Only 05 - Autumn Lover

As she rode, she searched for signs that cattle had been entering and leaving the tall reeds.
    Although there weren’t many trails into the marsh, the cattle knew each one. The marsh was a cool place to retreat when the summer sun became too hot, and a moist place long after the grasslands had cured to hay beneath the autumn sun.
    The sky overhead was hung with a few bright clouds and alive with wind. All around Elyssa was the rustle,sway, and gentle whisper of tall grass and taller reeds. From hidden places came the call of horned larks startled by Leopard’s big hooves.
    As always, riding out beneath the vast, radiant sky brought peace to Elyssa. Slowly the pain of the previous night ebbed, allowing her to take a deep breath for the first time since she had walked into Hunter’s bedroom.
    Don’t think about Hunter , Elyssa told herself. Think about cows. They’re your future .
    Hunter isn’t .
    Leopard’s ears swiveled this way and that, checking out each sound. His flaring nostrils drew in air as he sampled the wind for scents. The knotted reins lay loosely against his mane. Whatever guidance he needed was provided by his rider’s knees as often as the reins.
    At all times Elyssa was aware of the stallion’s response to the land. She knew that the horse’s senses were much keener than hers. If anyone or anything was in the marsh, Leopard would notice it long before she did.
    Just as Elyssa spotted what looked like freshly broken reeds, Leopard stopped and whipped his head around, looking in the opposite direction. Ears pricked, head high, the stallion stared off toward the mountains.
    Wind carried the sound of shots and shouting to Elyssa. Shading her eyes, she stood in the stirrups and looked toward the Ruby Mountains.
    After a moment Elyssa made out the shape of someone running on foot down a long swell of land toward the marsh, about half a mile from her. A few more moments told Elyssa that it was an Indian girl who was running so. She carried what looked like a bundle of clothing in her arms.
    Well behind the running figure, four riders trotted along after the girl. They were whooping and hollering like drunken men at a turkey shoot. Obviously theyweren’t worried about catching the girl before she reached whatever safety might lie ahead in the marsh.
    Elyssa stiffened and narrowed her eyes, hoping against hope that she was mistaken.
    She wasn’t. Two of the men were riding big sorrel mules.
    Culpeppers , Elyssa thought with dread, yanking out her carbine. That poor girl doesn’t have a chance. They’re just playing with her, enjoying her fear .
    Elyssa fired three quick shots in the air to warn the Ladder S riders who were working the margins of the marsh. Then she jammed the carbine back in the saddle scabbard and slammed her heels into Leopard’s sleek hide.
    The stud went from a standing start to a gallop in a few furious strides. Elyssa bent low over his neck and urged him to an even faster pace, heedless of the dangerous, uneven ground whipping by beneath his hooves.
    Elyssa could tell the instant she was spotted. One of the riders yelled and whipped his mule, sending it out in front of the others. The remaining men pulled their rifles and began firing at the fleeing Indian girl.
    The shots rang out in a ragged volley. At the same instant, Elyssa realized that the girl wasn’t carrying a bundle of clothes after all.
    It was a baby.
    Elyssa kicked Leopard again and shouted for more speed. The big horse stretched out and ran like thunder over the wild land.
    Wind clawed at Elyssa with invisible talons. The force of it yanked off her hat. Her braids tore free of their pins. In moments the braids were unraveled. Her hair streamed out like a flaxen flag, whipping in the wind behind her.
    Elyssa clung to Leopard’s neck, riding with all herskill. She never took her eyes from the narrowing gap between the Indian girl and Leopard.
    And the Culpeppers.
    Lord, but those mules are fast ! Elyssa thought in dismay.
    She had only instants to decide whether to cut the Culpeppers off from the girl and pray that the Ladder S men would arrive before the Culpeppers grabbed her.
    Or Elyssa could grab the girl and race headlong into the cover of the marsh.
    The Indian girl finally heard the pounding of Leopard’s hooves over the harshness of her own breathing. She veered away from the big stallion.
    “No!” Elyssa screamed. “Friend! I’m a friend!”
    Either the girl believed that safety lay with the