That was all he could manage right now.
Gil, Miles, and Sampson stood behind Jericho, their expressions a mixture of shock and anger. Gil turned to study the ground around them, and Jericho did the same.
Good idea, looking for clues, but Jonah had seen which way the men rode away. It was time to go after them.
He started toward the house. “I’m going for a few mounts.”
“Wait.” Jericho’s sharp command brought him up short.
He turned to see what Jericho had found, but his older brother was studying Sampson.
“What is it? Spit it out.” Jericho sounded like he was about to pull fists on their younger brother. Or something worse.
Sampson dropped to his haunches and touched something on the ground. Then he lifted it in a flat hand, rising to his feet. "This belongs to one of the men I met in Missoula Mills. Trying to cut a deal to purchase the sapphires.” His voice held a gravity that showed he knew exactly what this meant.
Jericho took the item from his palm. It sparkled in the moonlight and looked to be some kind of metal or jewelry. A pocket watch maybe. “They must have decided to take what they wanted instead of trading for it." His voice ground out with anger Jonah hadn’t heard from him in years.
Jericho clamped Sampson on the shoulder, waiting until he met his eyes. “We’ll talk more later about why you brought these vultures to our doorstep. For now, we need to focus. How many? Can they shoot? How well are they armed?”
Sampson swallowed, nodding.
Maybe to give him a minute to regroup, Jericho focused on Jonah. “Get the horses, enough for us all. And all the rifles except two for Eric and the women. Jude, Gil, and Miles, go help him.”
Jonah set off at a run, his brothers just behind. They had a long night ahead of them, but they would catch these thieves and scoundrels. Unfortunately, recovering thousands of dollars’ worth of gemstones wouldn’t make his cabin whole again.
It seemed like every time he was close enough to taste the life he craved, it was jerked out from beneath him.
Smoke still stung Patience's eyes as she walked with the others back to the cabin. The entire family had shown up—all five of Jonah’s brothers, his sisters-in-law, his niece and nephew, not to mention Naomi and Eric and their daughter, plus Anna, who weren’t even blood related, but might as well be.
Jonah’s brothers had gone with him to check their mine, and she’d heard Jericho ask Eric to stay with the “others” and make sure they were safe. The women and children, he meant.
It irked her to be tossed into a group that made her sound helpless. She might be a woman, but she could likely draw and shoot faster and more accurately than Eric LaGrange. Of course, she shouldn’t assume she knew his abilities, just as she wished Jericho hadn’t underestimated her.
She let out a sigh. Maybe it was best she stay here and help protect Anna and the others. She sent a glance toward her niece, who walked beside Naomi. The girl’s expression was so somber, her eyes almost hollow.
Naomi held Mary Ellen, who’d been fussing since they arrived at the fire. Perhaps the tot knew something was terribly wrong, or maybe she was simply hungry. Either way, Naomi had her hands full soothing her.
Eric, too, seemed occupied speaking with Dinah and Angela in tense tones. Something about the fire and…a mine?
Whatever it was, it wasn’t Patience’s business. She moved in close to Anna and rested a hand on her shoulder. "Everything is fine, you know. Jonah and the other men have just gone to check on things. We’re all safe."
Anna nodded, but her gaze remained fixed on the dark trees before them.
Her heart ached for the girl. If only she could take away her fear and uncertainty. But how could she reassure Anna when her own thoughts were a tangled mess of worry and frustration? She should be out there, helping Jonah and his brothers, not stuck here feeling useless.
As they reached the cabin, Patience held the door open for the others to file inside. The space felt cramped with so many people, the air heavy with unspoken fears. Naomi settled into a bench seat by the hearth, Mary Ellen on her lap and Anna at her side. She was speaking in quiet murmurs to the girls, and the magic of her voice already had both children smiling a bit more than before. If only Patience could have had that same effect.
Angela, Lillian, and Dinah had moved to the kitchen, and already the scent of warming stew filled the air, a comforting aroma that almost made her forget the smoke that still clung to her dress.
Eric and Sean were traipsing inside and out, hauling firewood and water. The others ate in shifts, each filling a bowl when they were ready for it.
Patience stepped to the window, out of their way, and peered out into the night. The moon had risen fully, casting an eerie glow over the landscape. Shadows seemed to lurk around every corner. She couldn’t stomach the thought of food just now. Not with what happened to Jonah’s cabin, and now he was out searching for the men who had done such a cruel act.
Minutes crawled by with agonizing slowness. Eric had joined his wife and the girls near the hearth and was now reading to them.
Sean sat nearby, whittling the horse he sometimes worked on in the evenings.
Her nerves wouldn’t let her sit, but she did her best to confine herself to watching at the window. Jonah was out there, facing God knew what danger, and here she was, standing uselessly.
