Date: Tue, 23 Feb 2010 12:28:18 -0800 (PST)
From: Randy Howard <randyhoward2@yahoo.com>
Subject: Wagon Train / Incest / Chapter Four

Wagon Train
By
Randy Howard

This story is intended for people mature enough to appreciate it, but
legally that means people over the legal age of eighteen or whatever. It is
fiction, and contains consensual sex between male siblings and other family
and non-family members.

Chapter four:

The homecoming postponed

Previously in chapter three:

Bear Claw could see that Caleb was still puzzled by all this so he
continued to explain the process.

"A spiritual initiation rite normally implies a shepherding process where
those of us who are at a higher level guide you through a process of
greater exposure of knowledge. This includes the revelation of secrets,
usually reserved for those at the higher level of understanding.  The
initiation will cause a fundamental process of change to begin within you
Little Fox. I will be conducting the initiation because I, being in
possession of certain powers and a state of being, transfer these powers
and state to you. The initiation process is often likened to a simultaneous
death and rebirth, because as well as being a beginning of your new life,
it also implies an ending of your old as it drops away in an ascension to
the next."

"I see now... I essentially become a man," he said.

"Well yes and much more than that Little Fox. You shall become aware of the
spirit world of our ancestors and the Great Spirit also." He told the
boy. "Now come and lay beside me and tell me of this power that you have
over Running Deer," he commanded more than asked.

Caleb reluctantly lay beside the handsome War Chief, and his heart was
pounding so hard that he thought that Bear Claw would hear it. When, after
several long and silent minutes Caleb remained silent, Bear Claw's hand
moved over and rested on Caleb's thigh.

"I have seen you two and how you act as with a squaw Little Fox," he said
as Bear Claw's hand slowly roamed up Caleb's leg to his groin. "Now you
shall show me also."

Now chapter four: Seth and Jacob stood beside Colonel Mackenzie as the
detail rode back into the fort. Their eyes searched for a sign of Caleb and
when they found none, their hearts sank.

"Sir, after much searching we found no sign of the MacDaniels boy or of the
Comanche camp,"

Corporal Parker said. "We did return to the last place that we knew of the
camp to be and found these," he said and handed the colonel some blood
covered clothes.

Seth grabbed the clothes and dropped to his knees, he tears freely flowing.

"Those belonged to my brother Caleb sir," Jacob sadly said as his hand
rested on Seth's shoulder.

The clothes were badly torn and blood was everywhere on them. Jacob helped
his pa to stand and thanked the colonel for Seth.

"Come on pa, let's get you back to the wagon," he said and took hold of his
dad by the waist and let him away with the clothes in his free hand.

"He's dead son, my baby is really dead," Seth said as his tears poured
forth.

When they got back to the wagon, Jacob helped his dad get into the wagon to
rest. He looked around for Alex, but the lad was nowhere to be found.

*** "Hello, I'm Jeremy Bryant," a boy of sixteen said to Alex from the
water.

"Alex Thurman," the boy said standing on the shore.

"Are you coming in or just going to stand there looking?" he asked Alex.

"I wasn't planning on getting in, but I guess it wouldn't hurt to clean
up," he said as he turned to see if anyone else was around.

"We're alone Alex, the others are too busy with business in the fort,"
Jeremy said as Alex peeled off his shirt.

He kicked off his shoes before he removed his suspenders and undid his
buttons to his pants.

Jeremy watched him intently as the boy stripped and stepped into the
water. Alex got shin deep and dove in, resurfacing inches from Jeremy.

"The water is cool," Alex told him as he wiped the water from his face.

"So you heading to California also," he asked as he looked Alex over.

"I guess so, but I am not so sure at the moment," he said. "I had a falling
out with my pa and may be staying behind at the fort," he told him.

"Why would you want to stay behind in this dust bowl? Me, I'm going to
strike it rich in California's gold," he said confidently.

Jeremy was tall and lanky with long reddish brown hair. His eyes were a
soft green and when he looked at Alex it was as if he could see the boy's
deepest secrets. The coolness of the water had his nipples standing firm
and tall on his hairless chest. Alex stared at the nubs and he longed to
nibble on them. It had been a while since he and Caleb had done it and he
was horny. Jeremy's cock was hard and visible through the water and that
hadn't helped Alex's mood.

