The boom of the rifle shook the ground beneath her as Juniper squeezed her eyes shut.
Lord!
“What do you mean she’s been gone nearly half an hour? Where did she go?” Riley spun to face Lorelei.
He’d needed a walk and a talk with the Lord to clear his mind after a night of such murky sleep. But he’d expected to return to the morning meal prepared and a long conversation about the group’s next step. The food was ready, but it seemed everyone just now started to worry about Juniper’s short stroll lasting far longer than she said she’d be gone.
“Rosie’s gone after her. She’s probably just out there sketching the sunrise. She has Boots with her for protection.” Lorelei spoke that last bit as if she really believed a troublesome coyote pup would save Juniper from the kind of danger she might face out here.
He didn’t have time to correct her. Juniper could be hurt. He turned and sprinted after Rosemary. Hopefully she was going the right direction.
She must’ve heard him coming, for she paused by acluster of rocks and turned to wait for him. Her expression looked curious, not worried, as though she wondered why he was in such a hurry. Did not even this protective sister sense that Juniper’s delay meant something was very wrong?
He slowed when he reached her. “Juniper. Where is she?”
She pointed around the mountain. “Lorelei said she went this way.”
He lengthened his stride as he maneuvered over the rocks, and when he stepped down from the last one, the valley on the other side stretched out before him.
He stilled as he took in the vast herd below, hearing Rosemary’s stunned gasp behind him. Where had all these horses come from? He scanned the outer edges, searching for the smaller form of a person.
No one that he could see. Only a hundred horses at least.
“Look.”
He glanced back to see what Rosie was pointing to. Probably the horses.
But she’d dropped down to her knees with her hand outstretched. Trotting toward her with its rope dragging behind was that coyote pup.
Without Juniper.
“What are you doing, fella?” Rosemary stroked a hand down its body when it came near enough, then scooped it into her arms and straightened.
Riley’s gut clenched even tighter, and he refocused on the valley below. Where was Juniper? She wouldn’t have let the pet go on purpose, leash and all. Something had happened to her, but he had no notion where to start looking.
He searched through the horse herd more thoroughlythis time. She must be among them somewhere. Had they trampled her? Kicked her unconscious?
He started down the slope at a run, shifting sideways on the deeper parts, his feet kicking loose rocks ahead of him. Rosemary’s descent sounded just as loud behind him. Hopefully the others were coming too. They might need to split up for the search. Or if she was unconscious, it might be best to have all three men there to carry her to safety.
But when he reached the edge of the herd, he could still find no sign of Juniper among them. He turned to the outer edge of the group once more, then scanned the slope on all four sides.
“Where do you think she is?” Rosemary’s voice finally held the correct amount of worry.
He inhaled a breath.Lord, show us. Then he exhaled to speak. “Maybe—”
His words were cut short as a rifle shot exploded through the air.
Twenty-nine
Juniper braced for the impact of the bullet. For the agony of the lead slamming into her body.
But it didn’t come. Only the burning sulfur scent of gunpowder.
A groan sounded behind her, and she glanced back to see Slim on his knees, doubled over.
Her mind clogged at the unexpected sight. Had the rifle backfired?
Then another figure partway up the slope caught her gaze.
