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He looked to Jack, then gave her a slight push, releasing her. She staggered before catching her balance and had a moment of panic, not knowing where to run first—to Isaac or back to Jesse. Owen and Ben were by Isaac’s side, tending to him best they could. She turned to find Jesse, ready to fight every last one of them if they refused to let her go and was surprised they actually let her.
She found him still unconscious. “Jesse? Can you hear me?” Falling to her knees by his side, she lifted his head. Her palm warmed as blood filled her hand. Inspecting his head, she found the cut, still oozing. It was too dark to tell if it needed stitches.
“Jesse, wake up.” Smoothing his hair back from his forehead, she noticed the scar over his eyebrow. She rubbed her thumb over it, remembering the day he got it. He’d been pestering her more than usual and she’d thrown a rock clean across the school yard and hit him in the head. The cut had bled like crazy and her pa had blistered her hide good for it. She could still recall the lecture he’d given her and how she’d ignored Jesse for an entire week because of it, despite his attempts to get on her nerves. They’d ended up in a tussle that left him with a busted lip and earned her another trip behind the woodshed with her pa and his belt.
For once, he was hurt and it wasn’t her fault. She smoothed his hair back, then leaned over and kissed his forehead. “Please wake up, Jesse.”
It took longer than she liked to rouse him but when he finally groaned and blinked his eyes, the relief she felt left her limbs numb.
She hugged him to her chest as the men at the campfire talked and laughed into the night. Jesse came around slowly and there was no need to hurry him along. If Jack and Lewis were determined to take over the cattle drive, then they had more problems than they needed. There was no reason for Jack and his gang to keep them around. They had more than enough men to drive the cattle the rest of the way. The realization was terrifying.
It hurt to move. Jesse’s head pounded and Alex held him in such an odd position his back felt as if it was breaking but he’d damn well have it break before he moved away from her.
Once his mind cleared enough the ringing in his head had dulled to a low buzz, he tried to see what was going on at the campfire. Men were laughing and those talking were doing so as if they were yelling at each other.
“What’s happening?”
Alex pulled him tighter into her chest. He gritted his teeth and moved to one side enough the strain on his back wasn’t pinching. “It’s those men who robbed the stagecoach. They’re here. Lewis and his men are with them.”
His gut told him from day one that Lewis was trouble, he just hadn’t figured on it being this kind. He took him for a man who got his way by any means available but if he was part of the bandit’s gang, then he was more dangerous than he’d given him credit for.
“Did they hurt you?”
“No, but they gave Isaac the same greeting they gave you.”
“Is he all right?”
“He was still out when I came to check on you. Ben and Owen are with him.”
He sat up, wincing when his head throbbed harder. He touched the back of his head, his fingers coming away sticky with blood. “Help me stand and get to the river so I can clean up a bit.”
She nodded and stood then helped him to his feet, taking most of his weight when he staggered. It took longer than it should have to walk the short distance to the water’s edge. He fell ungracefully onto the rocky shoal when they reached it and leaned forward toward the water, scooping out a handful and managed to thoroughly soak the collar of his shirt in a matter of moments.
“Hold still,” Alex said. “Bend your head over and I’ll do it.”
He did as she instructed, wincing as she touched the cut on the back of his head. “Does it need stitching?”
“I can’t tell. It’s too dark to see.”
“Well, wash it best you can and get me back to camp. The longer they have to assume things are going their way, the worse off we’ll be.”
“You’re in no shape to fight them, Jesse.”
“Maybe not but I’m sure they’re looking for one.”
His dumb luck seemed to be at an end. Just when he was sure Alex was ready to admit she cared about him, some outside roadblock jumped in his path and diverted her attention.
Whatever was going on over at that campfire would put a damper on what little progress he was able to make with her and that fact alone irritated him more than the still bleeding cut on his head.
Alex helped him back to his feet and they made the slow walk back to camp, stopping to pick up the bundle of clothing she’d dropped.
Reaching the light of the fire, the conversation that had been taking place died and every eye turned to them.
Lewis was smiling, his rotten teeth as unbecoming as sight as always. A few men he’d never seen before watched them silently. One of them, a blonde man who stood a head taller than all the rest said, “I see you lived.”
“Who are you?” Jesse asked, looking from the blonde to the others scattered around the fire. “And what do you want?”
The blonde circled the fire and sat down, leaning back against a fallen tree limb and stretching out his legs. “Name’s Jack,” he said. “And what I want is that herd of cattle.” He glanced up, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Your crew has agreed to help me get them the rest of the way to Kansas. I’ll be needing your cook as well. You, I have no use for so you can be on your way.”
