He pulled out his bandana, dipped it into his water skin, and pressed the wet cloth to her forehead.
She flinched at first, shoulders tensing.
Then she relaxed—almost melting into the touch of something cool for the first time in who knew how long.
Jake stayed still, watching her breathing.
Shallow. Uneven. But there.
And then he heard it—far off, faint but unmistakable.
Hooves.
Not his horse shifting. Not some stray deer.
Hooves on hard ground, coming closer.
Jake’s head lifted. His eyes went to the horizon.
