being attacked. Aggie would be all right for now.
The only problem was, the shadow lay between Hank and home.
Chapter 9
Aggie washed and slipped on her nightgown with a blue ribbon at the throat. She’d bought it in Chicago and kept it wrapped in paper in the bottom of her bag. Smoothing the cotton, she told herself this wasn’t her real wedding night. But she had to wear it. Dolly had demanded she leave her old one behind. Somehow, even though she’d sleep alone in her bed, it seemed right to start her new life in all new clothes, even a nightgown.
She’d almost finished brushing her hair when she realized Ulysses hadn’t stopped barking. At first she’d thought he’d just been running the night like guard dogs do, but now the sound he made was different. Angry, fierce.
Hank was outside with the dog. Surely he’d silence him with a yell soon.
But minutes ticked by and nothing. In fact, if anything the dog’s growls sounded near panic.
Her mind began to think of all the possibilities. What if Hank were hurt? What if a wild animal had charged him? She’d heard there were mountain lions and bears in this part of Texas. Her father had often said he’d never go west because it was full of mad animals and crazy people. Her sister told her the Indian Wars had been over for a few years, but what if . . .
She couldn’t stand guessing anymore. Grabbing Hank’s gun belt, she strapped it around her waist, then pulled on her robe without bothering to tie it. If something was outside, she had no intention of hiding indoors.
Without a lamp, she felt her way through the main room to the front door. The barking sounded like it was coming from the back of the house. If she stayed in the shadow of the porch she might see trouble before it found her.
As she slipped outside, the cold, wet boards felt slippery beneath her, but she couldn’t take the time to go back for shoes. Slowly, her fingers sliding along the painted walls, she moved toward the side of the house where she’d be able to see the barn.
Lightning flashed and she froze, knowing that if there was someone, or something out there in the night, they would be able to see her for a few seconds.
But nothing moved.
She continued her progress, one small step at a time. When she turned the corner and saw Ulysses—still barking—facing the barn, she silently pulled the Colt and readied it.
“Easy, Ulysses,” she whispered, not wanting to surprise him from behind. “I’m here now.”
Ulysses lowered to a growl, but didn’t move. Something between the dog and the barn held his full attention. It took her brain a moment to recognize the outline of a man on horseback with something held high in both hands, like a warrior of old wielding a sword.
Aggie waited for the next flash of lightning.
Seconds passed. She and Ulysses stood vigil.
With a sudden flash of lightning, Aggie saw a man again, closer now to the opening of the barn.
As thunder rolled, Hank shouted, “Aggie, get back inside.”
He’d seen her, but she hadn’t had time to find him in the moment’s flash. The blackness that followed swallowed all light. Aggie strained, trying to make out any form, struggling to hear any movement.
The whack of board against bone thundered across the yard. Once! Twice!
Ulysses went wild.
The sound of a horse stomping rumbled near the barn. The animal screamed as a man’s voice shouted a curse. A moment later the horse broke into a run. Aggie raised her Colt and fired as a rider blinked past her. Before she could draw aim again, the horse had taken his dark knight out of range.
Suddenly, Ulysses and she were running toward the barn.
“Hank,” she cried, not sure if she were screaming his name or praying. “Hank!”
Stepping into the barn reminded her of falling into a cave. Velvet blackness on the moonless night. She clambered for the lantern she’d seen Hank set on a shelf just inside the barn, hoping he had only turned it out and not taken
The only problem was, the shadow lay between Hank and home.
Chapter 9
Aggie washed and slipped on her nightgown with a blue ribbon at the throat. She’d bought it in Chicago and kept it wrapped in paper in the bottom of her bag. Smoothing the cotton, she told herself this wasn’t her real wedding night. But she had to wear it. Dolly had demanded she leave her old one behind. Somehow, even though she’d sleep alone in her bed, it seemed right to start her new life in all new clothes, even a nightgown.
She’d almost finished brushing her hair when she realized Ulysses hadn’t stopped barking. At first she’d thought he’d just been running the night like guard dogs do, but now the sound he made was different. Angry, fierce.
Hank was outside with the dog. Surely he’d silence him with a yell soon.
But minutes ticked by and nothing. In fact, if anything the dog’s growls sounded near panic.
Her mind began to think of all the possibilities. What if Hank were hurt? What if a wild animal had charged him? She’d heard there were mountain lions and bears in this part of Texas. Her father had often said he’d never go west because it was full of mad animals and crazy people. Her sister told her the Indian Wars had been over for a few years, but what if . . .
She couldn’t stand guessing anymore. Grabbing Hank’s gun belt, she strapped it around her waist, then pulled on her robe without bothering to tie it. If something was outside, she had no intention of hiding indoors.
Without a lamp, she felt her way through the main room to the front door. The barking sounded like it was coming from the back of the house. If she stayed in the shadow of the porch she might see trouble before it found her.
As she slipped outside, the cold, wet boards felt slippery beneath her, but she couldn’t take the time to go back for shoes. Slowly, her fingers sliding along the painted walls, she moved toward the side of the house where she’d be able to see the barn.
Lightning flashed and she froze, knowing that if there was someone, or something out there in the night, they would be able to see her for a few seconds.
But nothing moved.
She continued her progress, one small step at a time. When she turned the corner and saw Ulysses—still barking—facing the barn, she silently pulled the Colt and readied it.
“Easy, Ulysses,” she whispered, not wanting to surprise him from behind. “I’m here now.”
Ulysses lowered to a growl, but didn’t move. Something between the dog and the barn held his full attention. It took her brain a moment to recognize the outline of a man on horseback with something held high in both hands, like a warrior of old wielding a sword.
Aggie waited for the next flash of lightning.
Seconds passed. She and Ulysses stood vigil.
With a sudden flash of lightning, Aggie saw a man again, closer now to the opening of the barn.
As thunder rolled, Hank shouted, “Aggie, get back inside.”
He’d seen her, but she hadn’t had time to find him in the moment’s flash. The blackness that followed swallowed all light. Aggie strained, trying to make out any form, struggling to hear any movement.
The whack of board against bone thundered across the yard. Once! Twice!
Ulysses went wild.
The sound of a horse stomping rumbled near the barn. The animal screamed as a man’s voice shouted a curse. A moment later the horse broke into a run. Aggie raised her Colt and fired as a rider blinked past her. Before she could draw aim again, the horse had taken his dark knight out of range.
Suddenly, Ulysses and she were running toward the barn.
“Hank,” she cried, not sure if she were screaming his name or praying. “Hank!”
Stepping into the barn reminded her of falling into a cave. Velvet blackness on the moonless night. She clambered for the lantern she’d seen Hank set on a shelf just inside the barn, hoping he had only turned it out and not taken
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