"Back in the Saddle" PART FOUR

A half hour passed before the large group made it to an area Walker saw suitable to set up camp. It was well-nigh high noon, and more than one stomach in the group was letting them all know that fact.

Ranger Walker dismounted first, crossing a short area to tie a rope long-ways from one strong oak to another a distance away. It would serve perfectly as a temporary hitching post, he concluded as he tightened the rope securely. One by one, they all began dismounting and leading their horses to the rope to see that the horse would not be wandering off any time soon.

"You're a pretty good rider." Carlos offered a smile as he tied his horse next to Katheryn's.

Katheryn secured the leather strap to the rope and scooted her hat back up and slightly away from her eyes. "Thanks."

"Walker!" Alex screeched from where she remained, hunched against her horse as some evading presence neared her with fright in its eyes.

Walker's gaze immediately found Alex as her eyes stayed sharply upon the snake that curled up at her feet. "Don't move." He neared her ever so slowly. Both Walker and Alex knew his gun was of no use. One shot would surely cause a ruckus amongst the many horses. They couldn't chance spooking them.

"Walker…" Alex winced as she turned away.

Walker slowly crept up upon the creature…slowly…carefully. All eyes watched with trepidation…as Walker dove in, securing a deathly grip on the creature's neck. He hurried across the field and threw the snake down, drawing his gun and firing away before anyone knew he had done so.

Alex swallowed hard, relaxing every muscle in her body that she had tensed in the seconds past. And so did the others likewise in their own way.

Trent comforted the fear in his little sister's eyes with a soft hug.

Carlos shook away the moment with a sigh. "At least it wasn't my fault."

"What do you mean?" Katheryn looked towards him with squinted eyes.

Carlos neared her and spoke softly. "That week in Utah…It was me who triggered the booby trap and…ended up hurting Trivette."

Trent sighed. "Carlos…Any one of us could have triggered that thing. It just happened to be you. Don't take it so hard, buddy." Trent slapped Carlos on the back with a smile.

Carlos nodded. "Yeah. Perhaps you're right."

"Trent?" It was Molly's voice that was heard next as everyone went their separate ways to set up camp.

Trent rose back into view from setting his things on the ground nearby and turned to face Molly as she neared him. "Yes?"

Molly attempted a smile. "Katheryn's told me a lot about you."

Trent's crooked smile gave way to a grin. "Good things I hope?"

Molly chuckled, gripping the belt loops of her jeans with her thumbs. "Of course." She rocked on her heels once and settled back into place. "I—I was hoping to ask something. But…" She turned to leave. "I'll ask later."

She took one step away before Trent's voiced stopped her. "No. No, that's okay. You can ask now." He stepped forward as he spoke eagerly. He stopped and stood still, awaiting her response.

Molly ceased her stepped and turned back cautiously. Her sideways grin wobbled slightly beneath her nervous tension. "I just wanted to ask if I am too old for your classes at your dojo."

"You mean karate lessons?"

Molly nodded, her smile having faded.

"Of course not." Trent smiled. "I've had students of every age…from five to fifty-five."

The twosome chuckled…It was more nervousness than anything.

In the distance, Carlos glanced at the two in conversation from behind his horse over at the hitching area. His eyebrows were furrowed as he investigated the little conversation although he couldn't hear a thing they were saying.

Katheryn eased around her horse and eased up beside Carlos, nearly scaring him half to death. She stifled a chuckle. Yet Carlos wasn't amused.

"Look at them two." Carlos nodded towards the twosome.

Katheryn did as bid, looking over Carlos' shoulder. "What about it?"

"Nothing." Carlos hid a smile and turned to Katheryn, gazing into her eyes for a moment.

"What?" Katheryn's light laughter was shallow and nervous.

"Nothing." Carlos echoed with a smile and went back to unpacking his horse.

Katheryn shook it off with a smile and turned back to her own unpacking. Yet she still so fervently wanted to know what he was thinking. Was it possible he…never mind. She shook the matter away and focused on helping Mrs. Malloy and Alex with the dinner preparations.

As the three ladies steadily looked over the food as it cooked, a beautiful haze settled over the little Texas prairie. The afternoon was coming on quickly. The sun was brightly shown overhead. Much of the little group had settled comfortably around the campfire that blazed beneath their cooking meal.

