Our Peoples' Values, Part Iii

...But as Burning Wing approached them three leapt up with long knives in hand, and dragged Burning Wing from his horse, down onto the rough desert sands. Todd cried out as the knives slashed down, spurred his horse in a sprint, gun drawn, his pistol flashed, saw two men fall, the other four ran and were gone. He leapt of his horse and bent low, saw Burning Wing choking up blood, knew from the wounds there was no hope, through him raw emotion did flood. Burning Wing had enough strength left to momentarily meet his eye, but it soon left and Todd was forced to sit there and watch his friend die. It was over in a heartbeat, his partner and pal was no more, as he stood, stained by his blood, Todd just sought to even the score. He could see the trail in the dust, four men were not easy to hide, he walked over to his red roan, mounted up, and began to ride. The trail took him to the mountains, he pursued them for half the day, his mind told him that he was mad to chase the Apache this way. But Todd no longer thought of life, all that remained inside was cruel, the killers did not expect him, did not think he would be such a fool… It was early the next morning when the army found Burning Wing, Todd’s trail was quite easy to track, the cavalry now following. They came upon a massacre, four bodies strewn upon the ground, a dying man against a rock, twas Todd, the soldiers gathered round. Their commander came up to him, said, “My God, son, what happened hear?” Todd croaked, “Those bastards killed my friend… my brother, so I brought them fear. “I could not prevent his killing, I was too slow to save my friend, but if I couldn’t save his life at least I’d see he was avenged.” “You did this for that Indian?” said the commander, shaking his head. “Our people value loyal friends,” said Todd, “Such true things are not dead.” He died another hour on, they brought them both back to the fort, side-by-side in the potter’s field the two will lie forever more.