She nodded, then stood, adjusting Ruby in her arms. "I need to feed her and pack our things."
Two Stones nodded, rising as well. "I will ready the horses and goat and bring them here."
Sampson had even thought to mention the goat.
But horses. She'd never been a confident rider, and with Ruby… "I don't know if I can manage on horseback with a baby. Is there not a wagon we can use?"
"A wagon will not make it through the snow. The trails are treacherous now." Two Stones must have seen the fear on her face, for his tone softened. "Do not worry. I will help with the child. And the mare I secured for you has a gentle temper."
Grace gave a reluctant nod. "All right. I'll be as quick as I can."
CHAPTER10
Sampson huddled beneath the furs, his breath forming clouds in the frigid air. Pain throbbed through every limb. He gritted his teeth against it. At least the snow had stopped falling. The crackling fire sent a fair amount of heat to this makeshift shelter where Two Stones had left him.
Worry gnawed at his belly, almost as intense as the pain in his ribs and left shoulder. Were Grace and little Ruby all right? Had Jedidiah returned to Missoula to have his lackeys do something awful to them?
He had to stop worrying or he’d drive himself mad. Two Stones would get them out. Surely. God had brought the man in time to save Sampson’s life, so surely He’d be there for Grace and Ruby as well.
Besides, Sampson had other concerns to focus on. This late in the afternoon, Jericho and Dinah might arrive soon, if they’d pushed hard.
He wasn’t altogether certain they’d do that, though. His family might have given up on him by now. Decided he wasn’t worth so much extra effort. He’d been gone for months, and the few times he’d seen one of them, he’d taken pains to tell them to steer clear of him. To leave him alone and go home.
Really, he’d just needed them to stay as far away from McPharland and Jedidiah as possible. The entire operation was dirty. He’d planned to find a weaknesses himself and stop them, but he couldn’t let anyone he loved get hurt. Gil had already paid the price. Thank the Lord he’d gotten away with only a beating.
McPharland had been furious at Gil’s escape, especially when his brother took the man’s daughter with him. He didn’t forgive and forget well. Sampson’d had to prove his loyalty to Jedidiah even more after that fiasco.
The crunch of hooves in the snow jolted him from the turmoil of those memories. He reached for the rifle on the fur beside him. He’d already propped himself up enough to see anyone who approached…and shoot if he needed to.
A voice drifted through the trees—a woman’s. He eased out a breath. Then Jericho’s strong baritone sounded, and Sampson’s chest tightened again. He laid the gun aside.
He would have to face them.
The riders appeared through the trees—Jericho, Dinah, and Heidi. She must be exhausted after riding all the way to the ranch and back, probably without a rest.
Jericho stepped into the circle of the camp first, then halted as he took in Sampson, lying in the shelter. Dinah pressed through just behind her husband, but she didn’t stop to study him. Just charged forward with a bag slung over her shoulder.
The widening of her eyes as she drew near told him just how bad he must look. “Sampson. What’s happened to you?” She dropped to her knees by his side.
He managed a weak smile. "Good to see you, too, Dinah." The words rasped out, his throat raw from the cold.
She frowned, her face etched with concern as she reached for the furs covering him. "Let me see."
He flinched, more from the gentleness in her voice than any pain. "It's not as bad as it looks."
She ignored his words, just pulled back the fur to see his upper body. “Where does it hurt? Heidi said something about your arm and ribs?”
Two Stones must have seen swelling in those areas. The man knew his way around an injury.
“Just my ribs and that left shoulder.” He glanced down at the spot but couldn’t see much with that left eye swollen nearly shut.
Jericho stepped closer, his expression tight. "Where's Two Stones?"
Sampson shifted as Dinah pressed on his shoulder. He had to fight to keep from jerking away from the pain. From crying out. Through a clenched jaw, he managed to speak. "I sent him to Missoula. Someone’s there who…might not be safe…without me around."
He had to focus on breathing to keep the pain from blinding him. Dinah had stopped touching the arm, but his ribs pounded with a fury now.
Dinah was probing them, but thankfully, she kept her touch lighter this time.
