The Only Way Out - Book Two of the Western Girls Trilogy

Chapter 8

Monroe had estimated pretty close. It was about four o'clock when the herd came into view and they both breathed a bit easier.

She could feel everyone staring as they rode into camp. The stray animals seemed to have learned their lesson and had followed them all the way back until they heard the sounds of the rest of the herd and trotted off to join them as if they hadn't just caused all sorts of trouble. Morgan, however, could sense that several of the men were whispering about the boss leaving the group, without even a word, to look for her and she let out an aggravated sigh, turning her horse towards the spot where she usually camped. She unsaddled the horse and walked him over to the remuda.

"You're back!" John exclaimed. He hugged her before he could think twice about it, but quickly let go when he noticed Monroe watching from over by the chuck wagon. "What happened?"

"Ran into some Indians," she said. "And they took my horse. Sorry."

"That's it? They only took your horse?"

"Well, three steer, too. But yes, that was it." she glanced over her shoulder and saw that most of the men by the chuck wagon had surrounded Monroe and she figured she give him a chance to explain to them what happened so she wouldn't have to.

"Do you know what kind of Indians they were?"

"Monroe thinks Apache," she said. John's face visibly paled.

"And you're alive to tell about it!" he laughed nervously.

"Yeah. I guess." she smiled.

"Well, you must be starving," John cleared his throat. "You'd best go get some food,"

"Oh!" she sighed. "Food!" With a smile, she turned and walked towards the chuck wagon.

"Everything alright, Boss?" Pierce had ridden up just as Morgan walked over and got in line behind Monroe.

"Yeah, fine. Why?" Monroe asked.

"Oh, nothing. Except that Grady was ready to take over as foreman if you didn't come back."

Monroe gave him a sideways glance. "Grady? Really?"

"Well, none of us took him very seriously, but I thought you should know," Pierce chuckled. "So, was he lost?" He glanced over at Morgan with a half grin.

"No. Actually he wasn't." Monroe said. "But he ran into some Apaches and they took his horse. Left him with all his gear though, so he was walking kind of slow."

"Apaches?"

"Yup."

"And all they took was the horse?"

"And three steer." Monroe said.

"That's it?"

"Yeah. I think he handled it pretty well."

"Did you know there were Indians around?"

"Hadn't a clue. We usually don't have to watch for them this far west."

"Well, I'll let the men know, for guard duty," Pierce said. "You two must be starving,"

"Yeah, I could eat," Monroe chuckled. He gladly accepted a plate of food from Cookie and went to sit by the fire.

"Hey, if it isn't our fearless leader and the prodigal son!" Grady muttered.

Yeah, what on earth happened to you two?" Lewis asked.

"Oh, you didn't hear?" Monroe asked. "Russell chased down some steer and ran into some Apache Indians."

The men were all silent.