Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 7

stared at Nakano's back ahead of him. The older samurai had yet to formally introduce himself, but he'd caught his name from the others speaking to him. His first impression that Nakano was the leader proved true, as he controlled their pace, when they rested, when they ate, and the others obeyed without question.
    Jonathon glanced back. Directly behind him was Kita, the youngest of the group and who he imagined couldn't be beyond twenty years. He met Kita's gaze, and the young samurai gave him a small, but friendly smile. Of all of them, Kita seemed to be the most accepting of his presence. He was the one who brought him food, helped him with his horse and anything else he needed. He sensed Kita was interested in speaking with him, but wouldn't because it might incite disapproval from the others.
    Bringing up the rear of their little band were Tanaka and Kawada, who spoke mostly to each other besides teasing Kita. So the samurai did talk. Just not to him. It didn't stop him from eavesdropping on their conversations, though, and while he learned he wasn't as proficient in Japanese as he'd thought, he was able to understand well enough.
    It seemed Kawada was newly married, something Tanaka took great pleasure in teasing him about as it seemed Kawada had unwillingly given up his bachelorhood but pressure from his father forced him to. Lord Takezaki's warhorse had kicked a groom and broke the man's leg, which then led to a discussion of Kita, who had recently been caught in a comprising position with one of Lord Takezaki's grooms, and that delighted Tanaka even more than Kawada's forced marriage.
    Even if their banter and casual conversation didn't include him, it was comforting to see them acting like any group of men he'd been around.
    As they rounded a curve in the road, Jonathon saw Nakano jerk his horse to a short stop. A downed tree blocked the way. All conversation silenced. Nakano sat alert in the saddle, scanning the forest. Jonathon looked to the others, as alert as Nakano. His heart started pounding quicker without warning. A sense of danger fell over him.
    Nakano whirled his horse around toward them. He shouted to turn back.
    A breeze whooshed by Jonathon's head, and he belatedly realized it was an arrow. More arrows rained through the trees. Shouts shattered the silence. Jonathon spun his horse. A band of five samurai charged up the road behind them. Two more sprang out from the forest's cover to his left, another two on the opposite side of the road to the right.
    Jonathon saw Kawada snap off the end of an arrow lodged in his shoulder while turning his horse to meet their enemies. Tanaka galloped at his side. Two against five, and one of them injured. There was no way they could win, and yet they rushed their attackers without hesitation. Nakano shouted for Kita to take the two men on the left, as he intercepted the two on the right.
    Everything was happening in the span of his rapid heartbeats. As the warriors clashed, Jonathon became all too aware he was weaponless. All he had was a Colt revolver in his satchel and that did him no good now.
    Hearing a distressed shout, Jonathon snapped his head around. He saw Kita's short sword sheathed in the chest of one of his enemies, but the other grabbed the young samurai, ripping him from the saddle. Kita fell hard, but rolled to his feet, drawing his long sword and striking the second attacker across the chest.
    Behind Kita, one of the five samurai engaged with Tanaka and Kawada broke away. He galloped toward him, spear lowered. Kita twisted, the spear grazing his arm. The samurai swung his horse. Its hindquarters slammed into Kita, sending him crashing to the ground.
    Jonathon put his heels to his horse. He may not have a weapon, but he couldn't do nothing.
    The samurai raised his spear, the point aimed down at Kita.
    Jonathon let out a loud, guttural shout as he charged Kita's attacker. It did what he hoped. The other samurai whipped around, his attention broken. Jonathon saw the man's shock an instant before his horse slammed into the samurai's. He caged the samurai in his arms, hurling himself out of the saddle and taking the other man off his horse with him.
    Hands grabbed Jonathon, dragging him off the samurai. He started to fight, then realized it was Kita. He stumbled back, clearing the way for Kita to finish their enemy. But it wouldn't be enough. Nakano, Tanaka, and Kawada were all on the ground, back to back, and surrounded.
    New voices rose over the