"What are you looking at Alex," he asked but Jeremy knew, because he was
looking at Alex's hard cock also.

"Ah...nothing Jeremy... sorry, I didn't mean to be staring," he stammered,
embarrassed that he had been caught looking.

"Come on, I know a special place to swim that is out of sight of anyone
that may come down to the river," he said and swam off, his white ass
breaking the top of the water as he swam away.

Alex felt a twinge in his heart, should he or not follow, he asked himself.
He missed Caleb, but his animal lust was over powering him at the
moment. So giving in to his lust, Alex swam after the boy and soon they
were around a bend in the river.  Jeremy turned and waited for Alex to
catch up to him.

"You're a powerful swimmer Jeremy," Alex said as he stood and lost his
footing, falling into Jeremy.

Jeremy caught him and for a brief moment they looked into each other's eyes
before Jeremy kissed the boy.  Alex's heart was pounding hard with carnal
lust as Jeremy held him tight, his tongue filling Alex's mouth.

"So is this what you wanted boy," Jeremy asked once he broke their kiss and
Alex could only nod yes. "I kinda thought so when you kept staring at my
manhood," he said and led Alex out of the water.

Once on the shore, Jeremy pushed Alex down to the ground and got between
his legs. Without waiting or talking he lifted the boy's legs and pressed
his cock to Alex's rosebud.

"I don't think I want to do this Jeremy," Alex said reconsidering his first
thought.

"Well boy, I do," Jeremy said and gave a hard push, and he fully penetrated
the boy.

"Aaaaaagh stop Jeremy... it hurts," Alex cried out but the boy continued
until he bottomed.

"Hey you were the one that wanted it, now shut up and take it like a man,"
Jeremy said and began to fuck him, hard and fast.

Alex lay there almost in tears as Jeremy fucked him. The sun was baking
them in its heat as Jeremy showed Alex no mercy. His thrusts were hard and
deep, and the only saving grace was that he didn't take long to get to his
edge.

"I'm gonna shoot it," Jeremy said and blasted his cum deep into the boy's
ass.

He pounded his ass hard and feverishly until he had given Alex all that his
balls had to give. As soon as he had finished he pulled his cock from the
boy and got up.

"Thanks," was all that he said before he ran and quickly dove back into the
water.

Alex laid there in tears until he knew that Jeremy was long gone. He got up
and slowly walked into the water and carefully washed all signs of what
happened from his body. He could feel Jeremy's sperm as it slowly slid out
of his ass and disappeared into the water. Once he knew that he was clean,
he swam back to where he had left his clothes. When he got out, his clothes
were nowhere to be found.

"That damn ass," Alex shouted as he looked around for his clothes.

He quickly ran back into the water when he heard voices approaching. He
watched several soldiers as the watered the horses, his head barely
breaking the surface.

"Damn, they would pick now to come and water the horses," he thought as he
watched.

They seemed to linger forever there at the shore, laughing and
talking. Just when he thought that they were about to leave, Colonel
Mackenzie came riding up.  His eyes were directed to something bobbing
about out in the water and he directed his men to take the horses back.

"You can come out of the water now Alex," Colonel Mackenzie said to Alex.

Alex swam closer to shore but stayed far enough away to hide his nakedness.

"I can't sir, someone stole my clothes," he said and the colonel looked
around for the lad's clothing but was unable to find them.

"Come here, I have a blanket that you can use," he told him and retrieved
the blanket from the back of his saddle after he dismounted.

He unfolded the blanket and held it up as Alex walked from the
water. Ranald took in the boy's naked form, and he felt a stir in his
groin.

"Now who would do such a thing to you boy?" he asked as he wrapped the
blanket around a shivering Alex.

"It was Jeremy Bryant sir," he told him looking down at the ground in
shame.

"Well we can't have you walking through the camp or fort in this state, now
can we," he asked and Alex looked up at the colonel.

"I will need some clothes sir, and the only ones that I have are at my pa's
wagon," he said.

"I have a few uniforms about your size, so why don't we get one for you,"
he said as he got back on his horse.

He reached down to offer a hand up to the boy, and Alex grabbed it. Ranald
hefted the boy up and Alex almost lost his blanket, but he quickly covered
himself as he sat behind the colonel.

The colonel took off with a bolt and Alex quickly grabbed Ranald, his hands
resting on his groin.

