BILLY STEELE: KID RANGER

Tim smiled warmly as he tried to calm Billys zeal. "Dont worry son, well bring all the bad guys to justice, I promise you. But you can do your best at helping bring civilization and law and order to the West by getting a good education and becoming the kind of man your parents would want you to become. I swore on your parents grave that I would raise you right. Now please Miss Cartright is waiting for you at school. I will tell you all about the mission when we return, shake soldier?" Col. Tim outstretched his hand to his adopted son. "And stay out of Indian country. We have to keep those red heathens from revolting, and a white trespasser will not help, and keep clear of that mad medicine man, White Eagle, dont forget now Billy," the Col. insisted.

Billy firmly shook his adopted fathers hand, and then watched him and his unit as they rode through Fort Yumas enormous wooden doors and into the unknown dangers of the desert lurking behind every sagebrush and cactus. Billy s intuitive sense told him that his Ranger family would be facing a far greater danger than expected. And that he had to find a way to help them and prove himself to be a brave and bold soldier in the heat of battle.

But being a good soldier meant following your commanding officers orders, so Billy reluctantly mounted his pony, Swifty, and set out with his puppy,  Lasses and joined his classmates at Paradise Valleys red, school house, a small structure, but kept sturdy and proud.

Billy arrived at the cozy, red, wooden framed schoolhouse minutes before his young teacher, Miss Cartright would later ring the opening bell. The curvaceous and bespectacled educator always kept her store bought, conservative attire very neat despite the constant dust and virgin soil that always swirled around this new land. She had an inviting smile for all of her students. This prim, and proper, Boston educated daughter of an Eastern captain of industry happily escaped her debutante service to find her calling as the spreader of wisdom and civilization to the children, the future of the frontier.

Outside the school, Billy saw his friends and classmates while they performed their morning rituals. Lupe, the pretty Mexican girl, who preferred to wear boys clothes, challenged all comers in a foot race for the undisputed championship of Paradise Valley. Billys good friend, Little Buffalo, the proud son of a chief, met Lupes challenge, but not even his wishing for victory on his lucky rabbits foot could slow down Lupes fleetness of foot.

Booker, an African American boy, whose family worked a small ranch after his father served the red, white and blue during The Civil War, had his nose buried in his newest science book. Helen, the spoiled daughter of Paradise Valleys richest ranch owner, admonished Lupe and Little Buffalo, for their dust clouds created during their foot race had nearly soiled her new mail order outfit from New York. Meanwhile, Grasshopper, the bright-eyed Asian American boy, whose grandfather and family helped build the great railroad, reluctantly placed his philosophy book in his bag and to quickly reviewed his math notes in preparation for the upcoming examination.

"I wish I could have gone along with Col. Tim and the troop to Mesa City," Billy confided to Little Buffalo and Lupe, as both breathed heavily after their race. "He still thinks I am a little kid," Billy complained.

"Your Paw is just trying to protect you. My fathers the same way when it comes to the dangers of the hunt," Little Buffalo replied.