Trivette looked upwards, taking in a deep, satisfying breath. He exhaled and grinned. "Smell that beautiful Texas air."

Tommy scoffed. "More like horse manure."

Trent nearly choked on his coffee as he steadily sipped at it. The rest of the group couldn't help but chuckle some. It was a pleasant afternoon to say the least…no matter what scent filled the air.

Molly grinned and spoke up. "Almost makes me think about my ancestors and how they may have spent many days around a fire just like this when they traveled from Pennsylvania to Utah."

Ranger Walker set his cup of coffee on the rock nearby. "Pennsylvania to Utah, you said?"

Molly nodded towards the Ranger with intrigue.

Katheryn smiled. "Molly's namesake was Molly Mason. The same one that was in the wagon train that Hayes Cooper helped."

Ranger Walker smiled. "Really?"

Molly nodded eagerly.

"Say…" Ranger Walker turned to C.D. "You happen to have that book you gave me?"

Trivette rolled his eyes. "You'd have to have lost your own birthday present."

Walker sighed. "I didn't lose it, Trivette. I left it at C.D.'s so he could look after it."

"Right!" Trivette laughed sarcastically.

C.D. returned in a short moment with the book. "Got it right here, Cordell." He handed off the book to the senior Ranger.

Ranger Walker accepted the book and turned a few pages. He stood, handing the book to Molly who sat near him past Trent and Carlos to his right.

Molly produced a slowly-growing smile as she read. "This is fascinating."

Meanwhile, Carlos stretched the short distance between them to try to read.

Katheryn shot him a glare from her place on the other side of Molly. Carlos smiled her way. It was playful of course. But Carlos surrendered anyway, unable to refuse Katheryn's silent communication in her beautiful eyes.

Molly scooted closer to Katheryn and showed the book to her. "Look. Here." She slid her finger across the page, still smiling from ear to ear.

Katheryn eagerly read what Molly pointed to. "Wow." She smiled. "You're right. That's amazing."

Carlos glared at the two girls. "I wish someone would let us in on the big secret."

The two young women only chuckled lightly and ignored his urging.

Carlos shook his head, turning to see Trent softly laughing at him. "What?"

"Nothing." Trent took another sip of coffee.

A gunshot rang in the distance, quieting the entire group and alerting them all.

"What was that?" Mrs. Malloy put her arms around her youngest.

"Sounded like a rifle." Walker stood to his feet and glanced around. "It was maybe a quarter mile away."

Trent eased to his feet also, soon followed by Carlos and Trivette. "Seemed mighty close."

They all settled back into the quiet, listening for anything more that would hint to why the gunshot had been heard. Instead, a human voice was heard…faint…and helpless. "Help!" It called aloud. It sounded desperate.

"That sounded legitimate." Carlos offered, turning to face the source of the sound.

Walker wasn't as convinced as he reached for his Stetson and began walking. "Trent…Carlos…You both stay with the others while Trivette and I go check it out."

Carlos nodded. "You got it."

Trivette trailed his partner from behind as the twosome made their way to the edge of the woods where they had heard the gunshot come from. Slowly…they entered into the brush, putting one foot in front of the other with particular caution.

"Trivette! Look out!" The twosome dodged an oncoming arrow just in time. They both rose back to their feet soon after, panting as they recovered from that rather close call.

Trivette was busy catching his breath. "Boy…That was a close one."

Walker turned to see where the arrow had ended up in the nearest oak tree. "You're telling me." Ranger Walker jerked the diabolical weapon from its place only to find a note taped to it.

"What's that?"

Ranger Walker took the note off of the arrow and read it briskly before passing it to his partner.

Trivette glanced it over and read aloud. "This is just the beginning of the end. Have fun. From an old friend." Trivette wrinkled his forehead and wrinkled the note inside of his tightened fists. "What does that mean, Walker?"

Ranger Walker shook his head with a sigh. "I don't know." He glanced around them, looking the place over. There was not a soul in sight. Whoever it was…they weren't ignorant. These guys knew their stuff. "It's a trap, Trivette," Walker finally concluded and sprang forward. "We best get back to the others." He threw the last statement over his shoulder is he bound forward and hurried back out of the brush from where they came.

