He did not have to go far to meet the others, Craddock, Logan, and Dixie. Just three? Pythias rode up to make it four, There's another four on the ground near the horses, we need to spread out, but stay in close. If they're out there we'll know it soon enough. Best you have them Winchesters ready, in case." He all but whispered. If they were out there, and chances were good that they were, they would be watching and listening, whether or not they understood was another question. "Spread out like normal, jest none too far, an' watch beyond the remuda."
The moon was on the descent so if they didn't know, it was late, dawn would be on them in no time at all, and if they guessed right, they would have the Indians in their lap! It was unlikely that the warriors would be on the other side of the camp, it would be too far to come to steal the horses. Dawn was not far off, and while a few slept there were eight men wide awake and ready for whatever the morning had to offer.
Phynias eased closer to Justus. "You keep lookin' for 'em, don't get distracted by nuthin', you hear boy? Nuthin'!"
Justus nodded grimly, hoping the caution was unnecessary -- he had no desire to get into it with Indians bent on stealing those fine horses, especially in the dark. And if they were out there, there was no telling how many there were, so what kind of a battle they might be getting into.
"We'll make 'em think twice, if they're out there," he stated firmly. The more visible the cowboys were, and the more alert, the more anyone watching them would know that they were alert and ready for trouble, not to be caught off-guard.
He was on edge, but that wasn't a new sensation for him, so he wouldn't let him get to him.
The sun was not yet up, but its rays peaked on the mountain range to the east just behind where the Indians were expected to come from, yet of the men, and all were awake now, in camp were poised toward the west, some looking east, other to the south. They had dealt with the red man before, and they knew that stealing the horses was a ruse. Then again, it might not be. Horses had value to the Indians, and the stealing of horses was always sport for them.
Craddock shifted slightly when an arrow took him in the shoulder, and it was on! Warriors leaped up and were met with a barrage of rifle fire! That took down the braves, but the men kept firing toward the heavy brush when horsemen swung in out of the trees from the west and encountered a stiffer resistance than they had bargained for.
One broke through then another, going for the horses. The men kept up their fire at both the mounted Indians and those they could not see in the brush. Dallas was on one of those that broke free, grappling, the other was almost to the horse close to where Justus was at.
Even as prepared as they were, the attack was a surprise, and Annie balked under Justus, making his shot go even more wild than it might have in the heat of the moment. But the horse steadied under his hand, and reacted to the pressure of his legs, charging into the fray. He was worried about Craddock, but the best way to protect the man was to keep the Indians at bay.
Letting Annie have her head, he took more deliberate aim, knocking back a brave that was running at him, but there was no time to ponder on it, more were on the way. Spinning Annie around, he spurred her after the mounted brave, leaning low over her neck.
It only took a few long strides for Annie to catch up to the mustang pony, and just as Justus was bringing his rifle to bear, the Indian yanked his horse to a stop and spun it, causing the two horses to collide. Annie squealed as she balked, tumbling to the ground and sending Justus over her head. He landed hard in the dirt, the wind knocked from his lungs, but he was still alert enough to know that he was in danger and had to act.
Huffing out what little air was left in his lungs allowed him to finally draw in a breath, and that allowed him to scramble to his knees. He'd dropped the rifle in falling, and his pistol was no longer in his holster, there wasn't time to look for it, so he pulled his boot knife and lunged to his feet at the same time the Indian did.
The fight was on!
The men were faced with an attack from two sides, but they were prepared to meet the Indians head-on. Those that met the mounted attack had been ready to join those in turning the frontal assault on the horses, but still in a position to repel those braves that were raced out of the trees.
Pythias met an Indian head on and the two grappled with one another until Pythias tripped him and held on for dear life, and his pistol skittered away from him, his rifle was dropped when he was attacked.
Frank Teal had his hands full as well, struggling for the upper hand with the man he was fighting, but Dallas hit the redman in the back of the head with his rifle butt and both went back to looking for targets.
Pythis managed to get his knife out and plunged it into the Indian's gut, then jerked it up until it met bone, the Indian screaming and he dropped to the ground writhing in agony. Pythias grabbed his rifle and shot the suffering Indian, and in a blink of an eye, the Indians, empty-handed, were gone, except for the one Justus was fighting with.
It was clear to Justus that the Indian he was facing off with was as stunned as he was, so that both men had the disadvantage, but both men were equally as determined. It was Justus who lunged first, going low, under the Indian's arms, going around to his right so that his opponent's reach was too long to catch him anywhere vital.
