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               ,*APT] #G            #AAA

  ,C>OL9E 0 9 S]I\S TR\#4 ,WAVES ( SICK-
;S RIPPL$ "? H]2 D>K ( NI<T COLLID$ )A
WALL ( BLACK 2H H] EYES1 EROD+ H] BRA94
,%E %OOK ) *ILLS4 ,PA9 SURG$ 9 H] ?I<
EV5 ) ,K+'S SMOO? /RIDE & %E CLUNG 6!
SA4LE HORN ) BO? H&S :ILE ! HORSE PICK$
8 [N WAY "? ! HILLS4 ,"! 7 NO F;ES 9 ?
UNSETTL$ C.TRY 6/OP HM1 B NO ROADS TO
GUIDE HM1 EI4 ,%E TRU/$ ,K+ 6H1D = WAT]4
,! ,OKANOGAN T]RITORY 0 N AN >ID L&4 ,A
/R1M M/ RUN "S": NE>BY1 &= "S R1SON %E
CDN'T DEF9E1 X SEEM$ IMP]ATIVE %E F9D X4
  ,IF %E 0 ALIVE -E "DBR1K1 %E'D H 6DOC-
TOR H] LEG4 ,! BLE$+ _HN'T /OPP$4 ,SL[1
HOT SEEPAGE 3T9U$ 6RUN 96H] BOOT4 ,%E
?"\ N[ X WD G ON & ON UNTIL %E BL$ \ L A
BUT*]$ BEEF & FELL F ,K+'S BACK1 H] BODY
LEFT 6MOLD]4 ,9 "T1 ! FLE% T _H CLOAK$
,C>OL9E ,PRUETT'S B"OS WD 2COME "P (!
E>?4 ,A%ES 6A%ES4 ,DU/ 6DU/4 ,ROT 6ROT4
  ,%E 0 T]RIBLY ?IR/Y2 H] M\? DRY Z
DIRT4 ,%E 0 COLD1 YET %E 0 HOT1 TOO1 Z
?\< A SL[ FIRE COOK$ H] ORGANS F )94 ,"!
SEEM$ NO D\BT ! DEVIL _H H] 9 8     #AAB
CLUT*ES & _H CLAIM$ H] Z 8 BRIDE4
  ,C>OL9E WASN'T FULLY 3SCI\S :5 %E FELL
F ,K+1 ! E>? SEEM+ AT ONCE 6BE BO? NE> &
F>4 ,NOR DID %E 4C]N ! HORSE1 HAV+ BR"\
H] 6! $GE ( AN UN"ND CREEK1 GRAZ+ 9 !
DEEP1 DRI$ GRASS AL;G XS BANK4 ,HE'D D"O
8 JOB WELL1 ONLY ,C>OL9E 0 NO L;G] AW>E
! WAT] %E CRAV$ ) E P>*$ ATOM ( H] 2+
RAN ONLY A FEW /EPS AWAY4

  ,SUTTON CU%ION$ 8 A*+ H1D ON 8 SA4LE1
/>+ 96! ORANGE EMB]S ( 8 DY+ CAMPFIRE &
LI/5+ 6! MUSIC (! NI<T4 ,/ICK] CRUN*$
GRASS NE>BY1 ! METAL L9KS ON 8 HOB#S
CLANG+ G5TLY ) EA* SMALL1 SL[ /EP4 ,A
BIRD COO$ F ! BRU%4 ,CICADAS SURVIV+ !
F/ FRO/S SANG A LA/ HURRAH4 ,X 0 J ! K9D
( EV5+ ,MICAH LIK$ 9 ! NORMAL FA%ION1
P1CE;L & LULL+4
  ,HE'D ALR GIV5 UP ON GETT+ ANY SLEEP ?
NI<T4 ,PA9 KEPT HM AWAKE2 A TR\#D M9D
MADE HM RE/.S4
  ,HE _HN'T REPORT$ ! /ALLION'S !FT 6!
LOCAL LAW4 ,%]IFF ,PRIT*>D 0 A LAZY OLD
CUSS1 N M* GIV5 6A7RESSIVE PUR-     #AAC
SUIT ( CRIM9ALS AT ! BE/ ( "TS4 ,MICAH
IMAG9$ :AT HE'D H SD AB A D[N-&-\ GIRL
/1L+ BACK A HORSE %E'D J LO/ 9 A POK]
GAME WD WELL-NI< 2 UNREP1TA#4 ,HE _H A
NO;N :O'D TURN \ 6BE ! VILLA9 9 ? CASE1
& HE DIDN'T ?9K X 0 ! GIRL4 ,BISCUIT'S
OP9ION1 SPOK5 ) BLUNT H"O/Y1 PROV$ T4
  8,FOLKS'LL LAU<10 ,BISCUIT _H W>N$ HM4
8,!Y'LL EV5 ?9K T "! NEW "P 9 YR HAIR IS
DAMN$ HIL>I\S40
  8,D Y ?9K X'S FUNNY80 ,MICAH DEM&$4
  8,WELL1 NO10 ,BISCUIT REPLI$4 8,A
QU>T]-9* L[] & Y'D ( BE5 D1D4 ,GUESS ,I
WDN'T'VE LAU<$ TOO H>D40
  ,B ,SUTTON CD TELL "P (! OLD WRANGL]
DID F9D ! SITU,N HUMOR\S4 ,BIG T\< FELL]
GETT+ A HORSE TAK5 AWAY F HM 0A SLIP (A
GIRL4 ,HE _H NO D\BT "EY"O ELSE WD LAU<1
TOO4 ,S1 ,MICAH LET ,BISCUIT TALK HM \ !
REPORT4 ,: J MADE HM ALL ! M DET]M9$ 6G
AF ! GIRL--&! HORSE--ON 8 [N4
  ,MICAH TURN$ ONTO 8 SIDE1 FEEL+ A PEB#
SLIDE 2N ! CANVAS GR.D%EET4 ,HE _HN'T
BE5 "PICUL> 5 9 ": HE LAID \ 8 B$ROLL4
,SEEM$ Z IF BL"U+ 96?+S 0 GETT+     #AAD
6BE A HABIT ) HM1 :E!R X 0 9 ! *OICE ( 8
CAMP1 OR WALK+ UP ON ! GIRL'S L HE'D D"O
? MORN+4 ,HE'D SU6] "? TN1 B WDN'T MAKE
! SAME MISTAKE AG4 ,EI ( !M4
  ,HE =C$ 8 EYES %UT1 Z IF ! BURNI%$ GL[
REMA9+ 9 ! FIRE'S HE>T 0 :AT KEPT HM
AWAKE4 ,8 M9D RAC$4
  ,:5 HE GOT 6,DOON'S ,SPR+ ! SECOND "T1
HE'D PICK$ UP ,K+'S TRACKS & FOLL[$ !M
UNTIL X 0 TOO D>K 6SEE4 ,T PUT HM HALF A
"D 2H ! GIRL1 B Z L;G Z RA9 DIDN'T -E
AL;G & WA% \ ! SIGN1 HE WASN'T WORRI$ AB
OV]TAK+ H]4 ,HE 0 NE>LY C]TA9 %E 0 H1D$
96,CANADA4 ,LET H] G4 ,MI<T MAKE 8 LIFE
EASI] 9 ! L;G RUN4
  ,!N1 Z NI<T SWALL[$ ! TRAIL1 HE _H
/OPP$ & BUILT A SMALL CAMPFIRE AG/ A
ROCK \TCROPP+ ": H1T REFLECT$ F ! /"OS4
,W>M1 B N A GD *OICE S9CE ROCKS LITT]$ !
GR.D4
  ,8 SUPP] 0 BISCUITS1 BACON & AN AIR-
TI<T ( TOMATOES4 ,HE WDN'T CALL X A BAN-
QUET 0ANY M1NS1 B X 0 M1 HE SUSPECT$1
?AN ! GIRL WD 2 EAT+4 ,%E C>RI$ NO
SUPPLIES1 & HE KNEW %E _H NO MON-   #AAE
EY4 ,IF %E _H ANY BRA9S AT ALL1 %E'D
GIVE UP ? WILD1 S5SE.S *ASE4 ,"! M/ 2
"S"O WD TAKE H] 9 & HELP H] GET BACK ON
H] FEET4
  ,! /ALLION 0 ?91 HE REMEMB]$4 ,TOO ?94
,& S 0 ,C>OL9E4 ,CLE>LY1 %E 0 FI<T+ A
LOS+ BATTLE & _H BE5 = "S "T4
  ,SUTTON TURN$ OV] AG1 ! PEB# ROLL+ )
HM4 ,?\< HE DID 8 DAMN$E/ 6EJECT EV5TS F
8 M9D1 SMALL DETAILS JUMP$ \ & TAUNT$
HM4 ,"S MAY H BE5 PRODUCTS ( 8 BULLET-
A4L$ IMAG9,N--HE CDN'T SWE> "O WAY OR !
O!R4
  ,HE 2LIEV$1 BACK "! :5 HE'D F/ BE5
%OT1 HE'D HE>D H] HUSKY VOICE APOLOGIZ+
6HM4 8,SORRY1 C[BOY10 %E'D SD4
  ,SUTTON'S SNORT 0 BURI$ 9 ! FOLDS ( 8
BLANKET4 ,LOT ( GD SORRY WD'VE D"O HM IF
HE'D BE5 D1D1 L %E ?"\4
  8,ALL ,I WANT$ 0 ! HORSE10 %E'D SD4
  ,T ANG]$ HM MO/4 ,IF %E WANT$ ! HORSE
S BAD1 :Y'D %E RISK$ X 9 ! F/ PLACE8 ,:Y
9VOLVE HM8 ,HE _HN'T ASK$ = X4 ,HE'D BE5
HAPPY )! M"OY HE'D WON1 B 0! "L ,H>RY1
HE WASN'T GO+ 6BACK D[N N[4         #AAF
  8,DID Y H A WOMAN1 ,SUTTON80 %E'D
ASK$4 8,A FAMILY80
  ,HE IMAG9$ H] MELT+ D>K EYES WET )
TE>S4 ,HAH6 ,T CDN'T 2 TRUE4 ,A <O/ MEM-
ORY F :5 HE 0 \ ( 8 H1D4 ,%E _H NO R1SON
6EV9CE CURIOS;Y AB ANY ( 8 NON-EXI/5T
FAMILY1 LET AL"O C>E4 ,HE _HN'T _H A
FAMILY S9CE *OL]A WIP$ !M \ :5 HE 0 F\R-
TE5 & HE'D BE5 LEFT 6F5D = HMF4
  ,B HE'D N"E 3TEMPLAT$ SUICIDE4 ,N"E
/UCK ! B>REL (A PI/OL 9 8 [N M\? & FELT
! NE$ 6SQUEEZE ! TRI7]4 8,I'M AN AW;L
C[>D10 %E'D SD4
  ,HE DIDN'T ?9K S4 ,HE _H A C]TA9 AM.T
( UNWILL+ ADMIR,N = H]4 ,ADMIR,N =! C\R-
AGE REQUIR$ (A GIRL Z D[N ON H] LUCK Z
,C>OL9E1 B :O KEPT ON FI<T+--EV5 IF %E
DID MAKE ,MICAH ,SUTTON ! BUTT ( H] /UB-
BORN;S4 ,& EV5 IF HE DIDN'T WANT 6ADMIRE
H]4 ,FEV] DR1MS1 HE TOLD HMF4 ,^! MEMO-
RIES 7 ONLY FEV] DR1MS4
  ,MICAH TURN$ "R1 F9,Y L1V+ ! PEB# 2H4
,HE N"E KNEW J :5 X 0 T HE FELL ASLEEP1
B 0! "T DAWN SPR1D A ROSY LI<T OV] !
SN[-COV]$ ,CASCADES 6! WE/1 HE _H   #AAG
?R[N 8 SA4LE ON ,/ICK] & WOLF$ D[N A
COLD BISCUIT4 ,HE'D F9D !M TD4 ,HE FELT
! SURETY L A SOLID WEI<T 9 8 B"OS4
  8,MAYBE10 HE SD1 TALK+ 6,/ICK]'S
TWIT*+ GRAY E>S1 8J MAYBE ,I'LL LET !
GIRL G40

  ,GRASS PRICKL$ ,C>OL9E'S *EEK ": X
PRESS$ AG/ ! FRO/Y GR.D4 ,9DIVIDUAL
BLADES JA2$ L T9Y SPE>S 96H] SK94 ,%E
LAY SPRAWL$ FACE D[N1 H] PANTS & COAT
WET "?1 & %E 0 FREEZ+ COLD4 ,ONLY H] LEG
FELT ANY DI6]5T1 SEP>ATE F ! RE/ ( H]
BODY & HOT Z ?\< 5CAS$ 9 FI]Y COALS4
  ,%E 0 SURPRIS$ 6AWAK5 AT ALL4
  ,VOICES--WOM5 & *N--JA2]$ F "S": ABV
H]4 ,%E DIDN'T C>E 5 6LOOK =! S\RCE4
,:AT DID CAUSE A MILD 9T]E/ 0 H] LACK (
"U/&+4 ,%E CDN'T MAKE \ A ^W ANY ( !M
SD4
  ,& !N %E CD4
  8,WOMAN40 ,A PAUSE4 8,WOMAN8 ,Y
ALIVE80
  ,"! 0 A FA9T TAP ON H] %\LD]4 ,A W>M
PRESSURE1 L F A H& OR A C\PLE (     #AAH
F+]S T\*$ BRIEFLY ON H] =EH1D4
  ,M JA2]+4
  ,A RESPONSE SEEM$ REQUIR$ ( H]1 S %E
GROAN$4
  ,"O W>M H& MULTIPLI$ 96S"EAL1 : TOOK
HOLD ( H]1 TURN+ H] UNTIL %E FAC$ ! SUN4
,%E REMEMB]$ D>K4 ,! JA2]+ TOOK ON AN
AURA ( EXCITE;T4 ,"! 0 A P]IOD ( )DRAW-
AL1 ! NOISE FAD$ & %E DIDN'T HE> A ?+4
,! QUIET PL1S$ H]4
  8,WOMAN80
  ,C>OL9E CAME AWAKE AG4 ,%E MADE AN EF-
=T4 8,UH80
  8,WOMAN1 ?IS'LL HURT4 ,Y HOLD /4
,WE'RE HELP9' Y40
  ,! VOICE DIDN'T LIE--5TIRELY4 ,:AT !Y
DID1 HURT4 ,T M* 0 TRUE4 ,%E PRAY$ "! 0
SALV,N1 PURIFIC,N1 OR POSSIBLY REP>,N 9
! SU6]+ T CAME NEXT4 ,GOD "KS "! %D H
BE54

  ,MICAH SMELL$ ! FRAGR.E ( WOOD SMOKE =
A MILE 2F HE SAW ! TRANSP>5T WISPS RIS+
OV] ! TREES4 ,TOO BIG A FIRE =! GIRL 6H
MADE1 TOO C>E.S ( 2+ SE54 ,9DI-     #AAI
ANS1 HE FIGUR$1 OR :ITE SQUATT]S LIV+ ON
,9DIAN L&4 ,NO MATT]4 ,AF BYPASS+ S"EAL
=KS 9 ! TRAIL1 & -+ ^U "O BACKTRACK ":
HE KNEW ! /UD _H WALK$ UP A TRAIL & GAL-
LOP$ \ AG1 ! SIGN L$ ? WAY4 ,^! P 7 B.D
6H NEWS ( 8 PREY4
  ,2F L;G1 8 NOSE L$ HM 6A CLE>+ ": A
CAMPFIRE BURN$ \TSIDE A FAMILY SIZ$ ,IN-
DIAN LODGE4 ,A C\PLE ( CA/ IRON POTS 7
/RUNG OV] A METAL ROD ABV ! FIRE4 ,A
GIRL ( AB SEV5 YE>S 0 /IRR+ "O (! POTS4
,/1M PLUM$ F ! O!R4
  ,X 2+ ONLY POLITE 6GIVE W>N+ ( 8 >RIV-
AL1 ,MICAH PULL$ ,/ICK] 6A HALT & CALL$
\1 8,HALLOO1 ! CAMP40
  ,! * /OPP$ :AT %E 0 DO+ & GAZ$ AT HM4
,%E YELL$1 & 9 A MO;T A "Y WOMAN CAME \
(! TIPI4 ,! WOMAN C>RI$ A BABY WRAPP$ UP
9SIDE A CRADLEBO>D ) FL[] B1D+ ON !
BUCKSK9 COV]4
  8,:AT D Y WANT80 %E ASK$1 SURVEY+ HM )
A COLD />E4
  ,SUTTON'S EYES 7 MOV+1 TAK+ 9 ! CAMP1
! P1 ! /OCK PICKET$ (F 6"O SIDE4 ,A
SMALL BOY 0 WAT*+ ! HORSES4 ,"O (   #ABJ
!M 0 ! BAY4
  ,MICAH NO4$ T[>DS ! GRAZ+ HORSES4
8,I'M LOOK+ =A HORSE T 0 /OLE F ME4 ,I
GUESS ,I F.D HM40
  ,! ,9DIAN WOMAN'S FACE TOOK ON A MULI%
LOOK1 N>R[-EY$ & ANGRY4 8,WE DIDN'T /1L
NO HORSE1 MI/]40
  8,I N"E SD Y DID10 ,MICAH SD MILDLY4
8,I "K :O /OLE HM40
  ,RELIEF SWEPT OV] H] LI<T-SK9N$ FEA-
TURES4 ,MICAH ?"\ %E MI<T 2 A BRE$1 S9CE
%E SPOKE GD1 IF ,FR5* A35T$1 ,5GLI%4 ,N
_M (! ,OKANOGAN DID4
  8,Y TAKE HM10 %E SD4 8,G AWAY40
  ,? GAVE HM PAUSE1 /RIK+ HM Z 2+ M* TOO
EASY4 ,2SS1 H[ CD X 2 H] DECI.N8 ,": 0 !
GIRL1 ANYWAY8 ,HE'D H EXPECT$ H] 6-E
FLY+ AT HM CLAWS \--OR M LIKELY1 GUN 9
H&--N 2 (F HID+ 9 ! BRU% "S": MEEK Z A
PUSSYCAT :ILE HE WALK$ (F )! HORSE4
  ,B :AT IF %E WASN'T HI45 9 ! BRU%8
,:AT IF %E 0 9 ! TIPI ) T DAMN$ OLD GUN
( H]S BOR+ D[N ON HM8 ,8 H1D GAVE A ?ROB
Z A REM9D] ( :AT T 8DAMN$ OLD GUN0 CD D
--_H D"O4                           #ABA
  ,8 SK9 CRAWL$1 ALR FEEL+ ! %OCK (A
BULLET PL[+ 96HIS FLE%4 ,S5SES AL]T1 HE
WAT*$ = ANY ?R1T OR RUSE1 B SAW NO?+4
,HE>D NO?+1 EI4 ,HE &! WOMAN & H] BABY
MI<T H BE5 ! ONLY "OS 9 ? CAMP1 EXCEPT
HE KNEW ! BOY & GIRL 7 CLOSE BY4 ,& IF
!Y _H E6ECTIVELY 4APPE>$1 X WD 2 Z SIM-
PLE A MATT] =A DOZ5 O!RS1 9CLUD+ ,C>OL9E
,PRUETT1 64APPE> Z WELL4 ,MICAH'S M\? 0
DRY Z ,BAK] ,W9AFREE'S OLD WELL AF
,JUDGE ,HOR/ DIV]T$ ! WAT]4 ,HE 4M.T$1
PULL+ 8 C>B9E F ! SA4LE SCA2>D Z HE DID
S4
  8,": IS %E80 HE DEM&$4 8,%E'S A HORSE
?IEF & ,I'M TAK+ H] IN40
  ,! WOMAN HUNG ! BABY'S CRADLEBO>D F A
BROK5-(F TREE LIMB L %E 0 CLE>+ ! FIELD
& MAK+ SURE ! KID 0 \ (! L9E ( FIRE4 ,!
BABY'S EYES 7 OP51 WAT*+ ! GO+S-ON Z SI-
L5T & / Z ! TWO OLD] KIDS4
  ,SIGNS DIDN'T BODE WELL = HM1 ,MICAH
FIGUR$4 ,HE DIDN'T BACK D[N1 ?\<1 J B[$
8 NECK & LET ! /U2ORN GR[4 8,%E 9SIDE T
LODGE80 HE ASK$4
  ,! WOMAN FOLD$ H] >MS ACR H]      #ABB
*E/4 8,Y ! "O T %OT H]80 %E ASK$ 9 TURN1
AN ADMIS.N ( SORTS4
  8,HUH80 ,MICAH CDN'T FIGURE \ :AT %E 0
TALK+ AB4 8,I'M ! "O GOT %OT40
  ,H] GL.E FLICK$ OV] HM1 PAUS+ = AN IN-
/ANT ON ! DEEP1 RAW SCRAT* ON 8 H1D4 ,HE
0 ONLY A# 6KEEP 8 HAT ON = %ORT P]IODS &
HE'D %OV$ X BACK Z QK Z HE /EPP$ F !
SA4LE4
  8,%E DID T80
  ,MICAH SC[L$4 8,Y1H40 ,HE (F]$ NO DE-
TAILS4
  8,A SCRAT*4 ,& Y %OT H] = X10 ! WOMAN
/AT$1 A4+ ) "S SATISFAC;N1 8B %E GOT
AWAY1 ANYH[40
  8,LOOK--0 ,HE DIDN'T "K :AT ! HELL %E
0 TALK+ AB4 8,LOOK1 MA'AM1 ,I A9'T PULL$
D[N ON ANYBODY4 ,IF %E'S %OT1 ,I DON'T
"K :O DID X40
  ,H] M\? "W$1 Z IF %E 0 FI<T+ ! URGE TO
>GUE4 ,F9,Y1 %E J %RU7$ & PO9T$4 8,!
HORSE IS "!4 ,TAKE X &! WOMAN & G4 ,L1VE
U AL"O40
  ,MICAH FELT AN ODD EMO;N /IR 9SIDE HM
--N EXACTLY WORRY1 N EXACTLY CON-   #ABC
SCI;E4 ,MAYBE1 BAD Z HE HAT$ GIV+ 9 6HIS
BETT] NATURE1 :AT HE FELT 0 RESPONSIBIL-
;Y4
  8,": IS %E8 ,9 YR LODGE80
  ,A %IFT (! WOMAN'S EYES GAVE HM 8 AN-
SW]4
  ,? :OLE %EBANG KEPT GETT+ M & M -PLI-
CAT$ & MY/IFY+4 ,HE WASN'T AB 6L1VE !
,PRUETT GIRL "H1 HAV+ A M]RY OLD "T )A
BUN* ( WILD ,9DIANS :ILE HE W5D$ 8 WAY
HOME ) 8 TAIL TUCK$ 2T 8 LEGS4 ,EV5 IF
HE _H RECOV]$ ! BAY4 ,%E WASN'T GETT+ (F
T LI<TLY4 ,"T %E FAC$ ! MUSIC4
  ,SUTTON %OT AN ADMIR+ GL.E AT ! HORSE1
XS BLOOD-R$ HIDE GL1M+ 9 ! DAPPL$ SUN-
LI<T4 ,DAMN1 B HE 0 A REM>KA# ANIMAL4
,WOR? ? *ASE4 ,EV5 WOR? GETT+ 8 H1D /OVE
IN4
  ,B HE 0 2G9N+ 62LIEVE HE MI<T N 2
GUNN$ D[N AF ALL1 UN.S ? BUN* 0 SN1KI]
?AN HE ?"\4 ,X 0 /RANGE ,C>OL9E _HN'T -E
\1 ?\<1 W.D$ OR N4 ,%E _HN'T /RUCK HM Z
"O :O'D ASK ANO!R 6TAKE H] PUNI%;T4
,%E'D BE5 %OT1 ! WOMAN SD4 ,MAYBE %E 0
HURT WORSE ?AN HE'D F/ FIGUR$4      #ABD
  ,HE LEVEL$ A LOOK ON ! WOMAN4 8,:AT'S
YR "N80
  8,JULIE ,LOBREE40 ,! "N DRA7$ F H]4
  ,"P ,FR5*1 J L HE'D ?"\4 8,I'M ,MICAH
,SUTTON4 ,HOPE Y DON'T M9D IF ,I 5T] YR
LODGE1 ,MRS4 ,LOBREE40 ,DIDN'T MATT] IF
%E DID4 ,HE'D 2 GO+ 9 ANYWAY4
  8,Y A9'T GO+ 6HURT H] ANY WORSE1 >E Y8
,%E'S HURT BAD 5 ALR40
  ,MICAH 0 2G9N+ 62LIEVE H]4 8,H[ BAD80
  8,X'S H] LEG4 ,%E'S LO/ M* BLOOD4
,M*40
  8,%E TALK 6Y8 ,TELL Y :O DID X80
  ,HE BET HE KNEW ": ! %OOT+ _H HAPP5$1
?\<1 : WD TELL HM :O _H D"O X IF HE W5T
BACK OV] ! TRACKS4 ,X'D 2 AB ": T D\#
TRAIL _H %[$ ,K+ WALK$ IN1 B CAME \ AT A
GALLOP4
  ,JULIE %OOK H] H1D4 8,%E _C SP1K4 ,%E
SLEEPS ! SLEEP (! DY+40
  ,X TOOK A TICK = ,MICAH 6DECIDE %E
M1NT ,C>OL9E 0 UNCONSCI\S--& 9 BAD %APE4
,WELL1 DAMN4 ,:AT IF %E UP & DI$8 ,%E CD
SUICIDE H]F IF %E WANT$ TO1 B HE DIDN'T
WANT H] DY+ ON 8 A3.T4 ,BISCUIT'D   #ABE
2 SURE 6BLAME HM4
  ,HE SC[L$4 8,GUESS ,I'D BE/ SEE IF
"!'S ANY?+ ,I C D40 ,%E'D /AY$ ) HM UN-
TIL X SEEM$ HE'D LIVE1 AF ALL4 ,HE SUP-
POS$ HE 0 OBLIGAT$ 6LOOK 9 ON H]4
  ,JULIE'S />E "Q$ 8 "RS 9 ? MATT]1 MAK+
HM HOLD 8 GR.D UNTIL %E MADE UP H] M9D
:E!R %E'D LET HM 9SIDE OR N4 ,F9,Y1 %E
TWIT*$ H] H&4
  8,MY *N & ,I H D"O :AT WE C10 %E SD4
8,Y %D SEE IF A :ITE DOCTOR C HELP4 ,Y
TAKE H]1 & TAKE ! HORSE1 & G40
  ,HE 0 2G9N+ 6FEEL D[N"R UNWELCOME4

