Chapter 1

It was a busy day in the city. Everything was loud, honking horns from angry drivers, and people yelling. There are three boys and their mother, that live in the city. Their mother was working late, trying to meet her deadline on her new book. 

“When do you think mom will be home?” asked Jason Fools Crow. 

“I don’t know brother, you know mom’s work, she’s a writer, she’ll be home when she can I’ll fix us something to eat,” said Edward Fools Crow. 

Edward is the oldest son; Jason is the middle child and Victor is the baby. Victor is a true city boy. Victor walks in the doorway of the apartment complex. 

“Hey is mom home yet?” asked Victor Fools Crow. 

“No, lucky for you,” said Edward. 

“Okay,” smiled Victor leaving. 

“Wait, oh never mind,” said Edward. 

“What’s wrong with him, he’s going to get in trouble, mom does not like him being out on the streets all day, racing or whatever he does,” said Jason. 

“I know, we remember what it’s like to be his age, but he does not,” said Edward. 

“This is true,” smiled Jason. 

Their mother drove up to the apartments and walked inside. 

“Hey mom, did you finish your book?” asked Edward with excitement, he loves to read his mothers books. 

“Yes, I did! I’m so excited. I also have other great news. Since I’ve been so caught up in my work, and away from home, they are letting me start working from home,” mother said with excitement. 

“Really you are going to work from home,” said Jason. 

“Yes, for my inspiration for my writing, I have decided we are going to go to the ranch this weekend, who knows, maybe even live on the ranch,” smiled mother. 

“Really, I hope we do get to live there, it’s a beautiful place, I can’t wait to tell Victor, he is going to be so mad,” laughed Jason. 

“Where is Victor?” asked mother. 

“Guess, he did poke his head in to see if you were here,” said Edward. 

“I know where he is,” mother crossing her arms. 

So they went about there day, their mother was sitting in the chair next to the window looking out towards the street for Victor, she knew he would come around that street corner. Sure enough here he comes, Victor was speeding around the street corner on his skates racing his friends. People were yelling and honking their horns. A car pulled out in front of Victor, Victor jumped over and rolled off the car and landed on the ground. The other kids finished the race. 

“Hey dude what’s your problem,” shouted Victor. 

“You could have killed someone,” said the driver speeding off. 

Victor went over to where his friends were standing. 

“Hey that was a good race,” said Victor. 

“Thank you, I’ve never beaten the race king before,” smiled the kid. 

“Hey nobody has, but you did a great job,” said Victor shaking the kid's hand. 

“Thank you,” said the kid. 

So Victor went home. When he arrived he sat down on the steps and pulled his skates off and put his shoes on and ran inside. He went upstairs into his room and flopped down on the bed, he plugged his headset in and started listening to music, his mother walks in. 

“Victor,” said mother. 

He did not hear her, so she walked over and pulled his headset off. 

“What?” asked Victor. 

“You were racing today?” asked the mother. 

“I was not racing,” lied Victor. 

“Don’t lie to me, you were racing, I saw the whole thing. These people you are hanging around with are not your friends, these stunts your pulling I can’t stand them, what if you get severely hurt, or worse, killed,” worried mother. 

“But I didn’t, it won’t happen again,” said Victor. 

“Yeah I’ve heard that before, start packing, we are going to the ranch this weekend,” said mother. 

“Oh I’ll just stay here, you guys have fun, I can look after myself,” said Victor. 

“I can’t leave you here by yourself, we are all going as a family, to enjoy ourselves and I don’t have to worry about you getting into trouble,” said mother. 

“Whatever.” Victor was angry. 

“We are leaving tomorrow morning, so be ready,” said mother as she walked out of his room. 

He grabbed his pillow and screamed into it, he threw it on the ground. Then he started packing his suitcase. 

“Well?” asked Edward. 

“He is not happy about this whole thing, but he will have to get over it,” said mother. 

“This is going to be great,” smiled Edward. 

It was getting late and everybody went off to bed. 

  Chapter 2

The next morning Victor woke up to nothing in his room, the only thing left was his bed and suitcase, he went over and put his clothes on and put his pajamas in his suitcase. He walked towards the window and saw a UHAUL vehicle with all their stuff inside. Then some men came up and grabbed his bed sheets and took the bed apart and hauled it down. He saw his brother's pony (truck) out on the street also, so he grabbed his suitcase and was headed down out the door. 

“That’s everything, thank you guys, alright let’s get moving,” said mother getting in the UHAUL, Jason and Victor got in as well and Edward drove behind in his pick up. 

The Ranch was quite far away from the city. Victor started looking out the window and saw wildflowers, deer, mountains, mesquite bushes, he was not thrilled about this whole move.

