Page 107 (1/2)

“That’s a lie!” Cat screa sob to her voice “He isn’t dead Not Ty Not my brother!” Amy Trumbo stepped up and atteid in them “It can’t be true,” Cat protested “It can’t be”

“We don’t want it to be,” Amy murmured “But we both know Stumpy wouldn’t lie”

A horrible ainst Amy and sobbed brokenly All the while Jessy stood beneath the heat of the sun’s full glare, cold to the bone A hand moved onto her shoulder, but she barely felt it It was al someone else

“You’re white as a sheet, Jessy” It was Ballard’s soft voice that came from somewhere near her shoulder “You’d better sit down”

“No” She rejected that suggestion out of hand and looked straight at her father “Ho did he die?”

Stuhter “Chase thinks he ht have been stabbed” He passed the reins to one of the other riders anda fatherly arht You need to sit down”

Making no objection this tiuide her to a campstool Somebody put a cup in her hand

“Drink this,” the cook ordered

Almost trancelike, she took a sip then drew back in distaste “It has sugar in it”

“It’s good for shock,” the cook told her “Drink it”

Shock, was that what she was feeling? It felt like a great raging eiant ache where her heart should be

“Where’s Chase?” The sudden and sharp question came from Ballard

“He stayed with the body,” Stumpy replied

The body It was a cold and final phrase Pain closed around her throat, briefly shutting off her air In desperation Jessy gulped down ly sweet coffee

“You left Chase out there by hi do What if Haskell’s still out there?”