All in the same instant, he drove his knife into the back of the Indian's thigh just as the Indian tossed him aside, slashing Justus' forearm in the process. The heat of battle made the pain minimal, and as he rolled to his knees, Justus spotted his pistol a few feet away.
Ducking into another roll, he grabbed for the gun as the Indian kicked him in the ribs. But Justus kept moving, coming up in a crouch, the pistol up and aimed...At the Indian's back! Seemed they were retreating, now that the horses weren't an easy prize.
Breathing heavily, his forearm dripping blood, Justus sat in the dirt, keeping the gun aimed, but not shooting...
Frank Teal and several others, including Pythias, Dallas, and Pecos rushed over to where Justus was.. Dallas levering a couple of shots over the Indian's head's.
"Let's have a look at that arm, son. Looks like he got you some." Frank said. "Cookie'll stich that up for ya an' get wrapped up."
"Good tussle Justus. Could'a kilt him, glad you ain't a back shooter." Pythias added.
"Yeah, they was whupped good! Pecos stated proudly. "Don't allays work thet way neither!"
The men were mounting up to go round up the cattle that had bolted at the sound of the war cries and gun shots of which there had been many.
"They'll round up the cows an' we'll be on our way. Craddock's been tended to already, danged arra barely stuck 'im." Pythais explained. "Get you fixed up, and it's back on the trail. Think we killed a few, took the fire out of 'em, we did."
Now that the excitement had died down, the pain in Justus' arm was coming to the surface, and it stung like hell! Gripping the wound, more to subdue the pain than stem the bleeding, which had slowed quite a bit. He struggled to his feet, shaking his head. "Where's Annie?" Horse first, then anything else, without the horse, a cowboy was lost. Besides, he like the mare.
"Cookie stitch it up?" Letting out a breath, he shook his head again. "Well, th' ladies like a scar, right? This get me a bonus?" He was making light, of course, Sure, he was cut, and sure it hurt, but he would live, and it would hardly leave a scar.
And he was glad that no one had chastised him for not shooting the fleeing Indian in the back, nor had done it themselves. It showed the measure of the men he was with, making him all the more happy that these were the ones he'd fallen in with. The Indians had been here for horses, and yes, they were willing to kill, but once they decided to run off, that was that. Now, there were some white men who were just plain evil, and needed to be shot when the opportunity arose, and although he didn't fancy the idea od shooting anyone in the back, there could come a time...
Justus sat on a keg while Cookie began stitching his wound when Frank teal rode up, Boys are getting the herd headed north, you get the chuck wagon rollin' soon's you can>" He ordered. "Justus, You wanna stay with this outfit, you'd be welcome ta do so." Then he spurred his horse and rode off to help move the herd.
"I'd say you made herself an impression," Cookie said, pouring whiskey on the cut. "Aint often I ever heard Teal offer up a job reg'lur to anybody." Then he grinned. "You'll do." He said wrapping his arm. "You check with me 'er Pythias if'n yer back out on point, to have a look-see at that wound."
Settling on the keg, Justus rolled up his sleeve -- he'd have to mend that later -- revealing the gash there, about three inches long, slicing to the muscle but not the bone. There'd be a scar, but he didn't mind, better than losing the arm altogether!
As Cookie was was preparing to sew him up, Teal came by, and Justus gave him a smile and a nod. He liked the man.
"Justus, You wanna stay with this outfit, you'd be welcome ta do so." Then he spurred his horse and rode off to help move the herd.
Raising an eyebrow, Justus looked at Cookie, chuckling. "Guess yer stuck with me!" He felt a sense of pride and relief all at once, and it was a good way to feel...there was no going back, but his future wasn't bleak!
"I'd say you made yerself an impression," Cookie said, pouring whiskey on the cut. "Aint often I ever heard Teal offer up a job reg'lur to anybody." Then he grinned.
"Oh, well, who wouldn't be impressed with me?" Justus grinned, then winced and hisses as Cookie poured whisky over his wound. "Ow!"
"You'll do." He said wrapping his arm. "You check with me 'er Pythias if'n yer back out on point, to have a look-see at that wound."
"Ya mean I gotta go back ta work?" Laughing, Justus hopped off the keg. "Thanks fer stitchin' me up! Ya want me ta help ya here, or get on after cows?" He didn't mind which, so long as he wasn't expected to do any cooking -- that would change Teal's mind quick enough!