Chapter 19
MARCH 28, PRE DAWN
WELL BEFORE DAWN, REX GAVE his men one last speech before they started marching towards Fort Brazos. “Two days, and we’re there. Two days, and all the food you can eat and all the women you could want. It’s likely—almost certain, in fact—that we will see battle with their men today or tomorrow. I don’t believe they will wait for us at the village. Remember, they’re plow boys, and you are warriors. When they attack, hit them hard and hit them fast. Kill them out here, and the village will be sitting there like a ripe peach, just waiting for you.” He noted with satisfaction that the men’s response sounded like they were primed, ready, and eager, seeing visions of the easy life in the village that lay just ahead of them.
Rex told Frank, “Move them out.”
Within minutes, Rex’s men were under fire. Rex moved up front to get a closer look, it appeared that there were somewhere between twenty and forty men firing on them, but firing ineffectively. Rex shouted out, “We have them completely outnumbered and they aren’t shooting worth a shit, try to pick your targets as we advance, take advantage of cover as you move up. This is it, boys, now move up!”
Rex, the consummate survivor, allowed the men to get out front as he waited. When the men were past him and he started to follow, the men suddenly started yelling and running forward. What the hell? he thought. Then it dawned on him. They were chasing after what they thought was a retreating enemy, images of the open village in their heads.
Rex knew he couldn’t bring the men back—the coming storm and their strung out running had ended any chance of stopping them before they fell prey to the ambush he knew had to be just ahead. Rex grabbed Frank’s arm and said, “They’re dead; forget them. Grab anyone you can, and we’ll move around the ambush and head for the village. If we can get there first, we can control them with hostages.”
Frank disappeared for several minutes. The storm was on them full force now, a twister tearing up the earth only a few hundred yards away. Rex took cover by lying down and covering the back of his head.