The Rancher’s Dog Laid Flowers in Her Lap… He Said, “I Think God Is Trying to Tell Me Something”
Chapter 7
They heard horses outside.
Thomas closed the ledger.
“Someone followed us.”
Margaret’s breathing quickened.
“How many?”
Gideon growled.
Thomas moved toward the window.
“Three.”
“Mercer’s men?”
“Probably.”
He handed Margaret the ledger.
“Take this.”
“What about you?”
“Go through the rear door.”
“I won’t leave you.”
“Margaret.”
She had never heard her name spoken that way.
Not harshly.
Not angrily.
As a command born from fear.
“Go.”
She clutched the ledger.
Gideon moved beside her.
Thomas stepped toward the doorway.
The first man entered.
A shot cracked through the mill.
Thomas fired back.
Margaret ran.
She heard shouting behind her.
Gideon stayed with her.
They reached the creek.
Margaret stumbled.
The ledger slipped from her hands.
Gideon seized it by the leather cover.
“Gideon!”
The dog ran.
Margaret followed.
They crossed the creek and climbed toward the ridge.
Behind them, another shot echoed.
Thomas appeared moments later.
Blood stained his sleeve.
“You’re hurt.”
“Just grazed.”
“The ledger?”
Gideon dropped it at his feet.
Thomas looked down.
Then at the dog.
A strange expression crossed his face.
“My brother trained him.”
Margaret stared.
“To carry things?”
“To find people.”
Thomas knelt beside Gideon.
“You remembered.”
The dog licked his hand.
For the first time since Margaret had met him, Thomas embraced the animal.
Then he stood.
“We have to leave.”
“Where?”
“To the judge.”
“You think he’ll believe us?”
“I don’t know.”
Thomas looked at the ledger.
“But he’ll have to see it.”
That night they hid at an abandoned shepherd’s cabin.
Rain battered the roof.
Margaret sat beside the fire.
Thomas wrapped his injured arm.
She watched him.
“You could have left me.”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you?”
He looked at her.
“Because I couldn’t.”
Neither spoke afterward.
Outside, Gideon lay beside the door.
Inside, Margaret realized something frightening.
She was beginning to trust Thomas.
And trust was dangerous.
