out of a saloon in time to lend aid to a stranded Amish family, why not?
“Gather close.” The men urged their horses together. Luke looked them each in the eye. Griff, the seasoned cowboy. Charlie, who had shot his first man just this morning. Morris, the quiet flank rider. And Jonas, the man who wore his faith as openly as he wore his bushy beard and funny hat.
Lord, keep them all safe. And help us get Emma out of there unharmed.
“Here’s what we’re dealing with. The herd is bedded down, and the rustlers haven’t mounted a watch. They are holding Emma in their camp near the entrance to the bowl.”
Charlie’s gaze fixed on the ridge. “Could we stampede the herd? Come in from behind and run the cattle right over the top of them?”
“Not a bad idea,” Griff said. “We spread out and charge in from all directions.”
Luke shook his head. “I watched the herd for a few minutes, and I didn’t see a single one stir. In the time it takes to wake them enough to get to their feet and stampede, Emma might be in real trouble.”
Jonas’s expression was no longer impassive. His lips were set in a grim line, and tension had stiffened his back until he sat like a petrified log in the saddle. Fear for his daughter glinted in his dark eyes.
Luke knew how he felt.
“Surprise is a good thought, though.” He nodded at Charlie. “The way things are situated, there’s only one option. We have to catch them off guard so they don’t have an opportunity to use her as cover.”
Morris saw where he was going. “Either we charge in and hope to surprise them, or we sneak up on them.”
Though Luke would much rather end the situation without bloodshed, if he had to go charging into the camp firing his rifle, he’d do it in a second. As long as he could be sure of Emma’s safety.
He closed his eyes, picturing the camp. “Without even a chuck wagon to hide behind, sneaking up on them is going to be hard. On the other hand, I did see some good-sized rocks on some of those hillsides. We might get close enough on foot to take them by surprise.” He glanced upward to search the sky, hoping to spot a large cloud in the path of the moon to give them some cover. He found a few, but would they offer enough protection? “I think charging them might be the best solution.”
Jonas shook his head. “You Englisch. Always barging in with a fight. Always deceiving. ‘Deception is a strong pepper that burns the speaker’s tongue, not the listener’s.’ Honesty and openness are the best approach in all things.”
Charlie reared back in the saddle to give him a shocked look. “Are you suggesting we march in there and tell them we’ve come to get your daughter and would they please hand her over without a fuss?”
Jonas nodded, his expression solemn. “That I will do.”
Griff and Morris laughed, but something in Jonas’s expression made Luke pause. An idea occurred to him.
“Wait a minute,” he said slowly. “You’re talking about creating a distraction. You’ll approach their camp from one side and draw their attention while we sneak up from the other side and get Emma.”
Again, Jonas nodded. “My beliefs prevent me from taking up arms against any man, but words are powerful. I will use my words and leave the weapons to you.”
A reckless hope stole over Luke as he pictured the plan unfolding.
It just might work.
TWENTY-ONE
Huddled on the ground, Emma wrapped her arms around her bent knees and drew herself into a tight ball. Though the night was warm, she could not still her shivering limbs. The expressions on the faces of the four men ranged from speculative to eager. The man with black teeth, Lester, kept an evil, hungry gaze fixed on her as he cut large pieces of cooked meat and shoved them in his mouth. She dared not meet his eyes or she would fall apart.
What was I thinking? As if I didn’t look foolish enough falling off a horse, sneaking off in the dark when I knew there might be thieves in the area surely proves to Luke that I’m a dull-witted simpleton.
The fact was, she didn’t stop to think of the risks before she crept off into the dark. Her thoughts had been fixed on Luke and the idea of him becoming Amish so they could marry. And now she wouldn’t be