rise, although most of the men were up and preparing for their day. Dax and Rachel stood on the porch and watched the two men disappear, hoping their journey would be safe and they’d return without incident.
The last year had seen an increase in Indian raids along the trial between Big Pine and Splendor. The worst occurred when a group of Sioux renegades killed a couple who fell behind in a wagon train. The Indians disappeared with the wagon before most of the settlers realized what had happened.
They cut across a trail north of Splendor, then dropped into the flatlands before connecting with what had become the main road to Big Pine. Bull kept up his pattern of riding ahead, then cutting back to check on Luke. Halfway to their destination, he pulled up alongside the wagon and motioned for Luke to stop.
“A group of settlers are stopped a mile up the trail. The wagon master hopes to reach the outskirts of Splendor tonight.” Bull wiped a sleeve across his forehead. “They saw what he believes was a Sioux scouting party a couple of hours outside of Big Pine.”
“They didn’t approach the wagons?”
Bull shook his head. “Just sat up on a ridge, watching.”
Luke reached for his canteen, took a long swallow, and handed it to Bull. “We’ll stop and talk with them. I want to know more about what they saw.”
He pulled to a stop alongside the lead wagon and jumped down, watching a man he thought to be the wagon master walk toward him. He nodded at Bull, then looked at Luke and exchanged introductions.
“Your man tells me you’re heading to Big Pine.”
“We are. He says you spotted a band of Sioux not far from here. I’d like to know more about what you saw.”
“Not much to tell. Looked to be about a dozen of them on horseback, sitting on a northeast ridge about five miles back. They didn’t try to hide and made no move to approach us. My scout is Sioux. He started to ride out and talk with them, but they disappeared back over the hill.”
“Have you heard of any recent attacks between Big Pine and Splendor?”
“That where you’re from?”
Luke nodded, then broke eye contact long enough to scan the horizon.
“I spoke with Sheriff Sterling when we first arrived in Big Pine. He knew of a couple instances of settlers making camp and having a horse or other supplies disappear. A few weeks ago the bodies of three cowhands were found a few miles from town. Appeared to be the work of Indians.” He pulled off his hat and scratched his head. “All I can figure is we’ve got a decent-sized group of people in the wagon train. Maybe they decided it was too great a risk. If they’d been looking to trade, I don’t know why they’d ride off the way they did.”
“We’d better all get moving. Don’t want to be stuck out here after dark.” Luke shook the man’s hand. “Maybe we’ll see you in Splendor.”
“Maybe so. Good luck to you.”
Luke and Bull kept going, spotting a small group of riders who appeared to be Sioux. As with the wagon train, they didn’t approach. The two had no idea what it meant.
By nightfall, they’d entered Big Pine, found hotel rooms, and had spoken with Sheriff Sterling. He told them nothing more than what the wagon master mentioned. There was one bit of information he did share which caught Luke’s interest. Three gold transport wagons had been attacked over the last two months.
“Good evening, gentlemen. What can I get you?”
“Hello, Miss Ginny. Whiskey for all of us,” Ellis said, leaning back in his chair.
She walked to the bar and watched as Al poured their drinks, then carried them to the table, setting a glass before each man.
“It’s a little quiet in here tonight.” Ellis dealt the cards while glancing about. Saturday was usually the busiest day all week, yet the tables were half-full and the bar almost empty.
“I heard King Tolbert is having a shindig at his place. Most of the town was invited.” She looked toward the doors as Gabe and
The last year had seen an increase in Indian raids along the trial between Big Pine and Splendor. The worst occurred when a group of Sioux renegades killed a couple who fell behind in a wagon train. The Indians disappeared with the wagon before most of the settlers realized what had happened.
They cut across a trail north of Splendor, then dropped into the flatlands before connecting with what had become the main road to Big Pine. Bull kept up his pattern of riding ahead, then cutting back to check on Luke. Halfway to their destination, he pulled up alongside the wagon and motioned for Luke to stop.
“A group of settlers are stopped a mile up the trail. The wagon master hopes to reach the outskirts of Splendor tonight.” Bull wiped a sleeve across his forehead. “They saw what he believes was a Sioux scouting party a couple of hours outside of Big Pine.”
“They didn’t approach the wagons?”
Bull shook his head. “Just sat up on a ridge, watching.”
Luke reached for his canteen, took a long swallow, and handed it to Bull. “We’ll stop and talk with them. I want to know more about what they saw.”
He pulled to a stop alongside the lead wagon and jumped down, watching a man he thought to be the wagon master walk toward him. He nodded at Bull, then looked at Luke and exchanged introductions.
“Your man tells me you’re heading to Big Pine.”
“We are. He says you spotted a band of Sioux not far from here. I’d like to know more about what you saw.”
“Not much to tell. Looked to be about a dozen of them on horseback, sitting on a northeast ridge about five miles back. They didn’t try to hide and made no move to approach us. My scout is Sioux. He started to ride out and talk with them, but they disappeared back over the hill.”
“Have you heard of any recent attacks between Big Pine and Splendor?”
“That where you’re from?”
Luke nodded, then broke eye contact long enough to scan the horizon.
“I spoke with Sheriff Sterling when we first arrived in Big Pine. He knew of a couple instances of settlers making camp and having a horse or other supplies disappear. A few weeks ago the bodies of three cowhands were found a few miles from town. Appeared to be the work of Indians.” He pulled off his hat and scratched his head. “All I can figure is we’ve got a decent-sized group of people in the wagon train. Maybe they decided it was too great a risk. If they’d been looking to trade, I don’t know why they’d ride off the way they did.”
“We’d better all get moving. Don’t want to be stuck out here after dark.” Luke shook the man’s hand. “Maybe we’ll see you in Splendor.”
“Maybe so. Good luck to you.”
Luke and Bull kept going, spotting a small group of riders who appeared to be Sioux. As with the wagon train, they didn’t approach. The two had no idea what it meant.
By nightfall, they’d entered Big Pine, found hotel rooms, and had spoken with Sheriff Sterling. He told them nothing more than what the wagon master mentioned. There was one bit of information he did share which caught Luke’s interest. Three gold transport wagons had been attacked over the last two months.
“Good evening, gentlemen. What can I get you?”
“Hello, Miss Ginny. Whiskey for all of us,” Ellis said, leaning back in his chair.
She walked to the bar and watched as Al poured their drinks, then carried them to the table, setting a glass before each man.
“It’s a little quiet in here tonight.” Ellis dealt the cards while glancing about. Saturday was usually the busiest day all week, yet the tables were half-full and the bar almost empty.
“I heard King Tolbert is having a shindig at his place. Most of the town was invited.” She looked toward the doors as Gabe and
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