We were told there
would be more food and water at the supply camps where we could
restock. We were finally ready and the Outlaws headed out onto
the range by noon. We eased along checking our loads and
resetting a few as we went, we were told as a few miles went by
it all would settle into place.
The country was
awesome, open grasslands, deep canyons, thick forests, it
amazed me there could be such a variety. Two hours out we were
near one of the loot locations and decided to look for it. We
looked for over an hour and found this was not going to be as
easy as we thought. We felt we had the right area but finding
the bag was a different story. The guides were of no help. They
would get you from point A to point B and help fight but clue
solving and loot bag hunting was left up to us.
The afternoon was
growing long and it was decided that we should find a place to
camp and try to find the loot again in the morning. Preston and
Lyndsey took us up a long canyon stopping in a grove of pines.
As we started to unpack our gear Preston told us that we would
only be cooking here. He told us it is not a good idea to sleep
where you ate. One of the many tips of living on the trail he
shared with us throughout the week. He quickly built a small
fire using only a few twigs, and heated a couple cans of chili
eaten with tortillas and for desert we shared some canned
pears. It was not something I would have whipped up at home but
here it was mighty tasty. He burned the remains out of the
cans, crushed and packed them away. The men then put out the
fire as only men can and covered and cleaned the area leaving
no sign. We then moved up canyon a half mile farther, past a
small pond and into another thick stand of trees. Here we
unloaded and tended to our horses then settled back comfortably
with our backs against our saddles. We were discussing plans
for the next day when suddenly Preston told us to hush. He
stood listening for something I couldn’t hear. Leaving on foot
with a few of the others they went to investigate. They were
soon back with the news that the posse was camped at the pond
less than an 1/8 of a mile away. Not only this but that
they were between us and the exit of the canyon. It was
discussed and decided that we should ambush them now so maybe
we could cut their numbers some making it easier to get out. We
left our horses at camp under the eye of Frank, one of the
Florida boys. The rest of us followed Preston and Lyndsey
sneaking through the trees with guns drawn.
The Posse camp was in
a small arroyo {draw} leading to the pond. The horses where
picketed at one end and they were all gathered around the fire
about 30 yards away. We quietly discussed stealing their horses
but decided that we really did not want the burden of having
them along with us. The sun had just set and it was decided we
should attack, we moved closer. My heart was pounding in my
ears and the gun slick from sweaty palms. I got to the position
Preston had directed me to and I could hear the posse talking
and see them around the fire. I waited for what seemed an
eternity for Preston to fire his first shot announcing the
attack.
Finally! BANG! I
saw one Posse Ranger go down as the rest scattered like quail
up the other side of the canyon. I concentrated on the deputy
who was hit; he was dragging a leg as he tried to make it to
the cover on top. It was more dark than light at this point so
it was hard to see where my rounds were going. Also I was
shaking so much with excitement I know my aim was none to
good.
There were shots going
off all around me. I emptied my gun and fumbled while
reloading. I just could not get my hands to work properly; it
had seemed so easy during practice. Finally I was set to go
again. I fired and my shot was answered by several sent my way
breaking tree branches around me. I saw Preston moving down the
bank toward the campfire with Lyndsey laying out steady hail of
balls covering him. I moved from my now known position over to
where she was. She whispered that he hoped they had dropped
their map at the fire when they scattered and was going to
look. Both teams were spread out on each side of the draw, a
steady round of fire from both sides crossed the narrow space.
We watched as Preston slid down the bank further. In the near
dark it was hard for me to see. We held our breath as we saw
him enter the firelight. Suddenly someone opened up on him, the
first shot made him drop and roll, before the second we all
were triggering rounds into the brush. We saw someone break and
run, I drew a bead on them and we heard a solid hit made as
they disappeared into the darkness. There was steady gunfire at
the other end of the canyon but it was quiet now at our end as
he poked around the fire. I grinned as I saw him take up a
coffee cup and enjoy a drink. Then he held up something in his
hand he gave a loud Indian yell and headed back our way. It was
the map!
It was dark but soon a
full moon was to rise. Earlier we had decided on a retreat
call, which we now hollered and went back to our rendezvous
point. The others showed up within a few minutes and we took a
tally of the fight. No one on our side had been hit, we were
sure that two good hits had been made on the other team, and we
had the map!
