We stayed one more night because of the snow, with me tirelessly checking out the windows, praying for the skies to clear.
“See anyone?” Pearl asked over my shoulder.
“No one will be out in this weather,” I said with some relief, my breath fogging the cold pane before I let the curtain fall back.
“I wonder if Carson told Devil John about the fire tower. I hope he doesn’t have to ride all the way over here on my account.”
“You can depend on Carson, and I’m sure Devil John will report it to R.C. as soon as the weather breaks.” My eyes went to the window again. With Papa’s horse missing, I still held out a thin hope for word from my parents, or their lawyer, even for them coming home.
On the second morning, the skies cleared and the sun came out, and we decided to pack and leave. Several times, I peeked outside, worrying.
Anxious to get back to Troublesome, I whipped up a small batch of biscuits for us, while Pearl made the beds and fed Pie and Junia. I thought about Mama and Papa and what the lawman might do if he got hold of me. Pearl was busy fussing over Pie, rubbing him down and checking his hooves. “Let’s hurry, Pearl, it’s safe to move about now that most of the snow has melted,” I called to her from the porch, my voice sounding thin and pitched, worried others might have the same notion.
“Pie has a stone stuck in his hoof and a loose shoe. Do you have a shoe hammer?”
“Papa has his farrier shoeing tools hanging above the workbench in the barn.”
It was almost noon by the time Pearl finished tending her horse, and I locked up the cabin.
Just as I mounted Junia, a strange automobile appeared far in the distance with another rolling in behind it, plumes of wet, snowy slush and debris rising in their trail. They were headed our way. My mouth went dry as I tried to swallow.
Junia shook her head and brayed loudly, baring ugly brown teeth.
Pearl nudged Pie closer to me. “Do you know them, Honey?”
“I’m not sure.”
“Maybe they have news of your parents. What else could they possibly want?”
I narrowed my eyes. “I fear they’re wanting something more. Me.” I choked on the word, feeling it lodge in my throat.
Pearl glared at the automobiles rambling toward us. “But you’ve done nothing.”
Don’t take much for a Blue, I remember Mama telling Papa when she thought I was out of earshot. “I’m a minor, and I won’t be seventeen till July.”
Pearl frowned.
“I’m sorry I had to lie to you, Pearl.” I looked away, feeling bad I’d done so.
“With everything you’ve been through, I understand. But it’s not against the law to be a minor.”
“Shouldn’t be against the law to love someone either. But it sure ought to be against the law for men to decide who you can and can’t love.” Quickly, I slipped my gloves on. Taking a breath, I gripped the reins and stiffened in the saddle. I shifted, wanting to chance it and run off. Would they catch me? Hurt me? Don’t take much for a Blue…
“You’ve done nothing wrong, Honey,” Pearl said again, glowering at the automobiles, courage straightening her spine.
I drew strength from it and righted my own.
Junia pricked her long ears, wheeled around, and softly whinnied toward the woods behind us, a trail of cold escaping her breath.
My eyes followed, and I cupped a palm over my brows and then I saw him.
Five
Devil John and his horse broke through a grove of trees, cantering toward us. The moonshiner joined my side and watched the automobiles approach from atop his horse, resting an arm on the scabbard holding his .30–30. “Martha Hannah told me you girls stopped by. Would’ve been here sooner but for the snow. Also, I got word from your pa’s lawyer. Let me know about your folks’ arrest,” he said low. “Glad I headed out as soon as the weather cleared. Guessing them folks had the same thoughts.” He jutted his bearded chin toward the vehicles.