“Why do we have to go, there is nothing out on the ranch, the nearest town is a mile away or two,” said Victor. 

“There are a lot of things to do on a ranch, besides we’ll get in touch with nature and all the animals,” smiled Jason. 

“There are plenty of things to do,” said mother. 

As they arrived at the entrance of the ranch, they still had a ways to go to get to Maggie and Henry’s place. They saw lots of cattle going through the ranch. They pulled up to Aunt Maggie’s and Uncle Henry’s place, they were waiting on the outside of the porch. They had two big yellow dogs, they started barking as they drove up. When they drove up they saw a good size fishing pond on their place. 

“Nice pony,” said Henry. 

“Thanks, Uncle,” said Edward. 

“Alright we will drive up to your new place and help you all get settled in, you are going to love it,” said Maggie. 

So they all pitched in and drove up to the house, they saw a fenced home with a huge garage, a pool, to get in you had to go through a gate and cross over a small stream to get inside the fence. The house was neat looking it had a metal roof, a long porch and screen doors, it was perfect for them, even the horses came up to the fence. 

“It is beautiful out here, look at the view,” said mother. 

“I know, it’s amazing out here, I ‘m glad you decided this mom,” said Edward. 

“Me too,” said Jason. 

Maggie and Henry looked at each other and just smiled. 

“Why are we here?” asked Victor sitting on the porch step. 

“To start over honey,” said mother. 

“Things were fine back home,” said Victor. 

“To you maybe, but not us, you were getting in trouble, making me worry all the time, losing sleep, wondering if you will come home,” said mother. 

Edward walked towards him and sat next to him. 

“The only reason mom did this, was to make life easier for us, you worried her too much, she worried that someday she’ll be planning your funeral, parents are not supposed to bury their children,” said Edward. 

Victor looked towards the road and sawdust blowing in the wind, then he looked and saw a horse coming down the road, it was an Indian girl. Edward and Victor both stood up watching her slowly come toward the fence. She got off the horse with her knee-length hair, she walked through the fence. 

“Guys this is Yellow Bird, she works for me, she lives over the bluffs there,” said Maggie. 

“Hello,” said Yellow Bird. 

“Hello,” said Edward. 

“Well let's see if Robert is cooking us a meal over down in the mess hall,” said Henry. 

So they all headed back down to the mess hall. Where the mess hall is, there was a swimming pool, a large fishing pond, behind the pond was the Pecos River, you also had cabins. So he went out and told them all to come and eat, so they started eating and having a good conversation. 

“Hello, it's nice to meet you all,” said Yellow Bird. 

“It’s nice to meet you also,” said mother. 

“Thank you, Maggie has been, talking about you all,” said Yellow Bird. 

“Well we’re glad to be here permanently,” said mother. 

“Yellow Bird maybe you can show these guys around the ranch,” said Robert eating. 

“That would be great,” said Edward. 

“In do time, I will expect some chores to be done around here, there is a lot of things to do on a ranch that has to be done,” said Henry. 

“Yes sir,” said Edward. 

“Good now get out of here and go exploring,” smiled Henry. 

They all jumped up and ran out of the mess hall and started exploring the ranch on mules. “Motor mules, that are not actually mules.”

Chapter 3 

“We are going to your place, I want to show you something that is behind your barn,” said Yellow Bird. 

So they drove up to there house and went around the garage and went to the back. 

“Now see this slab, there are holes to grind your food, they were used by the Native Americans, I’m sure it was used to cook their foods, or grind corn, I’m not really sure, but this is cool the rocks are still here that they used to grind their food,” said Yellow Bird. 

“Wow, that is awesome, I can’t believe this is still here,” amazed Edward. 

“Now we are going to go up the hill and turn right, and you will come upon two trails one leading left and one leading right, you will take the right, I want to show you the creek,” said Yellow Bird. 

So they came to the two roads and they went right, then they came across a bridge, they drove over and looked down, they saw a big river, they kept driving forward until they reached there spot. 

“This is where we will have to get out and walk down,” said Yellow Bird. 

So they all jumped off the mule and walked down to the river. They saw tall hills of rock, the color in the rocks, and how high the hills were in front of them. It was like being in a western movie, with birds chirping and fish.

“I know, me too,” said Jason. 

“Big deal,” said Victor. 

“Brother lighten up, these are important facts, especially about our ancestors,” said Edward. 

“Our ancestors were Lakota, not Apache,” said Victor. 

“It does not matter, it is history,” said Edward. 

“Let’s keep exploring,” said Jason. 

You could also tell the animals have been there also getting a drink of water. 

