ythms, the breeze felt cool and clean. Lila had just stepped outside with her coffee when

g storm last night. No reason for

till moving slow, but steadie

g the cup. "And it's to

moment longer. "You thi

y are," Lila said. "Ranchers arou

ed. "Then I'll rid

your arm. You're still half-stitched and two steps from

a beat, then nodded

. "I know the land.

l. But he respected it. That was

Jack appeared beside h

l take

got

," he said. "And th

ntly and holster

ounted. The air between the

before sunse

e was low.

ff, dust trailing behi

om the brush. Even the crows seemed scarce. Whe

sn't a brushfir

burned-

rse tracks trailed off into the scrub, deep and fas

ls were blackened, cracked open like dried bone. Whoever had been

she s

d and half-melted

s Ra

ause she cared for lawmen, b

to ambush a Ranger had ju

n was still ba

on

tar was unmistakable. Texas Ranger. She scanned the ground-hoof prints circled the wagon in both dir

e, someone was looking for Jack. And judging by the burn

forward as Lila urged her down the slope, wind

t it wasn't drifting from the house. Relief hit her hard-but it was short-lived. She pulled up sharp

ght for them,

ght there!"

. "Easy, ma'am. Name's Deputy Finch

you doing

uty said. "Goes by 'Scout.' Tall, lean, scar o

n tightened. "What

. "He turned informant last year. Took down the Copper Ri

ny. He didn't mention any de

Can't blame him. A bounty of $5,000 w

the gun. "So wh

omeone worse does." The deput

at too long. Then, finally

he comes back... tell him he's

ned his horse, and rod

gallop. She didn't trust anyone who showed up with a badge and a

the door swung open fast. Ja

" he said.

toward him. "You didn't

d. "It's not act

start telling me everything, Jack. All of it. Because if I'm putting my

that price on my head wasn't law. He was gang. Copper Ridge didn't die easy.

ace him. "Then

st time I looked in your eyes, I thought

y one who's tired of running, Jack. But

lied. I just didn't tell you

toward the smoke. "Well, now we