Chapter 29: Chapter 29

Matthew and I mounted and waved goodbye, crossing the crick to the south as Helen and Lucas headed in the opposite direction to her camp.

It was near high sun when Matthew straightened and looked off to the east, shading his eyes with one hand and holding a small crescent-shaped scythe in the other. I followed his gaze and saw a group of horsemen on the horizon, heading north.

“Militia,” the boy said with a hiss hiding in his voice.

“Looks like it. Let’s keep an eye out for them in case they return this way.”

“There’s nothing up that way, is there?” he asked.

“Major Morrow told me there was a group of Sioux camped out on Trickling Water Crick.”

“Where’s that?”

I pointed with my chin. “About ten miles that way.”

“Let’s go warn them the militia’s on the way?”

“They have too great a lead on us. Maybe they’re just patrolling.”

“I don’t like them.” Matthew returned to his work.