Wild Horses (8 page)

The Search and Rescue team had brought along an extra horse for the injured man. Where was he? Castaña couldn’t imagine. To the east was the ranch, behind her the cabin and the dead end corral. Below them the canyon. It led to nowhere special that she was aware of. She studied the west. Miles and miles of forest. There were meadows where the wild horses holed up and streams for them to drink from. There were millions of places she’d never been.

Castaña didn’t know if she was more worried about Martin or Jake. “Martin knew the Apache-Sitgreave like the back of his hand. If he didn’t want to be found, he wouldn’t be. Jake, on the other hand, was a different story. He came from Phoenix, unfamiliar with this rugged land. Her loyalty was to Martin, but she couldn’t help but worry about Jake, too.

Staton broke into her thoughts. “We need to make a plan of action. If two injured men were on the trail, we would’ve seen them this morning. I’m thinking we need to split up and spread out.” He motioned to the Search and Rescue team leader. “Ron, split your team up as you see fit. Perez, you stick with me. Miss Castillo, go with whichever one of Ron’s men he decides on.” He bent and took the pot from the fire and offered everyone else a cup. “I have flares in my saddlebags, but make sure you don’t start a forest fire if you use them. And only use them if you find a body or someone who needs serious medical care.”

Castaña didn’t argue, although she didn’t want to be bogged down by having someone with her. At least she had some help to hunt for Martin. She addressed Ron. “Who’s with me?”

“Me,” Patty quickly volunteered.

Relieved not to be with one of the two obnoxious men, Castaña nodded.

“Are we going to meet somewhere at a certain time?” Ron asked.

“How about here by six tonight?” Staton suggested.

Everyone nodded.

Castaña held her tongue. She had her own agenda. If convenient, she would be here at six, but if she were hot on Martin’s trail, she’d send Patty back. She went inside the cabin and packed a lunch, making enough for two. Patty had brought her own food, but if they found any of the missing men, they might be hungry. She filled her thermos with hot coffee, and then offered the rest to the others. While everyone topped off their own thermoses, she stowed her food in her saddlebags. She wrapped her sleeping bag in a tight roll to tie behind her saddle.

Patty came up beside her. “Are you ready?”

“Yeah, let me close the cabin and I’ll be set.”

Patty mounted her roan mare while Castaña put away her supplies. Seeing the others had already left, Castaña swung aboard Gato. “I’d like to head west.”

“Sure, but why?” Patty reined her horse alongside Gato. “The rain washed away any tracks, so we don’t know, but don’t you think the men headed back the way they came?”

“I’m not looking for them specifically. I’m hunting my brother.” The trail narrowed and they fell into single file as they wound up the ridge. Castaña leaned forward and gave Gato plenty of rein as he plunged up the steep trail. “He’s missing.”

“Why didn’t the sheriff’s office call out S&R?” Patty called.

Castaña risked a glance over her shoulder. “They don’t think Martin is hurt. They think he took off because he murdered two BLM agents. I know he didn’t do it, but they don’t see things my way. They think Martin shot those men and took off to protect himself.”

“Why doesn’t the sheriff’s office have a full scale manhunt going on? I haven’t heard anything about this,” Patty said.

“I don’t know what’s in their heads, but so far they aren’t accusing him, just saying they want to talk to him,” Castaña said. “I just got here a couple days ago and all I know is what I’ve told you. But Martin’s girlfriend is expecting a baby and he’s been gone for more than a week with no word to her.”

“And you think he’s in trouble?”

“Absolutely,” Castaña said.

“Then let’s find him.”

• • •

By 10
A.M.
the sun had warmed Castaña enough she needed to remove her jacket. She reined in and shrugged out of her coat. Patty, too, took off her outerwear. They sat silently, taking in their surroundings for a minute. Pine trees rimmed the small meadow and grass grew to the horses’ knees. The smell of pine and the pleasant, yeasty scent warm horses filled the air. “No horses have grazed here,” Castaña said. “At least not recently.”

“No.” Patty’s mare dropped her muzzle into the grass.

Watching the roan Castaña said, “This is a prime spot for horses. I expected to find a herd here.”

Patty pointed to a pile of dried horse manure that looked like it had been there for weeks. “They’ve been around, just not lately. Do you have any other ideas of where to look?”

“Yeah, several.”

“We’ve got plenty of daylight left before Staton’s order to meet at six, so let’s move,” Patty said.

