Grace.
She didn’t hesitate to step close, and Dinah released his elbow as Grace eased herself under his good arm. She fit perfectly there. Small and warm. Just the right height to steady him. He released the door frame and settled his hand on her shoulder.
“Let’s sit by the fire.” Her voice was gentle. Soft enough to be just for him. “There’s room for everyone to listen.”
He let her lead him. Let her lower him into the armchair with the tallest back.
When his body sagged into the seat, he rested his head and released a breath. This felt much more manageable than gripping the doorway to keep from swooning.
“Now.” Jericho’s deep timbre gentled. “Tell us everything you remember."
Most of his brothers had gathered around. Only Jude was missing. He must still be at his cabin down the mountain.
Not even his brothers had scared Grace away though. She perched in the ladderback chair beside him. Close, but not touching.
He needed contact with her. He reached for her hand, and she turned her wrist so their palms met. He wrapped his fingers around hers. A lifeline.
The connection refilled his strength, and he drew in a breath to face his brothers. "I was driving a wagon full of supplies behind Jedidiah. He took me to a camp, deep in the woods between here and Missoula. A bunch of hired men were staying there, rough types.” He searched for what else he could remember. “They said something about blasting powder."
"Blasting powder?" Jonah asked sharply, exchanging a look with Jericho. "What would they do with that?"
His brother’s question unlocked a memory. “I delivered it.”
“What?” Jericho’s voice turned sharper.
“The day before. He had me take a wagon of blasting powder out and park it two hours west of Missoula. I thought he was planning a new mine there. But that night I heard him talking to another man. They mentioned blasting powder, and I think my delivery was to throw me off.” That sounded just like something Jedidiah would do.
He paused to catch his breath, the pain in his ribs flaring. Grace's fingers tightened around his, lending an extra dose of strength.
“You think the blasting powder is for our mine?” Gil asked.
Another memory surfaced, and he strained to pull it up fully. “I think…they said something about leaving out at first light. Then attacking after dark.” He couldn’t recall the exact words. Just that general idea.
And thinking so much made his head pound again. He pressed his eyes closed. When the pounding lessened, he opened them.
Jericho's expression had turned grim, his brows lowering. "If they were leaving at first light the next morning, they would have been here two days ago. They would have already attacked.”
Two days… Had he been here that long?
“Think the reason they’re waiting is the same as why they beat Sam to a bloody mess?” Miles sent him a wary look.
Jonah eyed Sampson. “Why did they beat you? Do you recall the details?”
He let his eyes close as he focused on the scenes in his mind. “The last thing I remember was talking to Jedidiah. Near the stewpot. I was trying to get him to focus on another mine instead of ours.” Had he convinced the man? He remembered feeling he might be succeeding in the distraction. “I don’t…know.”
No other details would come. No words Jedidiah might have said. No memory of the attack. Nothing. His memories just went dark.
He sighed and opened his eyes. “That’s the last thing I know for sure. From what I’ve seen of Jedidiah, my guess is he suspected my loyalties might be divided and chose to cut me from the group.” All those months he’d exhausted himself to gain the man’s trust…gone in a single conversation.
Jericho spoke again. “Do you think they meant first light the next morning and either chose to delay or were forced to by something? Or do you think they were planning first light of a future day?”
Sampson searched for the memory. "I…I can't be certain. It's all hazy. But I have a sense it was the next morning they planned to head out. Which means something delayed them."
"Maybe gathering more men and weapons took longer than expected." Jericho scrubbed a hand over his stubbled jaw. "Or that snow slowed their progress."
He dropped his hand and turned to Jonah, his gaze taking in Miles and Gil too. “We don’t have much time. One of us needs to let Eric know what’s happening. And someone should ride for Two Stones, and stop at Jude’s on the way. This is probably the time we need to gather the Salish braves he said would come if we needed more manpower against McPharland.”
Miles nodded. “I can ride for Jude and Two Stones.”