We were
exhilarated in our victory and we wanted to show our bravado so
we went to the rim of the canyon this taking a few minuets of
hard climbing, which made us appreciate our horses. We stood on
the rim across from the posse camp with a full moon behind us
and let out a bloodcurdling Indian scream that would have made
any Apache ghost in the canyon proud. We were exhausted when we
finally got back to camp but it was a long while before the
adrenalin wore off. We told detailed stories of our own
experiences, laughing our selves silly. We rose before dawn and
saddled and packed up. We then decided in the name of the game
we would return the map to the posse. But not before we noted
the loot location we were missing on our map. This information
would become crucial later in the week. It was just getting
light as we rode past their camp. They had a fire going and it
sure was inviting in the morning chill but Preston was the only
one to go into the camp under a flag of true. He returned to us
some time later after a cup of coffee I’m sure and gave us the
report. The posse was mad! They had one wounded, the one in the
brush near the fire I had hit and John our German fella had
killed another. We decided not to try to find the
loot bag we had looked for the day before as it was too close
to the Posse and we wanted to put some distance between us. We
headed for what Preston and Lyndsey called Incognito Camp about
a four-hour ride. There we would resupply our water and ammo
and make a new plan.
We rode through more
great country seeing more Elk and the ranch band of broodmares
and foals running free in the huge country. Preston announced
we were almost there but I could not see where there was. He
then turned into a canyon and around a few bends we were
suddenly in a beautiful camp. A thick grove of oak trees
surrounded the stone corrals, a stream that just started right
there gurgled past a cozy wall tent. We unsaddled and in the
tent found feed for our horses and plenty for ourselves. It was
not going to be as bad as they had told us! Besides two boxes
full of canned goods there was also a cooler of fresh food such
as eggs, a small amount of beef, plenty of bacon and some milk.
Even with the sun hot overhead we cooked up a stack of pancakes
and bacon and boiled up some coffee. The team was starting to
work well together. Everyone took a chore and did it, and if
something needed doing Preston and Lyndsey were never shy to
tell someone to do it.
Full and tired from a
long night and long ride we worked out guard shifts and the
rest of us crawled up into the shade of the trees and slept the
afternoon away.
As the sun of our
second day slipped away we all rose and stretched out the
kinks. The fire was rekindled and another canned dinner heated
up, as we wanted to save the fresh food. As night fell we all
were feeling good and refreshed and a new plan was made.
Lyndsey left with the German couple John and Marie, and also
Sherry from Boston. They were going to head for the loot bag,
which was farthest away, about six hours up to the top of a
distant mountain.
The rest of us would
go over to the other supply camp and see if the posse was
there. We didn’t like not knowing where they were. The full
moon rose, we saddled up and bid the others safe travels as we
went our way.
The ride to the other
camp was a bit over two hours, and it was beautiful. The moon
shadows cast strange shapes across the land. I looked ahead at
my compadres, wearing dark dusters with dust rising into the
moon light, a billion and one stars hanging just above us, the
smells of the night, “this is so cool” I thought. Along
the way Preston told us the ultimate thrill was counting coup
on the enemy. Sneaking into camp and touching them before they
knew you were there. We all had a six inch orange ribbon that
had to stay pinned to your chest at all times, even in the
sleeping bag. Pulling this was a kill. Counting coup was the
highest honor.
By the time we neared
the camp we all wanted to count coup. Preston had us picket our
horses in some trees about a quarter mile out and we approached
on foot. To our pleasure the posse was there. Sounds of
conversation drifted to us, but we dared not get too close. We
waited and listened for a while then withdrew. After some
discussion we decided we would wait until all were turned in
then try to count coup.
We got in a place a
few hundred yards away where we could still see the fire and
shadows moving around it. Less than an hour later we saw them
start to drift off. They played it smart and all went to
different areas to spread out their bedrolls. Preston suggested
we all watch and see if we could spot a guard. I saw someone
move up the hill from the draw and pointed him out to the rest.
He carried no bedroll so it was a good bet that this was indeed
the guard. We gave them another hour, the fire died down to
embers and the moon moved across the Milky Way. Finally word
was passed to move in, we approached from behind the guard and
successfully slipped by. We Followed Preston who lived up to
his posse name of Ghost. I felt so clumsy as I stumbled behind
his silent movement. We got to within twenty feet of the coals
of their fire, paused a moment then moved in closer, helmets in
place guns out waiting for someone to see us. At the fire
Preston again reached for the coffee, still warm he whispered
and took a long slug straight off the pot and passed it around.
