Chapter 2It was near sundown when they got back. They’d ridden the whole long, dry, sunburned day. For all that, they didn’t see hide or hair of the red stud. Nellie smiled a private, little smile to herself. ‘Course not. He knows, and he’s hiding where there’s no way we’re gonna find him. Good. That assurance had buoyed her throughout the long day.
By evening, the saddle felt like iron under her bottom, but she knew Pa and old Curly had to feel worse. So she’d be danged if she’d show any weakness in front of them. When they rode into camp, the others were also drifting in, all with the same discouraging tale. The outlaw stallion had flat vanished.
Just before real dark, the hands with the hay wagon arrived. By lantern light, they broke and scattered several bales inside the inner corral