“You can fish here if you want, but you have to throw the fish back if you don’t have a fishing license, but if you do have one, then you get to keep the fish,” said Yellow Bird. 

“Really, this spot is amazing,” said Jason. 

“I have to show you the cave that is around these bushes and rocks over here,” said Yellow Bird walking in the direction of the cave. 

Then they all stopped and heard a car horn. So, they walked back to the steep hill and saw Henry. 

“Well, what do you think? “asked Henry. 

“It’s amazing,” said Edward. 

“Yes it is, I just came by to tell you all that Robert as supper ready and it is getting late, I don’t want you guys out here in the dark,” said Henry. 

“Yes sir, we are right behind you,” said Jason. 

So they all got in the mules and Edward drove behind Henry. 

“I’ll have to show you guys tomorrow,” said Yellow Bird. 

“That’s okay, we can explore something else,” said Jason. 

Victor just looked out on the open, he saw the hills, bushes, cactus all kinds of critters, he was really interested in that cave. But he’ll have to wait until tomorrow. So they headed back to the house, when they arrived it was dark outside, only the moon was shining. They gathered around the table and started eating and having a conversation. 

“What did you all find?” asked Robert. 

“She took us back to our place and showed us behind the garage, it was used by the Native Americans, probably to cook there food, it was really interesting, I could not believe that it was still there, it was so cool. She also showed a great big mountain and a creek right below us, we were going to check out the cave, but it’ was getting too dark,” said Jason. 

“Did you have fun?” asked mother to Victor. 

“Yeah I guess,” said Victor while sipping on a glass of water. 

“Tomorrow I might show them the cave,” said Yellow Bird. 

“It will have to wait, you are going to teach the boys how to ride and feed the horses and take care of the other animals that are on the ranch,” said Henry. 

“Okay, I can do that,” said Yellow Bird. 

“That would be awesome we love horses we use to ride horses all the time, you broke a horse once at our grandfathers' house, you were about seventeen at the time, weren’t you?” asked Jason. 

“Yeah I was your age at that time man times does fly,” said Edward. 

“It sure does,” said Jason. 

“Do you like to ride?” asked Robert. 

“No, I hate horses, I think they're dumb,” said Victor. 

“Well there actually smarter than we think,” said Robert. 

“Whatever,” said Victor getting up and going outside. 

“Sorry about that, don’t mind him, I’ve always had trouble with that one, he’s got a lot of anger in him,” said mother. 

“Don’t worry, he is just a kid, a kid who has been moved around to much and forgotten,” said Robert. 

“What do you mean?” asked mother. 

“His mood changes when you talk about the reservation or anything to do with being a Native,” said Robert. 

“He gets mad, he hates the reservation as well as he does the horses and anything else, he’s mad about being Native because of what we have been through and what he sees going on the reservation everyday and watching kids get taken from their families,” said Edward. 

“That is true, he hates what he is, mainly because of what people portray Natives to be, he chooses to forget,” said Robert. 

“Yes, he knows how to ride, we all do, we just don’t talk a lot about stuff like this around him because we know how he can get,” said Edward. 

“It’s alright,” said Henry. 

“Well it is getting late and we better be getting to bed now,” said mother. 

“Alright, we will see you tomorrow,” said Jason running after Victor. 

He caught up with him and was messing around with him, making him laugh and threw him on the ground tickling him. 

“Ha there’s that laughter I’ve been missing,” said Jason. 

“Hey no fair,” laughed Victor. 

“Come on boys, its time for bed,” smiled mother. 

“Were coming,” said Jason helping Victor up. 

So they got in Edwards pick up and drove up to the house and went to bed. 

  Chapter 4 

The next day it was a beautiful foggy morning on the ranch. Mother was having coffee outside, she took a chair and sat it behind the house so she could look out towards the mountains. The boys got up as well, Victor was still asleep. When the sun was coming through his window, he moaned and covered up his head. Edward and Jason went to the kitchen and got some coffee as well and went out to sit with their mother. 

"It’s beautiful,” said Mother. 

“It sure is, I’m glad we made this trip here, we finally get a place we can call home, can you imagine, thousands of Natives all lined up on that hill looking down,” said Edward. 

“I love it here mother, it’s a great place and it will help us to remember who we are as Native men, hopefully it will help Victor remember who he is as a Native boy and not a city boy, I can picture it, a lot of Natives just lined up in a row looking down,” said Jason. 

“I want this to help Victor find himself, he’s been silent for too long,” said mother. 

“I think it will help, the more he hangs with us and Yellow Bird he will find himself,” said Edward. 

“I hope so,” said Mother. 