The night air was cold and the warm coffee sure tasted good
even without my usual cream and sugar. There was a body not 30
feet away and we giggled as we enjoyed their brew. Frank
and Jack the Florida boys were anxious to count coup, Preston
nodded them to it and we watched as they moved to the still
form on the ground. Frank slowly dropped to his knees and
slipped his hand over the person’s mouth. They awoke with a
jerk. Frank whispered for them to be quiet, the person knew
they were had and stopped struggling. Frank then drew back the
sleeping bag, found and pulled their life ribbon. It was Dean
from Michigan. The biggest person on the posse and the one I
had been dreading coming up against and here these two had just
counted coup on him. He took it well and played by the rules
and never made a sound. I turned around and again the Ghost...
Preston... had done his thing and was nowhere to be seen. We
looked around and saw no one. The shadows had changed and we
could see no other posse members, they had really spread out to
sleep.
We were a bit confused
as to what to do. We waited a few minuets silently wishing for
Preston to return. He didn’t. We knew we should not just stand
there so we drew out of camp. On the way out Jack picked up
their coffee pot and brought it with him. I was on edge
expecting to hear Dean yell but he was true to the rule that
dead men do not talk. When we were far enough away to talk we
stopped. What had happened to Preston? Killed? We had heard
nothing. We passed the coffee pot around taking turns drinking
from the spout, then we left the pot there in the middle of the
meadow as we walked on.
We went back to our
horses and waited and speculated on what had happened and what
to do. We wavered as to whether we should stay put or ride back
to camp. Then out of the darkness a soft whistle came, relived
we whistled back and Preston appeared. A six-inch life ribbon
dangled from his hand, it was not his. He reported he had
checked the corrals and found only three horses. Not good. We
had never gotten close enough before going in to distinguish
people and we had never though they had split up as we had.
Another lesson learned, not only does the guide not cook for
you; he also does not do all your thinking for you. When asked
about the ribbon in his hand he just said he had stumbled over
the guard. I was really wishing I could have seen
that.
Our concern now was
our camp; we had left all our gear there just lying out
unguarded. Another dumb move. For all we knew the other posse
rangers were at our camp eating our food and resting on our
sleeping bags, and we would have to fight our way back
in.
We mounted up, putting
our horses into an easy lope we headed back to our camp. The
ride back was one of the best I have ever had in my life. The
cool night air, the moonlight, dusters blowing in the wind as
the wonderful horses eased through the moonlight.
We made great time
getting back stopping a ways out of camp to look things over.
We decided to go in on horseback if they were there we would
make a quick exit and replan. We rode in and saw nor heard
anything. At the corral gate we sat silent and listened for
several minutes. Then agreed the area was empty and we went
in.
After settling the
horses in we built up a fire and discussed the events of the
night. Things were really getting interesting. There were four
groups of riders now, each wondering where the other was and
what they were up to. It was an uncomfortable feeling that I
might at that moment be watched. The stress and tension which
Preston had mention Sunday evening as being one of the hardest
parts of the week was now starting to build. One of our biggest
worries was that Lyndsey and our other Outlaw friends were
riding thinking they had nothing to worry about and the other
Posse Rangers might very well be headed to the same place or
already there. We discussed going there and finding them and
helping if need be but then Preston brought up the fact that if
we missed them in the dark we could go the rest of the week and
never see them again. It was decided that we would stay in camp
till dawn. Which by this time was not too long in coming. A
guard was posted and I fell easily to sleep. When I woke it was
light, it seemed just a moment before that I had stretched out
beneath my blanket on my saddle pad bed. I heard a moan and saw
movement from the other three, and realized they wanted to get
out of their warm bag no more than I did. But we all managed to
within a few minuets. Frank went up on the rim to have a look
around and stand watch. The rest of us pitched in and soon had
coffee on and bacon and eggs frying. We all wondered about our
friends and knew they were not enjoying fare such as this. If
they were even still alive. We discussed what to do over
breakfast and decided we should head in the general direction
the others went and see what happened. If we could not find
them we would check a loot location on the way back. We packed
up all our gear, refilled canteens, grabbed some food and ammo
and headed out. the sun was full up by this time. About a mile
from camp we stopped and hid our gear in some rocks so we could
travel lighter. also so if camp was otherwise occupied when we
came back we could just move on. Another lesson
learned.
