BILLY STEELE: KID RANGER

"Why is it so important for you to go along this time?"

"The outlaw they want to capture, I am sure he killed my mother and father," Billy said. "He might have clue to my parents lost relic and mine. And he knows the real identities of the Trinity Of Terror. But Ill never know for sure if I have to stay here today and practice my fractions. Ive got to see the look on that bad guys ugly face when the law catches him and he faces justice for his crimes against me and the West."

"I know a short cut to Mesa City through Pinto Basin," Lupe told Billy as she tied her shoe. "But be careful of that crazy, old medicine man, White Eagle," she advised.

"I heard White Eagle turns kids into frogs, spiders and scorpions, " Booker injected.

"He hates everybody," Grasshopper warned.

"Better stay here and far away from that weird old Indian," Little Buffalo insisted, "Even many of my tribes men fear him cause he possess some kind of strange power."

"All Indians are primitive savages," Helen announced in a condescending way while she brushed her stylized hair. "Free, white people like me were born to conquer the inferior races. If Daddy didnt force them off the land, how would we be able to build our dynasty?"

"The only good Indian is a dead Indian," exclaimed Rex Slade. He and his twin brother Roy are the schools burly bully brothers. The twin sons of the scheming territory supervisor Slade, Rex and Roy were the schools oldest students, as they had to repeat several grades, several times.

Little Buffalo took angry exception to Rex and Roys acid tongued comments. And the proud son of a noble chief challenged his two much taller adversaries.

"We got us a totem pole that talks," Roy Slade shouted as he and Rex began pushing the smaller Native American boy between them.

"Two against one, I dont like those odds. Leave my friend alone, " Billy shouted angrily as he stood by his good friend, Little Buffalo.

"Weve got an Indian lover and turncoat to his uniform," Roy shouted as he shoved Billy.

In seconds, Billy, Little Buffalo and the Slade brothers tumbled in the dust as the four combatants threw a barrage of punches at each other. As Little Buffalo used his knowledge of wrestling holds and subdued Rex Slade, Billy and Roy Slade traded hard punches as all the students watched the battle.

Called outside by the commotion, Miss Cartright grabbed Billy by the scruff of his neck. "He threw the first punch," Roy whined to the teacher.

"Everyone in class, now," ordered the school teacher, "all except you, Billy Steele, " she demanded. "I am suspending you from school for today. Now I want to discuss your behavior with Col. Holt as soon as possible."

"But hes away on a mission," Billy replied.

"Just bring the Col to me as soon as possible, please," Miss Cartright sternly requested.

"Yes, Miss Cartright," Billy answered, for he was a good soldier. Billy went to fetch his father as ordered. He then mounted Swifty and he and Lasses rode towards Pinto Basin, the shortcut to Mesa City, the destination of Holts Rangers most dangerous mission.

Relieved he was let out of school early and "excused" from the math test, Billy galloped through the foreboding rocks of Pinto Basin, his flop eared puppy kept up with his master.