Parson had Willard stand watch while they ate, and instead of the usual mealtime quiet, he used the opportunity to give orders for the night. “We need a guard posted at all times. We’ll each take three hours.” He looked to Grant. “You and the boy take the first shift. Wake Skeet at midnight. Then Hooper at three. When light dawns, we’ll ride out.”
Grant nearly grinned at Miss Collins. He would have three whole hours of quiet with her. He’d get all his questions answered.
“Who d’ya think it is out there? Blackfoot?” Riggs sounded almost eager for a threat.
Parson shook his head. “Don’t know. Can’t get a clear enough look at ’em. Just one person that I’ve seen, but he might be a scout.”
Conversation died down after that, with everyone working quietly to finish setting up camp. Once he’d helped put away the food supplies, Grant took up his rifle, checked the horses once more, and then reported to Parson.
The man motioned across the creek. “There’s a tree over there wide enough to hide one of you. Maybe both, if you’re still.” He eyed Grant. “I’m assigning you with the boy so you can teach him how to do a man’s job. I know you’re new to the area, but you seem to have a level head on your shoulders. You up for it?”
Grant nodded. “I am.” The last thing he wanted was one of these others to take theboyunder his wing and discover her secret.
Miss Collins joined them, and Grant motioned her toward the water they would need to cross. “I’ll show you where we’re to watch from.”
When they reached the tree Parson had been watchingfrom, Grant pointed to the ground behind it. “You sit close to the trunk.”
There weren’t other trees wide enough to shield either of them, only a few saplings, so he positioned himself just behind her. He would be able to see the landscape better but might be visible to a watcher, depending on their location. Maybe the shadow of the branches would hide him.
He studied the land around them for a few minutes, his rifle across his lap at an angle where he could easily point and shoot, should the need arise.
At last, he was ready to begin his questions. He kept his voice to a whisper. “You didn’t finish telling me what’s so all-fired important you’d risk everything to find an Indian woman.”
She turned sideways so she could see both him and the mountainside beyond the tree. She sent a glare he could just make out in the moonlight. “I’m not sure it’s any of your business.”
“If you expect me to continue this ruse that risks your life and virtue, I’ll need more information. Then I’ll decide if your reasons are significant enough.”
“You can’t simply do it because I ask?” She lifted wide eyes to him. Maybe that was supposed to be a pleading expression, but in the shadows, he could only see the whites of her eyes. She simply looked frightened.
He tried to gentle his tone, though it might not matter since they were whispering. “Miss Collins, I was once a solicitor. I’ve been trained not to take a case until I know the details and decide if I’m willing to defend the client against the charges.” Well, he hadn’t actually been the one defending. Not yet. He’d been promised that once he learned thetrade from the bottom up, he’d be appointed one of the partners. And part of that education had been how to decide if a potential client was a good candidate for their services.
She didn’t answer right away, but something changed in her demeanor. She must be deciding how much to tell. His chest tightened a little more. He wanted to know everything, and he’d keep pushing until he learned all.
But a pang of regret pricked. He wouldn’t like someone forcing his hand, requiringhimto spill all his secrets and intentions. Certainly this woman should be allowed the same courtesy. He simply needed to know enough to determine if he should send her back to the rendezvous—or maybe waste precious time taking her there himself—or keep her ruse and watch over her as they continued on with this group.
When she spoke, her voice was barely louder than a whisper, easier to understand, though still quiet. “I told you the woman I’m trying to find is Steps Right, one of the healers in the Peigan tribe.”
He nodded.
“She knew my father more than twenty years ago when he came west for a season.”
He nodded once more. She’d told him that before as well.
“When my father was dying, he asked us to find Steps Right and return a bead necklace to her, an heirloom that had been passed down through her family.”
“We?” She probably meant she and her mysterious brother, but he couldn’t assume that.
“My sisters and me. I’m the youngest of four.”
He tipped his head. “Four sisters? Any brothers?”
“No.”
He nearly snorted.
She was silent. Maybe he’d offended her, but in truth,heshould be offended. Still, he gave a verbal nudge. “What next?”
She let out a sigh. “After we settled his affairs, my sisters and I decided we wanted to come west and give her the beads ourselves instead of having the solicitor send someone to deliver the gift. Papa had told us so many stories of his time here, and we wanted to see the place that had meant so much to him.” She shrugged. “We traveled with the supply wagons three years ago. Arrived at the start of the rendezvous.”