We headed across a
wide-open basin of grassland as the sun rose higher. It was
about four miles across and we knew we could be seen for many
miles. Preston had us spread out so as not to be so easy to
spot.
Finally as the sun was
getting a bit too warm we hit the trees at the base of the
mountains on the far side. The shadows were cool as we headed
into the evergreens. We were soon on a trail through the trees
angling up the slope. Preston stopped and motioned us around
pointing at the trail ahead of him. It was obvious that other
horses had just been along here and he said it was more than
three. The posse was tracking the other outlaws and we were
tracking them all.
We rode on in silence.
I spotted a dozen elk in the trees just standing watching us go
by. About a half hour later we broke from the trees into a
small meadow with a pond in the middle. We went to water our
horses and there we saw tracks of other horses all around the
waters edge. We asked how old they were and Preston showed us
how the sun had started drying the edges of the prints in the
mud. He figured about four hours at least. That came as
depressing news I had thought we were closer than
that.
We rode on, but just
up from the pond he stopped again and pointed out where three
horses had been picketed. There was no fire sign but he then
pointed out three places where the grass was matted down from
beds. He told us by the amount of ground the horses had roughed
up who ever it had been was not here long, two hours at the
most.
Continuing along the
trail we followed the tracks of six horses through the pines.
Another hour went by as we anticipated them around every turn
and rise. Nerves on edge all the while. It got to mid afternoon
and we had swung around back toward the East and down the
mountain. We were just coming through the last big stand of
ponderosa pines before the land opened up into the basin again.
Preston stopped and again pointed into the trees. The trees all
around us were spotted with paint. (It washes off or the sun
dissolves it in a matter of a few days.) We dismounted and
looked around. We all saw signs of a major gun
battle.
Preston called us
together and told us what he read here. He was pleased to see
that it was Lyndsey and the other Outlaws who had chosen the
place and started the fight. He could tell where they had tied
their horses and the first position they took. He showed us
where the posse had ridden right into them and the fight
started. From there he could not really tell anything other
than it had lasted a long time, lots of paintballs fired and
the fight did not move much. We all could see that our other
gang members had been in great positions behind some huge
fallen trees and he did not think they had moved from it till
they left. That could be good or bad. He also mention that
whoever had been fighting here did not have much ammo left.
We mounted up again
and headed on. As we cleared the trees the sun was low and
shadows were long. In a moment Frank pointed out something way
off in the distance. I wished I had binoculars. We watched and
all agreed it was the dust of riders about three miles distant
near the far side of the basin. We figured if one group was
that close then the other group must be also. After looking
hard for a long while we could spot no one. We decided to try
and catch up to who ever it was and find out. Asking our horses
for a nice lope we cruised across the smooth grasslands as if
we were floating. The miles fell away and we soon eased our
horses up less than a half-mile behind the other riders.
It was the Posse, as
we had no white horse in our group. The terrain we were now
headed into was spotted with cedars and junipers, making it
easy to stay covered as we followed behind at a good distance.
Preston told us people rarely look behind them when they ride
anyway. Especially at the end of a long day. We were not real
sure why we were following them, just to see what they were up
to. A mile from our camp Preston motioned us down a draw. “Lets
swing around and try to get in front of them” was his
suggestion. We concurred and put our horses into lope again. We
rode a few minuets then drew up under a huge Juniper tree. From
here we could see the canyon where our camp was and we all
noticed smoke spreading into the evening light. We could also
see the posse riders and watched as they swung west away from
the canyon. It was obvious they had no more fight left in them.
We waited till they were a long way past then rode down into
camp slowly making sure it was our riders who were there.
Indeed they were, everyone lying around except Marie who was
busy with the beginings of dinner and the end of some coffee.
After making derogatory remarks about the lack of a guard out
we got the story of the last 24 hours.
All had gone well,
they had made good time getting across the basin and up the
mountain. It was still dark when they arrived at the meadow and
pond that were marked on the map. The plan was to rest for a
few hours till there was enough light to look for the
loot.
