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They probably wouldn't take the risk of letting theain, whichthe children There wasn't azed up at hiain alive "I love you"

He nodded "I know, and I love you too" He leaned down and she stretched up to meet his kiss He squeezed her hand "I'll be back"

She watched as he rode away, tears burning her eyes All she could do was pray

Jonathan joined her "Where's he going?"

She hesitated, not wanting to frighten hih

"He said there were two nized, which et them off our trail and maybe find more horses We're supposed to continue without hiasped "But they ht kill him"

She nodded "Possibly He's doing the only thing he can We can't possibly outrun the he would think of soht be the case He had never backed away froerous situation since she h to avoid most situations Those he couldn't avoid, he was always able to talk his way out of, but this was different Alex knew that So ould he do? She turned to Jonathan "I'o up there and watch You stay here with the children"

Jonathan remained with the others while she climbed the slope When she reached a point where she could look down the other side, she stopped and squatted, peering between some yucca plants

She immediately spotted the two riders, but it took her a fewon a narrow trail above the trail the other riders were on Her pulse increased If they looked up, and saw him, they could easily pick him off with a rifle

Alex waited until thehis ed his horse over the side of the trail and down the slope toward them Carmen held her breath as he crossed the trail directly in front of the down the steep slope She gasped in horror What was he doing?

Alex hung on as the horse scrambled to keep his balance on the steep slope The horse slid down the slope, nearly on its haunches in the loose shale