He could feel the man's erection in his uniform and Alex gently massaged
it, causing the colonel to grow harder.

"I would recommend that you raise your hands higher boy," he said looking
back at Alex.

Alex placed his hands on Ranald's chest and could feel his nipples standing
firm under his shirt as the colonel rode off towards the fort. He gently
pinched them knowing that he was causing the man pleasure. The colonel rode
through the gate and around to the back of his quarters where he lowered
Alex down to the ground, before he quickly dismounted. His cock was
pressing hard against the fabric of his uniform's pants, and Alex could see
the results of his handiwork.

"This way boy," Ranald said as he led the way to his quarters with Alex
quickly following him.

Once inside his quarters, Alex let the blanket drop to the floor. Ranald
turned to see the young boy standing there erect and smiling.

"Damn if you aren't a sight boy," he said as he pulled the blanket up and
covered the boy again.

He walked over to a door and opened it. An officer was sitting at a desk
and he asked him to find the smallest uniform that he could find and bring
it to him immediately.

"Now, were you serious about staying behind when the wagons leave
tomorrow?"

"Yes sir," Alex said quietly.

"I can use a stable boy to feed and water the horses, could you handle that
boy?" he asked as he worked hard to control his urge to grab the boy. "Now
as soon as the sergeant returns with the uniform, you can dress."

"Were am I going to sleep tonight sir," he asked looking directly into the
man's clear blue eyes, and Ranald took a deep breath. "I am just afraid
that my pa will try to come and get me," he added.

"It's against my better judgment but I'll let you bunk in here with me
tonight," he said.

"Thank you sir and you won't regret it," Alex said and hugged the man.

"I already do," he thought to himself.

*** Bear Claw lay on his buffalo skins and Caleb lay beside him. Caleb was
scared out of his mind as he felt the warmth of his body as he lay beside
him.  He knew that the man was a mighty warrior and the tribes War Chief,
so he was helpless to resist him.

"So tell me Little Fox, tell me of this white magic that you possess over
Running Deer." Bear Claw said and turned to look at the boy, their faces
mere inches apart.

Caleb swallowed hard and spoke, "I don't possess any magic Bear Claw... I
just saved his live as I did yours," he lied.

"Then why is that you two are so inseparable?  You are like his squaw to
him," Bear Claw observed, angry that Caleb would not share his secret with
him.

"We are just friends and nothing more sir," he insisted.

"Then prepare for your vision quest and pray that the powers around you
will help you, for you will need their help on your journey," he told the
boy and rolled away from him and got up.

"But what who's help sir," he asked.

"The buffalo is known to have great strength and endurance and if a
Comanche warrior desires these attributes it is wise for him to study the
ways of the buffalo. He must associate himself with them and see if he can
derive some way to get one of them to share their power with him so that he
would have "buffalo medicine". The sun is another source of power but not a
god. The owl is a malignant force and has a power to cause death or injury
to the Comanche, so be watchful of the owl.  We, the Comanche pray to the
Eagle, pleading for a portion of its great strength, acute vision and on
certain occasions the eagle might allow a feather to drop in the path of a
warrior signifying a gift of "eagle medicine".  Do you understand my words
Little Fox?"

"Yes Bear Claw," Caleb said.

Caleb got up and grabbed his bow and arrows, empty water skin and as he
knelt towards the east, he thought of his vision quest and prayed to
survive it. Once he was finished praying, Bear Claw led the boy out of the
tipi and Caleb saw Running Deer standing over by his tipi.  How his heart
yearned to run to the brave, but Bear Claw was watching him, so he
restrained himself.

Bear Claw took the boy and put him on his horse behind him and with Running
Deer watching rode off.

They rode off into the wilderness for hours, with Caleb remembering his way
as they journeyed.

When Bear Claw reached the point that he felt it was where he wanted Caleb
to begin his journey, he stopped and let the boy dismount.

"May the powers that surround us be with you Little Fox," he said and rode
off.

Caleb watched as Bear Claw disappeared into the horizon and then surveyed
his surroundings.

He first looked about for signs of water; he knew that if he were to
survive, he would need water. He could survive without food, but he needed
water.  He learned from Running Deer that the cactus would yield drinkable
liquid but he wanted water also. He started off in the way that he had
come, remembering that he seen water along the way, so he headed towards
them, knowing that they would yield water.

