Free Bitter Wild by Jennie Leigh

were on their way through the
trees again.
    Jack
followed Casey and the packhorse, just as he had the day before. Skip brought
up the rear. Jack watched Casey, trying to figure out how she knew she was
following a trail. He wondered if the dog might be tracking for her, but it
didn’t seem to be doing anything more than keeping pace with Casey and her
horse. It would disappear into the woods occasionally, but was never gone for
more than a few minutes. Casey didn’t appear to pay the animal any attention at
all. Eventually, Jack couldn’t stand the silence any longer.
    “Just
out of curiosity, how exactly do you know you’re following the right trail? In
fact, how can you see any trail at all?” Casey glanced back over her shoulder
at him. Jack was hasty to assure her that he wasn’t questioning her skill. “I’m
just wondering what you see that I don’t. That’s all.”
    She
shrugged. “It’s not that difficult once you know what to look for.” She pulled
her horse to a stop, then motioned for him to bring his horse up beside her. He
did, trying not to notice as their legs brushed against one another. She
pointed at the ground between them. “Look there, see that indentation in the
dirt?”
    Jack
stared down and after a moment finally located the spot she was pointing at.
“Yeah, I see it.”
    “Okay,
notice that it’s a symmetrical curve. That wasn’t made by any animal or falling
tree limb. It’s too smooth, too sharply edged. That’s made by a horseshoe. Now
take a closer look at it. See that little ridge that bisects the curve from top
to bottom?”
    Jack
could just barely make it out. He nodded. “Yeah.”
    “Well,
all Millie’s horses are shod with shoes that bear that mark.” She paused for a
moment before continuing. “Millie was nothing if not unique. Every shoe her
horses ever wore was made especially for them. She liked knowing their tracks
stood out.”
    Jack
looked up at Casey as he heard the tightness in her voice. “By the way, I’m
sorry about your aunt. I didn’t know the two of you were related until the
Sheriff mentioned it yesterday afternoon.”
    Casey’s
gaze flicked to his and stayed there for a moment, then she shook her head.
“Millie had a long, happy life. I’ve known others who died long before they could
say the same.”
    She
made a clucking sound with her tongue and her horse started moving again. Jack
watched her as she moved away from him, then turned as he heard Skip speak
right beside him.
    “She’s
been following marks like that? I can barely even see it.”
    Jack
glanced at the imprint that he too would never have seen if she hadn’t pointed
it out to him. “Well, I guess that’s why we need her.”
    He
touched his horse with his heels and followed the woman he was trying
desperately not to be too intrigued by. They made few stops throughout the day.
They rested the horses occasionally, but that was pretty much it. They didn’t
even stop for lunch. Casey passed out some jerky, which was the same thing
they’d eaten for breakfast that morning. But they kept moving while they ate.
It was almost dark when she finally stopped and announced they were camping for
the night.
    This
site held no shelter for the horses, but it did boast a small stream that
formed an ankle deep pool beside which Casey suggested they set up the tents.
Just like the night before, they tended to the animals first, then set up camp.
Casey took another one of her prolonged walks, though she didn’t fix any food
before she left this time. Jack decided he might as well tend to that chore.
There was no reason why she had to do all the cooking. He found the supplies
and set about fixing a couple of cans of stew. Casey returned to camp and said
nothing about his initiative, though he thought he might have caught the hint
of a smile on her face as he passed her a plate. Without discussion, she
cleaned the dishes once the meal was finished. Jack waited until she was
finished before