She climbed down from the wagon and pressed on the small of her back with her hands, stretching out the tight muscles from sitting so long. As Josiah and the children headed the cows and steer into the small corral, the galloping of a horse caught her attention. She turned as the same lighthorseman who’d accompanied Harjo the other morning rode into the yard. Josiah dropped the leather cord over the gatepost, securing it to the fence gate, and stepped away.
“Jacob?”
“It’s Harjo. We need you, Josiah. He’s in a bad way. Ran into the outlaws south of here about ten miles.”
Josiah didn’t say a word but ran into the house. He was gone about a minute, and then reappeared with a leather pouch in his hands. He jogged to Mia. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
She laid her hand against his cheek. “Go. We’ll be fine here. Take care of Harjo—and yourself. Not one scratch, you hear. I don’t want to see a single wound.”
He smiled and leaned closer, his lips caressing hers. The warmth of his breath chased away the chill that had stolen over her when she’d heard Jacob’s ominous words. She wanted nothing more than to throw her arms around her husband’s neck and hold him to her, feel his heart beating against hers, but knew he couldn’t stay.
His friend needed him, and she couldn’t be that selfish. She was stronger than that, even with outlaws running around shooting up the countryside. She would prove to him just how strong she was and make him proud.
With tears in her eyes, she pulled away, breaking the kiss. She crossed her arms over her chest and stepped back, trying to rub away the chill of fear as it returned. She smiled. “Come home safe.”
He held her gaze a moment longer then reached over and took the reins from Billy, who held his horse for him. In one smooth motion, he swung into the saddle and galloped from the yard behind Jacob.
“Well, I hope that’s the end of today’s excitement because I’m about tuckered out. How about you two?” She turned and found two pairs of eyes solemnly staring at her. Unease blossomed somewhere deep inside. “What?”
Summer glanced at Billy and gave him a subtle nod. He nodded back and took their horses. “While Billy takes care of the horses, you and I will unhitch the wagon and rub down the horse. Afterward, we’ll take you to Elias’s.”
“Who’s Elias?”
“He’s the boy I mentioned earlier who lives alone in the woods. He shouldn’t be out there anymore. Not by himself.” She undid the last line and moved the horse away from the wagon while Mia set the tongue on the ground and glanced toward the barn. “Especially if Johnny is hanging around again. It’s not safe for Elias or Billy to be out there.”
“Josiah mentioned Johnny. Is he really as bad as Harjo says he is?”
Summer met Mia’s gaze. “He’s worse.” She led the horse into the barn to the last stall where Mia quickly brushed him down while Summer put some grain in his bucket. After attaching the rope across the front of the stall, they met Billy out front.
“His house isn’t far from here, but we need to get going. The woods get dark fast, and there are snakes.”
“Snakes?" Mia frowned. “Surely we can wait until the morning?”
Summer shook her head. “You realize the snakes will be there whether it’s morning, afternoon, or night, don't you? It’s just easier to see where you’re walking if the sun is out. You don’t want to step on one and make it mad enough to bite you.”
“Oh, well…if you say so. I just don’t like snakes.”
"Nobody does, I think," Summer answered and set off at a brisk pace.
Mia followed them through the woods, winding through the oak, pecan, and elm trees as they walked along a branch of the North Canadian River. The stream twisted and turned, turning back on itself several times before joining against the main body of water. Just before them stood a wall of trees and in the center was a makeshift shack.
She had never seen anything quite like it before. The four corners of the shack were actually the trunks of four larger trees. Boards had been placed between each tree to form the walls. Overhead, more planks of wood covered by sod made up the roof. She could only imagine the insects making their home inside the ceiling area. She shivered. This was no place for a young boy.
“Elias?” Summer called out.
One of the planks opened and a young boy stuck out his head. From what she could tell, he looked to be about Summer’s age. His skin was a little bit darker than Summer’s and Billy’s, and his hair wasn’t as straight and fine. His curled, which she had never seen before. He waved his hand, and they moved toward the shack. He gave her a shy smile, and she noticed his beautiful moss-green eyes.
Inside, she was shocked at how clean everything was. Next to them were two uneven stumps with a board on top. A can of cut wild flowers had been placed in the middle of the makeshift table. Scraps of faded material had been nailed over crudely cut-out sections in two of the walls. Underneath one sat an old rocking chair with one of its arms missing. There were several chipped plates and cups stacked on a box next to three unidentifiable jars of food. Along the far wall was a bare cot with only a folded sheet and no pillow or quilt.
Mia smiled at the young boy. “My name is Mia West. What’s your name?”
“Elias.”
“Where are your parents, Elias?”
“Don’t know where my pa is. Never knew him. My Ma is out back.”
“Can you take me to her?”