As they slept soundly
with no guard posted the Posse arrived. Having known the
outlaws were ahead of them they had played it smart and left
their horses well away in the trees. We were told later that
one Ranger stayed and watched the sleeping outlaws while the
others looked for and found the loot in the dim light of
dawn.
As the Rangers moved
back to their horses one of the Outlaw horses alerted a just
rousing Outlaw that something was not right. In a flurry of
activity the Outlaws were up and mounted in a matter of
moments. It was a clear case of fear and flight. They had no
plan for this situation and were coming up with one on the run.
They looked for and finally found a good ambush spot and waited
hoping it would work and they could recover the loot
bag.
The surprise was
theirs this time as the Posse rode right into the set up. Being
a bit over confident after the morning of good hunting they’d
had, the Posse left their horses and went on the
offensive.
Lyndsey and a couple
of the others were well positioned among the trunks of some
huge fallen ponderosa pines. Our other Outlaw, John had hidden
where they hoped the Posse would stop. It had all worked like a
charm as he was able to watch them dismount and hide the bag of
loot. Waiting until they moved away he went and got the loot
bag. By this time the gun battle was hot and furious. The Posse
finding themselves up against a well positioned bunch of
Outlaws. John eased up behind the Posse and started a
battlefront of his own. Lyndsey and her bunch hearing what was
going on really poured the rounds into the Posse. The cross
fire was deadly. John killed one Ranger and another was
wounded. The Posse pulled back towards their horses but covered
the retreat well, wounding Outlaw Marie along the way who had
pressed them too closely.
They finally made it
to the safety of the horses and made a quick retreat. Needless
to say our fellow Outlaws were very pleased by the way they had
turned the day around. and after hearing the story we all were
feeling great about out team and where we stood.
A lookout was posted
as we cleaned up the dinner fixings. It was decided that the
lookout would be changed every 2 hours and never again would we
be without one. I drew the 3 to 5 am shift and headed off to a
dark shadow to get a long stretch of sleep. It seemed like just
moments before I had been gazing up into the blur of the Milky
Way when a nudge brought me quickly awake. The night air was
cold, making it hard to get out of my warm bag. Frank nodded as
he moved away. I had to get up and keep an eye over my fellow
outlaws.
I was soon so glad I
had. The lookout spot gave a great view of the valley, it
looked so different in the moonlight. It was an experience I
will never forget. You soon become tuned in to the night sounds
and colors. Yes, actually colors are out there if you spend
time out quiet in the wee hours of the night. The coyotes would
yip a chorus every now and then just to let me know I was not
the only one awake. The movement of a group of elk a mile off
made me sit up and take notice awhile thinking they were
horses. Close to five the sky showed thoughts of some light,
also it was the coldest hour. My legs were stiff and needed
movement. Just as I thought to shift I heard it again. I had
not realized I had already heard something being too
preoccupied with my discomfort.
There was a noise down
near the dry creek bed. I heard a rock, and then I thought I
saw movement. The brush was thick along the drop banks of the
creek and it was still dark in the canyon bottom. I strained my
eyes and ears and waited. Minuets went by...nothing. I relaxed
some and realized the whole time I had not touched my weapon. I
must be more aware and prepared I thought to
myself.
Then again a rock
grated and I would have sworn I heard a whisper. There was now
enough dim watery light that I could see a horse in the corral
looking towards the creek bed also. I pulled my weapon and
waited. Then I could see something move. Not if I looked right
at it but kinda of out of the corner of my eye the way Lyndsey
had told me to look at something in the dark. It was a person!
Shoulders and head appeared and vanished behind the bushes
along the banks of the creek. My mind raced through all
I should do. I had not really expected to be dealing with this.
I had to warn my teammates before it was too late while they
still had some time. How? I looked at the gun in my hand and
realized it was time. I raised the gun in the general direction
I had seen the shadow person. I eased back on the trigger,
harder and harder. Nothing! My gun was not working! Then
remembered the safety. Of course the safety! I clicked it off
and eased on the trigger again. Then in that corner of my eye
vision again I saw something to my left. I twisted fast and
there not 30 feet away silhouetted against the stars stood a
tall figure in a long duster pointing a pistol right at me. I
pulled my trigger and at the same moment felt a heavy impact on
my thigh and it started to sting and tingle. I levered another
round in my gun and looked to aim again. There was nothing
there, just the stars. I heard running feet and brush crashing
in the creek bed. I heard yelling in camp. Well, at least they
were awake now I thought. Within a moment it was silent. My
heartbeat was in my ears, I was sure anyone within a mile could
hear it. I felt vulnerable realizing I was exposed out on the
rocks.
