Boots.
The horses had distracted her from her chase, and now the pup had nearly reached the edge of the herd. His high-pitched yaps sounded over the distance, and the horses began to pin their ears and mill around restlessly. They didn’t bolt away like wild horses. These must, indeed, be well-trained saddle horses.
She started down the slope, but as she moved, she glanced around the edge of the herd for any sign of people. No one in sight. The tall mountains on all four sides acted like a fence to help contain the horses. There must be water running through somewhere, or they wouldn’t stay long.
Hopefully little Boots wouldn’t frighten the animals enough to make them scatter. Even calm mounts could be startled by an unknown creature. Trying to scale those rocky inclines at a run might result in broken bones and trampled steeds.
Boots was still barking and snapping at horses by the time she’d nearly reached the bottom of the slope. Hopefully she could grab the rope still attached to him without having to wade too deeply into the animals. With the horses already restless, they might nail her with a stray hoof.
She approached the first animals cautiously, with her hand out and a welcoming set to her shoulders. The sorrel nearest her ducked away, sending the horses around it backward too. Boots was moving deeper into the herd. She had to reach him soon.
“Here, boy. Come, Boots. Here.” She tried to use the same tone Lorelei spoke in when she was playing with the pup. He was so busy yapping, he might not even hear her.
She worked her way around a palomino and slid between a chestnut and buckskin. Just like walking into one of the pastures back on their ranch. A brown-and-white paint pinned its ears as she neared, but she took a stomping step toward it, and the animal shrank back. She’d handled more than one contrary animal before, and taking on a dominant posture usually calmed the situation.
The chestnut on her left was clearly older, from the angularlines on her head and the sway in her back. The horse regarded Juniper placidly, and she couldn’t help pausing for a quick stroke on the animal’s neck as she passed.
Something on its shoulder caught her attention, and she froze.
It couldn’t be. Could it?
Had she found one of the horses her father sent to Steps Right? She stepped back and studied the animal. A glance underneath proved this was a mare. And though time had faded the lines, the marking on her shoulder was definitely one of the earlier versions of their farm’s brand.
Her heart surged.They’d found her.
And the stallion ... She lifted her gaze around the herd and searched for a bay with a patch of white covering its ears. The animals’ rumps all seemed to blend together from this viewpoint, but the heads of those not grazing were easy to see. Some horses possessed white ears, but none that matched the rest of the description.
Except ... there. Near the center of the herd. Could that be the horse?
She clutched her chest as her mind scrambled for what to do next. She had to get the others. But she didn’t want to leave the horses. Now that they’d finally found them, she didn’t dare take her eyes off the animals.
And who did this herd belong to? They had to find the owners. Riley would know how. And maybe Ol’ Henry.
She stepped close to the mare again and stroked her glossy neck. “I’m so glad to find you, girl.”
After a final pat, she turned to exit the herd. It wasn’t until she reached the base of the mountain that the memory of why she’d come here in the first place surged back.
Boots.
She spun around and raised her hand to shield her eyes from the brightness of the morning sun peeking over the horizon. Where had that coyote gone? His yapping had quieted, and there was no longer restlessness among the horses.
A knot lodged in her chest. Had he been kicked senseless? Or killed? Lorelei would be devastated.No, Lord. She couldn’t go back and tell her sister she’d lost the animal Lorelei had worked so hard to save.
She started back toward the herd, then paused. Should she go for help first? If her walking through the horses stirred them up, she might make them run and lose the two that belong to Steps Right. She couldn’t risk it, not even for Boots.
She turned back to climb the slope ... and froze.
A man stood not five steps away from her. A white man. Recognition swept over her.
Slim.
But what was he doing out here? This was several days’ ride from the rendezvous, even if he took a more direct path than they had.
He watched her with a kind of curious half-smile in his expression, but no surprise in his eyes. Like he expected to see her here.
A tingle ran down her back. She needed Riley. Or at least her rifle. She only had the pistol tucked into her boot.
“Howdy.” He spoke with a rasp in his voice, as though his throat hadn’t yet cleared out all the sleep.
