The Cowboy Who Saved Christmas - Jodi Thomas Page 0,24
in the wagon.”
“They are.” Trapper saw no reason to deny what they already knew.
The short man shrugged. “I’ll give you a hundred dollars, your horse, and your life if you’ll go tell the girls to come out unarmed. That includes that little woman you’ve got traveling with you.”
Trapper shook his head and caught a glimpse of his rifle leaning against the ravine wall. If he rolled, he could grab it and get two, maybe three shots off before the men around him could raise their guns. But, the shadow in the fog standing twenty feet back might be ready. If so, Trapper would only get one man before he was shot.
The odds weren’t with him this time, but he had no choice. He had to fight.
Chapter 11
Emery opened her eyes. Trapper wasn’t holding her. Looking around, she realized he was gone. All was quiet. He was simply scouting around, checking on the horses, nothing more.
Maybe he’d gone to gather firewood for a meal before they started out.
She closed her eyes for a moment and remembered how he’d touched her. Very few words were spoken. He’d told her how he felt about her with his light strokes.
There was no time for words now, or maybe ever. He was a drifter who might not want to settle. But, last night, she’d felt cherished and his touch would stay with her no matter what happened next.
As quickly as she could, she changed into her clothes. They all needed to be dressed by the time he got back. One by one she woke the girls. Before they were finished dressing, she heard a horse stomping, as if the devil was chasing him.
No breakfast. They’d be moving out soon, she guessed.
One and Two shoved on their boots. “That’s Midnight,” One whispered.
They were gone before Emery could stop them.
She ordered the three other girls to stay put and ran to the opening where One and Two had disappeared.
Branches caught her skirts for a minute, and she wished she’d been smart enough to buy Levi’s like the others had.
Both girls were trying to calm Midnight.
“His right front leg is cut,” Two said as she cried. “He won’t let us close.”
Emery didn’t know much about horses, but she’d watched Trapper. He always talked to the horse before he touched the animal.
“Easy, Midnight. Easy. I’m not going to hurt you. Easy.”
Midnight watched her, his eyes still fired with panic.
Emery kept talking. “I wish you could tell us where Trapper is. Did he go looking for you? Trapper will be worried about you.”
The horse seemed to calm a bit as her soothing voice continued. “We want to help you, Midnight.”
Finally, he stilled.
Number One touched the rope around his neck. “I’ve never seen Trapper put a lead rope on Midnight.”
“Someone else must have.” Emery felt fear cut off her breathing. “We need to hide, girls. Get back in the wagon. If someone besides Trapper is out there, we don’t want them to see us.”
Catherine Chapman straightened to her full height. “No, Mrs. Adams. We have to split up. Eliza and you stay in the wagon with Helen and Sophia. If anyone you don’t know comes near the wagon, start firing. Even if you don’t hit anyone, they’ll stay back.”
Emery nodded. The girl was right.
“Anna and I will go look for Trapper. If he’s hurt, we’ll get him back here.”
Emery agreed with the plan except for one detail. “Eliza will go with you. I’ll make sure no one comes near the little girls. You may need her.”
Eliza climbed out of the wagon, her arms full of rifles.
A tear ran down Emery’s cheek. Three little girls, thirteen, eleven, and ten. Barely half grown, but they were now warriors.
And, they were all better shots than she was.
One took the lead and all three disappeared in the fog.
Emery asked the little ones to bring her bag and sewing box. Four and Five brought them, then stood close beside her, as if it was their time to be on guard.
While she ripped her ugly wool dress and bandaged Midnight’s leg, they both asked questions.
Emery kept her voice low and calm. “One, Two, and Three have gone to get Trapper. We will stay here and on guard. If trouble comes, I want you both to get low in the wagon and stay silent. No matter what, don’t say a word. Just hide.”
Five straightened. “My father says Chapmans are fighters, not hiders.”
When she finished tying the bandage, she pulled the rope off Midnight and whispered, “Go find Trapper.”