot on their mind . They all worried for Ed , Don , Steve and John out there on the prairie with the Comanche seemingly everywhere . Zeke was determined to do his best to be encouraging and uplift all he could . He was so glad Wade had brought the Garcia brothers back when he came from Eliasville . Wade was making good decisions and leading . He would try and support everyone in this trying time .

Zeke thought of her as he sawed boards , She was almost recovered from the beating , he would take her stiches out after lunch . Her bruising and swelling was almost gone and she would not have scars except for the end of the gash that might show just a little past her hair on her forehead .

It angered Zeke every time he thought of Jimmie Mc Call beating her . Ed was right about the evil around them .

[chuck j]

Don , Steve and John had crossed the river headed to the first waterhole on the prairie . They were traveling fast carrying little with them and the water distributed on each pack horse . The trip back would be a bit slower with loaded horses by a day maybe in trying not to use up their horses . Don felt the weight of responsibility being in charge . He was trusted with John and Steve's safety , getting news of the Comanche to headquarters and the return trip with needed supplies . He would not let them down .

They made the first waterhole by midafternoon . The horses were still doing well and there was light cloud cover . They rested the horses an hour , let them drink all they wanted and pushed on south to the green sinkhole . It started to sprinkle rain and in a short time it was a downpour . There was no shelter so they just moved on . Dark came on them before they reached the sinkhole and they laid on the prairie grass covered with their blankets to soften the beating of the hard rain .


They reached the green sinkhole but didn't stop . The prairie was full of low places holding better water . They shared food that Her and Lucy had sent , eating in the saddle . No one complained or griped , Don was proud of them . They had changed a lot since coming to the ranch . He thought about his own change .