Lorenzo's Revolutionary Quest by Lila Guzmán Page B

buffalo reached the bluff. He pulled alongside Chief Iron Bear and glanced around to make sure no one was watching.
    The chief, concentrating on the fast-moving herd, leaned over his horse’s neck.
    Clutching the reins in his right hand, Chien d’Or reached over and shoved the chief hard.
    Iron Bear lost balance and half fell off. He gripped his horse’s mane, pulled himself up, and managed to hang on.
    Bellowing in frustration, Chien d’Or grabbed the chief’s foot with both hands and pushed hard.
    The chief would not be unseated and held on tight. Jaw clenched, eyes narrowed in rage, he twisted toward Chien d’Or and screamed.
    The wind and hoof beats stole his words. Still, Chiend’Or knew what he had said. His insides turned to water. He had failed and knew he would be severely punished.

    Molly opened the top to the flour barrel and reached deep inside. Her scoop scraped against the bottom. “We’re just about out of flour,” she informed General Washington’s new cook. The last one had been an agent for the British and had been hanged for poisoning the general’s peas.
    He let out a long sigh. “Go buy some . . .”
    â€Do I have to?” Molly whined. It was a duty she hated.
    The cook avoided her eyes while he fished money from his pocket.
    Molly looked briefly at the Continental dollars he handed her. The British paid farmers in gold, and all she had were pieces of paper. They read: “This Bill entitles the Bearer to receive Six Spanish Milled Dollars or the value thereof in Gold and Silver according to a Resolution of Congress, published at Philadelphia Nov. 2, 1776.”
    She had overheard a conversation between General Washington and the quartermaster. Lorenzo Bannister and his soldiers were bringing food from the Spanish. She sure hoped they hurried. If food was scarce now, what would winter be like?

    Raven Feather hid in the shadows of a ranch outbuilding and peeped around a corner.
    Lorenzo Bannister and his men herded cattle toward an empty corral. She had tracked them for many nights now, watching their suspicious activity. People said there would be a cattle drive soon.
    Lorenzo dismounted, tied his reins to a hitching post,and opened the gate. He spoke to a soldier perched on a corral rail.
    In the distance, Soledad rode between the man with red hair and an old woman.
    Raven Feather pressed her lips together to hold back a growl of disgust. What a traitor Soledad was! Leaving the tribe. Adopting the invader’s ways. Taking a Spanish name. Even her mother had betrayed the tribe by working on a hacienda as a cook after her husband’s death. Raven Feather touched the knife hanging at her side. Someday she would make Soledad pay for turning her back on her people.

    Lorenzo leaned on a corral rail and watched his men head back to the herd. To keep them busy and out of trouble, he had put them to work on Doña María’s ranch.
    His attention went to Red, Soledad, and Doña María on horseback. They had heard that a coyote had attacked a cow and were checking it out.
    â€œRed was at my house again last night,” Miguel said.
    â€œWhy break with tradition?” Lorenzo asked with a wry smile.
    Miguel forced a smile. “I must say he is persistent. It doesn’t help that Doña María is encouraging him to court my sister. I must have a little chat with her about that.”
    Ever the romantic, Doña María gave Red tips on how to win Soledad’s heart and sacrificed countless flowers from her garden so he could give his sweetheart bouquets. She even served as chaperon when military duty called Miguel away.
    â€œDon’t take this the wrong way, Captain, but the sooner you leave, the better. My sister has been through a lot. If she becomes too attached . . .” His voice trailed.
    Lorenzo admired Miguel’s concern for his sister’swelfare. Before he could respond, Ambrosio, an elderly