Promise Trail

by Shirleen Davies

  Lydia rubbed her hands up and down her arms as she paced around camp. It seemed like hours since Bull left, although Billy insisted the men hadn’t been gone that long. He’d done his best to keep her mind occupied with talk of the ranch and the upcoming wedding, but he’d gotten little response.

  “I’ve talked to Dax and Luke about moving back to Redemption’s Edge.” This got Lydia’s attention.

  “I thought you loved working for the Frey brothers.”

  “Frank and Hiram have been real fair with me and I’ve learned a lot, but they’re not young anymore, Lydia. Fact is, they’re ready to sell the ranch, move into town, and live out their old age in peace.” Billy slid both hands into his pockets, kicking the dirt. “I’d buy it if I had the money.”

  “Maybe they can work something out with Horace Clausen.” Lydia knew how much Billy wanted a piece of land of his own. The timing just didn’t seem to work.

  “I’m seventeen with a handful of money saved up. Even if I could work out a deal with the banker, I wouldn’t have enough to pay the men and keep the place going. It’s best if I move back.”

  Lydia crossed her arms, letting out a sigh. “Do they have a buyer?”

  “Not yet. My guess is Dax is going to talk to them. He and Luke buy up whatever they can, paying a fair price.”

  Her eyes lit up at the thought of the Pelletiers buying the ranch. “Well, there you have it. They purchase the Frey ranch, and you stay on to run it.”

  “There are three others older than me with more experience. No way I’d work for any of them, except maybe Travis. If Dax and Luke take over, I’ll come back to their ranch. Besides, it’s time I was closer to Margaret. It won’t be long before the boys come sniffing around. I want to be there to warn them off.”

  Lydia rolled her eyes. “She’s nine, Billy. It will be years before the boys come around.”

  “Trust me. It’s never too soon to start sending messages to all those randy boys in town.”

  “Billy!” Lydia choked out, her eyes wide.

  He started to laugh. “I’m joking with you. Still, it’s time I behaved as a big brother and not an almost stranger who shows up every few weeks for supper.”

  Shifting at the sound of approaching horses, Billy reached for his gun with one hand, pushing Lydia behind him with the other. “Get back in the bushes until we know who it is. Don’t come out until I come for you.”

  She started to protest, then stopped at the concentration on Billy’s face. Reminding herself she promised Bull to do as the men asked, she dashed behind the thick shrub, then pulled her gun from its holster.

  Travis, Johnny, and Tat joined Billy as she disappeared. All focused their weapons on the approaching riders, then let out a collective breath when they recognized Bull and Luke.

  “Where’s Mal?” Travis asked as he slipped his gun back into its holster.

  “Luke will explain. Where’s Lydia?” Bull scanned the area.

  “I told her to get back behind—” Billy stopped at Lydia’s shout.

  “I’m here, Bull.” Rushing to him, she wrapped her arms around his waist. “What did you find?”

  “Mal found their camp.”

  Dropping her arms, she jumped back, her eyes wide with excitement. “Then let’s go.”

  “Hold up.” Grabbing her arm, Bull pulled her back to him. “Listen to me, Lydia.”

  “But we have to leave.”

  He narrowed his gaze at her, waiting until he had her full attention. “We’re close to finding Sam, which means the danger will increase. White Buffalo took Sam to get to you.”

  Lydia’s patience diminished with each word. “I understand the danger, Bull. We already talked about it. Can’t we just leave?”

  “Not until I know you’ll do what you’re told when we find Sam. Do I have your word?”

  Pulling out of his grip, she took a step back, crossing her arms. “I already gave you my word.”

  “But will you keep it once Sam is in sight?”

  Lydia bit her lip, unable to meet his gaze. All she’d thought about since leaving the ranch was finding Sam, getting him back home. She hadn’t meant to lie to Bull, but she didn’t know what would happen once they found Sam.

  “It’s important White Buffalo not know you’re with us.”

  Stepping away, she raised an eyebrow, gesturing to the clothing she wore. “Do you think he’d recognize me in this?”

  Bull’s face softened as he reached out, tucking a stray strand of hair under the well-worn hat Lydia wore. “I don’t know what I’d do if anything happened to you.”

