,,! ,,W9N+ ,,H&

            0,C4 ,K4 ,,CRI7]

       ,PUBLI%$ 0,BEHL] ,PUBLIC,NS
          ,LAKE ,=E/1 ,CALI=NIA
      ,COPY"R #BJJE 0,C4 ,K4 ,CRI7]
   ,FUR!R REPRODUC;N OR 4TRIBU;N 9 O!R
   ?AN A SPECIALIZ$ =MAT IS PROHIBIT$4


      ,TRANSCRIB$ 9 ,5GLI% ,BRL BY
           ,NANCY ,BAIRD ,BR[N
          ,"EGRE5 ,BRL ,S]VICE
            ,S1TTLE1 ,WA%+TON

             ,9 #D ,VOLUMES
               ,VOLUME #C
        ,PAGES ;I-;II & #BBC-CCB


          ,"U ! ,SPONSOR%IP (
  ,WA%+TON ,TALK+ ,BOOK & ,BRL ,LIBR>Y
            ,S1TTLE1 ,WA%+TON
                  #BJJG
          ,,TRANSCRIB]'S ,,NOTE      ;II

  ,]RORS 9 SYNTAX1 SPELL+1 GRAMM>1 PUNC-
TU,N1 & CASE H1 =! MO/ "P1 BE5 TRAN-
SCRIB$ Z !Y APPE> 9 PR9T4




















               ,*APT] #AD           #BBC

  ,TWO "DS LAT]1 ,C>OL9E LEFT ! ,GR&
,HOTEL1 B.TY M"OY 9 H&4 ,SN1K$ \ E>LY1
TRU? 2 TOLD4 ,AT ! LIV]Y1 %E SA4L$ !
M>E1 CRAWL$ 96! SA4LE & QUIETLY DE"P$4
,%E WD F9D ,K+ ON H] [N4 ,%E DIDN'T NE$
,MICAH ,SUTTON4
  ,"T WAS1 FOLK'S OP9ION ( H] WDN'T H
MATT]$4 ,IF !Y DIDN'T TAKE H] Z %E WAS1
%E F.D X EASY 5 6LAU< 9 _! FACES4 ,T 0
BACK :5 %E 0 "SBODY4 ,N[ %E 0 NOBODY1 &
%E SURPRIS$ H]F 9 ! WAY H] HIDE _H GR[N
S ?94 ,DESP],N1 X SEEM$1 _H MADE A *ANGE
9 H] &! WAY %E SAW O!R P4
  ,\TSIDE ( T[N1 %E F.D A LL-US$ ROAD T
PO9T$ R\<LY NOR?EA/4 ,%E SET ! HORSE TO
FOLL[+ X4 ,! M>E'S HO( PR9TS MELT$ 96!
FRO/Y TRAIL1 BLURR+ ! %>P \TL9ES4 ,L H]1
,C>OL9E R1LIZ$1 Z %E LOOK$ D[N & WAT*$ !
GR.D FL[ BY4 ,9 ! SAME WAY H] [N %>P;S
_H BLURR$4 ,%E _HN'T WANT$ 6SEE ,MICAH
,SUTTON'S PO9T ( VIEW2 %E _HN'T WANT$ TO
C>E = ANY"O B H]F1 B %E DID--A LL4
  ,C>OL9E TOOK 6CALL+ ! DUN M>E ,M\SE1 A
"N 2/[$ 9 "P 2C (! HORSE'S COLOR    #BBD
& "P 6! FACT ,M\SE 0 A QUIET RIDE4 ,!
OLD HORSE BORE H] )\T FUSS ALL ! WAY 6!
=D AT ! ,SANPOIL ,RIV] NE> ,REPUBLIC ON
T F/1 L;G "D4 ,C>OL9E NEI MET NOR SAW
ANO!R S\L ON ! GRASS & /UMP COV]$ EXCUSE
=A TRAIL4
  ,%E /OCK$ UP ON SUPPLIES 9 ,REPUBLIC'S
T9Y G5]AL /ORE 2F 3T9U+ ON T[>D ! ,KET-
TLE ,FALLS1 "! 6CROSS ! MI<TY ,COLUMBIA
,RIV]4 ,!Y DIDN'T MAKE R1L GD "T DUR+ !
SECOND OR ?IRD "DS1 B ,M\SE'S PLO4+ GAIT
N"E FALT]$4 ,! HOLE 9 ,C>OL9E'S LEG
SCA2$ OV] & IT*$ UNTIL %E NE>LY W5T CRA-
ZY1 B X 0 TOO SORE 6SCRAT*4
  ,NI<TS1 %E _H CAUSE 6?9K ( ,MICAH1 Z
%E WRAPP$ ! MO?-EAT5 BU6ALO ROBE >.D H]4
,N T %E NE$$ A REM9D]4 ,HE 0 N"E F> F H]
M9D Z X WAS4
  ,AT ! ,KETTLE ,FALLS1 %E B"\ A PIECE (
SALMON F "O (! ,9DIAN FI%]MAN4 ,%E WAT*$
9 FASC9,N Z ! MAN DANGL$ \ OV] ! FALLS &
CAU<T ! FLOPP+1 WRI?+ FI% 9 A BASKET-
W1VE CAGE4 ,%E SC>CELY DREW A BR1? UNTIL
HE 0 SAFELY (F ! ROCKS & BACK ON %ORE4
,F1/+ T NI<T ON FILLET ( SALMON &   #BBE
FRI$ BR1D1 %E 0 GLAD 6L1VE ! FI%+ 6! EX-
P]TS4 ,! P9*$ LOOK >.D H] EYES &! GAUNT
HOLL[S ( H] *EEKS GREW A LL LESS NOTICE-
A#4
  ,F/ SURE ^W T %E 0 ON ! "R TRACK CAME
AF %E _H PASS$ ! M>K] AT ! ,CANADIAN
BORD] & 5T]$ ! M9+ VILLAGE ( ,TRAIL1 9
,BRITI% ,COLUMBIA4

