Chapter 8

Jeremy and Edith led the party, Laughing Stone and Sally came up on the rear. Mary had helped them, she knew that Jeremy had been untied, she kept it quiet, she may not have wanted to be involved but since they were determined, she knew she had to leave or die. She had gotten the last of the little girls out and helped get them to a flat place to stand. Jeremy, Edith, Sally, and Laughing Stone said good bye and thanks. Mary took off, she knew the area and terrain and did not need light to find out where to go. After about an hour, because it was so dark and they could not light torches, they decided to sleep in another cave that was nearby.

The sun was shining bright when they woke up. The girls were hungry, but Edith and Sally just explained they would have to get away without food and they would get some later. Jeremy and Laughing Stone had woken up and looked around. They wanted to be sure that no one had found them. As Jeremy was looking in one direction and Laughing Stone in another, they heard screams. They both looked towards the screams and saw that Butch and his gang had found them.

"Well, that was a nice little night out for you children wasn't it! Come on, we have to get back to camp. We are leaving soon!" Said Butch who sneered at the boys especially at Laughing Stone.

They got back to camp, and the little girls were mounted on horses that were attached to another rider's horse. They had stolen horses so that the girls could ride, it would be easier especial if they had to make a run for it!

Before they left camp though, Butch had Laughing Stone tied to a tree. He then took Jeremy and gave Jeremy a pistol and said:

"Boy, if you don't want to be sold, or killed, I suggest you kill this here injun! Then we can take you in our gang and you can be one of us!"

"I-I-I Don't w-w-want to!" Jeremy said, dropping the pistol to the ground.

Butch held his gun to Jeremy and motioned for another to hold a gun to Laughing Stone's head.

"Now pick up that gun and shoot at that injun!" Jeremy picked up the gun and tried to aim it at Laughing Stone, with tears in his eyes. Laughing Stone had seen some movement in the bushes and relaxed. He knew Jeremy could not shoot him. Jeremy knew he could not shoot his friend either. When Jason and Tall Bear came out of the woods Jeremy started to shoot but it was not at Laughing Stone. It was at Butch who was right next to him. Although Jeremy missed, a man who had been setting one of the little girls on the horse with is back turned to Jeremy was shot in the behind. Butch was busy fighting with Jason, Big Swede had subdued the man holding the gun to Laughing Stone's head and Jim Swill had gotten a few of the stragglers who were running in all directions. Tall Bear and his warriors helped to capture the stolen horses with the little girls on them and took the girls down from the horses. Mary was not to be seen; Richard had also disappeared. He did not want to stick around to go to jail. Not just yet. He had to find Mary. She was gone but he did not know where.

Mary for her part had forded a small rive and was on the other side, she was going to make her way to San Francisco. She had no idea where it was, but she knew it was somewhere south.

When Edith had been helped down from the horse she immediately ran over behind Jeremy and took the pistol away from him. It seems he could not figure out how stop shooting. He was so scared, and she wanted to take care of him.

Jason had Butch and Billy both tied up and waiting for transport. The calvary came because Jim had sent a message and they arrived just in time to put this gang in chains and send them to jail. Tall Bear was happy to have Laughing Stone safe.

"Jeremy, I am sure glad you can't shoot straight!" Laughing Stone said

"I am glad I cant shoot straight either!" said Jeremy who was glad he did not have to hold onto that horrible pistol. Jason and Tall Bear said their good byes. Both boys wondered if they would be able to finish the summer together. Jason thought of that as well and asked Tall Bear what he thought. They both agreed that the boys would stay with Tall Bear for the next couple of weeks and then there would be the Potlatch and they would each go their separate ways.

When the Potlatch came, Edith and Sally had been reunited with family and were no longer in or near Seattle. Jeremy was a little unhappy, but Edith was just a girl, and he was having more fun hanging out with his friend anyway. They had done a bit more exploring, and one day they came upon a body. They ran to tell the chief and Jason. The body was Mary. She had been shot in the head. They did not know who had shot her, but she never got her fancy clothes nor fine jewelry. She was buried in the town cemetery. About a year later someone showed up at the cemetery and sat on his horse in front of her grave with his hat over his eyes, silently crying. He had lost his family and the love of his life.

"If only she hadn't stolen his stash, he would have shared it with her and his life as well." Taking his hat off he bowed his head, then put the hat back on and rode his horse out of the cemetery and out of town before any one noticed he had been there. A few wildflowers were on the grave but those soon blew away with the wind.