a man with a rifle back here, pointing it at him.â
âIâI think you should know thereâs a man in the back of the wagon with a rifle pointed at you.â
She noticed the two men flanking the Mexican stiffen. The Mexican, however, remained relaxed.
âThat is very interesting, señora,â he said. âWhy is the man in the wagon hiding behind your skirts?â
âHeâs not hiding,â she said. âHe was resting back there.â
âWell, tell him to come out,â the Mexican said, waving his arm. âWe would like to meet him.â
âJust tell him to move on, Rosemary,â Clint said. âTell him we donât have time for him.â
Rosemary relayed the message, which the Mexican didnât like.
âI do not believe you, señora,â he said. âThere is no man in the wagon. I think you shouldââ
All three men flinched when the shot came. So did Rosemary and Abigail. The sombrero flew off the Mexicanâs head, eluding his hand as he grabbed for it.
âHijo de un cabron,â he swore.
âIs that proof enough for you?â she asked.
âSà señora,â he said, âit is.â
âThen move aside and let us go.â
The Mexican waved to the other two men, and they all moved aside. He and one man moved to their left, while the other man moved to his right.
âTell him no matter what happens, no matter who gets shot, heâll be the first to die.â
Rosemary repeated the word to the Mexican, who nodded.
Rosemary started the wagon forward and was aware of the stares of the three men as they rode by them.
Clint took the rifle and moved to the back of the wagon. This time, he allowed the barrel of the rifle to show out the back of the wagon.
They went about a mile before Rosemary reined the team in again.
âNow why are we stopping?â Jenny called out.
Rosemary stuck her head in the wagon and said, âMy hands are shaking, thatâs why. I need a few minutes.â
The women piled out of the wagon, followed by Clint, who remained ready to pull his gun from his holster in case the three men followed them.
Abigail came rushing around the wagon, shouting at Clint.
âAre you crazy? You could have got us killed.â
âThose three men were going to kill you, Abigail,â Clint said.
âHow do you know that?â she asked. âThey could have wanted anything. Directions.â
âDonât be stupid, Abigail,â Jenny said. âClint saved our lives.â
âAt the very least,â Morgan said, âhe saved us from being raped.â
âAnd how could you fire that shot between us?â Abigail went on. âYou could have hurt one of us.â
âAbigail,â Rosemary said, âjust shut up.â
âNo!â she shouted. âYouâre always telling me to shut up. Well, I wonât.â
Now Rosemary got in Abigailâs face and shouted back, something she had never done before. âIf you wonât shut up,â she said, âthen get your stuff out of the wagon and weâll leave you here!â
âYou wouldnât dare!â
âTry me, Abigail.â
Abigail stared at Rosemary, who refused to avert her eyes, then turned and walked away.
Rosemary turned to Clint.
âAre we safe?â she asked.
âNo,â he said. âI think theyâll follow us and wait for their chance.â
âLike when?â she asked.
âWhen we amp,â Clint said.
âSo what do we do?â Jenny asked.
âOne of two things,â he said. âWe can keep going, make camp when it gets dark, and wait for them to come in.â
âOr?â Morgan asked.
âI can try to double-back behind them and take them.â
âYou mean kill them?â Rosemary asked.
âIf I have to.â
âWhy would you have to kill them?â Delilah asked. âI mean, I just want to know why