Indiana Wild (Spirit Pass Book 1) Read Free Page A

the next three days enjoying the peace and quiet of the woods. She took the opportunity to wash some of her clothes out in the nearby river and even warmed up enough water to take a nice shower using the portable solar shower she had. It felt good to wash her hair out and feel clean again.
    “ Come on boys; let’s go see if we can find us any cowpunchers to talk to,” Indy said as she saddled Midnight. She looped the lead rope over Kahlua’s neck knowing the mare would follow Midnight anywhere.
    Riding down to the lower region , she was almost to the stream crossing over to the cattle when she heard gunfire. Pulling in the reins, she listened carefully as the gunfire continued. Moving across the stream to a low rise on the hill above them, she slipped off Midnight’s back and motioned for the dogs to lie down. Pulling out a pair of binoculars from a saddlebag, she laid down on the cold ground and looked to see what was going on. It was downright stupid to be shooting guns around that many cattle. It wouldn’t take much to start a stampede.
    Indy watched as three men on horseback charged at another two who had been sitting around a fire under one of the few trees dotting the landscape. One of the men on horseback fired a gun hitting the old man in the chest.
    Oh shit, Indy thought stunned as she watched the man fall backwards onto the ground.
    The young man who had been sitting moved to grab the injured man and dragged him behind the tree firing his own gun at the masked man on horseback. Indy turned her binoculars towards the other two men. They were trying to round the cattle up.
    Rustlers? In broad daylight? That took some balls , she couldn’t help thinking silently to herself.
    Swinging her binoculars back to the two men who had been sitting under the tree , she could tell they were in a world of hurt. The scene playing out below her had to be real, she thought in dismay as she watched bark flying from the tree and the trail of blood on the ground.
    Getting up, Indy motioned for the dogs to go after the cattle. “Round ‘em up, boys,” she said grimly.
    Indy swung up onto Midnight’s back and pulled her Ruger semi-automatic rifle from her saddle. Laying it across her lap, she kicked Midnight into a full run knowing Kahlua would be right behind her. Charging at the masked man shooting at the two men behind the tree, she stood up in the stirrups to get a steadier ride clutching the saddle with her knees to keep her balance. Raising the rifle, she let out a series of shots close enough in front of him to let him know she meant business. The masked man on the horse swung around startled to find someone shooting at him from behind. The young man behind the tree took advantage of the rustler’s sudden distraction. He stepped out from behind the tree and fired a shot, hitting the man in the arm and causing him to drop his gun. The masked gunman yelled out in pain clutching his wounded limb against his chest. Unarmed now, the man pulled back on the reins and headed after the other two men who had tried to take the cattle. He rode through the herd which was heading back towards the camp, the two dogs barking and nipping at their heels.
    Indy pulled her jacket up higher around her neck and pulled her hat further down. She needed to check on the two cowpunchers to make sure they were okay but didn’t want to take the chance of them recognizing her. She would play it safe for now by keeping her face covered as much as she could. Hopefully if her brothers put out posters looking for her they didn’t include anything about her traveling companions.
    Midnight slowed to a walk with Kahlua right on his hind quarters as Indy approached the tree. The last thing she wanted was to get shot. Stowing her rifle back into the gun harness attached to her saddle, she held up her hands to show she was unarmed.
    “ That’s far enough!” A young voice called out from behind the tree.
    “ I’m unarmed. I just wanted to make sure you