  “It’s time we leave, Bull.” Luke stood a few feet away, Prince’s reins in his hands.

  Bull nodded, looking down at Lydia. “Let’s go find your brother.”

  The knot in Lydia’s stomach tightened as they approached the spot where Bull and Luke had left Mal. The fact White Buffalo had allowed Mal to get so close nagged at her. He might be brutal with a nasty temper, but the Crow warrior was far from stupid. Lydia believed he knew the search party had gotten close, setting a trap to take another captive. She found herself praying she wasn’t right and they hadn’t found Mal.

  “There’s no sign of Mal or White Buffalo’s camp.” Luke pulled up close to Bull, signaling for Travis to join them as they continued on the trail. The sun touched the tops of the mountains to the east, its rays beginning to warm the chilly early morning air. “I figure they pulled out early and Mal followed. I want to ride ahead with Travis, see if we can catch up to him. I don’t like the idea of him being out there alone.”

  “Go ahead. We won’t be far behind.” Bull glanced behind him, seeing Billy, Tat, and Johnny close behind.

  Lydia watched Luke and Travis ride out, an uncomfortable dread settling over her. She shoved the hat further down on her head, making certain none of her strawberry blonde hair had fallen loose. She cringed, remembering the times White Buffalo had fingered her hair, staring at the locks as if they were a mystery. He’d called her Golden Bird, refusing to use her white name. Fear gripped her when she thought of what would happen if he ever got her back.

  As much as she tried to fight the panic, her thoughts kept returning to Sam and what White Buffalo may have already done to him. She knew the kinds of punishment he exacted against those who challenged him. The humiliation of the orphans escaping and his inability to recapture them must have cut deep, costing him the respect of the tribe and his uncle, Red Tail.

  Digging her heels into Angel, she moved forward, pulling alongside Bull. Lydia had to have faith the man she loved would do as he promised—find Sam and bring him home. She would not allow herself to focus on the danger awaiting them around the next bend.

  Chapter Four

  “It doesn’t look good, Luke.” Travis circled around the spot where he’d seen Mal’s tracks. All horses on Redemption’s Edge were shod with shoes made by Noah, stamped with the initials RE. The hoofprints of several other horses, all without shoes, caused a burning in his chest.

  “They circled back and captured him.” Luke didn’t attempt to hide the anger in his voice.

  “Let’s hope that’s all they did.” Travis turned his horse off the trail, searching the bushes, looking for any sign of Mal.

  “Over here!” Luke slid from his horse, spotting the familiar hat Mal always wore. Picking it up, he slapped it against his thigh, cursing at the discovery. “How could I have been so stupid as to leave him out here alone? This is my fault.”

  “The hell it is. Mal accepted the risk and volunteered. It does us no good for you to second-guess yourself.”

  Luke swallowed the bile in this throat. “We need to go after him.”

  “We do, but not by ourselves. That’s what White Buffalo wants. To separate us, pick us off one at a time.”

  Luke knew Travis was right. They needed to wait for Bull and the others, be smart about how they continued.

  “Do you know how many took him?” Luke tied the hat behind his saddle, his senses on
alert.

  “Best I can tell, three. Mal believes there are six or seven in the raiding party.”

  “We still have six. Good enough odds to get our boys back.” At the sound of approaching horses, Luke pulled his shotgun out of its scabbard, pointing it down the trail.

  “It’s Bull.” Travis holstered the gun he’d drawn, relieved he didn’t have to use it.

  “Where’s Mal?” Bull dismounted, then helped Lydia from her saddle. His face drained of color at the sight of Mal’s hat tied to Luke’s saddle.

  Luke waited to answer until Billy, Tat, and Johnny joined them.

  “White Buffalo has him.”

  “How do you know?” Lydia stepped forward, grasping Bull’s arm.

  “Travis found the tracks, and this was lying a few feet off the trail.” Luke nodded at Mal’s hat.

  Lydia gasped, a hand coming up to cover her mouth as her stomach churned.

  “So he’s alive?” Bull wrapped an arm around Lydia’s shoulders and pulled her close.

