So here is the next chapter. Read and review. Thank you.
Lightning staggered to her feet and trotted off to a nearby grassy area and began to nibble on the grass. Lou coughed as the weight on her chest eased a bit. Her eyes fluttered and then opened. She stared up at a very menacing dark sky. The silence that had scared her earlier was broken by a sound she had never heard before. She tried to sit up but flinched in pain. Slowly she tried again. Releasing a deep breath, she sat up and her eyes widened as she saw the sight that accompanied the sound she heard. A funnel shaped dark cloud headed in her direction. She tried to stand but couldn't. The only shelter she saw was a huge tree about 20 feet away. She slid onto her knees and desperately crawled to the tree. The wind blew harder as the cloud ate the desert floor as it neared her. She turned and wrapped her arms around the broad trunk of the tree.
Lightning bucked and reared as the storm approached and her fight or flight instinct told her to run home. She galloped back in the direction her and her master had just left. Buck never took his eyes off the tornado as it danced across the prairie in front of him. He was also aware of the smaller one to the east. His gaze momentarily strayed to the moving object coming in his direction. Focusing on it he realized it was a horse. Lou's horse. But his friend was not on the horses back. He steered his horse in the direction of Lightning and grabbed the horse's reins as he neared. His panic rose as the base of the tornado seemed to be expanding. He took a deep breath and again rode off toward the storm, Lou's horse in tow. The tornado hit a small ditch and quickly changed direction. Buck panicked as he saw a small figure behind a huge tree and the tornado headed straight for them. He raced Spirit toward the tree and jumped off before the horse even stopped "LOU!" He fought the wind and debris on his way to her, his words lost in the thunderous sound that was advancing on them. He reached Lou and covered her with his body. He dug his booted feet into the loose desert floor and braced himself against the wind that was trying to blow him off his feet.
The thunderous sound, louder than anything he had ever heard, roared passed them. Debris and dust flew at them. Lou was finding it hard to hold on and even harder to breath. She felt Buck pressed against her and heard him speak harshly in Kiowa. The air was being sucked out of her lungs. Saying a silent prayer she closed her eyes and felt the sticks and rocks hit her body. Buck didn't know how much longer he could hold on to the low hanging branch. He didn't want to frighten Lou more than she probably already was. So he said a Kiowa Prayer and watched as rocks flew through the air in their direction. He lowered his head to keep it all out of his face. Noting that Lou was doing the same thing. He couldn't catch his breath as the wind lifted his feet off the ground. Lou felt Buck rise off of her and watched as his feet flew up in the air, his hands firmly on the branch above them.
Taking as much control as he could Buck tried to swing his legs over the branch. He lost his grip and fell to the ground. Lou felt the wind slowing down as the tornado glided across the nearby lake and slowly dissolved back into the clouds. She let go of the tree and crawled to Buck who sat up and was trying to catch his breath. His first thoughts were for Lou. He reached for her, "Are you ok?" he stuttered between gasps of air. Buck saw shock and fear and even pain in the chocolate depths of her eyes. "Are you hurt?" He asked with concern.
"I am fine, The storm scared Lightning and she threw me off but… "Panic rose in Lou's heart as she looked for her faithful mount. "Lightning" She tried to stand but a shooting pain in her abdomen stopped her.
Buck watched her and jumped to his feet. He reached for her and slowly placed his hands on her abdomen. Lou looked at him strangely until he said, "You have at least two broken ribs." He released her when he noticed the look on her face as she stared over his shoulder. He turned and saw the second smaller tornado from the east gathering speed and strength.