  ,C>OL9E AWOKE SL[LY--& PROMPTLY RE-
GRETT$ WAK+ AT ALL4 ,%E 0 AW>E ( PA91 (
?IR/1 ( H1T4 ,H] BLOOD C\RS$ HOT 5 TO
BOIL1 :5 %E'D BE5 FREEZ+ ONLY MO;TS 2F4
,%E REMEMB]$ ! COLD1 ! FRO/ ON ! GR.D ":
%E'D FALL51 ! GL1M ( />S 9 ! AUTUMN SKY
2F H] EYES CLOS$4 ,%E'D BE5 LOOK+ UP AT
!M1 B T _H *ANG$4 ,"S"O _H C>RI$ H] IN-
SIDE4
  ,SURPRIS+LY1 !Y'D MOV$ H] 96AN ,9DIAN
LODGE4 ,%E RECOGNIZ$ ! SMELL (      #ABF
TANN$ ELK HIDES P]M1T$ ) WOOD SMOKE4 ,X
0 AN ODOR %E'D F.D PL1SANT YE>S AGO1 :5
%E PLAY$ )! ,SAN ,POIL *N ^: P>5TS ,GRAN
P]IODIC,Y HIR$ 6"W ON ! RAN*1 CUTT+ HAY
& S*4 ,%E / F.D X PL1SANT4
  ,=C+ H] EYELIDS A"P1 ,C>OL9E FOCUS$ ON
TEPID SUNLI<T FILT]+ "? TI<TLY /RET*$
SK9S4 ,%E CD SEE VAGUE %AD[S %E 2LIEV$ 7
! REV]SE ( SC5ES PA9T$ ON ! TIPI'S \T]
SIDES4 ,EV5 ! %AD[S PA9$ H]4
  ,H] ?I< ?RO2$1 EA* B1T ( H] HE>T C>RY+
A HELLI% FIRE "?\T H] SY/EM4 ,ALL ! WAY
96H] 9N>DS1 & !Y FELT Z ?\< !Y M/ 2
TWI/+ & SIZZL+ OV] TORTURE FIRES4
  ,%E _H ! O4E/ MO;T1 Z ?\< %E _H SPOK5
T MO/ UNLADYLIKE ( ^WS1 9N>DS1 \ L\D1 &
T ,MISS ,ELIZA ,REM>"D1 DEPORT;T 9/RUCT-
OR AT H] ,NEW ,YORK S*OOL1 _H REMON/RAT-
$1 H] LIP CURL+ 9 4DA94 ,H[ SILLY1 %E
?"\ MUZZILY4 ,T 0 YE>S & YE>S AGO4 ,X
_HN'T MATT]$ !N1 & DIDN'T MATT] N[4
  .,GLORY6 ,%E 0 S HOT4 ,S ?IR/Y4 ,%E
NE$$ WAT] 6PUT \ ! FIRES4
  8,WAT] ''' PL1SE ''' WAT]40 ,! PLEA
EM]G$ F H] DRY ?ROAT L A FROG       #ABG
SLID+ ON S&PAP]4
  ,H&S LIFT$ H]1 DESPITE H] :IMP]S AT !
JO/L+4 ,%E HE>D MEWL+ S.DS1 R1LIZ$ !Y
CAME F H] [N M\? & LOA!D ! W1K;S 9 H]F4
,WASN'T %E /R;G] ?AN ?8 ,%E'D SURVIV$ !
TWO YE>S S9CE ,GRAN DI$ )\T HELP4 ,:AT
DID %E NE$ ) ANY"O N[8
  ,%E PU%$ ! H&S AWAY1 B :OM"E !Y 2L;G$
6LIFT$1 !N HELD H] FIRMLY :ILE "S"O ELSE
DRIPP$ ! WAT] %E CRAV$ 96H] M\?4 ,H]
?ROAT MOV$1 3VULS$1 SWALL[$4 ,! >ID TIS-
SUES COOL$4 ,FEEL+ BETT]1 %E FUSS$ AT !M
6REL1SE H]4
  ,NO?+ ( 2+ L[]$ ONTO ! BU6ALO ROBE
CU%ION+ H] A*+ B"OS F ! H>D GR.D REGI/]$
ON ,C>OL9E'S 3SCI\S;S4 ,H] FACE 2+ WA%$
) COLD WAT] & H] LEG BA!D ) H]BS &A P\L-
TICE TI$ OV] A LIVID1 R$-/R1K$ BULLET
HOLE SIMIL>LY ELUD$ H]4 ,%E 0 AW>E ( H]
W.D 2+ TR1T$1 B 9 A PA9.S1 F>-(F WAY4
  ,%E HE>D1 YET DIDN'T HE> ! ,9DIAN WOM-
AN1 ,JULIE1 SAY1 8,Y TAKE C>E ( H] N[4
,Y %D WAIT 'TIL %E'S BETT] 2F Y RIDE \4
',C\RSE %E MI<T DIE4 ,I ?9K %E DON'T
LOOK GD4 ,MY FAMILY1 WE'LL G4       #ABH
,DON'T WANT MIX$ 9 NO :ITE FOLKS %OOT+40
  8,B--0 ,MICAH ,SUTTON PROTE/$4 8,I ?"\
Y'D--0
  ,JULIE OV]RODE 8 PROTE/4 8,I %[$ Y :AT
6D4 ,I'LL L1VE "S M$IC9ES40
  ,MICAH 0 / YAMM]+ :5 ! TIPI'S HIDES &
LODGE POLES CAME D[N4

















               ,*APT] #H            #ABI

  8,"L ,ALMI<TY4 ,DAMN$ 9DEP5D5T WOMAN10
,MICAH GR[L$4 ,HE'D ALW ?"\ ,9DIAN WOM5
7 MEEK & DID Z !Y 7 TOLD4 ,GUESS HE'D
F.D \ DI6]5T4 ,"H 0 "O T'D GIVE ,MISS
,C>OL9E ,PRUETT & H] GR&MA TGR A RUN =
_! M"OY4
  ,AF "S H>D B>GA9+1 ,JULIE _H SOLD HM !
BU6ALO ROBE ,C>OL9E LAY ^U = F\R-BITS4
,ADVICE1 %E MAGNANIM\SLY GAVE FREE (
*>GE4 ,HE _H A NO;N HE'D BE5 SNOOK]$4
  ,B ) T D"O1 ! ,9DIAN FAMILY BROKE
CAMP4 ,9 M9UTES1 !Y _H 4MANTL$ ! LODGE
>.D HM &! UNCONSCI\S GIRL1 ACT+ ALL !
:ILE Z IF !Y 7 9VISI#4 ,! ,9DIAN WOMAN
FOLD$ ! HIDES & C9*$ !M ONTO A SWAYBACK$
PONY4 ,ONCE ! RE/ ( _! GDS 7 LOAD$ ON A
SECOND HORSE1 !Y M.T$ UP2 ,JULIE ) H]
BABY1 ! TWO OLD] KIDS ABO>D A RUNTY CAY-
USE4 ,!Y 7 R1DY 6L1VE ALM 2F ,MICAH GOT
,/ICK] HOB#D AL;GSIDE ! /UD4
  ,! HALF-BRE$ WOMAN PAUS$ =A F9AL ^W1
PRESS+ A C\PLE ( PAP] TWI/S ( M$IC9E 9TO
8 H& ) M ADVICE4
  8,Y KEEP H] W>M10 %E SD4 8,%E     #ACJ
SAYS %E'S TOO HOT1 B T'S FEV] EAT9' AT
H]4 ,LET H] DR9K4 ,! TEA W HELP4 ,IF %E
/>TS SW1T+1 X'S A GD SIGN4 ,M1NS ! FEV]
BR1KS40
  ,%E SNI6$ "O (! PAP] TWI/S & MADE HM
SMELL X1 TOO4 ,:AT"E H]B %E 0 US+ _H AN
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REAC;N4 ,ANO!R SMELL$ FRE% & A/R+5T4 ,HE
WDN'T =GET : 0 :4
  8,Y BOIL "S ( ?10 %E SD1 %[+ HM ! /9K+
"O4 8,LET X COOL1 !N BA! H] LEG4 ,! H]BS
W DRAW \ ! POISON40
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TALK+ AB4 8,BA! H] LEG8 ,ME80
  ,JULIE'S EYEBR[ ROSE1 S HE MUTT]$1 8
FACE R$D5+1 8,I'LL D X4 ,B ,I'D DRU!R
Y'D /AY4 ,I DON'T "K NO?9' AB TAK+ C>E (
A SICK WOMAN4 ,A9'T A MAN'S JOB40
  ,%E LOOK$ D[N H] SMALL1 BLUNT NOSE AT
HM4 8,D :AT Y'D D =A W.D$ MAN4 ,A GUN%OT
IS ! SAME1 MAN OR WOMAN40
  ,H] SAY+ T _H 8 CURIOS;Y "W+ D\# "T
AG4
  8,%E TELL Y H[ %E GOT %OT80 ,SEEM$ HE
WASN'T ! ONLY "O )A GRUDGE4         #ACA
  ,3SID]+ H] REPLY1 ! ,LOBREE WOMAN
DIDN'T "K ANY M ?AN HE DID4 8,%E A9'T
TALK$ ANY4 ,NO M ?AN :AT Y HE>D4 ,Y KEEP
ON )! M$IC9E1 MAYBE %E'LL LIVE 6TELL Y40
  ,ON ? NOTE1 %E YANK$ H] PONY >.D &
KICK$ HM 96A TROT1 ! BABY B\NC+ 9 8 CRA-
DLEBO>D /RAPP$ ON H] BACK4 ,! * WAT*$
,MICAH ) UNBL9K+ D>K EYES UNTIL HE 0 LO/
9 4T.E4
  ,! "D PROV$ 6BE "O ! L;GE/ ( ,SUTTON'S
REC5T LIFE4 ,UNN]V$ 0! DUTY & *ALL5GE (
C>+ =A HURT1 HALF-NAK$ WOMAN1 HE MANAG$
6SPILL ! BOIL+ WAT] ! F/ "T HE TRI$ TO
MAKE UP ! PO;N4 ,HE B>ELY AV]T$ DR[N+ !
FIRE &1 SITT+ ON 8 HEELS 2S ! GIRL1 HE
CURS$ 8 9EPTITUDE4
  ,JULIE ,LOBREE1 ! ,"L 2 ?ANK$1 _H RE-
MOV$ ! GIRL'S TR\S]S 2F %E LEFT4 ,MICAH
WIP$ 8 SW1T+ BR[ )! BACK ( 8 H&4 ,HE
DIDN'T "K Z HE CD'VE BR"\ HMF 6T PO9T4
  ,X 0 H>D 5\<--NO1 IMPOSSI#--N 6SEE
,C>OL9E'S :ITE COTTON "UDRAW]S :1 :ILE
?9 F REP1T$ WA%+1 KEPT H] M OR LESS DE-
C5T4 ,HE 0 CURI\S Z 6! G>;T A 8GD WOMAN0
WORE 2N H] \T] LAY]S4 ,! BIT (      #ACB
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T ! GIRL'S CLO?+ 0 NO DI6]5T F ! :ORE'S
:OM HE'D VISIT$ ^U O3A.N4 ,C>OL9E'S 7
MADE (A F9] CLO?1 AL? M WORN ?AN ,LEWIS-
TON ,L\'S _H BE54 ,RU/Y BLOOD/A9S /I65$
! FABRIC HE PU%$ ASIDE F ! SEEP+ HOLE
M>R+ ! GIRL'S SLIM :ITE ?I<4 ,HE T\*$ H]
SK9 ) UTMO/ C>E1 Z R"E5T & AFRAID Z ?\<
%E 7 A =EIGN SPECIES4
  ,GETT+ ! H]BAL DECOC;N D[N H] ?ROAT
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H&L+ ! HOT CUP Z G+]LY Z A FIRE-R$D5$
BR&+ IRON4 ,! CUP T\*$ H] LIPS UNTIL %E
R\S$ & :5 %E OP5$ H] M\?1 HE P\R$ 9 !
LIQUID4
  ,! FRE%-SMELL+ H]B M/ H SATISFI$ A NE$
9 H]1 = ONCE />T$1 ! BI7] /RU7LE 0 9 RE-
MOV+ ! CUP F H] R1*4 ,MICAH B5T OV] H]1
8 *EEK AG/ H]S1 & FELT ! FEV] H1T RADI-
AT+ F H] BODY4 ,AF ! DECOC;N1 HE GAVE H]
PLA9 WAT]1 : %E DRANK 9 L A CACTUS 9 !
SPR+ RA9S1 & FOLL[$ T ) "S V5ISON BRO? !
,9DIAN WOMAN _H PREP>$ 2F %E LEFT4 ,C>O-
L9E ,PRUETT SLEPT !N1 Z UNAW>E ( HM Z (!
AIR %E BR1!D4                       #ACC

