Free Untamed Journey by Eden Carson

didn’t expect Ruth to answer, as he’d already
turned his attention back to his tall companion.
    “Change of plans, little brother. We’ll have
to split up. I can’t risk the woman in a fight if they really are
doubling back. You and Mike take the rest of the men and track the
main group. If you’re right, and the leader was wounded, the two of
you should be able to trail them easily enough without my
help.”
    Ruth had to sidle close to hear the brother’s
reply.
    “Where are you going?” he asked.
    “The nearest town is too far away,” Jackson
replied. “She’s got a decent forest mount. I think if we stick to
the high country, we can reach the ranch in two or three days. I
can meet back up with you at Fort Lyon after I drop her off.”
    “Whose ranch?” she asked, unable to remain
quiet any longer.
    Having her fate once again decided by others,
with no input from her, was scaring Ruth.
    “Pack only what’s necessary for survival,
with as little weight as possible,” Jackson ordered ignoring her
interruption. “That means food for you and the horse, warm
clothing, and bedding. Bring rain gear if you’ve got it.”
    She was otherwise ignored as both men were
already mounting their horses. Questions would likely get her
nowhere at this point. Seeing her only choice was to go it alone or
do as the Marshal ordered, she grabbed her sleeping blanket and
jerky, but left her change of clothes. She wasn’t sure Caboose
would tolerate the loose riding skirt without dumping her to the
hard ground, so it only took Ruth a few seconds to cross it off her
list of necessities. She swung up onto the Paint.
    “I’m ready to go,” Ruth said, hands folded
calmly over the pommel.
    Jackson noted she’d left her clothing out in
the open. He dismounted quickly and stuffed her riding skirt under
the nearest bush. There was no time to bury it properly, so they’d
have to take their chances that the outlaws had mediocre tracking
skills.
    As he re-mounted and grabbed her horse’s
reins, he answered her questioning look. “Don’t want the outlaws
coming after us to know you’re a woman. They’ll see it as a
weakness if we’re lucky, and if not, as a lure. Our best chance of
survival is out-riding them. Most outlaws are lazy by nature, but
if they catch the scent of a woman, they’ll ride that much harder.
You’re worth a hell of a lot on the open market.”
    Ruth paled, but nodded her head in
understanding.
    Jackson’s brother rode off in the other
direction, with just a tip of his hat to her and a curt “Good luck”
to his brother. Old Mike followed suit, leaving Ruth entirely alone
with the Marshal.
    Jackson handed Ruth her reins, lightly
squeezing her trembling hands in what little comfort he could
offer. “We’re going to ride hard, so do your best to keep up. If
you find yourself getting too tired to stay awake, stop me. We’ll
strap you to your mount so you don’t fall and break something.
Understood?” He waited for her nod before kicking his horse into a
hard gallop.
     
     

Chapter 20
    “T hey’ve got a
woman?” Bear scratched his over-sized scalp as his clumsy hands
held up a pair of what could only be a woman’s petticoats. “What’s
she doing riding with a posse?”
    Halper spat a wad of chewing tobacco into the
dense brush, barely missing Bear’s worn out boots. “She’ll be worth
a hell of a lot to the Comancheros.”
    “If she survives us, that is,” the Mexican
added. “My marvelous pecker will exhaust her so much, she will not
have the strength to crawl out from under the Bear, here, and will
be crushed to death.” The Mexican laughed at his own humor.
    He was the only one. Bear was looking
slightly squeamish, as he was the only one in the group who didn’t
take pleasure in hurting others. Men didn’t bother him so much, but
women and children made him cringe.
    The Mexican wiped his tears of mirth off with
his dirty kerchief, then was suddenly all business as he turned