I hope she returns too. Bram busied himself by placing a box on the ground to serve as a step, then helped Dee Dee to the wagon bed. When Darby placed her hand in his for help, it felt like downy feathers tickled his palm. She made a point of not looking at him, but two red patches appeared on her cheeks.

Bram jumped up onto the seat next to Liam, who frowned his displeasure. “Let’s go.”

Roy wandered out and watched them leave. He looked like he’d aged twenty years.

Grace waved good-bye to her friend. “I’ll call you when I get back to town.”

Everyone’s mood seemed to match the gathering dark clouds. Dee Dee leaned against one side of the wagon bed, opposite Darby. The women spread the blankets over their outstretched legs. Without encouragement, the two dogs followed, neither letting Darby out of sight. The air held the earthy scent of rain.

Bram thought about Shadow Woman’s drawing of the sheriff. “Liam, did your mom meet Shadow Woman at some point?”

Liam thought for a few moments. “Nooo . . . wait, yeah. Around the time of the fire that killed those two guys. Everyone went to see the burned-down house. Mom was really upset, but I . . .” He clicked at the horse.

“But you what?”

“Nothin’.”

Bram waited, but Liam just focused on the road.

Halfway up the mountain, the rain struck. Dee Dee snatched out the tarp, but before she could completely open it, the full deluge hit. Both Bram and Liam hunkered down but were almost immediately soaked. All Bram could see in the back of the wagon was the blue tarp covering a pair of moving lumps.

He looked around for his messenger bag before realizing he’d left it in Roy’s office. That was what he’d forgotten. At least nothing will get wet. He made sure his pistol stayed dry.

A blast of wind lifted the edge of the tarp, then ripped it from the women’s grip and sent it sailing over the edge of the mountain. Dee Dee let loose with a colorful string of cuss words, while Darby ducked farther under the swiftly soaked blankets.

Liam pulled up his collar. “What else can go wrong? I told Roy if he was going to keep up this ridiculous ‘primitive’ theme, he needed a backup plan.” He continued to gripe, swear, and whine until Bram had enough.

“Liam, just drive the wagon and keep your mouth shut.”

The rain ceased as quickly as it had begun, and the clouds parted enough for tepid sunlight to add a sheen to the puddles. The previously crisp clop, clop, clop of the big horse became muted in the mud.