  ,9 MIDAFN1 :5 ! %AD[S AL;G ! CREEK
L5G!N$1 ,C>OL9E AWOKE1 H] LEG BURN+ &
A*+ ) 3C5TRAT$ F]OC;Y4 ,%E FELT Z DRA9$
& US$ UP Z ,MON"D'S WA% WAT]1 B>ELY /R;G
5 6PU% SW1T-DR5*$ HAIR AWAY F ": X _H
FALL5 OV] H] CLOS$ EYES4 ,! FEV]1 IF N
G"O1 _H SUBSID$1 AL;G )! 3FUS$ M$LEY (
DR1MS T :IRL$ 9 H] H1D4 ,%E CDN'T CALL
6M9D ": %E 0 OR EV51 AT F/1 ( H[ %E'D -E
6BE HURT4
  ,A"P F ! PA9 & AN OV]:ELM+ ?IR/1 ,C>O-
L9E'S F/ IMPRES.N 0 "O ( SIL;E4 ,%E'D
?"\ "! 7 ,9DIANS--A WOMAN & *N4 ,9 H]
3FU.N1 %E'D EV5 ?"\ %E'D F.D %ELT] IN-
SIDE1 B T M/ H BE5 WR;G4 ,N[ "! 0 NO "O1
& NO S5SE ( -PANION%IP4 ,& YET H] F+]S
F.D & ID5TIFI$ ! BU6ALO ROBE %E LAY ON1
S "! M/ ONCE H BE5 "S"O ) H]1 :E!R ,9DI-
AN OR N1 %E CDN'T REMEMB]4 ,A WOOL5
BLANKET 0 TUCK$ >.D H] S TI<TLY %E CD
B>ELY MOVE4 ,%E TU7$ & LIFT$ UNTIL H]
>MS CAME FREE4
  ,H] HE>T ?"U$ 9 SU45 FE>4 ,:AT IF T
MAN--,KLOSKY--_H CAU<T UP8 ,H]      #ACD
BRA9 4C>D$ ! IDEA 2F X 2CAME FULL-BL[N4
,HE'D BE5 HURT M* WORSE ?AN %E1 UNA# TO
RACE AF ANY"O4 ,AL? ''' :AT AB 8 WIFE8
,NO4 ,N H]1 EI4 ,C>OL9E D\BT$ ,MRS4
,KLOSKY 0 M* ( AN EQUE/RIAN4
  ,OV] ! RO>+ 9 H] E>S1 ,C>OL9E LI/5$4
,AT F/1 ONLY H] E>DRUMS 7 ?RUMM+1 UNTIL
%E P]CVD ! *E];L GURGLE (A RAC+ /R1M "S-
": NE>BY4 ,BIRDS SANG & TWITT]$ AM;G !
?ICK TREE BRAN*ES4 ,9SECTS HUMM$4 ,H]
HE>+ /RA9$ & %>P5$1 DETECT+ A S.D %E
ID5TIFI$ Z ! /AMP (A HORSE BATT+ AT
FLIES4
  ,K+6 ,%E _HN'T LO/ HM1 !N4 ,TOTAL IM-
POV]I%;T1 BO? ( P5NI.S;S &( _S1 /OPP$
\TSIDE H] DOOR4 ,WRY AMUSE;T DRIFT$ "?
H]4 ,A JOKE4 ,%E _H NO DOOR4
  ,A MAN'S L[ MURMUR P5ETRAT$ H] HE>+4
,H] HE>T TOOK UP ! SWELL ( T ?"U+ B1T
AG1 UNTIL H] VE9S CAME NE> 6BUR/+4
  ,:O [N$ T QUIET VOICE8 ,%E _H A FEEL+
%E'D HE>D X 2F1 & N S V L;G AGO1 EI4 ,CD
X 2 '''
  ,H] EYES FLUTT]$ OP54 ,A BLUE SKY SO>+
ABV A P1CE;L GOLD5 AFN GREET$ H]4   #ACE
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ROSE ONTO AN ELB[1 IGNOR+ ! %OOT+ PA9S 9
H] W.D$ LEG4 ,H] H1D LIFT$1 & !N DROOP$
AG ONTO H] *E/ AT SI<T (! MAN4 ,9/1D (
RAC+1 H] HE>T NE>LY /OPP$4
  ,SUTTON6 ,:AT 9 ! _W 0 HE DO+ "H8 ,H[
_H HE F.D H]8
  ,C>OL9E'S >M TREM#D & GAVE \4 ,%E
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GO+ F H] LUNGS4
  8,HELL10 %E :ISP]$1 & AL? %E KNEW !
EXCLAM,N 0 NE>LY S.D.S1 ,MICAH ,SUTTON
TURN$ & WALK$ T[>D ! PALLET ": %E LAY4
,QK Z ?"\1 %E PRESS$ H] EYELIDS %UT &
LAY /4 ,W1K1 N]V\S SW1T TRICKL$ D[N H]
SIDES4
  ,8 %AD[ DR5*$ H] 9 D>K;S & %E FELT HM
/&+ ABV H]1 BLOCK+ ! LI<T4 ,:AT 0 HE GO+
6D8 ,%OOT H]8 ,F9I% H] (F L A HORSE )A
BROK5 LEG8 ,LAY COALS F ! FIRE ON H]
LEG8 ,X FELT Z IF HE'D ALR TRI$ T4 ,H]
%ORT1 RA7$ F+]NAILS DUG HALF-CIRCLES 9 !
PALMS ( H] H&S Z %E REMA9$ MO;N.S &
WAIT$ = 8 NEXT MOVE4
  ,! SIL;E /RET*$1 GREW L;G4 ,FI-   #ACF
N,Y HE SD1 8,I "K Y'RE AWAKE1 ,MISS
,PRUETT4 ,& X'S AB DAMN$ "T1 TOO4 ,OP5
YR EYES40
  ,NO1 ,C>OL9E DECID$4 ,%E'D R J LIE "H
QUIET1 FEIGN+ SLEEP--OR D1?--UNTIL HE
LEFT4 ,HE CDN'T "K %E 0 AWAKE--CD HE8
,ANO!R SIL;E DRA7$ ON UNTIL HE YANK$ !
BLANKET F >.D H]1 LETT+ 9 A RU% ( *ILLY
AIR4 ,%E MADE A GRAB =! BLANKET1 MISS$1
&) NO O!R ALT]NATIVE1 GL>$ UP AT HM4
8,L1VE ME AL"O40
  8,SORRY1 LADY10 HE SD 9 MOCK APOLOGY4
8,I C'T D X4 ,SEEMS Y'RE HELP.S )\T ME4
,ALL AL"O \ "H1 %OT UP1 )\T TRANSPORTA-
;N40
  8,TRANSPORT,N ":80 ,H] GL.E D>T$ T[>D
,K+4
  8,6JAIL4 ,I'M TAK+ Y 96T[N & DELIV]+ Y
6! %]IFF SOON Z ,I C ?R[ A SA4LE ON MY
HORSE4 ,I MI<T H 6C>RY Y1 B Y A9'T RID+
T HORSE Y /OLE F ME40
  ,8 GR9 0 NEI A PL1SANT EXPRES.N1 NOR
AN ESPECI,Y SYMPA!TIC "O1 : SD A LOT AB
! WAY %E ?"\ HE M/ 2 FEEL+4 ,HE M1NT TO
SC>E H]--& HE DID4                  #ACG
  8,Y KEEP YR H&S (F ME4 ,I'VE GOT '''0
%E />T$1 & /OPP$ Z 8 GR9 WID5$4
  8,GOT :AT80
  8,A GUN10 %E SD1 ALM A%AM$ ( H]F = M5-
;N+ S* A ?+ SEE+ ! WAY _! LA/ 5C.T]
TURN$ \4
  8,NO1 MA'AM10 HE SD4 8,Y DON'T4 ,I
A9'T A -PLETE FOOL1 REG>D.S :AT Y MI<T
?9K1 & ,I SURE 9 HELL DON'T AIM ON GETT+
%OT TWICE 9 TWO "DS40
  ,Z IF R1D+ H] M9D1 HE COOLLY TILT$ UP
8 HAT ) 8 ?UMB UNTIL ! RAW SLA% ACR 8
SCALP 0 REV1L$1 MAK+ SURE %E GOT A GD
LOOK4 ,HE DID X DELIB]ATELY1 Z ?\< 6-P>E
! DA/>DLY DE$ %E _H P]PETRAT$ 6HIS ,GD
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F.D1 Z ,SUTTON _H SD1 H] PI/OL _H 4AP-
PE>$4
  8,": IS X80
  8,PUT UP4 ,Y GOT NO NE$ =A GUN4 ,UN.S
Y WANT 6%OOT ME ? "T = SAV+ YR LIFE4 ,B
!N1 ,I RECKON %OOT+ A MAN IS EASI] ?AN
TELL+ HM ?ANK Y40
  ,C>OL9E SC[L$4 8,IF Y _HN'T       #ACH
JUMP$ ME1 Y WDN'T H GOTT5 HURT4 ,I N"E
9T5D$ ON FIR+ ! PI/OL4 ,X W5T (F A3ID5-
T,Y :5 Y GRA2$ MY H&40
  8,Y1H10 HE SD1 GO+ OV] 6! FIRE & PUT-
T]+4 ,HE /IRR$ UP A FLAME & SET WAT] ON
6BOIL4 8,I REMEMB] HE>+ A /ORY L T40 ,HE
SQU1K$ 9 A GIRLI% VOICE HE M/ H IMAG9$
S.D$ L H]4 8,8,ALM L ,I 0 TRY+ 6SUI-
CIDE40' ,OR "S S* DAMN$ ?+40
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HE>D T1 HE'D HE>D ! O!R1 TOO4 ,AB H] C[-
>DICE4 ,H] 4MAL OP;NS =! FUTURE4 ,%E
CDN'T SP1K & HE DIDN'T UNTIL HE BR"\ OV]
A /1M+ CUP ( TEA4 8,"H10 HE SD4 8,DOC-
TOR'S ORD]S40
  ,%E REFUS$1 H] FACE TURN$ AWAY4
  8,D Y REMEMB] ! ,9DIAN WOMAN80 HE
ASK$1 LEFT HOLD+ ! HOT CUP4
  ,%E NO4$4 ,?ANK GD;S4 ,"! _H BE5 ,9DI-
ANS1 !N4 ,%E _HN'T IMAG9$ !M4 8,I WASN'T
SURE40
  8,%E--,JULIE ,LOBREE IS H] "N1 IF Y'RE
9T]E/$--SD Y %D DR9K ALL ( ? "H TEA Y C
HOLD4 ,%E SD ,I %D P\R X D[N YR GULLET
IF Y DIDN'T WANT 6DR9K40 ,HE HUN-   #ACI
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WANT 6"W ?80
  ,C>OL9E TOOK ! TEA4 8,?ANK Y10 %E SD1
HAT+ HM &! WICK$ GL9T 9 8 HAZEL EYES4 ,B
! TOR;T / WASN'T F9I%$1 H] ONLY 3SOL,N
2+ T ! RITUAL D\S+ ( H] LEG ) AN UNCOM-
=TABLY HOT H]BAL WA% BR"\ J AB Z M* R$
6HIS FACE Z 6H] [N--T'S :5 %E WASN'T
BLAN*$ ) PA94 ,%E] /U2ORN;S LET H] GET
0)\T FA9T+4
  8,": >E MY PANTS80 %E *OK$ :5 HE F9I%$
& LET H] SNUG ! BLANKET >.D H] LEGS4
,HE'D N"E GET T CLOSE 6H] AG1 %E V[$4
,N"E4 ,%E 0 AWAKE1 N[4 ,FEEL+ M* BETT]4
,%E'D DOCTOR H] [N GODDAMN$ LEG4
  ,SUTTON J]K$ 8 H1D1 %[+ ": H] R9S$
CANVAS J1NS FLAPP$ OV] A TREE BRAN*4
8,WET4 ,& !Y GOT A HOLE 9 !M40 ,HE RE-
VIV$ HMF AF ! ORD1L 0SOZZL+ FRE%LY BOIL$
C(FEE T SMELL$ A :OLE LOT M APP1L+ ?AN !
TEA HE'D =C$ ON H]4
  ,C>OL9E'S H1D TILT$4 8,BULLETS T5D TO
P5ETRATE CLO? Q EASILY40
  ,8 LIPS TWIT*$4 8,N BAD AT PUN*+ HOLES
9 P EI4 ,Y R1DY 6SAY H[ Y GOT       #ADJ
%OT8 ,-E YE/]"D AFN ,I TOOK UP YR TRAIL4
,FOLL[$ Y "H F ,DOON'S ,SPR+1 B DANG$ IF
,I SAW ! PLACE ": Y 7 AMBU%$40
  ,C>OL9E PLUCK$ AT ! BU6ALO ROBE1 :1 %E
4COV]$1 0 OLD & %$D+4 ,AN ]RANT ZEPHYR
WAFT$ CAMPFIRE SMOKE H] WAY1 MAK+ H] C\<
& DELAY+ AN ANSW]4 ,%E DIDN'T WANT 6RE-
MEMB]4
  8,I WASN'T AMBU%$10 %E SD1 AT LA/4 8,N
EXACTLY40
  ,SUTTON WAIT$1 8 SIL;E URG+ H] ON4
  8,X 0 LATE LA/ NI<T10 %E SD4 8,D>K &
COLD4 ,I 0 AW;LLY HUNGRY40 ,& OH1 H[ %E
HAT$ ADMITT+ T 6,MICAH ,SUTTON4 8,ANY-
WAY1 ,I SPI$ LI<TS F A CAB9 A LL WAY (F
! MA9 TRAIL & DECID$ ,I'D SEE IF ,I CD
%ELT] 9 _! B>N4 ,?"\ MAYBE IF ,I GOT
LUCKY1 !Y'D ASK IF ,I'D L A BITE 6EAT4
,GRAN ALW DID1 2F--0 ,%E /OPP$1 REMEMB]-
+4
  ,SUTTON /IRR$1 />+ UP AT ! CL\D.S SKY4
8,? CAB9 WD 2 AT T CUT AB A MILE 2F !
ROAD TURNS NOR? UP ! VALLEY80
  8,YES40 ,%E EY$ HM 9 SURPRISE4 8,H[
DID Y "K80                          #ADA
  8,LEFT "S SIGN10 HE SD1 )\T EXPLA9+
FUR!R4 8,:AT HAPP5$80
  ,H] ?9 FACE TWI/$4 8,I W5T BACK 62HAV+
L A BOY1 ?9K+ ,I'D 2 SAF]4 ,& AT F/ ,I
?"\ ! ACT 0 GO+ 6"W4 ,! P :O LIV$ "! 7 A
LL /RANGE4 ,! MAN KEPT 8 RIFLE 9 8 H&
ALL ! "T1 PLAY+ ) X L X 0 A TOY1 B !
WOMAN SEEM$ FRLY4 ,%E CALL$ ME SWEET "NS
& KEPT URG+ ME 6/AY ! NI<T4 ,B !N ,I NO-
TIC$ H] EYES 7 COLD & %E SMELL$ BAD4 ,H]
COOK+ 0 AW;L &! H\SE 0 DIRTY4 ,I DON'T
"K4 ,"! 0 "S?+ UTT]LY FALSE & UGLY AB !M
BO?40
  8,2+ A BAD H\SEWIFE DON'T NECESS>ILY
M1N A WOMAN IS A BAD P]SON10 ,MICAH SD4
  8,I "K X DOESN'T40 ,C>OL9E DIGE/$ 8
IMPLI$ REBUKE4 8,B !Y _H ? POOR HALF-
/>V$ DOG4 ,& ,I CDN'T HELP NOTIC+ ! WAY
! MAN1 ,MR4 ,KLOSKY1 EY$ ,K+4 ,OR ! WAY
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MY FAMILY WAS1 & 0 ,I ALL AL"O 9 ! _W4
,!Y J /RUCK ME ALL WR;G4 ,I GOT SPOOK$1
?9K+ !Y M1NT ME "S H>M4 ,S1 ,SUTTON1 ,I
LI$ 6!M40
  8,F1TURE T10 ,SUTTON MUTT]$1 B    #ADB
,C>OL9E1 2+ CAU<T UP 9 H] /ORY1 PD HM NO
M9D4
  8,I TOLD ! BI7E/ :OPP] AB AN ORPHAN$
C\S9 & AB H[ WE'D 2 TRAIL+ LIVE/OCK BACK
? WAY4 ,I 0 HOP+ !Y'D ?9K TWICE AB AT-
TACK+ ME "R !N & "!4 ,K9D ( SAVE ME =
LAT]1 IF Y SEE :AT ,I M1N4 ,& AT F/ !Y
SEEM$ 3V9C$ 0! /ORY40
  8,AT F/8 ,S.DS L Y M/ 2 A BETT] HORSE
?IEF ?AN Y >E AN ACTRESS40 ,/>+ (F 9TO
SPACE1 ,MICAH %IFT$ 8 WEI<T ONTO 8 O!R
LEG4
  8,MR4 ,KLOSKY L$ ,K+ (F 6! B>N :ILE ,I
ATE10 ,C>OL9E 3T9U$1 FEEL+ SCOR*$ 0HIS
REM>K4 8,B S9CE ,I DIDN'T TRU/ HM1 ,I
DECID$ ,I'D G *ECK IF ,K+ 0 SAFE 2F ,I
SLEPT4 ,MRS4 ,KLOSKY _H 9SI/$ ON FIX+ A
PALLET = ME 9SIDE ! CAB94 ,TR\# IS1 :ILE
,I 0 9 ! B>N1 ,MR4 ,KLOSKY SN1K$ UP ON
ME & 4COV]$ ,I'M N A BOY4 ,HE '''0 ,%E
DIDN'T "K :AT 6SAY NEXT1 S %E RU%$ ! RE/
(! TALE4
  8,ANYWAY1 HE TOOK AF ME1 B ,K+ & ,I H
A GAME WE PLAY4 ,I'VE TRA9$ HM S A HI<-
PIT*$1 TWO NOTE :I/LE1 W MAKE HM    #ADC
KICK ) 8 BACK FEET4 ,I SORT ( 5C\RAG$ HM
& =TUNATELY = ME1 HE FELT L PLAY+ !
GAME4 ,HE :ACK$ ,MR4 ,KLOSKY A GD "O AT
J ! "R M9UTE4 ,BROKE ,KLOSKY'S >M4 ,UN=-
TUNATELY1 ,KLOSKY'S RIFLE 0 PO9T+ AT ME
AT ! "T4 ,X W5T (F & ''' & ''' T'S X40
  ,"! %E W5T4 ,TRY+ 6IMPROVE H] ACT+
SKILLS & PRET5D TALK+ AB ! ,KLOSKY'S
DIDN'T SC>E H] ALL OV] AG4 ,C>OL9E CDN'T
3TA9 AN ALL TOO OBVI\S %U4]4
  ,%E DIDN'T "K :AT RESPONSE %E EXPECT$
F ,SUTTON1 B X SURE WASN'T HM SU45LY
LUNG+ 6HIS FEET & GRA2+ UP ! C>B9E HE'D
PROPP$ AG/ ! TRUNK (A NE>BY TREE4 ,8
GL.E SWEPT ! CLE>+1 GO+ OV] ! HORSES ":
,K+ &! GRAY GELD+ _H BO? LEFT (F *EW+ &
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PRICK$4 ,8 9T5T GAZE FOLL[$ _!S4
  8,:AT IS X80 ,C>OL9E1 LY+ FLAT ON H]
BACK1 CDN'T SEE :AT"E _H AL>M$ ,SUTTON4
8,IS "S"O -+8 ,IS X ,KLOSKY80 ,KLOSKY
OBSESS$ H]4
  8,GRE5LEI<10 ,SUTTON SD "? TI<T LIPS4
  8,GRE5LEI<80 %E E*O$1 NOTIC+ ! WAY
,MICAH BL5D$ )! =E/ %RU2]Y ! MO;T   #ADD
HE /EPP$ 96! %AD[$ "UBRU%4 ,%E TURN$ TO
WAT* HM4 8,Y M1N T CATTLEMAN F ! POK]
GAME8 ,S :AT80
  8,%H10 ,SUTTON SD4 8,Y1H4 ,HM4 ,N[
DON'T TALK4 ,& DON'T LOOK OV] AT ME :5
HE -ES40
  ,S9CE HE _H ALR MOV$ >.D 2H ,C>OL9E &
%E CDN'T /RET* F> 5 6SEE HM )\T TWI/+ H]
H1D HALF (F1 %E DIDN'T H M* TR\# FOLL[+
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LEI< MADE ,SUTTON WANT 6DUCK & HIDE4
,KLOSKY 0 ! "O A P]SON _H 6WAT* \ =--
WASN'T HE8
  ,WORN \ & W1K1 %E LO/ TRACK ( "T4 ,%E
MAY H SLEPT =A MO;T2 AT L1/ H] EYES
CLOS$ &! _W FAD$4 ,NEXT ?+ %E KNEW1
,GRE5LEI< 0 LOOK+ D[N ON H] F ! BACK (A
SORREL M>E &1 GO+ 0HIS EXPRES.N1 HE
WASN'T PL1S$ 6SEE H]4 ,%E DIDN'T D>E
HOPE 8 4PL1SURE /EMM$ F A S5SE ( SYMPA?Y
= H] DILEMMA4 ,OR T HE 0 GO+ 6HELP H] &
,K+ ESCAPE F ,SUTTON4 ,6! 3TR>Y4
  8,WELL10 HE DRAWL$4 8,LOOKEE :AT ,I
F.D4 ,A PRETTY LAD8 ,OR IS X A TOMBOY
GIRL80                              #ADE
  ,SEE+ H] LOOS5$ HAIR 0 FL[+ >.D H]
FACE & D[N H] %\LD]S1 & 2C )\T ! 5VELOP+
COAT %E DIDN'T LOOK O!R ?AN :AT %E WAS1
%E ?"\ ? M/ 2 A RHETORICAL "Q4 ,& %E
DIDN'T L 8 T"O4
  8,I DON'T SEE :AT DI6];E X MAKES 6Y10
%E SD1 TRY+ 6KEEP H] -POSURE 9TACT4 ,%E
%IFT$ 2N ! ?9 BLANKET1 ?9K+ %E 0 9 ! MO/
VULN]A# POSI;N IMAG9A# 6MEET A MAN :O
TALK$ L AN 5EMY4
  ,! CORN]S ( ,GRE5LEI<'S M\? CR1S$ AN
IMIT,N SMILE ACR 8 HAT*ET FACE4 8,LET ME
GET ? /RAI<T10 HE SD4 8,NI<T 2F LA/ Y
LO/ A BAY /ALLION 6"O LUCKY C[BOY 9 A
POK] GAME4 ,YE/]"D ,I WAT*$ T SELFSAME
C[BOY RIDE \ ( T[N ON ! BAY1 !N A LL
LAT]1 RIDE BACK 9 ON A DI6]5T HORSE4
,ONLY N[ HE LOOKS L HE'S BE5 9 A CAT
FI<T4 ,S "H WE >E1 & ,I 4COV] ! BAY IS 9
YR POSSES.N AG4 ,S* %IFTY DO+S TELL ME
"O ?+4 ,I'VE EI CAU<T ME A HORSE RU/L]1
OR ,I'VE HAPP5$ ON A C>D *1T S*EME G"O
WR;G4 ,EI WAY1 GUESS ,I'LL 2 TAK+ T
HORSE AL;G ) ME :5 ,I L1VE40
  8,Y C L1VE "R N[1 ONLY Y'LL G     #ADF
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,SUTTON & ME DOESN'T 3C]N Y40
  ,A/ONI%;T BUZZ$ 9 H] H1D4 ,:AT MADE HM
?9K HE _H ! "R 6RIDE R\<%OD OV] H]8 ,OR
OV] ,SUTTON1 = T MATT]8 ,DIDN'T HE SEE
,SUTTON'S GRAY HOB#D AL;GSIDE ,K+8 ,B :5
%E %IFT$ 5 =A LOOK1 ! GRAY 0 G"O1 J L
,SUTTON4 ,_S$ AWAY )\T H] K4
  ,": 0 ,SUTTON8 ,C>OL9E FELT 4APPO9T;T
TWI/+ 9SIDE H]4 ,0 HE AFRAID ( ? MAN8
,%E'D SE5 NO SIGN ( X DUR+ ! POK] GAME1
B "! 0 NO D5Y+ HE'D DROPP$ \ ( SI<T R
?AN MEET ,GRE5LEI<4 ,OR T HE'D TAK5 8
GRAY ) HM4
  ,"S?+ ELSE 0 WR;G4 ,GRE5LEI< %[$ NO
CURIOS;Y OV] :Y %E 0 LY+ 2S A CAMPFIRE1
N ONLY AL"O 9 ! MI4LE (! WILD];S1 B 9 !
MI4LE (! "D4 ,HE DIDN'T ASK IF %E 0
SICK1 OR HURT1 OR NE$$ HELP4 ,HE %D H4
,T M/ M1N HE ALR KNEW ! /ORY--& DIDN'T
GIVE A RAT'S 2H :E!R %E LIV$ OR DI$4 ,)A
S9K+ HE>T1 %E KNEW "! 0 ONLY "O PLACE HE
CD H LE>N$ ! /ORY4 ,GRE5LEI< _H F.D !
,KLOSKY PLACE1 TOO4
  ,! CATTLEMAN GR9N$ SLI<TLY &      #ADG
RE9$ 8 SORREL CLOS]1 HOLD+ X ON A TI<T
RE9 AT ! SAME "T HE DUG ) 8 SPURS4
,SW1T+1 ! HORSE D.ED 9 PLACE4 8,DON'T
?9K Y'RE 9 ANY %APE 6/OP ME F DO+ :AT"E
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SD Y DROPP$ 9 LA/ NI<T4 ,SD Y ABUS$ _!
HOSPITAL;Y & :5 !Y F9,Y FIGUR$ Y =A
HORSE ?IEF1 Y BA%$ ! MI/] )A TWO-BY-F\R
& GOT AWAY4 ,SD Y'RE M>K$1 ?\<4 ,SD Y
TOOK A BULLET40 ,HE LAU<$ OP5LY4 8,T S.D
AB "R80
  8,: "P80 ,C>OL9E CURS$ ,MICAH ,SUTTON
= TAK+ H] SIX-%OOT] & L1V+ H] HELP.S AG/
? MAN4 ,%E'D ?"\ ,GRE5LEI< ONLY D\R &
CRANKY AT ! C>D GAME4 ,N[ HE SMIL$ & %E
0 AFRAID ( HM4
  8,ANY "P4 ,! MO/ IMPORTANT "O 2+ T ,I
C D :AT"E ,I WANT40 ,HE RAK$ ! SORREL'S
FLANKS & X JUMP$ SIDEWAYS4 ,! HORSE DID
XS DAMN$E/ 6AVOID /EPP+ ON H]1 & MO/LY
DID AT ! CO/ (A TORN M\?1 B ONLY 2C DE-
SPITE ! AGONY 9 H] 9JUR$ ?I<1 %E MANAG$
6SKITT] \ (! WAY4
  8,:AT >E Y DO+80 %E YELP$4 ,ROLL+ 2N !
"PIAL %ELT] (A N9EB>K BU%1 %E       #ADH
GASP$ Z SE>+ PA9 BURN$ ! 5TIRE L5G? ( H]
LEG4 8,>E Y CRAZY8 ,IS "EY"O 9 ? C.TRY
CRAZY80
  ,GRE5LEI< TOOK A H&GUN \ F "U 8 COAT4
8,OH1 ,I WDN'T SAY CRAZY10 HE SD4 8,ONLY
C.TS Z CRAZY IF--0
  8,HOLD X1 ,GRE5LEI<40 ,SUTTON'S CALL1
-+ AT LA/1 C>RI$ ACR ! CLE>+4 8,T'S 5\<4
,PUT ! GUN AWAY40
  ,GRE5LEI< :EEL$ ! SORREL 9 A TI<T SP91
& Z HE -PLET$ ! CIRCLE1 SNAPP$ A R.D 9
,SUTTON'S DIREC;N4












               ,*APT] #I            #ADI

  ,GRE5LEI<'S F/ SLUG SANG OV] ! TOP (
,SUTTON'S H1D4 ,! SECOND PL[$ 96! TRUNK
(A FIR TREE SIX 9*ES F 8 FACE4 ,B>K PEP-
P]$ 8 *EEK H>D 5 X DREW BLOOD4 ,HE DODG$
SIDEWAYS 2H A L>G] TREE1 RAT*ET$ A %ELL
96HIS C>B9E & TOOK AIM4 8,HOLD X10 HE
YELL$ AG4
  ,GRE5LEI< TOOK NOTICE AT LA/1 PULL+ 8
?IRD %OT AT ! LA/ SECOND4
  ,MICAH SUSPECT$ ! CATTLEMAN HELD BACK
2C ONLY 8 SORREL TOOK F"R1 JI7+ & CR[-
HOPP+ Z %OTS BANG$ OV] XS H1D4 ,=TUNATE
= HM1 ,MICAH SUPPOS$1 Z X SPOIL$ ,GRE5-
LEI<'S *.E ( HITT+ ANY T>GET EXCEPT AIR4
  8,I'LL 2 DAMN$ IF X A9'T ! C[BOY40
,GRE5LEI< TOOK ON A NEW NOTE ONCE HE GOT
! HORSE "U 3TROL1 2HAV+ Z IF HE J N[
RECOGNIZ$ ! "Y] MAN4 8,I'M GLAD 6SEE
Y'RE ALIVE1 ,SUTTON4 ,I FIGUR$ = C]TA9 Y
0 D1D ? "T40
  8,:AT D Y M1N1 ? "T80 ,! B>REL ( ,MI-
CAH'S C>B9E WAV]$4 8,AL?1 Z Y C SEE1 ,I
A9'T40 ,HE WAIT$ UNTIL ,GRE5LEI< REL1S$
! HAMM] ON 8 PI/OL & /UCK ! GUN     #AEJ
9SIDE 8 COAT 2F HE /EPP$ F COV]4
  8,WAS ?9K9' ? "H HORSE ?IEF _H F9I%$ Y
(F L %E />T$40 ,GRE5LEI<'S ?UMB J]K$1
9DICAT+ ! GIRL IMP]FECTLY HI45 & %IV]+
"U ! BU%4 8,%E SURE 9 HELL DIDN'T BALK
N"O AT ASSAULT+ A POOR OLD MAN4 ,%E'S A
REGUL> DESP]ADO40
  8,ASSAULT10 ,C>OL9E CRI$1 POK+ \ F "U
COV]4 8,I N"E--0 ,2F %E CD DEF5D H]F
FUR!R1 ,MICAH QUIET$ H] )A %AKE ( 8 H1D4
  8,GUESS ,I DON'T "K :AT Y M1N1 ,8F9I%$
ME (F0'10 HE SD1 9T]RUPT+ ! 2G9N+S ( H]
TIRADE4
  8,HELL1 MAN1 ,I "K %E %OT Y YE/]"D4 ,I
D\BT %E'D CRY TOO M* OV] DO+ X TWICE40
  ,MICAH SAW ,C>OL9E'S M\? OP5 = ANO!R
\TBUR/4 ,HE SPOKE F/4 8,:AT MAKES Y ?9K
! GIRL %OT ME8 ,H['D Y EV5 "K ,I'D BE5
%OT80 ,! SUSPICION GR[+ 9 8 M9D TOOK
ROOT4
  ,GRE5LEI< PAUS$1 FI4L+ ) 8 RE9S Z ?\<
! SORREL NE$$ ATT5;N4 8,C'T REMEMB] :O
TOLD ME1 "R (F4 ,"SBODY 9 T[N YE/]"D SAW
Y & M5;N$ X4 ,I FIGURE Y DIDN'T SAY NO?+
6! %]IFF1 ELSE HE'D BE5 \ "H        #AEA
LOOK+ = H]1 TOO4 ,HELL1 MAN4 ,I'M SORRY
Z ,I C 2 AB FIR+ ^? %OTS4 ,DIDN'T "K X 0
Y4 ,?"\ %E MI<T H AN A3OMPLICE40
  ,GRE5LEI<'S APOLOGY S.D$ S9C]E1 AL? 9
,MICAH'S OP9ION1 ?REE %OTS SEEM$ EXCES-
SIVE 2F RECOGNI;N SET IN4 ,B X 0 A LIKE-
LY EXCUSE4 ,& IF "!'D BE5 ANY"O 9 T[N
EXCEPT ,BISCUIT :O'D SE5 ,MICAH RIDE 9
YE/]"D1 ,MICAH MI<T'VE B"\ ! /ORY1 TAK+
,GRE5LEI< AT 8 ^W4 ,! ?+ IS1 ,MICAH _H
TAK5 C>E NO "O B ,BISCUIT DID SEE HM1 &
S9CE ! OLD MAN _H AGRE$ 6TAKE 8 PAY =!
W9T]1 X FIGUR$ BR& LOYALTY WD KEEP HM F
M\?+ (F 6ANY"O ELSE4 ,2 DAMAG+ 6! WRAN-
GL]'S REPUT,N IF ! :OLE T[N KNEW ! GIRL
_H GOTT5 ! BE/ ( 8 BOSS4
  ,B "! _H BE5 T FIGURE HE'D SE5 AF HE 0
%OT4 ,HE REMEMB]$ WOND]+1 RID] OR A
MOOSE8 ,HE GUESS$ X _HN'T BE5 A MOOSE4
  8,:AT DID Y 9T5D ON DO+ :5 Y CAU<T UP
)! GIRL80 ,MICAH TOOK A C\PLE ( SL[ /EPS
T[>D ,GRE5LEI<1 !N A C\PLE M4 8,Y 7
PLANN9' ON RETURN+ T /ALLION 6ME1 W]5'T
Y80 ,HE ALL[$ 5 D\BT 6CREEP 96HIS T"O TO
GIVE ! O!R MAN PAUSE4               #AEB
  8,:Y1 C]TA9LY10 ,GRE5LEI< SD1 L HE 0
ON ! V]GE ( TAK+ (F5SE4 8,Y WON HM FAIR
& SQU>E--HE'S YRS4 ,I A9'T D5Y+ T4 ,I 0
J \ 6CAT* ME A RU/L]1 IS ALL4 ,LET RUS-
TL]S GET />T$ 9 A C.TRY & U H"O/ FELL]S
W 2 CL1N$ \ 9 A S1SON OR TWO40
  8,EASY 5 6RUN A HORSE OV] 6! ,CANADIAN
SIDE10 ,MICAH 3C$$4
  8,I--0 ,C>OL9E />T$1 B ,MICAH SNAPP$1
8,Y 2 QUIET1 MISS4 ,Y'RE COV]9' "S MI<TY
SLIPP]Y GR.D Z X IS40
  ,GRE5LEI< GR9N$ 8 %>K'S GR91 & SD EAS-
ILY1 8,WELL1 ,I RECKON Y GOT ? SITU,N "U
3TROL4 ,I EXPECT Y C TURN H] OV] 6! %]-
IFF )\T MY HELP4 ,Y MI<T WANT 6KEEP YR
EYES PEEL$1 ?\<4 ,DON'T LET H] PLUG Y 9
! BACK :5 Y'RE N LOOK+40 ,"S GL9T 9 !
MAN'S EYE TOLD ,MICAH T ,GRE5LEI< AMUS$
HMF NO 5D 9 VOIC+ ? W>N+4 ,0 X A W>N+1
HE WOND]$1 OR A ?R1T8
  8,?ANKS =! ADVICE40 ,MICAH _H F9I%$
$G+ ACR ! CLE>+4 ,HE WALK$ UP ON ! SOR-
REL'S "R SIDE & TOOK HOLD (! RE9S AT !
BIT4 ,GRE5LEI< 0 LEFT-H&$1 & HE'D HI45 !
GUN "U ! LEFT SIDE ( 8 COAT4 ,MI-   #AEC
CAH 0 3FID5T HE CD BR+ 8 C>B9E 6BE> 2F
,GRE5LEI< CD DRAW 8 PI/OL1 _H ! MAN A
:IM 6D S* A ?+4
  ,WRYLY1 ,GRE5LEI< PURS$ 8 M\? 2N 8
DROOP+ H&LEB> MU/A*E4 8,Y _H BE/ 2W>E1
C[BOY4 ,I DON'T ?9K Y'RE TAK+ ME S]I\S1
B :AT'S 6SAY ? GIRL ISN'T 9 CAHOOTS )!
GANG ( RU/L]S BE5 /1L+ ME &! RE/ (! CAT-
TLEMAN >.D ,L9COLN BL80
  8,L9COLN80 ,MICAH SD1 EAS+ 8 C>B9E UN-
TIL X PO9T$ AT ! GR.D4 ,HE TRI$ 6KEEP
ANY "PICUL> 9FLEC;N F S.D+4 8,I'M SUR-
PRIS$ Y'D /RAY ? F> (F YR HOME RANGE1
,GRE5LEI<1 IF Y GOT TR\# ) RU/L]S40
  8,"SBODY /OLE A GD CUTT+ HORSE F ME A
WEEK AGO4 ,I'M "H TRY+ 6F9D X40
  8,:AT MAKES Y ?9K X'S 9 ? NECK (!
WOODS80
  ,GRE5LEI< %RU7$4 8,SEEMS LOGICAL !
RU/L]S WD H1D NOR? OV] ! BORD]4 ,ANYH[1
,I GUESS "!'S NO LAW T SAYS ,I C'T G ":
,I WANT1 'SPECI,Y :5 ,I'M ON AN \TLAW'S
TRAIL4 ,I GOT ^W ! O!R "D "!'S AN OLD
BOY BE5 SE5 9 ^! "PS1 RID+ MY HORSE >.D
BOLD Z IF HE [N$ X40                #AED
  8,:AT DOES ? /OL5 HORSE LOOK L80 ,C>O-
L9E'S "Q1 LAC$ ) D\BT1 />TL$ ,SUTTON1
:O'D =GOTT5 H] =! MO;T4 ,X BROKE 8 3C5-
TR,N1 TOO1 S ! "Q ( :Y ,GRE5LEI< DIDN'T
L1VE *AS+ \TLAWS 6! %]IFF W5T 0! WAY-
SIDE4
  ,GRE5LEI<'S GAZE LEVEL$ ON H]4 8,I
D\BT T MATT]S 6Y1 LL LADY40
  8,DOES 6ME10 ,MICAH ?REW IN4 8,I'D 2
R1L 9T]E/$40
  ,GRE5LEI< /UDI$ HM =A MO;T4 8,%E DON'T
LOOK L M*10 HE SD SL[LY4 8,J A DUN M>E4
,AV]AGE SIZE1 AV]AGE LOOK+4 ,GOT :ITE
/OCK+S ON BO? H9D FEET & AN OLD ;,S ,B>
BR& ON H] HIP4 ,B %E 2L;GS 6ME & ,I WANT
H] BACK40 ,! SORREL HE 0 RID+ %OOK XS
H1D1 FOAM FLICK+ F >.D ! BIT4
  8,I'LL WAT* = H]40 ,MICAH'S ^WS 9VIT$
,GRE5LEI< 6MOVE ON & TAKE UP 8 [N HUNT4
  ,GRE5LEI< M/ H GUESS$ 8 WELCOME _H AB
WORN \4 ,8 SPURS DUG &! SORREL JUMP$1
TE>+ ! RE9S F ,SUTTON'S H&4 ,CLODS (
DIRT FLEW F ! M>E'S HOOVES 9 ! SU45
LUNGE4 8,Y D T10 ! CATTLEMAN SD1 & GAVE
! SORREL XS H1D4                    #AEE

