Jasper didn’t blink. “Yes.” Ace might talk a good game about possibly letting them live, but there was no way.
Ace turned his attention back to his men. “Mack, go dispose of the body.”
“Dispose?” Emma Jane’s voice squeaked as she interrupted. “Aren’t you going to have a funeral?”
A funeral? Jasper gaped as Ace laughed.
“We’re not the sort of people a preacher is going to visit.”
Mack took a step forward. “That’s a mighty fine idea. We don’t need the preacher. Ray can sing us some songs on his guitar, and Jimmy can say a few words since he used to...”
“Enough!” Ace glared at Mack. “We can discuss this outside.”
Jasper bit back his smile as the men left. The door had stuck as Jimmy closed it, and Jasper could see that it wasn’t fully latched.
He crept toward the window and looked out. The men had gathered near a barn and were arguing, gesturing wildly. Five more men rode in, joining them. No one was watching the cabin.
At the door, Jasper noticed the simple lock mechanism. Now that the door was open and he had a chance to examine it, he could see how to disable it. This cabin wasn’t equipped for keeping prisoners. Which was probably why some of the men were eager to kill them and get it over with.
The arguing ceased, and Mack started walking back to the cabin. Jasper stepped away and toward Emma Jane.
“They’re coming back. Pretend you and I have been busy talking.”
Emma Jane stared at him.
“I hope you can make more of those biscuits for dinner,” Jasper said a little more loudly than he’d been speaking. “I had no idea you could cook so well.”
“I’ll see what I can...” Emma Jane still looked puzzled as the door flew open.
“I’d be obliged if you’d make those biscuits, too,” Mack said, grinning as he strode in.
Emma Jane nodded slowly. The baby began to fuss again, reminding Jasper of the promise Emma Jane had no right in making.
But he couldn’t mention it now. Not when Mack, Emma Jane’s biggest supporter, was in the cabin. Mack had begun wrapping Daisy in the blanket Emma Jane had covered her with.
“I’ll be taking the body for burial now,” Mack said solemnly, looking Emma Jane in the eye. “We’ll be having a short service and digging her a grave. I know you think we’re a bunch of animals, but some of us were raised to do the right thing, even when it doesn’t seem like it.”
Jasper’s gut churned as he saw the sympathy flicker across his wife’s face.
“Then why do you live like this?”
Mack picked Daisy up as though she weighed no more than the baby in Emma Jane’s arms.
“A lot of reasons. Mostly, a man does something he’s not proud of, then there’s no going back. I may not like everything Ace does, but he’s been good to me. Might be hard to believe, but out of all the men I’ve worked for, Ace is the best.”
He tipped his hat at Emma Jane. “I don’t expect you to understand. But I do hope that when you say those prayers of yours, you find it in your heart to say a few for me.”
Emma Jane gave him a smile. “I’m sure you know by now that I’d be happy to. And if you ever want to pray with me, I’d be glad to do so.”
Her words made Jasper’s heart do a funny thing. He wasn’t sure what it meant, because part of him still thought she had to be the most naive woman on the planet for thinking she could befriend a gang of notorious criminals. But part of him marveled at the kind of woman she was to even try.
Mack didn’t respond to Emma Jane as he exited the cabin. With his arms full, he didn’t quite get the door closed behind him again.
Were they testing Jasper? To see if he’d try to escape, then shoot him in the act?
Once again, Jasper crept to the window. The bandits were off to the side, talking among themselves as Mack approached, carrying Daisy’s body.
He took stock of the land, noting the clouds moving in. They were in for a big storm. By the smell of the wind, it carried a heavy snow that would leave them trapped for days. With the bandits distracted, this might be their only chance at escape.
Chapter Eleven
Emma Jane stared at Jasper as he announced his plan to make a run for it. “That’s madness.”
“Right now, their attention is on burying Daisy. With the wind picking up, they’re going to start noticing the weather blowing in.” Jasper pointed in the direction of the field. “They have livestock grazing there that they’ll want to get in the barn before the storm hits. They’re going to be so occupied that it’ll be a while before they notice we’re gone.”
Two riders came in from the direction of the canyon opening leading to where the cabin lay.
“I’m pretty sure those are the lookouts. Right now, this place is unguarded and might be the only chance we have.”
“Pretty sure?” The baby fussed against her.
Jasper gave her a hard look. “As sure as I am that if we don’t escape, we’re dead, anyway. If I’m going to die, I’d rather die trying.”
“All right,” Emma Jane said, trying not to sound as resigned as she felt. “Let me gather the baby’s things.”
“What things?” Jasper shook his head. “The baby’s not coming with us.”
Jasper might as well have shot her himself. “Wh-what do you mean?”
“Look, you made a promise to keep the baby without even consulting me. I didn’t agree to care for a baby.”
“You promised to save Daisy without consulting me.” She snuggled Moses closer to her. “I am all he has in this
