Page 80 of Wild Horses

Jack glanced in the direction she was looking. “No. That’s Monument Rocks.”

Alex slid out of her saddle and stared in the direction of the rocks. She’d read about them. The chalk pyramid formations were a natural wonder created millions of years ago and a stagecoach trail passed close by them. They were near the Smokey Hill Trail.

And Indian territory.

Her nervousness about being alone with Jack evaporated in an instant. He was the least of her problems at the moment.

“How far are we from Dodge City?”

“Oh, I don’t know. A hundred miles or so.”

They were still three days out. She caught her bottom lip between her teeth and squinted into the distance. If she remembered correctly, there was a fort somewhere nearby. If she could find it, she could warn them as to what had happened.

She turned in a complete circle, searching the horizon for anything that looked like a fort and saw nothing. They were still too far away from anything to make out the shapes clearly.

“Is it safe to stop here?”

“As safe as it will be to stop tomorrow.” He pulled his saddle from his horse and tossed it to the ground. “We’ll have to sleep in shifts. I’d hate to get scalped in my sleep.”

Alex raised an eyebrow. “What makes you think I won’t scalp you in your sleep?”

He grinned. “You could, but I don’t think you will. This is Indian territory. If they’re hunting in the area, having me around might just save your life.”

As much as she hated to admit it, he had a point. She spent the next twenty minutes seeing to her horse and laying out her bedrolls as Jack did the same. When she was finished she stared off toward Monument Rocks again. “I guess a fire is out of the question.”

“It is unless you want to signal to anyone in the area that we’re here, which I wouldn’t suggest.”

As much as she’d like to be found, a band of Indian warriors wasn’t exactly the rescue party she was looking for. Jack was right. She needed him to keep her safe. He was the only one with a gun. She looked at his saddle bags. Was her derringer in with his things?

There was a bit of vegetation a short distance away. A few scraggly bushes she could use to relieve herself in privacy and she had every intention of using it but Jack beat her to it.

“Stay put,” he said, “I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

She watched him walk away before throwing over her shoulder, “Care if I get the food out? I’m hungry.”

“Help yourself.”

Alex grinned when he walked away and made her way to his saddle bags, rummaging through both bags and came away with nothing. Just the food Isaac had packed and Jack’s clothing. Where was her derringer?

Sighing, she laid the food out then shoved everything back inside the bag before taking a seat on her bedroll. She glanced around their little camp, spotting a large rock by her foot and smiled. Stretching her leg, she hooked it with her foot and pulled it to her, sliding it under her blankets for later. She might not have a gun but Jack’s head would crack like an egg if she hit him hard enough. She’d take his gun and ammo and ride hellbent for Dodge.

The scuffling of boots drew her attention a few minutes later and she glanced over her shoulder, eyes widening when she saw Jack dragging someone toward their camp. Her heart slammed against her ribcage. Was it Jesse? Did he keep his word and come after her like he said he would? When they were near enough to see clearly in the dark, her eyes widened. “Owen! What in the world?” His young face filled with regret as he met her gaze.

“Found him lurking near the bushes.” Jack tossed him near her feet and laughed. “I knew we were being followed. I just never guessed it would be by this one. You’re brave, kid.”

Owen grunted when he hit the ground, his face turning red as he glared up at Jack. When he looked her way, he mumbled, “Sorry, Alex,” and sat up, rubbing his elbow. “I know Jesse told me to head to town but I didn’t ride fast enough. I saw you two behind me and thought it was Indians and rode off in another direction until you passed. When I saw it was you and Jack, I thought it might be better to stay close by in case you needed me.”

She stared at him in disbelief. Only a few years older than her brother and he was trying to protect her. Why did all the men in her life feel the need to do that? She wasn’t some—damsel in distress who needed coddling. She was Alexandra Avery. She was an independent woman who was capable of anything she set her mind to. She didn’t need a man to make her life better. She could do everything herself.

Except get away from an outlaw.

She threw a smile Owen’s way, acknowledging his attempt to rescue her. As much as she appreciated the gesture, they would have both been better off if he had ridden into town and gotten the sheriff. At least they wouldn’t both be caught with no way out.

Standing, she looked at Jack. “I need a few minutes of privacy.”

He lowered his head, looking up at her with brows drawn. “Don’t try anything stupid. You try to run and I will shoot you in the back. I don’t need you to get paid regardless of what you think.”

She walked away with thoughts of that rock she’d hidden under her blankets. The moment he went to sleep, she’d rescue herself.

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