Chapter 10: Recovery Family

We fanned out around the south and west sides of the house. Carl, Orlando and Ellen went to the Northeast corner of the house just in case they tried to sneak up on from that side. Everyone had three pistols a shotgun and either an assault rifle or hunting rifle. As we saw them top the ridge they suddenly all were thrown from their horses. Then the horses bolted and ran along the ridge heading away from all of us.

After getting into a position just north of the incoming riders Two-Feather saw them being thrown and a few less fortunate ones being dragged by the stirrup they were caught in as the horses ran to the south. Two-Feather called on the radio to ask what we had done. I told him we had nothing to do with what was going on and asked if he could tell what was happening.

The riders were giving chase to their horses moving away from our homes. Carl and I met Two-feather and the three of us checked the area out along with the other ranch houses. We found nothing out of the ordinary. Carefully moving up to the ridge where the riders had been thrown we could not find anything that would explain why or what had happened. This gave all of us a lot to think about. Then we were informed via radio that Carl was a proud father.

Latonya's son was named Chuck he was 22 3⁄4 " long and weighed 10lbs14oz. Less than a minute later Dorthy's daughter arrived, she was named Donna and was 18" long, weighing 9lbs9oz

The excitement was too much for Inga and she gave birth just 17 minutes after Dorthy almost two months early, yet the little girl called Iris was 16" long and a whopping 6lbs11oz. Early as Iris was she was healthy and everyone was very glad. The doctor decided to stay the night since Iris was not expected. That would allow her to check all the babies and mommies including Iris again in the morning before calling for a ride. She did not want Carl to fly her to Centennial; instead a helicopter would fly down and pick her up.

All the mommies and babies checked out healthy, even Iris and Inga. The doctor ate lunch with us, and her ride landed just after we finished eating. The pilot reported seeing something about two and a half miles away in the trees. None of the crew could make out what it was but all of them definitely saw something in the trees. While they loaded up the doctor and her equipment, Two-Feather, Orlando, and I took a ride out to see just what was in the trees. The helicopter circled above the site as we drove closer to give us some cover if anything should start. We stopped about 100 yards out so Two-Feather and I could make our way closer without exposing ourselves to greater risk. Orlando was watching our back with a scoped rifle. Whatever was in the trees, we could not make it out with our scope or binoculars.

When we were close enough to see, we started to laugh. One of the horses that had been dragging a man was stuck in the trees, caught by the dead body still tangled in the stirrup. The horse was wild with fear and panic. Neither Two-Feather or I could get close enough to free the horse. I looked at Two-Feather he nodded and shot the horse. We moved up to check for anything of value or information and found neither. Most of the equipment the rider had was lost due to the pounding being dragged by the horse caused. He had a tactical holster on his right hip and one under each arm, all three were empty and badly torn up. It looked like he had a tactical holster on his left thigh that would have held magazines for an assault rifle, but all that was left was part of a magazine case. The saddle was still in fair shape but most of the bridle was torn apart. Two-Feather cut the saddle free and we took it with us back to the truck. Orlando reported to the helicopter and everyone back at the ranch houses heard what had happened as well.

Things settled down and soon we were busy back to work; cutting, baling, stacking hay and alfalfa; fixing fences; tending to livestock; harvesting crops; canning food; and just enjoying life. Before anyone realized it we got a call from the doctor at Centennial asking if we were going to bring the kids in for their one-year check up? We were shocked to realize that it had been a year and we had missed a couple of birthdays. The girls were immediately in frenzy mode, all of the men knew better than to get in the way, so we all just quickly moved to the vehicles and got them ready for the pending road trip.

Ben was going to drive the RV, it was loaded with supplies; inside were the children, Harriet, Gina, Felisha, and the three T's. Two-Feather had a trailer already hooked up to his Dodge Quad Cab so he would be in front of the RV; Two-Spirits, Pamella and Amy would ride with him. Zeb, DeAnn, Naomi, Orlando and Ellen driving the Explorer were behind the RV. Carl, Latonya, Dorthy and Inga driving an H2 were behind the Explorer on rear guard. Linda was driving our Land Rover with Brenda, Cheryl, and Michelle in the back seat, I was riding shotgun. We would be the lead scout vehicle about a 1⁄4 mile in front of our little convoy.