  Luke nodded, not wanting to speculate any further in front of Lydia. “Capturing Mal had to slow them down. I doubt they’re more than a few hours ahead of us.”

  “But where?” Bull knew Mal was their best tracker. He thought of Cash’s offer to ride along. His tracking skills were better than anyone else’s. Alison would have understood, yet there was no way Bull would’ve asked that of the newlyweds. Travis had skills, but not nearly as good as Mal’s or Cash’s.

  “Looks like they’re heading northeast. I’m good with riding ahead.”

  “No, Travis,” Luke answered. “We ride together from here on out.”

  “All this because he wants me,” Lydia murmured, then turned away from the group, walking back to her horse.

  Bull let her go. Nothing he could say would make her feel better. Rescuing Sam, and now Mal, was what it would take to put all this behind them.

  “We need to move out. Every minute we wait allows them to get further away.” Johnny had become close to Mal, his agitation evident by the tone of his voice and impatient stance.

  “White Buffalo won’t get too far ahead, Johnny. He wants us to find him.” Bull glanced behind him, making certain Lydia couldn’t hear them talking. “He wants Lydia. Sam and Mal are his way of getting to her.”

  “A trade?” Johnny asked. “I’d heard the story, but never thought he’d go this far to get her back.”

  “I don’t know if it’s as much wanting Lydia as restoring his pride. No one is more arrogant or vengeful than White Buffalo.” Billy lowered his voice, turning his back to Lydia. “Red Tail promised her to him. The wedding ceremony was planned for a few days after we ran away.” His jaw worked as he seemed to wrestle with some inner turmoil. When he spoke, his voice was hard and anxious. “I should’ve known he’d come for her. Why didn’t I know?”

  Luke settled a hand on the young man’s shoulder. “It’s not your fault, Billy. None of us believed he’d come for her after all this time.”

  “I don’t understand how he found out she was at the ranch. We never saw him after we left the mountains.” Billy let out a deep sigh, shrugging off Luke’s hand.

  “Right now, none of that matters. We need to get Sam and Mal back, making certain White Buffalo gets nowhere near Lydia.”

  “Bull’s right.” Luke pulled out his gun, checking his ammunition. “We find their camp, figure a way to get our boys, then get out. Billy, when we ride in, I want you to stay with Lydia. Don’t let her out of your sight and don’t let her follow us. Understood?”

  “But I—”

  “I know you want to ride in with us, but White Buffalo can use you the same as Sam. Both you and Lydia need to be out of danger when we make our move.”

  Billy let out a breath, nodding. “Sure, Luke. I’ll keep her safe.”

  Bull clasped Billy’s shoulder. “She’s not going to like it.”

  Billy’s chuckle came out as more of a groan. “Neither do I, but it’s the way it has to be.”

  “Travis, you take point. Stay close enough so we can see you. Let’s move out.” Luke swung up on Prince. “Billy, you ride with me. Johnny and Tat, you’re at the back. I don’t need to tell you how important it is for everyone to stay alert.” Reining his horse around to follow Travis, he glanced at Bull. “You and Lydia need to stay in the middle. I don’t have a good feeling about this.”

  Bull nodded, lines of worry creasing his face. “I don’t either.”

  By late afternoon, they reached the top of a tree-covered hill, an open valley spreading out before them. A group of riders were visible a mile ahead. Even from this distance, Bull could make out Sam and Mal on foot, their hands bound, stumbling to keep up.

  Lydia stopped alongside him, her heart racing when she spotted the band of braves. Pointing, she rose out of her saddle, letting her horse move out of the cover of the trees.

  “I can see Sam…and Mal.” Her voice rose with excitement as she glanced over her shoulder at Bull.

  “Which means they can see us. Move back next to me, Lydia.”

  “We should keep going…” Her voice trailed off as Luke rode up next to Bull. She turned back to see the Indians move toward another set of low hills, Sam and Mal laboring to keep up.

  “They’re drawing us to them, leading us somewhere.” Luke kept his gaze locked on the retreating riders.

  “Directly to Red Tail’s camp.” Bull’s eyes narrowed as the group began to disappear. “They’re staying in the open and far enough ahead so they can be alerted to any attempt at rescue. White Buffalo is daring us to ride in after them.”