As they were still sitting outside finished their coffee, Victor woke up and looked out his window, he saw the sun come up and the birds chirping and the horses coming up to the fence line. So he got dressed and went outside and looked out from the porch towards the horses. He walked off the porch and crossed the bridge and opened the gate to meet the horses. So he started to pet them. One black horse came up to him and nudged him. He smiled and started petting the horse. 

“So what is your story?” asked Victor. 

As he was petting the horse, the horse started to walk behind the garage, the horse stopped and looked back at Victor. 

“Where are we going?” asked Victor. 

The horse led him behind the garage, and to the stone slab. He looked down, got on his knees and just stared at the holes, he finally just sat down on the slab and picked up a stone and just started looking at it, then he looked up and saw the mountains. He got up and walked towards the fence line and looked out, when he looked down he saw an eagle feather on the ground, so he climbed over the fence and walked towards the feather, he picked it up, he looked out towards the mountains and started twirling it in his hand. So he went back towards the stone slab and walked around the garage to the front. The horse followed him from behind. His brother comes around the house with his coffee cup in his hand. 

“I think that horse likes you,” smiled Edward. 

“Na, it is just a horse,” said Victor. 

“What you got there?” asked Edward. 

“I found an eagle feather behind the garage on the fence line, so I went over and picked it up,” said Victor. 

“That’s pretty cool, let me see,” said Edward. 

Victor walked through the gate and on the small bridge. 

“Wow, hey Jason look at this,” said Edward. 

“What is it?” asked Jason coming around the house to the front. 

“Victor found it, it’s an eagle feather,” said Edward. 

“Wow,” said Jason. 

“Actually I didn’t find it, that horse wanted me to follow him behind the garage, so I did, and it led me to the stone slab, then I walked towards the fence line because I thought something was moving so I went forward and I found this eagle feather,” said Victor. 

“That is amazing,” said Jason. 

“That is cool,” said Edward handing the feather back to Victor. 

“Hey, you got in touch with your inner Native,” smiled Jason. 

“Whatever,” said Victor letting go of the feather and going inside, Edward watched the feather hit the ground. 

Edward bent down and picked up the eagle feather, both boys went inside. Their mother came around the house as well and walked inside the house. They were all getting dressed when they heard a honk a there fence. So the mother poked her head out of the door and saw Yellow Bird. 

Yellow Bird turned the mule off and went inside the house. 

“So what are you going to do today?” asked Mother. 

“Well I want to show them the cave by the Pecos River, then take them down a trail, I want to take them to a favorite spot of mine, it has a drop down towards the edge and massive trees all around, you can camp there if you would like, it’s a beautiful spot,” said Yellow Bird. 

“Oh I see, may I come as well, I’m working on a new story?” asked Mother. 

“Sure you can, I’ll be taking you where the trees are at, you will get great ideas for your writing,” said Yellow Bird. 

“Oh I would love that, boys Yellow Bird is here,” said Mother. 

“Were coming,” said Edward walking down the hallway. 

He waited for Victor to come out. Victor came out and walked outside, Jason was already on the porch Edward walked into Victor’s room and placed the eagle feather on his pillow and walked out. He was the last one out of the house. 

“Alright are we ready to go see that cave, your mother is coming with us, I want to show you all my favorite spots on the ranch,” said Yellow Bird. 

So they got on the mules and drove back to the mess hall to get the other mule so the boy’s mother can drive it. So they took off, their mother was driving right behind Edward, he was driving the other mule. 

“We had a couple of scouts here to fish and I took them to the fishing hole near that cave I want to show you, one of the scouts came running back saying it was a bear cave, because there were bones in there, it could be a cave for all sorts of animals, including mountain lions,” said Yellow Bird. 

As they arrived, they got off the mules and checked out the cave. Yellow Bird had a flashlight and shined it into the cave.

"The kid was right, there were animal bones in there, old and fresh ones," said Yellow Bird.

“Yeah it’s probably a mountain lion den,” said Victor. 

“Could be, we may not want to go all the way in,” said Yellow Bird. 

“Yeah, were fine right here,” said Edward. 

“Look something is on the walls,” said Jason. 

“Oh, these are cliff writings, they were made long ago, a look at the history of the people who lived here,” said Yellow Bird. 

“Amazing,” smiled Edward. 

“Wow,” Victor said in a soft voice. 

“This is so amazing, it’s like taking a step back through time,” said mother. 

Victor just kept staring at the drawings and was in amazement at them, that these paintings were still here for many years. 

“Come on, I want to show you all my favorite spots, this place will give you great ideas for your stories,” said Yellow Bird. 

