Jack galloped out of town and had gone about a mile when he ran into Philip Winter. Philip angled his horse across the path and held his musket across his chest, bidding Jack to stop.
"Who might you be?"
"Henry Ames. And you?"
"Philip Winter."
"You the man sold his wife an hour ago?"
"The same. Now I'm looking for my daughter."
"You planning to sell her too?"
Philip Winter sized Henry up. "Who knows you around here, Mr. Ames?"
"You do, for one."
Philip aimed his musket at Jack's face and pulled back the action.
"I'll have your horse, Henry, and you on the ground, face down until I decide what to do with you."
"I don't think so."
Jack jerked hard on his reign while kicking his horse's ribs. His horse slammed into Winter and Jack ducked below the gunshot. By then, Jack had his flintlock out and cocked in one hand, and Winter's reigns in the other.
"I don't know why you'd wish to shoot a fellow traveler, or steal his horse, but it concerns me enough to ask you to dismount."
Winter reluctantly stepped down from his horse.
"What do you intend, sir?"
Jack wasn't sure. His first instinct was to kill Winter. But what would he do with the body? He didn't have time to deal with this right now.
"I'll take your horse with me," Jack said. "You'll find it at the river crossing, tied to a tree."
"I have urgent business. My daughter is missing."
"You'll have to delay the search. I'm sorry."
Winters nodded. "If I see you again, I'll kill you."
"In that case, I hope not to see you again. But since I'm bound for Georgia, I doubt our paths will cross."
"You're heading the wrong way for Georgia, sir."
"I'm making a detour. I'm a scout for The Viceroy, and have pirates to kill along the way."
"Wait! Why didn't you say this earlier? I'm part of the plot."
"What part is yours?"
"Why, creating the diversion so all the locals would be in town during the roundup."
Jack nodded. "But you intended all along to sell your wife, did you not?"
"Yes, of course. But the timing added some silver to my pocket."
"Mayor Shrewsbury?"
"The same. So, can I have my horse back?"
"One thing about being a scout. We don't trust anyone. You'll find your horse tethered to a tree by the clearing. You know the place?"
"Ought to, I live not a hundred yards from the spot."
"Very well. In the meantime, if I come across a young lady I'll assume she's your daughter. What shall I tell her?"
"Tell her to get her ass home."
"Done, sir. Good luck to you."
"And you, sir."