She looked in the direction Jasper had gone, but he’d disappeared. Panic swept through her. Had the bandits gotten him?
Clutching Moses closer to her, she pulled a shawl she’d found tight against her, tying the baby against her body. The shawl probably belonged to Daisy, and Emma Jane liked to think that it would be good for Moses to have something of his mother’s.
Then Jasper gave the signal. The tightness in her chest eased momentarily as she realized he was safe—for now. Emma Jane grabbed the saddlebag, then exited the cabin, pulling the door tightly closed as she left. Hopefully, none of the men would return to the cabin for a while, and they’d have some time before they realized that Jasper and Emma Jane had taken off.
The wind whipped fiercely at her as she made her way to the small shed Jasper hid behind. Tiny pellets of ice pelted her, a hint of the storm to come.
Was it wise to leave now, or one more reason they were doomed?
Moses started to fuss, and Emma Jane put her little finger in his mouth, hoping he’d suckle and be quiet. Fortunately, that was all the comfort the tiny baby needed, and he nestled more closely to her body.
“They left a horse saddled over there.” Jasper pointed at a horse several yards away. “I’m going to bring him over here. We’ll have to ride double. It’s too risky to try for two horses.”
As Jasper went to get the horse, Emma Jane surveyed their surroundings. The bandits had chosen a good location for their ranch, with the natural protection of the mountains around them, and several rock formations to act as sentinels where the men could guard the place.
Jasper brought the horse over. “Give me the saddlebag.”
She handed it to him.
“Why is this so heavy? We can’t take much.”
“Moses needs his milk and change of diapers and clothes.” Selfishly, she’d also packed her Bible. It had come too far to be left behind now.
Jasper didn’t respond but took the saddlebag and secured it to the horse.
“You’ll have to ride astride,” he told her solemnly. “It’s not proper, but it’s the only way we’re going to make good time.”
Emma Jane nodded slowly. “I can do it.”
He helped her onto the horse, then mounted. The horse reared. Emma Jane clung to Jasper as he got the horse under control.
“Well, I guess we know why he was standing all alone with a saddle on him. He’s barely saddle broke.”
“I don’t know what that means,” she said.
“It’s going to be a rough ride. Hang on as tight as you can, and if I tell you to do something, do it quickly, without questioning or arguing.”
“All right.”
“Now stay quiet.”
Jasper led the horse into the clearing. They had several dozen yards of open space where the bandits could see them before they would find the protection of the rocks.
Once they got to the rocks, and out of sight of the bandits, Jasper made a clicking sound, and his legs scraped against hers as he urged the horse on.
The horse took off—faster than anything Emma Jane had ever been on, even faster than when the bandits had kidnapped her.
After the initial jolt, the horse settled into a rhythm, and as she squeezed Jasper tight, she found the warmth of his body in front of hers comforting. Her arms wrapped around his large, solid frame made her feel more secure than she’d imagined. Even little Moses seemed to be lulled into sleep as they barreled down the mountainside.
It seemed almost impossible to feel so sheltered with so much at stake. The farther they got from the cabin, the safer Emma Jane felt. At least until she looked down. The ground whizzed past them at an alarming speed.
“Don’t,” Jasper commanded. “If you look at the ground, you’ll lose your orientation. Look out or close your eyes.”
“How did you know?”
“I can feel your weight shift. Keep steady.”
She pressed her head against his back, keeping enough space at her midsection so Moses had plenty of room. The wind was blowing harder now, and the little ice pellets had begun to turn to snow. Without her legs fully covered by her skirts, the air seemed even colder. Emma Jane shivered. The wind howled in response.
As she looked around, their surroundings became increasingly white. Though it would be almost impossible for the bandits to come searching for them in this weather, Emma Jane couldn’t help but think that their chances of survival were almost as slim.
Saying a quick prayer, Emma Jane huddled closer to Jasper, grateful that Moses had the body heat of the two of them to keep him warm. Still, she feared that if they didn’t find shelter soon, they would all freeze to death.
* * *
Jasper blinked against the decreasing visibility. The snow was almost blinding now, and even though he’d pointed the horse in the right direction toward town, he still feared they might be lost.
Escaping with a blizzard approaching had been a good idea in theory. However, he hadn’t anticipated the weather would move in this fast. The wind screeching at his ears mocked him for daring to think he could predict Mother Nature.
He glanced behind him once again to be sure the bandits hadn’t followed. The good news about the fast-moving storm was that their tracks were being erased by the snow and wind.
As for the bad news, well, Jasper just had to keep hoping they were indeed headed in the right direction.
Emma Jane’s head rested on his back, but her body was not pressed as firmly against his as he would have liked. If the horse slipped on the ice, she would be jolted and easily fall