  8,I WI% Y'D %OT T MAN1 ,SUTTON4 ,HE
TRI$ 6KILL Y1 HE SC>ES ME SPIT.S1 & HE'S
CRUEL 6HIS HORSE4 ,:AT'S M1 HE'S A LI>40
,C>OL9E'S VOICE %OOK Z %E "W$ H]F \ F "U
! %>P BRAN*ES CLAW+ AT H] HAIR4 ,FIRE
3SUM$ H] LEG2 H] DRAW]S BORE FRE% R$
/A9S1 : %E DID H] BE/ 6HIDE4 ,%E H>DLY
KNEW :Y %E DIDN'T SIMPLY CURL UP & DIE1
EXCEPT T "S /U2ORN /R1K KEPT H] GO+4
  ,MICAH DIDN'T ANSW] UNTIL ,GRE5LEI< 0
\ ( SI<T4 ,:5 ! CATTLEMAN _H CLE>$ !
B5D1 HE PUT ! C>B9E ASIDE & WALK$ OV] TO
LIFT ASIDE ! LA/ BRAN*ES1 ALL[+ H] 6F9,Y
ESCAPE _! CLUT*4 8,C'T SAY Z ,I C>E = HM
MYF10 HE SD4 8,& ,I C'T HELP WOND]+ : "P
HE 0 LY+ AB--& :Y80
  8,Y M1N Y AGREE ) ME80 ,C>OL9E CDN'T
2LIEVE H] E>S4
  8,DON'T C.T ON X 2COM+ A HABIT40 ,:5
%E 0 CLE> ( TWIGS1 ,MICAH B5T & PICK$ H]
UP Z IF HE 7 H&L+ A SACK ( FE$ GRA94 ,IF
HE'D _H 6WALK M ?AN ! ?REE OR F\R /EPS
6H] PALLET 0! FIRE1 HE'D PROBABLY EV5 H
?R[N H] OV] 8 %\LD]4 ,Z X WAS1 HE   #AEF
HELD H] AT >MS L5G? & QKLY PUT H] D[N4
,HE KNELT 0! FIRE & POK$ X UP 2F /ACK+
ANO!R *UNK ( WOOD ON ! COALS & HANG+ A
KETTLE ( WAT] OV] ! FLAMES4
  ,C>OL9E LAY RIGID ON H] PALLET1 C.T+ 9
H] H1D Z SL[ SECONDS PASS$ &A W1K SPI-
RAL+ BLACK;S SETTL$4 ,AF A FEW MO;TS1 %E
SD1 8,GRE5LEI< 0 LY+ AB 8 /OL5 HORSE4 ,M
?AN T1 B ! HORSE1 F/ ( ALL40
  ,MICAH TILT$ 8 H1D4 8,IF "! IS A /OL5
HORSE4 ,2SS M9E1 T IS40 ,HE TOSS$ A H&;L
( ,JULIE'S H]BS1 ! /9K+ "OS1 96! KETTLE4
  ,HE J _H 6KEEP RU2+ X IN1 ,C>OL9E ?"\
RES5T;LLY4 8,LOOK10 %E SD4 8,I'M SORRY =
? MIX UP1 ,SUTTON4 ,I TRULY AM4 ,! NI<T
2F LA/1 :5 ,I BET ,K+ & LO/ HM ''' WELL
''' X 0 A BAD "T = ME4 ,I _HN'T EAT5 9
TWO "DS4 ,I 0 SC>$ & TIR$ ALM 6D1?4 ,N
6:ITTLE TOO F9E (A PO9T1 ,I'D -E 6! 5D (
! L9E4 ,I GAVE UP & US$ POOR JUDG;T4 ,:5
,I WALK$ AWAY F ,K+1 ,I FULLY 9T5D$--0
,%E /OPP$1 UNA# 6TELL HM :AT %E'D 9T5D$
6D4 ,T _H BE5 2F %E OV]HE>D HM & ,BIS-
CUIT ,M>T9 TALK+ AB H] & ,GRAN &!
,PRUETT BRE$+ PROGRAM4 ,& GOTT5     #AEG
MAD4
  8,I SUPPOSE :AT Y'RE TRY+ 6SAY IS Y
WANT ! HORSE BACK40
  ,%E DIDN'T L 8 EXPRES.N OR ! LOOK HE
LEVEL$ AT H]1 B %E NO4$ ANYWAY1 PRET5D+
HE _HN'T ALR REPOSSESS$ ! /UD4 8,EXACT-
LY4 ,IF ,I'D _H J FIVE M DOLL>S1 T NI<T1
,I CD H COV]$ ! BET4 ,I'LL 2 HAPPY 6PAY
Y ! FIVE DOLL>S1 N[4 ,PAY Y T5 OR FIFTE5
OR EV5 FIFTY1 IF Y WANT40
  8,": >E Y GO+ 6GET ! M"OY80 ,HE /OOD
UP & EY$ H] L %E 0 S M* DIRT4 8,?"\ Y SD
Y 7 BROKE4 ,Y PLANN+ ON RO2+ A BANK8 ,OR
:AT80 ,HE LET ! "Q DIE4
  ,C>OL9E W5T HOT ALL OV]4 8,I DON'T "K
": ,I'LL GET X10 %E SD1 H] VOICE RIS+4
8,B ,I PROMISE ,I'LL PAY Y "SH[4 ,MAYBE
,I .W ROB A BANK40
  ,MICAH SNORT$4 8,LADY1 Y'RE N H>DLY
:AT A P]SON WD CALL H"O/1 >E Y80
  8,I'VE N"E D"O ANY?+ L ? 2F 9 MY LIFE4
,TAK+ ,K+1 ,I M1N4 ,Y "K ,I DIDN'T M1N
6%OOT Y40
  8,I "K T1 D ,I80 ,MICAH'S T"O LEFT "S
D\BT4 8,I "K Y DON'T WANT 6ADMIT    #AEH
Y'RE A ?IEF40
  8,H[ C ,I 2 A ?IEF80 %E ASK$1 *OK+4
8,K+ IS MY [N HORSE4 ,I'VE RAIS$ HM F A
COLT40 ,OH1 HELL6 ,H] ?ROAT 0 GETT+ ALL
CLO7$ UP4 ,Z IF ! SITU,N WASN'T BAD 5
ALR1 N[ %E 0 GETT+ R1DY 6BAWL4 ,& !N :AT
WD ,MI/] ,MICAH ,SUTTON ?9K8 ,HE'D PROB-
ABLY LAU< & %E CDN'T /& T4
  ,SUTTON TURN$ & WAT*$ ,K+ L;G 5 = H]
6RECOV] H] -POSURE4
  8,Y CD PROBABLY H MADE A FEW DOLL>S
RAC+ HM10 HE SD4 8,5\< 6KEEP Y GO+ A
:ILE4 ,:Y DIDN'T Y D T 9/1D ( BETT+ HM 9
A C>D GAME8 ,IF Y'RE GO+ 6BET1 BET ON !
DAMN HORSE4 ,BRE$+ L HIS1 Y "\ N"E 6LOSE
A RACE40
  8,"!'S A R1SON ,I C'T D T10 %E SD4
  8,:AT R1SON80
  ,%E WI%$ HE'D J LET X DROP4 8,I'M '''0
%E 2GAN1 !N />T$ OV]4 8,I DON'T BR+ \ !
BE/ 9 A HORSE :5 X -ES 6RAC+4 ,I'M N '''
N -PETITIVE40
  ,%E CD ALM SEE ! :EELS TURN+ 9 8 H1D4
  8,N -PETITIVE1 EH8 ,N[ ,I WOND] '''0
,8 EXPRES.N S(T5$ A T\*4 8,Y CD H   #AEI
F.D "W1 ,MISS ,PRUETT4 ,I "K CA% M"OY IS
H>D -E BY1 B "! M/ 2 A PAY+ JOB Y C D
T'S H"O/40 ,HE KICK$ A *UNK ( WOOD BACK
96! FIRE4
  ,YES4 ,H"O/1 IF N RESPECTA#4 ,& %E
KNEW :AT "O ( ^? JOBS WAS4 ,_H EV5 ?"\
%E CD D X--UNTIL %E RAN 96,H]B ,KLOSKY4
  8,N Z A FEMALE1 "! ISN'T10 %E SD4
8,ESPECI,Y "O )A HORSE 6KEEP4 ,I TRI$4
,:Y D Y ?9K ,I'M DRESS$ L A BOY80 ,%E
ANSW]$ H] [N "Q4 8,2C ,I'M N V GD AT FE-
MALE O3UP,NS--MAK+ B$S & COOK+ M1LS &
S*4 ,T'S :Y ! ONLY "W ,I F.D 0 HELP+ A
RAN*] HAY4 ,B T'S D"O N[1 & "! >5'T ANY
/1DY JOBS4 ,N"O--N = M5 OR WOM540
  ,IF ,SUTTON C>$ 6R1D 2T ! L9ES1 HE'D
SEE ! FRU/R,N--&! FE>--A L"O WOMAN FAC$4
,! HUMILI,N ( 2+ FIR$ Z 9COMPET5T AT DO+
A JOB %E DETE/$ ANYWAY4 ,OR "W+ =A RAN*]
:O IGNOR$ H] FEM99;Y S HE CD PAY L[]
WAGES4
  ,SUTTON %RU7$4 8,DON'T "K IF Y'VE NO-
TIC$ FOLKS LOOK+ AT Y1 SWEETHE>T1 B
,I'VE GOT 6SAY Y DON'T EXACTLY MAKE A
3V9C+ FELL]40                       #AFJ
  ,%E _H NOTIC$4 ,C>OL9E TREM#D ) PA9 &
DESPAIR Z ! FAD+ SUN SLIPP$ 2H ! M.TA9S
6! WE/4 ,SUTTON CAME OV] )! /1M+ KETTLE
&A CLO?4
  8,LET ME SEE T LEG10 HE SD1 N"O TOO
K9DLY4 8,LOOKS L Y BROKE X OP5 AG GETT+
\ F "U ,GRE5LEI<'S HORSE40

  ,SP>KS L1PT F ! FIRE 96! NI<T SKY1
SO>+ AWAY L S _M %OOT+ />S4 ,CRY/ALL9E
AIR 0 FILL$ )! SC5T ( DY+ L1VES & WOOD
SMOKE4
  ,C>OL9E'S /OMA* 0 REPLETE AT LA/ )!
BACON & BISCUITS ,MICAH _H :IPP$ TGR4
,H] -=T WD H BE5 ASSUR$ _H HE TR\#D TO
HIDE 8 RES5T;T AT 2+ =C$ 6CAMP \ & TAKE
C>E (A HORSE ?IEF4 ,A FEW H\RS RIDE WD H
SE5 HM & ,K+ 6HIS RAN*4 ,HE 0 N BACKW>D
AB PO9T+ ? \ 6H]4
  ,C>OL9E FELT L BOPP+ HM OV] ! H1D ) 8
[N IRON SKILLET4 ,IF HE'D ONLY BE5 A LL
R1SONA#1 ? CD ALL H BE5 AVOID$4 ,0"RS1
HE %D H GIV5 UP YE/]"D AF HE GOT HURT4
,B 0 ,MICAH ,SUTTON A R1SONA# MAN8 ,NO4
,/U2ORN1 PIGH1D$1 SELF-"RE\S1       #AFA
N>R[-M9D$--! LI/ W5T ON & ON4 ,& X
WASN'T L %E _HN'T TRI$ 6APP1L 6HIS BETT]
NATURE4 ,%E _H4 ,%E'D -E 6! 3CLU.N HE _H
NO BETT] NATURE4
  8,:AT IF ,I PROMIS$ YR BE/ M>E A BRE$+
) ,K+1 ,SUTTON80 %E ASK$ HM1 M* /RUCK )!
GD S5SE ( ? SOLU;N4 8,WD T SATISFY Y80
  ,HE ACT$ L HE DIDN'T EV5 HE> H]4
  8,ALL "R4 ,) TWO ( YR BE/ M>ES40 ,A
3CES.N ON H] "P4
  ,IGNOR+ ?1 HE SPR1D 8 BLANKET ON !
GR.D & PREP>$ 6ROLL HMF 9 X4 ,HE _H NO
BU6ALO HIDE Z %E DID1 & WDN'T 2 SLEEP+
W>M OR SNUG TN4
  8,I'VE ONLY GOT "O M>E10 HE SD F9,Y4
8,& N ONLY IS %E J A CAYUSE1 %E'S TOO
OLD4 ,I FIGURE IF ! /UD IS BR$ 6ONLY !
BE/ M>ES X'LL KEEP ! PRICE UP4 ,ISN'T T
:AT ! ,PRUETTS H ALW D"O80
  ,AT L1/ HE US$ GD S5SE 9 ?9K+ 6COPY !
,PRUETT BRE$+ PROGRAM4 ,& HE DIDN'T NE$
6ACT L %E 0 IGNORANT OR IRRESPONSI# OR T
%E'D BE5 SU7E/+ O!RWISE4
  8,I'M ONLY TRY+ 6SEE Y GET :AT'S DUE
6Y10 %E SNAPP$4                     #AFB
  ,HE YAWN$ & ROLL$ OV]1 S 8 BACK 0 6H]4
8,I'VE GOT ! HORSE4 ,I H :AT'S DUE ME4
,N[ G 6SLEEP40
  ,%E POSSESS$ ONLY "O O!R ITEM ( VALUE1
,C>OL9E REFLECT$1 PANIC RIS+ 9SIDE H]4
,& T MI<T 2 DUBI\S4
  8,:AT IF ,I (F]$ ME1 ,SUTTON80 ,%E 0
%AK+ "R D[N 6H] B"OS4 8,"O NI<T ) ME1 &
!N ,I RIDE AWAY ON ,K+8 ,NO O!R /R+S40
,X WDN'T 2 S BAD1 %E FIGUR$4 ,N ) HM4 ,&
NO M ?AN :AT %E'D ALR /EEL$ H]F 6D4
,SUTTON 0 A GD-LOOK+ MAN1 ) REGUL> FEA-
TURES H>D5$ A LL 0A T\< LIFE4 ,B HE 0
"Y1 & HE 0 CL1N & /R;G4 ,IF HE'D J QUIT
GO+ ON AB H] /1L+ ,K+1 %E MI<T EV5 L HM
A LL4
  8,WELL80 %E URG$1 H] HE>T 2G9N+ 6?UD4
  ,A S(T SNORE ANSW]$4






