Chapter 14
The buggy jumped over the rugged terrain and the two inside struggled to hold on.
"How much longer do you think he can last, Doc with the way he's being jostled?"
"I wouldn't have given you odds he'd still be alive at all with the way his brother's pushing us. Only good thing is we're leaving quite a trail for anyone to follow."
"Do you think anyone is following us? We didn't leave any tracks at all once we left the other buggy. That rain washed them all out."
Doc was silent for a time. "I wouldn't count Festus out. He's got a way of finding tracks that aren't there according to Matt. And I would bet Matt's on our trail too by now."
"I just hope they're safe and that Festus is all right."
"Me too, Honey. Me too," he said softly patting her hand as he did so.
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The trail Festus followed was not an easy one to see at times but follow it he did; pausing when night fell over the prairie. As much as he wanted to continue on, he knew it was foolish to try it. He couldn't see the tracks in the dark and was afraid to come on the group without knowing it.
So he settled down under a dark, moonless sky with a hunk of jerky and a swallow of water as his dinner and lay back gazing at the stars spread out above him, their light flickering in the pitch-black sky. The solitude at any other time would have been welcome, but tonight he knew two of his friends were in danger and he, for the time being, was powerless to help them.
"I'll find ya, Miss Kitty, Doc. I promise ta do everythin' in my power to find ya." With that promise still on his lips, the deputy fell into a light sleep, waiting for first light to move on