LeRue and Jed had been gone just a few hours. Ponto, who was napping on the porch, stood up just as Juan was about to climb the steps. Ponto let out a menacing growl from his curled lips. “Amigo, why do you growl at me?” Then Juan realized the dog was looking past him to the east. As Juan turned, the first shot was heard followed by several more.
Juan ran up the stairs and into the house shouting, “Bandits, bandits! Arm yourselves. Francisca rushed down the stairs. “Juan, what is it, what is happening?”
More shots rang out along with the sounds of many running horses, followed by war-cries and the agonizing screams of wounded men. Juan turned to Francisca, “You must go to the root cellar in the woods. Hide there until I come for you. Go, go now!” Francisca turned and ran out the back doo