There were some Oaks
less than 20 yards away. But do I dare move? Where was the
person I shot at? The one who had shot me. I remembered the
rules; I could not get up and run off with a leg wound like I
had. I started to drag myself towards the trees the sound loud
in the quiet canyon. Every minuet it was getting a little
lighter and I felt time was running out for me to get off the
rocks.
Suddenly there was
gunfire and yelling all around. I hurried along expecting at
any instant another round to arrive with a stinging slap. It
arrived just as I made it to the trees but spread its self
across the rock near my hand. I moved farther into the trees as
more rounds came busting all around me. In the center of this
copse of oak was a good size boulder I was able to get behind
and lean against. I felt pretty safe and knew my opponents did
not see the rock as the balls were still flying, hearing them
hit the other side of the rock. “Go ahead” I thought, “Waste
those shots”. I got my breath back and started to enjoy the
buzz I was on. The adrenalin was pumping. I was on edge, every
sense on alert! I was tuned into the country. I was ready for
anything and I was loving it!
It was really getting
light fast now, and it seemed I was the center of attention out
here as there were at least three weapons shooting at me all
from the same general direction. The creek bed or the steep
cliff beyond it. I knew I could really give my team some time
if I kept these three Rangers busy. I could not go anywhere
with my leg and maybe someone could come help me. I checked my
gun and peeked around the rock. I saw two rangers close
together in the dry creek bed hiding below the cut bank. I did
not see the other but had heard three. If my leg were not hit I
would have moved up the tree line and crossed the creek above
them to the other side and gotten high. Preston had told us
several times to get high ground in a gun battle. But I was
pretty much stuck where I was.
I had not returned any
fire and I could see they were getting restless. I got in a
good relaxed spot and waited. They were losing their patience,
each telling the other to be the one to move up. Finally one
jumped up over the bank heading my way. The other one came
along not too far behind. My rock was 15 feet into the trees; I
waited till the first one was just into the trees. Then I
fired. The red showing brightly on his belly as he yelled. The
second Ranger was shocked and indecisive. I decided it for her
as I fired again hitting a leg. She was down and crawling as I
fired again several more times hitting nothing but dirt before
she made it over the creek bank.
There was still
gunfire all up and down the canyon it seemed. My little battle
was suddenly silent. I looked at the figure slumped against the
trees. I felt a little giddy. I decided to just sit tight and
wait things out.
It was fun trying to
figure out what was going on listening to the sounds as they
drifted up the canyon. After at least an hour things slowed
down and I decided to move out and see what was up. I got to
the edge of the trees and stepped out, all quiet. The sage in
the bottom was thick offering a lot of cover. I took my time
and made my way towards the camp. Suddenly just to my right in
the creek bed shots are fired. I dropped then realized they are
not for me as a gun battle ensued. I moved towards the sounds
keeping low in the tall sage. I saw a Ranger, his side to me
shooting at someone else. I raise my gun and fire. The round
exploded on his ribs and he goes down. I hear my teams password
and answer. It is Marie, she tells me that was the only one in
the area she knew of and we should head back closer to the
camp.
It was over. We
watched the dead arise and walk, soon followed by the sounds of
horses. Our team all drifted in and we took a tally. I was the
only one wounded and no one was killed. Lyndsey had wounded one
posse rider and so had Frank. They dropped jaws when I told
them I had killed two and wounded one. I was soon encouraged to
tell how I had first seen the posse and my whole tale. When I
was done I was congratulated on saving the day. That was when
Preston mentioned he had talked to Frank the Posse leader
briefly before they left and that it had been Frank I had seen
and took shot at starting it all. Everyone speculated over this
a moment before he added I had hit him dead center of the
chest. Three kills and one a veteran Posse rider! Not bad for a
girl. I was given hero status around that Outlaw
camp!
It was by now past
9am. I hadn’t realized it had been such a long
gunfight.