Chapter 5 

So they walked back along the Pecos River and got back on the mules. They drove to Yellow Birds' favorite spot on the ranch. When they arrived, they saw that the ground was disturbed and there were beer bottles everywhere. 

“This is strange, it never looks like this,” said Yellow Bird. 

“Maybe some high school kids or college kids came,” said Edward. 

“I’m sure something jumped the fence and came in without being noticed, but that is a long walk to get here,” said Yellow Bird. 

“Really, people would jump the fence?” asked Jason. 

“Yes they do, but they will be caught, because you have to pass the opening to the mess hall, Robert can see through the windows who is leaving and coming because he is there all the time,” said Yellow Bird. 

“They even made a camp fire,” said Edward bending down motioning his hand around the fire. “It is still warm, they must have made it last night,” said Edward. 

“But that is impossible,” shocked Yellow Bird. 

“I’m sure they waited for every light to go out and made there way through,” said Jason. 

“Sorry about all this, but come up on this slab and look out,” said Yellow Bird. 

So Edward, Jason, Victor, and their mother walked up and looked out. 

“Wow, you can see for miles, is that beautiful or what, I mean look at this view,” said Edward. 

“Oh it is amazing,” smiled mother. 

“You can hear the water,” said Victor. 

“You sure can,” said Yellow Bird. 

“That’s pretty cool,” said Victor walking away back towards the fire. 

“Oh Yellow Bird, don’t be upset, it is alright, we can come another time,” said mother. 

Victor looked down and saw footprints leading up towards the road. 

”I found tracks,” said Victor. 

They came rushing over to Victor. 

“They lead up to the road,” Edward walking in the direction of the footprints.

“Instead of going right to get out, they went left, I wonder what’s past these trees,” said Edward. 

“More site seeing, trails, caves, all kinds of stuff to explore,” said Yellow Bird. 

“They must still be up there, maybe there is a cave that they are hiding in,” said Victor. 

“Well I’m not sure if an animal has used that cave, if not then anybody can go deep into the cave,” said Yellow Bird. 

“Maybe they are not there, maybe they are still on the ranch somewhere, probably on the hiking trail,” said Jason. 

“This is true, it’s a lot of acres to cover to try and find these people that trashed this spot,” said Yellow Bird. 

“Honk, Honk” Henry driving up.

“Hey guys,” said Henry. 

“Henry look at this mess, someone has trashed this place and left their beer bottles all over the place,” said Yellow Bird. 

“Well that’s not very nice, come on I’ll help clean it up,” said Henry. 

“The boys found tracks,” said Yellow Bird. 

“We should follow them, and find those people tomorrow, while it is still daylight,” said Henry. 

So they started cleaning the place up and loaded it all on the back of the mules. 

“There we go, looks good, now we have chores that need to be done,” smiled Henry. 

“Oh I almost forgot about that, sorry about that Henry,” said Yellow Bird. 

“It’s okay, you can get lost in the scenery out here,” smiled Henry. 

“Yes you can, alright guys, I’m going to teach you how to feed and ride horses, which I’m pretty sure you guys already know how to do that,” said Yellow Bird. 

“Yeah we already know how it’s just been a long time since we rode,” said Edward. 

“Alright let’s get busy,” said Yellow Bird. 

So they all got on the mules and followed Henry back to his place. 

They arrived at Henry's place, mother went inside the house to find Maggie, Yellow Bird and the boys walked up to the barn and started with the horses. 

“First we have to shovel the horse manure and lay fresh hay down for them. Then we will brush them, feed them, maybe even ride a little,” said Yellow Bird. 

“Great,” Victor said under his breath and rolled his eyes. 

“Sounds good to me,” said Edward. 

“After we do all this, we can go ride,” said Yellow Bird. 

So they started shoveling out the stables and feeding the horses and brushing them as the horses ate. Then they started to saddle up the other horses. 

“Hey you look at that, it’s the horse from the house,” said Edward pointing. 

“Wow, he actually belongs to another rancher, he does not like to be put in a barn, he likes to roam around, he showed me around the ranch when I started working here, my grandfather, Koplei says that is a very special horse,” said Yellow Bird. 

“I think he wants you to ride him, brother,” said Edward. 

The horse walked up to the saddle laying on the ground and he tapped it with his hoof. Victor looked at the horse and smiled a little. 

“Where are we going?” asked Victor. 

“I believe he wants us to follow him now, “ said Yellow Bird. 

“Alright let's saddle up and get going, let's see where the spirit horse takes us,” said Edward. 

Chapter 6 

They all got on the horses, they had a smiled on there faces, they just sat there on the horses soaking it all in. 

“This feels good, it’s been too long,” said Jason. 

