The Fire in Ember - DiAnn Mills [122]
“Leah, we all know the circumstances.”
“So what are you going to do about it?”
“Soon as I leave here, we’re riding to the Wide O to talk to Oberlander.”
Leah could not believe her ears. “You mean you’re going to ask permission to ride over his land? Aren’t you a US Marshal?” She flashed her anger at Parker. “You two sound like a couple of schoolboys asking permission to use the outhouse.”
“That’s not it at all.” Parker dismounted. “His men may have reported seeing John. And we can’t find him in the dark. Tonight we’ll round up some men to leave at first light.”
“And what if the all-powerful Victor Oberlander refuses to let you ride over his land?”
“That would make him look guilty of harboring information,” Wirt said. “He’d be a fool to try to stop us.”
Angry tears rolled down her cheeks, and she quickly whisked them away. “In the meantime, my John could be lying out there—bleeding and hurting.”
“Mama, getting upset won’t fix things.” Evan stood beside her. When had he dismounted? She wanted to acknowledge his words— the truth. But the panic had taken residence in her throat, and she couldn’t speak.
“Leah,” Parker said, his tone gentle. “He’s my nephew and soon to be Wirt’s stepson. We want to find him too. But it won’t happen until daylight. Taking the road back to town is one thing, but trailing John in the dark is impossible.”
How could she exist through the night not knowing if her dear son was alive?
Early morning Leah paced the porch with four of her sons seated around her. Parker and Wirt had ridden into Rocky Falls last night with a plan of leaving at first light in search of John.
Thoughts of John repeated in her mind. She remembered the joy of the infant she carried inside her. The proud day of his birth and Frank’s tears when she presented him with his first son. John’s first steps. His first words. The way he cared for his family. Oh God, don’t let his life be over.
The anguish tearing her apart grew worse. She wasn’t a coward, and she knew how to fight. Evan, Aaron, Mark, and Davis stared at her. They were men. Even Davis would soon show signs of being a young man instead of a child.
“You boys get your rifles. We’re going after John. Mark, if you aren’t steady, then I want you to stay here.”
“I’m fine, and I’m going.” Mark stood.
She turned to Davis. “I want you to ride into Rocky Falls. I’m hoping you can find Uncle Parker and Mr. Zimmerman on the way. Tell them that we’re riding after what’s ours. If they want to join us, that’s fine. And if they don’t, then they’re cowards.”
“Where do you think he is?” Aaron said. “I’m afraid he might have fallen for another one of Bert’s lies.”
Leah lifted her head, refusing to look at Evan. “Whatever we find, God is already there. We’ve all prayed for John. I’m holding on to those prayers.”
“I agree,” Evan said. “We’re in this together.”
Leah’s confidence raised a notch. “Mr. Oberlander says he won’t let anyone cross his land because he’s protecting it, but I think he has something to hide. And I have an idea where John might be.”
“Where?” Mark turned his head as though disbelieving her words. Oh, but he was so much like John.
“When your father and I first moved out here from Virginia, we used to explore the mountains and canyons along the strip of land currently belonging to the Wide O. Several canyons there could hold cattle.”
“But there’s no grass in a rocky canyon,” Evan said. “They couldn’t stay there long, except for the rustlers to change the brand.”
“I’m thinking the same thing too,” Leah said. “That’s why we’re leaving now.”
“His ranch hands are armed,” Aaron said with a firm grip on his rifle. “I’m ready for whatever it takes to help John.”
“Let me go too.” Davis stood and stretched to his full height.
Evan bent to Davis’s level. “What you’re doing is more important than anything right now. We need help, and those men can provide it.” He placed a hand