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POOR COWBOY SAVED A 22-YEAR-OLD APACHE GIRL — THEN THE WHOLE TOWN TURNED AGAINST HIM

Chapter 14

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Naelli turned to look at Jake Turner.Her dark eyes were full of tears that finally spilled over her lashes, running down her sun-darkened cheeks. She reached out, took Jake’s large, calloused hand in both of hers, and pressed it against her forehead for one brief, beautiful second."Thank you, A-ho-te," she whispered, her voice breaking. "Thank you... for my life.""Go home, Naelli," Jake said gently, his own voice thick with emotion. "Be safe."She gave his hand one final, tight squeeze, turned, and mounted the spare horse her brother held for her.Goyath raised his rifle high above his head, let out a single, echoing war cry, and wheeled his appaloosa around!The thirty Apache warriors turned as one, kicked their horses into a thunderous gallop, and swept back up the eastern ridge like a dark whirlwind, vanishing into the crimson twilight as quickly as they had come.The dust slowly settled over the empty yard.Jake stood alone on the wooden porch of Dr. Reeves’s cabin, holding the heavy silver-and-turquoise pendant in his left hand, his Winchester rifle resting in his right.

The next morning, the sun rose over Silver Creek with a quiet, gentle brilliance, painting the desert in soft shades of gold, rose, and pale blue.The terror of the previous evening had passed, leaving behind a profound, stunned silence that hung over the single street like a heavy fog.Jake Turner stood at the hitching post outside Dr. Reeves’s cabin, tightening the cinch on his heavy bay horse. He had packed his saddlebags with his few belongings, strapped his bedroll behind the cantle, and pulled his Winchester into its leather scabbard beside his knee.It was time to go back to his homestead.As he reached up to adjust his stirrup leather, he heard heavy boots walking slowly down the wooden boardwalk behind him.Jake didn't turn around right away. He finished buckling the leather strap, smoothed down his horse’s coat, and then turned slowly to face the street.Standing on the boardwalk were three men.At the center was Sheriff Ellis, looking older and more tired than ever, but with a look of profound relief in his gray eyes.Beside him stood Henderson, the storekeeper, holding a heavy brown paper sack under his arm.And three feet behind them, looking down at his own dusty boots with a face pale and hollow from shame, was Briggs.Sheriff Ellis took off his hat, cleared his throat noisily, and walked down the steps into the dirt street.
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POOR COWBOY SAVED A 22-YEAR-OLD APACHE GIRL — THEN THE WHOLE TOWN TURNED AGAINST HIM

15 Part