Lucas added, “Tell Emma where I am. I disappeared on her, and she’ll be worried.”
See, pardner, that’s what happens when you marry. You end up with someone worrying about you all the time. And ya gotta answer for everything you do.
LeRoy snorted as he led the mare back across the pasture at a slow walk, the scattered horses now taking a cautious step or two away from the fence. Calm once more drifted into the valley, as if the bear had never attacked.
LeRoy glanced back and saw men gathered along the back fence line. He made out Andy and two of the men who had gone off after the bear. He’d heard no more shots. Well, the bear was either dead or had run off. It could have been worse. LeRoy exhaled hard as his ma walked toward him. He stopped and looked at the deerskin satchel she held out to him. It was one of her medicine pouches. Why was she giving this to him?
“You want me to give this to Lucas?” He figured she had some special ointments or tinctures in here. Maybe something to calm the horses. Not like Lucas needed anything though. He kept his own medical bag well stocked. And the barn had all the typical ranch supplies—for both animal and human injuries and illnesses.
“No,” she said, an intense look flaring in her eyes.
LeRoy’s nerves jangled. His pulse quickened, and he swallowed hard. He knew just what that look meant. It was the same look she’d given him and Eli the night those murderous ranchers had attacked them and ended up dead—when she put the everlasting powder on them to prepare them for battle. And it was the same look as when she’d told them to go to Fort Collins to offer to help Sheriff Eph Love track those outlaws. She urged them to be careful, that blood was going to spill.
“What is it, Ma?” LeRoy asked on papery thin breath. He gripped tight the lead rope as she handed him the satchel. He really didn’t want to hear her answer.
“It’s not for Lucas. It’s for you.” She added solemnly, “You’re going to need it.”
All LeRoy could do was nod.
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Colorado Dream (The Front Range Series Book 4) Page 40