               ,*APT] #AJ           #AFC

  ,MICAH WASN'T SURE :AT />TL$ HM AWAKE4
,! POSI;N (! />S TOLD HM MIDNI<T _H -E &
G"O & T "DBR1K 0 N F> AWAY4 ,HE HELD 8
BR1?1 WAIT+ = :AT"E _H JOLT$ 8 9BORN
AL>M 6REP1T XF4 ,! NI<T 0 NEI QUIET1 NOR
UNQUIET Z HE LI/5$1 B "S?+ \TSIDE ! CAMP
/RUCK HM WR;G4
  ,A BREEZE SL\<$ "? ! P9ES4 ,Z HE
SCANN$ ! SKY1 HE CD SEE ! SILH\ETT$
TREETOPS SWAY+1 YET HE DIDN'T ?9K T IS
:AT 4TURB$ HM4 ,X _HN'T BE5 ! COLD1 EI1
AL? A DU/+ ( FRO/ %IMM]$ "U ! />LI<T & 8
BLANKET 0 F> F W>M4 ,"! 0 A CUFF (A HO(
ON /"O Z "O (! HORSES MOV$4
  ,! S.D (! GIRL'S BR1?+ CAME 6HM1 CAT*+
N[ & !N Z IF %E 7 9 PA94 ,Z %E PROBABLY
WAS1 HE REM9D$ HMF4 ,! LEG W.D 0 NA/Y &
HE _H NO LAUDANUM 6RELIEVE H] SU6]+4
  ,HE'D LET ON L HE 0 ASLEEP :5 %E MADE
T LA/ PROPOSAL4 ,HE _HN'T BE51 ?\<4
,HE'D HE>D H] PLA91 &! (F] KEPT RUNN+ "?
8 M9D4 ,"! 0 NO D5Y+ HE 0 TEMPT$4 ,!
MEMORY CAME 6HM F ^? YE>S AGO :5 %E'D
BE5 H1L?I]1 )A LL M FLE% CL++ TO    #AFD
B"OS T 7 ALL %>P $GES N[4 ,FALL5 ON H>D
"TS1 Z ,BISCUIT _H SD4 ,PRETTY--AL Z
,BISCUIT _H SD4 ,MAYBE1 ,SUTTON ADMITT$1
HE 0 2+ TOO H>D ON H]4 ,MAYBE '''
  ,IRRITAT$ 0! WAY 8 M9D GRA2$ ON A VI.N
& WDN'T LET G1 HE SAT UP1 9T5D+ 6/IR
LIFE 96! FIRE4 ,SIMULTANE\SLY1 A %OT
B>K$1 ! S.D SKIPP+ ACR ! /R1M & S.D+ (F
! SURR.D+ HILLS4
  ,MICAH DOVE1 FEEL+ A TUG Z ! BULLET
SNAT*$ AT ! BLANKET4 ,AIR GRUNT$ F HM Z1
*AS$ 0ANO!R %OT1 HE L&$ ON 8 %\LD] 2H A
FALL5 LOG4
  ,& !N A CURSE EXPLOD$ F HM Z HE SAW A
?IRD 4*>GE PLUCK AT ,C>OL9E'S BLANKET4
,%E 0 ALR SCRAMBL+ = COV]1 B 9 ,MICAH'S
EYES %E SEEM$ CLUMSY & SL[4 ,9/1D (
ROLL+ OR DIV+ Z HE _H D"O1 %E TRI$ 6RISE
& RUN4 ,HE SAW H] EYES WID5 ) FE> & 4O-
RI5T,N4
  8,"H1 ,C>OL9E10 HE CALL$1 GIV+ H] DI-
REC;N4 8,RUN40
  ,GUID$ 0HIS VOICE1 %E ROSE ON H&S & "O
KNEE1 B Z %E TRI$ 6PIVOT T[>D HM1 H] LEG
COLLAPS$ 2N H]4 ,"O %OT KICK$       #AFE
DIRT UP 9 H] FACE4 ,ANO!R S+$ ! HAIR ON
H] H1D & %E CRI$ \4 ,MICAH CD SEE %E
WASN'T GO+ 6MAKE X 2F ! %OOT] GOT A L9E
ON H]4 ,N UN.S HE HELP$4 ,& ^? DADBURN$
:ITE "UBRIT*ES %E WORE /OOD \ L %E 0
PO9T+ A F+] AT H]F4
  8,SON (A BIT*40 ,8 C>B9E 0 /UCK 9 8
SA4LE SCA2>D1 OV] 0! FIRE4 ,HE CDN'T EV5
%OOT BACK 6GIVE ! GIRL A *.E4
  ,)\T ALL[+ HMF "T 63SID]1 ,MICAH
PLUNG$ F 2H ! LOG4 ,FE> L5T 8 LEGS IMPE-
TUS4 ,HE *>G$ 96! L9E ( FIRE1 EXPECT+ A
BULLET 65D ? GAME4 ,L A GD CUTT+ HORSE1
HE SLID 6A FA/ /OP1 *ANG$ DIREC;N1 & 2F
! %OOT] CD DRAW A B1D ON HM1 D>T$ ! O!R
WAY4 ,ONLY ? "T HE _H ! GIRL "U "O >M4
,HE ALM ?REW H] 2H ! LOG Z A F9AL BULLET
*AS$ HM 9 2H H]4
  ,C>OL9E %OOK1 H] TEE? KNOCK+ TGR4 8,:O
IS X8 ,IS X ,GRE5LEI<80
  8,DON'T "K4 ,:O"E X IS1 IS /AY+ \ (
SI<T40 ,HE HELD H] 9 ! CROOK ( "O >M1
MAK+ SURE H] H1D DIDN'T RISE ABV ! HEI<T
(! LOG4 8,Y HURT80
  8,NO4 ,I DON'T ?9K S40 ,B %E 0    #AFF
GRIPP+ H] ?I< 9 BO? H&S Z ?\< 6HOLD !
PA9 9SIDE4
  ,F A DI6]5T DIREC;N1 ANO!R %OT BUZZ$
OV]H1D1 S5D+ D[N A %[] ( B>K & P9E NEE-
DLES4 ,HELLFIRE6 ,M/ 2 TWO ( !M4
  8,:Y >5'T Y %OOT+ BACK80 ,C>OL9E ASK$
9DIGNANTLY1 BRU%+ AT DEBRIS LITT]+ H]
HAIR4 8,IF Y DON'T /OP HM1 HE'LL %OOT U
& /1L ,K+40
  ,SUTTON'S TEE? GRITT$4 8,FIGUR$ T \ =
MYF4 ,?ANKS40
  8,WELL10 %E />T$1 B ,MICAH'S GRUNT
/OPP$ H]4
  8,MY C>B9E'S ON MY SA4LE--& MY SA4LE10
HE NO4$ AT 8 BLANKET1 WA4$ OV] A "QA#
HUMP1 8IS "!40 ,FRU/R,N BOIL$ 9 8 GUT4
,:OLE BLAM$ C.TRY 0 FILL+ UP ) TRA% &
\TLAWS4 ,GETT+ S AN H"O/ MAN _H NE$ (
C>RY+ 8 [N ,P1CEMAK]4 ,LOOK$ Z IF HE'D
"\ 6BUY "O N[ HE'D JO9$ ! RANKS ( L&[N-
]S4
  8,Y TOOK MY PI/OL10 ,C>OL9E RETORT$1 Z
?\< R1D+ 8 M9D4 8,:AT DID Y D ) X8 ,I
C--0 ,%E J]K$ F 8 >M1 9T5T ON F9D+ !
GUN4                                #AFG
  ,HE MA%$ D[N ON TOP H] H1D ) "O ( 8
BIG H&S4 8,/AY ": Y >E1 Y LL IDIOT4 ,Y
TRY+ 6GET YR H1D BL[$ (F80
  ,HE'D =GOTT5 H] PI/OL1 UNTIL %E M5;N$
X4 ,HE'D WRAPP$ ! ,M]W9 & ,HULB]T 9 A
SP>E PAIR ( SOCKS 6KEEP ! DAMP (F1 & PUT
X ) 8 SMALL /ORE ( FOOD4 ,AWAY F ! C>-
B9E1 Z X HAPP5$4 ,& AWAY F ": ! GUNMAN 0
WAT*+4 ,SUTTON WASN'T M* ( AN ,9DIAN1 B
HE 0 QK & 9 FAIR %APE4 ,IF HE RAN L A
RACEHORSE--
  8,LOOK "H10 HE SD4 8,:5 ,I GIVE ! ^W1
,I WANT Y 6/>T SQUALL+ L Y'VE BE5 HIT4
,MAYBE EV5 WAVE A TREE BRAN*4 ,D :AT-
"E'LL DRAW ! %OOT]S' ATT5;N4 ,J DON'T
RAISE YR H1D ABV ? LOG40
  8,:AT >E Y GO+ 6D80 ,H] TEE? 7 *ATT]+4
  8,I'M GO+ = YR PI/OL40 ,HE'D R _H 8
C>B9E--HE 0 A GD %OT )! ,W9*E/] IF HE
DID SAY S--B T 0 ! MOVE _! BU%:ACK]S 7
B.D 6BE WAIT+ =4 8,I ?9K ,I C PUSSYFOOT
>.D )\T !M SEE+ ME40
  ,H] D>K EYES 7 BIG 9 H] BLAN*$ FACE &
H] H& GRIPP$ 8 >M4 8,SUTTON1
,GRE5LEI<'LL %OOT Y = SURE1 IF HE   #AFH
C4 ,Y 2 C>E;L40 ,Z IF 9 PUNCTU,N ( H]
W>N+1 A %OT W+$ PA/1 CLOSE 5 HE FELT !
BREEZE4
  8,IF ,I DON'T HURRY1 ,K+'LL 2 G"O10 HE
SD4 8,& ,I EXPECT WE W BE1 TOO40 ,HE
DIDN'T /OP 6DEBATE ! ISSUE4 ,ONLY A FEW
DOZ5 FEET AWAY ,K+ & ,/ICK] 7 FI<T+ _!
HOB#S1 F"R5$ 0! %OTS GO+ (F >.D !M4 ,&
0! <O/LIKE FIGURE ,MICAH SAW CREEP+ T[>D
! BAY4 ,"! 7 AT L1/ TWO RU/L]S1 HE R1L-
IZ$4 ,MAYBE M4 ,BAD O4S4
  8,N[10 HE :ISP]$ AT ! NEXT %OT1 & Z
,C>OL9E -M;ED SCREE*+ L A HOG-TI$ B>N
[L1 HE DUG 8 TOES 9 ! DIRT & SPR9T$4
,SNAT*+ UP ! #.CH Z HE RAN BY1 HE MELT$
96! WOODS ": ! %OOT] 0 HI454
  ,! GUNFIRE CUT (F1 %>P & SU454
  ,MICAH DRIFT$ =W>D 6": HE'D SE5 ! LA/
FLA%1 PU6+ 9 %ORT BUR/S "? 8 M\?4 ,!
QUIET 0 GD 9 "O WAY1 HE SUPPOS$4 ,N S GD
9 ANO!R1 2C X M1NT HE'D BE5 SPOTT$ & T
HE'D 2 ! SOLE T>GET F N[ ON4 ,M WORRI"S1
,C>OL9E _H FALL5 SIL5T4 ,%OT OR CAPTUR$8
,HE DIDN'T D>E CALL \ OR /OP &
9VE/IGATE4                          #AFI

  ,C>OL9E =GOT AB MAK+ ! NOISE ,MICAH
REQUE/$ Z SOON Z %E SAW HM 4APPE> 2T TWO
TREES4 ,GUILT BURN$ "? H]4 ,"SH[ OR AN-
O!R1 :AT ) 2+ CAU<T UP 9 ALL ! EXCITE;T
( RUNN+ = H] LIFE & 9 2+ FIR$ ON1 %E'D
=GOTT5 6W>N HM ! GUN BADLY NE$$ ! S]VIC-
ES (A GUNSMI?4 ,X _H A HABIT ( MISFIR+4
  ,& Z IF %E NE$$ M PRO#MS1 %E CD SEE
:AT %E 0 AFRAID ,SUTTON _H N--A MAN B5D+
6REMOVE ,K+'S HOB#S4 ,SUTTON'S C>B9E 0
2Y H] R1*4 ,IF %E 3FRONT$ ! MAN )\T A
W1PON1 %E'D LIKELY 2 ?R[+ H] LIFE AWAY4
,M1N:ILE1 HE'D H A P]FECT %OT AT H]4 ,"!
_H 6BE "S?+ ELSE %E CD D4
  ,A C\PLE ( GD-SIZ$ ROCKS CAME 6H&4 ,%E
WASN'T M* (A PIT*]1 %E KNEW1 LACK+ !
HEFT 6PUT M* =CE 2H A ?R[1 B %E FIGUR$
!Y 7 H] BE/ BET4 ,B>R+ ! ROCKS1 "! 0 !
TREE BRAN* %E'D WAV$ 9 GETT+ ! %OOT]'S
ATT5;N4 ,%E CD USE ! BRAN* Z A CLUB4 ,B
6D T1 %E ?"\ ) AN 9N] %U4]1 %E'D H 6GET
CLOS]4 ,M* CLOS]4
  ,"! WASN'T "T = HESIT,N4 ,K+1 N]V\S &
F"R5$1 0 %$ ( 8 HOB#S1 8 RE> 5D     #AGJ
DODG+ "O WAY & !N ! O!R4 ,8 FRONT FEET
CAME UP1 PAW+ ! AIR AT WAI/-HEI<T4 ,IF
HE GOT FREE1 %E'D TRY CALL+ HM ) H] :IS-
TLE4
  ,B ! HORSE ?IEF ALR _H A BRIDLE ON !
HORSE1 SNU7+ ,K+'S H1D D[N TI<T4 ,AT !
SAME "T1 ! MAN 0 TRY+ 6SW+ ONTO !
HORSE'S B>E BACK--)\T M* LUCK4 ,K+'S GY-
R,NS KEPT HM F GETT+ A GD JUMP4
  ,? 0 H] BE/ *.E4 ,MAYBE H] ONLY *.E4
,%E] =CE ( W PUT NEW /R5G? 9 H]4 ,%E
B.D$ UP1 HE$.S ( :E!R ! ?IEF SAW H] OR
N4 ,)\T ?9K+1 %E L&$ ON H] 9JUR$ LEG4
,PA9 EXPLOD$ 9 H] ?I< B %E KEPT GO+4 ,%E
DIDN'T H 6HIT ! MAN )A ROCK1 %E R1LIZ$4
,K+ MADE A M* BETT] T>GET4 ,:AT'S M1 !
WAY HE 0 ACT+ ALL X WD TAKE 6/>T HM
BUCK+ 9 E>NE/ 0 A ROCK SLAMM+ HM 9 !
RUMP4 ,%E DEFI$ ANY"O 6RIDE HM IF HE DE-
CID$ HE DIDN'T WANT RI454
  ,H] F/ ?R[ 0 "R ON L9E1 B ! MISSILE
FELL 9*ES %ORT4 ,4MAY$1 %E HALT$ & 0
POIS+ H]F =A BETT] CA/ :5 TW9 GUN%OTS
CRACKL$ 9 ! WOODS4 ,/>TL$1 ,C>OL9E LO/ !
MO;TUM ( H] CA/4 ,! /"O DROPP$1     #AGA
USE.S4
  ,X MAY N H MATT]$ ANYWAY1 = %E SAW !
?IEF F9,Y SU3E$ 9 M.T+ ,K+4 ,) RU?.S
/R5G?1 HE HAUL$ ! HORSE'S H1D >.D & !N1
%OCK+LY1 9/1D ( RUNN+ AWAY1 PO9T$ !
HORSE /RAI<T AT H]4 ,8 HEELS DRUMM$
,K+'S FLANKS4 ,L\D :OOPS &! SLAP ( RE9S
3FUS$ ! HORSE EV5 M4 ,P[]$ 0/URDY H9D-
QU>T]S1 ! HORSE LUNG$ =W>D1 /RAI<T AT
,C>OL9E :O /OOD FULL 9 8 PA?4
  ,%E TRI$ 6JUMP \ ( 8 WAY1 ( C\RSE1 AL?
%E WASN'T HALF FA/ 5\<4 ,H>DLY UNEXPECT-
$1 3SID]+ ! %APE %E 0 IN1 & UP AG/ A
HORSE REN[N$ = 8 SPE$ (F ! M>K4 ,! HORSE
TRI$ 6DODGE H]1 B ! RID] SAW$ ON ! RE9S
& DUG 9 8 SPURS4 ,K+'S %\LD] CLIPP$ ,C>-
OL9E1 & L A WA4$-UP PIECE ( PAP]1 %E
TUM#D 0! WAYSIDE4
  ,K+1 GO+ AT A D1D RUN1 0 \ ( SI<T 2F
%E EV5 /OPP$ ROLL+4

  ,MICAH F.D X H>D 62LIEVE1 B IF POSSI#1
? "D 0 WORSE ?AN ! "O 2F4 ,&1 UN.S HE
MISS$ 8 GUESS1 TM PROBABLY WDN'T 2 ANY
BETT]4 ,DUTY ONCE AG DECRE$ T       #AGB
NURSEMAID+ 0 8 PROP] VOC,N4 ,HE DIDN'T
EV5 TRY 6RE/RA9 8 CURSES OV] ,C>OL9E
,PRUETT'S M9D-BO7L+ PREDILEC;N = GETT+
H]F 96TR\#4
  ,AFRAID ( :AT HE'D F9D1 ,MICAH _H BE5
DRAWN 96! M1D[ 0! S.D ( SWIFTLY REC$+
HO( B1TS4 ,:AT HE 4COV]$ 0 ,C>OL9E1
CURL$ 9 AN UNTIDY H1P1 />LI<T GL>+ D[N
ON ^? ALL TOO REM>KA# :ITE DRAW]S--OR
:AT"E ! HELL !Y 7 CALL$--T %E WORE4 ,!
GIRL LAY Z / Z A D1D BODY1 AL? HE CD SEE
%E WASN'T NE>LY LIMP 5\<4 ,K+1 ( C\RSE1
0 G"O4
  8,C>OL9E80 HE :ISP]$1 UNSURE B :AT "!
MI<T 2 M (! GANG AB4 ,HE HUNK]$ 2S H]4
,IF %E'D RCVD ANY NEW W.DS1 ! />LI<T
DIDN'T REV1L !M4 8,C>OL9E1 Y HURT80
  ,AT ! S.D ( 8 VOICE1 %E />T$ & 2GAN
:EEZ+ & GASP+4 ,H] FACE TURN$ D>K Z %E
F"\ 6SUCK AIR 96H] H1V+ LUNGS4 8,K+80 %E
SD1 :5 %E CD SP1K4
  8,G"O40
  8,CDN'T ''' /OP '''0 ,H] H& FLAPP$4
  8,I "K10 HE SD1 ANG] R\<5+ 8 VOICE4
8,J LAY / & GET YR W9D BACK4 ,T 0   #AGC
A DAMN FOOL /UNT Y PULL$1 RUNN+ \ "H L Y
DID4 ,X'S A WOND] Y A9'T D1D40
  ,%E />$ UP AT HM1 H] EYES BIG & FULL (
MIS]Y--&A "Q4 8,Y ALL "R1 ,SUTTON80 ,%E
PAUS$ = BR1?4 8,I HE>D %OTS40 ,ANO!R
BR1?4 8,Y W]5'T HIT1 7 Y80
  ,MICAH %U6L$ 8 FEET4 8,NAH10 HE SD4
8,N ME40 ,8 ^WS _H A QUE] 9TON,N T %E
P\NC$ ON IMMLY4
  8,K+80 ,%E /RU7L$1 TRY+ 6REGA9 H]
FEET4
  8,NO40 ,HE PU%$ H] D[N AG4 8,! HORSE1
&! HORSE ?IEF1 GOT AWAY CL1N4 ,X'S T
FELL] 9 ! WOODS4 ,I KILL$ HM40 ,"! 0 A
H9T ( DEJECT$ WE>I;S 9 8 SLUMP$ %\LD]S4
  ,C>OL9E FR[N$4 8,Y M1N Y %OT ! "O :O 0
AIM+ 6%OOT Y80
  ,MICAH MANAG$ A CROOK$ GR94 8,GUESS
T'S ! HE>T ( X1 "R 5\<40 ,HE WDN'T TELL
H] X _H BE5 PO9T-BLANK RANGE4 ,NOR T
HE'D %OT HALF ! RU/L]'S FACE 96A SME> (
BLOOD1 TORN FLE%1 & BROK5 TEE?4 ,! MAN
_H SN1K$ UP ON HM1 & ,SUTTON SPUN R.D
B>ELY 9 "T 6AVOID CAT*+ A #.DE SLUG 9 !
BACK4 ,8 BORR[$ GUN MISFIR$ )! F/   #AGD
%OT & HE'D -E NE> PISS+ 8 PANTS 2F HE
?UMB$ ! HAMM] =! SECOND4
  ,?9K+ ! 9CID5T OV]1 HE DECID$ 8 3C]N 0
MISPLAC$4 ,:AT HE'D D"O 0 SAVE ! T]RITO-
RY ! EXP5SE (A TRIAL & HANG+4 ,& SAV$ 8
LIFE & MO/ LIKELY ! GIRL'S1 TOO4 ,!Y "\
6GIVE HM A M$AL4
  ,C>OL9E'S MA9 9T]E/ LAY ELSE":4 8,I
LO/ HM1 ,SUTTON10 %E SD4 8,HE'S G"O = GD
? "T40
  ,%E 0 TALK+ AB ! HORSE4
  8,Y1H1 ,I "K40
  ,TWO RU/L]S M/ H BE5 ALL "! W]E1 ,MI-
CAH 3CLUD$1 S9CE "! _HN'T BE5 ANY %OTS
AF HE GOT ! BU%:ACK] 9 ! WOODS4 ,"O D1D1
& "O ESCAP$4 ,X WASN'T A SATISFACTORY
T,Y1 B AT L1/ !Y'D -E \ ALIVE4 ,HE SI<$1
GRASP$ ,C>OL9E "U ! >MS & LIFT$ H] UP"R4
  8,C Y WALK80
  8,( C\RSE4 ,I MADE X "H "U MY [N P[]4
,I C GET BACK1 TOO40
  ,%E />T$ = CAMP1 HO2L+ L AN ANCI5T
GRANNY1 ) H] LUNGS / H1V+ 9 & \ L BEL-
L[S4 ,MICAH W$G$ 8 ELB[ 3V5I5T = H] 6L1N
ON1 : %E DID :ILE PRET5D+ N TO4     #AGE
,Z IF HE DIDN'T NOTICE H] WEI<T--EASY1
S9CE "! WASN'T M* ( X--HE SD1 8,S1 DID Y
GET A LOOK AT ! MAN T /OLE ! HORSE8 ,0 X
,GRE5LEI<80
  ,C>OL9E 0 SIL5T =A TICK 2F SAY+1 Z ?\<
A%AM$1 8,I C'T SAY = C]TA94 ,8 HAT 0
PULL$ L[ OV] 8 FACE & ,I ONLY CAU<T A
GLIMPSE4 ,MO/LY ,I 0 LOOK+ AT ,K+4 ,I
2LIEVE ! RID] 0 ,GRE5LEI<4 ,I ?9K ! MUS-
TA*E 0 ! SAME1 & T D>K-COLOR$ SUIT HE 0
WE>+1 B Y "K :AT RE,Y 3V9CES ME80
  8,:AT80
  8,HE TRI$ 6RIDE ME D[N4 ,J L ? AFN4
,SEEMS /RANGE "!'D 2 TWO M5 9 ? C.TRY :O
USE _! HORSES AG/ P1 DOESN'T X80

  ,MICAH P]SUAD$ ,C>OL9E 6LIE ON H] PAL-
LET UNTIL "DLI<T4 ,M1N:ILE1 HE PROPP$ 8
BACK AG/ ! LOG & NOM9,Y KEPT WAT*4 ,HE
DIDN'T EXPECT ANY FUR!R AL>MS1 & HE 0
"R4 ,! NI<T S.DS SOON RETURN$ 6NORMAL2 !
LA/ (! S1SON'S CRICKETS1 ! MURMUR (A
NOCTURNAL BIRD1 BREEZE /IRR+ ! TREES4
,HE DOZ$1 LETT+ 8 M9D W&]4
  ,! ?IEF _H GOTT5 :AT HE CAME      #AGF
AF1 & AT ! PACE ,K+ 0 CAPA# ( TRAVEL+1
!Y 7 PROBABLY HALFWAY 6,CANADA 0N[ & \ (
,MICAH'S R1*4 ,HE SURE 9 HELL WI%$ HE
CD'VE LEFT ,C>OL9E 9 ! ,9DIAN WOMAN'S
C>E--OR J PLA9 LEFT H]4
  ,B ,GRE5LEI< _H NO IDEA ! MAN HE'D
ELECT$ 6ROB _H A CORE ( IRON4 ,YE>S (
DET]M9,N & H>D "W _H WON ,MICAH ,SUTTON
8 [N SPR1D4 ,%E] PIGH1D$ /U2ORN;S1 "S
MI<T SAY4 ,MICAH KNEW4 ,HE'D HE>D !M
SAY+ X4 ,HE N"E LIK$ LETT+ G ( :AT HE
CLAIM$ Z HIS4 ,N L&1 N M"OY1 N /OCK1 &
MAYBE1 J MAYBE1 N EV5 A WOMAN4
  ,AT ?1 ,MICAH'S H1D J]K$1 SNAPP$ AWAKE
0! P[] ( ? UN9VIT$ ?"\4 ,US+ "S ( T M*
TALK$ ( OBDURACY1 HE =C$ 8 M9D EMPTY (
"EY?+ EXCEPT RECLAIM+ ! /UD4







