Chapter 4 - The Night the Cattle Broke Loose
The attack came two nights later.
Not with gunfire.
With fire.
Ellis smelled smoke first.
He woke shouting.
Walker rolled from his bedroll and saw flames racing through the dry grass south of camp.
Not lightning.
Not accident.
Three separate lines of fire were moving toward them.
“Wake everybody!”
Men scrambled for horses.
Josephine emerged carrying Sam.
Walker ran to her.
“Wagon. Now.”
“What happened?”
“Fire.”
She saw the horizon.
Her face changed.
“Silas?”
“Probably.”
Walker grabbed her shoulders.
“Remember our agreement?”
Josephine nodded.
“Take Sam and run if I tell you.”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
The wind strengthened.
Fire crossed the grass.
Cattle began bawling.
Walker knew the real target immediately.
Not Josephine.
The herd.
Stampede the cattle, scatter the men, isolate the wagon.
Smart.
“Dusty! Perry! Hold the north side!”
Men mounted.
Walker turned toward Josephine.
“Drive north.”
“What about you?”
“Go!”
This time she obeyed.
The wagon rolled away.
Walker rode toward the herd.
Then shots erupted from the eastern ridge.
One cowboy fell.
The cattle exploded.
Six hundred terrified animals surged north.
Josephine heard them coming.
She looked behind her.
The herd was gaining.
She pushed the team harder.
Sam screamed against her chest.
Then she saw riders.
Three.
Coming from the east.
Not Walker’s men.
One pointed toward her.
Josephine understood.
They weren't trying to kill her.
They wanted the wagon.
The ledger.
She drove faster.
A rider reached the wagon.
Grabbed the side.
Josephine struck his hand with the iron ladle beside her.
He cursed.
Another rider came from the opposite side.
“Stop the wagon!”
Josephine answered by throwing a skillet.
It struck him squarely in the face.
He disappeared behind the wagon.
The third man drew his revolver.
Then a shot sounded.
The revolver flew from his hand.
Walker Boone appeared through the smoke.
He rode like the devil himself.
He fired again.
The attackers turned.
Walker reached the wagon.
“Keep going!”
Josephine looked at him.
“Gladly!”
Together they raced north.
Behind them, Dusty and Perry managed to turn the herd.
The fire eventually burned into a stretch of bare earth.
By dawn, it was over.
One cowboy had been shot through the shoulder.
Three cattle were dead.
Twenty-seven were missing.
Nobody had been killed.
Walker considered that a victory.
Then he found the note.
Pinned to the chuck wagon with a knife.
NEXT TIME I TAKE THE CHILD.
Walker ripped it down before Josephine saw it.
Too late.
She was standing behind him.
Her face went white.
For several seconds she didn't breathe.
Then she walked to the wagon.
Started packing.
Walker followed.
“What are you doing?”
“Leaving.”
“No.”
“He threatened Sam.”
“That's why you're not leaving.”
“If I stay, all of you are targets.”
“We already are.”
“This isn't your fight.”
Walker grabbed the blanket she was folding.
“It became my fight when he fired at my men.”
“Give it back.”
“No.”
“Walker.”
“No.”
Josephine pulled.
He didn't release it.
They stood there like two stubborn children fighting over a blanket.
Then Josephine stopped.
Her eyes filled with tears.
“I'm scared.”
Walker released the blanket.
It was the first time she had admitted it.
Not tired.
Not worried.
Scared.
Walker stepped closer.
“So am I.”
She stared at him.
“You?”
“Yes.”
“Of Silas?”
Walker shook his head.
“Of failing you.”
Josephine's breath caught.
He hadn't intended to say it.
But there it was.
The truth.
She whispered, “You barely know me.”
“I know enough.”
Walker touched her cheek.
Slowly.
Giving her every opportunity to move away.
She didn't.
Their faces drew closer.
Then Dusty shouted from behind them.
“Boss!”
Walker closed his eyes.
Josephine almost laughed.
Dusty rode into camp.
His expression killed the moment immediately.
“What?”
“We found the missing cattle.”
“Good.”
“No.”
Dusty dismounted.
“Not good.”
“Why?”
“Three miles east.”
Walker waited.
Dusty looked at Josephine.
“Every one of them has a new brand burned over Boone's.”
Walker’s expression hardened.
“What brand?”
Dusty drew it in the dirt.
Josephine stared at the symbol.
Her face drained of color.
Walker noticed.
“You know it?”
She nodded.
“Silas.”
Walker looked toward the eastern horizon.
Silas Mercer had made his first mistake.
Threatening Josephine had made Walker angry.
Threatening Sam had made him dangerous.
But stealing Walker Boone’s cattle?
That made it personal.
May you like
And Walker Boone had never been known for forgiving personal insults.
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