Chapter Twenty-Six

Rose woke to a pungent smell in the small enclosure. It wasn’t entirely dark, but the dim light made it hard to see. Was it a tipi? An Indian woman hovered over a little pot nearby. Whatever the odor was, it came from that bowl. Rose’s eyes watered, and her skin tingled where it was bare. But her breathing came easy, and her head was clear. She placed a hand to her shoulder and pressed. She winced but didn’t cry out. A few tentative stretches hurt, but they reassured her she could stand the pain. She glanced at the old woman.

Without looking up, the shaman said, “Worst is over. Bone not broken.” She dropped bits of something into the pot and stirred.

“What is that?”

“Nothing.”

“My name is Rose. Thank you for caring for me.”

A nod.

A ‘thank you’ seemed too little. “May I…pay you something?”

The woman sat expressionless.

Had Rose offended her? “You are…”

“I am called Laila.”

The name she’d dimly heard when Del brought her in. Where was he? And where was she?

“Three days now. You are strong.”

She’d been here three days? She ought to have an appetite but didn’t. A quick scan of the interior revealed woven ornaments strung halfway up the hide sides. Bright colors in the pale light. A circular object with a star-shape woven inside caught her eye. It seemed to give off its own faint glow.

“Shaman circle. Heals.”

A fleeting vision of Laila pressing it on her chest and chanting came and went. She pushed herself to a sitting position. “May I have something to eat?”

“Venison is outside.”

She struggled to a sore stand on wobbly legs and pushed the buckskin flap aside. An afternoon sun hung low in the sky. A cache of meat hung in a gnarled mesquite tree. She put a hand to the trunk and stood on tiptoes to reach a haunch. The cooked venison peeled off easily and she brought a piece of thigh back in. “Aren’t you worried animals will get that meat?” She nibbled at the food.

“No one bothers Laila. Drink.” She handed Rose a small clay cup of dark liquid.

“Is this the medicine you’ve been giving me?”

A nod.

As foul as it smelled, Rose expected to have to choke it down, but the brew swallowed smoothly. It warmed her throat and filled her stomach. “That was…very good. What do you call it?”

“Nothing.”

Nothing. Like her life was turning out. Injured and stranded here with no way to leave and no money to leave with. She didn’t usually feel sorry for herself, but the emotion surged now. Where was Del? She knew why he left, why he had to leave, but still, it hurt.

Laila interrupted her thoughts. “Help is coming.”

“Someone’s on the way? How do you…know?”

“Soon.”

If only that were true. She let hope flicker in her soul for a moment. Probably not Del—she was sure he was chasing her shooter and Rodrigo. Who else knew she was here? And where was here? She sat up on the soft, decorative woven rug, feeling thankful, yet uneasy. For now, the potion was doing its job, calming her, easing her discomfort. Eating more of the venison revealed how famished she was after all. The meat was tender and delicious. Smoked somehow. She washed it down with a cup of clear, cold spring water. “You seem to have some kind of magic.”

Laila shook her head. “The men think so, so I let them. What I know I learned from my ancestors. Not magic.” For the first time, the woman wore a small smile. “You are healer, too.”

The shaman was full of surprises. Rose nodded. A full stomach and her eyelids soon drooped.

A hand to her shoulder woke her. “Wha—”

“It’s me, Rose. Kip. Kip Holloway.”

“Kip?” She propped herself on an arm. “What are you doing? How did you know where I was?”

“Your sweetheart told me before he rode off with you.”

“Del? He did? He’s not my…um…”

“Your smiling eyes say different. His do, too.” Kip’s laugh filled the wigwam.

“They do?” A blush warmed her face, and she put a hand to her cheek. She remembered little of the ride here besides the searing pain in her shoulder and Del holding her. “Where are we?”

“Outside the little town of Puerto de Luna a good way. Laila’s a well-known Pecos Indian healer along this trail. Del hurried away with you before I had a chance to tell him about her. She’s gotten you back on your feet sooner than you should be. We’ll head out in the morning, okay?”

“Head out where?”

“Back to the cattle drive.”

“Del’s not there, is he? Rodrigo?”

