Blue woke up, slumped over Charger’s neck. She looked around and saw they were down from the mountain but didn’t know where she was. The road was nowhere in sight.
She started to stretch, but her hands were still tied to the saddle horn. After undoing all the leather ties, she climbed down from the horse and hobbled him. After taking care of her business, she grabbed food from the saddlebag and the canteen.
After a quick breakfast, she prayed the Lord would lead her to Shade. Blue wasn’t even sure if she was going the right direction. She packed up her things and went to Charger. “I hope you remember where your home is. Let’s go.”
She climbed into the saddle and reined him south. Then she dropped the reins to let him pick his way to go home. “Go, Charger, find your barn.”
The horse picked up his pace and trotted for a distance before some grass caught his attention. Blue kicked him again, and he finally began trotting. After an hour, they came to a road.
The horse paused and then turned east.
“That’s a boy. Find your home.” She relaxed in the saddle and was sure he was taking her to Shade. Everything was going to work out. She knew it.
Suddenly, she heard the sound of horses running. Blue turned and saw riders bearing down on her.
Fear choked her. She grabbed the reins and kicked Charger. He jumped forward and galloped down the road.
Blue crouched down low over the saddle and held onto the horse’s mane, shouting for him to run. She was confident they could outrun the men behind her, but suddenly one of the riders rode up beside her and grabbed the reins.
“Slow down, kid.” He was a gruff man and big with mean eyes.
The horses came to a halt, and the big man looked at her. “It’s your horse, Sheriff, but she’s only a girl.”
“Where’d you get this horse?”
She shook her head.
The man, who must be the sheriff because he had a star on his chest, rode up to her. “We’ve been looking for this horse. A man stole him from the livery. Where is he?”
Blue stared at him. They were all so big, making her feel even smaller. “I borrowed him.”
“Borrowed, heh?” The sheriff smiled at her. “We have a witness that says it was a man who took him. Do you know where he is?”
Blue shook her head. It wasn’t right to lie, but in all truth, she didn’t know where Trace was.
The big man glared at her. “We hang horse thieves. So, if you don’t want to hang, you better tell us where the man who stole the horse is.”
The sheriff shook his head and rode in front of the mean man. “Cyrus, get on back. I’ll take care of things.” He waited until the man he called Cyrus rode back to stay with the others. The sheriff smiled at her. “Let’s get you to town and feed you a good breakfast. You look hungry.”
“But I just wanted to return Charger to you.”
“Charger? Is that what you named him?”
Blue nodded. “He likes it. I gave it to him.”
The sheriff scratched his chin. “Now, I know you weren’t the one who stole—?”
Blue shook her head. “Borrowed. He even gave a hundred dollars to the boy in the barn.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, he told me he paid for the horse before he borrowed him.” Blue yawned.
“Where is this, he, who took my horse?”
Blue tilted her head. “He gave me the job of returning Charger to you.”
“And how are you getting back to your home?”
Blue stared at him. She hadn’t thought that far. Tears pooled in her eyes. “I don’t know.”
“You do have a mother and father and a home?”
She nodded. “I just got my father and home. I can’t lose them. You won’t hang him, will you?”
“Well, I need to meet him and consider the facts.”
Blue sobbed. “Are you going to hang me?”
“I don’t think so.” The sheriff picked up her reins. “I’ll lead you back to town. My wife can fix you something to eat.”
Feeling miserable, Blue stared at him. “I’ll have to borrow another horse to get home. How will we stop it? I’ll have to keep coming back to give you the horse I borrow?”
The sheriff grinned. “You let me take care of that. Right now, you need some dinner and maybe a bed to sleep in.”
Blue noticed the sheriff seemed pleased, but his brother looked at her as if he’d like to take her to the creek and throw her in like an unwanted puppy. She prayed that Trace would be safe, and Cyrus wouldn’t go after him. But down in her stomach, she had a bad feeling toward the man and knew that he’d do Trace harm if he could.
She followed the sheriff, realizing how hungry and tired she was. Blue decided she’d worry about how to get home tomorrow.
***
Trace was at the edge of the mountain he’d just ridden down and stopped to look for hoofprints. He’d been following Blue for the last hour. By Charger’s wavering line, he figured Blue must either be asleep or letting him roam. The horse’s path zigzagged across the road, but he was on the trail to Shade.
Making sure to swing wide and stay away from the town of Ledbetter, Trace hoped to avoid trouble with Kiley. One problem at a time. He looked over his shoulder at the mountain he’d just left.
He hoped Lizzie stayed with one of the families, but he had a hunch she was on her way up the mountain. Trace debated about waiting for her but decided Blue needed him more. Lizzie was a tough woman and used to being on her own. She’d do fine.
The moment he had the thought, Trace was blanketed with regret. Lizzie was his wife. He was responsible for her to keep her safe. He almost turned his horse around but stopped. Going after Blue was the right thing to do. It had to be.
He tapped the sides of his horse and galloped along the road to Shade. Soon he’d find out what his fate might be. It did give him comfort that Jesse knew of his plans to make sure Blue and Lizzie had his ranch if anything happened to him.
