The Fire in Ember - DiAnn Mills [114]
At home, a light in the kitchen window showed Mama moving about. She’d faced enough heartache alone. Since John realized his love for Ember, he understood the love between a man and a woman was different from love for family. He’d been told that before, but he had to experience the consuming emotions to understand what love for a woman did to a man.
He wished he had good news for Mama. He wished he had good news for himself.
When Clint and Lester rode toward the mountains, veering away from where Evan and the others were driving the cattle back from summer pastures, Bert had hoped her brothers might have changed their minds about stealing the Timmonses’ cattle. But as dusk was beginning to settle, they turned abruptly to where she feared the boys were camped. They dismounted and waited. Perhaps they couldn’t find the cattle.
Hours later Clint and Lester mounted their horses again, with Bert in tow, and rode, seemingly knowing where to go.
“Get down from the horse,” Clint whispered. “If you want those kids to stay alive, then keep quiet.”
The midnight darkness around them should have given her a moment to get away. She might be able to outrun a bullet. Except Clint and Lester held the ace—they’d shoot the Timmons brothers for spite.
Bert slipped off the horse. Another sound met her ears. The cattle were closer than what she originally thought. Darkness had always disoriented her, and the night sky had few stars to guide her.
Clint and Lester slipped to the ground. A rifle barrel pushed her along toward the herd.
“Hold up,” Lester said. “I don’t trust her.” He made his way to her side and wrapped a dirty bandana across her mouth.
Her last hope of alerting Evan and the others vanished. She prayed for their safety—to stay asleep until it was too late to grab their rifles. They walked closer to the animals … She could smell them, almost hear them breathe.
“Stay here,” Lester said. “I’ll scout out the area and get back to you. One of those boys might be watching the cattle from this side, and I’m not ready to get shot.”
She waited with the understanding her footprints sealed her guilt. Having John and the others confirm her betrayal in this way felt worse than anything she’d ever endured.
“This herd will bring us a fine price. Even with splitting the money, we’re doing good. We’ll get Simon out of jail and head back home.”
She wanted to tell him Simon would hang. No fancy lawyer could pay off a judge and jury, especially for a man convicted of murder and stealing.
Lester returned within the hour. “One of them boys was keeping watch. He ain’t dead, but he’s gonna have a bad headache. The other fellas are waiting for us to signal.”
Bert cringed. Hot tears scalded her eyes. More men helped Clint and Lester?
“Let’s get us a few cows,” Clint said. “Our last job for a while.”
One more time, she rode behind Clint. One more time, she wished she could stop them. One more time, all she could do was pray for whoever had been hurt and those asleep.
Rifle fire pierced the air. Frightened cattle fell prey to thieves and began to move.
John couldn’t sleep. He’d been up and down the loft and inside and outside of the house, noting the steadily colder temperatures. The frosty air matched his mood filled with fear and doubt. Yes, doubt about Ember’s disappearance. He tried to shake off the suspicions, but they were vivid and alive. She wouldn’t have used John … no, of course not.
Parker slept, and John wondered how the man could relax with so much to think about. But reality proved John had more at stake … more to lose. The days ahead filled him with dread. The cold and snow could hold a man prisoner. He’d envisioned those times with his Ember and making plans for the future. Now those dreams were as cold and lifeless as the coming months.
He wanted to be riding into the mountains after Ember, and light could not come soon enough. He wondered how his brothers were faring and if they were warm enough tonight. He should try to sleep. No,