Free Brothers in Blood by Dusty Richards Page A

asked.
    â€œYes.”
    â€œGood.”
    â€œGun shots scared him.”
    He nodded and turned to see the others approaching. “They’ve headed for some horses,” he shouted.
    Roamer joined him first, then the other two. They watched as other squaws and a few men dressed in rags, all unarmed, began to appear. All he saw told Chet these breeds were a ragged, hungry-looking bunch.
    â€œWho is your leader?” he asked.
    â€œRump,” one woman said, and pointed out a skinny man with lots of gray hair.
    Wrapped in a thin blanket, he came forward. “I’m Rump.”
    â€œDo you have anything to eat here?” Chet asked, frowning at the Indian and his situation.
    â€œPinion nuts.”
    â€œTomorrow, one of my men will bring you a cow or old bull to eat. I will find you some frijoles and have them delivered to the river.”
    â€œWait,” the man said with a pained expression on his old face. “Why do that for us?”
    â€œâ€™Cause hungry babies cry in your camp. I won’t be able to sleep hearing them.”
    The man used the flat of his hand to touch his forehead sideways and send it toward him. “I thank you and your people. We can do nothing about the men that shot at you.”
    â€œWe can, and we’ll be back tomorrow to track them down. If they’re in camp when we come, put up a white flag so we know they’re here.”
    Rump nodded his assent.
    Jesus and Cole rounded up all the crackers and jerky in their saddlebags to give to the women.
    â€œWe can go home tonight, get some pack horses and go after those three,” said Chet.
    Roamer shook his head. “You never cease to amaze me, Chet Byrnes. You are one generous guy. It wasn’t the shooting made that baby cry. He was hungry, wasn’t he?”
    â€œYes. It’ll be dark when we get home tonight, and looking for these varmints is going to take a few days. We have nothing with us and these folks need the things I promised them. We’ll set out tomorrow to find them.”
    â€œLike we always do.” Jesus smiled with confidence. “They can’t run far enough on their poor horses.”
    Cole rubbed the sleeves of his coat. “I only wish it was warmer.”
    Roamer laughed. “Then wear two suits of underwear, Texas.”
    They smiled, mounted up, and headed for Hampt’s.
    When May heard the story about the handful of breeds starving, she was ready to take them food right away. Hampt hugged her. “Darling, we’ll get them an old bull to eat, and frijoles, and whatever else you want them to eat. And do that first thing in the morning.”
    â€œCan I give them a case of canned milk?”
    Chet said, “Fine. There’s probably a dozen or so babies down there. I’m going to take them a few blankets from my place.”
    She looked at Hampt. “We have a few blankets I saved.”
    Hampt nodded at her, then looked at Chet. “I guess I’ll be in charge of them, too?”
    â€œYeah, feeding them and looking out for them until we find a charity to do it.”
    It was late when they reached home, but Marge was up holding supper.
    â€œMay wanted to feed us, but we told her you’d be up.”
    She filled coffee cups around. “I’m glad you did. I sent Monica to bed. And those poor Indians up there are starving?”
    â€œBad shape.”
    â€œThose men shot at you?”
    â€œThey had some old rifles they shot at us with,” Jesus said. “We were out of range.”
    â€œWe’ll go find them and Roamer can arrest them,” Chet said.
    â€œI have several blankets we can send. How will these people fend for themselves?”
    â€œCome spring, they can plant a few acres of garden at the edge of Hampt’s irrigated ground and grow what they want. But that’s a long way off. Till then, we’ll help them get through it.”
    â€œWhy did they camp there? Isn’t that on