Trapper kicked away Drippy’s gun as the girls slid down the ravine, their rifles ready to fire by the time they hit the dirt.

When he saw Number One standing over the shadowed stranger, he limped toward her.

“You all right, One?”

She shook her head. “No. I know him. I think I killed him.”

Trapper put his arm around her trembling shoulders. “Who is he?”

“He’s the foreman at our ranch. I’ve known him all my life and he was trying to kidnap us.”

Trapper knelt and pushed the blood away from the foreman’s forehead. “He’s not dead. You just grazed him. He’ll live long enough to hang.”

“Two,” Trapper yelled. “Grab the rope off their saddles. We’ll tie them up and doctor them later. I got to get to the wagon.”

“One, come with me. Two and Three, keep an eye on these three. I’ll be back as soon as I know the others are safe.”

As soon as they were tied, Trapper grabbed one of the outlaws’ horses.

Just before they rode out, he heard Three telling the prisoners that if they moved or cussed, she’d shoot their toes off one at a time.

Trapper smiled as he rode toward the wagon. He hadn’t heard any shots coming from the wagon’s direction. That might be a good sign.

The first thing he saw was Midnight, standing near where they’d hidden the wagon.

Big Hank was pulling off branches and dodging rocks.

“Stop that, lady!” Hank screamed in pain as one the size of a sharp egg hit his eye.

More rocks rained down. Some bounced off his big frame, but now and then one hit him and left a cut.

Trapper raised his rifle. “Step back, Hank, and raise your hands.”

The beefy man did as he was told while rocks continued to pound on him.

Trapper handed his rifle to Number One. “Shoot him if he moves.”

“Yes, sir,” she answered.

“Emery, are you and the girls all right?”

“We are,” Number Five answered. “Can we keep throwing rocks, Tapper?”

“Sure.” He climbed into the wagon and hugged both girls, then let them go back to throwing rocks.

Trapper moved to Emery. He pulled her close, and they just held on tight to each other. Neither said a word. When he pulled away enough to kiss her, Trapper heard the girls giggling.

“There’s one more man,” Trapper whispered, not wanting to frighten the girls.

“We know,” Emery said in a normal voice. She pointed to the back of the wagon. “He must have crawled under the wagon. When he started coming into the wagon, I was busy with that giant out there.”

“The girls hit him with the chamber pot. It was full. I’m afraid the man doesn’t smell so good.”

Chapter 13

Chapter 13