Part 23 (2/2)
Tyler lifted Daisy into the saddle and was just mounting up himself when they saw Willie Mozel coming through the forest at a trot.
”They're coming,” he managed to gasp.
”Who?” Tyler asked.
”The three men who tied me up. Old man Carver told me they were at his place last night. They plan to work their way along the ridge until they hit every cabin. They ought to be here before tonight.”
”Thanks,” Tyler said. ”You take care of yourself.” He took hold of the reins to the burro and started out at a trot.
”Who's coming?” Daisy asked. She didn't like riding at a trot. The burro had a rough stride. She didn't think she could stand the pain of being bounced in the saddle for long.
”The men who tried to kill you,” Tyler replied.
”How do you know it's the same men?” Daisy managed to call forward to Tyler despite the bouncing. Fear of these men clutched at her throat and made it hard for her to speak.
”They stopped by Willie's a few days ago asking about two young men,” he answered over his shoulder. ”They tied him up when they didn't like his answers. He got away and came here.”
”Why didn't you tell me?”
He slowed down to let her come along side. ”You would have worried. There was no need. They couldn't follow him. The snow covered his tracks.”
”But they could have come any time since.” She thought of the time she had spent outside the cabin, her thoughtless comings and goings, never looking over her shoulder, never checking to see if anyone were around.
”I told Zac. He was on the lookout.”
She turned her gaze away from overhanging limbs to glare at him. ”You told Zac, but you wouldn't tell me!” She was so mad she didn't feel the bouncing. He was the one person who had been telling her she could do anything she put her mind to, yet he didn't tell her three bloodthirsty killers were hot on her trail. What did he think she'd do, fall into a dead faint?
”What could you do?” Tyler asked. ”Besides, you were still recovering.”
”It's my life we're talking about here, Tyler Randolph. I think I have a right to know when it's in jeopardy.”
”Well you know now, so I don't see why you're so upset.”
”I know because I overheard Willie talking to you, not because you thought to tell me. That's why I'm upset.”
The trail had become so steep they had to slow down to a fast walk. Deep snow still remained in some places under the trees. The crust was hard, the footing icy. It would be all too easy for one of the animals to fall and break a leg.
”Willie didn't mean for you to hear. You shouldn't have been listening.”
”You're just like my father,” Daisy snapped. ”If it's men's talk, then women should be deaf, dumb, and blind. But when it comes to work, we're supposed to be smart enough to figure it out for ourselves.” She jerked on the burro's reins. The animal brayed its objection when she nearly bent his neck double to make him turn around on the narrow trail. He backed her into a pine tree, which retaliated by showering her with snow and ice.
”What are you doing?” Tyler asked.
”I'm going back,” Daisy said, digging her heels into the burro's flanks. ”You've been wanting to find these men for days.”
Tyler was at her side in a flash. He leaned out of the saddle and grabbed the reins of the burro. ”We can't go back up there. We'd be sitting ducks.”
”Why?” She yanked on the reins, but he wouldn't let go. ”We could hide in the cabin. You've got plenty of ammunition.”
”But we don't have plenty of food,” Tyler pointed out. ”They could starve us out. Or burn us out. There are three of them against one of me.”
”You forgot about me.”
”Can you shoot?”
Her gaze became less defiant. ”My father wouldn't let me learn.”
”One of me,” Tyler repeated. ”I can't take that risk with your life.”
”Can't we wait to get a look at them?” Her tone was more conciliatory.
”No. They're better mounted than we are. Our only hope is to be so far ahead they can't catch us before we reach Albuquerque.”
Daisy still didn't move. She looked unconvinced.
”If we stop them now, we may never find the man behind them. You'll never be safe until we know who he is and why he wants you dead.”
The thought sent chills up and down Daisy's spine. She might not have to worry about Guy jilting her. She could be dead before he got the chance.
”You won't be safe either,” Daisy said. ”Your life is as much in danger as mine.”
”But I can take care of myself. Now let's get moving. We can't afford to lose any more time.” Still holding the reins, Tyler turned the burro and started down the mountain.
”You've made your point,” he said without turning around to face her. ”I promise I won't keep anything from you.”
Daisy hadn't antic.i.p.ated the satisfaction that surged through her upon having gained that victory. She realized it was only a small thing, but she felt like she had achieved something momentous. For the first time, she had stood up for herself against a man and won a point. She liked the feeling and decided she was going to try it again as soon as she found the opportunity.
”What are they like?” Daisy asked.
”I never saw them,” Tyler replied, ”but they're plenty determined. They came back to check on the fire, and they found us in the mountains quicker than I thought possible. Somebody wants you dead real bad.”
Daisy wished she hadn't asked. She felt helpless to defend herself. ”The only person I can think of who might want to kill me is Bob Greene.”
”Why?”
”He wanted my father's land.”
”Enough to kill for it?”
”That's what doesn't make sense. It's not worth much, even as grazing land.”
”How much does he have?”
”I don't know. Our . . . my land runs from the river to the base of the mountains.”
Tyler whistled.
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