Read Holding Their Own: The Toymaker for Free Online

escape!”
    A din arose from the gathered throng, all of the combatants competing to voice their opinions at once. It was the uncle’s words that rose above the clamor and then silenced the crowd. “None of this matters!” he shouted. “They are trespassers on our land and armed for battle. For many years, white men have used their weapons to snatch food from the very mouths of our children. How can we trust them now? Did these travelers come to the pueblo and announce their arrival? No, they hide in the mountains and wait for their opportunity to pillage our settlements and make slaves of our people,” the uncle paused to make sure his audience was considering his words before continuing his soliloquy. “And already they have taken their first captive.”
    Hack scanned the mass, seeing several heads nodding in agreement. Before he could make an observation, the uncle turned to the gathered hunting party and implored, “You have the information you need. Will you not go now and rescue my niece?”
    “Hold on,” Hack barked, “Wait just a minute. Before you go rushing off, you need to understand those three men aren’t the typical Raiders. They look like U.S. military to me… maybe cops or deputies. Whoever they are, you need to be extra careful. They’re armed to the teeth, and the girl is very close to their camp.”
    “Show us where they are, Grandfather, and we’ll bring her back… along with their heads,” spouted the lead hunter.
    Hack didn’t like it but could sense the determination of the men surrounding him. Nodding, his eyes returned to the tablet where he began to manipulate the software.
    A frown formed on the toymaker’s face when he realized the girl’s location. Looking up with concern, he announced, “They’re right on the southern edge of the project. Directly above where the men have been digging for the last few days.”
    Before he could form any other words, a chorus of hoots, whoops, and blood-curdling screams rose up from the riders. With a wave of his arm signaling for the others to follow, the leader spurred his mount, and the hunting party was storming out of the square accompanied by the rolling thunder of hooves.

Chapter 3
     
    The wind had been kicking up dust devils all afternoon. By the time Bishop was ready to turn in, he knew a storm was on the way. He could smell the moisture in the air, a rarity for the arid environment.
    “Good… we need rain,” the Texan observed.
    Scanning his small patch of West Texas dirt one last time before entering the RV, he noticed flashes of lightning to the west, their strobes illuminating the majestic outline of the Chisos Mountains in the distance. “A storm at that. I wonder if the thunder will frighten Hunter?” he worried.
    Terri was in Alpha with their son, visiting Diana and finalizing wedding plans. No doubt there was a hefty dose of girl stuff involved as well. She’d begged him to come along and be around people for a change, but there were too many chores on his list. Always too many. Besides, Terri was more akin to the city life, and he’d just dampen the mood worrying about this, that, or the other back at the ranch.
    The harsh Chihuahuan Desert had been contrary as of late, the land making it difficult to feed his family and make an honest living. That, and a streak of bad luck weighed on Bishop’s mind every night and day.
    Mr. Beltran had advanced him six head of seed stock, the small herd of cattle comprised of an aging bull and five serviceable cows. One had fallen to her death, the victim of a rockslide and grazing too close to the steep ridge. Another had contracted disease and expired. Veterinarians were a luxury since the collapse. Even when an animal doc could be contacted in time, medications to treat sick stock were seldom available.
    One calf was on the way, but even if she delivered without incident, the headcount was in decline. At this rate, it would be years before he could butcher for table beef.