“Why are you helping me?”

“I’m a sucker for the underdog, I guess.” Patty’s blue eyes seemed as innocent as a baby’s, but just for a second something flickered in the depths. What? Castaña shook off a moment of unease. She was seeing shadows in the rain.

“Martin’s been an outsider half of his life although he chooses to be.” Castaña lifted her reins and nudged Gato with her heels. “But I still love him.”

“I know exactly what you mean,” Patty said.

• • •

He was lost.

Somewhere, Jake had taken a wrong turn and he had no idea where he was. Nothing looked the same and he couldn’t locate a landmark to center himself. For the billionth time, he cussed himself for letting go of Rojo’s lead. Where was the horse anyway? Who had chased him? Where was Castaña? Had she made it out safely? If Jake had a pebble for every question he could make a boulder.

He had been walking so long his feet felt like two pieces of dead wood. Too tired to take another step, he sat and rested his back against a pine tree. He looked around. Nothing but pine trees and more pine trees. No grass, no water. His tongue felt like a fat piece of felt. There wasn’t a stream or pond in sight, and even if there were, it probably wouldn’t be safe to drink. At this point, he’d gladly risk germs to get his tongue and throat wet. The thought of dunking his aching feet in icy mountain water almost made him moan out loud.

He wasn’t going to get a drink or get to wade in a stream if he didn’t get up and move. With a tired sigh, he shoved to his feet. If he hadn’t taken an unexpected hike in new boots, walking would be easy. But his feet burned, making this trip agony. With a moan, he started in the direction he thought looked right.

A few minutes later, he found a trail that looked traveled by elk or deer, but not recently. Faint tracks and droppings that looked weeks old, along with pine needles covered the path, but he figured it had to lead to somewhere, so he followed it. The forest began to thin, the sun’s rays filtered through pine boughs, bathing the ground in a glimmering golden light. A meadow should be close. If he weren’t so exhausted, Jake would enjoy the peace and quiet. All he wanted to do was lie down and sleep for twenty-four hours straight, but he forced himself to pick up the pace.

Breaking out of the trees, he found the grassy field he anticipated. What he didn’t expect was the bright blue and orange tent situated at the far edge of the meadow. Thank God. He’d found some people. He hobbled toward the camp calling out, “Hello? Anyone here?”

No answer.

He tried again.

Straining his ears, he caught a faint noise from over the hill behind the tent. He skirted camp and looked over the edge behind it. Two young women cavorted in a pond at the base of a small waterfall. Both wore bikini tops with cutoffs and seemed to be having a great time laughing and screeching as they splashed one another. They reminded him of someone, but he was so exhausted he couldn’t put his finger on just who. Under other circumstances, he would’ve enjoyed the view as much as the next guy, but right now all he wanted was rest. He shouted out again. “Hello down there.”

The closer girl looked up, shading her eyes with her hand, and pointed toward his direction.

The other one spun around, nearly falling, catching herself in the last second. They splashed out of the water and wrapped towels around their shoulders. Even from a fair distance, Jake could tell they looked frightened. He didn’t blame them. If he saw himself coming over a hill, he’d probably run away screaming like a madman. He held out his hands to show them he wasn’t holding a weapon and scrambled down the hill. Both women were blonde. One tall and skinny with a bellybutton ring, the other short with legs that were almost, but not quite, fat. Both had deep tans. Neither had a friendly look in her eyes.

“Hi, girls.” He tried to look unimposing. “I seem to be lost.”

The taller girl didn’t relax her posture even a fraction. “What happened?”

He smiled sheepishly. “I got separated from my friend last night and have been trying to find my way back to him ever since.” Not the whole truth, but enough to make him sound honest. “Do you know where Dead Horse Canyon is?”

Both shook their heads, shooting a look between them.

He didn’t believe them.

“Man, that water looks good.” He knelt at the water’s edge and leaned toward it.

“What are you doing?” Bellybutton ring asked.

“Drinking.” He could almost taste the icy drink now.

“Don’t.” The tone of her voice made him look up. “It’s not safe. We’ll give you a bottled water instead.”

He nodded, and then splashed his face. The icy temperature stole his breath and revived him a little. “Oh, that’s cold. Brrrr.” He took off his shoes and socks and waded into the stream. His aching feet almost cried with relief.

Refreshed, he stepped out on the bank and sat by his discarded boots and socks.

