“There’s a way over that mountain?” Justin pulled his horse to a stop, and they all followed suit and turned to face the thick stand of trees.
Ramone pointed toward the mountain. “Yes, not far, although I have not used the trail in many years. It is muy peligroso.”
“If it’s so dangerous, then why in the world would we take it?” Sadie fought to keep from rolling her eyes.
“Because otherwise it’s nearly a two-hour ride, and we could be at the CR in half an hour if we went that way. But the trails are narrow up there; they may have caved away and become impassable. They are more suited to a good mountain-bred mustang ridden by a skilled caballero than a fine thoroughbred.”
“It would have the advantage of being a surprise move,” Heath said.
“When Señor Chastain and Don Bautista lived here, the trail was well-traveled. They weren’t exactly friends. It was said that Señor Chastain knew of the Don’s unfaithfulness to his wife and disapproved. Even so, they were two strong men and made a good team running the huge land grant. They saw each other often, and hired hands went from one place to the other daily, working the herd together.”
“This trail’s never been used in all the years I’ve lived here,” Justin added.
“There was no use for it after Padre left.”
Heath reined his horse around and surveyed the terrain. “If there is someone looking for us, they’ll be watching the trail we rode over on, not this one that Ramone knows.”
“This is a poor place to stop and talk,” Justin said to Heath. “I don’t want to get caught on a trail that might have caved away over the years. We can explore it later. Let’s go on the trail we rode on to come here.”
Justin turned his horse, and the rest of the party did, as well.
They moved out. Heath brought up the rear, behind Cole and Sadie, with Ramone and Alonzo next. Justin took the lead.
The loud crack of a rifle split the air. Cole’s horse reared. He wrestled it under control. The bullet had come from ahead of them.
The rifle fired again, then once more.
“Up the short trail!” Justin shouted as he wheeled his horse around.
For a time, the horses fought their bits, reared up, and snorted. Ramone was the first to charge into the woods. He knew where he was going. His reaction was so quick that Sadie had to wonder if they’d been led into a trap.
Bullets whizzed past. They came from overhead somewhere, someone centered on the twisting trail to get them dead-on. She heard shots from right behind them, Heath returning fire.
With the horses bucking, Cole went flying off.
Sadie clawed at the reins, but the horse twisted and reared so high she was afraid she was going over backward. She threw herself sideways and slammed into a stout tree. There was shouting, gunfire. Hooves slashed only inches from her face. In the blur she saw Justin grab Cole and nearly throw him onto the rearing horse. “Can you hang on?”
“Yes, get Sadie.”
“Move!” Justin slapped the horse on the rump just as a hand sank into the front of Sadie’s dress and she was on horseback again. More shouting. She realized she was dazed from hitting the tree, and the world was spinning in a way that had nothing to do with the panicked horse.
Heath was close, and he was roaring something at Justin. It was when Justin yelled back that she realized Heath had her and they were riding fast.
She made herself small and held on tight so as not to make things harder for him. For all the chaos, they were on the new trail just a minute behind Ramone.
Justin yelled ahead, “Ride fast! Get to the ranch.”
The gunfire quit as they left the main trail. This new one was a hair-raiser, the first leap nearly straight downhill. Ramone had pointed up, a trail over a canyon wall, but it appeared they’d have to go a long way down before they got to climbing.
Ramone had told them the truth that this route was a dangerous one.
It looked as if no one had been on it for years, maybe decades. Deer and elk must still use the trail, though, because the woods hadn’t completely swallowed it up. But shrubs grew tight to the sides of it, and any horse not being goaded would have turned up its nose at a trail with branches slapping at its face as they charged on.
Of course, the bullets had helped convince the horses to run.
“I’ll block the branches as best I can.” Sadie held up her arms to protect her face and hopefully Heath’s too while she was at it. That left his hands free to guide the horse. Whipping limbs tried to knock her back, but Heath’s solid presence gave her the support she needed to hang on.
