Chapter 13: The Canyon Gauntlet with the River Tribe
The morning sun was barely rising over the jagged peaks of the canyon when Buck and Abilene approached the encampment of the River Tribe. The sound of the river below echoed off the canyon walls, a constant, soothing murmur in an otherwise tense atmosphere. Buck pulled his horse to a stop at the edge of the camp, his eyes scanning the gathered members of the tribe.
Abilene rode up beside him, her face set in determination.
"You sure they’re gonna let us talk, Buck?"
Buck didn’t answer immediately. His eyes were focused on the man standing at the center of the camp, his tall, lean figure unmistakable even from a distance. "We’ll find out soon enough," he replied, nudging his horse forward.
The man at the center of the camp was Chief Red Hawk, the leader of the River Tribe. His sharp eyes tracked Buck and Abilene as they dismounted and approached on foot. The rest of the tribe stood in a wide circle, their faces impassive as they watched the two outsiders.
"Chief Red Hawk," Buck greeted, tipping his hat in respect.
"We’ve come to ask for your help."
Red Hawk’s gaze shifted from Buck to Abilene, then back again. He was silent for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Finally, he spoke, his voice calm but carrying an undeniable authority.
"You come into our land, outsiders," Red Hawk said, his voice steady and deep. "Why should we help you? What do you offer in return for our trust?"
Abilene stepped forward, her eyes locked onto Red Hawk’s.
"We’re not just asking for your help. We’re offering to stand with you against a common enemy Mayor Boone."
A murmur ran through the gathered tribe members at the mention of Boone’s name. It was clear that they were familiar with the man and not in a favorable way.
Red Hawk’s eyes narrowed slightly.
"Boone has caused much suffering for my people. He steals our land, poisons our water. But why should we trust you, gunslingers from the west? Many have made promises before and left us with nothing."
Buck glanced at Abilene before taking a deep breath.
"We know you have no reason to trust us, Chief. But we’re not like those who came before. We’re here to fight, just like you. We’ve already taken down some of Boone’s operations, and we’re not stopping until he’s finished. But to do that, we need allies strong allies like you and your people."
Red Hawk remained silent, his gaze never leaving Buck’s. The tension in the air was palpable, and for a moment, Buck feared that their mission would end here, with nothing to show for their efforts.
Finally, Red Hawk raised a hand, silencing the murmurs of his people.
"If you wish to earn our trust," he said slowly, "you must first prove your strength and your courage. We will not fight alongside those who cannot survive our gauntlet."
Buck exchanged a quick glance with Abilene. They had heard rumors of the River Tribe’s gauntlet, a deadly test of endurance and skill that few had ever attempted, and even fewer had survived.
"We’ll do it," Abilene said firmly before Buck could speak.
Red Hawk’s expression did not change, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes—perhaps respect for Abilene’s quick decision. He nodded once, sharply.
"Very well. At first light tomorrow, you will enter the Canyon of Trials. Survive, and you will earn our trust."
***
The next morning, as the first light of dawn touched the canyon walls, Buck and Abilene stood at the mouth of the Canyon of Trials. The River Tribe had gathered to watch, their silent presence a reminder of what was at stake. The canyon stretched out before them, a narrow, winding path that cut through the rocky terrain. The air was thick with tension, every crevice and shadow a potential threat.
“Are you ready for this?” Buck asked, his voice low as he checked his revolver one last time.
Abilene nodded, her face set in determination.
“I didn’t come all this way to back down now.”
Buck smiled faintly, appreciating her resolve. “Let’s get through this, then.”
With that, they stepped into the canyon, the shadows swallowing them as they ventured deeper into the gauntlet. The path was narrow, forcing them to walk single file, with Buck leading the way. The walls of the canyon loomed high above, casting long, ominous shadows that played tricks on the eyes.
The first challenge came quickly. As they rounded a bend, the ground beneath Buck’s feet gave way. He barely had time to leap back as a section of the path crumbled, revealing a pit filled with sharpened stakes below.
“Watch your step,” Buck muttered, helping Abilene navigate around the trap. They continued, more cautious now, eyes scanning the ground and walls for any sign of danger.
As they moved further into the canyon, the challenges became more frequent and more dangerous. At one point, they were forced to cross a rickety wooden bridge that spanned a deep chasm. The wood creaked ominously with every step, and Buck could feel the bridge swaying beneath their weight. He held his breath as they made their way across, the drop below dizzying.
Halfway across, Abilene paused, glancing at Buck.
“You know, this is one hell of a way to earn trust.”
Buck grinned despite the situation.
“Nothing worth having comes easy.”
They made it across the bridge, only to be greeted by a hail of arrows from hidden archers positioned along the canyon walls. Buck and Abilene dove for cover, pressing themselves against the rocky sides of the canyon.
“Damn it,” Abilene cursed, pulling her revolver and returning fire.
“They’re not giving us any breaks, are they?”
“Wouldn’t be much of a test if they did,” Buck replied, firing off a few shots of his own.
The exchange of gunfire echoed through the canyon, the sharp cracks of revolvers mingling with the soft thwip of arrows. Buck and Abilene managed to take out a few of the hidden archers, but the rest melted back into the shadows, leaving them to continue their journey.
After the ambush, they encountered a series of man-made traps—tripwires connected to hidden explosives, swinging logs designed to knock them off the narrow path, and even a section of the canyon that had been rigged with oil, set alight by a flaming arrow. They moved quickly but carefully, avoiding the worst of the traps, though they had a few close calls.
At one point, they found themselves in a narrow gorge where the walls seemed to close in, the space so tight that they had to move sideways. It was there that they were attacked by a group of warriors, their faces painted in the red and black war paint of the River Tribe. Armed with spears and tomahawks, the warriors descended upon them with fierce intensity.
Buck and Abilene fought back with everything they had, using the tight space to their advantage. Abilene managed to disarm one of the warriors, taking his tomahawk and using it to fend off another attack. Buck, meanwhile, fought with his fists and revolver, moving with the fluid grace of a seasoned fighter.
After a grueling fight, they managed to push through the warriors, leaving them incapacitated but alive. As they emerged from the gorge, bloodied and bruised but still standing, they were met with the sight of Chief Red Hawk and several of his men waiting for them.
Red Hawk’s expression was unreadable as he approached them, but there was a flicker of approval in his eyes.
“You have survived the Canyon of Trials,” he said, his voice carrying a note of respect. “You have proven your strength and your resolve.”
Buck and Abilene exchanged a glance, relief washing over them.
“Does that mean we have your trust?” Buck asked, his voice tinged with exhaustion.
Red Hawk nodded.
“Yes. The River Tribe will stand with you against Boone. We will fight as one.”
Abilene exhaled slowly, the weight of the past hours finally lifting.
“Thank you, Chief. We won’t let you down.”
Red Hawk inclined his head, signaling for his men to prepare for the alliance. “Prepare yourselves. Boone’s men will not show mercy, but together, we will be stronger.”
As they walked back to the camp, Buck glanced at Abilene, his admiration for her growing with every step.
“You did good back there,” he said quietly.
Abilene smiled faintly, her hand brushing against his.
“So did you. Looks like we’re in this together now.”
“Looks like it,” Buck agreed, a sense of camaraderie settling between them.
As they approached the River Tribe’s camp, the sun finally broke over the canyon’s edge, bathing the landscape in a golden light. They had passed the gauntlet, earned an alliance, and with it, a fighting chance against Boone.