On Her Own
Chapter 1
It wasn't very often that Audra got to travel with one of her brothers, much less two of them. When Jarrod had to travel to Modesto on legal business and Heath decided to go with him to look at some brood mares for their herd, Audra jumped right in. "May I go with you? I'd really love to visit Cat Barker. I haven't seen her in years."
Cat Barker was a friend of Audra from her school days. Cat's family had moved down to Modesto just after the girls finished their schooling. Audra had visited once or twice since then, but not for quite a while.
Neither Jarrod nor Heath was too sure about taking her along. "Well, I'm gonna be pretty busy and staying longer than you'll want to stay," Jarrod said.
"And I'm gonna be leaving for home as soon as I take a look at the stock," Heath said. "You're not gonna want to leave as soon as I do."
"That's no problem," Audra said. "I can take the stage home when I'm ready to leave, so it doesn't matter how long you'll both be staying."
"We'll have to camp out one night," Heath said. "Are you up to sleeping under the stars?"
"Or the rain?" Jarrod added.
"I'm not made of sugar – I won't melt," Audra said.
Victoria and Nick had been watching the interplay at the breakfast table the day before Jarrod and Heath were scheduled to leave. Victoria had told Audra she'd leave the decision up to the men, but Nick was giving her the very doubtful eye. Maybe it had something to do with Jarrod and Heath not wanting a woman on a "men's campout." That's why Victoria smiled. "I think it would be very generous of you two to let Audra go with you," Victoria said.
Jarrod and Heath looked at her, then at each other. They both knew that sneaky look in their mother's smile.
"Not that I don't think the two of you could take care of each other and stay out of trouble without your sister along," Victoria continued.
All the men in the room knew Victoria was thinking exactly that. Heath shrugged a little. Jarrod sighed. "All right," Jarrod said. "You can go, but you have to be ready to leave by six in the morning."
"That's not a problem either," Audra said with a smile that was pleased she had won. "I'll wire Cat today!"
Nick made a "hmmm" noise that said he was glad he was not going on this trip.
It turned out leaving by six was not a problem. Audra was ready to go and they were on the road by five-forty-five. It was a beautiful day, not too hot and without rain. They talked now and then about the brood mares Heath was planning to look at, and even Audra could join in on that conversation and know what they were talking about. After a while, Heath and Audra got to chatting away while Jarrod held back a bit. He was well aware how close Heath and Audra had become since Heath arrived, and how he was the big brother figure who didn't quite fit in, but Jarrod didn't mind. He was used to playing surrogate father to Audra, and while he'd never feel quite that way about Heath, he was already used to being the old man in the crowd. Besides, he had work to think about as they traveled.
Jarrod was heading to Modesto to try a civil case involving one of the local ranchers who had a land dispute with another. It would have been a simple boundary dispute, but the property line was in dispute over such a long distance that it amounted to a considerable acreage. Jarrod believed his client had the stronger argument and was hoping a settlement could be reached, but the two property owners hated each other so much and for so long that it looked like they would be going to trial out of spite.
It was a good day, even if Jarrod found himself plagued by that case. Still he managed to let it go often enough that he could enjoy the fine weather, and when they made camp for the night, they all enjoyed each other's company by the campfire. Audra even joined in when they passed the bottle, although –
"This stuff is awful," she said.
"Well, it's hooch for the road," Heath said. "You don't bring the fancy stuff out here."
"This is what we use when we cut ourselves or hurt ourselves in some other way," Jarrod said.
"So it's no surprise it tastes like liniment," Heath said.
Audra passed the bottle. "You men get out here together and just go straight downhill, don't you?"
"Pretty much," Heath agreed with a grin.
Jarrod reached into his saddlebags and pulled out a flask. "Here. See if you like this better," he said and passed it to Audra.
She drank, and her eyes went wide. "This is our merlot!"
"Never say I don't take care of my little sister," Jarrod said. "Speaking of which, your horse is starting to kick out on the right rear. You need to have him looked at when we get to Modesto."
"All right," Audra said.
They ate some ham and potatoes Silas had packed for them, finished their drinking and curled up under blankets to get some sleep. The stars were bright and all over the sky, beautiful to watch. Audra saw a shooting star and was about to say something when Heath suddenly said, "Shhh – "
No one moved. "What is it?" Jarrod asked very quietly.
"Somebody coming," Heath said. He reached for his revolver without moving anything but his arm.
Jarrod did the same, saying, "Audra, stay perfectly still."
Audra did as she was told, even if her heart was beating away faster than Indian drums. They all lay quietly, listening. Heath heard the snap of a twig just beyond the spot where Audra lay.
Heath sat up fast and Jarrod was right behind him, both of them with guns pointed. "Come out and hold your weapon in the air!" Heath shouted.
But whoever it was ran away. They could hear the crushing of leaves and thudding of feet against dirt, disappearing into the distance.
"How many, you think?" Jarrod asked.
"At least two," Heath said.
"What do we do?" Audra said.
Heath pulled himself out from under the blanket to sit on a rock, while Jarrod fed the fire to get it brighter again. "We post a guard," Heath said. "I'll take the watch until two, Jarrod, then I'll wake you up."
"All right," Jarrod said, and he tried to smile at his sister while he fed the fire. "Don't worry, Sweetheart. With the fire and guard, no one will be bothering us."
"What do you think they wanted?" Audra asked.
"Anything they could get," Heath said. "We probably should have posted a guard to begin with, but this way to Modesto isn't usually a problem."
"Times can always change," Jarrod said, and finishing with the fire, he curled up under his blanket again. "Try to get some sleep, Audra. We'll be all right now."
Audra lay back down, but she wasn't sure she would be getting any sleep. Every pop in the fire became the snap of twigs under footsteps to her. Even when Jarrod began to snore, she did not feel any easier. Finally, she got up and sat on the rock next to Heath.
"There really isn't any reason to worry now," Heath told her. "We'll be all right."
"Maybe I'll get tired again in a while," Audra said. "Do you men have to put up with things like this every time you're out on the road?"
"Not every time," Heath said, "but sometimes."
"I wish I were a man," Audra said.
Heath smiled. "I'm glad you're not."
Audra hit him slightly in the arm. Then she grew pensive again. "If I were a man, I wouldn't feel so vulnerable all the time. I could take care of myself better."
"Well, I suppose we have spoiled you a bit."
"Spoiled?! That's not what I'm talking about and you know it."
Heath laughed a little. "I didn't mean it the way it sounded. It's just you have brothers who look after you. You can relax. You don't have to take care of yourself, so it's tougher for you to keep your guard up."
"Hmm," Audra said thoughtfully. "Maybe I ought to take part of the watch."
Heath shook his head. "Not this time. Maybe next time. If you ever want to come out with us again, that is."
They heard movement in the brush not far away again. Audra stiffened. Heath listened.
"It's all right," Heath said. "Four legs."
"How do you know it's not two men?" Audra asked.
"The rhythm is too good," Heath said. "It's a deer. It won't come much closer because of the fire."
"You learn a lot of things when you're out here on your own, don't you?"
Heath nodded. "You have to, to survive."