Chapter Twelve
Desperate DaysJonas and Joshua’s captors dragged the two men through the village until they reached a dilapidated hut. The two brawny braves that held Joshua’s bound arms shoved him inside, and he fell heavily to the ground. He could hear his father talking to the Indians outside the hut.
“Have you seen my wife? I haven’t been able to find her. And my daughters are gone.”
Joshua could hear the grunts of the captors and then the sound of a blow. His father fell through the door backwards and lay as one dead. Joshua crawled over to the inert form. His arms were tied in front of him so he was able to lift Jonas onto his lap. He sat that way for a long time until Jonas finally opened his eyes.
His voice was a hoarse whisper. “Joshua, are you still with me, lad?”
Joshua was
