Blind Faith

The posse's race to Tent City was hectic.

The hoofs of pounding horseshoes resonate in their heads.

It was like the sound of Indian war drums.

Within the cacophony, Missy sensed Petra's thoughts.

Tortured from the moment she severed their bond.

Petra by name.

Petulant by nature.

She was intent on doing this her way.

For Buck, she'd forgo her family's intervention.

Brett didn't spare his rein, driving his steed to the limit.

Shadow was going to know about it when he caught up.

But his anger with her would have to wait.

Approaching Tent City at a pace, they came face to face, she was trailing a spare horse.

Denver was busy working out his battle plan.

He didn't have one, no known destination, no known enemy, what could be done.

The pace of the chase was numbing his brain.

All he could reflect on were echoes, reminding him of his escape from the Comancheros.

"Shadow, what's happening?"

"Don't worry Mother, she won't lose me that easily."

"What do you mean, don't worry?"

"I used more than my senses to find her originally and can do it again, it's time for old school tracking."

"Missy, you gonna let me know what's going on in that pretty head of yours?"

"Don't worry renmen mwen, there's been a change of plan."

"What do you mean, don't worry?"

"Petra's gone freelance and headed off with Brandy and Bruce and Shadow had to result in tracking her."

"Shadow, what's happening?"

"Don't worry Brett, no time for talking, just switch horses, that poor nag of yours is nearly dead."

"What do you mean don't worry?"

"Petra's gone AWOL, we're gonna track her the Indian way."

"Well, I can tell you one thing for sure, that she didn't come this way."

"I know that Brett, only came this way to bring you a fresh ride."

"How'd you know I was coming; you can't do that spooky stuff on me?"

"Oh no, I could smell your pretty boy perfume, ha-ha, only kidding I knew you were too smart to be deceived by my deception for long and guessed you'd be along soon."

"Denver, we need a change of direction, Tent City is no longer our destination."

"Well don't keep me in suspense. Where are we headed?"

"All I can tell you for sure is that Shadow and Brett are back together and headed north toward the Crusted County border."

"I didn't know they'd separated, but save the explanation for later, we've got a lot of ground to cover."

Denver was ill at ease he wasn't happy without a plan.

He'd seen too many things go wrong, using this wing and a prayer approach.

His years as a prospector taught him better.

He was now gambling with something more important than all the gold in California.

The life of a precious daughter.

He knew they needed a miracle, or this wasn't going to work.

If they failed, his family would be broken.

Both he and Missy would die before letting that happen.

But where the hell was this miracle going to come from?

The posse was making ground up rapidly on Shadow and Brett.

It was now only a matter of hours before they'd caught up with Petra.

He didn't want them to get involved before they reached their phantom destination.

But knew he was powerless to stop them.

They were all driven by the same instinct.

The desire to protect their family and the ones they loved.

There was no greater incentive.

He wanted more speed.

But they were already racing at a pace.

Kept up indefinitely, it would eventually break their horses.

And they'd already lost some.

They'd also lost a man.

His horse collapsed, breaking its neck and his leg.

The posse was rapidly running short of spares.

To push harder would be madness.

So, their relentless chase continued.

Based on a no odds gamble and blind faith.

These were things best left on board the boat and in the church aisles.

Denver wasn't a religious man but found himself praying for divine intervention.