Tracie Peterson by Forever Yours-1 Page A

With all of us looking, we’re bound to find her sooner.”
    “He’s right,” Nicholas said, seeing the change in Garrett. “Let’s all go. I’ve a feeling she won’t be all that far.”
    “Yeah, but we’re talking about my sister,” Dolan joked. “She’s very stubborn, and who knows where that’ll take her.”
    Nicholas grinned. “She’s had good training, though. I know Daughtry can take care of herself.” Grabbing his coat, he added, “I’ll tell you about her fixing the roof while we ride.”
    ❧
    Daughtry had found the perfect place to make camp for the night. She had ridden for several hours before coming to a rocky wall barrier. As she paralleled it for a short time, the sky began to grow dark, and Daughtry realized she’d have to stop and take shelter. She also noticed that the air was getting cold.
    At the first sound of water, Daughtry felt a bit of contentment wash over her. She’d have a good camp for both Nutmeg and herself. Bringing the horse to a stop by the stream, Daughtry quickly went to work, and before the last few glimmers of late autumn sun had faded behind the mountain peaks, she had a nice fire going.
    She thought how beautiful the night was and how the tiny pinpricks of light that were millions of stars in the sky seemed to keep her company through the loneliness of her vigil. “I know I’ve brought this on myself, Father,” she prayed. “But I just didn’t know what else to do. I wanted to trust You to work it out. I wanted to have faith that everything would be all right, but I was so frightened.”
    The wind picked up a bit, and Daughtry hugged a blanket close to her. Foolish or not, she was out here alone and had to make the most of it. Garrett Lucas had raised his children to be capable of caring for themselves outdoors, and Daughtry was certainly no exception to that rule. As the fire began to die down, she tossed several large logs on the coals and settled down for the night.
    “Oh, Nicholas,” she sighed against the haunting sounds of the canyon winds. “I need you.”

Chapter 13
    D aughtry tried to sleep but couldn’t. Perhaps the hour was just not late enough, she reasoned; after all, the sun had only been down for an hour, maybe two. In frustration, she sat up and leaned back against the rock to contemplate her actions.
    In the distant night she could make out little noises, but nothing that offered either comfort or fear. She thought of her life and all that she’d known.
    This region of New Mexico was still very rustic. They didn’t have electricity to the outlying houses, and while most of the towns sported not only electricity but running water, telephones, and automobiles, Daughtry’s world hadn’t consisted of any of these things. She felt as though she stood between the past and the future, not really taking hold of either one.
    She smiled to herself as she thought of Nicholas building the small addition off the kitchen to house the bathtub. He’d seemed so happy when he realized how much pleasure it gave Daughtry.
    They were a strange couple, Daughtry thought. “How could two people who had never before met be so perfect for each other?” she questioned the air. Clearly, the hand of God had been working in spite of human rebellion and disobedience.
    Daughtry frowned. Her father was no doubt at her house right this very minute. What a coward she was to leave Nicholas to face him alone. She hugged her knees to her chest. Oh, God, she prayed, please help him. Help Nicholas to deal evenhandedly with my father, and help my father to keep his temper under control.
    She must have dozed, or so she figured, because suddenly the sound of horses clipping at a slow, even pace caused her to jerk upright. Getting to her feet, Daughtry was further stunned to see her husband, father, and three of her brothers ride casually into camp as though they were there for supper.
    Standing with her mouth open and her eyes wide, Daughtry was speechless. Nicholas jumped