Page 49 of At Love’s Command

As soon as the sunshine hit his eyes, a light brown object hit his hands.

“Got you a new hat, boss.” Jonah nodded toward Phineas, whose saddle was void of both items Matt had been forced to borrow.

Preach led the horse forward. “One of the stable boys took that nasty stuff off our hands. Said he’d clean it up and give it to his brother. Didn’t think you’d mind.”

“Not at all.” Matt fit the new hat to his head. It was stiff compared to his old one, but the size was right, and the cavalry-style shape was exactly what he preferred. He tipped the brim toward Jonah. “Thanks, Brooks.”

Jonah nodded.

“Oh! My carpetbag,” Josie exclaimed. “I left it by the bench at the boardinghouse. The train tickets are in it.”

Before she could rush away, Preach stepped forward. “No worries, Doc. I picked it up. Tied it onto the back of Sandy’s saddle for ya.”

Sure enough, the palomino sported a red-and-gold-patterned lump atop his rump.

She smiled. “Oh, wonderful! Thank you, Mr. Davenport.”

Preach dipped his chin. “My pleasure, ma’am.”

“All right. If we’ve got everything, then,” Matt said, feeling a little grumpy over Preach playing Josie’s hero, “let’s get to the depot and load the horses.”

Each man took charge of a lead line, and they moved as a group toward the depot. As they skirted around the platform to gain access to the freight cars, Charlie suddenly grabbed Matt’s shoulder.

“Wait.”

Matt turned, the sharpness in Charlie’s voice sending a jolt of alarm through him. “What is it?”

“Those two men.” Charlie pointed to a pair of brawny fellows at the edge of the platform who were talking to the rail hand in charge of livestock. The same hand who had unloaded the Horsemen’s mounts the day before. “They’re from Taggart’s gang.”

“Are you sure?” Preach demanded in a low voice.

“Yes.”

One of the two men turned, and all doubt fled Matt’s mind. He recognized that red beard. And by the way the man’s brows rose, he recognized Matt as well.

“We’ve got to ride!” Matt immediately moved to Josie’s side and boosted her up onto Phineas’s back before mounting behind her. “Now!”

CHAPTER

TWENTY-ONE

Josephine’s mind raced as they fled the depot. How had Taggart’s men found them? According to Matthew, the outlaws hadn’t pursued the Horsemen after the rescue, so they must have taken the train. But how many were aboard? Matthew must have assumed there were more than the two they’d spotted. Either that or he was concerned about innocent bystanders being injured should a gunfight erupt. As far as she could tell, Chatfield had no marshal. For pity’s sake, the town didn’t even have its own post office.

Hopefully, the smallness of the town would work in their favor. If the outlaws came by train, they might not have horses. The pickings at the livery were slim, more wagon horses than cow ponies. Then again, these men were outlaws. They’d just steal whatever they needed. And any mount they confiscated would be fresher than the ones her group rode. The Horsemen would not be able to keep up this pace for long. Especially with her and Matthew riding double.

She prayed Matthew had a plan. Were there military rules of engagement for times like these? Or did one simply retreat until more cavalry troops could swoop in and deal with the enemy? With no reinforcements available on the ground, Josephine petitioned the Lord for some angelic army support.

She felt Phineas begin to slow beneath her. She twisted and peered around Matthew to check for followers. Nothing yet. Nothing but a small cloud of dust in the distance. A cloud she wanted to attribute to wind or a stagecoach or anything other than what she knew it had to be.

Was Taggart coming for Charlie, still angling for a ransom? Or did he intend to unleash vengeance on all of them for foiling his plans?

Josephine pressed her lips in a tight line as she faced forward again and adjusted her grip on the saddle horn. She supposed she should be afraid, but with Matthew’s arms around her and his chest bracing her back, fear wasn’t what bubbled up inside her. No. Anger and indignation thrummed through her veins.

These men had no right to hold her brother hostage. To extort money from her father. To threaten the lives of good men. One of whom had her rearranging the picture of her future to include not only a well-run medical clinic, good friends, and the respect of professional colleagues, but the love of an honorable man and perhaps even a child or two if God proved generous.

A family of her own.

She’d known the choice to pursue a medical career would drastically reduce her chances at making a marital match, yet she’d chosen it anyway. It wasn’t just a vocational calling, but a spiritual one. She’d sacrifice whatever was necessary to follow the path God had set before her. No regrets. She found joy in her work and satisfaction in knowing her life had meaning even if it wasn’t shared with the most intimate of companions.