Meant to live

Chapter 4

"She is a beauty, isn't she?"

"I'm sorry, Miss Amelia," said the store owner, "but I can only buy one."

"One is all I need."

She handed over the reins of her own horse and hoped she would get sold to a good farmer. She went inside and saw Thomas waiting for her.

"Good morning, Thomas. I know I said two hours but I'm ready when you are."

"Good morning, Amelia. Is this everything?"

"It depends how far they are. You got a sack?"

"Yeah, and my own supplies."

"Well excuse me, your majesty," she teased giving a small curtsy.

He found her tongue to be fruitful and bothersome. It also made him smile on the inside. He took some of the supplies and repacked both bags.

"I'll go fill the canteens."

"Fine."

He came back with both canteens and secured one to her horse. He tried hard not to stare at Amelia's rear as she braided her hair to the side. The distracting curve of her neck went down her back which led straight to her revovler that sat on her hip.

"Do you know how to shoot that thing?"

"I may be a woman but I know how to take care of myself." He cleared his throat and readied his horse, holding his reins steady. "You have yours? 'Cause Heaven forbid we're out in the desert surrounded by Indians and I'm the only one with a gun."

"A man's gun stays to his hip no matter what."

"Alright then, so which way?"

He clicked his tongue and rode without a word with Amelia following close behind.

"Rickwall's gang was attacked by a group of Indians and there's only five of them now. In a few weeks, he'll have more men under his command. They're camped about a day east of here on the edge of the canyons."

"Then we better get a move on."

"I can't let you kill them."

"Why not?"

"We're going to bring Rickwall back to the Hangman's noose."

Her mind shot to Daniel's face as he held onto her sister's locket. One side held a picture of her parents while the other had a picture of her and Daphine the summer their parents died of sickness. Then there was Noah. Amelia knew he had something for her from his broken wrist and the show in the jail.

"What about everyone else?"

"Everyone else wasn't in that room."

"You don't know that."

He didn't but he was the one that found Daphine dead when he walked into the wrong room that night. He had told Millie and made her swear not to tell anyone. Thomas looked at the disappointment of not seeing all the men being brought to justice.

"If you're nice and promise not to kill anyone, I can talk to the Sheriff and see if you can pull the lever when Rickwall faces the rope." He saw the smile on her face and laughed as they made their way into the desert.

The sun rose high in the sky as they rode. It was about a little into the start of the evening when they decided to stop and rest for the night. They had reached a wooded part of the mountain side. Another day through this and they would make the canyons in no time.

He feared what would happen when they came across Rickwall and his gang. The Sheriff had given him the task of bringing Rickwall back alive but said nothing about his men. All they had to do was stay clear of snakes and Indians then the rest would be cake.