Page 75 of A Dangerous Heart
Isaac couldn’t help himself. He grabbed Bullet’s halter and urged him out of the water and onto the riverbank. The camp came into sight—the smoke from the fire, the tents, and the chuck wagon.
Where—
Everything happened in an instant. Isaac saw Clare on the ground, Victor standing over her with a gun drawn. Someone shouted from the edge of the camp. Nick’s whippoorwill whistle trilled out.
Chaos unfolded.
Isaac vaulted into the saddle and spurred Bullet into a gallop toward the camp, Drew on his tail.
Gunshots rang out from the camp, answered by shots fired from the bridge.
A bullet whizzed by Isaac’s ear. Realizing he was too easy a target on horseback, he slid off Bullet’s back and hit the ground at a run, slapping the horse’s flank. Bullet bolted for the trees.
Danna and Jack rushed toward the camp on horseback, hooves pounding as their rifles fired from the saddle. Drew wheeled off in another direction.
Isaac crouched low, still running. He’d lost sight of Clare. Closing in on the tents, he scanned the chaotic scene. Danna and Jack had taken control of the camp’s far edge, their rifles cracking with precision. A few of Victor’s men were fleeing toward the trees, their shouts fading into the night. Drew’s gunfire echoed from the opposite direction, pinning down the stragglers.
Hope surged. They were winning.
Closing in on the tents, he saw a man’s head and shoulders lean out of the nearest one, gun aimed. Isaac didn’t think. He drew and fired, intentionally hitting the tent pole. The man ducked back inside, the pole toppled, and the tent folded in onhim. Isaac looked beyond the collapsed tent, but the place where Clare and Victor had been was now empty.
Guns fired. Bullets flew. A howl of pain erupted from nearby. He turned on his heel, searching the area?—
Another tent flap opened, and a shadow moved inside.
Clare?
Isaac dove inside, gun at the ready.
And came face-to-face with Eli—pale, wide-eyed, and terror-stricken. A bruise darkened one cheek. The boy fought to keep his composure, but the moment Isaac whispered “Hey, kid,” Eli’s face crumpled.
Isaac held out his left hand, and Eli threw himself into Isaac’s embrace, burying his face in Isaac’s ribs. Isaac lowered his head to press his chin against the boy’s hair, holding his shaking body tightly. Memories of Cody surfaced anew, this time without the sharpness of the guilt and grief Isaac had carried so long.
He’d always have a place in his heart for Cody. But right now, Eli needed him.
“I’m sorry,” Eli choked out.
“Shhh,” Isaac whispered. “I’m gonna get you out of here.”
“Is Ben all right?”
Isaac was so focused on listening for noise outside the tent that he barely heard Eli’s quiet murmur. Was that cry Clare’s voice?
“Come out, McGraw!” Victor shouted.
Eli’s body jerked.
They couldn’t stay here. Isaac knew it. The canvas offered no protection. If Victor started shooting, he and Eli would both be easy enough to hit.
“I know you’re in there!” Victor called.
The pop of gunshots had tapered off. What did that mean? Had Danna subdued most of the gang? Or perhaps not.
Not if Victor was still free.
Had Victor’s men prevailed?
Boots scuffled in the dirt outside the tent. He had to get Eli out of here. Isaac’s gaze swept around the small tent. The call of a whippoorwill broke the eerie quiet. Not a particularly good call—Nick was losing his touch. But he was out there somewhere, thank God.
