Rosie nodded slowly. “That was my thought, but we need to consider some things. The wagons were to be our safe passage back. If we don’t go with them, do we hire someone else to travel with us? If so, who? And do we have enough money?”
“Riley, of course.” Faith shot Juniper a look when she said it. “I doubt he’d take our money willingly, but if we insist, I’m sure he’d only accept what we had to give.”
Juniper opened her mouth to respond. It seemed like she needed to defend herself, though what she should say escaped her.
Rosie relieved her of the need. “We talked about that before. We won’t accept gifts from anyone, not even Riley. We’ll pay a fair wage for every service we accept. The last thing we need is a man to think we owe him something that he can receive payment for in any way he chooses.”
Now it wasn’t herself she needed to defend, but Riley. Yet Rosemary was only stating what they’d all said before setting out on this trip. What they’d agreed to. Still...
Juniper straightened. “I do agree that’s the best way to handle our business, though not every man would take advantage like that.”
Rosie shot her a look that said she wasn’t helping matters. “Of course not every man would do it, but we must keep to that policy in all situations. It will only protect us,and there’s no reason not to. We brought sufficient coin.” Sewn into the hemlines of every garment they’d brought and tucked in a number of other unlikely places. They’d certainly packed enough money, though a man who tried to rob them would have a hard time finding it all.
“None of that is really the point.” Lorelei’s voice seemed more cautious than usual, probably because she’d no desire to be under scrutiny again. “We’re trying to decide how we would gain safe passage back to the States without the wagons. I agree we should ask Riley. Maybe he could gather a group of men he trusted, enough for protection should we run into danger.” The pup had curled in her lap, nestled in her dress as she stroked a finger down its fuzzy side. That little coyote might never agree to leave her when it was time to release him.
“We should talk with Riley and make sure he’s willing to take on the task. Just because he’s dropped everything to help us these past few days doesn’t mean he’ll be able to continue for several months of travel.”
Several more months with Riley... The idea held far too much appeal. Yet the time would end with saying good-bye to him. Forever. She had to remember that. Had to keep her heart from becoming too engaged in their friendship.
Rosie let out a breath. “The other thing we need to consider—earnestlyconsider—” she moved her gaze around the group to land on each of them—“is whether we’ll actually find Steps Right. Now that we know the situation here better, are the chances of us locating her too small?”
It was hard to tell from Rosie’s expression what shethought of the question she’d just asked. Juniper shivered. “Do you think it’s a hopeless cause?”
“I don’t know. It seems like either she wants to remain hidden, or her people don’t want us to find her.”
“I still think she’s being held hostage.” Faith sounded almost excited about the prospect. About the adventure of it anyway.
And the adventure of a lengthy search did sound appealing. Sort of like when she and Rosie were girls and they would set out on horseback for a full day of riding through the pastures—except this would be on a much grander scale.
Of course, there was no Peigan woman being hidden against her will on their escapades.
Could that really be the case now? Out here, thrilling scenarios seemed more likely than back home.
Rosie looked uncertain. “I suppose we can mention the idea to Riley again. See if he thinks we should pursue it.” It was remarkable how much they all relied on him now. Perhaps he should have been invited to their family meeting. Juniper pressed her lips together to keep her smile in.
“And if she’s not being held hostage, do we still think we’ll find her?” Lorelei’s quiet question wiped away the humor from Juniper’s spirit.
Would they? It was impossible to know for sure.
“June, what are you thinking? You haven’t said much.” Rosie was studying her.
Juniper swallowed and glanced around at her sisters, ending with Rosemary. “We can plant the seed in the sunshine and water it, but only the Lord can bring the crop. I don’t think we can know for sure. We’ll just have to try. Puteverything we have into the search, and pray God leads us to her.”
Smile lines fanned out from Rosie’s eyes, but her mouth stayed solemn. “All right, then. If Riley agrees, we’ll stay and finish what we started. And pray God does what only He can do.”
Eighteen
This search was more exhausting than spending all day scraping hides. Riley’s bones ached as he trudged back toward his lodge. It must be the disappointment of receiving one no after another that wearied him so. Either that, or the sheer number of men he spoke with that day. He hadn’t talked to so many fellows in the last three years combined.
He’d received plenty of strange looks and heard at least five stories of horses stolen recently—those men likely thought he was hunting stolen horses too. Only one fellow said he’d definitely seen the brand before, and the sisters would likely be interested in his comments.
He couldn’t help hoping the ladies would be sitting around his campfire when he came within sight of it. They would probably be coming to cook, after all. That’s what they’d done that morning, though other times they’d simply taken the food back to their own lodge to prepare. They were probably getting tired of meals made with only meat and what few greens Jeremiah and Ol’ Henry had broughtin. But he didn’t dare use up what little flour he’d managed to trade for, not before the year even began. Plenty of trappers had made hoecakes to celebrate the rendezvous, but flour was so very precious.
The top of his lodge came into view, and his heart picked up speed. Foolish thoughts were to blame for that. He couldn’t let himself get so upended over Miss Juniper Collins. Not only was she far above his station, but she and her sisters would be leaving soon. He’d never see her again. This was the life he’d chosen—the life he loved. He couldn’t let his head be swayed by a pretty face who didn’t plan to stick around.
But as he finally approached near enough for a clear view of the figures in front of his lodge, the leap in his chest ignored every rational thought.
The four women sat around the campfire, and Juniper’s hair shone in the evening light. She knelt beside the stone they used for cooking, and that angle outlined her comely form far too well. She was beautiful. He couldn’t ignore that fact no matter how hard he tried.