“It does feel good, it feels free, make me feel like a kid again, it’s a good day to be indigenous,” smiled Edward. 

“Enough talking lets go,” Victor yanking on the reins in anger. 

So they all started to head out. 

“He almost felt it, I know he did,” whispered Edward to Jason. 

“He did feel it, he is hard to read sometimes,” said Jason. 

“Maybe your brother is realizing he is getting in touch with his native side and it scares him,” said Yellow Bird. 

“He knows he is, that why he gets angry or lashes out,” said Edward. 

“Oh,” said Yellow Bird. 

Finally, the horse came to a stop when they reached the flat surface of a mountain, they got off the horses. 

“This is where you wanted to take us,” said Victor patting the horse. 

The horse nodded his head as if he understood Victor. So they started looking around the top and then looked out on the valley floor. 

“Wow, you can see for miles up here,” said Jason. 

“Wow young pony, you know your way around this place,” said Victor patting the horse and looking out on the open. When he looked down on the valley floor he saw five people just walking on the trail. 

“Hey look, those must be the people who destroyed your favorite spot,” said Victor. 

“We should go meet them,” said Jason. 

“I don’t know, maybe we should tell Henry and Robert first, we don’t know if they are friendly or dangerous people, we're just kids, besides they would see us coming down and probably run from us,” said Yellow Bird. 

“I’m sure they will still be here on the ranch,” said Jason. 

“Let’s go back to Uncle Henry’s place and tell them we found the people,” said Edward. 

So they all got back on the horses and rode down the hill towards Henry’s place. When they arrived Henry, Maggie and their mother were sitting out on the porch, the two yellow dogs came running up to greet them. 

“Uncle Henry, I think we found the people who trashed Yellow Birds favorite spot,” said Edward. 

“Really,” said Henry. 

“Yeah, we went up to the mountain trail with the horses and looked down from where we were and Victor spotted them,” said Yellow Bird. 

“You did, maybe they are still on the ranch,” said Henry. 

“Yeah I think they are still on the ranch, they were walking on the valley floor,” said Jason. 

“Well let’s go get them,” said Victor. 

“First let’s go down to the mess hall and ask Robert to come with us he may have another solution instead of us going and pretending to be the law,” said Henry.

 So Henry, Maggie, and the boy's mother got on the mules and the kids followed behind on the horses. They tied up the horses on the posts and walked into the mess hall. 

“Robert the kids found some people who broke inside the Ranch without pay or permission,” said Henry. 

“Really, well let’s call the rangers and have them come up here and check it out, anybody could climb over and get in, but it’s a long walk to get here,” said Robert. 

“That is true,” said Henry. 

So Robert called the Rangers. 

“Let’s see if we can find them again,” said Victor rushing out. 

“Wait, it’s too dangerous, we will wait for the rangers to get here, then we will go, it will be safer if we had more people and law,” said Henry. 

“That must be them coming,” said Edward looking out. 

“Yes, it is,” said Henry walking out of the mess hall to greet them. 

“You guys be careful,” said Maggie. 

“We will aunt Maggie, no worries, I’ll protect them,” said Edward. 

“I know you will,” said Maggie. 

So they went to go meet the rangers. 

“Greeting rangers,” said Henry. 

“Hello, we understand you have trespasses here,” said the ranger getting out of his truck. 

“We sure do, the boys here and Yellow Bird found them on the trail,” said Henry. 

“Well let’s saddle up and head out before they really get lost or injured,” said the ranger. 

So they saddled up the horses and headed down the dirt road. 

“Look, Uncle Henry,” tracks,” said Edward pointing. 

“We are going the right way, it is starting to get late, we better unload and camp out,” said Henry. 

“You mean we get to sleep outside like Indians,” Edward said with excitement. 

“Yes,” said Henry. 

“How long since you have slept under the stars?” asked Yellow Bird. 

“Way too long,” said Jason. 

“Great,” said Victor rolling his eyes. 

So they kept riding until the sun started to settle, they came to a clearing on the valley floor and tied the horses up to a tree and started making pallets. Victor was already done so he decided to explore some more and started to climb. 

“Be careful don’t go too far, it’s dangerous,” said Robert. 

“I won’t,” said Victor. 

So, he started to climb, he saw some boulders that you could probably hide behind, so he wanted to check it out. As he was climbing up, he was near the boulders, he slowly looked behind and noticed the ground below was disturbed. They must have made a fire. Then he looked up and saw more footprints going upward. 

So he climbed further up. When he reached the top it was a flat surface so he started walking around, then he spotted the people hiking up the mountain by moonlight and vanishing on the side of the mountain. There must have been a cave up there, he thought to himself. 

