“You are safe with us, Cassie. We are getting close now,” he encourages her and slows his pace for a moment to point out different spots on his land. They keep to the trees, but in the distance, she can see snow-capped mountains on one side and plains on the other.
She takes a moment to drink from her canteen and just as she unscrews the cap, she gets a flash of Indians racing across the plains. They are behind them now and pushing their horses to the breaking point. Determined to catch up to them, they careen across the plains with a war cry.
Cassie stops riding and sits stiffly in her seat, Dalton grabs her reigns pulling her horse to a stop. Pierce and Harris notice immediately and slow down and join them.
“They are behind us now and closing the gap. A hunting party of Indians, the others are following.” Her glazed eyes look to the plains, and she smiles, “I know what we have to do, now.”
“Tell me, Cassie,” Dalton urges.
“We must meet them! We won't make your ranch, but we can meet them!” Cassie tries to kick her horse into a run, but Dalton stops her.
“What is she talking about?” Harris asks as Steele and Chase return to them.
“There’s no time, Dalton! We have to go now!” Pale face and panicked at the thought of watching them all die she pleads with them to believe her.
“Okay, Cassie. Lead, and we will follow!” Dalton replies releasing her horse and she explodes into action racing across the plains toward the group she knows is riding hard towards them.
“Are you crazy, we're almost home, Dalton?” Chase snarls.
“Four times, she has saved my life! That's four more than any of you! Trust me, and I will explain later.” He kicks his horse into a full run and leaves them to decide for themselves.
“Damn!” Harris growls, and they all follow. They are soon shocked as they watch Cassie handle the horse as though she were born in the saddle. She leans low over the horse's neck, encouraging her to fly and she does!
They are struggling to keep up with her when the war cry sounds from behind them. A small war party has spotted them and is hot in pursuit. The sound of hooves echoes behind them and they now know she was right!
Terror pierces Cassie's soul when she hears the call of death behind them. She glances behind her and is relieved to see the brothers all racing across the plains following her. The horse runs ahead, and Cassie gives it full freedom. “Yah!” she yells, and her horse gallops harder towards the small stream in front of them. Just over the rise, is the help they will need. Cassie plows into the stream, water, and mist spraying and does not slow. She pushes up the small hill and at the top the boys all reign up beside her.
“There!” Cassie points, riding towards them from the other direction are a band of soldiers on patrol from Fort Laramie. The boys are speechless. How could she have known?
“Ride!” Dalton yells, and they are off once more.
The soldiers are a group of twenty men who are unprepared for the six riders riding at them with a war party of Indians behind them. Yells and shouts sound out, and they prepare for incoming hostiles.
Dalton rides hard and orders the others to fall back. Rifles pointed and loaded all trained on the single rider who pulls ahead of the group. Dalton lifts a white cloth and waves it as he hurtles across the field. When he reaches the leader, he jumps from his horse and points behind them. Cassie and the others are waved in, and the soldiers quickly see why. They surround the group, and all prepare to fight.
A Cherokee war party crests the small hill and stops, staring at the soldiers. Sitting on top of their horses, Cassie can't help but admire them. Most of the ten warriors wear brown leather shirts, beaded belts, with varying weapon's hanging from them and leather pants. Some wear headpieces with a single feather and all wear war paint. Many carry bows, but the biggest surprise to Cassie is the fact that they all seem to have guns or rifles. They know enough to stay out of range of the soldier's bullets, and they sit glaring. Dalton pulls Cassie to the back, weaving through the soldiers that are all readying for battle.
“Stay here.” Dalton pulls his rifle from his saddle and Cassie smiles at him.
“Surely, you know me better than that, Dalton Rivers. I am through waiting in fear.” She draws her rifle and checks it, before drawing her pistol. Dalton kisses her hard, and she whispers, “I love you, Dalton.”
“I love you too.” He turns away but not before he feels the urge to kill and protect for her enter his mind.
After several long, tense moments, to the shock of all, the war party turns and rides away. Everyone breathes a sigh of relief, but not before a group of soldiers follows to track their movements.
“Someone want to tell me what’s going on here?” The regiment leader demands.
Harris takes over, and Cassie feels her hands begin to shake. Once again, she feels the press of those around her, and she moves towards Dalton. His presence is like fresh water on a hot day. He blocks her in between her horse and lifts her chin to look in her eyes. “Breathe. You did amazing, we are almost home. I'm going to ask them to escort us to the ranch.”
After a promise of fresh beef and supplies to take back to the Fort, the soldiers are happy
