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“They were in a fight” At that point it had become impossible to wait patiently at the ranch until Benteen returned—if he returned She had to be there when it was over “I’ into town” Her announcee?”

“I can oin’ in alone Benteen would have our hides for that Barnie will hitch up the wagon and ride into toith you”

“Can I go, too?” Webb had pleaded

“No”

She had lost one son in a shooting fray She would not now risk the life of her only child

Loman Janes threw the money on the bar for his drinks and pushed away frolance prompted the other three members of the Ten Bar outfit to follow suit “Reckon it’s late”

There was a reluctant shuffling of boots and rattling spurs as they trailed after him to leave the saloon Janes paused on the board sidewalk outside to instinctively take in the activity on the street As he was hitching up his gunbelt to a more comfortable position on his narrow hips, he saw the four riders co down the street slow and easy-like There was noform of Benteen Calder

Janes stepped out of the light spilling fro to his ether seemed to confirm Boston’s fearful suspicions, Janes realized With Boston running scared, it was time to taketrouble, but what he didn’t know—Janes smiled coldly to himself—was that trouble had found him first

“Hank, get across that street into the side alley by the land office Young, get to aupstairs” Janes began dispersing his men hispers “Reynolds, you take that next doorway It’s Giles and Calder ant Concentrate on them”

It was cut and dried to Loman Janes When you wanted afor a reputation walked out on the street and challenged a hts caument or with a planned attack on your enemy

Benteen’s gaze, always restless, traveled over both sides of the street A cowboy entered a saloon ahead of theht At the end of the block, a ures moved in the shadows outside the saloon, but all the activity see ahead—to the bank and Judd Boston, if that’s where he was There was no sign of Woolie yet

The curly-haired blond cowboy turned his horse up the side alley that would bring hiy had been parked behind the bank, and a light had been burning in a rear

Woolie noticed the cowboy leaning against the corner of the building at the head of the alley He didn’t think much of it at first The cowboy could have stepped into the alley to take a leak before riding ho the street The ground was soft under his horse’s feet, so it made little sound A furrow of unease ran across Woolie’s forehead What was thea leak or havin’ a sun barrel and had enough of a look at the nize him for a Ten Bar rider

With a yelled warning, Woolie drove his spurs into the horse’s flanks and charged straight for the cowboy He saw the man jerk his head around in surprise, then try to turn and bring his gun around, but Woolie’s horse was shouldering into hiun at the man as the horse raced past him, and cursed when he missed

When the yell came from the alley, Benteen yanked on the reins A coldness went through him in quick, successive waves Suddenly all the sounds were loud, all the ses on the street becaing his horse out of the center of the street just as a shot cracked the air Then all hell broke loose