The sun was high, and it heat was unbearable as he walked towards the
direction that he had just come from in search of water. He had remembered
seeing water as Bear Claw took him to the beginning of his journey.  With
his bow and arrows strapped to his back and his knife at his side, he
walked on. He practiced his new language as he walked, speaking only in the
Comanche tongue and stopping only to cut a piece of cactus to gather it's
liquid to help quench his thirst.

The sun's force was brutal and Caleb became delirious from its intense heat
as he walked in search of water, often stumbling several times as he
continued on his trek.

As Caleb walked along, he became aware of a pack of wolves afar off.  As
the sun began to set, he had finally reached the water hole that he had
seen. It was getting along about dusk and he needed to start a fire if he
were to keep warm and stay off the wolves. So he gathered together dried
sage brush and set it in a hollow of a piece of wood that he had
found. With his bow string wrapped around a stick, he began to work the
stick vigorously in the dried brush until it began to smolder and then
flame. He blew gently on it until it finally flamed enough to catch the
rest of the brush on fire. He added more dried scraps until he had a good
fire going.

He then walked over to the water, and lying on his belly, he drank.  He was
drinking liberally when he heard the vicious growl of the wolves. He knew
that his bow and arrows were by the fire but his knife was still at his
side. He slowly let his hand slide down to the handle of the knife when he
felt the breath of the wolf on his back.

In fear he froze...

*** Alex went to bid farewell to Seth and Jacob, before heading back to
Colonel Mackenzie's quarters.  He needed, no wanted to say goodbye to his
friends that saved him from the brutality of his father.

"So you are determined to stay Alex," Seth asked looking at the boy who was
dressed in the blue uniform of the cavalry.

"Yes sir," he told him sadly. "I want to be here in case Caleb is alive and
does return sir."

"I've accepted the fact that my boy is dead and we buried his clothes
today. But on the chance that he is and does return to the fort... would
you tell him that we are going to be settling in San Francisco," Seth told
him as he fought back his tears.

"I will sir," he said and hugged him tight.

"And would you tell him that I love him also," he added and Alex nodded
that he would.

"I will miss you Alex," Jacob said, "but if my brother is alive, tell him
that we want him to come and join us please," he told the boy. "I just feel
that pa is never going to be the same without him," he said.

"But he has you Jake, and..."

"I know, but Caleb is his baby boy and he's already buried mama," he said
sadly. "I'll do my best to love him but I can only do so much Alex, he'll
have to be willing to help himself also."

"I'll pray for you both Jake and may God grant you a safe journey west," he
said and then hugged the boy.

"You be safe here also Alex and be happy.  Whether or not Caleb returns,
find your place in life,"

he told the boy.

Jacob stood there and watched Alex as he walked back to the fort and then
turned to join his pa that was sitting and staring at the fire.

*** Caleb knew that any sudden move would prove fatal, so he slowly turned
his head towards where he knew the wolf to be standing.  The wolf's face
showed its dominance over the boy as he stood over him, his lip pulled back
baring his teeth.  The fur on the back of his neck stood tall and Caleb
could see several other wolves several feet behind the one standing over
him.

"This one must be the leader of the pack," he thought to himself as he
contemplated his next move.

The wolf backed off several feet and Caleb slowly sat and then got to a
crouching position. He pulled the knife from his belt and held it in ready,
prepared to use it should the wolf decide to attack. The wolf turned his
head towards what Caleb took to be a female wolf, which walked forward and
dropped a scrawny rabbit at Caleb's feet. The wolves slowly backed away,
but stayed within sight of Caleb. Caleb picked up the rabbit and walked
over to his fire, where he prepared the animal for cooking.

Skinned and roasting over the fire, Caleb watched the wolves as they
circled him, constantly keeping their eyes on him. Caleb knelt as the
rabbit roasted and lifted his hands towards the sky in prayer to his God.
It was well into the night, the fire well built and roaring that Caleb
succumbed to sleep finally.

*** Alex returned to Colonel Mackenzie's quarters to find the man finishing
up paperwork at his desk. The light from the oil lamp dimly lit the room as
Alex entered.

"The horses are fed and watered for the night sir," Alex reported. "I have
washed and if you don't need anything else sir, I would like to go to bed,"
he asked of the colonel.

"I'll be just one minute here boy and then I will show you were you are to
sleep," he said as he put the finishing touches on a report.

