His Cousin's Lady *Big Sky Brides Book 1*

Chapter 4

The sun shone brightly on Justice Steele's back as he guided his horse back towards the ranch.

"So... Calamity. " He spoke to his mare. She flicked her ears back.

"What do you think of Miss Seri? " No audible answer but Justice chuckled.

"She sure is right pretty. " The mare snorted and Justice full out laughed.

"I'm sorry Calamity, but she is prettier than you. " Calamity tossed her head and chomped on the bit.

"Y'know Calamity, Ole girl, you're pretty good company. " He patted the golden colored mare on the shoulder, before he let himself get lost in his thoughts, leaving Calamity to her own devices.

He was still rather tickled about his encounter with that stubborn, Miss Montgomery.

She sure was something though. A right pretty little filly too. A mess and a half for sure, but there was still something about her that intrigued the young rancher and he sure couldn't deny his growing attraction to her.

Maybe he might like to get to know Miss Seri, but judging by how she acted when he was around, he doubted that would happen.

She sure was pretty taken with Pearl, of course who wouldn't be. Pearl was lively and friendly.

He smiled just a bit thinking about his half sister.

It wasn't long before he arrived at the ranch and lead Calamity to the barn where he unsaddled her and brushed her out real good before turning her out to pasture.

He caught the aroma of fried chicken as it wafted out the window of the ranch house. His stomach rumbled reminding him how hungry he was.

His mama sure would be proud of the woman her little girl had become.

"Something sure smells funny." He called as he tossed his hat on the table.

"Justice Daniel Steele, get that hat off the table. " She said bringing a steaming platter if fried chicken to the table.

Justice's mouth watered as he lifted his hat off the table.

"Go wash up for supper, then get in here and we'll say the blessing. "

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The sun was beginning to set over the horizon when Seri began to head towards town.

The more she looked for the town the darker it got and Seri realized she had no idea where she was... She was lost.

She started to panic bit her heart really started racing when she found herself surrounded by a small band of Indian warriors on painted ponies.

By this time Seri's mare whom she lovingly called Dots, had began to dance nervously.

The Indians started closing in and a sob broke out of Seri's mouth.

One of the half naked savages laughed and pointed at her and his buddy laughed too.

Seri gritted her teeth. How dare they laugh and poke fun of her.

Her eyes darted to a small opening the warriors had left and she determined to slip through it and make a run for the town.

She gouged the horses side and Dots leapt into motion, eating the ground with her long strides.

Seri looked behind her noticed the Indians had started to follow her.

The chase was on!

"Oh, dear Lord God, help me!! " She prayed lifting her face heavenward!

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Waynoka, pulled her basin from the river and wondered when her little warrior, brother would be back from his hunting trip.

She slowly walked back to the encampment her bare feet clapping against the hard sunbaked earth.

She went to the cradleboard where her little baby girl Achasha lay sound asleep.

She smiled as she stroked the baby's ebony hair, that was much like her own.

Achasha was perfect in every way. Her young girl looked so peaceful in slumber. So carefree and happy, what Waynoka would give to be an innocent child again.

Waynoka left her baby sleeping peacefully and moved to tend the fire where she was making the chief's soup for dinner.

After she stirred the soup and added some more buffalo chips to the fire she turned back toward the river the direction her Husband Hiamovi, and his small band of warriors had ridden off in.

That had left some days ago in a hunting party. They planned to bring back plenty of meat and even promised Waynoka a new dress. She smiled at the thought.

She shaded her eyes against the setting sun and sighed.

She turned back towards her tent as baby Achasha began to cry.

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The small Appaloosa thundered across the prairie with the sun-bronzed Indians in hot pursuit.

Seri gouged the horse's side again, and this time taking the excess reins and popping the mare on the rump.

The startled mare gave a little leap and somehow went a little faster.

She could see Dots was beginning to tire and Seri felt bad for having to run her so hard, but every time she looked behind her, it seemed they were gaining on her.

Her heart beat in tune with the horses thundering hooves, until she was sure it might pop out of her chest.

She raised her face toward heaven again. "Oh, Lord give this horse wings to fly. " She cried.

She felt tears of fear begin to slide down her cheeks.

Sweat trickled down her back and she began to feel faint.

"No! No! God don't let me faint now..." She pleaded earnestly.

The mare's sides heaved and Seri's dress was now covered in flecks of white foam.

She looked over her shoulder once more and realized there was no way she could keep on at this pace.

The mare had now slowed to a canter and the Indians were fastly approaching.

"Oh, dear God if they do catch me let me be spared. "

It wasn't long before the mare stopped, her sides heaving and Seri slipped from the saddle.

She felt the blackness closing in around her as they hollered at each other in a foreign language.

Her last coherent thought before she slipped into the black oblivion was she was gonna be scalped by the ruthless savages or worse.

She closed her eyes as she went limp, falling to the ground in a dead faint.

* I'll finish this chapter later... *