“Let’s move,” he said.
“Can you walk?” she asked.
“Reckon I can.”
She gave him a look somewhere between exasperation and relief. “You’re so stubborn, Buckeye.”
“Wouldn’t be me otherwise,” Blaze replied with a forced grin.
She smiled, brief but genuine. Then she turned toward the ridge, her rifle ready. “Chato’s still out there somewhere,” she said. “Holding the line.”
“Then we’ll reach him,” Blaze replied. “One way or another.”
They started forward together, the morning light cutting through the last of the dust. Behind them, the mine groaned one final time. It was a long, low sigh as the mountain settled over its dead.
Blaze stopped once, looking back over his shoulder.
“Pa,” he murmured. “I don’t know what’s true anymore, but I’ll make it right.”
The wind carried the words into the valley below, lost in the echo of falling stone. Then he turned and followed Marisol into the light.
Chapter 39
“Keep movin’,” Marisol said.
Her voice came from somewhere ahead, sharp through the storm of dust. Blaze followed the sound, stumbling over rocks. The air shimmered with heat and powder. The mine behind them was already half-collapsed and was breaking apart again. It groaned like a dying beast trying to drag itself back into the earth.
“You’ve gotta be kidding me,” Blaze muttered when he heard the noise.
“Chato!” Marisol shouted.
“Here!” the Indian replied.
The answer came from down the slope. It was rough, hoarse, but alive.
Blaze blinked through the haze until he saw Graycloud standing among the scattered boulders with his bow in hand. He waved them forward urgently.
“Move! It’s coming down!” he shouted.
“Go!” Blaze said.
Marisol darted first, light on her feet even with the rifle slung across her shoulder. Blaze followed, half-running, half-falling down the rocky incline.
Behind him, the mountain roared again.
“Faster!” Graycloud shouted.
“I’m trying!” Blaze gasped.
They threw themselves behind a jagged outcrop just as what was left of the mine entrance caved in for good. A wall of dust and debris erupted into the sky. The ground shuddered beneath them.
Rocks clattered down like hail. Blaze hit the dirt, covering his head as a blast of hot air rolled over them.
For a moment, there was nothing but thunder. Then...silence. Only the hiss of settling dust remained.
Marisol coughed and pushed herself upright. “Everyone whole?”
Graycloud nodded once, brushing grit from his hair. “Alive.”
