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her desk.
    She had some assignments to get ready for the next day and a Scripture passage to choose for the morning reading, and then she could bank the fire and be off home. She pulled her sweater a bit closer about her body.
    The heavy door creaked open and Ariana raised her head. Along with a few flakes of snow, two men in long, heavy buffalo coats and black hats pulled down over bearded faces stepped through the opening. Ariana knew she had not seen them before.
    “Hello,” she said pleasantly, thinking them to have lost their way. “Can I help you?”
    There was no answer. The two men moved farther into the room. Ariana could sense that their dark eyes were sweeping quickly over the interior, taking in everything they saw. Something about them made her feel very uncomfortable. She stood.
    “Can I help you?” she repeated. “If you are looking for the town—”
    The smaller man looked longingly at the iron stove. Ariana saw one hand reach out toward it, as though to take full benefit of its heat if only for a moment.
    “Please, feel free to warm yourselves before you go on,” offered Ariana. In spite of herself, she felt a tremble of fear pass through her.
    “Reckon we won’t take time fer warmin’,” said the bigger man gruffly. “Got some ridin’ to do. Now iffen you’d jest git yer coat, miss—we’d welcome ya to join us.”
    Ariana stared in unbelief.
    “What—?”
    “Git yer coat, miss.” The order was growled more loudly from the gravelly voice. Ariana froze to the spot.
    “I think ya better do as told, miss,” advised the smaller man. “It’ll be easier on ya iffen ya co-operate.”
    “But I…I can’t go with you. My family is expecting me—”
    “Then yer family will jest have to wait a spell,” said the big man. Ariana saw the end of a pistol peeking out from the furry sleeve of his heavy coat.
    “But I—”
    Ariana stiffened and pulled herself to her full height. She took a deep breath and told herself to hold steady. Not to panic. But at the same moment her whole body trembled. She was afraid she was going to faint.
    She closed her eyes and grasped her desk with both hands. Trust in the Lord , she managed inwardly. That was as far as she got with her prayer.
    “Git yer coat,” barked the big man again. “An’ I’d advise thet ya git any other wraps thet might keep out the weather. We got us some tough trails ahead.”
    “If you think I have any intention of riding off—” began Ariana, finding courage she did not know she possessed.
    Her words were interrupted by a hoarse laugh. The big man turned to the smaller one. “Ya got us one with spunk, Sam.” He laughed again. “I like thet. Should work in our favor—later.” Then his eyes turned cruel again. “But not now. Now—ya git yer coat.”
    Ariana lifted her chin and tried to still its trembling. “I will go nowhere with you,” she managed.
    The big man reached out a hand that closed firmly on Ariana’s wrist, making her wince with the pain. Roughly he jerked her toward the hook where her coat hung. She struggled against his iron grip, writhing this way and that in an effort to free herself. The grip on her wrist tightened, sending spasms of pain shooting up her arm.
    With one last mighty effort, Ariana spun around and raked her fingernails down the face of her opponent. She saw the prickles of blood appear on the broken skin before he wrested her to the floor.
    Dark curses filled the air. “Sam, gimme the rope,” he shouted.
    The other man stepped forward, an ugly frayed rope dangling from his hand. For a moment he stood looking down at her, chewing on his stained mustache. Ariana was fighting against tears. Her wrist felt as if it had been broken.
    “We be needin’ this, miss—or are ya gonna be reasonable?” asked the man named Sam.
    Ariana nodded mutely. The big man pulled her roughly to her feet. “Then git yer coat—and I ain’t sayin’ it agin,” he growled.
    Ariana had no choice but to