They plunged down and down and down until finally they reached a level stretch. The trail was wider here, though not by much, and they started making good time.
Still dizzy, Sadie gathered her thoughts enough to ask, “Is Cole hurt? Was he shot?”
“He’s bleeding, but he’s hanging on.” Heath’s voice settled her, and his strong arm around her waist reminded her of the day he’d come to tell her about Pa.
An unwooded stretch allowed her to fold both of her arms across his to hold him the only way she was able.
“Are you all right?” Heath whispered the words, his lips nearly touching her ear so she could hear him.
“Yes, I hit the tree and it shook me up for a few minutes, but I’m fine.”
His arm tightened around her just a bit, and his face pressed against her. “Thank God, Sadie. When you and Cole fell, I was sure you’d been shot. I was afraid . . .”
He lapsed into silence. She held his arm tightly and treasured a brief moment of closeness in the midst of the madness—and of hope that they would survive to get to the bottom of this.
“Here we go. The trail starts heading up now.” Heath shifted her around so instead of straddling the horse, she was sitting sideways on his lap. She looked up and he looked down. Since he was only inches away, she kissed him.
“Settle down, Miss Sadie.” Heath’s smile did something to her. If she didn’t know it was impossible, she’d’ve thought her heart was melting. “Hang on tight. It looks like the trail could get mean.”
Sadie wrapped her arms around him, glad of an excuse to hang on with all her strength.
Pressing one strong hand to the back of her head, he urged her to bury her face against his chest. She wasn’t sure if he wanted her close or if he was somehow protecting her, but it didn’t matter because she wanted to be as close as humanly possible to him.
The uphill side was as steep as the downhill. They wove back and forth, riding sideways along the face of the canyon wall, then turning to climb again.
They’d climbed a long while when Justin, who was bringing up the rear, called out, “Keep going. I hear someone on our back trail. I’ll try to slow ’em down.”
After a quick hug, Heath said, “Keep going, Sadie. I’ll go and help Justin.” He was gone from the back of the horse before she could say anything. But then what would she say? Stay with me and let Justin face them alone?
Wanting to scream, Sadie swung her leg around so she straddled the horse again and pressed forward. Cole was ahead of her, wounded. He looked back, saw her, and nodded. He must not have noticed she was alone, because he turned forward and rode on. She saw blood low on his back and knew his body had protected her. He’d taken bullets that would have hit her if he hadn’t shielded her. Far beyond Cole, Alonzo and Ramone rode hard, following orders, and she was glad they were. Cole was slowing them down, and there was no need for everyone to be trapped. Alonzo followed Ramone, who was the only one who knew the way and was badly weakened.
She caught up to Cole, desperate to send someone back to help Heath and Justin. Cole and Ramone weren’t up to helping. If she yelled for Alonzo, Cole would hear her and insist on going back to help. And anyway, if there was trouble ahead, Alonzo needed to be with the wounded.
With a clenched jaw, Sadie realized how many times she’d fussed about being protected, treated like a delicate flower, kept from danger a
nd trouble and any kind of risk.
Well, no one was stopping her now. She looked back at the torturously winding trail and could see no sign of Justin and Heath. But there weren’t any gunshots, either. That had to be good.
There was a long way left to climb and she kept at it, her mind made up. She needed to pick a spot. She’d lie in wait, hoping Heath and Justin would come. And if they did not and an enemy did, she’d fight for the CR just as her brothers were doing. Just as her father and grandfather had done.
That moment she finally saw what it was Pa had been trying to teach her with his demand that she give up her job and move home to the ranch. He wanted her to feel the Chastain blood that flowed in her veins from Ma. He wanted her to feel the love and effort and sweat he’d poured into building them a home. He wanted her to cherish family and hold tight to the legacy she’d been given.