“What is that kid doing?” asked Edward. 

“I have no Idea, but he better get back here,” said Jason. 

Victor just stared into the directions those people vanished. Henry whistled, Victor heard his Uncle and came down back to the campsite. 

“Well, what did you find?” asked Edward. 

“I saw people about a mile from where we are camped, they started the climb and they disappeared into the side of the mountain,” said Victor. 

“It could be a cave, we have plenty of them around here and good hiding spots,” said Robert. 

“Maybe if we get up early enough and catch them, there’ll be safe with us and no charges will be pressed against them,” said Henry. 

“We Should get some sleep then,” said the ranger laying down on his pallet. 

So they all went to sleep hearing the wolves howl. 

Chapter 7

When they woke up the fire was out already and the sky was still dark blue, there was enough light for them to pack up their belongings and get going. So they saddled everything up and headed towards the cave. It was daylight when they arrived, inside the cave there was an orange glare, they had built a fire. 

“It’s quite a way’s up there, a lot of loose rocks to climb, I will stay behind with the horses,” said Robert. 

“Alright, one ranger will stay here as well to help watch,” said the ranger. 

“Yellow Bird, why don’t you stay with Robert, it may be dangerous,” said Henry. 

“Yes sir,” said Yellow Bird. 

So the boys climbed up the steep slope and got to the opening of the cave. They saw the orange glare and slowly and quietly walked towards the orange glare. 

“Henry and Jason stay close to the opening of the cave, just in case they run for it and Victor,” paused the ranger. 

“Victor,” whispered Edward looking around. 

Victor quietly went towards the fire and went behind the mountain wall, there was a hole, so he crawled in the hole and when he came out he was staring at the fire, it was another opening. 

“Let’s go,” said the ranger. So they headed toward the back of the cave and walked up behind the people. 

“Excuse me,” said Edward. 

All five of them jumped up and looked at Edward. Two ran towards the opening on the cave wall where Victor was hiding, Victor heard them, so he swung his legs out, kicking them back out, making them fall on their backs. The other two ran towards the opening of the cave towards Jason and Henry. The last person looked at Victor and just smiled, Victor stared at him for a while. 

“He has a knife in his pocket,” Victor jumping down from the hole in the cave,” Victor landed behind the kid. 

The ranger pulled his pistol out and told him to throw it on the ground. Victor was still watching, making sure he didn’t try anything he kept watching his hand, he was ready for whatever that kid was about to do. So they kid slowly pulled it out and dropped it on the ground. 

“Alright, now move away,” the ranger handcuffed him and the other two guys and the other two that were still sitting on the ground. So they led all the kids down slope. When they reached the bottom there was another ranger waiting. 

“Alright let us take them back to the mess hall and straighten this all out,” said Henry. 

So they headed out. 

“I hope everything is okay,” said mother. 

“Me too,” said Maggie. 

“Don’t worry ladies, I’m sure they will be alright, more coffee?” asked Roberts assistant. 

“Yes, please thank you,” said Maggie. 

Back on the trail, they were trying to start a conversation. 

“So did you boys get lost, trying to find your way out of here?” asked the ranger. 

They all looked at the ranger like he was stupid. 

“They don’t care do they, are they Native? Asked Jason. 

“yes, Apache,” said Edward. 

So, they kept going, they did not stop until they reached the mess hall.

“They are back,” said Roberts assistant. 

“Oh, good they made it,” said mother. 

They all came out of the mess hall. 

“I’m glad you are all safe,” said Maggie. 

“It was not too bad,” said Henry. 

“Hey Robert, I have food ready for you and the guests,” said the assistant. 

“Well let’s go in and eat,” said Robert. 

So, they went inside, and the Rangers put their horses up in the trailers and followed to eat in the mess hall. 

“So, you do realize you can go to jail for trespassing on this ranch without permission,” said the ranger. 

“So, charge us,” said the Apache kid. 

“Dude what’s your problem,” angered Victor. 

“Victor,” said Edward. 

The Apache kid just stared at Victor and smiled. 

“Now we did pick up your mess on the campsites,” Henry. 

“Why did you trash the place, you had no right, this is privately owned property,” said Yellow Bird. 

“This is Apache land and we do what we please,” said the Apache kid. 

“This was Comanche and Apache land, now it belongs to the people who worked their butts off to make it what it is today, especially for visitors to come and get in touch with nature,” said Yellow Bird. 

“Yellow Bird that’s enough sweetheart, apparently these apache kids don’t respect authority,” said Henry. 

“So how did you get on the ranch, that’s a long way to walk to get here? Asked the ranger. 

