Tucket's ride - Gary Paulsen

Francis Tucket continues his adventure - a little older and a whole lot wiser! - and is on the move again, this time without his dangerous companion, Jason Grimes, whom Francis believes to be dead. Instead, Francis is travelling with Lottie and Billy, two orphaned children he has taken under his wing after their parent's death by Indians. Travelling further south into Mexican territory, Tucket feels like a man now, determined to lead his charges to safety and find his own way back to his family. But now Francis has killed for the first time and they all have to run - falling straight into the hands of the brutal Comanchero tribe. Escaping by the skin of their teeth, Francis, Lottie and Billy realise that safety could be further off than they thought . . .