  “Once he reaches Red Tail, we’ll be outnumbered.” Luke grabbed his water flask, taking a swallow. “We either make our move before they reach the village or go back for more men. Everything changes once they reach Red Tail.”

  “We can’t let them reach him. Please. We must rescue Sam and Mal before they get to the village.” Lydia’s plea felt like a knife in Bull’s chest.

  Riding directly at them would be suicide. White Buffalo had planned his route well, not giving the search party a chance to attack. Taking Mal had been brilliant. Two hostages made the rescue more difficult and more dangerous. Bull took off his hat, raking a hand through his hair, blowing out a deep breath. They needed more men.

  As if reading Bull’s mind, Luke spoke first. “We’re being drawn into a trap, Lydia. There’s only one reason they camp in the open and never ride fast enough to lose us. White Buffalo wants us to follow him. There are six of us, and I counted eight Crow. Plus, they’re holding two of ours. White Buffalo needs Sam, but Mal? He’d be killed the minute we rode in.”

  “He’s doing all this to get to you. That’s why it’s so important he not learn you’re with us.”

  “But he doesn’t know I’m with you, Bull. How could he?” She indicated her clothing.

  “Somehow, he knows. He may have had a scout watching us the entire trip, reporting back to him. All it would’ve taken was for you to remove your hat one time. Plus, you’re not exactly built like a man, sweetheart.”

  Her gaze shot to Bull, seeing concern mixed with warmth. She felt her face flush. They planned to marry in a few weeks, build a life together on Redemption’s Edge, and start a family. Her life was perfect, certain of a future with a man she could depend on and love until they grew old. She turned her head, focusing on the spot where Sam had disappeared a few minutes before. Her future now seemed anything but certain.

  “It will be dark soon. We’ll camp here tonight.” Luke slid from his horse, motioning for the others to do the same.

  “But, Bull—”

  “Luke’s right, Lydia. We’ve been riding since sunrise. The horses and the men need rest. Trust me…White Buffalo will not get too far ahead. He wants us to know where he is.”

  Bull slid to the ground, then helped Lydia down. Grabbing both bedrolls, he walked into the woods, placing them next to each other under a tall pine, a good distance away from where the rest of the men had set do
wn their gear. It was private, quiet. He hoped the location would give Lydia a chance to finally get some rest.

  She glanced around, noticing the distance he’d put between them and the rest of the men. Until now, Bull had been careful to place her bedroll several feet away from his, doing his best to keep up a certain amount of propriety. A slow smile spread across her face when she realized he’d decided to push all manner of decorum aside. Tonight, she hoped to feel his strong arms around her, pulling her close, making her feel safe.

  “It’ll be dark in an hour. Walk with me.” Bull tugged at her hand, drawing her into the woods, careful to keep the others in sight.

  They’d spoken little since beginning the journey days before, and what was said focused on Sam. Although always just a few feet away, she felt the loss of Bull’s closeness. She missed what they’d had—their quiet conversations, his laughter. Neither of them had laughed since White Buffalo rode into the ranch and took Sam. The joy had disappeared from their lives, replaced by dread and determination.

  Lydia knew what the men whispered about when they gathered together. She knew they spoke of White Buffalo and the reason he’d taken Sam, then Mal. He wanted her. The warrior had made his desire known from the moment he’d lifted her onto his horse after Red Tail killed her parents.

  In his own way, he’d courted her, earning Lydia the wrath and disdain of the Crow women. More than once, she’d been spit on, pelted with rocks, and pushed aside when tending her chores. She suspected White Buffalo knew, but chose to ignore the actions against her. He’d been brutal to Sam, humiliating him, making him do women’s work instead of learning the skills of a brave. With each shameful taunt, she’d grown to hate him more, until the sight of him made her recoil in disgust.

  The time at Redemption’s Edge and her love for Bull had lulled her into believing she’d found safety, a haven from a loathsome future. She’d been blind to believe White Buffalo wouldn’t come for her. As they walked, she gripped Bull’s hand tighter, the beginnings of a plan formulating in her mind. The idea of going through with it sickened her, yet she knew of no other solution.