We had a big breakfast
and took the Outlaw attitude deciding we would let the Posse go
find the loot bags while we enjoyed the day, figuring we would
just steal the loot from them later. I bathed in a pool in the
stream close to camp, first time I had skinny dipped in years.
Then went up on the canyon rim spending the rest of the day
reading, snoozing a bit between watching the landscape change
as the day got longer. Getting back to camp I found everyone
had about as lazy a day and I think the horses enjoyed it as
much as we did.
I was excused from
watch that night thanks to my reputation as a
killer.
We all were up early
the next day, breakfast finished and horses saddled by late
light. Preston said we were getting good. There had been one
Outlaw bunch that had been ten minuets from catching to
mounting, we weren’t that fast but close.
It was the last day,
we only had one loot bag but we were way ahead in the number of
kills. If no team gets all six bags the winner is decided by
who has the most kills. So we knew if we could get back to the
ranch with our one bag and no more kills we would be the
winners.
It was a six-hour ride
to the ranch and we had to pass through the gates between noon
and three p.m. We all knew that would be the dangerous area,
the last mile in. We rode in high spirits enjoying the feel of
victory. Along the way we did stop by one loot bag location and
looked for it. After over an hour the Florida boys hollered
they had found the spot but the bag was gone. A paintball
having been left by the Posse announcing they had found the
bag.
An hour later we
dropped into a narrow canyon our horses sliding down the last
ten feet. Just as we hit the bottom gunfire broke out all
around us! We scrambled to tie our horses, grab our gear and
jump to the nearest cover, which were some big boulders in the
bottom. We all were there, several of us behind each stone.
Balls came slicing thru the air with amazing speed and
frequency. There was just not enough cover! Within a minuet one
of the Florida boys got hit in a foot that was sticking out too
much. Not a moment later I felt a blow to my arm and a tingling
numbness. Looking down there was red smeared over it. We
flattened ourselves further against the rock but it was no good
as Preston took a hit in the hip. We could not return fire, the
slightest movement was met with a hail of balls. We were pinned
down and good.
The sun was right
overhead and it was hot. Sweat was pouring off us all as we
discussed options. The first order of business was our one loot
bag. Marie had grabbed it as she came off her horse and we now
set to burying it in the sand under the rock. We were in a fix.
Florida Frank and Preston were both wounded which keep them
from moving much. My wound would not slow me down running at
least and that’s what we all were thinking. If we stayed where
we were we would all be eventually cut to pieces. Down canyon
was the only way to go and Preston told us to try to get up out
of the canyon and get some high ground. John was the first to
make a dash as we all fired our guns blindly around the rock.
He moved fast with balls flying all around but slid safely
behind a good group of rocks 30 yard away. Jack and Marie
decided to go together and run different directions and lessen
the chances of being hit. It worked they both made it to safe
cover.
It was my turn next.
My heart pounded as I took a deep breath and sprinted away from
the rocks toward some trees. I had hardly taken a step before I
was hit in the arm again, grabbing it I ran on. A few steps
more and I was hit hard in the thigh. I knew I had to go down.
Staggering I turned looking for something to shoot at. The
impact of rounds hitting my helmet and chest stunned me. I
slowly dropped to the ground in the shade of a rock and
died.
The rule is if killed
you have to stay put so someone can get your ammo. Once
stripped you can leave the battle area. The battle went on
around me. Lyndsey dashed out and made it to the trees I had
tried for. I was silently cheering her on the whole way. It was
an interesting perspective to be watching the
battle.
I now could see the
posse locations in the rocks. They were well set with people
along both sides of the canyon. I felt sorry for Frank and
Preston wounded, stuck in the hot sun with no options. At least
I died in the shade. I saw one of the Posse start to move along
the canyon and knew he was trying to get a better on angle on
our wounded, but I was dead and couldn’t warn them. John saw
the Ranger too and started angling up the side to head him off.
Marie and Lyndsey and Jack were all returning fire now. The
sound of the guns echoing off the canyon walls. I watched shots
pop on the rocks around the Rangers but it was a long way up
and many were falling short. The Posse fire however was really
accurate and kept them ducking.
