When they woke up the fire was out already and the sky was still dark blue, there was enough light for them to pack up their belongings and get going. So they saddled everything up and headed towards the cave. It was daylight when they arrived, inside the cave there was an orange glare, they had built a fire.
"It's quite a way's up there, a lot of loose rocks to climb, I will stay behind with the horses," said Robert.
"Alright, one ranger will stay here as well to help watch," said the ranger.
"Yellow Bird, why don't you stay with Robert, it may be dangerous," said Henry.
"Yes sir," said Yellow Bird.
So the boys climbed up the steep slope and got to the opening of the cave. They saw the orange glare and slowly and quietly walked towards the orange glare.
"Henry and Jason stay close to the opening of the cave, just in case they run for it and Victor," paused the ranger.
"Victor," whispered Edward looking around.
Victor quietly went towards the fire and went behind the mountain wall, there was a hole, so he crawled in the hole and when he came out he was staring at the fire, it was another opening.
"Let's go," said the ranger. So they headed toward the back of the cave and walked up behind the people.
"Excuse me," said Edward.
All five of them jumped up and looked at Edward. Two ran towards the opening on the cave wall where Victor was hiding, Victor heard them, so he swung his legs out, kicking them back out, making them fall on their backs. The other two ran towards the opening of the cave towards Jason and Henry. The last person looked at Victor and just smiled, Victor stared at him for a while.
"He has a knife in his pocket," Victor jumping down from the hole in the cave," Victor landed behind the kid.
The ranger pulled his pistol out and told him to throw it on the ground. Victor was still watching, making sure he didn't try anything he kept watching his hand, he was ready for whatever that kid was about to do. So they kid slowly pulled it out and dropped it on the ground.
"Alright, now move away," the ranger handcuffed him and the other two guys and the other two that were still sitting on the ground. So they led all the kids downslope. When they reached the bottom there was another ranger waiting.
"Alright let us take them back to the mess hall and straighten this all out," said Henry.
So they headed out.
"I hope everything is okay," said mother.
"Me too," said Maggie.
"Don't worry ladies, I'm sure they will be alright, more coffee?" asked Roberts assistant.
"Yes, please thank you," said Maggie.
Back on the trail, they were trying to start a conversation.
"So did you boys get lost, trying to find your way out of here?" asked the ranger.
They all looked at the ranger like he was stupid.
"They don't care do they, are they Native? Asked Jason.
"yes, Apache," said Edward.
So, they kept going, they did not stop until the reached the mess hall.
"They are back," said Roberts assistant.
"Oh, good they made it," said mother.
They all came out of the mess hall.
"I'm glad you are all safe," said Maggie.
"It was not too bad," said Henry.
"Hey Robert, I have food ready for you and the guests," said the assistant.
"Well let's go in and eat," said Robert.
So, they went inside, and the Rangers put their horses up in the trailers and followed to eat in the mess hall.
"So, you do realize you can go to jail for trespassing on this ranch without permission," said the ranger.
"So, charge us," said the Apache kid.
"Dude what's your problem," angered Victor.
"Victor," said Edward.
The Apache kid just stared at Victor and smiled.
"Now we did pick up your mess on one of the campsites," Henry.
"Why did you trash the place, you had no right, this is privately owned property," said Yellow Bird.
"This is Apache land and we do what we please," said the Apache kid.
"This was Comanche and Apache land, now it belongs to the people who worked their butts off to make it what it is today, especially for visitors to come and get in touch with nature," said Yellow Bird.
"Yellow Bird that's enough sweetheart, apparently these apache kids don't respect authority," said Henry.
"So how did you get on the ranch, that's a long way to walk to get here? Asked the ranger.
"We know our way, this is our land it will always be our land," said the Apache kid.
"How can you, this is the 21st century, you can't possibly know your way around unless you lived or grew up at the ranch, even work here, you weren't even born back in the day when the Comanche and Apaches came through you just claiming, you might have been here for days I noticed and nobody even knew about it," said Yellow Bird.
"Yellow Bird calm down sweetie," said Maggie, rubbing her shoulders.
The Apache kid just smiled.
"Swallow your pride," said Yellow Bird.
"You swallow your pride, you have forgotten who you are as an Apache, you work for these whites as an Apache slave, you have forgotten the Apache ways," said the kid.
"Sit down, if you are thinking of grabbing her I would think twice," said Edward crossing his arms. Edward was taller than the kids. The Apache id smiled and sat down.
"Don't tell me I don't know who I am, I know exactly who I am and where I come from, they only reason Indians are made or even ashamed is because they can't let go of what took place long ago, they want people to feel sorry for how they live, but it's their fault, they chose to live in poverty, instead of trying to make it better they have hatred towards the government and white people. I'm sure the government and white people offered to add business on the rez, but there stubbornness and pride get in the way and yet they wonder why they're still in poverty, if you don't like how life is on the rez, you don't have to stay there you can leave, but pride and culture get in the way of bettering ourselves," said Yellow Bird going outside to sit. Edward follows.
"Alright next time I catch you boys, I will press charges and take you back to San Carlos Indian Reservation," said the ranger.
"You couldn't even if you tried, we belong to the system now, we got shipped to Forth Stockton with foster parents," said the Apache kid.
"None of you appreciate those families do you? "asked Jason.
"They didn't have to," agreed the Apache kid.
"No, they didn't have to but they did, they saw broken ids that needed a good home and you all just throw it away," said Jason walking out.
"Look my brothers are right, don't throw something good away, if those families had not don't what they have done, you guys would probably be dead because your families beat you to death. I may be an angry Indian and mad at the world but I'm still grateful for what I have now," said Victor going outside.
"Alright guys come on, we'll take you back home," said the ranger.
The Apache kids just smiled, and the rest walked towards the trucks and the Rangers took them back home.