“It might be best for someone else to go with us.” She thought back to what Riley had just said. “Maybe Ol’ Henry?”
Rosie rolled her lips together in thought. “Maybe Ol’ Henry.” She looked past Juniper to Riley. “What do you think?”
A quick flash of surprise flared in his eyes, then he glanced back at the older man. “White Horse didn’t seem uneasy about him. Most men take a liking to him right away, both white and native. And it helps that he can speak one of the languages White Horse and Flies Ahead both know.”
“That wasn’t Peigan he was speaking?”
He shook his head. “Snake Indian. It’s easier to learn, so a lot of the tribes and trappers use it to communicate.”
Good to know. But better to focus on the decisions at hand. She glanced back at Rosie. “Will you and the girls be safe with only Dragoon? Are you going to ride on with him? I’m sure he won’t sit around and wait for us to return.”
She could feel Riley’s uneasiness, though she didn’t look his way as she waited for Rosie’s response.
Her sister did look to Riley. “Will you be able to find us if we go on with Dragoon?”
“Yes, but...” He didn’t finish the sentence right away, and Rosie didn’t give him time to linger.
She turned back to Juniper. “Then yes, we’ll go on with him. Go and learn as much as you can from White Horse. Will you follow him now?” This last question she directed to them both.
Riley glanced back toward Ol’ Henry. “Probably. Let’s talk with everyone first.” He raised his voice. “Need to halt a minute.”
Dragoon looked back with a scowl. “What is it?”
Riley reined in his mare and motioned for everyone else to do the same. When they’d all gathered around, Riley glanced at her, silently asking if she wanted to give the details. She nodded for him to share them.
After he announced the plan, Dragoon eyed him, his hands fidgeting with the reins. “Would you rather all of us go with you?”
There was the Dragoon he knew. One who didn’t lose his mind so completely over a horse that he lost sight of more important things, like protecting those in his care.
But Riley shook his head. “We think it’s better if only the three of us go. More than that might keep White Horse from talking.”
Dragoon’s features eased, though his hands never stopped moving as they slid down the leather of his reins.
Riley turned his focus to Ol’ Henry. “Will you ride with us? You might be able to keep Flies Ahead occupied while we talk with White Horse. And your translation skills will be welcome.”
The older fellow gave a single nod. “I’m always up for an adventure. Sounds like I might get one no matter who I’m ridin’ with.”
“Good. We—”
His words cut off as the boom of a gunshot split the air.
Twenty-Six
One of the girls screamed, and the moment Juniper’s mind registered the sound as a rifle shot, she ducked.
“Get back to the trees!” Ol’ Henry shouted, and Riley’s horse nearly plowed into hers as he spun his mount and pushed them back.
“Take cover!” Riley waved them toward the woods.
The men all had their rifles raised to fire, though Riley continued herding them back toward the cluster of cottonwoods twenty strides behind them.
Her gun. As she reined her mare along with the others, she worked her Hawkins out of its scabbard. Getting the long barrel out proved a challenge, especially while moving. She and her sisters had practiced shooting, but not pulling the rifle out in the midst of danger.
Finally, they clustered behind the trees, peering back in the direction they’d come for some sign of the shooter.
“Who was it? Did you see them?” Rosie’s voice had taken on her hard-edged protective tone.
“Don’t see anything yet. Heard the wind from that bullet by my ear though.” Ol’ Henry studied the landscape through the trees as though he was one of the spectators watching a horse race at the rendezvous.
