Only 06 - Winter Fire

lose that black and white one again,” she muttered.
    Ute paused on his way out the door.
    â€œWeren’t the dog’s doing,” he said. “That she-goat is plumb contrary. Minute Ghost chases one herd quitter, she high-tails it in the other direction.”
    â€œYou always stand up for that dog.”
    â€œBeen a stray myself. Hard life.”
    The door shut behind him.
    Instantly Sarah’s expression changed, showing every bit of the fear she felt. She had just remembered what her brother had said that morning.
    I have an idea about spying on the Culpeppers .
    â€œConner,” she whispered. “You weren’t foolish enough to go alone, were you?”
    With a tight movement she yanked off her apron and hung it on a nail.
    â€œMorgan is watching the Culpeppers,” she told herself aloud. “He won’t let Conner do anything foolish.”
    The words seemed to echo in the room.
    Conner .
    Foolish .
    She ran outside. The door banged behind her. She didn’t notice the bite of the wind or the sting of tiny snowflakes whipping across her face.
    â€œConner?” Sarah called. “Where are you?”
    Blindly she ran toward the clump of tall sage where her brother had set up his camp.
    â€œConner? Conner!”
    The wind brought her cries back to her, mocking her as she had been mocked once before, when she called out to the darkness and flood for her younger brother.
    I found him then .
    I’ll find him now .
    His camp was empty, but his saddle was still there, still waiting to be used as a pillow.
    â€œConner! Answer me!”
    Nothing answered but the wind.
    Strands of hair ripped loose by the wind lashed across her face. She caught the hair and hung on to it, twisting it through her fingers like a lifeline.
    â€œNot now,” she said. “Not when I’ve finally found the silver for you! Where are you? Conner! Conner! ”
    She was still calling her brother’s name when Case spun her around and wrapped her in his arms. Hard.
    â€œEasy, honey. Easy. Get hold of yourself and tell me what’s wrong.”
    Only when his gentle, velvet voice penetrated her fear did Sarah realize that she was screaming her brother’s name again and again.
    â€œIs Conner with you?” she asked hoarsely.
    â€œHe’s up on the rim.”
    â€œAre you certain? Did you see him up there?”
    â€œNo, but he knows when it’s his turn to stand watch.”
    â€œHe didn’t go.”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œLola is on watch. Conner never showed up.”
    Case turned and looked over his shoulder.
    â€œHunter?” he asked.
    â€œHaven’t seen him,” Hunter said.
    â€œMorgan, what about you?” Case asked.
    â€œNo, suh. Nary hide nor hair.”
    â€œMorgan!” Sarah said.
    She jerked herself free of Case’s arms and turned to face the black gunfighter.
    â€œWhy aren’t you spying on the Culpeppers?” she accused. “You’re supposed to be there!”
    Warily Morgan glanced at Case.
    He was looking at Sarah as though she were a stranger.
    â€œTake it easy, honey,” he said. “Morgan is following Hunter’s orders.”
    She closed her eyes as though to shut out everyone, especially Case.
    â€œDid he talk with you about spying on the Culpeppers?” she asked tightly.
    â€œConner?” Case asked.
    It took every bit of her self-control not to scream at him that of course she was talking about her brother.
    â€œYes,” she said in an unnaturally calm voice. “He’s the only one missing, correct?”
    Case looked at her as warily as Morgan had.
    â€œIf you say so,” he said carefully, “then Conner is missing.”
    â€œI say so.”
    The bleakness in her eyes made him want to hold her again.
    â€œThis morning…” she said. Her voice went from hoarse to silent. “This morning, Conner said he had an idea about spying on the Culpeppers.”
    Morgan said something scalding under his breath.
    Hunter’s mouth flattened into a grim line.
    â€œGo on,” Case said.
    â€œThere’s nowhere to go,” she said. “Conner had an idea and now he’s gone.”
    â€œMorgan,” Hunter began.
    â€œI’m on my way.”
    â€œI’ll go with you,” Case said.
    â€œSo will I,” Sarah said.
    Both men turned to argue.
    Three quick shots from the rim cut off whatever the men were going to say. There was a