Day Five... yea I messed up some where.

Never mind the mess up. Today is Day Five! 28,139 Words to date!

Tomorrow I have three doctors appointments so I needed to get extra writing done today. Yea! I wrote for four and a half hours. I took a break for lunch then I wrote another two hours. I took another hour long break and wrote for my final hour.
This is the picture my husband sent me.

Texas sunrise. Perhaps this is what Nate and Teka saw in the mornings?

Nate's Gold Excerpt Chapter 12

“Where is your Indian?”

“That’s why I backtracked. He has not showed up yet,” said Nate.

“Recon, he is dead?” The sheriff smiled when he said it but Nate held his temper.

“No but he might be hurt somewhere. He saved my life one time and I intend to return the favor.”

“Just don’t get in our way if you’re not going to help.”

Nate acknowledged that he heard and broke away from the men. He needed to find Teka. Nate rode on ahead looking for signs that Teka might have left for him. Just before dark Nate heard the sheriff and the other men shooting. They found the big herd and it sounded like they were fighting with the rustlers. Nate left them to their business while he hunted for Teka. Nate had almost given up because he had lost the light when he heard the sound of a bobcat. Almost the sound of a bobcat Nate thought. Nate smiled to himself. Teka was close.

At the second bobcat call Nate said Teka’s name quietly.

“Over here,” Teka said quietly.

When Nate figured out where he was, he pulled the leaves off of Teka.

Teka was laying in a low spot with leaves piled on top of him.

Nate gave Teka a drink of water and found him some hard tack.

“I waited all day for you. You are slow,” Teka said.

“I know, I’m sorry. It took me a while to figure out that you were not returning.”

“You’re here now.” Teka said.

Nate built a fire. There was no reason to hide now. The Sheriff was taking care of the rustlers. When he got the fire built he move Teka closer so he could see where he was hurt. Nate knew he would not have been hidden if there was not a reason. Teka’s leg was at an odd angle.

“Were gonna have to straighten that out,” Nate said. Nate looked for a straight stick and took some leather straps out of his saddle bag.

Teka got a piece of leather out of his pouch. He put it between his teeth and nodded. Then Teka closed his eyes. Nate gave his leg a tug until the bones lined up and strapped the leg to the stick. Teka did not make a sound but Nate noticed he was sweating. It was too cool for him to sweat long or he would be ill. Nate got his blanket off Brownie and covered Teka up.

“Tomorrow morning I will look for your horse and we will head home.” Nate realized he was talking to himself. Teka had already gone to sleep.

Nate slept sporadically making sure he kept the fire going. By morning there was light rain and it was sharp and bitter. Nate need to get Teka to shelter fast.

As he was getting Brownie ready he spotted Teka’s horse. He hadn’t’ wandered far, most horses stayed close to their owners when their reigns hit the ground. He coaxed the horse to the fire with a little bit of a hard biscuit. He tied the reigns to Brownie. She would stay on command. Teka wasn’t waking up and Nate knew they were in trouble. As quickly as he could Nate made a litter for him and bound it to the horse. A day’s ride in this weather with that broken leg was going to be hard on Teka but it was going to have to be what it was.

Nate wished he knew what kind of herbs to put on Teka’s leg but he didn’t. They rode as fast as they could. When they neared Swede’s place Nate thought they were close enough to home and Teka needed shelter now. As Nate saw the light in the window he realized that it had started to snow. So early in the season. They would have a hard winter.