[Texas Rangers 01] - The Buckskin Line Read Online Free PDF

back-and-forth surging of men and horses. Rifles and pistols snapped in a desultory manner. Webb reined up, for he wanted to grasp the full situation before riding into the middle of it. He saw a large company of white men dismounted, shooting at horseback Indians who circled them. Farther ahead, the main column of Comanches hurried away with their women and children, their horse and mule herd, while this detached set of warriors fought a delaying action.
    Blessing and his sons had halted, watching the fight from two hundred yards. Uncertainty held the big farmer back, though he chafed to ride headlong into the scrap. "We'd probably all get killed if we was to try to break through. Maybe we can do them fellers more good from out here."
    Shannon said, "At least, 'y God, we can give them devils somethin' else to be worryin' about."
    The men dismounted. Webb tied a knot in the end of his split leather reins and slipped them over his arm so the horse could not easily jerk away. He dropped to one knee and aimed his rifle as he heard shots fired on either side of him. After the flash, a white cloud of smoke blossomed around the barrel. He could not see if he had hit anything.
    Some of the Indians immediately split off and charged toward the six men. Anticipating this, two of the Blessing boys had held their fire. While four reloaded, the pair took their time in firing. A horse went down, and the charge broke up. The Indians zig-zagged in a rough circle, reconsidering. By the time they decided to rush again, the reloaded guns blazed a second volley. One of the Indians fell from his horse. The others halted, two grabbing him between them, carrying him back toward the main group.
    Soon the larger column had moved well beyond the skirmish. The nearby Indians broke their circle and began to travel slowly in a westerly direction. Those who had firearms kept shooting back in the direction of their adversaries. The company of white men continued firing toward them. The range became too great for accuracy by either side.
    Shannon said, "Looks like they've had enough entertainment for a while. Let's go see how the boys yonder made out."
    A rough count told Webb that the company was made up of more than a hundred men. Most had managed to hang on to their horses through the fight, though a few animals were wounded and at least a couple lay dead.
    A horseman rode out to meet the six incoming riders. "Welcome, men. You almost missed the skirmish."
    Webb thought he knew the face. "Seems to me I've seen you at camp meetin'."
    The man nodded. "You're a preacher, as I recollect. We're volunteers out of Victoria. We've followed this bunch all the way from Linnville."
    Blessing pressed, "Linnville? What happened there?"
    "They took the town by surprise. Killed several folks, burned down just about everything. Ain't much left but ashes."
    Blessing swore, mostly under his breath. "I have a sister in Linnville."
    "Most of the people got away in boats. Like as not she did, too. The dead were mostly menfolks, I think. They tarried too long, fightin' a losin' battle."
    Blessing swallowed and looked at his sons, then back to the man from Victoria. "You-all ain't givin' up the fight, are you?"
    "We haven't even started yet. We'll nip at their rear 'til more outfits catch up to us."
    Webb said, "There's more on the way?"
    "The alarm's been sent out in all directions. There'll be some rangin' companies along, I expect."
    Several Victoria men stood in a circle, heads bowed, staring down at a man on the ground. It was evident that he was dead.
    Shannon said, "Since we've got a preacher with us, I expect you-all would like some words spoke."
    One of the bystanders said, "We'd appreciate it mightily."
    Webb removed his hat, and the others followed suit. He said a brief prayer for the stranger who lay before him. One of the Victoria men said, "Pray that before we get through, we send most of them bloody-handed Comanches after him."
    Webb doubted the propriety of such