folks there,” he said. “Unless you have a better idea.”
She shook her head. “Running is part of my life, and as long as someone is after me, I’ll keep running.”
Staring up at the rock ledge masking the cave’s opening, she felt a renewal of energy. Jenkins had two guards posted at opposite ends of the riverbank, with Tim seated adjacent to the cave. The outlaws’ horses glistened with sweat.
“We’re outnumbered, but their horses are spent. I think we can outrun them.” Morgan’s jaw tightened. He reached for her rifle along with the Colt and derringer. “This isn’t the way I planned to return these.”
“And it’s not the way I wanted them back, either.” She slipped the revolver into her gun belt, dropped the derringer into her coat pocket, and tightened her fingers around the stock barrel of the rifle. The familiarity did little to boost her confidence.
Staring at the water’s edge, she recalled similar situations and remembered the anxious gut fear. But she’d always been in Jenkins’s company, not against him.
The outlaws relaxed by the riverbank. Some reached for a chaw of tobacco and a bottle of whiskey. Some filled their canteens with water. From the sordid laughter, she knew which ones bragged about their reputations. Only Jenkins and the guards held their weapons in hand.
“We need some wood,” Jenkins shouted.
“What for?”
“Burn out Casey and Morgan.” He pointed to the cave.
“You—” Casey whipped her attention to Morgan.
“He knows I’m trailing him. So does your brother.”
“How’s come I never heard of you?”
“Maybe Jenkins doesn’t tell his woman everything.”
She wanted to spit on him.
Jenkins stepped behind two of the men.
“I see you’re hiding from me,” Morgan called out.
“And have you pick me off?” Jenkins laughed. “Can’t believe my luck. Got you both.”
“That’s what you think,” Morgan said.
Jenkins laughed again. “Gonna get mighty hot in there.”
Morgan swung his attention her way. “Are you ready?”
Casey clenched her fists to dispel the anger and fear snaking up her spine. “Sure. Don’t have much choice.”
“Only the hand of God can help us now.”
“He may help you, but I haven’t done anything good to get His attention.”
“God doesn’t help us because we deserve it.”
She startled. “What are you, a preacher?”
“Far from it. I just know who’s in control.”
Moments later, the two stepped from the cave and swung up onto their saddles. Two black-billed magpies flew from a tree above them as if they understood the turmoil threatening to explode. A desire to live raced through her veins as desperate as the escape from the overhanging rock to open ground. I will not become like them. How many times had she told herself that very thing over the years? She spurred her horse on behind Morgan’s mare and shut out all thoughts but the flight to freedom.
Instantly, Jenkins’s guards were alerted. Rifle fire split the air. Bullets whizzed past them. One whistled near her ear. Tim, how can you be a part of this? The shouts and curses of excited men filled the air. She heard Morgan’s rifle and wondered where the bullet landed.
All too soon, the pounding of horse hooves broke the peacefulness of the afternoon. It sounded like drums signaling out a war cry. Morgan looked back, then spurred his mare faster down the riverbank. Without hesitation, Casey raced behind. Instinct took over her actions and buried her fear. From the shouts behind them, many of the men pressed closer than safety allowed. She leaned against Stoney’s neck and clung to the hope of the gang’s horses tiring first.
Morgan’s horse climbed up a path of rock. He seemed to know exactly where it led. The thought bothered her, but she didn’t have time to contemplate his knowledge except to recall that he’d once lived in these parts. The path wound around rock as perilous as the icy trail from the night before.
The steep ascent came to a sharp fork. Morgan stopped for a moment and took another look behind them. “Casey, you take the right, and I’ll wind up to the left.” He pointed to a high ridge on her side. “I’ll meet you there. Listen for my rifle to signal them coming. With both of us firing from opposite directions, it should throw them long enough for us to get an edge.”
“Did you get Jenkins?”
“Not sure.”
She nodded and dug her heels into the horse’s sides. What kind of man risked his life for a female outlaw—unless money ruled his good sense?
Her gelding picked its way to higher ground. She willed herself to stay calm, to