John was closing on
the Ranger and so far was not seen by him. Just when he was
getting within range another Ranger I had not seen before rose
out of the rocks and drilled john right in the chest. What a
disappointment it was to see him go down! But the burst of fire
alerted Frank and Preston to the posse’s plan and they got
ready. Our other three tried to slow the approach of the Ranger
but he moved ever on getting closer to a better shot. He
slipped behind a bush then jumped out and opened up on them. In
camp one day Preston had showed us how fast you could fire once
you practiced a bit. He showed it again as he rolled from
behind the rock and while under heavy fire ripped off five
shots in the time it took me to do one. I saw three red spots
appear on the Rangers body and he fell out of sight behind the
bushes. Preston was fast on the fire but not fast enough
getting back behind the rock and took two more hits, one in
each leg. Things got quiet for a while, just a few sporadic
shots. The sun blazed down, I looked up and saw a buzzard
circle over head. Appropriate I thought.
I saw Ranger Tanya at
our horses looking them over obviously trying to find the loot
bag. Then Preston started hollering in a pained way for water.
They asked if he was hit and he told them yes, they asked if he
was going to die and he told them probably. A moment later a
canteen flew from the rocks landing just short of the rock they
were behind. Frank slid out to grab it and a single ball blazed
hitting him in the head.
That was a cheap shot
I thought, throw a man some water then kill him when he tries
to get it!
He lay sprawled in the
sand. Jack made a move up the slope with Lyndsey right behind.
I watched for ten minuets as they moved from rock to rock
getting higher all the time. They soon started drawing fire but
they were now high enough to fire some good shots too.
Marie started up the
other side and was cut down within 20 yards by Tanya and lay
still. Just those two left now except Preston shot up behind
his rock.
Jack made a push a bit
higher as Lyndsey covered him then Lyndsey moved up as Jack
covered her. They were working well. They got to where John was
and I saw them stop and get his ammo. More posse riders were on
the move now heading to get Lyndsey and Jack. A long shot got
Lyndsey in the arm. They kept moving and getting higher finally
getting above all the Posse. They chose a spot that was high on
the rim rock and they now commanded the field.
The Posse gathered
behind some rocks a little below and to the left of them and
exchanged fire. As this was going on I saw Tanya head to where
Preston was. He lay as tho sleeping behind his rock. I didn’t
know if he knew she was there or not. I saw her watch him for a
few minuets then with her gun on him she asked if he was dead.
There was no sound out of him. She waited then asked again. No
answer. She moved closer and knelt next to Frank and started
getting his ammo, setting her gun down as she did. Preston
suddenly launched himself and grabbed her. Twisting her around
he grabbed her ribbon and pulled it off. As she moaned and he
smiled I saw Ranger Frank stand up from behind a rock not 20
feet away, take careful aim and shoot Preston in the head.
The battle still raged
up on the rim, Lyndsey and Jack were sitting in good shape and
the Posse was wasting a lot of shots trying to get them. Ranger
Frank gathered ammo off me, then went and got it off Outlaw
Frank, Preston and Tanya. He then headed up to his fellow
Rangers with a lot of ammo. Tanya, Frank, Preston and I all
went to get some water now that we had been stripped and then
found some shade, we joked we were in the cemetery. John soon
came off the hill and joined us as well as the other two dead
posse riders. We watched for over an hour as shots were traded
back and forth up top. Every time a posse rider tried to circle
they were beaten back. Finally another hour later the Posse
gave up trying to get them as the day was running short. They
collected their dead and disappeared up canyon to where the
horses must have been.
Eventually Jack and
Lyndsey came down off the rim and we regrouped. We had taken a
terrible beating. But still had our bag and might still have
the lead in kills. We mounted up and headed to the ranch.
Lyndsey led us in a round about way until we were in the safe
zone.
The posse riders were
all ready in the corral and we rode in all shouting remarks and
poking fun as we unsaddled the horses. Then we all dashed for
hot showers as the team leaders checked tallies.
As we consumed a
delicious steak dinner it was announced that the week was a
tie! neither team getting all six bags and both teams getting
the same number of kills. So the decision was down to the
amount of loot that was printed on the bags. Ours was only
worth $25,000. The posse had four bags totaling $140,000 so
they were the winners! We were disappointed we didn’t have
bragging rights but we all took it with honor. What a week it
was! challenging, exciting, terrifying, exhilarating. One hell
of an adventure!
After breakfast the
next day we headed back to the airport and the real world. It
had been a great week we all agreed and we all want to do it
again!