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hers, he was
surprised when her lips met him halfway.
    Lost in a world of their own, moments
passed before Lenore's horse stomped her feet and shied away. With
the loss of their support, they both tumbled into the snow.
Lenore's laughter bubbled forth from her like the end of a
waterfall. Heston admired her rosy cheeks and just-kissed lips.
"Thank you, Lenore."
    Her eyes widened in surprise. "For
what?"
    "For marrying me."
    A distant shot rang in the air. Quick
to rise, Heston helped Lenore to her feet.
    "Did that come from my family?" Worry
filled her eyes.
    "No." Heston stared through the
snow-laden trees. "Someone's helping themselves to my – to our
traps."

Chapter Ten

    Lenore expected Heston to reach for
his gun, instead he opened the pack on the mule and offered her
dried venison and apples. She cocked her head to the side, "I don't
understand."
    "It won't do any good to get in a
hurry. They're too far away and we'd only risk injury to the horses
or ourselves." Heston leaned against the tree Lenore shared and
took her hand in his. "Shall we pray?"
    At her nod, he began, "Father, we ask
You to bless this food to our bodies and guide us safely home. And
for the unsaved soul who's robbing our traps, please blanket his
spirit with Yours. Amen."
    Lenore stood too stunned to eat. "You
asked prayer for the man who's stealing from you."
    "How else is he going to recognize his
wrongs?"
    Lenore bit into her apple and
considered his statement. It would seem she could learn from
Heston. She glanced back and saw the firm set of his jaw and the
deepening frown on his face. And perhaps she could encourage him to
control his growing anger.
    Heston pushed off from the tree. "If
we get started now and cut out checking the traps, we should catch
him at the trail head."
    Lenore said nothing. Would God protect
them and keep Heston's anger under control?
    ***
    The mule stumbled and jerked the lead
rope attached to Heston's saddle horn whipping it against his leg.
Heston swallowed the urge to yell at the animal. Stand tall .
Castle's advice rung in his ears. He allowed his father-in-law's
wisdom to control his anger. It was Heston's own fault. He'd pushed
them hard.
    Lenore stifled a yawn and stretched
her legs away from her horse. "Are we almost there?" she
whispered.
    Heston nodded. He shouldn't have her
out here, he should've secured Lenore at the cabin and searched for
the thief another day on his own. She smiled sweetly at him, almost
dreamingly. A sudden urge to be home overwhelmed him. He turned
directions.
    "What are you doing?" Lenore kept her
reins pulled tight, refusing her mare to follow.
    "I'm taking you home. I had no
business bringing you into this." He refrained from listing the
other benefits of going to the cabin but couldn't control the tilt
of his mouth.
    "Heston Miller, we've come this far, I
think we should take care of business."
    He smiled and pulled his mount beside
hers. "Such a wise woman, I couldn't agree more. But are we talking
about the same kind of business?"
    A blush darkened Lenore's already rosy
cheeks. Heston reached for her hand and brought her palm to his
lips. Her eyes shuttered as a light sigh escaped her. He
contemplated pulling her from the saddle when a horse snorted less
than half a mile away.
    Lenore glanced to the trail-head and
back to Heston. A determined spirit set her jaw. "I'll stay here
with the pack-mule."
    A wise woman, indeed. Heston
gave her an approving grin and pulled his shotgun from its sling.
The thief didn't suspect him since they'd kept the animals' tracks
away from the main trail. He rode ahead to a familiar bend and
pulled a halt to his horse in the middle of the path.
    Moments later, the thief rounded the
curve. His horse startled at Heston's presence and reared backward,
throwing its rider. The spooked stallion took off down the hill.
There, in the middle of the path, sat Lucas, Heston's
cousin.
    "Well, well, cous', I guess you're not
too smart." Heston repositioned his gun