Bovines charged over the edge, skidding down helter-skelter. The ones in the lead slid toward a murky pond bathed in moonlight. Rows of longhorns slammed into the front runners, until the latter mass butted head to end, sending some of the cattle into a tumble. Helpless, Ben and Dan swung to the side. Devon and Morning Fawn worked to turn the stragglers, remaining at the top.
Cattle in the pond and others shoving their way in bullied the leaders clear to the other side. Water. Others struggled to their hooves, some bellowing, injured. Every creature who could manage a stumble fought its way into the soupy mixture and guzzled.
Dan scrubbed his hand down his face. “This can’t be the river.”
“No.” Ben worked to catch his breath. “They turned too sharp. The Pecos is a little farther north.”
“Just a large pond?” Dan swung down from his horse, his voice rising. His gaze scoured the ground. Dodging the back end of a couple of heifers, he dropped to his knees and scooped his hand into a puddle.
A chill swept over Ben. Pond. Standing water. No flow.
Dan spit out the sip. “Poison. Alkaline. We got to move them.” His voice crescendoed.
Ben charged into the mass, followed by the other riders, reining in their pawing horses who fought against their bridles in desperation to moisten their tongues.
The herd leaders plodded to the muddy flats, followed by others. The mass of those who’d had a taste slowly submitted to the riders. The first animal made it a couple hundred feet before it dropped.
CHAPTER 29
Cora clicked the reins. Her finely woven straw hat shaded her face from the late-afternoon sun. “Giddy up.” Couldn’t these two horses move any faster?
Nestled in the front corner of the buckboard behind her seat, Charlie groaned. “Can’t we slow down? Please.” Resting against the pillows, he cradled his arm against his chest.
She pressed her lips together and inhaled slowly.Be calm. She had dealt with much worse than a broken arm. “I’ll slow them up a bit, but we need to get to Weatherford before the end of the day.” Pointed skyward, her rifle lay against the side of the seat. This road wasn’t a safe place to be after dark.
“I don’t want to see Dr. LeBeau.”
“You should have thought about that before you decided to hang off the side of your horse while riding.”
“But that’s how Comanche ride.” He grunted as the wagon wheels rumbled over a bump. “Makes it hard for enemies to shoot them.”
“How do you know that’s how they ride?”
“Wolf Heart.”
Her voice rose. “You’ve seen him since the attack?”
“Once.”
Her swallow worked its way down her throat. “And you said nothing to me about it?”
“I thought you’d be mad. He showed me riding tricks. Helped me practice archery.”
“And he came into our yard?”
“No. It happened when I went to pick blackberries.”
“He shows up again, you come tell me.” Her jaw clenched. “Tell him I want to talk to him.” She was done cowering. If that man wanted to harm her or worse, he could have already done so. “You don’t keep secrets from me, young man.”
Charlie grunted.
Beneath her blouse, her chemise clung to her back and her underarms. Ben needed to get back here. Five weeks he’d been gone. According to the letter he’d sent by way of Mrs. Ramsey, it would be at least another month before he returned to Weatherford. He’d written of missing her, but couldn’t he have at least sent word for her to meet him in Weatherford or even farther west? Surely, he could have spared a day or two from his journey? Still, he’d closed withTo the girl who has captured my heart…
Keeping one hand on the reins, she swiped a strand of hair from her brow.
Mrs. Ramsey, the first female visitor to the ranch in ages, had hand delivered the letter with her daughters while her husband and young son were in Weatherford for supplies. Sky, a fine-looking woman, carried herself like royalty atop her stallion. But her smile was warm and her words kind. She’d offered an open invitation to visit the R & R Ranch. Maybe she could be a friend one day. With Cora’s father’s behavior and her mother’s illness, there’d been little time for friends over the years.
Baby Katie had been a delight, crawling across the porch to Cora’s skirt and wanting to play peekaboo. And Little Star? Thatgirl had spunk. Charlie had alternated between making himself scarce and showing off.
