A sneak peak at "Golden Sunrise" Part 1

Well, aren't you lucky? :) I'm going to post a little sneak peak of "Golden Sunrise" for you to read if you so desire. It is still in the rough draft stage and so I don't think that it will turn out exactly like this, but it's a start. If you read any of my other books, you will "get it" more, but I will take the time to explain that the story is told through Cheyenne, a Palomino horse who is accompanying her master Jared who is a soldier defending the famous fort Alamo in Texas. William Travis and Bowie were the commanders of the Texan army that was stationed at the Alamo, if you have any other questions or critiques feel free to post them as a comment. However, just ignore the typos, as this is a lot to type out for you and I'm not the most patient editor/rereader in the world so you'll just have to ignore any mistakes if they're not too huge. I'm going to give you about half a chapter from the middle of the book, divided into two parts.

Crraaack!

The cannon let off loudly, scattering the terrified horses into the corner of the horse pen. I laid my ears flat against my head, agitated. I looked up to the main wall of the mission to see Jared standing next to the famous Davy Crockett, his rifle to his shoulder. Davy wore fringed buckskin and a coonskin cap, his rifle popping loudly every now and then to pick of the Mexicans who were advancing closer and closer to the thick walls of the Alamo. Jared did the same.

Every once in awhile the entire mission would rumble as it took a blow from a distant cannon. I paced around the place nervously. How I wished that I could be up top to see all the action! The thousands of Mexican soldiers lined up in columns, the officers in their striking bright red and blue uniforms with shiny brass buttons, the cottonwood trees that stood silently on the Texan plains, seemingly watching the advancing troops but taking no part in the action. I knew it was dangerous, but I wanted to see what was going on, at least I didn't want to stand idle; I really wanted to be of some assistance.

My nose stung with the bitter smell of gunpowder and smoke as it became stronger and stronger, and I grew more anxious. The men, however, seemed to be quite calm given the circumstances.

Santa Anna was planning to put the Alamo under siege before he attacked the mission. Why would he bother to launch a sudden attack and waste hundreds of soldiers' lives when he could simply wait until starvation and despair overcame the defenders of the Alamo, and then they would be forced to surrender. But the one thing that the Mexican officers didnt' know about was the grit and determination of the American fighters. There would be no surrender.

Not long after the fighting had begun, James Bowie collapsed in the plaza of the Alamo. Men rushed to help him up, no one knew what had overcome the tall, strong knife-fighter but he quickly became so ill that he had to be laid in his bed because he could not stand.

Bowie was so weak that he could not even help lead the men anymore. At his bedside he turned over full command to Travis.

The day went on with little firing. No one was hurt, but the men's morale had taken a direct hit. The sun set over the horizon and nightfall was soon upon us. One of the men passed steaming coffee around to the volunteers as some of them began to make preparations to get some rest.

Some of the men were wrapped in blankets as they sipped their coffee, their eyes blankly staring off into the distance, their minds contemplating the day's events. Others made their way to the barracks. A few men were stationed at each of the four sides of the Alamo's walls, watching and waiting for Santa Anna's attack.

I lifted my head and pricked my ears, my eyes searching into the darkness. What did I just hear? It couldn't be . . .


The Mexican army had struck up a band and were playing noisily. I heard the sound of the drums and trumpets drifting from the Mexican camp, all the while cannons were still blasting now and then. Santa Anna, with grim humor, was determined that the Alamo's defenders should get as little sleep as possible. None of the men at the Alamo had ever heard of that kind of warfare.

I sighed and made my way over to where Jared sat sipping some warm coffee. I stood over him while he stared into the fire, his eyes far away. One of his large hands rested tenderly on my soft muzzle, and he stroked me distractedly while he continued to think. The cold breeze began to pick up a little, whisking the smoke of the fire up further into the sky. The scream of the twelve-pounders was heard outside, and gunshots were continually heard in short burst, popping suddenly now and then outside the walls of the Alamo.

I did not know it at the time, but as the two of us sat silently thinking to ourselves, William Travis sat in the officer's quarters at his desk, painstakingly writing out a letter to the provisional government; a desperate plea for help. I dont' remember how all of it goes, but it must have been one of the most memorable pleas for help in the history of America. By the flickering candlelight, he wrote:

To the People of Texas and all Americans in the World,

I am besieged by a thousand or more of the Mexicans by Santa Anna--I have sustained continual bombardment and cannoadediscretions, otherwise, the garrison are to be put to sword, if the fort is taken. I have answered the demand with a cannon shot, and our flag still waves proudly from the walls. I shall never surrender or retreat. Then, I call on you in the name of Liberty, of patriotism and every thing dear to the American character, to come to our aid, with all dispatch--The enemy is receiving reinforcements daily and will no doubt increase to three or four thousand in four or five days. If this call is neglected, I am determined to sustain myself as long as possible and die like a soldier who never forgets what is due to his own honor and that of his country--

VICTORY OR DEATH

William Barret Travis

  Lt. Col. Comdt.

Another messenger was sent off at daybreak. He secretly exited the Alamo and galloped off on a swift horse, blasting fearlessly through the enemy lines. The troops watched him despondently, hoping and praying that the plea would not fall on deaf ears as it had so many times before.

.....To be continued...soon :)