“Yeah,” Andy replied. He smiled. “I took them from Sergeant Caviness.”
“Good,” Mike said. “I hope the son of a bitch had to pay the army for them.”
The others laughed.
Smoke raised the binoculars to look across the water. He saw one Indian who was obviously in charge, riding back and forth in front of the others, holding a rifle over his head and shouting.
“Somebody seems to be stirring them up,” Smoke said.
“May I take a look?” Andy asked.
“Sure, they’re your glasses,” Smoke said, handing the binoculars to the former soldier.
Andy lifted the binoculars to study the Indians. “I’ll be damned,” he said.
“What is it?”
“It’s Walking Bear,” Andy said.
“Who?”
“Walking Bear,” Andy said, lowering his glasses.
“You know him, Andy?” Billy asked.
Andy shook his head. “Can’t say as I know him exactly,” he replied. “But he’s been givin’ the army some trouble for a long time now. He was part of Red Eagle’s camp, but when Red Eagle went to reservation, Walking Bear took a lot of warriors with him and left. The army’s been after him ever since then, but he’s been like a ghost. No one’s been able to find him.”
“Looks like we just did,” Smoke said.
“Yes, sir, it does at that,” Andy said.
“How bad is this Walking Bear fella?” Mike asked.
“Pretty bad. Just before I got out of the army, Walking Bear attacked a platoon of soldiers that was escortin’ a supply wagon. He kilt ever’ soldier in that platoon.”
“Are you sure this is Walking Bear?” Smoke asked.
Andy nodded. “Oh, yeah, I’m sure,” he said.
“Sally,” Smoke called. “Come here for a moment, would you?”
Sally walked over to where Smoke and Andy were standing. Smoke took the binoculars from Andy and handed them to Sally.
“Take a look at the Indian in front,” Smoke said. “The one riding back and forth, yelling at the others. Do you see him?”
Sally held the binoculars to her eyes for a moment.
“I see him,” she said.
“Next time they come after us, shoot him. Take your time, get a good shot. But you need to kill him.”
“All right,” Sally answered. She handed the glasses back to Andy.
“Whoa, hold it,” Hank said. “You’re giving that job to her?”
“Yes.”
“But she’s a woman.”
Pearlie and Cal laughed.
“What is it?” Hank asked.
“She may be a woman but when it comes to shootin’,” said Pearlie, “’bout the only one here better’n she is with a rifle would be Smoke his ownself. And I’m not all that sure he’s better.”
“Smoke,” Andy said, lowering the binoculars. “Looks like ole’ Walkin’ Bear’s got ’em worked up into comin’ again.”
“All right, everyone, get ready! They’re coming back!” Smoke warned.
Looking around, he saw that Sally had repositioned herself. No longer behind the wagon wheel, she was now behind a fallen tree, resting the barrel of her rifle on the log. She thumbed back the hammer, then sighted down the barrel.
With Walking Bear in the lead, the Cheyenne started another attack.
The Indians came again, their horses leaping over the bodies of the warriors and horses who had fallen before. Sally waited for a good shot, but Walking Bear was bending low over his horse in such a way as to keep behind his horse. It was difficult for Sally to get a good sight picture, and the first time she fired, she missed.
Quickly, she jacked another shell into the chamber and waited for another opportunity.
For some unknown reason, Walking Bear sat upright for just a second, and that gave Sally the opening she was looking for. She squeezed the trigger and her bullet hit Walking Bear right in the middle of his chest. She saw the look of surprise on his face; then she saw him drop his rifle and clasp his hand over his wound. He weaved back and forth for just a second before tumbling from the saddle.
When the others saw their leader go down, they stopped and milled about for a moment, uncertain as to what they should do. One or two started forward, but it wasn’t a concerted charge and, like Walking Bear before them, they were shot down.