Trivette had no clue what Walker was talking about. But time and time again he had learned not to doubt Walker's intuition. This time was no different as he heeled his partner, traversing the trenches and gullies as he hurried forward.

Reaching the edge of the woods, Walker didn't skip a beat and kept going, aiming for the camp. Trent and Carlos stood on guard. The others had not moved from their place as they awaited the Rangers' return.

"What is it, Walker?" Trent's furrowed brow tensed as he looked over his mentor with concern. He knew something was wrong.

Walker ceased his run as he came to a stop by his protégé. "It's a trap. I think they're following us."

"Who?" Carlos questioned.

"I don't know." Walker's exasperated sigh turned to deep thought. The voice…Could he remember it? Old friend…What kind of old friend would do this? Or was that a trap too?

Trent remembered the voice and thought through what they had all heard. He kept drawing a blank as much as the others were. "Did you see them?"

Walker shook his head. Beads of sweat now eased down the Rangers' forehead as the Texas sun bore down upon the little group.

"I'm hot." Tandy whimpered, lying her little head in her mother's lap.

Mrs. Malloy stroked her warm cheek with care and looked up towards Trent. "It sure turned warm."

"Spring must be coming early." C.D. inserted.

Trent sighed. "Must be."

Molly stood, agitated from the wait. Surely she could be helping in some way, she repeated over and over in her mind as she had observed Trent Malloy and Carlos Sandoval as they had stood guard. Katheryn felt much the same way as they had waited. But she had adjusted to the feeling in the days and months before, knowing her being there was enough. And she was always ready to spring into action if need be. The need had not come…yet.

Molly paced the small camp and stopped short at Tommy, plopping down onto the log next to him. She let out a long sigh that drew his fast attention. Tommy sat with his legs crouched near his chest and his arms secured around them.

Tommy turned to face Molly. "You alright?"

"Yeah." Molly smiled. "And you?"

"Peachy." Tommy chuckled beneath his breath.

Walker looked over everyone in the camp. "We'd best get back to the ranch."

"Already?" Tyler groaned.

"Yes." Trent nodded in agreement. "If there's danger in one place, there's no way we can know where these guys are."

Tandy's eyes found the grass below, sinking into sadness. "But I want to ride Bubblegum some more."

"You will, Tandy." Miss Cahill bent down low to the little girl as Tandy raised her head off of Katie's lap. "Once we know it's safe again." Alex offered the little one a soft yet strong and reassuring smile.

The little girl finally managed a grin and nodded. "Okay."

Walker turned to Trivette. "I think I saw some tracks they managed not to hide."

"Good."

"Carlos. Trent. Can you handle getting everyone back to the ranch?"

Trent and Carlos nodded firmly. "Absolutely." "Sure thing."

"Don't you worry, Cordell." C.D. made his way over to the four men. "We got everything under control here. You just go see if you can track down those guys."

Walker nodded with a smile.

Trivette grinned. "I'm sure you do, big dog."

Alex laughed softly and turned back to the group. "Alright, guys. Let's break camp. We got some packing to do."

After a few more grunts and groans had passed from the younger ones in the camp, things began flowing a bit smoother as the young women helped Alex and Mrs. Malloy break camp. Even Tommy was a big help to C.D. and his big brother.

The Rangers' figures quickly disappeared from view as they eased back into the woods to pick up the trail of whoever thought it a good idea to stalk them all. Why they were doing so still puzzled Walker as they traced the muddy path back to where the twosome had left off a short moment ago.

Back at the campsite, Carlos turned to Trent and tried to lower his voice. "Do you think there's a real danger?"

Trent shook his head. "I hope it's not. But it may be."

"You know…" Carlos sighed. "…Maybe I should have brought my firearm. I thought for sure I was coming for a vacation." He raised an eyebrow as he sarcastically vented to his best friend.

Trent laughed softly. "Yeah. Perhaps you should pick back up with that self-defense training I started you on."

"Maybe." Carlos grinned. "It sure has done wonders for Katheryn. And she loves it."

"Speaking of Katheryn…" Trent smiled.

Carlos stopped him short. "Don't even go there."

Trent sighed. "What?"

Carlos exhaled sharply.

