“I ... I’ve lost the blue bead necklace.” She swallowed down the lump that blocked more words. “Your mother’s necklace. I had it in a pouch tied around my neck. It was still there when I left the cave this morning to hunt withGrant.” She bit the inside of her lip to keep from looking at his face. “I’ve searched everywhere around here. I’m going to ride the trail we took.”
She finally had to meet his gaze, to see how much pain she’d brought to him. But no hint of anguish or worry or anger marked his expression. In fact, his eyes had softened.
“It is only a possession. It carries memories, yet if it is lost, we have not lost the memories. We carry them within ourselves.” His voice was as steady as his gaze.
Then he nodded, as though deciding something in his mind. “Go to my mother. I will ride the trail to search for your pouch.”
He turned toward his horse, but she stopped him. “You don’t know where we went.”
He glanced over his shoulder, turning just enough for her to catch the twinkle in his eye and the curve of his mouth. “I needed a walk this morning too.”
Surprise flared through her. “You followed us?”
He turned away from her, striding toward his horse. “Stay with my mother. She will have work for you. I do not doubt this.”
She waited until he swung up on his mount, then turned down the hill toward the base of the falls.
In another hour or so, the sun would begin to dip in the evening sky, and her mind drifted to the thought that hadn’t gone far since Grant left. Would he reach his brother’s cabin before full dark? Would Will be excited to see him? She could imagine a joyous reunion. Two brothers separated for far too many years.
When she reached the bottom of the hill, she paused before the thundering waterfall, a few drops of spray mistingher face. She took in a deep breath, then released it.God, please bring Grant back to me. Let him accomplish this search that means somuch to him, then bring him back to me at the ranch.
The prayer came easier this second time. She added another.And help White Horse find the pouch with Steps Right’s necklace. Please don’t let me havelost it.
Another surge of unruly tears rose up, but she swallowed them down and started along the rocks toward the back of the falls. As she reached the ledge and stepped behind the falling water, her heart began to pound, and she couldn’t shake the unnerving sensation that someone was watching her.
That couldn’t be the case, unless White Horse had paused to make sure she went to his mother as he’d asked. She glanced back around the curtain of water to scan the tree line. That would be just like him. So much like an older brother that his actions teetered on the edge of overbearing at times. Especially if he thought her safety was at risk. Maybe this time it was his mother’s comfort he was concerned about. Faith should have the same focus.
Turning back toward the cave, she navigated the ledge and slipped into the darkness. “It’s me,” she called ahead. She might wake the woman again, but alerting her presence felt like the best thing to do.
When she stepped into the dim light of the cavern, Steps Right was standing, one hand braced against the wall. “I wash.” She motioned toward the water Faith had just come from.
Faith’s heartbeat picked up speed, and she strode toward the woman. “Are you sure you can walk there? I’ll helpyou.” The last thing she needed was for Steps Right to injure herself more. Especially when Faith was the only one here to help.
She tucked her shoulder under Steps Right’s arm on the side of her injured ankle. Together, they hobbled toward the dark corridor and the sound of the pounding waterfall.
Hopefully the woman would be able to sit and wash herself on the ledge behind the cascade. That way they wouldn’t have to try to maneuver the narrow path of wet stone.
When they emerged into the light and the thundering sound of the water, Steps Right pointed to the closest part of the ledge. Faith helped her ease down to sit on the stone, then settle both feet into the water. The injured ankle was still more swollen than the other.
As she started to rise, a movement at the edge of her gaze made her jerk her focus upward, toward the path they usually walked from the bank.
Two braves stood on the ledge. Barely an arm’s length away, on the other side of Steps Right. Dark paint marked their faces, making their expressions even fiercer than they might have been.
Her breath caught as panic flared through her. She might have screamed, except her throat wouldn’t work. Her mind raced, scrambling to figure out who they were.
Reality slammed through her like a shove. Flies Ahead.
Except ... neither of these men looked like those she had met. Maybe the paint disguised them. And she hadn’t seen him in three years.
Did she have anything she could use as a weapon? Her pistol was in the cave. She had nothing at all. The only rocksin this area were tiny pebbles. If she threw a handful at these men, it would only anger them more. Did Steps Right have a weapon hidden in her clothing?
The man in front dropped his gaze to the older woman, whose eyes were also fixed on him. His gaze turned even harder, if that were possible, and he bit out a few sounds she couldn’t decipher.
Steps Right understood them, for she responded in the same language. Her tone stayed calm, in stark contrast to his angry bark.
Faith’s stomach churned as she focused on the men. Maybe she could run into the darkness of the cave and grab her gun. They would have trouble following in the thick black of the corridor. Would they hurt Steps Right while she was gone? This might be their only chance for escape.
Steps Right’s words seemed to anger the men, for the one in front responded with two enraged syllables. Then he charged, lunging for Steps Right.
