Chapter 19Hannah’s warning of approaching riders drew me out of the forge Tuesday morning in time to see Lt. Haleworthy and what appeared to be an entire platoon of troopers raising a rumble as they crossed the bridge. Once on this side of the river, a scout went out on either flank. There was something familiar about one of them. Crow Johnson, the Absaroka who’d handled the Mead’s forge before me, was back. As they drew up in front of the family gathered in the yard, I gave him a broad smile but didn’t break protocol by speaking to him.
After greeting us, Gideon explained they’d been out hunting the highwaymen who’d tried to take the outgoing coach last week. The gang’s tracks had led south across the Little Islands until they reached the river beyond the mountains. According to him, the
