Page 91 of The Heart’s Charge

After giving Katherine’s back an awkward pat, he slipped free of her hold and locked eyes with the boy. “You done good, Abner. Laid a good trail for me to follow. Protected Miss Katherine. Things coulda gone a lot worse if it weren’t for you.”

Katherine quickly swiped at her face before directing a big smile Abner’s way. “He’s my hero.” She pulled him into her lap and hugged him tight.

After a moment, her attention landed on something behind Jonah. Jonah’s hand went for his gun as he spun to face whatever approached. That whatever being Rawley.

“And there’s the third hero of the night,” Katherine said, a smile in her voice.

“One who was supposed to stay where I left him until I gave the all-clear signal,” Jonah grumbled, hating the way the kid stared at Ortega, like he couldn’t tear his gaze away. “Come on, then.” He waved at Rawley, trying to divert his attention. “Let’s get back to the camp. There’s a horse there we can use.” He turned back to Katherine. “Can you ride?”

She lifted Abner off her lap and pushed to her feet. “Well enough.” She sidled past Jonah to place herself and the bell of her skirt between the wide-eyed Rawley and the unmoving man on the ground. “Time to get going, boys. There are others still in peril. We need to get to Packsaddle Mountain as quickly as we can.”

Spell broken, Rawley nodded, jogged over to where Abner stood, and slapped the other boy’s back in manly approval. The adventure of the night had apparently formed a bond of friendship between the two.

Jonah whistled, and Augustus trotted over. He took up the lead line and started walking. Wallace was still out there, along with a group of missing boys. “I wanna meet the mornin’ train in Kingsland. Fetch Matt and Preach. They’ll aid in the search and help corral Miss Gordon and the deputy before they get away.”

Katherine shooed the boys ahead of her, falling into step beside Jonah. She rubbed her arms and wrists, as if trying to get the blood pumping through them again. Or maybe to ward off the same fear that plagued him.

Had Wallace and the boys survived the night?

Eliza stood on the train platform, holding a schoolroom slate with the names Matthew Hanger and Luke Davenport chalked in bold letters. The minister’s wife had been kind enough to watch Ruby, Ted, and the twins after Eliza banged on the parsonage door at first light to ask for the preacher’s help in rounding up men to search for the caved-in mine. Alice, however, had refused to stay behind. She was determined to help find her brother, and as much as Eliza worried about what outcome they might encounter on Packsaddle Mountain, she knew it would be pointless to try to keep the child away. The little scamp would just escape and head out on her own. It was only Eliza’s suggestion that they wait for Rawley’s return that had kept Alice from traipsing after the search party when the men left town a half hour ago.

Passengers began disembarking the newly arrived train. Eliza held her sign over her head, praying the Horsemen would see it. A paunchy fellow with a drummer’s case exited the train car, followed by a lady with a frustratingly large hat. Said lady apparently felt compelled to stop three steps from the train car to converse with the porter, completely blocking Eliza’s view of the disembarking passengers. She rose up on tiptoes and craned her neck from one side to the other, trying to see behind the feathered monstrosity.

A giant of a fellow stepped down to the platform, too big for even that hat to hide. Behind him came a man with a touch of gray in his tightly trimmed beard. As they stepped around the woman with delusions of millinery grandeur, Eliza felt sure she’d found the Horsemen. They carried themselves the same way Jonah did—with authority and confidence. And with enough guns to start a small war. Her only hesitation lay in the fact that the second fellow turned to assist a lady down the steps, a lady who slid her arm into his as if it belonged there. Would Horsemen bound for battle travel with a woman?

“Look, Miss Eliza.” Alice tugged on her skirt and pointed down the road. “Mr. Jonah is back.”

Eliza’s full attention riveted on the weary man on the giant horse walking toward the station. Thank you, God, for keeping him safe. And Katherine! Oh, Lord, how good you are! Eliza’s heart galloped with joy at that sight of her friend alive and well, riding a strange black horse with speckled haunches. Abner sat safely on the saddle in front of her. Eliza had known Jonah would do whatever he could to save her and the boy, but she’d worried he might not be in time. Praise God for his mercy!

“Ma’am?” A deep voice brought her gaze back to the platform. The big man she’d spied earlier now stood in front of her, tipping his hat. “I’m Luke Davenport. You from Harmony House?”

Eliza nodded, pulling her arms down, and handed the slate to Alice. “Yes. I’m Eliza Southerland. Thank you for coming. Jonah’s on his way in now.” She nodded toward the road.

Jonah, of course, had already spotted his partner and had a hand raised in greeting. Mr. Davenport lifted his in response.

“Matt’s seeing to the horses. Dr. Jo insisted on taggin’ along too. In case anyone needs patchin’ up.” He frowned as Jonah reached the platform and gingerly dismounted. “Looks like Brooks could use her.”

The lady was a doctor? That would be a blessing. Though Eliza doubted Jonah would submit to an examination any time soon. “His injuries are secondary right now. He won’t stop until we find Mark.”

“Nope. None of us will.”

The big man’s words held such deep promise, they eased a bit of Eliza’s worry. At least the worry assigned to Mr. Wallace and the missing children. The worry assigned to Jonah and the likelihood of him working himself to death to save his friend held steady. Which was why she’d be going to Packsaddle with him. Even if it meant riding that giant horse of his again. She aimed to make sure he didn’t push himself too hard. She wouldn’t try to stop him, but she fully intended to ply him with food, water, and anything else he might need to keep him sustained.

Jonah helped Rawley off Augustus before crossing to the second horse and lowering first Abner then Katherine. Mr. Davenport strode forward to meet the group at the end of the platform. Alice dashed after him, making a beeline for Abner and Rawley. Eliza followed, not running, but not exactly walking either. By the time she caught up with the others, Jonah had already clasped Mr. Davenport’s hand.

“Preach. Thanks for comin’.”

Mr. Davenport nodded, then raised a brow in question. “Wallace?”

Jonah’s face looked grim. “Buried in a collapsed mine somewhere on the south side of Packsaddle Mountain.”

Eliza longed to ease his frown, take some of the load upon herself. “A search party set out thirty minutes ago. Hopefully they’ll have found the entrance by the time we get out there.”

Jonah’s eyes met hers, gratitude shining out from behind the weariness. Heavens, but a woman could get used to such a look, knowing her man depended on her, appreciated her.

“We’ll get him dug out in no time,” Mr. Davenport vowed.

But Jonah shook his head. “Not you, Preach. I need you to get back on the train and ride to Llano.”