for a minute? I’m trying to apologize and you’re making it awfully difficult!”
“Well, pardon me! I guess most girls turn and bat their eyes when you turn all syrupy, but I’m not most girls.”
“Syrupy! Because I’m trying to say I’m sorry?” Boone’s insides clenched. This is why a man didn’t apologize for his actions! He glared at her.
Mindy glared back.
From behind, Lucas said, “I don’t mean to interrupt, but I’d appreciate if we could get going.”
“See what you’ve done?” Mindy said, kicking her horse forward.
• • •
They only managed about six miles that day, and even that seemed more than Lucas could bear. By the time they stopped, Mindy noticed a small amount of blood on his freshly washed shirt. She instantly sprang into action, ordering the big man to lie down and let her check the site of the wound.
Her hands were quickly unbuttoning his silk shirt and in a moment, one sweet hand was feeling the spot of the gunshot. Boone watched in shock while Lucas smiled.
“There’s too much heat here to suit me,” she said. “We’re going to have to take it slower.” She looked at Boone. “Or should we go faster?”
Boone shrugged. At this minute, Lucas could have died on the spot and he wouldn’t have spent a moment in disappointment. “How should I know? You’re the doctor.”
While Mindy doted on the blond-headed man, Boone stomped into the woods and collected what he needed for a fire. Soon a roaring blaze was going.
“It’ll be twilight before long,” Boone said. “I’m going to see what I can find for supper.” He was confused about his feelings. He liked Lucas, but had begun to think of him as a rival for Melinda’s affections. He was so frustrated he didn’t know whether to scratch his tail or wind his watch. “I’ll be back.”
Mindy, distracted, just nodded.
• • •
Boone was busy creating a simple springle by twisting a flexible piece of green wood into a hoop and sticking both ends in the ground. He tied a short piece of string to one end and then baited it with berries he found nearby. He stretched out a little distance away to await an unsuspecting hare or squirrel.
Just as he closed his eyes for a doze, he was startled by the presence of two men standing over him.
One held a wicked knife and the other a gun. The Byler brothers, Lee and Rich, smiled at one another and then at their captive. “Looks like we meet again, cowboy,” Lee said. “I feel right sure our paths are determined to cross until I get what I’m after. From what that girl said, you know more about the gold than you’ve let on.”
“That girl is crazy,” Boone replied.
“Maybe so, but me and my little brother here are aiming to find out exactly what she was trying to say.” Lee gestured to Rich. “Take his vest.”
Boone considered struggling as Rich wrenched the piece of clothing from him, but decided against it. Let ’em have the money — he wanted to be sure to get back to Mindy and Lucas, if possible.
“Hoo-wee, Lee!” Rich said after ripping open the lining of Boone’s vest. “Here it is! Cash and bonds, though. No gold.” He counted quickly, stumbling several times, before he said, “There’s more than three thousand dollars here, brother!”
Lee grinned and took the stack of papers. “This is my money you were hiding, friend, and I don’t take too kindly to having to search for it.” He gestured to Rich again. “Take care of him. And I don’t want to see any gut-shots. Make it permanent.” He turned to walk away.
Rich glanced at his brother in surprise. “Me? Why me?”
“You’re the one with the gun, stupid. Make it quick, we don’t know where that other fellow is.” He stomped through the bushes counting the cash.
Rich looked down at Boone and shrugged. He aimed the weapon carefully.
Boone’s mouth was dry. He had known that his job was a dangerous one, but it never occurred to him that it might end this way. He immediately
“Well, pardon me! I guess most girls turn and bat their eyes when you turn all syrupy, but I’m not most girls.”
“Syrupy! Because I’m trying to say I’m sorry?” Boone’s insides clenched. This is why a man didn’t apologize for his actions! He glared at her.
Mindy glared back.
From behind, Lucas said, “I don’t mean to interrupt, but I’d appreciate if we could get going.”
“See what you’ve done?” Mindy said, kicking her horse forward.
• • •
They only managed about six miles that day, and even that seemed more than Lucas could bear. By the time they stopped, Mindy noticed a small amount of blood on his freshly washed shirt. She instantly sprang into action, ordering the big man to lie down and let her check the site of the wound.
Her hands were quickly unbuttoning his silk shirt and in a moment, one sweet hand was feeling the spot of the gunshot. Boone watched in shock while Lucas smiled.
“There’s too much heat here to suit me,” she said. “We’re going to have to take it slower.” She looked at Boone. “Or should we go faster?”
Boone shrugged. At this minute, Lucas could have died on the spot and he wouldn’t have spent a moment in disappointment. “How should I know? You’re the doctor.”
While Mindy doted on the blond-headed man, Boone stomped into the woods and collected what he needed for a fire. Soon a roaring blaze was going.
“It’ll be twilight before long,” Boone said. “I’m going to see what I can find for supper.” He was confused about his feelings. He liked Lucas, but had begun to think of him as a rival for Melinda’s affections. He was so frustrated he didn’t know whether to scratch his tail or wind his watch. “I’ll be back.”
Mindy, distracted, just nodded.
• • •
Boone was busy creating a simple springle by twisting a flexible piece of green wood into a hoop and sticking both ends in the ground. He tied a short piece of string to one end and then baited it with berries he found nearby. He stretched out a little distance away to await an unsuspecting hare or squirrel.
Just as he closed his eyes for a doze, he was startled by the presence of two men standing over him.
One held a wicked knife and the other a gun. The Byler brothers, Lee and Rich, smiled at one another and then at their captive. “Looks like we meet again, cowboy,” Lee said. “I feel right sure our paths are determined to cross until I get what I’m after. From what that girl said, you know more about the gold than you’ve let on.”
“That girl is crazy,” Boone replied.
“Maybe so, but me and my little brother here are aiming to find out exactly what she was trying to say.” Lee gestured to Rich. “Take his vest.”
Boone considered struggling as Rich wrenched the piece of clothing from him, but decided against it. Let ’em have the money — he wanted to be sure to get back to Mindy and Lucas, if possible.
“Hoo-wee, Lee!” Rich said after ripping open the lining of Boone’s vest. “Here it is! Cash and bonds, though. No gold.” He counted quickly, stumbling several times, before he said, “There’s more than three thousand dollars here, brother!”
Lee grinned and took the stack of papers. “This is my money you were hiding, friend, and I don’t take too kindly to having to search for it.” He gestured to Rich again. “Take care of him. And I don’t want to see any gut-shots. Make it permanent.” He turned to walk away.
Rich glanced at his brother in surprise. “Me? Why me?”
“You’re the one with the gun, stupid. Make it quick, we don’t know where that other fellow is.” He stomped through the bushes counting the cash.
Rich looked down at Boone and shrugged. He aimed the weapon carefully.
Boone’s mouth was dry. He had known that his job was a dangerous one, but it never occurred to him that it might end this way. He immediately
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