Then he was on the edge of the town. To ride in could result in a noose around his neck. But Blue might be there and in trouble. Cyrus was an evil man, and once he saw the sheriff’s horse, he was liable to do anything.
Trace rode into town. He passed by the livery and saw the kid who had been raking hay when Trace had taken Charger.
The boy looked at him with shock registering on his face. He pointed down the road. “The sheriff’s office.”
Trace nodded. He wasn’t sure if it was a good thing, but the kid did have a kind look in his eyes. It was time to trust, if not others, the Lord. This trail had been so crazy, Trace had to believe that the Lord was watching out for him.
He stopped in front of the jail, looked around, and got down. After tying the horse to the hitching post, Trace made sure the leather strap was off his pistol, said a silent prayer, and opened the door.
Blue was sitting in the chair at the sheriff’s desk eating dinner. A woman, who had to be the sheriff’s wife, was sitting next to her.
Blue turned, and her eyes brightened. She jumped up and ran to him. “I had to save you. I had to.”
Trace hugged her and knelt to look her in the eyes. “Blue, I thank you, but I’m your father now, and it’s my job to take care of you.” He hugged her to him.
“I love you, Trace. I felt like I had to set you free like you did Mama and me. I felt it in my heart.”
Trace stared at her. “You did fine, Blue. Where’s the sheriff?”
The woman smiled at him. “I’ve heard how wonderful you are. My husband just left to go to the stable and see his horse. He missed that animal something fierce. Said there might even be a reward for Blue.”
Trace stared at the woman. He hoped it wasn’t a reward on his head. “If you don’t mind watching Blue while I settle things with him.”
“Not at all. He’s expecting you.”
Trace wasn’t sure of what to make of the woman’s words. He apparently needed more time to learn to trust. He patted Blue’s head. “You stay here. I’ll be back.”
She nodded.
Trace walked out of the jail, stopped, and turned. He took off his gunbelt. “I’ll just leave this here, so there are no misunderstandings.”
The sheriff’s wife looked at him and nodded. “That’s wise. Watch Cyrus, though. He’s not to be trusted.”
“Thanks for the advice.” Trace left and walked to the livery. He waved at the kid still raking hay and walked into the barn.
The sheriff was brushing Charger but looked up and nodded. “I was expecting you. That little girl has painted a big picture of you. I was hoping to meet such a great man.”
Trace grinned. “She’s a good kid. I want you to know that in no way did I—”
“Put her up to bringing back the horse? Oh, I know that. One look in those innocent blue eyes told me all I needed to know. I’m not sure what you were when you took my horse, who I now understand is named Charger, but the man I heard about and see standing in front of me is a good man.”
“I did throw money at the kid when I took him. I was wrong, but Cyrus was trying to kill me.”
The sheriff frowned. “I know. My own brother. I’m not sure what to do with him. If he doesn’t straighten out, I’m afraid I’ll be burying him soon enough.”
The barn door swung shut, throwing the barn into shadows. “So, you came back to the scene of the crime. He stole your horse, Tom. And he cheated me in cards.”
Trace held his hands up. “I don’t have a gun. I didn’t cheat you, and you know it. I threw the money at the kid for the horse.”
The boy who had been raking peeked out behind a stall. “Sheriff, he’s telling the truth. I gave it to Cyrus. He was supposed to give it to you.”
The sheriff shook his head. “I got no quarrel with you. Trace Logan isn’t it? Cyrus, this man could have outdrawn you with his eyes closed. Somehow, I believe him more than you. I’m telling you now if you don’t stop drinking and playing cards, I’ll put you in jail as a vagrant.”
Cyrus glared at his brother. “You wouldn’t.”
“I should have a long time ago.”
Cyrus bolted out of the barn, cursing as he went.
The sheriff shook his head. “I’ll have to deal with him. Been a long time coming.” He went to Trace and shook his hand. “Thanks for taking good care of my horse. If you want to spend the night, I can put you and the girl up at my house.”
Thinking of Lizzie, Trace shook his head. “No, her mother will be worried. We better get going as soon as she’s finished eating.”
“That’s one brave little girl. Is it true that you’ve quit bounty hunting?”
Trace nodded. “That’s right. I have a ranch. More than that, I have a wife and little girl to take care of.”
The sheriff smiled. “I can see that. You know you’ll need a horse for the girl.”
Trace nodded. “I’ve got money to buy one.”
Patting Charger, he undid the rope and held it out to Trace. “I’d like to give Charger to her. He’s a good horse, but I was looking at getting a younger one. She loved this horse. And I think Charger likes her. I’d be honored if she rode him home and gave him all the care a little girl can give a horse.”
Trace looked at him. “You sure? I mean, I did take your horse.”
“No, I’m positive. I want to know Charger has a good home. I know that Blue will give it to him.”
Trace thanked him and bought a small saddle for Blue. “We better get going. I know her mother will be beyond worried.”
The sheriff looked at him. “Want me to ride with you? She told us about the man in the town her mother was from. Said he might hurt them.”
“I hate to trouble you. We’ll be fine.”
The sheriff patted Charger. “I’ll ride with you to the mountain.”
Seeing he wasn’t going to change the sheriff’s mind, Trace nodded. “It will be a pleasure. Thanks.”