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Eva approached me, and I handed her the keys to her truck and her small handbag. “No sign of them.”
“What do we do now?” she asked with a slight shiver.
“You get some sleep. They’re getting bolder, and we’ll need to plan accordingly at the ranch.” I crossed my arms. “No more hospital shifts.”
She nodded. “I’m sorry, Warren. You were right.”
“I don’t want to be right about these things.” I softened my voice, the adrenaline that had raged in me now subsiding. “I just want you to be safe.”
“I never would have expected Victor to do or endorse anything like this.”
“Victor is mixed up with forces he doesn’t understand,” I whispered. “He might not know what he’s unleashed on Baker.”
“We can’t let them win.” She stepped closer, the nearness of her enveloping me. The steely resolve in her eyes showed no further trace of trepidation. The courage of this woman left me breathless.
“I don’t intend to,” I said. “The Ghost Riders haven’t failed a mission yet.”
Sixteen
Eva
MAY 30
Though we’d added a horse and one more soldier from the 42nd, and Annie had somehow brought home a mangy dog, there wasn’t enough work or noise to distract me from Warren. Something had changed after our trip to pick up the Carsons’ horse and that night when Victor’s men crashed into my truck.
His words from our trip to Wallowa wouldn’t stop echoing. “Would it be worth it?”
Well, I didn’t have time for that either.
His commitment to not letting Victor or his associates win, the courage he’d shown in going out to track down the sedan, and the way he’d brushed my cheek . . . I couldn’t tamp down the new longing deep in my soul.
After I’d agreed to stop my shifts at St. Elizabeth’s, I sent word to EP that he was still welcome to join us on the farm when he was released. He’d shown up a few days later and slotted into the routines easily.
Eddie, Lucky, Bennett, EP, and Warren—they all watched over me like a hawk. I appreciated their care but also hated that we’d come to this point. The sooner I made my mark with Phantom and relieved the pressure of Victor trying to buy the farm, the better.
For days, I’d been slowly leading Phantom up to the trailer and had parked it in his pen so he was less threatened by the metal box on wheels. We were a little over a week away from the show in Redmond. It would be an eight-hour drive just to get to the fairgrounds. I needed to be confident that Phantom would be safe in the trailer, and that after the show he’d get back in. Otherwise we’d have to sit this competition out.
As Phantom relaxed and moved toward the trailer more willingly, I fed him his grain and hay inside it so he would associate it with positive feelings.
Warren seemed pleased by the progress, but he’d been busy with the soldiers and steady stream of repairs.
Today, I’d work with the black mare, Stormy.
She was calm and polite while being led around on the halter and even while being ridden. But whenever she was saddled, she couldn’t be tied without pulling back. She’d snap a halter ring and run loose. Carson thought she could never be fixed of this—and it meant she couldn’t be a working cow horse since such basic habits were essential on the trails.
I had a different theory and a trick that Gramps had used.
I grabbed the oldest, rattiest saddle I had and carried it over my shoulder as I led Stormy out of the barn.
Warren and Lucky stood near the barn entrance, looking out at the driveway and road beyond. Their faces were drawn, serious. EP was working on the cabins with Peter, but I had lost track of Eddie. He’d disappeared a few times in the last few days, now that there were more hands around.
I had some suspicions on Eddie’s whereabouts that I wanted to ask Warren about when the time was right. For now, I had Stormy to see to.
As I passed by, Lucky smiled and nodded at me, though Warren eyed the saddle over my shoulder. “You know, the horse usually carries that,” he said.
“We’re working up to that point.” I walked past and didn’t slow down.
Warren told Lucky, “Do your rounds, and we’ll talk more later.” Then he jogged to catch up to me, seeming intrigued.
