Randall Renegade. Judy Christenberry

an hour later. The sun still wasn’t up and he had to go slowly. Snow was still falling, but the farther he moved up the mountain, the less snow there was on the ground. That would continue to be true until he hit the tree line. According to the sheriff’s directions, the camp was near the tree line. So he’d know when he was getting closer by the amount of snow.

      He was preparing to stop again for the night when he thought he heard something.

      He reined in his horse and listened, but was met with silence. Then his horse nickered softly. “Easy, boy,” Jim whispered.

      He still heard nothing but decided to go on a little farther. The sheriff had told him to turn north when he was close to the tree line. He’d also warned him to approach Kane and his men cautiously.

      Jim had taken the warning seriously. He’d hidden a small pistol in one boot and a knife in the other. He also wore a gun and had a rifle on his saddle, but they might take any visible weapons.

      He hoped not. He wanted to handle this situation peaceably. He only hoped Patience would cooperate. He’d always teased her that she didn’t live up to her name. She had a quick temper that matched the red streaks in her blond hair.

      Jim brought himself up short. He didn’t need to think about Patience’s temper or her beautiful hair. He needed to focus on what was important.

      Which he did.

      And then he heard a woman scream.

      Chapter Two

      “I told you to stand at attention!” Joseph Kane yelled at the little boy crumpled in the snow, sobbing against Patience’s leg.

      “Stop this!” Patience yelled. “He’s not even three yet.” Dear God, if she didn’t get her nephew out of here quickly, he’d die at his crazy father’s hand. How had her sister ever loved this man?

      Faith had died because of him, and Patience wasn’t about to leave Tommy to the same fate. He was such a good little boy, so well behaved and loving. He was even already learning to read. And Kane had struck him because he couldn’t stand at attention for an hour at a time. It was outrageous!

      “He’s too young to play soldier,” she told Joseph.

      “Because you spoil him. He’s my son. He will do as I say!”

      Tommy shivered against her and Patience knew it wasn’t from the cold. He was terrified. She crouched down and hugged him. She had no idea how she was going to get them out of here.

      She knew Joseph Kane wasn’t ready to give up his child. By the time she’d arrived at the camp, however, Tommy had been abused both physically and mentally. Kane’s brutality was already changing Tommy’s open, loving nature. Oh, how she hated Kane.

      But that wasn’t anything new. Her sister’s death had instilled in her a hatred for this man that had never gone away. Faith had been so gentle and kind. And that monster had taken advantage of her goodness.

      “Go to your tent, Patience!” Kane commanded.

      “Only if Tommy goes with me. He’s cold and tired. He needs to rest.”

      “I am the general. You do not argue with me!”

      She stood up with the little boy in her arms. “All right. I won’t.” She started to walk to the tent Kane had assigned her.

      She certainly had no interest in arguing with Kane—or any of his men. When she’d arrived last night, she’d studied them, hoping to find an ally. But all of Kane’s followers were loyal to him. His three “lieutenants” were cruel, hard men, just like Joseph.

      “Woman, put down that child!” he yelled.

      “I’m going to our tent, just as you said, General.” She knew she should try to keep the sarcasm out of her voice, but it was impossible.

      “Not with the boy!” She heard the heavy tread of feet behind her and quickened her pace.

      “Hey, there!”

      Everyone, including Patience, turned to look at the man who had called to the general. In the dusk she couldn’t make out his face. He and his horse were being led into camp by a pair of guards. Another guard followed with a rifle pointed at the man.

      “Who are you?” Kane demanded.

      “Jim Bradford.”

      Patience froze. That was Jim Randall’s voice. He’d come after her! Fear swept through her. Kane would kill him.

      “Why are you here, Mr. Bradford?” Kane asked.

      “I was riding on the trail and I heard a lady scream,” Jim replied. “I thought she needed help.”

      Patience, holding Tommy tightly to her, was waiting to see what would happen. Jim looked straight at her.

      “Ma’am, do you need some help?”

      Yes! Oh, yes, I do! She shook her head.

      Jim actually reached up and tipped his hat to her. “My mistake, ma’am.”

      “So you’ll be on your way,” Kane said coldly.

      “Well, if I were in a hurry, I guess I would, but I’m not. I’ve decided I don’t much like society anymore… Hey, I sure could use a cup of coffee.” He stared pointedly at the coffeepot beside the fire.

      Kane hesitated. “Okay. And you can stay here tonight if you want. But we’ll keep your weapons until you leave. You have a problem with that?”

      “Nope. I didn’t catch your name.”

      One of his lieutenants answered for Kane. “He’s the general of our troops. You address him as General.”

      Patience knew how pretentious Jim would think the title. Counting Kane himself, the camp had fewer than twenty men. Not exactly a lot of troops.

      “Well, thank you, General, for your hospitality,” Jim said. “I’d like to ask you some questions about where a man could winter up here and come out better than a chunk of ice.”

      “We’ll talk after dinner,” Kane said slowly, watching the newcomer.

      Patience took Kane’s momentary distraction with the stranger as an opportunity to slip into her small tent. Sinking down on the canvas floor, she kissed Tommy’s cheek. “You were very brave, sweetheart. Mommy is so proud of you.”

      “I don’t like him,” Tommy whispered, sniffing.

      Patience found a tissue to wipe the boy’s nose. “I know, sweetheart. But we may be able to get away and go back home to Grandma.”

      “Grandma will miss me,” Tommy said.

      “Oh, yes, she will.” Tommy was right. Since her older daughter’s death, only Tommy had brought smiles to her mother’s face. Patience had hated to leave her alone, but rescuing Tommy from the likes of Joseph Kane was of prime importance.

      “I’m hungry, Mommy.”

      Patience reached into her knapsack and pulled out a small candy bar. “That’s because you didn’t have any lunch. But supper will be in a little while.”

      “Will he let us eat?”

      “I hope so. If he doesn’t, I have more candy.”

      “I want to stay in here,” Tommy declared. “I don’t mind eating candy.”

      Patience chuckled. It was a relief to release some of her tension. “I can tell you don’t mind,” she said.

      “Ma’am?”

      Patience stilled as a man stuck his head through the tent opening. To her relief, it wasn’t Kane, but Roger, one of his less-vicious followers. “Yes?”

      “The general requests your presence for dinner in his tent,” Roger stated.