She lay on the ground, not ready to move and see what hurt. She stared up at the darkening sky. Maybe her horse would just go a short distance and then stop to graze. She could catch up to him on foot.
All she had to do was stand. She had just pushed to her feet when a horse and rider came crashing through the brush.
One look was all she needed.
Carter.
“Somehow I just knew that scream was yours.” Carter jumped from the back of his mount and was at her side before Ellie could even dust off her backside.
“What happened?”
She crossed her arms over her chest. “My horse spooked and took off.”
Carter started to speak, and she halted him with a lifted hand.
“I’m fine. I will catch him and bring him back.”
Carter shook his head. “One of the men has already ridden after him.”
What? How did they...? She narrowed her gaze at him. “Did you know I was following you?”
“No, not until this happened.” He took hold of her arm and looked her up and down. “Is anything hurt?”
For some reason his concern made her grin. “Just my pride. I was doing all right following you, but I wasn’t prepared for my horse to rear.” His brow was still creased, but not with anger. He was concerned about her. She sighed. “Sorry to worry you.”
He let go of her just as Grant Wallace returned with her horse. He handed the reins to Carter but smiled at Ellie. “I met you a while back. Are you out here camping by yourself?”
Carter answered. “No, it’s her father who was taken. She was supposed to stay home and wait for word from us, but she figured she could be useful in the search.”
Grant’s brows drew together, but then his features relaxed, and he tipped his hat. “You might as well have hercome set her camp with ours. No sense in staying out here alone.”
TUESDAY, JULY5, 1904
Early the next morning, the men readied to pick up the trail again. Ellie longed to go with them, but she was moving slow. Her backside ached from her fall the night before. And a night of restless sleep on lumpy dirt hadn’t helped anything.
“We’re heading out!” Grant Wallace yelled to the group.
Panic clawed at Ellie’s chest. She wasn’t near ready. Carter strode over to her, picked up her saddle, and placed it on the horse.
A man nodded at Carter. “Brunswick, Wallace said to get on your horse and follow him.”
Ellie looked at Carter. He wouldn’t just leave her here, right? What a silly thought. Hadn’t she touted her riding and survival skills yesterday? Now the thought of Carter leaving her side made her nervous.
“I’ll stay with Ellie.”
“No.” The man shook his head and dismounted. “He needs your knowledge about this area. Something about caves and whatnot.”
Carter glanced at her, his expression softening. “Are you all right if I go? Wilbur here is a decent man. He’ll help you catch up.”
Ellie glanced between the two men and nodded. Father needed Carter in the search party more than she needed him with her.
Carter grabbed her hand and gave it a squeeze. “I’m gonna give you my rifle, okay? I have my pistol, but now that you’re officially on the posse, it will be helpful for you to have a weapon.”
He went to his horse and grabbed the gun. He brought it back and handed it to Ellie. “I’ll see you shortly. Stay safe.” He brushed his finger down her cheek, then ran to his horse and jumped on, racing to close the distance between him and the trackers.
Wilbur cinched the saddle around the horse, then threw Ellie’s saddle bags on the back. When those were secure, he led the horse to a small stump. Ellie followed him, exhaustion making every step laborious.
She stepped on the block, grabbed the pommel with one hand, and slipped her right foot in the stirrup. With a deep breath and a prayer heavenward, she swung her left leg over the saddle and settled on the horse. After this whole ordeal was over, she was going to take a nice long soak in a steaming hot tub of water.
