Chapter 2

Sean raced for the bushes, Whitecloud in his arms, but he wasn't quick enough one of the horses pulled between him and the tree line the other reigned up behind him. Sean looked up to see the menacing scarred face of Zachariah Platt leering down at him from the saddle.

"Well, Well, Well," he sneered, "We're much obliged to you for finding our girl for us," he sneered, "now if you'll just hand her over will be on our way all nice and neighborly like."

"You'll be on your way, alright," snapped Sean glaring fearlessly at Platt, as he lowered Whitecloud gently to the ground, "Without the girl!"

"Why you little," Growled Platt reaching for his pistol, but before he could clear leather Sean reached up and grabbed his arm and collar and with one motion pulled him out of the saddle and threw him into Barton who had been drawing his pistol at the same time them knocking them both out of the saddle the two men landed in a tangled heap at the edge of the water. There was a dull clinking sound and a splash as their pistol went into the creek. In the next instant both men were on their feet seething with rage at having been knocked out of their saddles so easily.

Sean drew his knife and struck a fighting stance. Platt drew his own knife and started toward Sean slowly. Just as he got within fighting distance Sean jumped and kicked his leg up high catching Platt right in the face. Platt reeled backwards from the force of the blow and landed sprawled out on the rocky ground unconscious. As soon as Barton saw his partner go down he charged at Sean swinging his knife like a madman. In one fluid motion Sean caught his wrist just behind the knife and kicked his legs out from under him. Barton went down flat on his back and before he could get up Sean kicked him square in the forehead knocking him out cold.

Sean Calmly put his knife in its sheath and brushed himself off. Then he turned toward where he had put Whitecloud, he found that she had pulled herself up onto a log. She now sat there looking relieved and impressed.

"You fight like a Tiowaka warrior," she said with a hint of bashfulness in her voice, "You must have many girls wishing to be yours." Sean blushed and chuckled, as he picked her up and started down stream.

"Actually most of the girls in Cedar ridge don't pay much attention to me." He said.

"Then they must not be very smart," she said confidently

"Well Maybe," he said feeling the blood rush to his face again. He had never really thought of himself as handsome. He had unruly brown hair and brown eyes, a muscular build, and rugged features that gave him a chiseled look. Just then Sean with Whitecloud in his arms emerged from the trees-line and started across the back pasture toward the house. The jagged mountains that circled the valley rose behind him like granite sentinels that watched over him as he walked across the open field toward the sturdy cabin that he knew as home.

Sean's mother was just putting supper on the table when he entered the cabin with Whitecloud. Mr. Skyler looked up from cleaning his hat and grinned.

"I sent you to catch so fish son not to get married."

"Very funny, Pa," retorted Sean putting Whitecloud down in one of the chairs that stood next to the rough stone fireplace.

"Pa," he said, "this is Whitecloud," Mr. Skyler immediately became serious.

"Running Bear's daughter?" he asked rising to his feet. Sean nodded.

"Two of Decker's men grabbed her when she was out gathering herbs," said Sean and he knelt in front of her and begin to peel her boot off again before continuing, "She broke Away from them and was hiding down by the creek that's were I found her."

"What about Decker's men?" Mr. Skyler asked.

"Who Barton and Platt," said Sean, "I left them lying on the creek bank wondering what happened."

"Don't be to full of yourself son," said Jack, "you know that I don't like fighting and now those men have been whipped, they'll be screaming for revenge."

"Well what did you want him to do, Jack?" said Maddie, as she tended to Whitecloud's leg, "Let those two animals have the girl?"

"Of course not," Said Jack, "and I'm not saying the boy did anything wrong, I just don't like stirring Decker's boys up anymore than can be helped."

"Sean," said Jack, "you stay here with you Ma and Whitecloud. I'm going to ride out to the reservation and tell Running bear that his daughter's safe before he hits the warpath and throws the whole territory into an uproar."

Sean watch as his father brought one of the horses from the barn mounted it and rode off toward the reservation. A split second later he heard his mother calling him to come to the table and have a bite to eat. Sean and Whitecloud had barely begun to eat their stew when the peace and quiet of the evening was shattered by the sound of a half dozen horses galloping up. Sean put down his spoon and went to look out the window. There out side were Barton, Platt, who had apparently fished their guns out of the creek, Sheriff Jackson, and a tall Dark haired man that Sean immediately recognized as Jake Decker himself.

Sean Walked over and took his dad's Colt pistol from its place on the rack over the fire place and sticking in his belt under his coat he stepped outside. Maddie stood in the doorway behind him.

"Evening sheriff," said Sean, deliberately ignoring the other men

"My boys, are charging you with assault," said Decker in a gruff voice before the sheriff could say anything

Sean turned and looked Decker square in the eyes,

"Decker," He said, "Your boys should be thanking me that they're still wearing their scalps. I don't suppose they told you that they had been out poaching girls from the reservation."

Without waiting for a reply from Decker he turned to Barton and Platt,

"Here is a little information for the two of you," he said, "that girl you kidnapped from the reservation was the chief's daughter."

"What girl," sneered Platt, "I don't remember any injun girl do you, Horace?"

Before Horace could reply Whitecloud stepped into the doorway. Both men froze.

"That's Running bear's daughter all right," said the Sheriff

A thought when through the mind of Barton,

"Without the girl Skyler ain't got no proof." He slowly reached for his gun.

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