path.” He looked up. “Yes. See the stars? We’re headed due north, the direction I came from earlier.”
“I’m not sure. I was so frightened; I can’t think straight.” She let out a long breath, rubbing her arms. Her muscles felt weak. “Anyway, I’m glad you eluded them and I’m very grateful you came along when you did.”
“I am thankful also.” Reno noticed what she was doing. “What’s wrong? Are you injured?” he asked, his hand following in the same path as hers. “Are you cold?”
As if on cue, Journey shivered. “A bit. I feel achy. I was tense and stiff with fright.”
“Understandable. Why were those men after you?”
“Sport, I think. I attracted their attention at the store and they just decided to harass me.”
“Hooligans,” he muttered disdainfully.
“Exactly. Why were you being pursued?”
“They were under the assumption I was carrying gold they wanted to steal.”
“Why did they think that?”
The man chuckled. “Because I wanted them to believe it. I led them away to give my friends a chance to escape.”
“You’re a hero.”
“I wouldn’t say that. No.”
As they continued on their journey, his hand kept moving on her arm. She found herself leaning into his touch. She shouldn’t feel like this. She didn’t know this man. Why, she hadn’t even gotten a good look at him yet.
“This material?” he asked. “I’ve never felt anything like it. So smooth. Is it silk?”
“Uh. No.” Journey had to look down to see what she was wearing. Just a pink top with long sleeves. “Rayon, I think.”
“Rayon.” He repeated the word like he’d never heard it before. “And you have on britches.”
“Jeans.” She said the word slowly, wondering at the man’s odd questions. “Just casual clothes.” Wanting to change the subject from her attire, she stated the obvious. “I’ll call the Fredericksburg cops when I get home. Those guys were wanted for a hit and run.”
“A what?”
“A hit and run.” She repeated, then raised her hand to point. “That’s the fence bordering our land. There should be a gate somewhere close.”
“All right.” He guided the horse to walk next to the fence line.
Journey couldn’t help but look back to where they’d come from. Listening for any sound of someone approaching. “Do you think they followed us?”
“No. They’re out cold.”
“I hope they stay that way until the cops get here to arrest them.” She laid a hand on his strong, muscled thigh, giving it a light squeeze. When she did, he jerked behind her. “Sorry. There’s the gate.”
The man cleared his throat, riding near enough that he could lean down and release the latch without dismounting. “Got it.” Once they were through, he shut the gate in the same manner. “Now where?”
“The house is straight ahead a few hundred yards. Big stone house. You can’t miss it.”
“I thought I knew all the homesteads nearby. How long has your family occupied this land?”
“Oh…about a hundred and fifty years, give or take a decade.”
The cowboy didn’t say anything, just a rumble of sound like he was processing the information she’d given.
“There’s the house,” she announced, then struggled as to what to say next. Was it safe to ask him in? After all, she’d just escaped two madmen. Still, every instinct Journey possessed told her she could trust this guy. “Would you come in while I call the police?”
“Call? Do they live nearby?” When she didn’t answer right away, he continued. “I need to leave soon. I was about to ride to Waco to catch the stagecoach, but I feel I need to return and check on the safety of my friends before I do.” As he spoke, he helped her to the ground, then jumped down to walk beside her.
Journey was sort of stuck on the idea of him catching a stagecoach. “What are you talking about? Some type of reenactment? I know they celebrated the 150th year anniversary of the Chisholm Trail a few months ago. An honest to goodness cattle drive came right up through the middle of Round Rock.”
“No, not a reenactment. I’m not sure what you’re saying.”
“Never mind. There’s the barn. Let’s make your horse comfortable before we go inside. He might be thirsty.”
“Good idea.”
Once inside the barn, the other horses whinnied a greeting. They put the stallion into one of the stalls, giving him food and water. “Thanks. He’s had a rough day.”
“Haven’t we all.”
Reno followed her to the window where she retrieved the hidden key.
Climbing the steps, she unlocked the back door. “Come on in. Do you want some water or something?”