Trent packed the last of his share of the supplies back onto his horse and secured them. He neared Carlos where he stood on the other side of his horse. "Why haven't you asked her out?"

"Oh, you're one to talk." Carlos threw back at Trent with a scoff.

"You're right." Trent confessed. "I'm no authority on this matter."

"That's right."

"But…I know you like her. And that's all that matters."

Carlos said nothing but kept packing his horse.

Trent knew he was fighting a losing battle…And he nearly walked away except for Carlos stopping him. "I'm sorry, buddy. I—I just…"

Trent stopped Carlos short this time. "I never thought I'd say this, Carlos…but…She's perfect for you."

Carlos stood dumbfounded…very unsure of what he had just heard come from Trent. He squinted hard as his thoughts jumbled. He quickly shook it away. "Wh—wh…" His words never came as Trent took his leave. For he had said all that needed to be said…and there was more important things to attend to at that moment. If danger did wait in the surrounding shadows, they'd best keep their guard up even greater for the hours to come.

##

Thirty minutes later found the group nearing the ranch yet again. It hadn't been much of campout to speak of. Some anonymous party had seen to that to be sure. Most of the group rode softly and surely as they traveled. Even C.D. let the team walk at will as he guided the wagon back to the ranch behind the rest of the group while Trent and Carlos led them all from the front.

"Whoa!" Trent called quietly to his horse. Carlos did likewise. "Do you think we should go on ahead of the others and be sure everything is safe?"

Carlos nodded. "Good thinking."

Trent steadily turned the horse around and trotted easily to the others who waited behind them at a distance. He rose his voice slightly as he spoke to them all. "Carlos and I are going up to the ranch house first to be sure everything is safe. We'll send for you once we know for sure."

Alex and Mrs. Malloy agreed, nodding as they turned to see the younger ones nodding also.

C.D. called aloud to his team as he stopped just behind the ladies. Trent and Carlos had since rode into gallop on their way to the ranch house. "Alex, where are the boys going?"

Alex turned in her saddle to face C.D. "They're going to check on the house to be sure it's safe."

"Good thinking." C.D. grinned. "Them boys sure are smart."

Mrs. Malloy continued to watch the two young men's figures grow smaller and smaller ahead of them all. "They sure are, Mr. Parker."

A gentle quiet eased over the vast pasture land where the group of ready riders waiting eagerly…perhaps a bit anxiously too…as minutes passed by slowly…very slowly it seemed. Distance eagle calls and close chirping of small yard birds seemed to herald the coming of spring. Maybe it would come early like C.D. had suggested.

The youngest ones in the group were the first to grow weary from the wait. Tandy's sagging posture in the saddle in front of her brother Ty grew worse and worse as the minutes ticked by. Yet still no signal came. And Trent nor Carlos appeared since rounding the corner of the barn and out of view.

"What's taking them so long?" Molly expressed legitimately as concerned laced her mature tone.

"I don't know." Alex was growing somewhat concerned herself also.

Just then, Carlos' figure appeared around the back of the house just beyond the barn.

"There he is." Katheryn smiled, straightening up in her saddle to get a better view.

More smiles emanated throughout the tiny crowd…mostly because the tiresome wait was now drawing to its destined end more than anything.

Carlos raised his hand in the air and waved them forward.

"Looks like it's safe." Alex grinned, tapping the sides of the steed with her feet and clicking her tongue to get the animal going while she led the faithful riders from that point.

Katheryn eased up behind her followed by Mrs. Malloy, Molly, Tommy, Tandy and Tyler. C.D. was not far behind.

Yet as Katheryn saw Carlos' figure disappear back around the house and away from view, something struck her as odd. Something didn't feel right. She had noticed the look on his face. He seemed…serious. Perhaps even agitated…but with control…as if he was on edge for some reason. This in turn put Katheryn on edge. But if something was wrong, surely Carlos would not have signaled for them to come. She shook away the thought as they drew closer. Perhaps she was overreacting. Her adventurous side usually did that to her. And Carlos was still probably on guard himself. It was nothing to worry about. And that was her final thought before another figure stepped sharply around the same shadow that Carlos had just disappeared into, his eyes narrowed and his muscles tensed, cocking his AK-47 and pointing it straight into the now fear-filled miens of the little company of riders before him.