, and she reached under her pillow for the Colt. Something had change

he hea

soft k

On the wall ben

nd raced with questions, but instinct moved faster than

was

, the mug empty on the table. The ri

t tightened as she des

llowed everything beyond the front porch. But there-ju

feet soundless on the cool earth, an

dge of the corral, cr

but didn't speak. Just raised a hand i

she s

low and rifle in hand, paced near the b

oking for

red, "He's

ow darted behind the well.

Maybe

d in. "Who

ot to see again." Ja

tla

en who'd sell a corpse for c

. "Are they h

itated

tening. "I should've left

then, something unreadable

a quiet thud-ho

rned, stepping cl

they open that barn, Dusty'll

en we stop them

k. "You're half-st

t with a pistol old

. Then, impossibly, both

trough. "I've got a clean shot

ing toward the shed. "The bastard

ed like

ne

wo

AC

the shed dropped instantly. The one at t

rked, as a bullet w

ots. Lila ducked behind the trough, heart

ing careful aim. Another shot

he muttered.

took aim at the third man char

i

raised

a

, clutching his shoulde

lting into the darkness on foo

he panicked breath of horses and the sl

lowly, Colt

his rifle.

dded.

inced. "But I'll need

en bodies, blood staining her

war to my doo

dn't

nswers,"

n the moonlight. "Then you bette