Following the course of the Rio Grande, after three days they skirted east. Soon, they realised they had lost their way and grew increasingly aware of the wildness of the surrounding countryside, which yielded no familiar landmarks.
“We should have headed directly towards Santa Fe,” said Grace. She sat on the buckboard beside Nati Parker, whose focus was set straight ahead.
Alongside the wagon, sitting astride his forlorn, sagging horse, Father Merry pulled off his wide-brimmed straw hat and wiped his brow. “I"m agreeing with you there, Grace. We must have got lost somewhere along the way.” He turned in his saddle to look back at Ritter who, of all of them, seemed the least hard-pressed. “We should have stuck to the trail.”
“They"ll be coming down the trail,” said Ritter, with little em
