"Yes, ma'am." Lillian sent a final smile before pushing her horse to catch up with Sean's fast-walking mare.
Naomi could hear the girl telling her brother to slow down. That he was supposed to ride in the rear because he was the youngest and it wasn't safe up front. Sean, of course, argued the point. The tone sounded argumentative anyway. They were too far away for her to hear the words.
Naomi smiled at Mary Ellen as she turned back to the cabin. "Maybe one day you'll have a little brother to boss around, sweet one."
The baby regarded her with sober eyes, then laid her head on her mother's shoulder.
Naomi snuggled her close as she walked. "I know. It's time for bed-a-bye, isn't it?"
Once inside, she moved through the usual naptime ritual. Changing her diaper, sitting in the rocking chair while she sang “All Through the Night,” then carrying her to her crib. The babesnuggled on her side and reached for a corner of the quilt as Naomi adjusted it around her.
How wonderful it would be to have another baby, a brother for Mary Ellen. But this time, Naomi wouldn't be alone. Eric would be there for every part. Through the long nights, sharing the load. She could be the mother she wanted to be. Strong and patient and loving.
She smoothed Mary Ellen's curls away from her brow. "Good night, my love." Then she turned and slipped out to the main room, closing the door behind her.
She had just picked up the broom and began to sweep when a frantic call came from outside.
"Naomi! Hurry!"
Was that Lillian? Heart pounding, she rushed to the door and saw the girl astride her horse, face flushed with urgency. "What's wrong?"
"Sean saw smoke from a campfire," Lillian explained breathlessly. "He rode off to see who it was. He wouldn't stop when I told him we should go get Uncle Jericho. I came back for help. I knew I could get here a lot faster than to the east pasture."
As the girl stopped to breathe, Naomi's mind spun. She had to catch up to Sean before he reached the strangers who'd built the fire.
She hadn't warmed up enough to unbutton her coat yet, so she only had to grab her hat and gloves before stepping from the cabin.
"Stay here with Mary Ellen. I've just put her down for a nap. I'll take your horse to catch Sean."
Lillian jumped from her mount, and Naomi gathered the reins and swung up into the saddle. Her mind scrambled for any details she might need to ask before she left. "You followed the main trail? How far down were you when Sean turned off?"
"Not far." Lillian pointed toward the southwest,her voice quivering. "He turned toward the creek, away from the pastures."
Naomi urged the horse into a trot, though she had to slow as they entered the trees. She didn't travel this path enough to remember where icy boulders lurked beneath the snow. Her breath puffed out in clouds, and the swish of the mare's hooves in snow made the otherwise quiet woods sound almost eerie.
How far ahead was Sean? Was he being careful? She didn't have to go far before she reached the tracks showing where Sean turned off.
Fear bubbled inside as she reined Lillian's mare to follow. What if Sean reached the source of the smoke before she caught up with him? It could be the campsite of someone dangerous. She had to move faster.
Did she dare shout for the boy? That could give away his presence to the stranger and put him in even more danger.
She pushed the horse faster, but it took all of her focus to guide the mare away from low tree branches and around suspicious lumps in the unbroken snow. She almost forgot to watch for Sean, so when she glanced up to see him among the trunks ahead, her heart skipped a beat.
He was standing beside his horse. The scent of woodsmoke had grown stronger. Had he found the campsite?
Naomi scanned the forest. Something dark rested on the ground beside him. Maybe supplies or gear? At least there was no movement.God, let this campsite be empty like the other.
She pushed the horse harder, and as she came closer, she had a clearer view. The fire seemed to have mostly died, though recently enough that smoke rose in a thick stream. Whoever had built it had left all their supplies here. The pile beside Sean was covered with a blanket, probably to keep everything dry.
He waved her closer. “Hurry.”
When she reached him, she dismounted as quickly as her trembling legs would allow, then gripped her saddle for asecond as she found her balance. "You shouldn't have ridden off by yourself. Whoever this belongs to could be dangerous."
With her words, the reality of their position rushed in. She'd not brought a rifle. Why hadn't she thought of that? The owner of these belongings could return any minute, angry at their presence, maybe assuming they intended to steal.
She stepped to his side and wrapped a protective arm around his shoulders, scanning the area around the camp. Still no movement out there.
"Look." Sean's voice beside her was insistent, and he pulled out of her hold and pointed at the blanket-covered supplies.
