Texas Wildflower

After her horse plodded up a steep incline, she noticed the'road ahead was full of loose stones. Afraid her horse might stumble and send them both tumbling into the brush at the foot of the hill, she decided to dismount and walk with her horse through the rocky pass, In the leaden sky overhead, the clouds gathered ominously, reminding her of the lightning bolt that had struck the tree along the road to Bartlett. A cold wave of terror flashed through her, abruptly causing her to be still. Her cry was muffled by the sound of growling thunder. She dropped the reins, choking back a sob while clutching the horse's sodden mane and burying her face against his neck to calm her fears. She realized that every move could be her last, and that she might never see Lance again. She struggled against an overwhelming feeling of loneliness. Yet somewhere deep inside of her, she knew that no mater what happened, she owed it to her father to go on. Wanting more than anything to see Nolan behind bars, she took a deep breath and continued. After walking a short distance, looking for a sign that he was on the right track, she climbed back onto the horse's back and started toward an abandoned hovel. It was the same one Lance had pointed out to her when they had gone to Tangleweed. Before she realized she was approaching her father's land, she heard an earth-shattering blast that shook the ground beneath her. She had heard that sound only once before, having seen crews of men working on the railroad in Missouri. She immediately knew it was the sound of exploding dynamite. If you have any questions, feel free to contact our Author Assistance team 1-888-