               ,*APT] #AA           #AGG

  ,C>OL9E AWAK5$1 H] NOSE T1S$ 0! SC5T (
C(FEE4 ,C(FEE4 ,%E _HN'T _H ANY 9 "DS1
SUBSI/+ ONLY ON H]BAL T1S4 ,SUTTON _H
BE5 GD 6H]1 BETT] ?AN %E DES]V$1 3SID]+
! WAY %E'D TR1T$ HM4 ,%E HOP$ 8 PHILAN-
?ROPY WD EXT5D 6ALL[+ H] A CUP F ! POT
%E HE>D BU2L+ OV] ! FIRE &1 DEP5D+ ON 8
MOOD1 P]H A BITE (! BACON %E SMELL$ FRY-
+1 TOO4
  ,A3OMPANI$ 0A NOISE F H] SQU1K+ /OMA*1
,C>OL9E ROLL$ OV]1 /RET*$ H] L[] SP9E1 &
OP5$ H] EYES4 ,H] SI<T 0 CLE>1 H] FEV]
G"O4 ,H] LEG 0 A DI6]5T /ORY--"O %E IG-
NOR$4
  8,UMM10 %E SD1 WAT*+ ,MICAH SLICE AN-
O!R /RIP F A SLAB ( BACON4
  ,8 GL.E FLICK$ SIDEWAYS AT H]4 8,I 0
2G9N+ 6?9K Y PLANN$ ON SLEEP+ ALL "D40
,HE S.D$ S\R Z A COYOTE ) 8 TAIL CAU<T 9
A TRAP1 B HE'D LET H] SLEEP UNTIL ALM
DAWN4 ,! SKY WD 2 A BRILLIANT C]UL1N
BLUE Z SOON Z ! SUN CAME UP4
  ,IF HE 0 GO+ 6BLAME H] = 2+ LATE1 %E
WD H 6PO9T \ X 0 8 [N FAULT4 ,HE    #AGH
%D'VE BE5 MAK+ M NOISE4
  8,SORRY10 %E SD4
  8,T LEG ( YRS FEEL UP 6=K+ A HORSE80
  8,DON'T "K4 ,I C TRY40 ,%E FLIPP$ !
BLANKET ASIDE1 LETT+ ! FRO/Y MORN+ AIR
REPLACE ! W>M?4 ,%IV]+1 %E SAT UP4 8,>E
WE GO+ AF ,GRE5LEI< & ,K+80
  ,HE KEPT 8 GAZE ON ! SPUTT]+ BACON Z
%E /RU7L$ 6/&4 8.,I'M GO+10 HE SD4 8,J Z
SOON Z ,I C GA!R SUPPLIES & F9D Y A
PLACE 6/AY40
  ,C>OL9E *EW$ ON H] T;GUE4 ,%E WANT$ TO
PROTE/1 TELL HM HE NE$N'T ?9K HE _H 6D
ANY?+ ) H]1 SEE+ %E WASN'T 8 RESPONSI-
BIL;Y4 ,ON SECOND ?"\1 X MI<T N D 6GET
R1L SNIPPY4 ,HE MI<T DECIDE HE DIDN'T
NE$ 6FE$ H]1 EI4 ,HOLD+ H] P1CE1 %E GAVE
UP ! EF=T ( RIS+ & 9/1D1 CRAWL$ OV] 6!
FIRE4
  8,"!'S A BETT] *.E ( CAT*+ HM IF WE G
"R AWAY10 %E SU7E/$1 Z ?\< %E _HN'T
HE>D4
  8,N WE--ME40
  ,MICAH ,SUTTON _HN'T TRAVEL$ PREP>$ =
GUE/S4 ,HE PUT A FEW ?ICK SLICES    #AGI
( BACON ON A *IP ( WOOD & H&$ ! MAKE%IFT
PLATE 6H]4 ,%E TREM#D ) EAG];S & HUNG]1
RAIS+ ! FE> %E'D DROP X 2F %E EV5 GOT !
BACON 6H] M\?4 ,:5 HE P\R$ C(FEE 96! S9-
GLE CUP & SET X 2T !M1 %E ALM F.D X POS-
SI# 6IGNORE 8 9T5;N ( PURSU+ ! HORSE
?IEF 0HMF4 ,ALM4
  8,K+ IS MY HORSE1 ,SUTTON4 ,I'M GO+ )
Y40 ,%E TOOK A BITE ( BACON1 SAVOR+ !
SMOKY FLAVOR Z ?\< %E TA/$ ! R>E/ ( CAV-
I>1 !N WA%$ X D[N ) "S FRE% ,>BUCKLES
,F9E/4 ,%E 0 GLAD N[ %E _HN'T VOIC$ H]
PROTE/4
  ,MICAH H1V$ A BIG1 !ATRICAL SI<4
8,SWEETHE>T1 ,I HATE 64ILLU.N Y1 B T
HORSE 2L;GS 6ME4 ,& ,I'VE GOT ! PAP]S
6PROVE X40 ,HE T\*$ 8 VE/ POCKET4
  ,C>OL9E GASP$4 8,Y'VE GOT ,K+'S PAP]S8
,": DID Y F9D ^?8 ,Y W5T "? MY 2L;G+S40
,%E REMEMB]$ /A%+ ! PAP]S 9 H] COAT AF
%E TOOK !M F HM4 ,:AT'S M1 %E DIDN'T C>E
=! WAY HE CALL$ H] 8SWEETHE>T0 9 T SCA?+
T"O ( VOICE4 ,X S.D$ M Z ?\< HE 7 SAY+
8PE/0 OR 8BANE ( 8 EXI/;E10 L %E 0 AN
9SECT OR A NA/Y1 3TAGI\S 41SE4      #AHJ
  ,8 JAW1 D>K5$ 0A ?REE-"D /UB#1 RIPPL$
Z ! MUSCLES TI<T5$4 8,:AT'S ! MATT]8 ,T
S*EME S.D FAMILI> 6Y8 ,ONLY ,I DIDN'T
/1L !M2 ,I J TOOK BACK MY [N40 ,HE TOOK
A TURN )! C(FEE CUP1 !N P\R$ A REFILL4
  ,C>OL9E1 ^: IDEA ( TAK+ BACK "O'S [N 0
REM>KABLY SIMIL> 6:AT HE _H DESCRIB$1
OP5$ H] M\? 6PROTE/ :5 A *ANGE 9 8 EX-
PRES.N W>N$ ! IMPULSE AWAY4 ,%E CLOS$ H]
M\? )A SNAP4
  8,WELL10 %E SD1 US+ A VOICE ( SWEET
R1SON1 8,I'M SURE WE C "W \ AN EQUITA#
SOLU;N ( "S K9D--AF WE F9D ,K+4 ,B Y "K
Z WELL Z ,I D1 ,SUTTON1 T TWO ( U W BET-
T] ! O4S40
  8,I'M SURPRIS$ Y WANT 6TANGLE ) ,GRE5-
LEI<--IF X IS ,GRE5LEI<--AG10 ,MICAH SD4
8,SEEMS 6ME Y'VE BE5 -+ \ ON ! %ORT 5D (
! /ICK ) HM40 ,HE SWI7$ C(FEE & ?REW !
GR.DS 96! FIRE1 :1 S9CE ,C>OL9E _H BE5
AB 6GRAB ! LA/ SWALL[1 IRK$ H] NO 5D4
,%E GAVE UP ANY PRET5SE ( DA9TI;S & GOB-
#D ! BACON D[N 2F HE TOOK T AWAY TOO4
  ,M1N:ILE1 HE C>RI$ ! C(FEE POT & FRY+
PAN D[N 6! CREEK1 R9S$ !M & RE-     #AHA
TURN$ )! POT FULL ( WAT] : HE DUMP$ OV]
! COALS4 ,! FIRE POPP$ & SPUTT]$ Z A LA/
CL\D ( SMOKE PU6$ 96,C>OL9E'S FACE4 ,HE
FET*$ H] BATT]$ & BLOOD/A9$ ,C>H>TT
PANTS F ! TREE LIMB ": !Y HUNG4
  8,GET DRESS$10 HE SD1 TOSS+ ! BRIT*ES
6H]4 8,& ROLL UP YR BLANKET4 ,Y C USE X
=A PAD 2H ME S9CE X LOOKS L WE'LL H 6D\#
UP ON ,/ICK]4 ,WE'RE MOV+ \--UN.S Y'D R
/AY "H40 ,HE ?REW T LA/ "P 9 L HE DIDN'T
H M* HOPE4
  8,MY GE>10 %E PROTE/$1 IGNOR+ ! SU7ES-
;N Z 2N NOTICE4 8,H[ W WE C>RY MY SAD-
DLE80
  ,MICAH %RU7$4 8,L1VE X40
  8,L1VE MY SA4LE80 ,C>OL9E 0 HORRIFI$1
S9CE H] SA4LE REPRES5T$ A GD POR;N--!
ONLY POR;N--( H] _WLY GDS4 8,B '''0 ,%E
DIDN'T TRY 6HIDE ! 4MAY %E FELT FL[+ OV]
H] FACE4
  8,I'LL -E FET* X IF ,I C10 ,MICAH
PROMIS$4 8,AF ,I GET ! HORSE40
  ,IF HE--!Y--"E GOT ! HORSE4 ,%E CDN'T
OV]LOOK ! POSSIBIL;Y !Y MI<T FAIL4
  ,9 ANY CASE1 H] WORRY CAME TO     #AHB
NO?+1 = Z %E F"\ H] PANTS ON OV] H]
SWOLL5 LEG %E HE>D ,MICAH GIVE A :OOP--
SC>+ H] 96?9K+ ,GRE5LEI< _H RETURN$4
,H["E1 :5 HE CAME 96CAMP L1D+ 8 GRAY1
ANO!R HORSE TRAIL$ !M ( XS [N A3ORD4
  ,! HORSE 0 A DUN M>E1 ) :ITE /OCK+S ON
H] H9D FEET1 & AN OLD ;,S ,B> BR& ON H]
HIP4 ,! SELFSAME M>E ,GRE5LEI< _H DE-
SCRIB$ 6!M YE/]"D1 ,C>OL9E R1LIZ$1 & SD
_H BE5 /OL5 F HM4 ,! MAN ,MICAH %OT LA/
NI<T M/'VE BE5 RID+ H]1 & :O"E _H /OL5
,K+ _HN'T BO!R$ TAK+ ! M>E AL;G Z HE
FL$4 ,C>OL9E'S SUSPICIONS JUMP$ REG>D+ T
FAILURE4
  ,) SMOO? ECONOMY ( MOVE;T1 ,MICAH ?REW
8 SA4LE ATOP ,/ICK]1 & SET AB PACK+ UP !
CAMP P>APH]NALIA4 ,C>OL9E DIDN'T MISS T
HE TI$ 8 GE> ON ! FRONT1 L1V+ A SPACE =
H] 6RIDE PILLION4
  8,:Y BO!R80 ,C>OL9E ASK$1 4TURB$ 0^!
PREP>,NS4 8,WE WON'T NE$ 6D\# UP1 N[4 ,I
C RIDE ! DUN40
  ,B ,SUTTON W5T "R AH1D ) :AT HE 0 DO+1
CAT*+ UP ! M>E & PULL+ ! \TLAW'S B$ROLL
F ! CANTLE & TAK+ ! WORN ,HUDSON    #AHC
,BAY BLANKET HE F.D "!4 ,HE %OOK 8 H1D4
8,N UN.S Y WANT 6RIDE ON TOP A D1D BODY4
,I'M HAUL+ ? FELL] 96T[N & GIV+ HM OV]
6! M>%AL40
  8,B '''0 %E />T$1 IMPATI5T AT ! DELAY4
  ,MICAH MADE A QK *OPP+ MO;N4 8,>5'T Y
CURI\S ": ? G5T -ES F8 ,OR H[ HE HAPP5$
AL;G J ": WE 7 CAMP$80
  8,I'M SURE WE ALR "K10 %E SD DRYLY4
,ANYWAY1 %E DIDN'T M* C>E ": HE 0 F4 ,H]
LEG ?RO2$ L "S"O _H US$ A BR&+ IRON 6M>K
H]1 B :5 %E /OOD UP1 X BORE H] WEI<T4
  8,Y1H1 ,I'D SAY S TOO1 B ,I WANT 6BE
A# 6PROVE X 9 A C\RT ( LAW IF ,I H TO40
  8,I'M "H 6ATTE/ 8 D1? 0 SELF-DEF5SE4
,I DON'T "K :Y Y'RE WORRI$40
  8,2C ,I FIGURE Y A9'T ! MO/ RELIA# (
WIT;SES10 ,SUTTON SD4 8,T'S :Y40 ,HE
FOLD$ ! ?R1DB>E BLANKET OV] 8 >M & H1D$
96! BRU%4
  ,C>OL9E BIT (F A PI?Y RETORT4 8,WELL1
H[ AB *ANG+ 8 SA4LE = M9E80 %E SU7E/$ TO
8 RETR1T+ BACK4 8,T WAY1 :5 ,I GET 6T[N
,I'LL H MY 2L;G+S40
  ,)\T ANSW]+1 HE DUCK$ "U A L[     #AHD
HANG+ C$> BRAN* & VANI%$ F SI<T--: CON-
FIRM$ H] OP9ION T HE 0 ! MO/ A7RAVAT+
MAN %E'D "E MET4
  ,%E 5D$ UP W9N+ ! >GU;T1 IF X'S POSSI#
6CALL S FEW ^WS AN >GU;T4 ,:ILE ,MICAH
W5T 6BR+ 9 ! BODY1 ,C>OL9E DRA7$ ! SA4LE
F ! M>E & REPLAC$ X ) H] [N4
  ,B A SA4LE IS "O ?+1 %E TOLD H]F1
DROPP+ X 2H ! LOG1 & SA4LEBAGS >E ANO!R4
,"! MI<T 2 IMPORTANT 9=M,N AB ! MAN 9 8
SA4LEBAGS4 ,%E R1*$ =! FLAT L1!R PACKS1
NOTIC+ AN OBJECT T LOOK$ DELIB]ATELY
HI45 Z %E DID S4 ,/UCK 2N ! SA4LE'S
SKIRT+ 0 A SMALL CLO? POKE )! ^WS1 8,L9-
COLN ,C.TY ,BANK0 /AMP$ ON X4 ,A SATIS-
FY+ HEFT WEI<$ 9 H] H&4
  ,H] HE>T 2GAN 6?UMP4 8,L9COLN ,C.TY
,BANK10 %E BR1!D1 WIP+ A DEW ( SW1T F H]
=EH1D4 ,GRE5LEI< _H SD HE CAME F ,L9COLN
,C.TY4 ,HE'D SD "S"O _H /OL5 A HORSE F
HM2 HE _HN'T M5;N$ A BANK RO2]Y1 NOR T
HE'D BE5 RO2$4 ,C>OL9E DIDN'T ?9K HE _H4
  ,%E FELT CIRCUL>1 CO9-L %APES )94
,PROBABLY %E "\ TAKE A PEEK & SEE = H]F
:AT !Y W]E4 ,"! 0 NO PO9T 9 FUSS+   #AHE
OV] A LL CLO? BAG IF ALL X HELD WAS--:AT
CD ^? %APES BE8 ,/"OS = SKIPP+ ACR
/R1MS8 ,COA/]S = 2N *AIR LEGS8 ,BUTTONS8
,"! M/ 2 LOTS ( POSSIBILITIES4
  ,:O 0 %E TRY+ 6FOOL8 ,)A QK GL.E 96!
WOODS ": ,MICAH _H 4APPE>$ & WD SURELY
REAPPE> AT ANY SECOND1 %E J]K$ OP5 ! M\?
(! BAG & DUMP$ ! 3T5TS 96H] H&4 ,M SW1T
B1D$ ON H] =EH1D1 ONLY ? "T X WASN'T EX-
];N T CAUS$ X4
  ,FIVE D\# EAGLES LAY]$ UP 9 A /ACK1
FILL+ H] PALM4 ,? 9 ! POSSES.N (A MAN
:O1 JUDG+ 0HIS SA4LE1 _HN'T BE5 LIV+ ES-
PECI,Y HI< ON ! HOG4 ,B X 0 H>DLY 5 =A
BANK RO2]Y4 ,%E GUESS$ ! MAN 0 A HORSE
?IEF4 ,MO/ LIKELY1 HE _H BE5 HIR$ 6HELP
KILL ,SUTTON & H]2 ! M"OY %\T$ ( PRO(4
  .,"O .HUNDR$ .DOLL>S4 ,DID T M1N %E &
,SUTTON 7 WOR? FIFTY DOLL>S EA* 6"S"O IF
!Y 7 D1D8 ,A CRA%+ 9 ! BRU% W>N$ H]
,SUTTON 0 -+ BACK )! MAN'S BODY4 ,H] M9D
RAC$4
  .,"O .HUNDR$ .DOLL>S4 ,)A HUNDR$ DOL-
L>S1 ALL ( H] TR\#S WD 2 OV]--OR AT L1/
!Y WD Z SOON Z %E F.D ,K+4 ,%E CD   #AHF
GET ON H] FEET1 />T F SCRAT*4 ,REMAKE
H]F 9 ! IMAGE ( RECTITUDE & DEC5CY4 ,F9D
RESPECTA# "W2 MO/ EMPHATIC,Y1 .N ! K9D (
"W %E _H BE5 3TEMPLAT+ ! NI<T %E LO/
,K+4
  ,H"O/LY1 %E ASSUR$ ! W>D5 GU>D+ H]
3SCI;E1 %E 0 5TITL$ 6KEEP :AT %E'D F.D4
,! D1D MAN _H TRI$ 6KILL H]4 ,_H TAK5
M"OY1 ? M"OY1 9 PAY;T = H] BLOOD4 ,WELL1
HE'D FAIL$4 ,%E WASN'T TRY+ 6ROB HM4 ,%E
_HN'T EV5 LOOK$ 9 8 SA4LEBAGS4 ,= ALL %E
KNEW HE MI<T H A ?\S& DOLL>S 9 "!1 & %E
WDN'T S M* Z T\* X4 ,LET ! %]IFF DET]M9E
:OM X 2L;G$ TO4 ,OR ,SUTTON4 ,SUTTON 0 Z
MORAL Z A ,SUN"D-S*OOL T1*]4 ,LET HM DE-
CIDE4
  ,%E 0 POSITIVE ,MICAH ,SUTTON WDN'T
WANT ANY ( ? M"OY1 EV5 ?\< HE 0 DUE
HALF4 ,HE 0 ! "O KILL$ ! \TLAW1 AF ALL4
,B1 >GU$ T 9N] VOICE ( H]S1 HE'D US$ H]
GUN4 ,& EV5TU,Y1 IF H] IDEA "W$ \1 %E'D
F9D A WAY 6REPAY HM4 ,= N[1 HE DIDN'T
NE$ 6"K AB H] W9DFALL4
  ,H] :OLE BODY 0 %AK+ Z %E /U6$ ! EMPTY
POKE 9 ! SA4LEBAG4 ,! GOLD PIECES   #AHG
7 4TRIBUT$ >.D H] [N BODY1 BALANC+ !
WEI<T4 ,& !Y DID WEI< A SURPRIS+ AM.T4
,M ?AN %E'D "E ?"\ TW5TY-DOLL> GOLD CO9S
CD POSSIBLY WEI<4
  ,A :I/LE PI]C$ ! COLD MORN+ AIR L !
SCR1M (A C\G> & %E JUMP$1 BR1? /1M+ F H]
M\?4
  8,HEY1 Y ASLEEP8 ,BR+ ! M>E OV] "H10
,MICAH DEM&$1 EM]G+ AT ! $GE (! WOOD )!
BLANKET-WRAPP$ BODY (A MAN4 ,8 VOICE RE-
V]B]AT$ (F H] E>DRUMS4 8,I WANT 6GET H]
LOAD$4 ,I A9'T R1L KE5 ON C>RY+ ? G5T M
?AN T5 MILES OR S ON MY BACK40
  ,C>OL9E'S NUMB BODY B>ELY FELT ! PA9
RADIAT+ "? H] LEG4 ,)\T AC"KL$G+ ,MI-
CAH'S S>CASM1 %E GA!R$ ! RE9S & TU7$ !
HORSE OV] 6": HE /OOD4 ,HE 0 SW1T+1 TOO4
,! D1D MAN _H BE5 TALL1 A H1VY LOAD 6C>-
RY4
  ,MICAH'S M\? TI<T5$1 SIGNAL+ 4APPROVAL
AT ! M>E'S *ANGE ( SA4LE4 ,%E'D SE5 HE 0
A MAN :O DIDN'T TAKE M* 62+ ?W>T$ ONCE 8
M9D 0 SET1 B HE DIDN'T SAY ANY?+4
  ,:AT CD HE SAY8 ,C>OL9E WOND]$4 ,! DE$
0 D"O4                              #AHH
  8,"H %E IS10 %E SD B"RLY4
  8,?ANKS40 ,! ^W DRA7$ F HM4
  ,C>OL9E1 :O _HN'T BE5 ASK+ = ?ANKS1
REMA9$ SIL5T Z %E WAT*$ ,MICAH LA% !
BODY ONTO ! M>E )A ROPE TI$ "U H] BELLY4

  ,N[ :AT IT*Y FLEA DID %E H 9 H] FUR8
,MICAH WOND]$4 ,HE DIDN'T M1N ! HORSE1
AL? HE J]K$ ! DUN'S RE9S H>D] ?AN 8 CUS-
TOM Z ! M>E1 MADE SKITTI% 0! D1D MAN ON
H] BACK1 %I$4
  .,%E1 M1N+ ,MISS ,C>OL9E ,PRUETT1 "\
6BE GLAD HE'D LET H] GET AWAY ) SWIT*+
SA4LES ON ! M>E4 ,HE SUPPOS$ HE SAW H]
PO9T4 ,IF %E 0 Z D1D BROKE Z ,BISCUIT
FIGUR$ !N H] SA4LE M/ M1N A LOT 6H]4
,HELL4 ,A SA4LE M1NT DOLL>S 6MO/ ANY-
BODY4 ,B "H %E 0 ACT+ Z IF HE C>RI$ A
P[];L ODOR AB 8 P]SON4 ,Z IF %E CDN'T
BE> 2+ ANY": NE> HM4 ,& DAMN HM =A FOOL1
B HE CDN'T HELP SM>T+ "U ! 9SULT4
  8,HOLD ON1 = ,*RI/'S SAKE10 HE SN>L$4
,%E 0 SITT+ 2H HM ) H] F+]S 2T 8 BUTT &!
SA4LE L1!R1 & HE P9*$ !M ) ,/ICK]'S E
/RIDE4 ,HE FIGUR$ ! T\* M/ 2 MAK+   #AHI
HM M CRAWLY ?AN X MADE H] S9CE %E WDN'T
MOVE !M4 ,R1*+ BACK1 HE GRA2$ H] H& F !
CANTLE & YANK$ X =W>D4 8,Y'RE FLOPP+ >.D
WORSE ?AN A FRE%-CAU<T FI%40
  8,I AM N40 ,%E TRI$ SNAT*+ H] H& AWAY
B HE REFUS$ 6LET G4
  8,! HELL Y A9'T10 HE SD1 8 VOICE GRAT+
L A SAW "? LUMB]4 8,:AT'S ! MATT] ) Y1
,MISS ,HI< & ,MI<TY ,PRUETT8 ,TOO DAMN
DA9TY 6RIDE ON ! SAME HORSE Z A MAN
KILL]8 ,WELL1 TOO BAD4 ,LOOKS L Y'RE
/UCK40
  ,9 A FLA%1 L "SBODY BLEW \ A C&LE1 %E
W5T /4 8,IS T :AT Y ?9K80
  ,MICAH ,SUTTON MAY H BE5 TW5TY-F\R
YE>S OLD1 B HE 0 ACT+ L A SNOT-NOS$1
BULLH1D$ KID4 ,A SULKY "O4 ,HE KNEW X (
HMF4 8,T'S ! WAY X SEEMS 6ME4 ,:Y ELSE
>E Y MAK+ YRF MIS]A#1 B\NC+ AL;G & LETT+
T LEG ( YRS WOB#8 ,I'VE N"E _H A BULLET
HOLE 9 ME1 B ,I BE5 HURT (T5 5 6"K Y'RE
ONLY MAK+ X WORSE4 ,TOO BLAM$ PR\D EV5
6LOOK AF YRF1 >5'T Y80
  8,T'S N--0 %E SD1 & BROKE (F4
  8,N :AT80                         #AIJ
  8,NO?+40
  ,N[ %E 0 2+ ! SULKY "O4
  8,IF Y'LL HANG ON 6ME10 HE SD1 8,I C
RIG MY ROPE 96A BRACE S YR LEG DON'T
DANGLE L T4 ,KEEP ON L Y >E & X'LL 2
SWOLE BIG Z A /UMP 2F WE GET 6T[N40
  ,%E 0 SIL5T Z %E WRAPP$ H] >MS >.D 8
MI4LE4 8,ALL "R10 %E !N SD1 L %E 0 DO+
HM A FAVOR4 8,I DON'T WANT CRIPPL$4 ,I H
NO 9T5;N ( 2+ A DRAG ON Y :5 WE G AF
,K+40
  8,"! A9'T NO WE AB X4 ,I'M GO+ AF !
HORSE4 ,Y A9'T 9VIT$40
  ,HE :OA$ ,/ICK]1 UNTI$ 8 ROPE F ! POM-
MEL & BUILT A D\# LOOP T WD SUPPORT BO?
! BALL ( H] FOOT &! HEEL4 ,NEXT1 HE
%ORT5$ ! ROPE1 FITT+ X 6! L5G? ( H] LEG1
UNTIL ! WEI<T CAME (F4 ,%E RELAX$ SU45LY
)A LL :IMP] & HE NUDG$ ,/ICK] 96A WALK
AG4
  8,GLORY1 ,SUTTON4 ,?ANK Y4 ,T FEELS M*
BETT]40
  ,HE GRUNT$4 ,:Y %D %E S.D SURPRIS$8 ,&
:Y ! HELL %D HE FEEL GRATIFI$8 ,B "H 0 A
/RANGE TURN4 ,%E WASN'T >GU+ AB     #AIA
GO+ AF ! BAY1 AN UN"*I/IC =BE>.E HE H>D-
LY EXPECT$4 ,X 0 5 6MAKE A MAN SIT UP &
TAKE NOTICE4





















