BILLY STEELE: KID RANGER, CHAPTER THREE

Billy became even more torn at seeing White Eagle being tortured by his infernal enemies, as they tormented the helpless Indian with their weapons. As a dagger’s blade ripped apart the old Indian’s bandages, blood from his wound oozed down his shirt, staining sacred charms he wore.

"The arrowhead, Billy, or White Eagle’s a goner," The Dark Skull demanded as Billy saw The Wolf Man whittle his infamous blade into the tender part of White Eagle’s throat. Billy heard Don Diablo cock his gun as he prepared to fire into the Indian’s heart.

Sadly, Billy knew what he had to do-he in his heart of hearts could not let White Eagle die. As Billy plucked the arrowhead from his pocket to toss to his enemy, the ancient Indian wizard, with every last drop of strength in his fiber, suddenly broke away from the evil duo’s grasp.

"Don’t give in to evil, Billy, I am free," White Eagle yelled to the boy before the moment of truth had struck. An enraged Dark Skull then pointed his massive gun at the old Indian as he ran towards his blood son. Billy, from the corner of his eye saw White Eagle was about to become The Dark Skull’s next victim. Billy hurled himself at the Indian sage to divert him from the oncoming bullet.

Crack! The Dark Skull’s gun roared its deadly song and the bullet meant for White Eagle, found its way into Billy’s body.

White Eagle’s heart died upon seeing his young student’s limp body sprawl motionless on the cold ground of The Alamo. Where so many brave souls had sacrificed their lives for freedom, the name Billy Steele could be inscribed besides them. White Eagle cradled the boy’s bloody body in his arms and wept with an aguish only the gods could feel.

"Take the arrowhead, the maps and finish them off," screamed The Dark Skull as all of his guns were readied to annihilate the boy and old man.

Just as The Dark Skull was about to pull the trigger…"bang," a lone blast of gunfire from a distance knocked his revolver from his hand. From beyond the canyon’s ridge, a wonderful bugle call charged the air, pounding hooves, belonging to the stalwart super troopers of Holt’s Rangers raced to The Alamo in all their red, white and blue glory.

"Old Betsy, you’ve done it again," Salvation McCoy said to his beloved rifle, for the old scout’s sharp shooting skills blasted the gun from The Dark Skull’s hand.

The Legion Of The Lawless, and their outlaw army saw an avenging force about to descend on them. Joining Col. Tim, Sgt Big Boy, Cpl. Jubilee and Salvation McCoy were the special unit assigned to rid the West of the outlaw scourge-these crusading riders were united as a boots and saddles brotherhood.

As the Dark Skull felt the sting of Col. Tim’s bullet that grazed his other hand, he saw Holt’s Ranger’s legendary new recruits. The great, golden-haired frontiersman Buffalo Bill, his beautiful, buck-skinned superstar markswoman Annie Oakley, the pistol packing, ten gallon hat wearing Wild Bill Hitchcock, the derby hated and dapper Bat Masterson, the brave courageous and bold Wyatt Earp, his badge shining in the sun, his partner, Doc Holiday, a kerchief around his face to protect him from trail dust, the fabulous, long red haired Calamity Jane, the fringe jacketed scout Kit Carson, and the tall tale hero, Texas tornado riding, Pecos Bill, commanding his twister from high above, and all joined by a young bespectacled cowpoke in store brought duds, Teddy Roosevelt.

As White Eagle continued to grieve over a fallen Billy, The Trinity Of Terror, The Legion Of The Lawless and their outlaw army manned the old mission.