Page 78 of Mail-Order Lady

He should say no. But another pair of eyes—another gun—might make the difference between spotting a threat and walking into an ambush.

Clara still hadn’t moved toward the door. “Please be careful.”

The fear in her voice twisted through him. If only he could pull her close. Kiss her the way he had before. Promise her he would come back. But promises had a way of turning hollow when a man couldn’t control the outcome.

He could promise to be careful though. “I will.” He met her gaze so she could see how much he meant the words.

Then he turned back toward Nathan. “There’s a rifle just inside above the door.”

Nathan started up the steps, gripping the rail for support.

Robert didn’t wait for him. Just jogged the steps and slipped around the side of the house toward the outhouse. He kept his steps as soundless as possible. Years of hunting in these mountains had taught him how to keep quiet when it mattered.

The sulphur smell hit him when he neared the outhouse. Acrid. Unmistakable.

Nathan was right.

Someone must have shot a weapon recently in this area. But that couldn’t be possible. He’d heard no sound.

He pressed his memory for any other cause. A hot spring was a good guess, but none existed in this area. If there were a mine nearby, this kind of smell would be a common stench. From the blasting powder most likely, though maybe from minerals in the ground too.

Blasting powder. Could someone have…?

He’d peered around the outhouse and focused on the woods up the slope.

Nothing stirred in the shadows between the trees. No flicker of movement. No shape that didn’t belong.

The back of his neck prickled.

Something wasn’t right, but should he investigate the trees or head back to the house? Both options felt like he’d be leaving those he loved vulnerable.

CHAPTER 24

Clara turned for the door, as Robert disappeared around the side of the house. Nathan reached the top of the steps behind her, so she stepped aside for him to retrieve the rifle from inside, just above the frame.

Robert might need help out there, and he’d best be on his way.

A scream split the distant air. “Clar⁠—”

She spun to face the noise. A woman’s voice. Was that her mother? It came from the direction of the road to Walnut Springs. Opposite from the way Robert had gone.

Why would her mother come back in the night? And why would her cry have been cut off? She had to find out.

She sprinted down the porch stairs. “That’s my mother.” Maybe Mother had fallen off her horse and was lying injured.

She gripped her skirts to free her legs as she ran. The trees loomed ahead, black shapes against the darker sky.

Nathan’s footsteps thudded behind her—heavier, uneven. He shouted, but the blood rushing in her ears drowned out the words.

Mother must be hurt. It was the only answer that made sense.

“Clara, stop!” Nathan’s hiss came from close behind her. But she couldn’t stop.

His hand clamped around her arm.

She stumbled, nearly falling, but he caught her and held her upright.

“Let me go!” She tried to pull free, but he didn’t release her.