Runaways (Orphans 5)

"We already do," Raven said.

Crystal stared at her and then she sat up and the two of them hugged.

"I'm going to puke," I said, "if we're all going to start being nice to each other now."

They laughed.

"I'm still thirsty," Butterfly complained. That made us laugh too.

I stroked her beautiful hair. Raven hummed a song she remembered her mother used to hum to her. Butterfly's eyes closed and then we all squeezed closer and closed our eyes.

"If we just get a little rest," Crystal said, "things will look more hopeful in the morning." "Kangaroo rats," Raven muttered.

I smiled. I worked on getting the rope off my wrist now and finally did so. After that I closed my eyes, and moments later, I, too, was asleep.

The first time I opened my eyes, I thought Raven was right. We're going to start seeing mirages. I closed them again and then opened them, but no, he was still there, a man in his thirties, wearing a cowboy hat, his hair tied back in a ponytail. He sat on a beautiful black and white horse and wore a dark blue shirt, vest and dungarees, but he also wore a pistol and a badge on his vest. He was dark skinned with emerald green eyes. He sat calmly, staring at us, the horse munching on what surely was the only blades of grass for miles. It snorted and Raven woke, along with Crystal. Butterfly ground the sleep out of her eyes and sat up.

"Is that your station wagon broken down back there?" he asked

"It's not broken down. It's out of gas," I said. He shook his head and smiled.

"You know it's about fifty more miles before you're off the reservation and can find stores and gas stations," he said.

"Reservation?" Crystal asked.

He nodded.

"You didn't see the sign?"

"No sir," I said.

"Well you're on Navajo reservation land. I happen to be an Indian P

eace Officer."

Butterfly moved closer to me. He saw her fear. "Who are you girls?"

"It's a long story," I said.

He smiled. "This is the land of the long story. Can you all walk a ways?"

"Yes sir," I said.

"Good. Follow me," he ordered. He focused on Butterfly. "How would you like to ride with me, little one?" he asked her.

She started to shake her head.

"Go on, Butterfly," Crystal said. "You're very tired."

"Come on. Jake here is about as mild a horse as one can be without being stuffed," he said. He got off and brought the horse to Butterfly. "Pet him. Go ahead," he said. She did so meekly and then he reached into his pocket and produced a lump of sugar. "Give him this and he'll be your best friend," he said. He handed it to Butterfly and she started to offer it to the horse. "No, hold on," he said. "Hold your hand out flat like this and leave the sugar in your palm He'll get it easier."

Butterfly did as he instructed and Jake took the sugar. Then he nuzzled her hand and she laughed.

"See? Best friends. Come on," he said and helped her up and onto the horse. She looked back at us with a mixture of glee and fear. He mounted behind her and looked at us. "Right this way, ladies," he said. He turned the horse and headed around the rocks.

"Arrested by an Indian?" Raven said. "What's left?"

"Scalping," Crystal said.