Chapter 31

“You’re not going to try anything funny, are you?” Ben asked, grabbing her arm. “I’d have to tie you to the horse.”

“I won’t try anything…funny,” she said. “You have my word.”

“Good. Mayor Reid, Mrs. Reid, you all have a nice day.”

“Where are we going?” Eliza asked as he dragged her to the two horses hitched on the post outside the house.

“Does it matter?” Ben asked.

“I’d like to know.”

“Mexico.” 7

Unlike Ford, Ben didn’t give Eliza’s comfort a second thought. He pushed them hard throughout the day, never stopping to rest, and rarely offering her water from the many canteens he had hanging from his body and saddle bags. Eliza didn’t complain verbally, but she thought of a host of unpleasant ways to get revenge. Imagining the brutal satisfaction of running him over with a horse going full speed managed to keep her going through the final hour of their journey, long after the sun had set, and coyotes seemed to be surrounding them.