Quicksilver Passion (64 page)

How should I know?” Al snapped.
When Miss Silver gets something in her mind, hell and a team of horses can’t hold her back!”

The other nodded in agreement.
The men should be gathering in for a drink about now,” he suggested. “Why don’t you get a search party organized?”

That’s the best idea I’ve heard all day,” Al agreed and took off, shoulders hunched against the cold.

By the time he got enough men organized, it was almost dark and the weather had worsened. At first, as the men stood around at the Nugget and talked about it, everyone was enthused. Then the wind picked up, the snow blew thicker, and the crowd was more and more reluctant to leave the warm stove and the good whiskey.

I’ll go,” old Hank volunteered.

Al shook his head.
Thanks, Hank, she’d appreciate it, but you’re too old and we may have to go a long ways.”

The prospector glared at him.
You don’t look so chipper yourself!”

Look,” Zeke began, motioning for silence.
We ain’t sure anything bad’s befallen the lady yet. Her horse ain’t come back without her, has it?”

There was a murmur of agreement among the miners.

Al frowned in exasperation.
That don’t prove nothing. The horse could have fallen and broke a leg.”

One of the others leaned back against the ornate bar on both elbows.
We all care about her, Al, but with the wind blowing the way it is, there’s no trail to follow. Mosquito Gulch is a big place to search.”

Damn it!” Al slammed his fist on the bar.
Enough of this talk, I’ll go alone if no one else will go—”