31

“I can’t find a bead, but there were definitely horses up this trail today.” Heath crouched by something Justin couldn’t see, but it had to be evidence Heath was sure of. He pivoted on his boot and looked back. His face was shadowed by his Stetson, though his tone told Justin all he needed to know. Heath was beyond concerned.

“Is it possible they laid a false trail?” Justin was convinced those beads came from Angie. It was a message saying they were on the right trail. Anything else, he wasn’t so sure about.

“They’ve followed a trail none of us have heard of.” Heath peered up the strange stretch of rock. “A good trail, and on mostly solid stone. I think they’re confident enough, probably arrogant enough, to believe they’re safe from being followed. I doubt they took the time to lay a false trail.”

Cole said, “The moon is still low in the sky. We’ll be riding in near dark before long. Let’s head up this trail and hope we can see where they left it. We’ve got about one more turn, if we’re lucky, before we have to stop and wait for the sunrise.”

They’d been walking, leading their horses all night. Justin, sick with worry, clapped Heath on the shoulder. “We wouldn’t be this far without your help. Thank you.”

Heath looked back at Justin and nodded. “That Angie is a smart little thing, and that’s the reason we even have a chance.”

Angie slipped into the woods, going by feel more than sight. Touching trees and boulders, searching for something big enough to hide behind.

In the darkness she had no idea where she was exactly. Maybe she’d hide somewhere that, in the light of day, was obvious. Maybe she’d left footprints a five-week-old Hereford could follow.

Fighting panic, she groped her way around a rock that was waist-high and big enough around for concealment. She dropped behind it and stayed quiet for a bit. It was a thin defense against armed men, but it was all she could think to do for now.

She wrapped her arms around her pulled-up knees and steadied her breathing. Resting her chin on her knees, she began to pray.

But her prayer was soon interrupted by hooves moving fast down the trail nearby. It made her wonder how foolish she’d been to take the trail they’d used to bring her here—the very trail the men were riding on now as they looked for her, each of them spitting mad. What if instead she’d snuck deep into the woods up near the clearing? Wouldn’t she be safe now?

The self-doubt was driving her mad, and she shoved it aside. Her life was in God’s hands. She was ready to follow His leading. Meanwhile, she needed to pay attention to the situation for whatever opportunity showed itself.

Breathing in and out silently, she listened as the hoofbeats came closer, closer, closer.

Then they were upon her. One by one, three riders passed close by. She realized then she hadn’t ventured far off the trail at all. She wanted to take a peek at them, but decided against it, knowing it was an unwise move. Instead she waited as they moved on, and remained where she was until she couldn’t hear a sound.

A decision had to be made. Though she’d like to stay where she was, hiding like a frightened rabbit, this was her chance to run for help. Staying felt safe, but moving was the right thing to do. These men were still a danger to the Boden clan.

With a sudden resolve, she groped around until she found a good-sized rock, roughly round with jagged edges. Taking the same rope that had bound her hands, she used it to tie around the rock as tightly as she could make it. There, she’d just made a weapon she could swing like a war club, one she could use again and again. Since she’d never heard of such a thing before, she gave the credit to God.

Now she wouldn’t be completely helpless. Standing, she slipped out of her hiding spot and started again down the trail.

Those men with their evil plans were now the ones being followed. The predators had become the prey.

“We have to stop.” Heath rose from where he was hunkered down. “I don’t trust myself to go another step.”

Justin clamped his mouth shut before he said something foolish. He hated to admit it, but Heath was right—it was time they quit. If they missed the next turnoff, they might be making a mistake that would take them in the wrong direction.

“Let’s leave the trail and hide the horses in the woods.” Justin looked around. They were all exhausted. “If you can sleep, try to catch a few minutes. The day will begin to dawn in another hour. As soon as we can see again, we’ll head out.”

No one protested. No one suggested he needed sleep, too. While they rested, Justin went back to the edge of the trail. His mind was bombarded with all that could have happened to Angie. Though it sickened him, all he could think was he could handle anything, so long as she was alive.

Lord, whatever happens, please, save her life, he prayed.

After remaining hidden for what felt like an eternity, Angie peeked out onto the trail, and in the dim light of dawn she saw the men had left her line of sight. It was a grassy stretch here, a wider trail lined with majestic pines. She hadn’t seen trees like this before, so they must’ve passed this way while she was still unconscious.

She stepped onto the trail but stayed on the edge so she could get out of sight in a moment’s notice.

With the rope tied to the rock in hand, she took a moment to tie the loose end of the rope around her wrist. Now she could swing it and not lose it. She felt ready to face her enemies. Which wasn’t like her at all, and yet if forced to fight back, she was ready. One good whack on the head would show them. As much as she knew Watts was the man to fear, she also wouldn’t mind hitting Alonzo good and hard. Windy was every bit as much a traitor, but it was Alonzo whose betrayal seemed the greatest.

Besides, she owed him. Yep, one good whack on the head deserved another.

She hurried along, slowing, and looking carefully when coming to a turn in the trail. She took notice of any beads she found and picked them up, though she didn’t waste time searching for them.

After about an hour of pursuit, she came around a bend and caught sight of the three men. They had dismounted and were talking. She was surprised to see she could make them out at this distance. The day had indeed dawned, the light increasing with every minute that passed.

She stopped cold, prepared to dodge behind a nearby pine. She gripped her rope-and-rock weapon, ready to swing away.

Then, as quickly as she’d stopped, the three men vanished into the woods. Two across the trail from her, the other, Alonzo, on her side.

As if they’d heard something and were hiding just as she’d done.

And the only thing she could think of that they heard was someone coming. The Bodens . . .

They’d have the Bodens in a crossfire and cut them down without mercy. This probably wasn’t what they’d planned, but in the end it was what they’d meant by bait.

Determined not to let herself be used that way, she clutched her rock and moved to get herself in place to distract Alonzo, if not with a rock to the head, then with a scream to warn the Bodens.