                                    #AIB
























               ,*APT] #AB           #AIC

  ,TONASKET _H GR[N S9CE ! LA/ "T ,MICAH
PASS$ ? WAY4 ,A SPUR (! ,GRT ,NOR!RN
,RAILROAD RAN "? "H N[4 ,A R1L HOTEL &
ANO!R BO>D+H\SE _H SPRUNG UP 6S]VE !
RAILROAD'S PASS5G]S1 AL;G )A GROC]Y &A
?IRD1 FALSE-FRONT$ SALOON4 ,UNPA9T$ LUM-
B] SMELL$ RAW & PIT*Y1 B ! /REET 0 /
RUTT$ & DU/Y4 ,A SEC;N ( BO>DWALK 9
FRONT (! NEW HOTEL MADE AN ATTEMPT AT
MOD]N ELEG.E H>D 6MA9TA9 :5 *ALL5G$ BY
WILD-LIV+ C[H&S & M9]S FOLL[+ ! OLD ,C>-
IBOO ,TRAIL 96,CANADA4
  ,MICAH F.D ! T[N M>%AL'S (FICE SITUAT$
3V5I5TLY NEXT DOOR 6"O (! SALOONS4 ,MADE
LIFE EASY =! M>%AL4 ,ALL HE _H 6D 0 /EP
\ 8 DOOR & SEE :AT ! LATE/ -MO;N 0 AB4
  ,! M>E'S BURD5 DREW A CR[D EV5 2F ,MI-
CAH 4M.T$4
  8,:O Y GOT "!80 ,A TALL MAN WE>+ A
HUGE1 UNTIDY MU/A*E PU%$ "? ! GA!R+ (
CURI\S ONLOOK]S4 ,A %IELD-%AP$ BADGE
MADE ( DULL GRAY METAL 0 P9N$ 6HIS VE/4
  ,MICAH SWUNG 8 LEG >.D 6! FRONT 6AVOID
KNOCK+ 96,C>OL9E1 & SLID F !        #AID
HORSE4 8,I 0 HOP+ Y MI<T TELL ME1 M>%AL4
,ALL ,I "K IS T HE BU%:ACK$ ME & ? GIRL
LA/ NI<T4 ,8 "PN] GOT AWAY ) MY O!R
HORSE40
  ,2H HM1 ,C>OL9E'S BR1? HISS$1 AL? %E
_H ! WISDOM N 6SP1K4
  ,! M>%AL SURVEY$ ! LL CAVALCADE4 8,&
YR "N WD 2 '''80
  8,MICAH ,SUTTON F ! ,ALMA >EA4 ,US$ TO
"W = ,]NE/ ,FELG5HAU] 2F ,I GOT MY [N
PLACE4 ,? "H IS ,MISS ,C>OL9E ,PRUETT4
,%E HAILS F D[N NE> ,PAT]OS40
  8,HE>D ( ,FELG5HAU]4 ,HE>D (! ,PRU-
ETTS1 TOO4 ,_! /OCK1 ANYH[40 ,! M>%AL
LOOS5$ "O (! ?;GS HOLD+ ! BODY ON ! DUN
& WRE/L$ ! BLANKET ASIDE S HE CD /UDY
:AT 0 LEFT (! D1D MAN'S FACE4 ,8 LIPS
PURS$ & HE GRUNT$4 8,DUNNO40 ,TURN+ 6!
ONLOOK]S1 HE GE/UR$ ! NE>E/ 6-E =W>D4
8,Y "K HM1 ,JIM80
  ,JIM D5I$ ACQUA9T.E1 & N"O (! O!RS AD-
MITT$ X IF !Y DID1 ?\< "O ALL[$ Z H[ !
D1D MAN MI<T ONCE H BORN A PASS+ RESEM-
BL.E 6,M>%AL ,FIELD]1 HMF4
  ,FIELD] GR9N$ & J]K$ 8 ?UMB AT    #AIE
A C\PLE (! GAWK]S4 8,"H1 ,JIM1 & Y1
,PIKE4 ,Y BOYS HAUL ? FELL] OV] 6,HUEY'S
/ORAGE %$4 ,I'LL 2 OV] 6TAKE A LOOK AT
HM SOON Z ,I TALK 6^! FOLKS40
  ,MICAH HE>D ,C>OL9E PANT+ ) EF=T Z1
COPY+ ,MICAH'S E>LI] 4M.T1 %E GOT H]
/I65$ LEG OV] ! GRAY & CAME D[N 6L& ON
H] GD SIDE4 8,^? >E ! D1D MAN'S SA4LE-
BAGS 2H MY SA4LE ON ! O!R HORSE10 %E SD4
8,WE HAV5'T LOOK$ 9 !M4 ,HE MI<T 2 C>RY+
"S ID5TIFIC,N40
  ,FIELD] EY$ ,C>OL9E'S G>B Z HE SNA7$ !
SA4LEBAGS4 8,LOOKS L Y BE5 HURT1 "Y WOM-
AN40
  8,YES40 ,C>OL9E1 :O _H SE5 ! PRUD;E 9
RETIC;E1 DIDN'T EXP& ON ! "O ^W4
  8,GUN%OT80
  8,YES10 %E SD AG4
  8,I'LL BE4 ,:AT'S ? _W -+ TO80 ,! M>-
%AL SEEM$ 6ASSUME H] W.D 0 A PRODUCT (
LA/ NI<T'S ATTACK2 AN ASSUMP;N %E DIDN'T
TRY 64PEL4
  ,MICAH BIT BACK A WRY SMILE4 ,C>OL9E
,PRUETT 0 WILY Z A FEMALE COYOTE ) PUPS1
& T 0 ! PURE TRU?4 ,%E DIDN'T       #AIF
WANT ! RUN-IN )! ,KLOSKYS NOIS$ >.D4
  8,DON'T H A DOCTOR "H10 ,FIELD] SD )A
WORRI$ FR[N4 8,GOT A B"OSETT] &A MID-
WIFE1 IS ALL40
  ,C>OL9E PU%$ A /R& ( L;G1 LI<T HAIR F
H] FACE & SMIL$ /I6LY4 8,T'S ALL "R10 %E
SD4 8,I DON'T NE$ EI "O40
  ,FIELD] SI<$4 8,WELL !N1 -E ON 9 ! (-
FICE :ILE ,I LOOK "? ! D1D FELL]'S PL"U4
,I'LL TAKE A G&] "? MY PAP]S1 TOO4 ,SEE
IF ,I GOT ANY ^W ON HM40
  8,PAP]S80 ,C>OL9E LOOK$ AT ,MICAH Z
?\< ASK+ HM 6EXPLA91 B HE %RU7$4 ,! ONLY
PAP]S HE KNEW ANY?+ AB 7 ! PAP]S T TOLD
A HORSE'S BRE$+1 L ! "OS /UCK 9 8 POCKET
"R N[4 ,HE GUESS$ X 0 ! SAME ) ,C>OL9E4
  ,FIELD] H]D$ !M 96! T9Y (FICE1 ": AN
IRON-B>R$ DOOR DREW ATT5;N 6! BACK 5D (!
BUILD+4 ,HE MO;N$ ! GIRL 96! *AIR ACR F
HIS4 ,MICAH 0 3T5T 6L1N AG/ ! P9E SLAB
,FIELD] 0 US+ Z A DESK4 ,! M>%AL DIDN'T
G AF ! SA4LEBAGS "R AWAY4 ,"! 0 A WOOD5
CRACK] BOX 2N ! DESK T HE DRA7$ \ F/4 ,X
3TA9$ A 4ORGANIZ$ V>IETY ( DOCU;TS
CRAMM$ 9 E : WAY1 & HE PAW$ "? !    #AIG
LOT1 Z FUSSY Z A PACKRAT >RANG+ 8 /RAW
NE/4
  ,6,SUTTON'S SURPRISE1 )9 A FEW SEC-
ONDS1 ! LAWMAN DUG \ A PAP] BE>+ A DRAW+
(A MAN'S FACE & "S WRIT+ ON X4
  ,FIELD+ DELIB]AT$ =A M9UTE1 & !N TOSS$
! DOCU;T ONTO ! DESKTOP = BO? ( !M 6SEE4
8,?"\ ,I'D SE5 PAP] ON ? G5T4 ,TAKE A
LOOK4 ,?9K ? IS YR MAN80
  ,T EXPLA9$ ! PAP]4 ,C>OL9E L1N$ =W>D
AT ! SAME "T Z ,MICAH1 S !Y ALM KNOCK$
H1DS TGR4 ,! DRAW+ %[$ A MAN'S FACE2 A
L;G LANT]N JAW "PI,Y MODIFI$ 0?ICK SIDE-
BURNS & ?ICK] MU/A*E1 CLOSE-SET EYES1
BIG E>S &A REC$+ HAIRL9E1 AL? ! PROSE SD
HE 0 ONLY TW5TY-?REE YE>S OLD4 ,N EV5 Z
OLD Z ,MICAH4 ,&! WIT \TSIDE _H BE5 "R3
"! 0 "S SIMIL>;Y 2T ! D1D MAN & ,FIELD]4
  ,OSC> ,HAG]/ROM 0 ! MAN "ND ON ! PAP]4
,! DESCRIP;N SD HE 0 ?9 & #E;FT #AA@9
TALL4 ,! FA9T \TL9E (A BR&1 ! #C;,,XG1 0
BURN$ ON 8 LEFT BUTTOCK4 ,! AU?OR (! PA-
P] DIDN'T "K :O _H REGI/]$ ! BR&4 ,MICAH
_H A GUESS AB ! :O--! :Y 0 "S?+ ELSE4
  ,A SURPRIS$ 9HAL,N ESCAP$ ,C>O-   #AIH
L9E1 & ,MICAH'S M9D /UTT]$1 ?9K+ :AT
MI<T H BR"\ S* AN O4;Y 6PASS4
  ,OSC> 0 WANT$ = /1L+ LIVE/OCK 9 BO?
,IDAHO & ,WA%+TON /ATES1 ) A4I;NAL *>GES
( BANK RO2]Y1 ASSAULT & ATTEMPT$ MURD]4
,HE 0 DESCRIB$ Z A DESP]ATE MAN1 >M$ &
DANG]\S4 ,"! 0 A REW>D ON HM 9 ! AM.T (
"O HUNDR$ DOLL>S4
  ,C>OL9E'S H1D TURN$ CLOSE 5 6,MICAH T
HE CD SEE BLOND D[N ON H] *EEKS4
  8,"!'S A REW>D10 %E SD4
  8,S ,I SEE40 ,HE GR9N$4 8,"\A 2 EASY
6PROVE IF \R MAN IS ? ,OSC> ,HAG]/ROM OR
N40
  ,%E SAW ! HUMOR1 ALL "R4 ,A SMALL GUR-
GLE ( LAU<T] ERUPT$1 SURPRIS+ HM4
  8,LET'S G F9D \40 ,! M>%AL /OOD1 ,MI-
CAH /RAI<T5+ ) HM1 B :5 ,C>OL9E WD H
/RU7L$ 6H] FEET1 ! LAWMAN SD1 8,Y /AY
"H40
  ,IF ! M>%AL _HN'T TOLD H] 6REMA9 IN-
SIDE1 ,MICAH WD H1 SEE+ HE _H NO D\BT !
GIRL WD H TROMP$ "R \ 6GAZE AT ! D1D
MAN'S B>E BOTTOM )! RE/ ( !M IF N
4C\RAG$4                            #AII
  8,KEEP YR EYE ON ^! "H SA4LEBAGS :ILE
WE'RE G"O10 ,FIELD] SD4 8,X'S EVID;E4
,DON'T LET ANYBODY G RUMMAG+ "? "!40 ,!
ASSIGN;T MAY H MOLLIFI$ H] S5SE ( IN-
VOLVE;T1 2C = ONCE %E DIDN'T 4AGREE4
  8,ALL "R10 %E SD1 MEEKLY 5 = ANY WELL
BR"\ UP "Y LADY4 ,MICAH SUSPECT$ F !
LACK ( >GU;T %E M/ H A PRO#M1 "O BIG 5
6PREV5T H] USUAL C>P+4 ,9 FACT1 HE SUS-
PECT$ "S?+ _H BE5 EAT+ AT H] S9CE ?
MORN+1 "R AF HE'D -E BACK )! D1D MAN4
,"L ONLY KNEW :AT--%E 0 KEEP+ MUM4 ,ALL
HE KNEW 0 T %E'D BE5 SNAPPI% ALL "D1 EX-
CEPT = T "O SMALL LAU<4 ,N[ %E'D TURN$
QUIET AG4 ,:Y8

  ,C>OL9E ?"\ ? M/ 2 :AT H] T1*]S _H
M1NT :5 !Y SPOKE ( 8HORNS (A DILEMMA04
,9 S*OOL1 %E'D BE5 ! F/ 63TE/ "! EV5 0
S* A ?+--Y FAC$ YR PRO#MS & MADE A DECI-
.N4 ,:AT CD 2 SIMPL]8 ,ANYWAY1 :AT IS A
DILEMMA8 %E'D ASK$ H] T1*]4 ,0 X 0 A
HORN$ ANIMAL %E'D N"E HE>D ( OR MET8 ,H]
T1*] DIDN'T GET ! JOKE4
  ,WELL1 %E _HN'T MET ! CRITT]      #BJJ
!N4 ,N[ %E _H4 ,& %E F.D X 0 A SITU,N N
ONLY ) HORNS1 B AL A BITE4
  .,A .REW>D4 .,GLORY4 ,IF ONLY %E'D
WAIT$1 %E WDN'T H NE$$ 6TAKE ! \TLAW'S
M"OY4 ,%E 0 5TITL$ 6CLAIM HALF ! REW>D1
& :AT'S M1 %E BET ,SUTTON WD GIVE X 6H]
)\T ANY 4PUTE4 ,AF ALL1 _HN'T %E'D BE5
FI<T+ "R AL;GSIDE HM1 TRY+ 6SAVE BO? ,K+
& !MVS8 ,%E 0 C]TA9 HE'D 2 FAIR4 ,EV5 IF
! HALF DIDN'T ADD UP 6Z M* Z %E'D F.D 9
! POKE1 H"O/Y SET BETT] ON H] 3SCI;E4
  ,ON ! O!R H&1 ,SUTTON MI<T N H %>$4
,HE 0 B.D ,K+ 2L;G$ 6HM4 ,CD 2 9 8 M9D T
! LESS M"OY %E _H1 ! LESS LIKELY %E WD1
OR CD1 OPPOSE HM4 ,S :AT IF HE'D KEPT H]
%>E8 ,MAYBE %E ._H FOLL[$ ! "R C\RSE4
,H;E ! HORN$ DILEMMA4
  ,ALL %E KNEW 0 T ! FIVE GOLD CO9S DIS-
TRIBUT$ AM;G H] POCKETS FELT Z ?\< !Y 7
BURN+ HOLES "R "? 6! SK94 ,BLOOD M"OY M/
2 POISON\S4
  ,& !N X 0 TOO LATE 6*ANGE H] M9D & PUT
! M"OY BACK IF %E'D WANT$1 =! ?UD ( M5'S
BOOTS P.D$ HOLL[LY ON ! BO>DWALK \TSIDE4
,MICAH1 ,C>OL9E SAW Z HE 5T]$1 _H   #BJA
TURN$ PEA-GRE5 >.D ! GILLS4 ,SEEM$ HE
_HN'T LIK$ LOOK+ AT 8 [N H&I"W4 ,%E KNEW
! FEEL+4
  8,IS X HM80 %E ASK$1 ) LL REG>D = H]
HI<-CLASS ,EA/]N $UC,N & 9TRODUC;N 96!
,5GLI% LANGUAGE4
  ,MICAH'S M\? TI<T5$4 8,X'S HM4 ,GOT A
#C;,,XG ON 8 ASS1 PLA9 Z "D40 ,HE />T$ &
MUTT]$1 8,SORRY4 ,GOTTA WAT* :AT ,I'M
SAY+40
  8,WOND] :AT ! #C;,,XG BUSI;S IS80
,FIELD] SD1 S1T+ HMF 2H ! DESK 9 A *AIR
) SMALL BRASS :EELS ON ! LEGS4 8,MI<TY
/RANGE SPOT =A TATTOO IF Y ASK ME4
,WELL10 HE %RU7$ ! "Q AWAY4 8,NO MATT]4
,T'S \R WANT$ MAN1 ALL "R4 ,SUTTON1
LOOKS L Y GOT A REW>D DUE Y4 ,PUBLIC
S]VICE 6! :OLE ( ,WA%+TON ,/ATE1 0GOR-
RY40
  ,MICAH %OOK 8 H1D4 8,GIVE ! REW>D 6!
GIRL1 M>%AL4 ,I DON'T WANT X40
  ,C>OL9E NE>LY FA9T$ ON ! SPOT4 ,DAMN
HM6 ,:AT DID HE ?9K HE 0 DO+1 ?R[+ GD
M"OY AWAY8 ,0 ? A TRAP8
  8,Z 6! BR& ON ? G5T'S BACK-       #BJB
SIDE10 ,SUTTON 0 SAY+1 8,I GOT A !ORY AB
T40
  8,:Y GIVE ME ! M"OY80 ,C>OL9E BROKE
IN4 8,HALF4 ,AT L1/ TAKE HALF1 ,SUTTON40
  8,NOPE40 ,MICAH'S M\? TILT$ AT "O COR-
N]1 Z IF HE 7 SNE]+ AT HMF4 8,DON'T L !
IDEA ( GETT+ PD 6KILL A MAN40
  ,! M>%AL FR[N$ Z HE L1N$ =W>D 9 8
*AIR1 SCRAP$ A MAT* ON ! "USIDE (! TA# &
HELD ! FLAME 6A ?9 *]OOT4 ,HE PU6$ DEEP-
LY TWO OR ?REE "TS4 8,X A9'T L "SBODY PD
Y 6G HUNT ! MAN D[N10 HE PO9T$ \4 8,? "H
IS A REW>D = RI4+ ! C.TRY ( V]M9 BE5
PREY+ ON X40
  8,I "K40 ,MICAH SAT ON A CORN] (! DESK
& SWUNG 8 LEG4 ,HE NO4$ T[>DS ,C>OL9E4
8,%E NE$S ! M"OY WORSE ?AN ,I D1 M>%AL4
,DON'T NE$ ANY O!R R1SON40
  ,%OCK LEFT ,C>OL9E OP5M\!D4 ,:Y8 ,DID
,SUTTON FEEL GUILTY AB TAK+ ,K+ & !N
LOS+ HM8 ,T WD 2 H] BET4
  ,FIELD] US$ ! /UB (A P5CIL & MADE A
NOTE ON ! WANT$ PO/]4 8,YR CALL4 ,DON'T
MATT] N"O 6ME4 ,TAKE ! AU?ORIZ,N ?REE OR
F\R "DS 6GET "H ANYWAYS1 !N Y C     #BJC
DRAW X ON AB ANY BANK4 ,Y FOLKS PLAN ON
/AY+ >.D80
  8,N ME40 ,MICAH DROPP$ 8 FOOT 6! FLOOR
& /OOD UP1 L HE'D D"O 8 DUTY & CDN'T
WAIT 6GET GO+4 8,J ! GIRL4 ,I'LL 2 )!
POSSE :5 !Y TAKE \ AF T HORSE ?IEF40
  ,Z M* Z ,C>OL9E FELT L FL>+ UP & YELL+
AT HM1 %E HELD H] P1CE4 ,LET HM H 8 SAY4
,NO S5SE PUTT+ HM ON GU>D4 ,HE'D BE5 GD
AB ! REW>D4 ,TOO GD1 L HE 0 BUY+ H] (F4
,S4 ,LET HM ?9K HE'D WON--= N[4
  8,WELL1 ,MR4 ,SUTTON10 ,FIELD] SD SL[-
LY1 %IFT+ UNEASILY 9 8 *AIR4 8,F/ ?+S
F/4 ,SUPPOSE Y TELL ME ? !ORY ( YRS4
,:AT D Y ?9K T BR& M1NS80
  ,MICAH M/'VE _H 8 ANSW] ALL ?"\ \1 =
HE SD IMMLY1 8,I ?9K ! ;,G /&S = ,GRE5-
LEI<1 : IS :AT \R SUSPECT$ HORSE RU/L]
SAYS 8 "N IS4 ,I'D SAY ! BR& IS 8 WAY (
ID5TIFY+ 8 BOYS4 ,MAY 2 A PRACTICAL
JOKE1 'C\RSE1 B ,I DON'T ?9K S40
  8,M ?AN LIKELY "!'S A :OLE GANG10 ,C>-
OL9E A4$4 8,&! BR& IS A SYMBOL UNIT+
!M40
  ,FIELD] WA7$ 8 H1D4 8,S.DS F>     #BJD
FET*$ 6ME40
  8,OH1 ,I DON'T "K4 ,REMEMB]1 ,SUTTON80
,%E TURN$ 6,MICAH4 8,GRE5LEI< 0 TALK+ AB
A GANG1 & AB H[ ! CATTLEM5 7 2+ RO2$ OV]
9 ,L9COLN ,C.TY4 ,I'LL BET HE 0 TALK+ AB
HMF1 ALL "R1 B WE ?"\ HE 0 ! "O GETT+
RO2$ :5 HE 0 ACTU,Y ! "O DO+ ! RO2+40
  8,BETT] WAT* T WAG]+10 ,SUTTON -;T$4
,A FA9T GR9 /RET*$ 8 M\?4 8,MI<T GET Y 9
TR\#40
  ,C>OL9E FLU%$1 H1T SPR1D+ OV] H] *EEK-
B"OS4 ,%E CLAMM$ UP 2F H] TEMP] GOT !
BE/ ( H] & %E SPOKE \ RA%LY4 ,HE _H TO
PICK AT H]1 B %E NOTIC$ HE WASN'T 4A-
GREE+ ) H] !ORY4
  8,AB ! POSSE--0 ,MICAH SD1 L HE 0
WAIT+ = ,FIELD] 6JUMP 9 & GET AT X4
  ,FIELD] HEMM$ & HAW$4 8,I DON'T "K AB
RAIS+ A POSSE1 ,SUTTON4 ,I'M T[N M>%AL1
IS ALL4 ,T M1NS ,I KEEP ! P1CE "H 9
,TONASKET4 ,I DON'T H ! AU?OR;Y 6GET UP
A POSSE4 ,& IF YR HORSE ?IEF GOES 9TO
,CANADA L MO/ (! RU/L]S :O -E "? "H1 X
M1NS NO ,U4,S4 LAWMAN IS GONNA H ANY
JURISDIC;N IF WE D CAT* HM4 ,WE     #BJE
C'T G 96,CANADA & >RE/ A MAN4 ,Y'D BE/
WAIT =! %]IFF \ ( ,OMAK1 SEE :AT HE SAYS
6D40
  ,MICAH SC[L$4 8,Y M1N ! LAW IS GONNA
SIT ON XS DUFF & IGNORE MY MISS+ HORSE80
  8,I DIDN'T SAY T1 ,SUTTON4 ,Y J TIE A
KNOT 9 X & WE'LL SEE :AT ,%]IFF ,PRIT*>D
C SU7E/4 ,M1N:ILE1 ,I'LL S5D ! ,NOR?-
,WE/ ,M.T$ ,POLICE A TELEGRAM1 ASK+ !M
6WAT* ! BORD] = YR HORSE40 ,FIELD] BUSI$
HMF ) 8 P5CIL1 -POS+ A MESSAGE ON ! FLAP
( AN 5VELOPE4 8,:AT DID Y SAY HE LOOK$
L80
  ,MICAH :IPP$ (F 8 HAT & ?UMP$ 8 LEG )
X1 AN IMPATI5T GE/URE T DIV]T$ ,FIELD]'S
ATT5;N F ! MESSAGE4
  8,I A9'T WAIT9'10 ,SUTTON ANN\NC$4
8,FI4LE F>T >.D ANY L;G] & HE'LL 2 G"O =
GD40
  8,N[ WAIT A M9UTE1 ,SUTTON4 ,DON'T Y G
(F HALF-COCK$40 ,FIELD] /OOD UP1 TOO1 &
SQU9T$ AT ,MICAH4 8,:AT'S T SCRAT* 9 YR
H1D80
  ,MICAH DIDN'T S M* Z BL9K4 8,TANGL$ )A
%E-CAT40                            #BJF
  ,C>OL9E HISS$4
  8,Y1H80 ,FIELD] TOOK HM AT 8 ^W4
8,WELL1 X LOOKS L ! %E-CAT WON4 ,PROBA-
BLY :AT IS KEEP9' Y F ?9K+ /RAI<T4 ,Y
HOLD ON & TALK )! %]IFF 2F Y PULL "S
DUMB /UNT4 ,? ,GRE5LEI< DON'T EXACTLY
S.D L "S LL PUSSYCAT1 EI40
  ,C>OL9E 0 2G9N+ 6?9K ,M>%AL ,FIELD] A
MO/ S5SI# MAN4
  ,B NO?+ CD HOLD ,MICAH 9 T[N :5 HE
KNEW ,GRE5LEI< 0 GETT+ F>!R AWAY 0! H\R4
,%E CD H TOLD ! M>%AL ,SUTTON 0 B.D 6GET
FIDGETY J SITT+4 ,HE ROCK$ BACK & =? ON
8 BOOT HEELS & SPUN 8 HAT A FEW "TS ON A
=EF+]1 !N ABRUPTLY REPLAC$ ! HAT & LEFT4
,WALK$ \ ! DOOR1 J L T1 )\T ANO!R ^W4
  ,C>OL9E KNEW ": HE 0 GO+4 ,HE DIDN'T
NE$ 6MAKE AN ANN\NCE;T4
  ,FIELD] GAWK$ "? ! DOORWAY 6": ,MICAH
_H UNTI$ 8 GRAY & ALR SWUNG A/RIDE4
8,:AT'S HE ?9K HE'S DO+80
  ,C>OL9E LIMP$ OV] 6": %E CD WAT*4 8,I
IMAG9E HE'S GO+ AF MY HORSE40
  ,! M>%AL %OT H] A SURPRIS$ GL.E4 8,OH4
,S N[ X'S .YR HORSE8 ,?"\ X 2L;G$   #BJG
6,SUTTON40
  8,"!'S "S 3TROV]SY REG>D+ ! [N]%IP10
,C>OL9E ADMITT$1 Z DEMURE & GUILE.S Z A
WOMAN 9 H] TATT]$ 3DI;N CD BE4 8,WE'RE
"W+ ON A SOLU;N40
  ,SUTTON _H LEFT ! DUN HIT*$ 6! RAIL4
,!Y _HN'T TOLD ! M>%AL AB ,GRE5LEI< SAY+
! DUN 0 A /OL5 HORSE1 ,C>OL9E REMEMB]$1
AN IDEA /IRR+ 9 H] M9D4 ,Z F> Z ! LAWMAN
KNEW1 ! OLD M>E 2L;G$ 6H]4 ,%E DIDN'T
SEE T X 0 UP 6H] 6TELL HM ANY DI6]5TLY4
  ,SUTTON _H PLANN$ ALL AL;G 6DUMP H] !
F/ 3V5I5T PLACE !Y CAME TO1 %E R1LIZ$1
ANG] BURN+ H] ALR %ORT FUSE D[N 6A NUB4
,B FUR!R /UDY BR"\ ! 2LIEF 8 DE"PURE
SUIT$ H] PURPOSE1 Z WELL4 ,BETT]1 PROBA-
BLY1 ?AN IF HE'D HUNG >.D4
  ,C>OL9E BRISKLY TURN$ F ! DOOR4 8,I'LL
BET X WD 2 HELP;L IF WE LOOK$ "? ,HAG]-
/ROM'S SA4LEBAGS10 %E SU7E/$ 6! M>%AL4
8,SEE IF "!'S O!R NEWS 6ADD 6! MESSAGE
Y'RE WRIT+ ! ,M.T$ ,POLICE40
  ,FIELD] SLAMM$ HMF AL;GSIDE 8 TEMPLE )
! HEEL ( 8 H&4 8,I'D =GOT ALL AB !M40
,HE W5T OV] & LIFT$ ! BAGS F 2N !   #BJH
DESK & SCATT]$ ! 3T5TS ONTO ! SC>R$ TOP4
  ,:ILE ,C>OL9E WAT*$1 HE PAW$ "? ! PILE
( EXTRA SOCKS &A SP>E %IRT1 A P5CIL /UB
&A FEW %EETS ( GRAYI% PAP]1 A SMIDGEON (
SOAP &A /RAI<T RAZOR1 AN 5VELOPE NEW 5 N
6H WORN ?9 Z YET1 &! BANK POKE EMPTI$ (
CO9S4
  ,! POKE GRA2$ ! M>%AL'S 9T]E/4 ,C>OL9E
0 DRAWN 6! 5VELOPE4 ,%E _H NO TR\# R1D+
! A4RESS EV5 WR;G WAY UP4 .,OLLIE
.,/ROMB]G1 X SD4 ..,C>E ( ,WILLIAM
,GRE5LEI<1 ,W5AT*EE1 .,WA%+TON4 ,W5AT*EE
--N ,L9COLN4
  8,LOOK "H1 M>%AL40 ,%E PO9T$ AT ! LR4
8,:AT D Y MAKE ( ?80
  ,HE 0 F+]+ ! EMPTY BAG1 FOLL[+ 8 [N
TRA9 ( ?"\4 ,ABRUPTLY1 HE SAT D[N4
8,WOND] :AT HE 0 C>RY+ ? >.D =1 EMPTY L
X IS8 ,WE DIDN'T F9D M ?AN TW5TY-FIVE
DOLL>S 9 ,HAG]/ROM'S POCKETS40
  ,C>OL9E'S FACE BURN$4 ,%E FELT C]TA9
GUILT M/ 2 WRITT5 ALL OV] X4 8,I GUESS Y
DON'T NE$ A SACK = TW5TY-FIVE DOLL>S4 ,X
LOOKS L A H&Y LL BAG =A FEW POSSI#S1
?\<40                               #BJI
  8,SAYS X CAME F ,L9COLN ,C.TY ,BANK4
,WOND] IF T'S "O (! BANKS HE RO2$80
  8,IF HE RO2$ A BANK4 ,? IS /RANGE4 ,?
LR CAME F ,W5AT*EE1 B IS A4RESS$ 6"S"O
ELSE40 ,C>OL9E'S ^WS TUM#D OV] "O ANO!R1
9 A HURRY 6MAKE H] PO9T4 8,I ?9K Y %D
R1D X4 ,MAYBE X'LL SAY :Y HE'S C>RY+ !
BAG >.D40 ,T LA/ "P 0 SUPPOS$ 6-E \ L A
SU7ES;N1 B EV5 9 H] [N E>S X S.D$ PRE-
EMPTORY4
  ,FIELD] F+]$ ! LR Z ?OR\<LY Z HE _H !
CLO? BAG & F9,Y "W$ ! S+LE %EET ( PAP] \
(! 5VELOPE4 8,OLLIE ,/ROMB]G10 HE GRUNT-
$1 A4+ AF AN AGONIZ+ L5G? ( "T1 8,WELL1
:AT D Y "K80
  ,HE SCANN$ ! SIGNATURE L9E ) "PICUL>
C>E4 8,SAYS X'S F ? "H ,GRE5LEI< Y FOLKS
BE5 TELL+ ME AB4 ,WOND] :Y HE'D S5D X TO
,HAG]/ROM "U A FALSE "N1 B 9 C>E ( HMF80
  ,C>OL9E REFRA9$ F SCR1M+4 8,2C ,HAG]-
/ROM "WS--"W$ = ,GRE5LEI<4 ,:AT DOES !
LR SAY80 ,%E 0 TEMPT$ 6SNAT* ! LR F HM &
R1D X \ L\D4
  ,! M>%AL 0 3C5TRAT+ TOO H>D 6ANSW] "R
AWAY4 ,8 LIPS MOV$ Z HE TOLD !      #BAJ
^WS SIL5TLY 6HMF1 & %E SAW 8 ALR SQU9TY
EYES N>R[ EV5 M4
  8,:AT DOES X SAY80 %E ASK$ AG4 .,GLO-
RY6 ,HE'D _H "T 6R1D ! NOTE ?REE "TS
OV]1 SEE+ "! 0 ONLY "O PAGE4
  ,AT LA/ HE BLEW ! AIR F 8 LUNGS & SD1
8,WELL1 N[4 ,Y OR ,SUTTON "K ? ,GRE5LEI<
F 2F80
  ,C>OL9E %OOK H] H1D4 8,N ,I4 ,I DON'T
?9K ,SUTTON DID1 EI4 ,:Y80
  ,! M>%AL GRUNT$4 8,I SUPPOSE Y NOTIC$
? LR DIDN'T G "? ! MAIL40
  8,X DIDN'T80 ,%E DIDN'T "U/& :AT HE 0
GETT+ AT4
  8,NOPE4 ,GOT A /AMP & AN A4RESS1 B NO
PO/M>K4 ,SEEMS Z IF ? 5VELOPE HAS BE5
PASS$ H& 6H& )\T B5EFIT (! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES
,PO/ ,(FICE40
  8,:AT '''0 %E 2GAN1 B ! M>%AL CUT IN4
  8,X SAYS3 ..,HAG]/ROM1 "!'S BE5 A
*ANGE ( PLAN4 ,MEET ME FIVE MILES NOR? (
T[N AT ! LOOP 9 ! RIV] TM NI<T4 ,BR+
PL5TY ( L1D4 ,I'VE GOT TWO TR\#"S CU/OM-
]S = Y1 MALE & FEMALE4 ,RIDE ! OLD M>E4
,Y'LL H A BETT] RIDE ON ! WAY 6!    #BAA
HOT SPR+S4 ,WE'LL RE/ \R B"OS =! W9T]
."!4 ,X'S SIGN$1 .,GRE5LEI<40
  ,FIELD] LOOK$ UP AT H] & GR9N$4 8,:E!R
Y OR ,SUTTON "K ,GRE5LEI< OR N1 X APPE>S
HE "KS Y4 ,DON'T SEEM Z ?\< HE APPROVES
YR "*1 EI Y OR ,SUTTON40
  8,MY GD;S10 ,C>OL9E SD1 M* /RUCK 0!
^W+ 9 ! LR4 8,8,BR+ PL5TY ( L1D40' ,?
PROVES ,GRE5LEI< TRI$ 6H ,MICAH & ME
MURD]$1 DOESN'T X8 ,S HE CD /1L ,K+40
  ,! M>%AL FOLD$ ! LR BACK ON XS CR1SES
& REPLAC$ X 9 ! 5VELOPE4 ,HE %RU7$4 8,IF
,I 0 A JUDGE & DIDN'T "K NO DI6]5T1 ,I
MI<T SAY ? DON'T M1N SQUAT4 ,HE CD 2
TALK+ AB ANY?+ 9 ! _W4 ,B F :AT Y FOLKS
TELL ME1 ,I'D 2 9CL9$ 6SAY1 ,8YEP1 ? "H
IS PRO(40' ,EV5 M5;NS ! HORSE1 9 AN "U-
H&$ WAY40
  8,I / DON'T "U/& :AT HE HOPES 6GA940
,C>OL9E /RET*$ H] A*+ LEG1 GRIMAC+ UN-
3SCI\SLY ) PA94 8,:AT MAKES HM S ALL-
FIR$ DET]M9$ 6H ,K+8 ,HE DOESN'T H ! PA-
P]S4 ,& :ILE ,K+ IS AN ADMIRA# CR1TURE
%[N ALL 0HMF1 HE'S M* M :5 HE'S BACK$ 0!
BLOODL9E ON 8 P$IGREE40             #BAB
  ,FIELD] /OOD UP4 8,I C'T TELL Y1 ,MISS
,PRUETT4 ,"S ( ^! BAD M5 L 6CUT A DA%+
FIGURE4 ,Y DID SAY ,GRE5LEI< 0 WE>+ AN
EXP5SIVE SUIT ( CLO!S1 DIDN'T Y8 ,HE
PROBABLY LIKES 6RIDE A F9E HORSE1 TOO4
  8,I'LL 2 H1D+ D[N 6! TELEGRAPH (FICE )
! MESSAGE =! ,CANADIAN POLICE4 ,RECKON
Y'LL 2 PUTT+ UP AT ! HOTEL UNTIL Y'RE
FEEL+ BETT]1 WON'T Y8 ,I'LL L1VE ^W "! &
AT ! /ORE &! LIV]Y AB ! B.TY ON ,HAG]-
/ROM4 ,DON'T Y WORRY4 ,%DN'T 2 ANY TR\#
OV] YR BILLS40 ,HE MANAG$ A PAT ON H]
%\LD]1 !N LEFT )\T WAIT+ =A REPLY4
  ,C>OL9E FOLL[$ M SL[LY4 ,! PACE SUIT$
H] & GAVE ! M>%AL A *.E 6SPR1D ! ^W4 ,A
TWIT*Y GR9 KEPT TU7+ AT H] LIPS4 ,SUTTON
_H SET \ 9 A HURRY ALL UNPREP>$1 ":AS %E
_H M"OY &A DIREC;N 6FOLL[4 ,%E _H A
HORSE1 &! M>%AL Z H] ALLY :O 0 MAK+ !
HUNT EASY = H]4 ,) :AT %E KNEW1 %E 0 B.D
6F9D ,GRE5LEI< 2F ,SUTTON4



