BILLY STEELE: KID RANGER, CHAPTER THREE

Billy’s alter ego is an unleashed thunderbolt with the power of the universe at his command and the ultimate defender of the honor of the range.

"I am the thunder from God’s country, taking your world by storm," was the black-masked, protector of the plains’ battle cry. Suddenly, the outlaws saw a tremendous face forming in the skies above them. The gigantic head and face of The Lightning Warrior hovered over them his flaming eyes of vengeance pierced their souls as his omnipotent shadow swallowed up the bandits’ sunlight. The great spirit of the storm struck!

Riding a lightning bolt like a skateboard, the muscular frontier firebrand, hurled a lightning arrow at the bandits, and its force blasted them to the ground. The Warrior used his black bullwhip like an avenging lash to crack the guns from the outlaws’ hands. The Lightning Warrior became a fighting whirlwind as he pummeled and punched the henchmen with all of nature’s fury at his command. He hurled the burly bandits to the ground like they were rag dolls. The Dark Skull’s black mount jumped in fright upon seeing this black caped crusader attack.

Billy’s pony, Swifty, had become the great white steed, The Thunder Rider, and the magnificent stallion stormed through a company of merciless marauders and used his powerful hooves to disarm them and knock them to the ground. Billy’s pup, ‘Lasses, became the great wolf, war dog, The Lone Defender and hurled his sharp fangs onto more desperadoes. He ripped the bad guys to shreds in the name of prairie justice.

The Dark Skull saw his men fall to The Lightning Warrior’s might. The masked monster then drew his massive gun and pointed it at The Warrior’s heart. The hooded assassin reveled in his the thrill of killing as he squeezed the trigger slowly, savoring the cock of his gun. White Eagle frightfully witnessed The Dark Skull set his murderous sight on the super god. White Eagle screamed in anguish and ran towards the Dark Skull to stop his killing spree and try to save The Warrior’s life. But The Dark Skull’s malevolent mount neighed and warned his evil master of White Eagle’s interference.

The Dark Skull saw White Eagle race to capture him, and he quickly turned and fired a shot at the nearly 80-year old Indian sage.

The evil one’s bullet struck White Eagle in the shoulder. The old Indian fell to his feet and blood gushed from his arm while his Warrior student, used his magical lance to swoop the bandits from their steeds. As soon as The Lightning Warrior saw that his teacher was struck, he stopped punishing the now fleeing outlaws and raced to the Indian’s side. Meanwhile, The Dark Skull seized the opportunity to abandon the crime scene he created.

The Warrior tenderly cradled White Eagle in his arms as The Dark Skull and his bandit disciples made their escape into the underbrush. They were like rats leaving a sinking ship.

While the veteran wagon master thanked this mysterious stranger for stopping the robbery on the trail, miles away, the oafish Lester ran into the office of territory supervisor Slade in the township of Paradise Valley. Lester told the scheming Slade what he had witnessed. "I would have told the Col., but he’s away on a mission," Lester continued to the slickly attired, cigar chomping Slade while the slovenly Lester tucked his shirt in his ill-fitting trousers.

"I know who has been causing all the crime in the West, Mr. Slade," the bumbling man said with conviction.