But then White Horse spoke, addressing Riley. “Which tribe you think the thief is from?”
“We don’t know. He could be white.” Riley shrugged. “It would be a man with two horses, one a brown mare with black mane and tail.”
White Horse studied Riley so intensely that everythingaround him seemed to pause. What was he looking for? To determine if Riley told the truth? Or whether Riley really thought the thief could be white instead of automatically blaming the natives?
One thing she’d learned about Riley during their early acquaintance was his fairness toward different races. In a way, he seemed to treat them all—even whites—with wariness. He certainly held no prejudice for or against any one particular race or tribe.
Flies Ahead spoke again in his language, breaking the thick silence of the moment. He seemed to be asking what had just been said, and White Horse responded in the same tongue. Flies Ahead nodded, as though satisfied with the answer. Then he spoke once more and nudged his horse forward, guiding the animal around their group.
White Horse followed his companion, but as he passed by, his gaze met hers, then moved down the row to each of her sisters. The look didn’t feel like it held malice or anything improper.
It seemed almost ... questioning. Like there was something he wanted to ask.
But he didn’t.
Twenty-Five
What had White Horse been holding back?
Juniper stared at the man’s back as he and his companion rode away. Something about Steps Right? It must be. When they met him last time, he’d been so friendly ... until they’d asked about the Peigan woman their father sent them to find. And now, something in his bearing told her he wanted to speak. But with his companion there, and with all the questions about Dragoon’s stolen horse, there hadn’t been a chance to talk privately.
Maybe she should ask Riley. Perhaps the two of them could follow White Horse and speak with him. Should they do it now? She had a feeling Rosie wouldn’t like the idea, not without her coming along too. And it didn’t feel safe to leave Faith and Lorelei with only Ol’ Henry and Dragoon. The latter had already proved he was far too distracted with finding his stolen horse to see to their safety.
“Let’s keep moving.” Dragoon nudged his horse forward as he studied the ground. “Tracks will be harder to tell apart now.”
As Ol’ Henry turned his horse and rode back down theline to his position at the rear, he caught her watching him and winked.
She couldn’t help but smile. Even with all the questions and concerns clogging her mind, his grin and good humor were impossible to deny.
Riley reined his horse in beside hers again, but he didn’t speak right away. Should she ask him about finding White Horse? She had to.
She slid a look at him. “Did White Horse seem...” How best to put the feeling into words?
“Like he wanted to ask something?” One corner of Riley’s mouth tipped.
She smiled. “Yes. He seemed to be looking for something in us. Do you think it had to do with Steps Right? The way he changed when we asked him about her before ... Maybe he’s had time to think about it and has questions for us. Maybe he knows her and is trying to decide if he can trust us.”
Riley shrugged. “It’s possible.”
Before she could analyze the situation any further, Rosie rode up along her other side. Juniper looked over to see what she needed, and her sister was wearing that shrewd expression as she asked, “What did you think of White Horse’s behavior?”
Juniper almost grinned. She should have known Rosie wouldn’t miss that detail. “We need to talk with him. I don’t know if he’ll speak in front of everyone. If a couple of us ride back and catch up with him, do you think he would be honest with us if Flies Ahead is there listening? Or do we need to somehow get him by himself?”
Riley nodded, the motion a little distracted as he seemeddeep in thought. “It does seem like he would talk more freely without Flies Ahead present. I’m not sure how we can get him away, though, unless we catch the two already separated.” He grew quiet for a moment. “They didn’t say where they were headed, but they’re most likely out hunting. If we follow them, we could find a time when White Horse is alone. But the chance of us tracking them without them realizing we’re there isn’t very great. The natives are masters at recognizing animal sign, and the animals would give us away. Besides, it might take a while before we get White Horse off to himself. Maybe not until tomorrow morning.”
Rosie lifted one brow in a look only she could manage. “And who do you think should go?”
Heat swept up Juniper’s neck before she could stop it, probably turning her ears red. She’d planned to announce to her sister thatshewanted to go, but with Rosie eying her like that, she couldn’t manage to be so bold. “I think either you or I should stay with Faith and Lorelei.”
Again, Rosemary dipped her chin. “I agree.” Were the corners of her mouth twitching like she was holding in a grin? Then she lifted that brow once more. “SoI’llgo?” It came out more a question than a statement.
This was Juniper’s chance to say she wanted to be the one. Before she could work up the nerve, Rosie spoke again. “Riley should definitely be the other person. White Horse seems to trust him.” She nodded at him on the other side of Juniper.
Juniper didn’t turn to see how he accepted the compliment, but those final words gave her the push she neededto speak up. She lifted her chin. “I want to go meet with White Horse.”
Her sister eyed her. “You and Riley alone?”
That was the hardest question, wasn’t it? Not whether White Horse would finally give them information to help in their search. Not when they should leave or how they would get White Horse off by himself. Not even a defense for why Juniper should be the one to go instead of Rosie. After all, her older sister had always been the leader of their family and the one to speak for them all.