               ,*APT] #AC           #BAC

  ,H\RS FL[$ 0Z ,MICAH FOLL[$ ,K+'S
TRACKS4 ,A MILE PA/ LA/ NI<T'S CAMP1 HE
SAW ": ,GRE5LEI< _H RE9$ ! /UD IN4 ,S9CE
!N1 ! TRACKS %[$ ! EV5 /RIDE (A HORSE )A
L;G WAY 6G1 TRAVEL+ NO FA/] ?AN A /1DY
WALK4 ,UP 6? PO9T1 ! TRAIL LAY CLOSE
AL;G ! ,OKANOGAN ,RIV]4 ,N[1 Z ,MICAH
TOPP$ A RISE1 X BRAN*$ (F4 ,F ! HI<] EL-
EV,N1 HE SAW ,OSOYOOS ,LAKE LY+ PLACID A
C\PLE MILES F>!R ON1 ! WAT] A CLE>
GRE5I%-BLUE 9 COLOR4
  ,HE SMELL$ ! V]DANT VEGET,N F ": HE
WAS1 & AN ODOR ( FI% SMOK+ OV] A COTTON-
WOOD FIRE4 ,9DIANS DRY+ ,KOKANEE1 HE
SUPPOS$4 ,N"O ( 8 BUSI;S1 L;G Z X WASN'T
,GRE5LEI<4
  ,8 "Q 0 ": DID ,GRE5LEI< PLAN ON SET-
TL+ :ILE HE WAIT$ = ANY POSSI# FUROR TO
DIE D[N8 ,WD HE G EA/ T[>D ,NELSON OR
,=T ,/EELE8 ,NOR? 6,KEL[NA OR ,KAMLOOPS8
,OR MAYBE WE/1 6! COA/ &! BIG PORT C;Y (
,VANC\V]8 ,MICAH WI%$ HE KNEW4 ,HE'D PUT
,/ICK] 96A LOPE & 2 SETT9' "! WAIT+ =!
SONSABIT* :5 HE %[$ UP4             #BAD
  ,NOR?1 HE DECID$4 ,T[>D ! GOLD CAMPS4
,T\*+ SPURS 6,/ICK]'S RIBS1 ,MICAH GUID$
! HORSE "? ?ICK /&S ( TREES & BRU% T[>D
! ,CANADIAN BORD]4

  ,C>OL9E L$ ! DUN M>E AWAY F ! M>%AL'S
(FICE & D[N ! /REET 6! LIV]Y1 9T5T ON
BUY+ ! OLD GAL A BAIT ( OATS & LETT+ H]
RE/4 ,! IDEA T %E _H ! M"OY 6FE$ ! HORSE
Z WELL Z H]F NE>LY MADE H] GI4Y4 ,UN.S !
GI4I;S 0 CAUS$ 0H] [N HUNG]1 %E REFLECT-
$1 H] /OMA* RUMBL+4 ,J 2Y ! LIV]Y 0 !
ONLY HOTEL 9 T[N1 ! SELF-PROCLAIM$ ,GR&
,HOTEL4
  8,GR&0 0 A MISNOM]1 %E SOON 4COV]$4
,AT L1/ 0T[N /&>DS4 ,! BOTTOM /ORY 0
BUILT ( LOGS2 ! TOP1 ( BO>D & BATT54
,FIVE SMALL W9D[S ID5TIFI$ ! ":ABS ( EA*
ROOM4 ,?REE-QU>T]S (! GR.D FLOOR 0 GIV5
OV] 6A B> &A FEW GAMBL+ TA#S--,C>OL9E
V[$ %E'D KEEP H] 4T.E F ^?4 ,! REMA9+
QU>T] _H ! C.T] ": %E F.D A REGI/] TO
SIGN4 ,PIGEONHOLES 3TA9+ GUE/ KEYS &
MESSAGES 7 2H ! C.T]4 ,A H&-LR$ SIGN
LI/$ PRICES1 :ILE ANO!R DIRECT$     #BAE
H] 6R+ ! BELL4
  ,! B>T5D] ANSW]$ ! RAUC\S NOISE4 ,A
FEW DR9K+ CU/OM]S TURN$ 6WAT*4 ,! M1SURE
( RESPECTABIL;Y %E EMANAT$ 0 MIRROR$ 9 !
B>T5D]'S EXPRES.N Z HE EXAM9$ H]4 ,%E
KNEW H[ %E LOOK$4 ,HAIR A RAT'S NE/1
FACE & H&S GRIMY1 CLO!S BLOODY & %OT
FULL ( HOLES4 ,& M5'S CLO?+ AT T4
  ,IF HE WANT$ 6SUM H] UP 9 "O ^W1 %E
?"\1 ! "O PROP] ^W 0 EASY 6F9D4 ,4REPU-
TA#4 ,! -PLETE ANTI!SIS ( FEM99E DECO-
RUM4
  8,M>%AL ,FIELD] CAME 0A BIT AGO10 !
B>T5D]-CL]K SD4 8,HE SD 6SET Y UP )A
ROOM4 ,I'LL TAKE X \ (! B.TY M"OY Y GOT
-+ 6Y40 ,HE GAVE H] A SLY W9K4 8,FIELD]
SD T O!R FELLA1 ! "O T %OT ! \TLAW1
TURN$ ! :OLE AM.T OV] 6Y4 ,G5]\S ( HM40
  ,C>OL9E'S FACE BURN$1 SCOR*+ ) H1T Z
BLOOD RU%$ 96X4 8,HE US$ MY GUN40 ,%E
GUESS$ T EXPLAN,N WASN'T ANY BETT] ?AN !
R1SONS HE ?"\ UP = HMF Z 6:Y A MAN WD
GIVE A WOMAN M"OY4
  8,Y1H8 ,WELL1 J FANCY40 ,8 M\? SMIRK$
"U A MU/A*E L UNPRUN$ B]RY BU%ES4   #BAF
8,I HE>D Y & HM1 ? ,SUTTON FELL]1 0
CAMP$ \ 9 ! WOODS LA/ NI<T :5 ! \TLAW
/>T$ %OOT+40
  ,C>OL9E SNAT*$ ! P5 HE H&$ H] & SIGN$
H] "N 9 ! REGI/]1 CROSS+ ! D\# ;T'S )A
H>D1 BOLD DA%4
  8,I'LL WANT A BA?10 %E SD4 8,A HOT
BA?40 ,8 SMIRK CAME AG1 & H] EYES N>R[$4
8,IN MY ROOM4 ,BR+ A TUB40 ,%E'D HE>D1
:5 4GUIS$ Z A BOY1 A C\PLE ( M5 4CUSS+ !
P9PO9T HOLES BOR$ "? ! WALLS ( HOTEL
BA?H\SES1 PUT "! 6PROVIDE ! CURI\S )A
PEEP %[4
  ,HE %RU7$4 8,X'S YR DOLL>40
  ,>.D SUPP]"T1 BA!D &) H] HAIR >RANG$ 9
A SEV]E KNOT ON TOP ( H] H1D1 ,C>OL9E
REAPPE>$4 ,B EV5 CL1NLI;S C\PL$ )! DONN+
(A DIVID$ RID+ SKIRT &A FRE% :ITE WAI/1
CD N MAKE H] 96A LADY4 ,N 9 ! EYES (A
T[N DET]M9$ 6F9D VICE ": "! IS N"O4
  ,! %ORT5$ "DS ( AUTUMN _H BR"\ DUSK
E>LY 6! T[N4 ,! CRISP *ILL 9 ! AIR MADE
,C>OL9E %IV] Z %E V5TUR$ \ LOOK+ = H]
D9N]4 ,TN WD 2 WICK$LY COLD4 ,%E DIDN'T
5VY ,SUTTON1 CAMP+ \4               #BAG
  ,! SECOND BUILD+ D[N ! /REET F ! HOTEL
0 A CAFE4 ,BLUE & :ITE *ECK$ CURTA9S
HUNG OV] ! W9D[S4 ,LAMPS _H BE5 LIT IN-
SIDE1 A SMALL "O ON E TA#4 ,! YELL[ GL[
%"O A WELCOME "? ! GLASS & FOLKS 7 ALR
L9+ UP \TSIDE ! DOOR4 ,IF P 7 WILL+ 6=M
A L9E & WAIT = _! SUPP]1 %E FIGUR$ !
FOOD M/ 2 GD4
  ,%E TOOK H] PLACE AT ! 5D1 9*+ =W>D Z
! PROCES.N MOV$4 ,AT F/1 ! GAPS ON EI
SIDE ( H] ESCAP$ H] NOTICE4 ,!N !Y
DIDN'T4
  ,A :ISP] 2H CUPP$ H&S &! SU45 SWI% (A
SKIRT AL]T$ H]4 ,/>TL$1 %E LOOK$ UP AT !
WOMAN 9 FRONT ( H] 9 L9E4 ,! WOMAN'S
CORSET C9*$ TI<TLY 5 >.D H] MI4LE T H]
*E/ /OOD \ L ! OV]HANG (A CLIFF1 & %E
WORE A SEV]E BLACK G[N ) PU6$ LEG-(-
MUTTON SLEEVES4 ,A HAT )A PH1SANT'S GRE5
& BLUE TAIL F1!R 9 ! RI2ON B& P]*$ ON H]
H1D4
  ,WID['S WE$S1 ,C>OL9E SURMIS$4 ,UN.S
%E 5JOY$ LOOK+ L A CR[4 ,! WOMAN'S EX-
PRES.N 0 GRIM4
  8,MA'AM80 ,C>OL9E SD1 MEET+ H]    #BAH
EYES4 8,W]E Y SP1K+ 6ME80 ,! WOMAN RE-
M9D$ H] ( H] DEPORT;T 9/RUCTOR AT S*OOL4
,A CLASS1 ,C>OL9E REMEMB]$1 %E _H NE>LY
FAIL$4
  ,! WOMAN SNI6$ & CLUT*$ A SMALL BOY
CLOS] 6H] VOLUM9\S SKIRTS4 ,HE 3T9U$ TO
GAZE AT ,C>OL9E ) OP5 9T]E/4
  8,IS T H]1 ,MA80 HE YELP$4
  8,DON'T LOOK AT H]10 ! WOMAN SD1 Z IF
,C>OL9E'S MORAL 3DI;N MI<T 2 CAT*+4 ,%E
DIDN'T TR\# 6L[] H] VOICE4 8,Y DON'T
WANT 65C\RAGE H] ILK40
  8,5C\RAGE H] ILK1 ,MA8 ,:AT'S ILK80
  ,! "Q 0 "O ,C>OL9E WANT$ ANSW]$1 TOO4
,%E KNEW H] EYES 7 SPITT+ FIRE Z1 NECK
RIGID1 *9 TILT$ PUGNACI\SLY1 %E AWAIT$ !
WOMAN'S REPLY4
  8,H] BRE$10 ! WOMAN SD4 ,%E WDN'T LOOK
DIRECTLY AT ,C>OL9E4 8,H] K9D40
  ,! BOY SCREW$ UP 8 FACE4 8,BRE$80 ,HE
PEEK$ >.D AT ,C>OL9E =A BETT] LOOK4 8,B1
,MA1 %E A9'T AN ,9JUN4 ,%E'S GOT TAN
HAIR40
  ,"H 0 "O :O TOOK H] "P4 ,C>OL9E FLA%$
! BOY A WRY SMILE1 AT : HE TU7$     #BAI
ON 8 "M'S SKIRT4
  8,%E'S K9DA PRETTY1 ,MA40
  8,HU%60 ,! WOMAN GRIPP$ ! *'S E> &
SPUN HM %>PLY UNTIL HE FAC$ FRONT4 ,F 2H
H]1 ,C>OL9E HE>D A SUPPRESS$ LAU< B %E 0
AFRAID 6TURN >.D & SEE :O F.D ! SITU,N
AMUS+4 ,H] E>S BURN$4
  ,%E'D BE5 BETT] (F 9 ! GUISE (A BOY4
,NO "O LAU<$ AT H]1 OR %OT1 OR SCORN$
H]4 ,MO/ P N"E LOOK$ AT H]4 ,ALL %E _H
6D 0 KEEP H] BR1/S B.D1 H] VOICE L[1 &
REMEMB] 6SWA7] :5 %E WALK$4 ,!Y N"E NO-
TIC$ ! DI6];E4
  ,EXCEPT ,SUTTON1 AN 9N] VOICE CORRECT-
$4 ,& ,KLOSKY4
  ,! L9E %U6L$ =W>D SL[LY1 B EV5TU,Y !
BOY & 8 "M 4APPE>$ 96! W>M? (! BLUE-
PA9T$ ROOM4 ,! SMELLS WAFT+ "? ! OP5
DOOR 5TIC$ H] ) _! TANTALIZ+ >OMA4 ,:5 X
0 H] TURN 65T]1 ,C>OL9E 0 ALM AFRAID !
RAW-BON$ WOMAN RUNN+ ! PLACE WD REFUSE
6S]VE H]1 B %E 0 PO9T$ 6A TA# MAT*$ UP )
A S+LE *AIR NE> ! KIT*54 ,! *AIR 0 RICK-
ETY1 ! TA#1 SC>R$ & B>E1 N M* L>G] ?AN !
PLA9 :ITE CROCK]Y PLATE &A MUG =    #BBJ
H] C(FEE4
  ,)\T "K+ :Y1 ,C>OL9E F.D H]F SWEPT 9TO
:AT SEEM$ A WAK+ DR1M4 ,! LA/ M1L %E &
,GRAN %>$ _H BE5 9 ! ELEGANT ,COEUR
D',AL5E ,HOTEL 9 ,SPOKANE1 2F %E BO>D$ !
TRA9 EA/4 ,%E REMEMB]$ ! H1VY1 CR1M-
COLOR$ TA# L95S1 ) NAPK9S NE>LY Z L>GE Z
A %AWL & FOLD$ 96FANTA/IC CR[N %APES4
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