Canyon Run
By Carol Ann Kauffman
“And though she be little, she be fierce.”
Chapter One
On the Ranch
“Pudgie? Pudge! Where are you?”
Aquilla Dalton pulled her saddle off the stand in the barn.
“Do I have to put a cowbell around your neck in order to
find you?”
“Now Miss Quill, you know a bell won’t do you any good if I’m taking a nap. What’s got you all wound up?”
Pudgie took the saddle from Aquilla as they walked toward the corral.
“The McGuire girl and her boyfriend went out riding in the lower canyon this morning.”
“Selena? And the Italian boy? That’s nice. So what’s got you worried?”
“They haven’t been seen since around noon.”
“Ms. McGuire’s afraid the Italian boy is going to get Miss Selena in the family way.”
“Geez, Pudge! You’re such an old gossip. Where did you hear that?”
“At the reservation barber shop.”
“The res barber shop is a chair and a plastic tablecloth with a hole in the middle in Ben Statler’s driveway.”
“Yep, that’s the one.”
“Selena’s mother called me on the verge of hysterics. I said we’d take a ride and try to find them.”
“Fine. But it’s already dusk. Maybe we should take the truck. You know, head lights, GPS, radio, cup holders?”
Quill sighed. “What am I thinking? Yes. The truck.”
“You’re worried about those kids, aren’t you? You’re afraid something woke up out there and is hungry. And on the prowl. I understand. Maybe hungry for some Italian food.”
“Stop it,” Quill laughed. “It’s been over a year. I hoped we were done with it.”
“Me, too. I’ll take your saddle back to the barn, Miss Quill.You want to go get the keys and maybe some warm liquid to put in the cup holders?”
Quill nodded as she walked toward the ranch house.
“Got any cookies left from yesterday? Bring them, too. And jackets, we’ll need jackets.”
“Yes, mother,” Quill called back to her native American ranch hand with a giggle.
Pudgie returned the saddle to its stand in the barn and checked his weapon for a full load of ammunition before meeting Quill in the garage.