She understood then how much her father loved her, nearly as much as her heavenly Father loved her. Whether or not Pa had done right by them, it was his love she needed to remember, and it was just as Heath had said on the day Pa had been hurt. They were so blessed to have a father who loved them. And just as Pa fought for them, she would fight for her home.
As she thought of her pa’s love, she realized her love of home. It awakened with such force, it was nearly painful. And part of that was a willingness to fight for it. Stand against anyone who’d try and take the CR away. Add to that, she was flooded with a determination that no one was going to murder her grandfather, nearly kill her father, shoot Heath and Cole, and get away with it.
Anyone who attacked one Boden attacked them all. And this evil man had indeed attacked them all.
They’d stand and fight as a family. Yes, even the females.
Justin and Heath were protecting all of them at a terrible risk.
She could do nothing less.
She would make a stand.
And then she saw it . . . and her moment came.
27
The trail was lined on both sides by a dense forest that was next to impenetrable. Those spots where it became clear, the land was likely to slide away so steeply that no horse could walk it. Or instead it’d head straight up with the same result.
Heath was still searching when Justin caught up to him. At the same time, Heath found a gap big enough to hide in. He took it. Justin rode up and must’ve been doing the same as Heath, because before he came level, Justin nodded, then vanished to the far side of the trail.
Heath waited, controlling his breathing so that not a sound escaped. Then a hoof fell with a soft thud. Whoever was coming was riding slow and cautious.
Well, that was a pure shame, because if he was really cautious he’d have run for California.
Justin would get first chance at him. Was there one man? Heath knew that more than one was involved. But were they both here today? There’d been only one gunman. Heath knew weapons well enough to be sure of that. And if they hoped to waylay and kill the Bodens, why would only one man come? If there were more, why didn’t more than one of them fire his gun?
The man came into view. Heath recognized him as a layabout he’d seen in Skull Gulch a few times, loitering outside the saloon. The man’s clothes were worn and dusty, his skin darkly tanned and weathered like everyone in the American Southwest. Yet Heath had no idea who he was.
Heath pulled his gun, but he didn’t intend to shoot, not unless he needed to save a life. And even then he wouldn’t shoot to kill. They needed to talk to this hombre.
Justin lunged out of the woods as quick and quiet as a striking snake. He grabbed the man and yanked him off his horse. It was so silent it was almost like the man just vanished in the blink of an eye. Heath rushed out and caught the horse’s reins in time to see Justin land a brutal punch on the outlaw’s chin that knocked him out cold.
His eyes met Justin’s. Justin jerked his head down the trail. Did he mean someone else was coming, or was he just worried there might be someone?
Justin dragged his prisoner out of sight.
Heath took the horse and led it away, then tied it up well off the trail. He rushed back to stand watch. The whole thing had taken a minute, maybe two. If someone was coming, thanks to all the twists in the trail, they wouldn’t notice their lead man had been taken out of the fight.
Heath crouched, waiting, watching. He saw a movement across the trail. Justin was waving a hand at him. Before Heath could figure out why, Justin stepped out onto the trail with the unconscious shooter slung over his shoulder, leading his horse.
Heath rushed to get the horse he had hidden.
“I don’t see anyone else.” Justin spoke barely above a whisper. “And I don’t like leaving everyone else alone for so long, with only Sadie and Alonzo at full strength. Let’s head on up.”
When he put it like that, Heath’s stomach twisted. He swung up on the outlaw’s mangy horse, only waiting to be sure Justin had his prisoner tied on behind his saddle. Then Heath rode up the trail at a fast clip.
Justin could keep up or be left behind.
Sadie heard hoofbeats. It sounded like two riders, so it couldn’t be Heath and Justin because Heath was on foot.
She drew back to put a thick tree between her and the trail.
Heath appeared, charging uphill. She let out a worried breath. Next she saw Justin rushing from behind. An unconscious man was tied behind his saddle. He moved just as fast as Heath, a look of grim intensity on his face.
