AllFreeNovel
Share Us
His father had warned him. His father had reminded him of what had happened to Bird in Ground. Wind on Wings had ignored the warning. Bird in Ground was always getting into some sort of trouble. Wind on Wings scarcely ever did.
Now he had taken one chance too many, leaving his own hunting grounds to follow the bees. Like a bear who was tempted by honey, so was Wind on Wings. Nothing tasted as wonderful!
But he was on land that belonged to the white rancher. He was trespassing, and knew that he might have to pay dearly for his carelessness.
“Tsk, tsk,” Tiny said, mockingly shaking his head back and forth. “Seems you cut down a tree that belongs to my boss. And why? For that honey you have in that bag on your horse.” Tiny reached a hand to the boy’s wrist and squeezed it tightly. “Give me that honey, you stupid brat.”
“Yes, the bear tree belongs to white man, but the honey is mine,” Wind on Wings said, lifting his chin defiantly. “I fought for it. I won it!”
“Like hell it’s yours,” Tiny said, sneering into the young boy’s face. “Give it up, or else.”
“It is mine!” Wind on Wings said, crying out in pain when Tiny twisted his wrist backward.
Tiny nodded at Clem. “Get the damn honey,” he ordered.
Clem didn’t budge from his saddle. “Boss man wouldn’t like what you’re doin’,” he stuttered out. “Tiny, we managed to not get caught after beating up that brave the other day. We’re takin’ too much of a chance by accostin’ a second brave. I say let the kid have his honey and we go on our way. We’re supposed to be trackin’ down a stray cow. Not humiliating a young brave.”
Tiny released the boy’s wrist and slid out of his saddle. He went to Clem, grabbed him by the collar, and yanked him to the ground. He doubled a fist and hit him. “Now, do as I say, or you’re fired!” he shouted.
“I quit,” Clem moaned, rubbing his sore jaw. He scrambled to his feet. “You son of a bitch, I hope Chuck figures you out soon, or his whole ranch will suffer for it. I wouldn’t blame the Potawatomis if they came and burned down his entire place!”
“Get outta here,” Tiny said, pointing to the road. “And if you breathe so much as one word to Chuck, I’ll hunt you down until I find you. I’l1 thrust a knife in your ribs. Do you hear me? Not one word to Chuck.”
“All I want is to get as far away from you as I can,” Clem said, grabbing his hat. Plopping his hat on his head, he glared at Tiny for a moment, then swung himself into his saddle. “You tiny son of a bitch, I hope you get caught and are thrown in jail. Hangin’ ain’t good enough for the likes of you. I hope you rot in hell.”
He rode off.
Tiny stared after him, then turned to the other men. “Do I have some help here, or do I have to fire the whole lot of you?” he shouted.
The men dismounted and surrounded the child’s pony. Tiny reached for the boy’s wrist, yanked him from his pony, and shoved him to the ground. One foot on his chest, he nodded to the parfleche bag. “Carl, get the damn honey,” he said to one of the cowhands. “Jess! Baldie! Come here and help me with the kid.”
Tiny placed his fists on his hips as he glared down at Wind on Wings. “You had no right to cut down that tree,” he snarled. “You have no right to the honey.”
“Is . . . honey . . . this important to you?” Wind on Wings stammered,
wincing when Tiny ground the heel of his boot deeper into his abdomen. “Take it. I will go home. I will tell no one what you did today.”
“You’ll not rat on me, huh?” Tiny said, laughing sarcastically. He looked from Jess to Baldie. “Let’s show him what we do with kids that rat on people so’s he’ll think twice before doin’ it.”
Tiny offered the first kick to the boy’s side. Jess and Baldie followed with their kicks.
Then Tiny knelt down over the boy and doubled up a fist. He hit him until he lay unconscious on the ground.
“I think we went a mite too far this time,” Baldie said as he took a shaky step away from the child. “Tiny, he looks dead to me.”
“Naw, only knocked out,” Tiny said, shrugging. “Let’s get the honey and get outta here. Serves the savage right for trespassin’ and destroyin’ property.”
Tiny grabbed the parfleche bag from the boy’s pony. After securing it to his own horse, he took one last look at the boy, then rode off with his men, laughing boisterously.
Wind on Wings groaned as he tried to open his eyes to see. But they were swollen closed. Struggling up from the ground painfully, he reached blindly for his pony. When he could not find him, he gave a soft whistle.
The pony came to him and nudged him gently in the side. Even this hurt Wind on Wings, even though his pony had done this countless times before to prove his loyalty to the young brave.
Wind on Wings moaned as he pulled himself up into his saddle. Then he reached for the reins and nudged his pony in the side with his bare knees. “Shadow, take me home,” he said in a strained whisper.
The pony turned in the direction of his village. Bleeding, bruised, and bee-stung, Wind on Wings swayed back and forth in the saddle, his head hung. He had to stay alert until he reached his home so that he could be safe again.
Chapter 19