Kip shook his head.

“Then I’m not going back, either. My guess is he’s tracking that outlaw. The one who took Rodrigo.”

“I’m sure he is. Figured you might say that, so I already told Stoney we wouldn’t be back for a while.”

“You did? I’m sure that made him mad.”

“You’da thought so, but he just nodded and waved me away. Took it pretty well, all things considered, said he’s never dealt with anything like you and the boy on a drive. He also said something surprising. Said they’d try to sell the rest of the beeves at Fort Union and Trinidad instead of goin’ all the way north to Denver. Sounded like they might be on the return trip sooner than later.”

They walked out of the tipi together. “Uh huh. So Del is after…”

“Tyson, Pete Tyson. Laila said Del headed back toward Santa Rosa so that’s where we go. Unless…”

“What?”

“It ain’t likely, but it’s possible Tyson’s lookin’ for you. Probably would’ve taken you back at camp if he hadn’t shot you. Could be he’s doublin’ back this way.”

“How would he know where I am? I don’t even know.”

“Del said this is Tyson’s homeland. He probably knows there’s only a few places Del could’ve taken you for doctorin’ hereabouts, this bein’ the closest one to our camp. Could be that Tyson’s watchin’ us right now.”

Rose shuddered. The thought of that monster having her in his sights again gave her the shakes. She forced the image back. “I don’t think Tyson would head this way with Rodrigo. Tyson’s evil, but I doubt he’s smart enough to have thought this all through. Del said Tyson murdered his father, who rode in Tyson’s gang. It was Tyson who raided Del’s ranch house and murdered his family. But Del heard Tyson utter another man’s name that night before he passed out. Del didn’t remember who, but he said it sounded like someone else ordered his family killed and his ranch burned.”

“Could be, I suppose. Right now, what matters is getting you safely to wherever we’re goin’.”

“Santa Rosa is the only way we know Del went, so that’s where we’ll ride. And safe isn’t the most important part of this right now. Finding Del and Rodrigo is.”

“You’re the boss.” Kip gazed east. “If I know Del, he’ll go after Tyson in a straight line.”

“How far is it?” She flexed her shoulder.

“A few hours. We can rest up here tonight and still be there late morning.” Kip hesitated. “We don’t have to ride real hard, just keep a good pace.”

Rose shook her head. “Let’s don’t wait, let’s leave now. And don’t ride slow ’cause of me.” She hoped she’d be able to keep up. She thanked Laila, who gave her a small bottle of the dark liquid, and mounted up with Kip’s help on the other horse he brought. “Let’s go, slowpoke, time’s a wastin’.” A kick to the horse’s flanks and she lit out.

Kip shook his head as he watched her leave. He was almost jealous Del had somebody like Rose so set on finding him. But Del would do the same for him. He spurred away hard.

Rose struggled with the need to hurry, protect her shoulder, and keep an eye out for Tyson.

Kip pulled up miles later for dinner. There’d be no cook fire tonight. He tugged some of Buck’s provisions out of his saddlebag. He laid out fry bread and beef jerky, followed by coffee beans and water, but without a fire the latter two didn’t mix well.

Rose smoothed a small spot on the cool ground and wrapped the beautiful blanket Laila gave her around herself. She glanced his way as silver stars pierced the clear night sky. “We’re going to find him, aren’t we? Please, Lord.” She hoped he would say ‘yes.’

“Been trailin’ long enough to have notions about things. Don’t know for sure how these worries are gonna turn out, but I have the feeling we’re on the right track.”

That was good enough for Rose.

They rode at first light, her thoughts circling back to the cattle drive. Was Daisy all right? The dog would stay in camp with Buck after Rose left, wouldn’t she? Why did Tyson take Rodrigo and leave her? How scared the child must be, away from Del. And her. Where was Del? Nothing was right. Everything had spun out of control—a feeling she hated. She let herself think a thought that she’d stuffed away time and again. She had no family left back east. Her whole world now was—Del. And Rodrigo. Kip’s suggestion that she ride back to camp held no appeal. No reason to do that anymore.

She spurred her mount, her life little more than a question mark.