“Anyhow.” Ol’ Henry’s quiet tone returned her to the present. “Nothing half so exciting happened while you folks were gone. A new group of Snake Indians set up camp last night. And Wallace’s party showed up this morning. Weren’t pleased to see supplies are down to slim pickins. They said they were held up when their horses were stolen. Bloods took them, they think. Never could find the animals, though, so they showed up here on foot with only leggings and a few shirts between them. Haven’t seen such a sorry-looking group of men since Wyatt’s party was robbed back in ’34. It was nigh on to winter then, and more than one toe was lost to the frostbite.”
Juniper nearly shivered despite the pressing heat from the fire and the warm summer night around them. Bears, hydrophobic wolves, thieves ... Every detail brought forth some new danger.
Riley’s sleeve brushed hers, as though he leaned toward her. Or maybe she’d moved closer to him and the safety of his presence.
His voice rumbled through her as he spoke again to the others. “Any horse races planned for tomorrow?” He mustbe thinking about how to start asking about the horses with their father’s brand.
“First heat is scheduled for when the sun’s two fingers above the horizon.” Dragoon held up two digits sideways and closed one eye as if he was sighting a rifle.
Riley glanced her way. “That’s how the natives tell time. It takes the sun roughly an hour to rise the width of one finger, and they mark it from the nearest horizon.”
She glanced into the darkness where the sun would rise tomorrow morning and fought the urge to hold two fingers sideways. “Interesting.” It made sense that the trappers would use the same method. Watches were likely not considered a supply necessary enough to transport over such a distance.
Riley turned back to Dragoon. “How’d your run go yesterday?”
The man’s smile slipped downward. “Tucker’s mare pulled ahead at the last. Won by a neck.” He shook his head. “My Bessie is faster. She just got tired there at the end.”
A corner of Riley’s mouth twitched. “Maybe you could have one of these skinny new fellas ride her next time.”
Dragoon’s mouth pinched. “Thought about having that fellow they call Slim run her. He’s not young, but he’s short and wiry. A lot of the fellows have hired him to ride their races, and he wins about every other one, I think. Tucker got to him before I did, though. He’s probably the only reason that nag beat my Bessie.”
Again, Dragoon shook his head. “Tucker’s horse went missing today. He even had her staked right near his lodge so he could keep an eye on his prize runner. Came back from watching the last race of the day and the animal wasjust gone. Rope sliced clean through, so’s it had to be done on purpose. Tucker swore he’d been had by a thieving native, but I’m not sure how any could get so close to his lodge right here in the bright of day.”
“Another horse stolen? It doesn’t seem likely she could be taken from the middle of camp without being seen. Are you sure one of the fellas isn’t playing a trick?”
Dragoon shrugged, then turned toward Juniper and her sisters, as if to explain the conversation. “There’s been more horse stealing than usual at the rendezvous this year. Three or four of the mounts that won a race or nearly so have disappeared a day or two later. The boys are starting to stir up about it. Some are saying it can’t be the Indians, not the way it’s always the ones that’s just proved themselves. Seems it has to be someone among us. No one’s laid claim to knowing who.”
“That sounds awful.” Juniper glanced at Riley to check his reaction. His brow gathered in concern, and his eyes stared at the fire as though his mind was far away. If only she knew him well enough to read his thoughts. Was he scrolling through images of men who might possibly be horse thieves? Or was he remembering horses taken in the past?
Jeremiah spoke up, and she turned to better hear his quiet voice. “I heard Provost say the wagons might be headed back early, maybe in a couple days. Are you ladies riding along with them?”
Juniper’s chest tightened. They hadn’t even come close to finding Steps Right yet. Would they have to return East before they located her? But Papa ... He’d nearly begged them to find this woman and return the blue beaded necklace to her and make sure she’d received the horses. They’dcome so far, put their lives on hold.... They couldn’t turn back without finishing the mission.
She met the quick glance Rosie sent her way. Her sister clearly felt the same, but they needed time to talk through the logistics of staying behind once their best chance for safe passage left them.
Rosie turned back to Jeremiah. “We’ll speak with Mr. Provost tomorrow. I hadn’t heard he was planning to leave so soon.”
The weight of all they had left to accomplish pressed new weariness through Juniper. She mustered a smile for their hosts. “We thank you for the meal. I think it’s time we retire for the night.”
She glanced sideways at Riley. He deserved a much stronger thank-you, but one she’d rather not give in front of the group.
He met her look. “I’ll walk you back to your lodge.”
They all rose, even Ol’ Henry this time, and Riley’s lodgemates offered farewells as Rosemary led them through the darkness toward their temporary home.
Sixteen
Juniper strolled behind her sisters on their way back to their lodge, with Riley at her side. He seemed to enjoy her company, maybe almost as much as she did his. Or perhaps that was wishful thinking. Perhaps it was only habit that put them side-by-side more often than not.
The moon glowed above them, partially hidden by clouds. But even with the murmur of voices from the camps around and the glow of firelight in almost every direction, the expanse of sky made her feel as though they’d left the smothering feel of civilization far behind.
In this land, she could breathe.
It wasn’t that she didn’t love Virginia. Their ranch had been a wonderful place to grow up. A haven she still missed. And she and her sisters were planning to buy another ranch with their inheritance once they returned to the States.
But this wild territory was another kind of wonderful altogether. This place held a surprise at every turn and landscape that filled her lungs with life. Animals that stirred both curiosity and respect. And a new breed of people—bothnative and trapper—who lived so differently from the rigid strictures required by so-called civilization.
She took a breath, held it deep within her body, then released it. Even laced with woodsmoke, the air still smelled fresh and invigorating.
