He barreled around the corner and saw a man dragging something behind a horse. Within a sickening instant, he knew it was Bird. The man was too far away to get there in time, so he drew his Winchester from its scabbard, slid from his horse, and took careful aim at the man dragging Bird behind his horse. He fired and missed, but the man turned toward him. Tower fired again. This time, he saw the man flinch, and Tower knew he had at least winged him. The man loosened his rope and kicked his horse hard for the hills. Tower continued firing, but the man was low, and none of the shots found its target. Tower leaped back onto his horse and rode at full gallop to the bloody figure sprawled on the ground. He covered the distance fast, and by the time he got there the man had disappeared over the hill. Tower slid from the horse and rushed to Bird. She was covered with blood, and her shirt as well as most of her pants and one boot had been torn from her body. But she was alive. Tower rolled her onto her back.
