The Fire Within a Ninjago Cowboy

Chapter 26 - Wednesday Evening

Chapter 26 - Wednesday Evening

Though the sun had not yet set below the horizon, the woods had gotten darker as Morro's horse, carrying its two riders, stepped through the underbrush. It was making its way up one of the mountains in the Stone Mountain range.

The air temperature had fallen as they had climbed into a higher altitude. The blanket which had been draped over Sam's head yesterday to protect her from the hot sun was now tied around her shoulders to protect her from the chill of the evening. Morro had taken care of that since she could not. He had bound her wrists again once they had left Qubla.

He had left the kerchief off her mouth, but she had deliberately avoided speaking to him all day, at least as much as possible.

At last they reached a clearing in the woods in which Sam could see, though the daylight was growing dim, a two-story wooden structure made from log planks. A covered porch stretched along the entire front of the first floor. Two first-floor glass windows and three second-floor glass windows formed a symmetrical pattern around the front door.

"Wrayth usually has done a good job of getting the place ready when I've come around to visit it over the years," Morro said, breaking the silence between them as he guided the horse to the door of the adjacent barn. "We'll see how he did this time with the short notice I gave him, even though he said getting the telegram just yesterday wasn't a problem for him." Wrayth lived in a shack at the foot of the mountain, and they had stopped to see him so that Morro could pay him for his efforts.

"I see Wrayth stocked the hen house," Morro noted, observing the pecking and clucking of the birds in their habitat near the horse barn.

Morro dismounted his animal, and after lifting Sam by her waist to take her off as well, he reached into a pocket and pulled out his knife. With a few deft strokes he sliced through the ropes that were binding her wrists.

Morro poked his head inside the barn door and reached for something.

"Here's a clean towel. You can freshen up at the water pump over there before we go inside," he said with a towel in his hand, motioning to a spot a few yards away.

She took the towel from him and walked over to the pump while he attended to the horse. Splashing cold water on her face, neck, and forearms made her shiver, but it felt good to remove some of the trail dust that had accumulated during all the riding they had done within the past four days.

As she dried off with the towel, she surveyed her surroundings for the possibility of escape. Morro had told her that bears and mountain cats roamed these woods, and she knew the thick underbrush would slow travel back down the mountain. If she were to steal Morro's horse, maybe her chances would be better. She had never actually ridden a horse by herself, but she wouldn't let that fact deter her from doing so, if and when she had to.

Sam looked over at Morro, who was motioning to her to come with him into the house.

"Welcome to your new home," Morro told her as he held the front door open for her.

Sam cringed inwardly. This might indeed be her new home, but she didn't like hearing that statement out loud.

As she walked through the front door ahead of him, she encountered the stairway to the upstairs. To the left of the stairway was a room apparently being used as a office, judging from the books and papers in it. A hallway led to the back of the house, where presumably the kitchen and dining room were located. To the right of the stairway sat a parlor with a fireplace, a sofa, two chairs, and a buffet table displaying some liquor and glasses. Morro led Sam into this room and lit a lamp on the buffet table.

"You can wait here in the parlor while I put together some supper. Want a drink?" Morro asked, holding up a bottle of red wine.

Sam wanted to keep her wits about her, but she also wanted something to calm her nerves. She nodded at Morro and he poured her a glass.

Handing it to her, he said, "I'll be back," and he left the room.

Taking a sip of wine, she began to study the room. It was evident that Morro had money. Some of the people she knew back east had some of the same furnishings.

A framed photograph on the fireplace mantel caught her eye. The photograph was of a girl who Sam guessed was about 15 or 16 years old. The girl appeared to be dressed up. After studying it for a minute, Sam realized what was especially fascinating about the photo.

The girl looked like Sam.

From the parlor doorway, Morro's voice startled her when he said...

"That's Emma."