Once done he folded the report and placed it in an envelope. He sealed the
envelope with wax and inserted his ring into the soft wax.

"Done and done," he said pushing his chair from the desk and getting up.

He leaned forward and grabbed the lamp from the desk before leading the way
back into his private quarters. Alex followed the man quietly, his heart
pounding as he watched the tall and handsome man walk. He was a commanding
figure of a man and dominated the room.

"I guess until the wagon train leaves tomorrow, you'll be sleeping with me
boy," he said placing the lamp on a table beside the bed.

"Thank you sir," Alex said and began to unbutton his shirt, Ranald watched
as Alex removed his shirt, exposing his flawless boy chest.

Alex unbuttoned his uniform pants and let them drop to the floor, and he
stepped out of them.

His boyish cock was flaccid and had just the beginnings of hair at the
base.  His balls were tight and round and Ranald felt his own cock chubbing
up as he saw Alex turn, showing his white round ass to him.

Ranald removed his suspenders before he unbuttoned his shirt. Alex lay
there watching the man undress and his eyes were glued to his hair covered
chest as he removed his shirt.  Alex could tell that the man's cock was
hard; he could see it pressing against the fabric of his uniform.

Ranald could feel the boy's eyes on him as he undressed, and with a hard
cock he decided to blow out the light before removing his pants.

"Just when the show was getting good," Alex thought and felt the colonel
slip into the bed beside him. "You didn't have to blow out the lamp, it
wouldn't have been the first time I saw a naked man before sir," Alex said.

"Well it would have been the first time that you would have seen me boy,"
he said and just the warmth of Alex's body next to his had him turned
on. "Would you mind moving over some," he requested and Alex snuggled
tightly to him. "That is not what I meant," he said as Alex threw his arm
across the man's chest.

His hand soon found Ranald's right nipple, and slowly he began to trace a
circle around the hard nub. Ranald's breathing became shallow and labored,
so Alex pinched it hard.

"Mmmmm," Ranald moaned and then grabbed the boy, no longer restraining
himself.

He pulled Alex on top of him, their cocks hard and pressing together. Alex
pressed his mouth to Ranald's mouth; he offered the colonel his tongue,
which he gladly accepted.  Both were moaning in delight as they kissed hard
and lustfully, Ranald's hands roaming all over Alex's body.  They quickly
found his firm round mounds, and his fingers delved between his cheeks,
searching out the sweet pink pucker that he knew lay within. His finger
firmly pressed the ring for entry, and Alex lifted some and in the finger
slid.

"Mmmmm," he moaned as Ranald worked the finger around as they kissed.

"You like that boy don't you," he asked as he inserted a second finger and
Alex was pushing up against the colonel's hand.

"Yes sir...would you do me sir?" he asked and slid off the colonel, turning
over onto his back.

The moonlight shown in through the window, and it gave an angelic glow to
the boy's face.

Ranald knelt up between Alex's bent legs, looking down at the boy with
desire in his heart.

"Are you sure Alex, are you sure that this is what you want me to do to
you," he asked.

"Yes sir, I'm very sure that I want you to do this to me," he said and
pulled his legs back as far as they would go.

Ranald spit in his hand and rubbed in on his cock before placing his cock
to Alex's rosebud. He gave it a push and it slid slowly in.  Alex grabbed
Ranald's hips and pulled him all the way in until he bottomed, the two
letting out a soft sigh.

"Are you alright Alex?"

"Yes sir, now fuck me hard sir... fuck me like I know you want to," he told
the man.

Ranald pulled almost out before slamming his cock in hard and
again... again until he soon found a fast and rhythmic motion to fuck the
boy by. Their bodies were moving as one as Alex reached up and pinched the
man's nipples, coursing delight throughout the colonel's body.

"Damn boy what you are doing to me," he said as he pounded his ass like a
stallion in heat.

"Fuck me sir... fuck your boy," Alex urged and Ranald slammed the boy's ass
hard and zealously.

Nothing before had ever felt so good to Ranald and he felt his edge getting
close.  He slowed down to about stopped, to hold his climax off and then
resumed his pounding of Alex's ass. He rode the boy's ass for the better
part of thirty minutes, before his need to cum became too great to hold
off.

