Eliza didn’t believe him. Were they robbers looking to make a quick dollar? She knew they would carry away her box, perhaps believing that anything kept under lock and key was worth monetary value. Her heart sunk at the thought. Of course, she’d have to worry about it only if they didn’t actually kill her first.
“Hey there!” one of the men shouted when he was within a hundred feet. “Halt.”
Ford pulled the horses short, quickly unknotting the rope that held Eliza to his horse. She didn’t miss the small, but meaningful act.
“If firing starts, run,” he said under his breath.
Eliza nodded.
The men approached, ignoring Ford once they pulled up beside their horses. “Are you Mrs. Eliza Quinn?” the apparent leader asked, his words coming from behind a thick, red beard.
“I am.”
“Eliza Quinn,
