Chapter 17

© Copyright 2008 by Elizabeth Delayne



The wagon stopped. The light of the sun was slowly dying away. Rachel shook herself and realized she’d dozed off. She watched the riders around them catch up, circle the wagons.

Her hands were cramped and she’d long ago lost feeling in her hands. She looked around, only to feel the sharp pain in her neck roll down her back.

They had stopped alongside a creek. Across the way were another line of wagons.

Rachel felt the panic rise up as she watched the men begin to transfer the gold from the train over to the new wagons. As they came back for more they brought heavy sacks with them, that looked to be flled with rocks.

They’re weighing the wagon down, she realized. It wasn’t just getting darker. If someone was following her—if they were leaving a trail that could be followed, then this would only make things harder.

No.

She tried to say the words, but they only came out weak and garbled under the gag. She tried again and agin, shifting in an attempt to bring feeling back to her hands. She had to get out. Now.

One of the outlaws turned and grinned a toothless grin. “I guess you’ll be coming with us,” he brought his horse along side and reached down for her.

Rachel screamed, but it was too weak to make it far past the bandana. Tears pricked her eyes as she felt the rough hands on her yet again.

“Leave her.”

Rachel blinked back the tears and watched as Shatler rode his horse over to the end of the wagon.

The outlaw looked back in surprise. “Are you kidding me? She should go with the gold.”

“So we have to keep up with a woman?” Shatler spat back. “I have other plans for Miss. Lynne.”

“You’re going to put your personal plans for a woman ahead of us?”

“I’m going to take care of some business of my own. We don’t need the woman, we need to get the gold out of here.”

“This wasn’t the plan.”

“She wasn’t part of the plan either,” he looked at Rachel, his eyes seemed so hard. “But I have use for her yet.”

* * *

As the sun set, James fought against the panic. His hands trembled on the reins. They were losing ground. The trail would be hard to follow.

Then, at the Judge’s command, they stopped.

Men got down from their horses, began to take down their saddlebags. James shook his head in disbelief.

No.

They hadn’t found her yet. Forget the money and the gold. Rachel was still out there. He couldn’t stop.

He didn’t dismount. He rode his horse through the men and horses until he found the Judge. He stood talking to the native. He rode up to them, looked down.

“I should keep going,” he said.

The judge shook his head. “We’re not stopping for long. The horses need to rest. You need to rest.”

“I can’t.”

“Just take a moment,” the Judge stared him down until James reluctantly swung down from Belle. “James, this is Lone Wolf. I sent for him back in town. Asked him to come meet up with us. He’s the best scout I know.”

“The moon full tonight,” Lone Wolf said, his voice so deep it rumbled. “We wait.”

“We’re closer to them, caught up a little, but we’re moving faster then they are. If we don’t give the horses a moment to rest, they won’t be up for the chase when it comes.” He tilted his head and studied James, considering. “Neither will you, if you take this on your own.”

“The woman is yours,” Lone Wolf murmured.

“Yes.”

“Then me you trust. We find her.”

The Judge chuckled wirily. “And we’ll pray,” he put a hand to James’ back and nodded away from the other. “Come over here with me. We’ll rest and we’ll pray. We’ll seek God’s hand in this.”

Then he looked to Lone Wolf, who studied them curiously. “And we’ll listen to Lone Wolf. He may not believe it, but it is a miracle he was able to be found today. God took care of that for us. He’s the best scout I know.”



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