Page 75 of A Whiskey River Princess

As quickly as he could manage, he walked around the house to the window and the tracks were still visible. It was clear that there were several men, from the look of the boot tracks in the snow. Rage filled him as he ran toward the barn, saddled up Angel, and ran with her as quickly as he could, following the tracks toward Whiskey River. Wind blew across his face, helping to wake him, to clear his mind, to focus on catching those bastards.

He pushed Angel onward. Their tracks were still visible, despite the falling snow. To his amazement, it looked as if they were headed toward Whiskey River. Angel started to stumble in the snow, so he slowed and patted her warm coat.

“Good girl,” he cooed, rubbing her neck. “I’m sorry, girl. but we need to find Gabriella.” He slowed her down to a walk. She was still breathing heavily, but not as badly. “I’m so sorry, girl.” Dirk walked her into town, knowing she needed a minute to rest. “Please forgive me.” He knew she would quite literally run herself to death for him, if he asked. She was a good horse.

Angel turned around and nickered softly as she bobbed her head, and then turned her attention back to the road.

Dirk shook his head, amazed that she seemed to understand every word he said. In fact, animals seemed to understand him better than humans… except for Gabby. She had seemed to understand him better than anyone else he’d ever met.

Of her own accord, Angel walked into the livery stable and over to the hitching post where she knew Dirk would take off her saddle and her bridle.

“That’s a good girl.” Dirk hurried to uncinch her saddle, pulled off her blanket, and then began to give her a rubdown so she wouldn’t freeze to death in her own sweat. She held still, leaning into the rag as he rubbed her wet coat. When she was ready, he walked her around the back, knowing that she had to walk a bit to slow down her heart. He just hoped he didn’t loseher, too. Not today. But soon, her breathing slowed, and she perked up a bit, appearing to be more like her old self again.

“What’s going on?” Billy asked behind him, arriving for the day.

“Oh, Billy! Thank God you’re here,” Dirk said as he threw the rag at him. “Can you rub down Angel for me and take care of her? I have to go.”

A crease formed between Billy’s eyes. “Sure. What happened?”

“Gabriella’s gone and I have to find her. I think the Dougherty Boys took her.”

“Do you think this has anything to do with the general store being robbed this morning?” Billy replied.

Rage filled Dirk’s chest. “Yes, probably. Billy, go get Harrison Curry at the hotel and tell him to get Daxton at his house. I’ll stay here with Angel until you get back.”

Without another word, Billy ran out the door as quickly as he could.

Dirk needed another horse.. and fast. Thank goodness, a new horse had arrived over Christmas. He had bought Jaguar from one of the local ranchers before the blizzard. Billy must have received him.

Dirk flung a stall door open and hooked a lead strap to the solid black stallion, hoping he was as fast as he looked. Gabriella’s life depended on it.

“Come on, Jaguar. I need you today.” Dirk saddled him up and slipped on his bridle, as Angel looked on.

“He’s on his way.” Billy ran back in breathless, just as Dirk was finishing up. “I’m coming, too.”

Dirk shook his head as he led Jaguar from the stables and mounted him, taking the reins in hand. “No, stay here and take care of Angel for me. Daxton will come with me.”

Billy nodded once.

“Yah!” Dirk shouted as he leaned forward in the saddle, urging Jaguar into a dead run. Dirk rode out of town as hard as he dared in the cold and snow, following the tracks of the Dougherty Boys. He had to find Gabriella… before it was too late.

Chapter 16

Gabriella

As the horses galloped out of Whiskey River through the blinding snow, Gabriella thought of Monaco and if she would ever see it again. The Prince’s Palace where she had grown up seemed far away now, unreal, another lifetime. Somehow, her life over the past month had become her new reality. It was as if she had known nothing else.

As the mare galloped with ease through the snow-covered forest, a shiver ran over her as she bent down close to the horse. Although it would never have been acceptable when she was riding at home, she gripped the saddle horn and held on tightly with her knees. The temperature was dropping, and the snow was falling hard. Even though it was early morning and the sun had just come up, they needed to find shelter soon. If not, they would freeze to death before they could get far.

“Okay.” Harley stood in the stirrups and rubbed his rump. “The snow’s piling up. We have to find shelter… now.”

“Oh, shut up,” Blake ordered, but he pulled back on the reins of his horse, slowing to a trot.

“But, Blake!” Clayton pulled back on his horse. “We’ll freeze to death before we get there!”

“Both of you, stop your whining!” Blake barked as he pulled his horse to a walk. “Shut up and give me a chance to think.”

The others pulled their horses to a walk, too, as they all grew quiet. The wind whistling through the trees, the horses panting, and the occasional hoot of an owl were the only sounds.

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