He doubles back to Cassie and tells her, “We need to push hard to make the pass before the storm is on us. Let’s stop and water the horses and take care of our business before we move on,” he whispers to her.
“Okay,” she slides from her mount and ignores the trembling in her legs. Her bruises are letting her know they were still there, but she will be damned if she complains.
“I'm going to scout ahead and make sure the path is clear. Stay here until I return.” He turns riding off band Cassie sighs. After walking for a bit, she stretches and leads the horse to a small pond of water. She rubs his neck and watches him drink. Leaning down, she dips her handkerchief in the fresh cold water and washes the dust from her face. It feels wonderful. Next, she squats to dampen it again before rinsing it clean, then removes her black cowboy hat and lifts her hair from her neck she rubs her neck clean.
Her horse snorts and dances sideways, disturbed by a scent or sound and Cassie is instantly alert. Movement from the other side of the pond catches her eye, and she stares in shock at the young woman in the moonlight. She stands, staring in shock at Cassie and clutches her baby to her chest. Her long black hair blows free, and the baby cries as if it senses fear from its mother.
Cassie's eyes drop to the baby, and instinctively her hand goes to her stomach. The woman's eyes track the movement, and she turns and disappears swiftly into the night. She mounts quickly, stuffing her hat back on her head and kicking her horse into a run.
Dalton is startled when he hears her coming towards him. After he hears what she says, he urges her back into a run. “We need to ride, Cassie!” She follows his lead and kicks her horse into a fast trot. The pack horse is tied to Dalton, and she follows them glancing back to see if she can see anything behind her. She is greeted with only silence.
They make the base of Warrior Peak a few minutes later when the first call sounds out behind them. An answering call echoes and they begin the steep climb when the first raindrops fall. Cassie pulls her duster tight around her shoulders and continue on.
The horses are working hard on the damp gravel and mud. They push on, upward and Dalton searches against the now pouring rain for the pass. He stops for a moment, and the rain cascades off the brim of his black hat, and he swears. This much rain will cause flooding, and with Indians on their trail, he is forced to decide.
When lightening in the distance cracks across the darkened night sky, illuminating the darkness for a moment, he sighs. Swollen creeks full already from a season of rain will overflow into the surrounding land. They traveled slower than he would like due to a lack of light and now the promise of a serious storm fills the air with heavy moisture. The pouring rain will overflow the river banks, and they will be in trouble if they don't find higher ground. Dalton reigns his horse to a stop and glances at the sky. He scrutinizes the lay of the land and glances over at Cassie.
“Follow me!” He yells out, and she nods in agreement. He pushes on past the entrance to the pass knowing it will flood very soon. Their only chance is to take the higher ground. Cassie pauses and looks into the pass. It is almost impossible to see, but for a moment the rain and lightning stops and the pass glows clear as though lit by a thousand candles. The pass will lead to a canyon on the other side which they will use to trap them on the mountain.
Her vision is clear the Indians tracking them will send a party after them to push them up the mountain and another through the pass to cut them off. They will be trapped! Dalton stops and looks at Cassie with concern. He doubles back and waits for her to look at him.
“Are you okay?” he yells out.
“We can’t go that way!” she yells against the cracking of the lightning. “We have to take the pass.”
Dalton guides his horse to a large overhang of rocks and listens to her explanation. With a glance below, he thinks about splitting up to distract them. “I know what you're thinking, Dalton, but it won't work. It's too late to split up now. They have seen us, and they know where we are.”
“Tell me what you saw,” he demands.
“Do you trust me, Dalton?” Sitting astride her horse with her black hat dripping water and her fierce eyes he smiles answering automatically.
“With my life.”
Cassie points down the pass, “If we travel to the top of the mountain we will be trapped. They will split up and take the pass around and follow us, cutting off any chance of escape.”
“Damn!” Dalton shakes his hat off and slams it back on his head. “What do you suggest?”
“I have a plan. Follow me!” Cassie directs her horse into the lower pass.
Dalton follows with the pack horse and prays that her vision is true. They are halfway through the pass when she suddenly stops and slides from her horse with surprising grace, considering her injuries. The rain has slowed to a trickle now, and she shakes her hat off digging inside of her carpet bag tied to the back of her horse.
Cassie has a plan, but she is not sure how Dalton will feel about it. He watches her, and she turns and takes a deep
