Dalton smiles at the kind offer, “Thank you, Frank, but home is calling me. We will be leaving tonight. God speed.” He shakes his hand and turns to go get Cassie.
When he enters the cabin, he stops and stares at her with his mouth gaping open. Gone is the lady and in her place stands a rancher. His smile widens and lust flares instantly in his eyes. Her eyes meet his, and her body responds immediately. He moves swiftly to her and jerks her into his arms.
His kiss is one fueled by passion. Cassie opens her mind and takes the images he pushes at her. The picture of him stripping her and spending hours worshipping her body. Laughter bubbles up, followed by excitement. She pushes away and puts her hands on her pistol grips.
“Well, what did you expect? I can't ride two hundred miles in a dress. Dalton, I was born and raised on a ranch. I'm ready to go.”
“I wasn’t expecting this! I approve, sugar. I wish we had more time, but we need to go.” He quickly grabs the two bags left and leads the way down the steps and into the cold air. Cassie glances around and is surprised at the lack of people. The horses are tied up just past the livery. “Stay close, and try not to draw attention to yourself.” He swiftly walks down the street about two blocks before they hear the whistle of the train.
She looks at him in shock and stops walking. “No,” she murmurs. Dalton links his arm through hers. “Frank said they wouldn't listen, Cassie. He took a stagecoach earlier, and he was very grateful to you. We need to go.” Dalton urges her on, and they turn away not wanting to watch the train depart.
They walk around the corner and find the three horses waiting for them. Cassie greets her horse and strokes his muzzle affectionately before strapping her saddlebags onto him and mounting. Dalton does the same. “Ready?”
Cassie looks at him and smiles at the rugged image he presents. He seems more like a bandit than a rancher, with his beard and guns. “Lead the way.”
He kicks the horse into a gallop, and they quickly disappear into the woods outside of town. Just inside the woods edge, he pulls up short and waits for her to stop beside him. “We will have to travel at night. I know of a pass for us to cross through into Wyoming. I am hoping to make it before dawn. Are you up for this?”
“I am.” At her words, he urges the horses on. They travel for hours guided by the brilliance of the full moon. They are trying to stay in the cover of trees, and the path he has chosen is not through the dense forest.
After the sunset, the temperature dropped quickly from the mid-seventies to low twenties. Cassie is thankful for her layers, and the duster Dalton gave her to wear.
They stop only to water the horses and relieve themselves. He's determined to make it to the first pass before dawn. Following the well-worn game trail is risky. Many of these animals like the bison, have made perfect passes through terrain that is traditionally dangerous or impossible to pass. Wild horses stick close to the streams and rivers, and so do the Indians. He plans to avoid those trails as much as possible.
They send out hunting parties usually in the early morning hours when the bighorn deer are moving. For now, he plans to avoid both the Indians and the big game. Five hours later, Cassie is tired, sore and cold, but she does not complain.
Though used to being on a horse she's not accustomed to hours in the saddle. Exhausted and cold, she follows Dalton blindly through the night. Her horse, as though sensing her fatigue slows down and falls back slightly.
Cassie catches movement from the corner of her eye and urges her horse to catch up to Dalton.
A movement to his right alerts Dalton to the danger. They are being tracked. He puts a finger to his lips, motioning for her to be silent and urges the horses a little faster. He slips his bowie knife from his sheath and directs Cassie to go in front of him. Her adrenaline kicks in, and she is instantly awake.
Is it a bear? A pack of wolves? What could it be? The insects fall silent, and the forest watches in anticipation. Who will be the victor in this timeless tale? A flash of movement beside her and Cassie screams just as Dalton smacks the rump of her horse and yells, “YA!”
A clawed paw hits Cassie's shoulder, throwing her from her horse with a powerful blow. She flies into a small tree, and her leg takes most of the impact. She screams against the pain until she falls to the ground and the breath is knocked from her lungs. Cassie can only writhe in agony as she watches her horse bolt away into the night.
The mountain lion roars in frustration and turns to leap at his victim again, but Dalton throws himself on the animal before it can go for the kill. It bucks Dalton off its back with a quick twist, and he rolls away quickly standing in a defensive position.
Cassie struggles to her feet, pain shooting down her thigh and into her calf. Ignoring the pain in her shoulder and ribs, she draws her pistol and aims at the Mountain Lion. A low rumble of a growl comes out of its fanged mouth, and Dalton yells at Cassie, “Don't shoot!”
The beast and the man circle each other, Dalton waits until he sees
