“Don’t leave us. We need help!” the woman closest to him shrieked again. Hadn’t she noticed he wasn’t going anywhere? Both kids were caterwaulin’ now, both women shouting and waving.
Wolf seemed to have second thoughts and came running back to Trace with his tail between his legs.
Leaning low so he wouldn’t be overheard, he rubbed Black’s shoulder and said to his friends, “These four aren’t the only ones who need help.”
CHAPTER
2
“Help, don’t leave us!” Deb forced herself to step forward.
As terrified as she had been to show herself, afraid that whoever had attacked the wagon train might’ve come back, she had to risk it.
She had no idea how to survive out here alone. Besides, she’d seen the filthy villains ride off to the east, and this man had come from the west.
He looked bad. Dirty, his gun drawn, and edgy, like he might shoot first and see who he’d shot later. But what other possible decision could she make than to hope against hope he was a decent man who would help them?
Honestly, they didn’t have a thing worth stealing, so unless he was just a pure cold-blooded murderer, he might come to their rescue. Deb had heard that most western men were good to women and children. His dog barked, wagged its tail, and panted. At least the gray dog was willing to be friendly.
“Please, you have to help us!”
With deep prayers for protection from God, she and Gwen rushed forward. Once they’d decided to wave him down, she was terrified the rider might move on before they could gain his attention.
All the prayer and fear and hope brought out the loudest scream yet. “Help us, please. Help!”
The man stared at them. He was still a ways off. She was no judge of distance, but she couldn’t see his eyes or the expression on his face. But he did lower his rifle, turn his head . . . maybe looking for danger? And then shoved the rifle down into a scabbard on the side of his saddle.
So that was good. He’d disarmed himself. He looked down for some reason, just sort of hung his head, gave his horse’s shoulder a gentle rub, and she thought maybe she saw his lips move. As if he were talking to someone. His horse? His dog? An imaginary friend?
Oh, fine. She’d stumbled on the only help in sight, and he was a madman.
Then his head came up and he reined his horse in their direction and kicked it into a trot. He closed the distance between them and swung to the ground as soon as he was near.
“Are you all right? Are you from the wagon train?” He was tall, taller than Pa, at least six-foot-two. He had a bit of hair showing beneath a sharp-looking black Stetson that must be brand-new. There was a line of white on his neck that told her he’d just had a haircut. His eyes were a darker blue than hers. Concern and confusion shone out of them.
“Yes, we were in the grass when the raiders came and sh-shot everyone.” Deb rested her hand on the back of little Maddie Sue’s head and urged the little girl, who’d been bounced along as Deb ran, to rest her head. The little sweetie set her cheek on Deb’s shoulder and turned to look at the rescuer.
The dog sniffed Deb’s skirt and then went to sniff Gwen, then rolled over on his back, legs in the air, panting with his tongue lolling out of his mouth. Not a sign of the killer dog to be seen.
“I’m Deb Harkness, and this is my sister, Gwen. We are caring for these two children, Madeline and Cameron Scott. Their parents were—were—” Deb swallowed hard.
The man nodded. “They weren’t with you when the attack came.”
Deb shook her head and hugged Maddie Sue tighter.
“I’m Trace Riley,” the man said. “I need to go look at the wagon train. Make sure there are no survivors. My ranch is a long ride from here, and it’s the closest shelter around. Give me some time over there, and then we’ll be on our way.”
Deb didn’t want to say it, but she had to. “I think I had better come with you.”
“No, I don’t want you—”
Since she knew what he would say, and appreciated it, she ignored him while she handed Maddie Sue to Gwen. “Keep the children away.”
“Deb, if there is anyone left alive, I can help.” Gwen had her arms full, yet Deb knew she was better at doctoring than most.
“I’ll come and take over with the children if we need your help. But I don’t think they left anyone alive.”
Gwen nodded, gave the dog a nervous look, and sank down on the ground. Both little ones had quit their crying and now seemed overly subdued, and Deb worried about that.
The dog turned in a circle three times before lying down at Gwen’s side as if to take a nap.
Ronnie was probably asleep, and Maddie Sue looked to be nearly so. They’d usually have gone back to sleep for a bit after the early-morning run into the grass. Since they’d missed that, under the circumstances, this might be a natural nap time. Or maybe the dog was just setting a good example for them.
She looked at Gwen, who met her worried gaze and shrugged. “We’ll be fine. Go.” Gwen looked past her at the carnage and shuddered.
Maddie Sue huddled even closer.
Deb didn’t want
