Wes confronted you. No matter how long he’s been pursuing you, any woman would be offended by such a public announcement. However, if you turn your back on them, your father may never let you return. You and Geneen know your father to be one of the most stubborn men ever created.”
“Now, Bessie, we don’t want to judge her father.” The reverend stepped forward, touching his wife’s arm.
“Of course, you’re right,” Mrs. Olford agreed. “Geneen, it would be best if you returned to the restaurant while we take Sarah home. In a few days, I’m sure everyone will be calm enough to discuss Wes’s offer in a more rational way.”
“I’ll ride into town tomorrow to visit you, Sarah, and bring your clothes.” Leaning up, Geneen kissed her sister on the cheek. “All will be well. I’m certain of it.”
Sarah’s grim smile was all the response Geneen received as she left.
“Come, dear. We’ll get you settled, then make tea. Tomorrow will be soon enough to decide what you want to do.”
“Are you certain this is the trail, Colin?” Quinn rode Warrior, his five-year-old stallion, in circles, looking for the landmark Angus had told them about.
Colin didn’t answer as he and Brodie did the same, trying to locate the rock with a whitewashed arrow.
“Here it is.” Brodie slid from Hunter, walking his gelding toward a large boulder hidden by bushes. Pulling them aside revealed a white arrow, the word Oregon crudely written below. “Uncle Angus was right. What say we ride another hour, then camp?”
“We can get an early start tomorrow,” Colin agreed, turning Chieftain northwest.
All on the same day, Colin, Quinn, Brodie, and Blaine had gotten their horses from a local rancher who’d decided to sell his small place and move to Oregon to be closer to his daughter. Angus had negotiated a purchase for the land and animals. It had been a good outcome for everyone.
As the sun fell behind the mountains to the west, they sat around a fire, eating hardtack and jerky. Tomorrow, they’d take a day and hunt for game, hoping to replenish their supplies until they reached Mindell, the last town before reaching southern Oregon.
“Who’s the girl you were talking to at church before we left?” Quinn glanced at Brodie as he tossed a few twigs on the fire.
“Which one?”
“The one I didn’t recognize,” Quinn smirked. “Dark hair, round face.” He prided himself on knowing all the eligible young women in town. He had no plans to court or do anything else with a local girl, but he enjoyed flirting as much as any man.
“Louisa…Linda…Lillie…that’s it. Lillie. Her family bought the old Miller place west of town. She’s the same age as Jinny, so I introduced her.” At eighteen, Brodie’s younger sister had boys surrounding her wherever she went.
“I’m afraid you’re going to have your hands full with her,” Quinn said, standing to stretch. “How about some cards?” Pulling a deck from his saddlebag, he shuffled, then dealt.
“You hear from…” Brodie’s words trailed off as Colin put a finger to his lips, his eyes shifting to his left. Brodie nodded, setting his cards down. “Long day in the saddle. Gotta stretch.” Moving to a crouch, he rolled, pulling his gun the same instant as Colin and Quinn.
“Whoever’s out there, come out now.” Colin’s hard voice rang through the quiet night, signaling the others to spread out. A rustling noise, then footfalls had Colin up and running, followed by Quinn and Brodie. It didn’t take them long to spot and overtake the three fleeing forms, tackling them to the ground.
“What do you think you’re doing sneaking up…” Colin’s words died in his mouth as he turned the person over, long, golden hair spilling out of the hat. “What the hell?” he murmured, hearing the same bewildered curses from Quinn and Brodie when they discovered they’d wrestled two girls, and not boys, to the ground.
All hell broke loose as the three kicked
“Now, Bessie, we don’t want to judge her father.” The reverend stepped forward, touching his wife’s arm.
“Of course, you’re right,” Mrs. Olford agreed. “Geneen, it would be best if you returned to the restaurant while we take Sarah home. In a few days, I’m sure everyone will be calm enough to discuss Wes’s offer in a more rational way.”
“I’ll ride into town tomorrow to visit you, Sarah, and bring your clothes.” Leaning up, Geneen kissed her sister on the cheek. “All will be well. I’m certain of it.”
Sarah’s grim smile was all the response Geneen received as she left.
“Come, dear. We’ll get you settled, then make tea. Tomorrow will be soon enough to decide what you want to do.”
“Are you certain this is the trail, Colin?” Quinn rode Warrior, his five-year-old stallion, in circles, looking for the landmark Angus had told them about.
Colin didn’t answer as he and Brodie did the same, trying to locate the rock with a whitewashed arrow.
“Here it is.” Brodie slid from Hunter, walking his gelding toward a large boulder hidden by bushes. Pulling them aside revealed a white arrow, the word Oregon crudely written below. “Uncle Angus was right. What say we ride another hour, then camp?”
“We can get an early start tomorrow,” Colin agreed, turning Chieftain northwest.
All on the same day, Colin, Quinn, Brodie, and Blaine had gotten their horses from a local rancher who’d decided to sell his small place and move to Oregon to be closer to his daughter. Angus had negotiated a purchase for the land and animals. It had been a good outcome for everyone.
As the sun fell behind the mountains to the west, they sat around a fire, eating hardtack and jerky. Tomorrow, they’d take a day and hunt for game, hoping to replenish their supplies until they reached Mindell, the last town before reaching southern Oregon.
“Who’s the girl you were talking to at church before we left?” Quinn glanced at Brodie as he tossed a few twigs on the fire.
“Which one?”
“The one I didn’t recognize,” Quinn smirked. “Dark hair, round face.” He prided himself on knowing all the eligible young women in town. He had no plans to court or do anything else with a local girl, but he enjoyed flirting as much as any man.
“Louisa…Linda…Lillie…that’s it. Lillie. Her family bought the old Miller place west of town. She’s the same age as Jinny, so I introduced her.” At eighteen, Brodie’s younger sister had boys surrounding her wherever she went.
“I’m afraid you’re going to have your hands full with her,” Quinn said, standing to stretch. “How about some cards?” Pulling a deck from his saddlebag, he shuffled, then dealt.
“You hear from…” Brodie’s words trailed off as Colin put a finger to his lips, his eyes shifting to his left. Brodie nodded, setting his cards down. “Long day in the saddle. Gotta stretch.” Moving to a crouch, he rolled, pulling his gun the same instant as Colin and Quinn.
“Whoever’s out there, come out now.” Colin’s hard voice rang through the quiet night, signaling the others to spread out. A rustling noise, then footfalls had Colin up and running, followed by Quinn and Brodie. It didn’t take them long to spot and overtake the three fleeing forms, tackling them to the ground.
“What do you think you’re doing sneaking up…” Colin’s words died in his mouth as he turned the person over, long, golden hair spilling out of the hat. “What the hell?” he murmured, hearing the same bewildered curses from Quinn and Brodie when they discovered they’d wrestled two girls, and not boys, to the ground.
All hell broke loose as the three kicked
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