Chapter One

It was early April 1874, in southeastern Wyoming on a bright sunny Saturday morning. The prairie was golden with sunlight beneath an azure sky. White clouds rode the high wind, patching the land with drifting shadows. The air was clear and crisp, and from the Circle C ranch where rancher Sam Claiborne and his wife, Emma, stood on the front porch of their two-story white frame house looking westward, their range of vision extended all the way to the majestic Rocky Mountains some fifty miles away. The lofty peaks were still snow packed and filled the horizon. The Claibornes were looking for movement on the prairie, but the only movement in sight was a bald eagle winging its way southward on the airwaves.

The lanky rancher, who would turn thirty-five on his next birthday, sighed. "Honey, I can't wait any longer. I've got to get into Cheyenne for my appointment with Lyle Wilson. The bank closes at noon on Saturdays and I don't want to be late."

Emma, who was a year younger than her husband, said, "Go ahead and saddle Midnight, dear. I'll keep watch."

Sam nodded. "Okay. Be back shortly."

Emma observed her husband's form as he hurried around the house, then a small frown lined her brow and a shadow flicked across her blue eyes as she looked toward the west once again. She knew how much her child enjoyed riding and racing her bay mare across the prairie, but of late she had found herself ill at ease each time.

She whispered a prayer toward heaven, asking the Lord to bring both girls back safely. Betty Houston was Jody's best friend and a fine Christian girl. The girls were excellent riders, but out there on the prairie a lot of t

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