Billy stares at the man and glances at his mother.
Craig removes his hat and smiles down at them. “That’s a shame. He wired me to meet him, but I missed him at Riverton. Any chance you know where he’s headed?”
“He didn’t tell us about you,” Billy says and steps in front of his mother with a frown.
“I understand, son. I’m sure you can understand that I’m worried about him. Is he traveling with a woman?” Craig asks, and his smiles fades.
“Of course. Yes, Vanessa is with him. He mentioned going to Fort Steele a few days ride from here. If you’d like some breakfast, we can discuss it, Mr. Rivers.”
“That’s mighty kind of you, but I’m anxious to meet up with him. When did they leave?”
“Three days ago,” Billy answers.
“Thank you for taking care of them,” Craig turns before they can say anything else and thunders out of the homestead. “Got them, brother,” he grins as he pushes his horse hard. If she’s in as bad a condition as he remembers, they will travel slowly, and he can catch up to them in a day or two. He’s been to Fort Steele many times, especially with the recent shipments of weapons.
Killing the doctor should be easy enough. The girl will be a challenge, one that he looks forward to. “Brother, should I roast her alive, or leave her with a belly full of shot like she did you?” Listening intently, he laughs. “Of course, both!”
Chapter 21
They camp that night, and Vanessa doesn’t argue when they stop. Harris creates a bed next to a small fire, and she crawls inside and sleeps soundly. She doesn’t even move when he places his bedroll next to her to share body heat.
When she grows restless in the middle of the night, she calms when he rolls to her and pulls her close. He presses a kiss to her forehead, and they sleep soundly for the night.
The second day they ride across the plains for a few hours until Vanessa pleads with him to stop. They can see a small river running down through the plains and a large group of trees that will provide shelter.
Harris helps her down and watches as she paces, rubbing her back. He moves to tie up the horses, while she begins to build a small fire. “I could catch some fish for us?” Kimani offers when he hears the first call. The grunt and growl of a large animal followed by the rumbling ground. They look at each other wide-eyed for a second before quickly running for the horses.
“Buffalo,” she mutters. “Harris!”
“I know! We have to go.” Neither one bothers to speak. Early afternoon on the prairie and large game means Indians could be near.
“Stay close, we’ll make for the hills,” he points to the other side of the field. They break through the trees and race away from the sound. A few stray buffalo turn to watch them and determine if they are a threat. The sun is bright and at the speed they ride, birds to fly up into the sky, startled by their passage. Mud flies up as they race for the shelter of the rolling hills.
Just as they drop on the other side of the hills, the call of the Cherokee sounds out behind the buffalo. An answering call followed by the thundering of horses. “Harris,” she whispers and hisses in shock when he leaps from his horse and snaps a command. His horse lays down, dropping its head to the ground behind the hill. She dismounts, and he grabs her reins and pulls her horse down as well, drawing his pistol.
Thankfully, they are shielded by the sun behind them. “Cherokee,” he whispers. Kimani nods in agreement. Together they lay flat on the hill, each laying over the neck of their horses, breathing hard.
Neither dares to look up. They can’t risk being seen. Harris stares into her fear filled eyes and curses his stupidity. He can’t risk crawling to her as they listen to the hunt below. A large herd of buffalo starts running flanked on both sides by Cherokee warriors. They race away from them; the hunt is on. The ground rumbles, even from this distance. Harris holds still for a few more minutes until the birds return to the morning song.
“I’d like to hear your plan now,” she whispers and tries to quiet her pounding heart.
“I bet,” he laughs softly as he helps her stand up. When she groans, he frowns down at her. “We can stop again as long as we keep to the shelter of the trees.”
“We need to go now,” she urges.
After they stop for the third time in two hours, Kimani snaps, “I’m fine, Harris. I can keep going. We’ll never get to the wherever it is you’re taking me if we keep stopping.”
“I’m only thinking of your health, Vanessa. You’re still recovering.”
“It’s still light out. I’ll let you know when I need to stop again.” She kicks her horse and trots away leaving him no choice but to follow her.
Her nerves are getting to her. The nightmares don’t leave her alone, and last night she woke up in his arms. It would be so easy to stay with him, and the more time she spends getting to know the man, the stronger her feelings become.
“Hard-headed woman!” he grumbles and rides on catching up with her quickly. She is sitting on her horse and looking ahead with a confused look. “What’s that?”
Harris stops beside her, “Wo,” and tugs on the reins. In the distance is a set of train tracks.
“Does this mean we are getting close?” she suggests.
“I suppose so.” He frowns thinking about what this means. “The Fort is abandoned or, so I was told, yet these tracks are