"Damn that ass of yours boy... I going to shoot my sperm boy," he said and
gave a great thrust into Alex's ass and held it there, blasting his
insides. After his initial blasts, he resumed his pounding of the boy's
ass, shooting his hot seed until he was spent.  Hot, tired and sweat
covered, he collapsed on the boy and they kissed in love's sweet afterglow.

"Does this mean I get to sleep here every night sir," Alex asked and the
defeated colonel only nodded yes into Alex's neck.

"Damn you are one hot little fuck," Ranald said as he pulled his spent cock
from Alex's ass.

Kneeling between the boy's legs and looking down at his still hard cock,
Alex reaches up and places his hand behind the colonel's head.  He gently
pulls the man down to his cock and Ranald opens his mouth reluctantly, and
takes Alex's cock into his mouth.  He sucks the head, running his tongue
around the skin covered gland, and Alex pushes the colonel's head further
down on his young cock. As it hits the back of his throat, he gags and
backs off.

"Just swallow when you feel it hit the back sir," Alex tells him and pushes
him further down again.

Ranald feels the cock hit his gag spot and swallows, Alex's cock easily
moves down his throat.

Breathing through his nose he begins to savor the cock that is in his
mouth, and soon he has Alex at his edge.  Alex knows that the colonel would
only pull off if he told him that he was cumming, so he shoots his seed
without a warning.  At first Ranald chokes but soon he begins to swallow
what Alex is offering him, and is taking every drop that the boy gives him.

"That was rather sneaky of you boy," he said as he dropped Alex's soft cock
and wiped his mouth. "Not giving me a warning that you were going to shoot
your stuff," he said as he lay on the boy.

"Would you have taken it sir?"

"Probably not, but that was still rather sneaky," and laughed at the
canniness of the boy.

He pulled Alex to him in a spooning position, and soon the two were fast
asleep.

*** The next morning Seth woke to find the wolves sleeping snuggling around
him. He didn't move but remained still until the packs leader stirred. The
powerful wolf lifted his head and gazed into Caleb's eyes as if looking to
see if fear was in them. Caleb showed no fear but remained calm and gazed
back. The wolf rose and the rest of the pack with him and stood to watch
Caleb as he too rose. Caleb stretched to get the sleep and discomfort from
his bones.

"Now we hunt," he said to the leader and took off running, the wolves
alongside him as all eyes surveyed the area for signs of wildlife.

Caleb stopped when he spotted a deer in the distance and crouched down.  He
grabbed his bow and an arrow... aimed and let the arrow fly. The deer
dropped almost instantly where it stood and Caleb, along with the wolves
went running.

Caleb took the deer and strung it up in a tree, where he bled it. Once he
had gutted the animal, tossing the innards to the wolves, he cut what he
needed from it and left the rest to the wolves to eat. He brought back his
meat to his fire and after rebuilding his fire, he cooked what he wanted to
eat. He smoked the rest with mesquite that he gathered and prepared it as
he had been taught so that he would have food for the rest of his trek
home.

"Thanks for the warmth last night buddy," Caleb said to the lone wolf as he
sat beside him and helped Caleb devour the rest of his meal.

The animal's eyes searched Caleb's soul and as if satisfied by what he
found, he rubbed his head against Caleb's leg and Caleb scratched behind
the wolf's ears.

"Hunter, I shall call you Hunter," Caleb said and tossed the remainder of
his meat to the animal.

The animal caught it mid air and swallowed it whole, before he lay at
Caleb's feet. Caleb looked about for the rest of the pack, but they were
nowhere to be seen.

"I guess it's just you and me now Hunter," he said as he stretched out for
a quick snooze, both of their stomachs filled.

*** Alex woke and could feel the morning wood of Ranald press tight against
his ass. He snuggled tight back against it and it caused Ranald to stir,
moaning out in delight.

"There's no time this morning Alex for such fun," Ranald said and Alex
turned to face the man.

"I understand sir," Alex said, for he was sure that the night before was
just a case of an officer using him for his own personal pleasure.

"No son you don't understand. My sergeant will be reporting shortly and I
need to be up and ready for duty also. I don't want you to think that what
we did last night was just me using you son."

"Really sir...you really care about me?" he asked as a tear ran down his
soft face.

"Yes Alex I care, and right or wrong, I am falling in love with you Alex,"
he said and passionately kissed the boy. "Now let's get up before he gets
here, and he figures out just what went on," he said and gave Alex another
kiss before they got up and dressed.

