Chapter 8 - Blood on the Cimarron Crossing
The Cimarron ran high.
Recent storms had turned the river brown and violent.
Walker crossed first.
Then Dusty.
Then cattle.
Josephine waited with the wagon.
Half the herd was across when gunfire erupted.
Silas’s men appeared along the southern bank.
Chaos followed.
Walker shouted for Josephine to cross.
She drove.
Water climbed over the wagon wheels.
Sam screamed.
A bullet struck the seat.
Another hit the canvas.
Then the wagon lurched.
One wheel dropped into a hole.
Josephine was thrown.
Walker saw her disappear into the river.
He jumped from his horse.
“Walker!” Dusty screamed.
Walker ignored him.
He plunged into the water.
Found Josephine.
Then heard something worse.
Sam crying.
The sling had caught on part of the wagon.
Josephine fought toward him.
“My baby!”
Walker reached Sam first.
He tore the cloth loose.
The current pulled all three downstream.
Dusty and Ellis rode into the shallows.
A rope flew.
Walker caught it.
They were dragged ashore.
Josephine grabbed Sam.
The baby coughed.
Then screamed.
Josephine laughed and sobbed simultaneously.
Walker collapsed beside them.
Across the river, Silas watched.
Walker stood.
Their eyes met.
Something passed between the two men.
A promise.
This would end in Caldwell.
May you like
One way or another.
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