Chapter Seventeen
Previously:
Nick pushed his horse forward, the animal's hooves crunching on the fallen leaves and twigs. "We best keep moving—and looking," he said, his eyes scanning the land on either side of the path. The group continued on, the trees and shrubbery seemed to multiply in numbers as the men rode further down the road.
Mariah sat near the empty fire pit keeping an eye on the road above them while listening to her brother and the Maddens as they talked. She thought on the situation and, not knowing how close they were to being found, Mariah wondered how they were going to survive. It's not like she could depend on catching fish every day and, sooner or later, she'd have any bush bearing any berries picked clean.
"Sis?" Brian's voice brought her out of her private thoughts.
"Sorry, what were you saying?" Mariah, who was more than embarrassed at being caught not listening, asked.
"Phillip and I were thinking that if…" Brian abruptly stopped talking when the sound of horses' hooves hitting the dirt road above them drew closer. "Please, sound that bull horn again." He looked at Eliza, who still had the hand-created tool near her.
Without hesitation, Eliza picked up the bull horn and blew on it. The sound that was produced rang through the wooded area and up the steep hill the stagecoach had rolled down. Within a matter of seconds, Sheriff Madden, Nick, and the others had stopped their horses and were looking down the hill at the group. The scene below was a down right mess: the damaged stagecoach, dead horses, scattered belongings, and the surviving passengers all were in plain view. No one had to tell them that Brian and the Maddens were hurt or that there had been fatalities due to the wreck. They could easily see the pile of rocks that indicated someone had been covered up, and-while they weren't close, the search party could still see the homemade arm slings. They could also guess, due to the mere fact the men were sitting, arms weren't the only things to be broken.
Sheriff Madden turned to Heath, his face full of a sense of urgency. "I doubt you'll have any cause to see any of the other men who are searching. That being the case, you and Benjamin need to go to town and get some more help. Send a telegram to Stockton as well…let them know what's going on."
Heath, his eyes full of concern, nodded. "We'll do just that." He turned and rode away with Benjamin quickly following him.
Because Fred had described his nephew and niece to everyone-before they'd split into four groups, Nick knew who Eliza was when he saw her. However, since he'd never laid an eye on Mariah, he was left to wonder if it was Mariah he was looking at or if she lay underneath the rocks. The idea of being a widower never having met his wife didn't sit right with him. "You can stay here and make sure others don't miss the wreck or come with me, doesn't matter either way. 'm going down there." He headed for a spot that he was almost positive he and his horse could make it down the hill safely – without giving his brother or Sheriff Madden time to disagree.
Jarrod and Fred might have argued only they figured Nick was going down no matter what. Though it didn't stop Jarrod from muttering "I'm surprised he didn't simply go racing down there before pointing out the obvious."
"Me too," Fred chuckled in spite of the serious situation.
It didn't take long for Nick to find a path he felt he and Coco could take to get down the hill and to the passengers-without endangering themselves while doing so.
Mariah, Brian and the Maddens, along with Fred and Jarrod watched as Nick carefully made his way down the hill. The Stockton Sheriff and Jarrod didn't have to be close to know the horse's muscle had to be getting a work out with each step it took. Nick too had to be careful as he leaned slightly backward, keeping his weight over the center of the animal's hindquarters in order to help Coco remain steady. Neither Jarrod not Fred realized just how much they were holding their breath until Nick and his horse reached the bottom of the steep hill.
"There's got to be another way down there." Jarrod looked at Fred.
"I'm sure there is, but until one of the locals get here, I'm not sure where that easier path is. This isn't a road I've traveled a lot." Fred leaned forward in his saddle. "I know, that's hard to believe only it's true."
The moment Nick reached the bottom, he wasted no time dismounting his horse and dropped the reins to the ground. Since Coco had been trained not to move as long as he could see Nick, the Stockton rancher wasn't worried about his horse wandering away. He then walked over to the missing passengers. It was all Mariah could do not to stare-as she was shocked to feel a strong attraction to the stranger. Naturally, not knowing who he was, Mariah was reminding herself she was a married woman.
"Mr. Madden?" Nick looked at Phillip.
Never having met Nick, Phillip's face showed his surprise that the man in front of them knew who he was. "Yes, that's me. Do I know you?"
"We've never actually met only I dare say your Uncle Fred has mentioned my name more than once." Nick flicked his finger towards the top of the hill. "I'm Nick Barkley. Your uncle, my brother Jarrod," he again pointed towards Fred and Jarrod, "and I-along with others-have been searching for you. My brother Heath and a young man with him have gone back to Ripon to get help." He then turned his attention to Brian. Feeling more than uncomfortable, Nick asked slowly, "You are Brian Keagan?"
While Brian's face held a serious look upon it, he was secretly laughing. He couldn't help it. He was excellent at reading people, and he figured Mr. Barkley was feeling as if he had just approached Mariah's father. "That I am," Brian nodded. "You'll excuse me if I don't stand up." He pointed towards his leg. "Don't think it would appreciate that very much." Then, seeing the way Nick had taken a lightning-fast glance towards the temporary grave of the stagecoach driver and other passenger, Brian hurried to reach up and take a hold of his sister's hand. "This is my sister Mariah."
"She's been an immense help to us." Eliza, who was unaware of just who Mariah's husband was and was extremely grateful for all the woman had done, spoke up as she looked at Mariah. "If it wasn't for all she's done, who knows what kind of condition you'd have found us in."
"Eliza…" Phillip started to speak only to have his wife look turn her face towards him.
"Please, don't Eliza me…." she paused and then continued. "While I am nowhere close to what my mother and others call a 'busybody' and a gossiper-I do, and will, give proper credit where credit is due. My husband and Brian Keagan may be very responsible men who take care of things to the best of their ability; however, fact remains that-with their injuries-they couldn't do a thing. And me," she got an embarrassed look in her eyes as she admitted how naive she was when it came to living in the west. "I may be willing to learn; still, I would not have been able to do all she has under these circumstances, and she deserves for that fact to be acknowledged." She went to tell Nick exactly what Mariah had done.
By the time the Mrs. Madden was through, Mariah wanted to disappear for two reasons. One, she couldn't believe it was her husband standing in front of them and; two, she was uncomfortable with so much praise. On the other hand, Nick was smiling from ear to ear. After what he'd heard; maybe, just maybe he would actually be thanking Adam instead of punching him. Maybe...