Jim knew she was tired. Her eyes had a hollow, sunken look. He knew she was cold and hungry as well. But he admired his wife for putting such a brave face on things. She was one of a kind.
They started out on foot. Jim and the Appaloosa led the way, busting a path through the drifts for Ellen and her smaller horse to follow.
The snow grew shallow at the edge of the tree line, and Jim turned west, toward home. They paused at a small stream to let the horses drink.
Those gray, northern clouds were closer now. They didn’t have much time.
Jim helped Ellen into the saddle. The snow was thin enough they could ride for a time. From a gap in the clouds, the sun peeked out.
“Sun sure feels good,” Ellen said.
“It does,” Jim agreed. He started the Appaloosa across the stream when a glint from the water drew his eye.
“One moment,” he said, and bent down over the water.
“What is it?” Ellen asked.
“I thought I saw something.” Jim shifted to the right to let the sun strike the water and caught it again. A flash. It came from a depression where Ellen’s horse had stepped. He peeled off his glove. The water was beyond cold. It cut to the very bone. Jim forced his hand through the jagged gravel and scooped out a handful of dirt.
He sifted out the bigger pieces until a pebble the size of a button caught his eye. He plucked it into his left hand, rubbing it between his fingers. It caught a hint of light and shone a brilliant yellow.
“What is it?” Ellen said.
“We found it.” Jim smiled. He handed her the nugget. “The first sign of gold outside the main creek. This is where it came down from.”
Ellen beamed. “I told you we would.”
Jim hopped back onto the Appaloosa. “Let’s follow the stream up a ways. I want to see where it comes from.”
“Do we have time?” Ellen asked dubiously. “The storm isn’t far off.”
“Only if we hurry,” Jim said.
He steered them up through the thin trees, climbing the mountain’s base. The stream twisted and turned, snaking its way higher. Jim saw where it cut into a chunk of rotten quartz. He hopped off the Appaloosa to examine the rock more closely.
Ellen jumped down beside him. He broke off a section of rock with his hand. Seams of gold ran like tiny rivers through the flaky rock. Jim’s heart hammered to get out of his chest. They’d done it. After all the searching, they’d finally done it.
He squeezed his wife close, kissing her. “We’ve done it. The gold’s here.”
“I knew you would,” she said. She rested a hand on his chest and smiled up at him.
“Me? You’re the one who wanted to ride this way,” Jim said. “Seems like you should get the credit.”
“If you insist,” Ellen laughed.
Jim stuffed their saddlebags with the rotten quartz. He studied the place well, making note of several landmarks. It would look quite different without all the snow, but he had to find his way back here. This was it. This was exactly what he and David had been searching for. They were so close now. Everything they wanted could be theirs. Ellen would have the finest dresses, Walt and Alma could have the finest schools. They’d have land and cattle and happiness.
A flake fell and landed on Jim’s glove. In his excitement, he had forgotten. The storm was almost on them. He looked north. The mountains were gone, hidden behind a wall of oncoming snow.
“We’ve got to go,” he said. “We’ve got to get home now before it hits again.”
He threw Ellen up into the saddle, then hopped onto the Appaloosa. There was no choice. They would have to run the horses.
Jim led the way. The Appaloosa picked its way between the trees until they were clear. They turned toward home, and Jim spurred him into a quick trot. He glanced back. Ellen was with him, face set in grim determination.
They topped a slight rise, and Jim smelled wood smoke. They had to be close. The edge of the tree line retreated toward the east and, faintly, Jim saw the barn. Almost home. They had made it. A few more minutes and they would be safe and warm.
Chapter 20
When Ellen saw the cabin, she knew immediately something was wrong. A pair of unfamiliar horses stood out front and there was far too much smoke rising from the chimney. Was her father trying to signal them to stay clear? Her first thought was of Cord Bannen and his gang of thugs. Her second was that he had Walt and Alma.
“How did they find us?” she said.
Jim stared at the strange horses. “I’m not sure he has. I don’t remember him having horses as fine as that pair.”
“But what if it’s him? What if he’s in there with Walt and Alma and my parents?”
Jim drew his pistol, opened the cylinder, checked the shells. Then he snapped it shut again. “Are you armed?”
Ellen shook her head.
“Take my rifle, then,” Jim said. He helped her out of the saddle, then handed the gun to her. “Wait behind the corner of the barn. The wood’s thick enough to stop a bullet. I’ll go on and you cover me from there.”
Jim’s jaw flexed, and he took a long breath. “I’ll leave the horses tied behind you. If I go down, you get on the Appaloosa and head for town. Find help. He’ll get you there.”
“I’m frightened, Jim,” Ellen admitted. Frightened. The word didn’t seem to capture what she was feeling. Her very bones trembled with fear and worry and…anger. She was angry that someone might have harmed her children.
“I’d be worried if you weren’t,” Jim smiled. “Just stay calm as you can and squeeze the trigger. Before you do, be sure of what you’re aiming at. Don’t hesitate, just be sure.”