Bellybutton ring said, “We didn’t catch your name.”

“Jake Brown.” He pulled on a sock. “And yours?”

The fat-legged girl giggled. “Lacey.”

“Heather.”

“Can you help me get my bearings?”

“We have a map back at the tent you could look at,” Lacey said.

Jake pretended not to see Heather elbow her shorter friend. “That’d help,” he said.

“Come on then,” Heather said without warmth in her voice or manner. She led the way up the incline, Lacey right behind her and Jake tagging along. Heather glared at him over her shoulder. “You can look at the map, but then you need to leave.”

“No problem.” He didn’t blame her for wanting him gone. He was a stranger who’d appeared out of nowhere. For all they knew he could be a serial killer.

At camp, Heather indicated he should sit on a pile of blankets and sleeping bags outside the tent. With a grateful sigh, he did as she asked. His eyes fluttered shut. It would be so easy to just lie here for a while. Both women disappeared into the tent. In a minute, Heather returned with a bottle of water and a granola bar. “Don’t fall asleep on me. You need to get moving.”

He forced his eyes open and eagerly drank from the bottle, then unwrapped the snack and downed it in about two bites. He could’ve eaten a whole box of them.

Lacey brought out a map and another granola bar and handed him the food. “Eat this so you have enough energy to keep hiking.” She sat next to him and spread out the map. Pointing, she said, “We’re here. We parked at Stoney Wash rest area and hiked up the trail then took the right fork. It was about ten miles.”

“Where’s Dead Horse Canyon from here?”Heather found it on the map with little effort. “This line shows that Stoney Creek Trail edges the rim of Dead Horse for a ways, then either turns off into the forest or dives down into the canyon. The trail makes a big loop and we’re on the west side of the circle. Right here.” She tapped the map. “See?”

Jake looked where she indicated. Somehow, instead of turning back toward the cabin, he’d gone the opposite direction. He had to backtrack about two miles, turn left instead of right, and he’d be back on the trail where he’d lost Rojo. The cabin was about seven or eight miles back to the east. “Thanks.” He downed the last of his water. “I’d better be going.”

Heather folded up her map and stuffed it in her back pocket. She looked at him like he was a bad science experiment. “Lacey and I will travel with you a ways and make sure you’re headed the right direction.”

He ought to hurry back to the cabin and see what was going on, but exhaustion overwhelmed him and the soft blankets felt so good. A short nap would do him good. “I can’t take another step until I rest for a bit.”

Heather glared at him. “One hour. That’s plenty of time to catch a nap and make it back to Dead Horse Canyon before nightfall.”

He couldn’t hold his eyes open another second. “Okay.”

Chapter Seven

Castaña and Patty sat on a high point overlooking the forest, eating a late lunch. By the sun’s position in the sky, the time was around three, but they had wanted to press on to the lookout before taking a break.

“Where next?” Patty took a bite of roast beef sandwich and observed the forested valley below.

“I honestly don’t know,” Castaña admitted. “It’s getting late and it’ll take at least two hours to ride back to camp. But I want to check the old Hampstead place first. There’s a corral there that Martin sometimes used.”

“I know where it is,” Patty said. “Where do you suppose the others are?”

“I have no idea. I thought we might be able to see something from here.” From their vantage point, they could see for miles in every direction, but all they saw were pine trees and the glimmer of sun on water. A bee buzzed around, looking for something sweet in their lunches.

Patty nudged Castaña’s arm. “What’s that?”

“What?” Castaña didn’t see what Patty looked at.

“There.” Patty pointed to a dark spot in the clear blue sky. “I think it was one of the flares.”

In a minute, another bright burst of red light flashed across the sky.

“I see it.” Castaña motioned ahead of her. “They’re close to the deer pond. We can go down this way and be there in about an hour.”

Patty already had her lunch packed and was on her feet. “I wonder if this means they found someone.”

Castaña prayed it wasn’t Martin.

In seconds, they were mounted up. Castaña led the way, quickly finding the steep trail down the face of the peak. One of Gato’s hooves slipped a little on some loose rocks and Castaña gasped. Her mouth felt like she’d swallowed sand and her heart thudded in painful, rapid beats. She didn’t know if her sticky hand wrapped around the saddlehorn would ever come loose. She hated this narrow path, but it was the fastest way down. It would take hours to backtrack and ride around the bottom.