“Coyotes and other critters. They might go after the smaller animals, or search for scraps of food around the campfires. Also, sounds travel far out here, and any sudden noise could spook the livestock and make them bolt. If they do, someone needs to be close by to round up the animals before they get too far.” He tilted his head back and glanced overhead. “The sky looks clear tonight, but a sudden thunderstorm could cause a stampede if we’re caught unawares. Trouble’s more easily averted when you see it coming.”
She fiddled with the bottom button on her father’s coat. “Just out of curiosity, in any of those letters did Rebecca’s sister write about a catastrophe befalling the group because somebody performed poorly during guard duty?”
Josiah turned his head, his gaze coming to rest on her again. “She didn’t mention it. Are you worried something like that might happen?”
Her hand curled into a fist, and the button she’d forgotten she was clenching popped off. She hastily stuffed it into her coat pocket. “Well, it’s possible, isn’t it?”
“I suppose. But don’t brood overmuch about it. As long as we keep our eyes open, it’s a simple enough job. Most nights the most difficult task you’ll face is ensuring you don’t nod off.” Josiah’s teeth flashed white in the darkness. “But talking helps with that. Plus, wild animals are more likely to keep their distance if they hear voices.”
“That’s good to know.”
A few hours later, Mattie turned up her coat collar to ward off the chill in the air and tucked her chin beneath the heavy material. Scanning the darkened landscape, she kept a lookout for any signs of trouble. All was quiet in the camp as the crescent moon tracked across the sky toward midnight.
Once again, she glanced toward the covered wagon where Adela slumbered. At least, Mattie prayed her sister wasn’t lying awake, too scared to sleep. The younger girl had begged not to be left alone. But there wasn’t any other choice. Every able-bodied man was expected to take a turn at guard duty. And that included “Matt.” But Mattie had departed with the promise that she would watch over Adela from her guard post.
Suddenly catching movement at the edge of her field of vision, she shifted her gaze. A shadow detached itself from the others near the livestock enclosures. Were her eyes playing tricks on her? She didn’t want to seem an alarmist, spooking at harmless shadows.
But her gut told her she wasn’t wrong. “I think there’s someone down by the horses.”
Josiah focused his attention where she’d indicated. “I see him. No, wait, there are two of them.”
Though her eyes strained for a better view, it was impossible. “I can’t make out who they are. But what reason would anyone have for being near the horses in the middle of the night?”
“No good reason that I can think of. Let’s go check it out.” He pushed to his feet. “We’ll approach them quietly until we get close enough to identify them. Best to be cautious when we don’t know the lay of the land. If they’re strangers up to no good, I can guarantee they’re armed.”
Panic spread through Mattie at his words, but she fought against it. Others were counting on her to do a job. Innocent people, sleeping blissfully unaware of any trouble that might be visited upon them. And if Mattie couldn’t handle it, then Adela was correct that they should never have begun this journey after their father was gone.
Mattie refused to accept her decision was a mistake. It couldn’t be. Not when any other choice would have placed her and her sister in a worse situation.
This moment was one of many tests she would face. But she had faith that the Lord would help her through it. And all the others to come.
With that conviction shoring up her shaky courage, she followed Josiah’s lead and started down the hill.
She cradled her father’s rifle gingerly in her arms, praying she wouldn’t need to use it. She’d never fired any type of gun in her life. She had only brought the rifle with her because showing up for guard duty unarmed would have raised questions. But she was more likely to shoot herself in the foot by accident than anything else.
Best not to think about that—though the thoughts which then rushed in to fill her mind weren’t any more comforting.
There was nowhere to hide on the vast open prairie, no convenient boulders or shrubs to offer concealment, as she and Josiah worked their way toward the livestock enclosure. All it would take was one of the men down below glancing in their direction, and she and Josiah could find themselves in the middle of a gunfight.
Her mouth ran dry and her heart pounded behind her ribs. Please, Lord, let there be a perfectly innocent explanation for those two men. Though their furtive movements unquestionably roused suspicion.
As she drew closer, their purpose became evident. They were tying ropes around the necks of several horses.
And she could now confirm that neither man was a member of their wagon train. “I don’t recognize them.” She kept her voice low, ensuring it carried no farther than Josiah.
“Horse thieves.” Though the words were a bare whisper, his anger clearly bled through.
“What should we do?” she questioned in a quiet murmur.
“We have the element of surprise and can use that to our advantage. We’ll—” The rest of his words were drowned out by a camp dog’s barking.
“What’s that mutt yapping about?” one of the thieves growled as he glanced around. A second later, he spotted Mattie and Josiah. “Someone’s coming!”
His partner fired a shot, the sound cracking through the still night air.
Though conscious of Josiah ducking next to her, Mattie stood frozen in place. But in the next moment, her arm was grabbed as Josiah pulled her down to the ground with him.
“Hold your fire,” he commanded. “I don’t want to risk hitting one of the horses.”
“You half-wit!” the first thief growled. “Now the whole camp knows we’re here! Let’s get out of here.” He tried to grasp the ropes.
But the loud noise of the gunshot had unnerved the horses. They danced out of reach, thwarting his efforts. He glanced over his shoulder in the direction of the wagon circle, where several men were emerging with lanterns in hand.
Muttering a curse, he abandoned all attempts to regain control of the skittish animals. “Forget the horses. I’m not sticking around to be caught and hanged!”
He beat a hasty retreat, his partner in crime hot on his heels.
Josiah and Mattie climbed to their feet. After quickly assessing that neither of them had been injured, Josiah moved toward his horses.
“Whoa, easy.” His tone soft and gentle, he climbed between the ropes forming the temporary enclosure.
But calming a half dozen horses at once was more than any one man could handle on his own, and Josiah’s animals were in danger of breaking through the flimsy barrier.
Here at last was a way Mattie could be useful. She had plenty of experience with horses—unlike most other aspects of trail life.
Despite her worry for the animals and Josiah, her heart felt lighter as she stepped forward to lend him a hand.
* * *
Josiah cast a sidelong glance at Matt as the boy waded into the mass of milling horseflesh. It took less than a handful of seconds to determine that this was one area where the kid could hold his own. He plainly knew how to navigate around unsettled horses.
While showing proper caution and respect for their size and strength, he displayed no signs of hesitation or unease. Though one wrong move could see him kicked or even trampled.
As Matt advanced toward the head of one horse, he spoke in low, soothing tones. Fuzzy ears cocked in response. Reaching