They’d caught the man who shot at them. Maybe this madness was finally over. A quirk of humor kept her concealed as they rode past, thinking she would enjoy catching up with them and watching them realize she’d outsmarted them.
But she changed her mind as they vanished around a bend in the trail. Her idea was a foolish one. If Justin and Heath were on edge, and they sure looked it, then she didn’t want to make any sudden moves and startle them into an attack.
They were rushing to get to her and the men, worried about protecting them. They’d get there ahead of her and be upset. And if she spooked them, she might end up under their guns.
Shouting after them would do it, but the speed at which they rode made her wonder if they knew trouble was coming. And wasn’t that why she’d hidden here to begin with?
She decided to stay put for a few more minutes, to watch for trouble and also to put off the trouble coming with her big brothers.
After a while, a rustling sounded in the woods. Maybe she’d heard a coyote or even the wind, but it set her on alert and she trusted her instinct. She went absolutely still.
Heath heard Justin closing the gap between them. They were making a racket riding fast, so any sneaking was over. It was safe enough to talk again in a normal voice.
When Justin was right on his tail, Heath glanced back. “Give the horses a breather. The climb is too hard for them at this pace.”
Justin reined in, and they settled into a fast walk.
“You did good work there,” Heath said. “You think there was anyone with him?”
“I waited for as long as I could stand to and saw no sign of anyone.” Justin looked back with disgust at the man he had draped over the saddle. “Why would someone with him lag back so far?”
“I don’t know, except that whoever is behind all this has been mighty careful to keep his presence a secret. And you’re right that we need to catch up with the others. Now that we’ve got a prisoner, we can ask him some hard questions, starting with what he was doing shooting at us from cover, and the names of everyone he’s working with, especially if it’s someone at the ranch.”
“Maybe we can finally get to the bottom of this.” Justin looked back again, not trusting even an unconscious man.
Heath glanced at the man, hog-tied and out cold. “I hope he knows something that helps. I’ve seen him hanging around in Skull Gulch, but I don’t know who he is. Do you?”
“Nope, but he looks familiar. I reckon he’s been watching us for a while.” Justin scowled as he faced forward. He patted his
horse on the shoulder as if checking for the speed of its breathing. “The horses have rested enough. Now quit jawin’ and pick up the pace.”
Sadie waited, motionless, every breath coming in and going out silently.
The underbrush rustled again. Whoever or whatever it was, it sounded like it was closing in on her. She fumbled on the ground until her hand rested on a fist-sized rock. She picked it up, ready to fight to protect her men.
The rustling changed directions and headed for the trail. She saw something, a shape. Then the trees gave way to reveal a man, a furious-looking man. He led his horse out, swung up on it, and started forward at a near gallop, way too fast for such a steep and rocky trail. But the horse acted game and sure-footed.
He looked different from the man Justin had captured. That one was dirty, his clothes old and threadbare. His horse, ridden by Heath, was broken down with age.
This man rode a gleaming brown thoroughbred and was dressed sharp. He was clean, wearing a black suit and white shirt, a lot like what Cole wore to work. He had on a flat-topped black hat with fringe on the brim, which reminded Sadie of how Ramone had described Dantalion, the man who’d killed her grandfather. His hair was more gray than black. Was this the same man who’d committed murder decades ago? Was he back to kill again?
She figured out one other thing, too. If these two men were together, then this one was for sure the boss.
What should she do?
With grim determination, she watched him pass by. Should she fight? Should she follow him quietly? Should she hide like a frightened rabbit?
At first she was disgusted that she’d put herself in danger by not staying with Cole. Next, she’d messed up by not coming out when Heath and Justin rode by. But then it struck her that it was a good thing she’d done it. None of her menfolk would know there was another outlaw on their trail, and based on how quietly he moved and how raging mad he appeared to be, this man was dangerous.
Considering that whatever was going on stretched back to Grandfather Chastain’s time, their enemy was mighty slick, very determined, and most likely very smart.
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