“We know our way, this is our land it will always be our land,” said the Apache kid. 

“How can you, this is the 21st century, you can’t possibly know your way around unless you lived or grew up at the ranch, even work here, you weren’t even born back in the day when the Comanche and Apaches came through you just claiming, you might have been here for days unnoticed and nobody even knew about it,” said Yellow Bird. 

“Yellow Bird calm down sweetie,” said Maggie, rubbing her shoulders. 

The Apache kid just smiled.

“Swallow your pride,” said Yellow Bird. 

“You swallow your pride, you have forgotten who you are as an Apache, you work for these whites as an Apache slave, you have forgotten the Apache ways,” said the kid. 

“Sit down, if you are thinking of grabbing her I would think twice,” said Edward crossing his arms. Edward was taller than the kids. The Apache just smiled and sat down. 

“Don’t tell me I don’t know who I am, I know exactly who I am and where I come from, the only reason Indians are mad at the world or even ashamed, is because they can’t let go of what took place long ago, they want people to feel sorry for how they live, but it’s their fault, they chose to live in poverty, instead of trying to make it better they have hatred towards the government and white people. I’m sure the government and white people offered to add business on the rez, but there stubbornness and pride get in the way and yet they wonder why they're still in poverty, if you don’t like how life is on the rez, you don’t have to stay there you can leave, but pride and culture get in the way of bettering ourselves,” said Yellow Bird going outside to sit. Edward follows. 

“Alright next time I catch you boys, I will press charges and take you back to San Carlos Indian Reservation,” said the ranger. 

“You couldn't even if you tried, we belong to the system now, we got shipped to Fort Stockton with foster parents,” said the Apache kid.

“None of you appreciate those families do you? “asked Jason. 

“They didn’t have to,” angered the Apache kid. 

“No, they didn’t but they did, they saw broken kids that needed a good home and you all just throw it away,” said Jason walking out. 

“Look my brothers are right, don’t throw something good away, if those families had not done what they have done, you guys would probably be dead because your parents beat you to death. I may be an angry Indian and mad at the world but I’m still grateful for what I have now,” said Victor going outside. 

“Alright guys come on, we’ll take you back home,” said the ranger. 

The Apache kids just smiled, and the rest walked towards the trucks and the Rangers took them back home.

  Chapter 8 

“Well that went well,” said Henry. 

“Those poor kids,” said Maggie. 

“I know, no apperception from the kids,” said mother. 

“I know it’s sad,” said Robert. 

“Well let’s finish eating,” said Henry. 

“Guys come back inside and finish eating,” said mother. 

So, they came back in and finished eating, they started talking, laughing and telling jokes, Victor didn’t seem amused by the jokes they were not funny. So, when they were finished, the boys and their mother went to the house. As they pulled up to the house the horses were near the fence line. 

“What is up with you and that horse?” asked Jason. 

“I don’t know all these horses are free ranged anyway, they come up to the house all the time,” said Victor. 

"Yeah but this horse is something special "hoksila” (boy) said Edward in the Lakota language. 

“Yeah,” said Jason walking up to the gate. 

“I think the horses just like you,” said mother. 

So they walked through the gate and went inside. Victor went to his room while Jason and Edward sat on the couch watching tv while their mother grabbed her yellow note pad and started writing while watching tv with the boys. Victor sat down at this desk and started drawing the black horse by memory. 

The horse started making noise, Victor got up and looked out his window and the horse was standing by the gate. Victor opened his window and poked his head out telling the horse to be quiet. 

“Shhh, it’s okay, go to sleep now,” said Victor closing his window and pulling the curtains back, he turned the light off and went to bed. 

The next morning Yellow Bird drove up honking the horn, Jason and Edward were already on the porch drinking coffee when she pulled up. Victor woke up and looked out the window to see who it was. 

“Man does any of these people ever stay asleep,” said Victor. 

“Hey Yellow Bird, what brings you here so early?” asked Edward. 

“Henry told me to come and tell you guys that he wanted you all to come to the mess hall, he has some news,” said Yellow Bird. 

“Oh okay, let us get our shoes on and we will be out shortly,” said Edward. 

“Alright, I’ll wait here,” smiled Yellow Bird. 

So the boys came inside to put their shoes on. 

“Hey what’s going on, what is the hurry?” asked Victor. 

“Come on, put your shoes on, Yellow Bird is here, Uncle Henry wants us to meet him at the mess hall, it sounds like he might have a job for us to do,” said Jason. 

“Oh,” said Victor going back to his room to put his shoes on. 

“We are headed out, Yellow Bird is here,” said Edward in the doorway. 

“Alright be careful,” said mother.