Page 125 of The Ranger

Six riders emergedfrom Cooke’s canyon in a cloud of dust. They returned to the main road and brought their horses to a stop. “Did you see what was down there?” one of them asked then whistled. “I’d like to have some of that!” He slapped the nearest rider on the back.

“You and me both,” the other man said.

“Quiet, you two,” John snapped. “I’m thinking.”

“About?”

He looked at his younger brother. Randall was the second oldest of the four and the most likely to shoot someone. “I’m thinking that some of us are going to have to ride to the Triple-C and ask for work.”

Randall laughed. “Ya know they ain’t gonna hire us, It’s too late in the season.”

“I know that, but we told them folks that’s what our business was.”

“Oh, yeah.” Randall spit. “So, who’s gonna go?”

John looked at his brothers and their two young cousins. “Why don’t you take Leroy and Bill to the ranch, put on a show about looking for work, and the rest of us will go find the others.”

“I heard they’re camped outside of town, and that the rest are at the hotel,” Carmine, the third youngest said.

“That’s right.” John scanned their surroundings. “Depending on how many are at the hotel, that makes more than twenty of us.”

“Why does a man need over twenty hired guns to look for one measly girl?”

“And a boy,” another said. “He did say there were two of them.”

John glanced at Mick, the youngest of his brothers. “That’s his business. All I know is he pays well.” He gave his horse a kick. “Now let’s ride.”

Randall, Leroy, and Bill took off for the Triple-C while John, Carmine, and Mick headed back to town. They’d skirt around it, head across the prairie, and meet up with the rest of the hired guns and wait for further instructions. So long as the money was good, they’d stick this job out. Besides, no one was getting harmed and all they had to do was search the area. Why not help a man find his kids? Besides, he didn’t care if he was a lunatic so long as said lunatic paid well.

He kept telling himself that all the way back to Clear Creek.

* * *

Maida opened one eye,then the other, and realized her cheek was pressed against a hard chest. A bare one. She gasped and tried to pull away but couldn’t move.

Markhel peeled one eye open and looked down at her. His chest rumbled when he spoke, vibrating against her cheek. “You are better, little one?”

She looked around, remembered the horrible pain that wracked her, then compared it to the warm, safe embrace of Markhel. “I-I think so,” she whispered. It was all she could manage.

He loosened his hold and stretched out an arm. “Are you sure?” His voice was in no better shape than hers. He spoke barely above a whisper.

She nodded. “What happened?” She noticed Makama and Vale laid out on the grassy creek bank, soaking up the sun. “We were swimming...”

“Yes,” he said, his voice stronger now. He released her and climbed to his feet. “Can you stand?”

Land sakes, could she? She took the hand he offered and let him pull her to her feet. A wave of dizziness hit and she staggard.

Markhel caught her. “Give yourself a minute.”

She did, and noticed his voice was not as gentle as before. He was surveying the area with a wary look. “Those men, did they go to the ranch?”

“I do not know.” He put one hand against His Majesty and leaned his weight on it.

“Are you okay?” Concern filled her and she reached out to touch his arm.

He intercepted it. “I will be all right. And so will you.”

She thought a moment. She didn’t remember being sick, just... pain. “What happened?”