The Last Wagon Train

Less than an hour later they arrived at that evening’s overnight camping site. It was on the grassy bank of a small river. The bank was back-dropped by a stand of tall pine trees which offered them shelter from the chilly wind which was blowing. Jake laid out both his and Nandita’s bed-rolls under Helen’s wagon which had now been parked and the horses unhitched from.

The evening was very chilly and Jake decided to take the risk of lighting a fire. He knew this was risky given that they were in Apache territory, but now that they had an Apache in their camp, he decided that the risk was worthwhile. Ih-tedda had said that she was in Jake’s debt. He hoped that if the Apaches did discover their camp then the fact that they had rescued the woman who was promised to be the wife of the chief’s son would have some influence over what action they took.

Nandita and Ih-tedda set about preparing the fire. Ih-tedda collected firewood from beneath the stand of pine trees and Nandita collected some large stones from the riverbank to surround the fire. When the fire was prepared but not yet lit, Nandita went into Helen and Melissa’s wagon to help them prepare the evening meal, which this evening, was an unexpected hot meal.

Before Jake had the chance to light the fire all hell broke loose. Jake was leaning over the fire arranging the small twigs in preparation for lighting it. Ih-tedda was standing beside him when she heard a noise coming from the pine trees off to the left. She turned just in time to see a large Apache warrior emerging from the trees. He had a bow and arrow in his hand which he had drawn and was preparing to fire it. He was aiming at Jake who had just stood up from leaning over the fire. Without even thinking, Ih-tedda shoved Jake out of the path of the now released arrow and he fell flat on the ground. Thankfully the arrow missed Jake, but it did not miss Ih-tedda. It hit her high on the right shoulder. Screaming in frustration, the Apache warrior threw his bow and quiver of arrows down onto the ground and pulled his knife from its scabbard on his belt. Knife raised high he then began to run towards Jake who was still lying on the ground slightly stunned by being pushed over by Ih-tedda.

The big Indian launched himself at Jake bringing the knife down as hard as he could. Thankfully Jake had recovered his senses enough to roll out of the way. The Indian’s knife buried itself in the ground exactly at the spot where Jake had been lying only nanoseconds before. Jake scrambled quickly to his feet and before the Apache could do likewise, Jake kicked him hard in the ribs sending him flying backwards and losing his grip on the knife at the same time. Jake quickly reached for his pistol only to discover that he was not wearing his gun-belt. He then automatically reached for his own knife but remembered that it was still in his saddlebags which were still on the back of his horse. He was unarmed. Jake looked at the Apache’s knife which was still buried in the ground almost up to the hilt. The Indian saw where Jake’s eyes were looking and realised that his enemy was a lot closer to the knife than he was.

Jake started to lunge for the knife, but the Apache was quicker. There was no way the Apache was going to reach the knife before Jake. Instead the Indian grabbed a large stone that was surrounding the unlit fire and threw it at Jake. His aim was good and the rock hit Jake a glancing blow on the temple just above his left eye. Stunned once again, Jake fell backwards with blood streaming from his head wound. The Apache grabbed his knife from the ground and started slowly walking towards Jake who had recovered enough to regain his feet. As the Indian advanced slowly, Jake walked slowly backwards maintaining the distance between them and never taking his eyes from the Indian’s knife which was once again raised above his head, ready to strike.

Jake’s run of bad luck was about to continue. As he walked backward his heel hit the stump of a small tree which had been cut down years before. Losing his balance, Jake fell to the ground for a third time. Sensing his opportunity, the Apache warrior yelled and began to charge Jake who was prostrate on the ground. In an instant, Jake thought “this is it, I’m going to die”.