He turned from the window, hurried to his mother’s room, and knocked lightly.
“Ma,” he whispered.
A moment later, the door cracked open. His mother blinked at him in the dim light, her hair loose around her shoulders. “Blaze? What is it?”
“There’s riders,” he said. His voice trembled despite his effort to keep it steady. “Out there. I heard ’em.”
Her eyes sharpened. She pulled her shawl tighter and stepped past him to the window in the main room.
“Rachel’s sleepin’,” Blaze said quickly. “Don’t wake her yet.”
“Show me,” his mother whispered.
Blaze pointed toward the horizon, where the land rolled down toward Red Rock Crossing. He couldn’t see them yet, but the sound was clearer now. Horses approaching.
“They’re coming this way,” Blaze said.
His mother’s hand brushed the Hawken Plains rifle leaning near the door. Her jaw tightened.
“You’re sure it ain’t just drovers cuttin’ through?” she asked.
Blaze shook his head. “They’re riding quiet. Too quiet.”
She didn’t answer, but he saw the fear flicker in her eyes before she masked it.
“Stay here,” she said.
“No,” Blaze blurted. “I can help.”
“You’ll do as I say.”
He clenched his fists. “I ain’t a child no more.”
Her gaze softened, if only for a second. “You’re my son. That makes you my responsibility. Now hush.”
They stood in silence, listening. The hoofbeats grew louder, spreading wide like a fan. Blaze’s skin prickled. Whoever they were, they weren’t drifting past. They were surrounding them.
Rachel’s sleepy voice drifted from the back room.
“Ma? Blaze? What’s going on?”
“Nothing, sweetheart,” her mother called back, calm though her shoulders were tense. “Go on, lie down.”
Rachel padded in anyway, rubbing her eyes. “I heard horses.”
“It’s nothing, Rachel,” Blaze said.
But even as he said it, the words rang hollow. Rachel looked from him to their mother, sensing the lie.
A dog barked near the barn—sharp and frantic. Then came a sudden yelp, cut off.
Rachel gasped. Blaze pulled her close.
“They’re here,” he whispered.
His mother’s knuckles whitened on the rifle. She took a deep breath, steadying herself.
“Listen to me, both of you,” she said. “No matter what happens, you stay low. Don’t speak unless I tell you. Do you understand?”
