The first night had been uneventful, sheltered as she was beneath a deep cliff overhang. But on the second night, in the hours before dawn, Danielle was awakened by Sundown nickering low and warily from where Danielle had grazed her in sweet grass less than twenty yards away. Hearing the mare, Da...
He took a chair outside Daniel Hankins’s door, prepared to wait until Hankins chose to see him, which could range from a few minutes to half a hour. He didn’t like the look on Hankins’s face when the banker finally opened the door and beckoned him in. Hankins didn’t even wait for him to sit down....
It was still early—not more than an hour after Viola’s terrible act of vengeance—when Nathan went looking for Captain Jennings. “Yes,” Jennings said, “I know where Jesse’s buried. There’s a little graveyard not far from where they lived. In the morning we’ll rent a buckboard and take her home.” O...
June 25, 1866. After four long years they were coming home. Mark Rogers and Bill Harder had much in common. While still young men, they had “learned cow” together in south Texas. When they were of age, they each had “proved up” on a half section of land, just north of Waco, on opposite banks of t...
When they returned to the cabin, El Lobo sat on his bunk and eyed Wes critically. “I know what you’re thinking,” Wes said. “You’d rather have Empty’s company than that of Monique and Louise.” “Sí,” said El Lobo. “Perro no play part. He be real.” “We’re going to play some parts ourselves,” Wes sai...
“It’s a great plan,” Baldwin said. “We should be ashamed of ourselves for not thinking of it on our own, instead of sitting here starving.” “Before you give me too much credit,” said Danielle, “remember that my purpose is to lure that bunch of outlaws into the open. I figure a herd of cattle will...
The sheriff stepped out the door, his hand on the butt of his Colt. “Sheriff?” Holt inquired. “Yep,” said the lawman. “Webb Haddock. What can I do fer you?” “Maybe fifteen miles north of here, there’s five dead men in an arroyo on the west bank of the Red. One of them is Rutledge Jackman. The oth...