"I will go feed and water the horses' sir," he said but Ranald stopped him.

"No Alex, I want Sergeant Marshall to give you some duties to perform
around the office here.

I'd rather keep you within eyesight then out there and in danger."

"Danger sir?" he asked, puzzled by the statement.

"Alex, when you and I are alone, you can call me Ranald. As for the
dangers, let's just say I'd rather keep you safe in here," he told the
boy. "Now let's get over to the mess hall and get us some breakfast. You
will sit with the other men while I will sit with the officers. Protocol
you know," he said and the two left the quarters.

*** The wagon train moved onward, and Seth's heart was heavy. He had begun
his trip having left behind a wife and now he was also leaving behind a
son.

"Are you alright pa?" Jacob asked looking up at his father.

"I'll live son," he told the boy, "I just miss your brother is all. But I
am thankful that I have you Jacob and your love," he said and rested his
hand on the boy's shoulder as they walked along.

"Is my boy with you MacDaniels," Frank shouted as he came up behind Seth
and Jacob.

"Your boy chose to stay behind at the fort Frank, a choice that he was wise
to make," Seth said.

"I don't believe you, I know that he's hiding in your wagon," he insisted.

"Search it Frank if you must, but you will not find him."

Frank climbed on the back of Seth's wagon and looked into the wagon. When
he was convinced that his boy was not there, he climbed down.

"I'm going back for him," Frank insisted, confronting Seth once again.

"Don't be crazy Frank; we are miles from the fort. You'd be an easy target
for a Comanche raiding party," he told him. "For the love of God man, think
of your family...your other sons,"

he said hoping to reach the man.

"I'm not taking them; I'll be riding back alone by horseback.  I'll get my
boy and rejoin the wagons later," he told him.

"My God man you are insane," he said shaking his head and Frank walked off.

Within twenty minutes, Seth saw Frank riding off back towards the fort. He
knew down in his heart that the man would never return.

"He's committing suicide Jacob," Seth said as he watched Frank disappear
into the horizon, shielding his eyes with his hand from the harsh light of
the sun.

"You tried to reason with his pa, that was all that you could do," Jacob
said and turned back to watching the oxen as they plodded along.

*** Caleb woke with a sudden start, when he heard Hunter growl.  His hand
on his knife and the other grabbing his bow he prepared for a fight.

"What is it boy?" he asked as he looked around.

Over in the distance, a lone rider approached.  There was no time to
extinguish the fire so he took off running for the cover of some rocks. A
gunshot hit the rock just as he dove behind it, and he drew an arrow,
jumped up and let it fly.  The rider flew off his horse and to the ground,
kicking up dust as he hit.  Even from where he stood, Caleb could see his
arrow protruding from the man's chest.

"Hunter come," he said and took off running, be cautious in case the man
still be alive.

As he approached the horse, he grabbed the reigns and held them before
checking the man.

"Mr. Thurman," he said in shock, surprised to see Alex's dad so far away
from the others and alone.

"Get away from me you savage," Frank shouted out in pain.

"Lay still Mr. Thurman, it's me, Caleb," he told him and Frank looked up at
the boy.

"We thought that you were dead boy," he said as Caleb pulled the arrow from
the man.

"Aaaaaagh damn boy... why did you go and do that," he screamed out in pain.

"To save your life is why, now lay still."

Caleb looked around and soon found the plant that he was looking for and
pulled it up out of the ground. Taking several leaves into his mouth, he
chewed it for several moments before placing them on the wound.

"This will help stop the bleeding and prevent the wound from getting an
infection sir," he told Frank that just brushed the Indian remedy off his
wound.

"I don't need a savage remedy boy.  You have been gone so long that you're
more Indian than white man now," he scolded.

"Sir please...It'll save your life... trust me," he said and began to chew
more leaves.

"Get away from me boy, or else I'll kill you myself and this time I won't
miss," he shouted.

Caleb stood and spit out the leaves, and looked down at the pitiful man.

"I will leave you then sir, if you do make it back to the fort, please tell
my pa that I am alive and will be coming home someday soon."

"Your pa found your blood covered clothes and thinks you to be dead boy. He
and your brother have left for California," he told him.

