The Stranger from Medina (West Texas Sunrise Book #3): A Novel by Bagdon Paul

Author:Bagdon, Paul [Bagdon, Paul]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
ISBN: 9781441239518
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2003-05-01T04:00:00+00:00

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7

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Lee had never been so cold in her life. She’d ridden miles in blizzards, searched for lost foals in driving rain and hailstorms, and stood on numb feet for hours waiting for a mare to give birth. But this—it was as if the glacial wrath of the storm focused directly on her and Slick. Only the band of flesh slightly above and below her eyes was exposed; she wore men’s woolen long johns, her culottes, two shirts, and a shearling coat that weighed almost as much as her saddle. She also had long, thick scarves wrapped around her neck and face.

An old Stetson was pushed onto her head, its brim tugged down alongside and tied in place with a length of baling twine. On her hands she wore mulehide gloves lined with jackrabbit fur, but she hadn’t been able to feel her fingers in three hours. Inside all of the layers of clothing, her body trembled like that of a person suffering from ague. Tears froze as they were forced from her eyes by the wind, and her lashes were rimmed with crystal ice.

Slick’s muzzle was frosted with ice too, and strands of mucus had frozen beneath his nostrils, looking like small stalactites hanging from his jaw. He plodded ahead, unsure of his footing, his muscles tense, transmitting his nervousness to his rider.

The process of a hot bath ran through Lee’s mind: the fire licking hungrily at the bottom of the big pot, the boiling water pouring into the deep metal tub, the steam rising in a cloud.

Rev Warner suddenly appeared beside her on Chowder. He eased his horse close to Slick and leaned from his saddle to speak into her ear, over the howl of the wind.

“I’m going to swing off toward the foothills,” he said. “I have a feeling that’s where he is.” He closed his gloved hand over one of Lee’s, but she barely felt his grasp. He leaned closer. “Are you all right?”

Lee forced a smile that felt like it tore the flesh of her face. “I’m fine. Don’t go too far out alone, Duncan.”

He nodded. “There’s hot coffee on the wagon. Howard brought a little firebox filled with pea coal like they use on chuck wagons. It’ll be a godsend. You look like you could use some.” He looked away from her a moment, then looked back. “This snow’ll end soon, Lee. I feel like I’m getting close to Henry—it’s almost like I can hear him calling to me.”

Lee watched as he swung Chowder away. In a brief moment he was gone, now invisible within the storm. In her mind, she saw him at the pulpit in the church, Bible in hand, his voice mellifluous and deep like the faraway rumble of a train. She heard the preacher’s words too, and they were filled with promise and hope and kindness. He’s such a believer, so devoted to the Lord.

A rear hoof slid sideways, and Slick threw his weight against the skid, jolting Lee from her thoughts.

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