A moment later, Lewt was behind him, holding him up just in case he needed support. They moved around to the side of the house, where Sumner waited beside the horses. He helped Duncan climb into the saddle, then lifted the girl up behind him. She held on so tightly he could barely breathe.
They walked their horses twenty yards before they heard men shouting, and then a moment later, three shots rang in rapid fire as if a signal.
“They’ve found Ramon,” Duncan whispered.
“I knew this was too easy,” Wyatt said, taking command. “Duncan, you and the girl ride hard toward the river. Sumner, you and Lewt cover them. I’ll hang back a little and try to slow anyone down who got into the saddle fast.”
As they kicked their mounts and began to run, shots came from the house. A moment later the thunder was answered from a rise just beyond the barn.
“Who’s covering us?” Duncan shouted.
“Em,” Sumner answered.
“You’ve got to be kidding.”
“Don’t worry, she’ll be along. I told her to hold the men in the building for five minutes, then get the hell out of there before someone manages to sneak up to her on foot. She knows where to meet up.”
“Em?” He had no idea how his cousin got here, but she was a good shot. If she was firing, even in the dark, men running for their horses better be ducking. “You shouldn’t have brought her!” he yelled, angry at Sumner.
“We couldn’t stop her,” the retired ranger yelled back. “Take it up with her, not me.”
Duncan and the girl were out of range before the sleepy guards could find rifles and try once more. Every shot they fired from the house was answered from the direction of the barn.
He glanced back and saw Wyatt slow, fire a few rounds, then kick his horse to catch up to them. Duncan wasn’t sure if he’d stopped anyone in close pursuit or was simply firing a warning for anyone who thought of following.
When they reached the first bend in the road, Sumner turned them off toward a stand of trees. They wouldn’t be able to travel as fast as they might on the road, but they’d have cover. With luck the guards would pass by in the dark once they did follow and be miles down the road before they noticed they were trailing no one.
Lewt slowed and circled Duncan. “I’m going back for Em. Wyatt and Sumner will see you to the river and beyond.”
Duncan wanted to yell no, but in truth if he had been able and hadn’t had Anna to worry about, he would have already been heading toward her. “Be careful,” he said.
“We’ll meet you on the other side of the river.”
Duncan saluted and prayed his friend spoke true.
Lewt took off at full speed just as Wyatt caught up to Duncan. “Where’s the gambler going?” he asked as they moved slowly into the trees.
“He’s going after Em and he doesn’t even know her.”
Wyatt laughed. “He knows her better than you think.”
They were on the move now. There was no time for questions.
CHAPTER 29
LEWT MADE A WIDE CIRCLE AROUND THE RANCH until he found the dilapidated barn. Chaos stormed across Three Forks, with guns cracking the silent night and shouts following. Men were trying to catch horses half crazy from the noise.
He’d seen the blink of fire from Em’s last shot and knew where she was, but she’d stopped firing. With luck, she’d be riding past him any moment on her way north. Em had to be gone from this place before the men below could get organized. She’d done her part; she’d held the guards inside the house for more than five minutes. He knew he’d be wise to vanish also, but he couldn’t leave until he knew she was safe.
He climbed along the ridge, careful to stay out of sight of anyone below. As soon as they figured out the direction of the firing, someone would climb the ridge and look for signs of the shooter. He and Em needed to be long gone by then.
Lewt found no sign of her at the top.
Men in the corrals were saddling horses and starting out toward the border after Duncan and the others. The first light of daybreak colored the sky like prairie fire in the distance. If Em was going to get away, she needed to be coming his direction soon.
He circled the ridge. Nothing.
He rode near where she must have climbed to watch the house, but