Caleb's heart broke, not for himself but for the pain that his pa and Jacob
must have felt. It had not been his plan to hurt his dad but he knew that
Bear Claw would have never let Running Deer let him return to his pa. Now
his life had been determined for him.  Caleb was to be a Comanche and no
longer a white man. From that moment on, Caleb no longer remembered his
name and went only by Little Fox. His life that he had once had was dead to
him as he was to his pa and Jacob. He looked down again at Frank and then
took off running, along with Hunter beside him.

Little Fox was determined to be the best Comanche warrior that he could be.

*** Running Deer was beside himself with worry, because he knew that Little
Fox wasn't yet prepared fully for his quest. He wished that he had shown
him more of the ways to live off the land before he had been taken.  He
also had time to search his inner man and now he knew that he was in love
with Little Fox, in love as a brave would be in love with a squaw.

"How do I explain to my father that I do not want to take a wife?  How do I
explain that Little Fox is all that I ever wanted in a mate and more?" he
thought.

"Are you thinking about Little Fox, Running Deer," Bear Claw asked rousing
Running Deer from his thoughts.

"I was just praying that he will do well with his quest and was remembering
my own quest Bear Claw," he said as the great War Chief entered his tipi.

"I would not hold out much hope of seeing him again, that boy has not what
it takes to be a Comanche warrior," Bear Claw said.

"I would not discard Little Fox so quickly Bear Claw, he just might
surprise you," he replied.

"Like it would surprise your father what you two share Running Deer," he
retorted.

"We are but friends, so why do you insist on making it more than what it
is?" he asked and got up, walked out of his tipi, leaving the war chief
alone.

*** Frank struggled to stay on his horse as the blood issued from his
wound. He knew that his strength was draining him as he saw the fort in
view.

"Rider coming in," a sentry yelled down to the men that manned the gate and
they opened it up.

They stood and waited until Frank got to within thirty feet of the fort and
fell from his horse.

The men raced to his aid and helped him into the fort; one noticed the
wound to his upper left chest.

"He's been wounded by an arrow John," the soldier said.

"Let's get him over to the doc," John said and they rushed him over to
where the doctor worked.

Kicking open the door, the hurried in with Frank and laid him on a bed. The
doctor rushed over to his aid and looked at the wound.

"It looks like an arrow did this," he said looking up at the soldiers. "You
had better go get Colonel Mackenzie," he told them.

John hurried out to get the colonel while the doctor removed Frank's
shirt. Alex was just carrying in some supplies when he noticed his father
lying on the bed.

"Pa," he yelled out and rushed over to the bed after he set the supplies
down on a table.

"Do you know this man son," the doctor asked.

"He's my pa sir," Alex told him.

Colonel Mackenzie came running in just as Frank was coming to. He too
recognized Frank from the ruckus that he had the other night.

"Who did this to you sir," Colonel Mackenzie asked looking down at Frank.

Frank looked over at Alex who was on the brink of tears and said, "Caleb
MacDaniels, he was the one that shot me with an arrow.  He's Comanche now
and no longer a white man," he said.

"He ambushed me as I was riding back to the fort to get my boy," he added.

"Caleb is alive pa," Alex asked and his face lit up, happy to hear the
news.

"You don't care that he nearly killed your own pa, you just care about that
worthless boy," he snapped and began to cough.

The doctor looked up at Ranald and slowly shook his head, letting him know
that Frank was not long for this world.

"Once I am better boy, I want your ass on a horse and you're coming back
with me," he snapped.

He coughed several more times and Alex backed away from him, unable to
comprehend what he was telling him.

"No pa, I am not going back with you, I am staying here where I belong," he
insisted.

"Damn it boy, you are mine and you will do as you are told," he snapped and
tried to get up.

Frank fell sideways off the bed and was dead by the time he hit the floor.

"Corporal, get a detail together and scout the area for any sign of the
MacDaniels boy. If he's out there I want him brought in for questioning,"
Colonel Mackenzie ordered.

"Yes sir," John said and rushed out of the room immediately.

"Sir don't believe what my pa said. I know Caleb and he would never ambush
my pa," Alex pleaded Caleb's case. "If anything, my pa took a shot at him
and he was defending himself."

"Whatever the case boy, he needs to be found and returned to his family."
Ranald told him.

Alex rushed from the room and watched as a detail of soldiers rode out of
the fort.

"Please God protect Caleb from any harm," he prayed...

To be continued...

Email me at randyhoward2@yahoo.com with suggestions and comments!