In a few more moments José turned off the trail and started leading the horse almost straight up the rocky mountain side.
“What—where are you going?” Jo Ann gasped, unheard.
When her horse had climbed a little farther, lightning illuminated the darkness enough to show her an overhanging ledge of rock jutting out just ahead of them.
Instantly she grasped José’s plan. Here was a shelter—a refuge from the storm!
As soon as he had led her up under the cliff she sprang off her horse, crying, “Get Florence! Hurry!”
“Sí, sí,” he nodded.
With that José was off again down the trail. After what seemed to Jo Ann an endless time, he reappeared leading Florence’s horse and his own.
The moment Florence leaped off her horse Jo Ann caught her in a warm embrace.
“Oh, Florence, I’m so thankful you’re safe!”
“And I’m thankful we’re all safe.”