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“I’m sorry about Nodog, Sam,” Riley said as they lay down on the warm earth.
“Yeah, he was a good dog. I’ll miss him, that’s for sure. I’ve had him for a long time, he was getting old.”
Sleep came easily to them all and only a horse’s neigh brought them awake the next morning.
A cowboy passed and saw them. “Hello folks, what has happened here?” he asked.
“Stagecoach was held up,” Sam answered.
“Well, where is it…the stage, I mean?” he asked as he chewed his tobacco and eyed them with open curiosity.
“A few miles down the road. We walked to the river for water,” Sam explained.
“Well, I’ll be. Guess I better ride back and tell someone to come pick you folks up,” the man said, holding his reins in his hands.
“Could you take me with you? This heat is really getting to me,” the lady cried.
The cowboy hesitated. “Well…I guess so. If’n you don’t mind riding behind me, ma’am.”
“Really Laura, don’t you think you could wait with me until he returns?” her husband asked with frustration.
“No…I can’t,” she persisted. “I don’t mind, I don’t mind at all. This heat is killing me…” she protested and went to move toward the cowboy.
The cowboy pulled her up behind him, tipped his hat and hollered, “I’ll be back soon, folks.”
Not more than a couple or three hours later, a wagon approached; they’d been rescued.
Chapter Fourteen
By the time they set foot in Dallas, it was nearly dark and they all had to give an accounting of the robbery. Riley didn’t mention that she thought she knew one of the culprits. She wanted to be sure before she incriminated Harry. After all, it would only be another stepping stone for him, if she were wrong. The deputy took their statements, as the Sheriff went to collect the stage and get any clues he could before nightfall.
Hot, thirsty, and hungry, Sam and Riley headed for the nearest place to eat.
Feeling the pull of Sam leaving her, Riley ate her dinner quietly.
“You’re kinda quiet tonight, you that tired?” Sam asked.
“I am pretty tired. Just thinking on all the things that have happened and wondering how it’s all gonna end.” Riley sighed heavily.
Sam wiped his mouth, and sat back in his chair. “It’s gonna end in your favor, of course. You are the lady here. You are the one that was wronged. By tomorrow afternoon this could all be over for you. I’d think you’d be very happy about that.”
“I get to thinkin’ about it and it all seems like some kind of dream. Harry suddenly wanting my ranch, and doing all he did. Us pulling off this charade. The tornado that nearly took us, meeting Mavis, now it’s all come to a head, like a festerin’ sore. The only thing I wasn’t expecting was that hold-up and them shooting Nodog.”
Sam eyed her. “And as you know all sore’s must be opened to drain of the bad stuff, and to heal. Why didn’t you tell the Sheriff your suspicions about Harry and the hold-up?”
“If I was wrong, it might help Harry convince others I’m crazy. Thought I’d wait and see if the Sheriff got any leads. Maybe I’ll mention it to him before I leave, I don’t know. But…It’s been a real adventure with you, Sam,” she said and looked up.
“It has.” He smiled.
“I don’t know how to begin to thank you, for all the help,” Riley began as tears clouded her vision, but she didn’t let them spill.
“No thanks needed, Riley. Friends help friends, it’s an unwritten law.” Sam cleared his throat.
“So I guess you’ll be headed west soon…” she mumbled.
“I reckon…” Sam didn’t meet her searching gaze. “You still a mind to sell the ranch?”
“Yes, I am. After all this, ranchin’ is sorta dull…” She almost choked on her unexpected laughter.