  ,C>OL9E SWUNG F ! SA4LE1 SETTL+ H] LEG
2F %E LET G (! HORN4 ,H] BR1/S 7 FIRMLY
B.D AG4 ,%E D>$ WE> H] COAT OP5 OV] !
TOO-L>GE %IRT4 ,A H&;L ( DIRT 4GUIS$ H]
FAIR -PLEXION1 H] HAIR 0 CRAMM$ "U !
FLOPPY BRIMM$ HAT4 ,%E JAMM$ ! HAT TI<T]
2F LIFT+ D[N H] SA4LEBAGS4 ,C>RY+ !M1 %E
/EPP$ ONTO ! POR* \TSIDE ! /ORE4
  ,%E'D NOTIC$ ! F>!R NOR? %E RODE1 !
SMALL] & M M1G]LY /OCK$ ! /ORES 2CAME4
,%E DIDN'T H 6G 9SIDE 6"K ! ,TRAIL /ORE
0 NO BETT]4 ,? "O DIDN'T EV5 H ! "N COR-
RECTLY SPELL$4 8,TOM ,WATSON1 ,PROPRYET-
]4 ,TRIAL ,DRY ,GDS10 X SD4 ,ON ! O!R
H&1 %E DECID$1 PAUS+ 6LOOK ! T[N OV]1
MAYBE T WASN'T AN ]ROR4 ,LOOK$ TO   #BBF
H] LIV+ 9 ? PLACE 0 A TRIAL4
  ,SALOONS APL5TY CLU/]$ AL;G ! S+LE
/REET4 ,! ASSAY (FICE BORR[$ A CORN] F
"O4 ,A C\PLE ( WOM5 YELL$ AT EA* O!R F
OP5 SECOND /ORY W9D[S ON OPPOSITE SIDES
(! /REET1 B :E!R !Y 7 FI<T+1 OR GOSSIP+
0 H>D 6TELL4 ,:ORES1 ,C>OL9E KNEW1
DIDN'T BO!R AB CLOS+ _! WRAPP]S4 ,WD %E
GET T WAY1 TOO1 IF S* A LIFE 2CAME H]
LOT8 ,H>D5$1 UNTIL NO TRACE ( MODE/Y RE-
MA9$8 ,UNTIL SELF-RESPECT 2CAME A =GOTT5
^W8
  ,%E AV]T$ H] EYES F ! WOM5 & HE>D !M
LAU<1 AW>E T _! MIR? CAME AT H] EXP5SE4
,"O ( !M CALL$ D[N 6H]1 ! ^WS 9DIST9CT4
8,HEY1 FANCY BOY10 IS :AT %E ?"\ ! WOMAN
SD4 ,%E SUPPOS$ X 0 M1NT 9 9VIT,N1 B X
REPULS$ H]4
  ,! FEW RAW BUILD+S H\S$ A LIV]Y1 A
BLACKSMI?1 A LAUNDRY/BA?H\SE &A BAK]Y4
,& ,TOM ,WATSON'S /ORE4 ,%E OP5$ ! DOOR
& W5T IN1 REMEMB]+ AT ! LA/ MO;T 6SW+ H]
LEGS F ! KNEES & ROLL H] %\LD]S 9 A
SWA7]4
  8,H[DY10 SD A 4EMBODI$ VOICE4     #BBG
  ,A /ACK ( KEGS OBSCUR$ ! S+LE W9D[1
MAK+ ! ROOM S D>K T AF ! SUN%9E \TSIDE1
%E CD B>ELY SEE4
  8,H[DY10 %E SD 9 RETURN1 /&+ / :ILE H]
EYES ADJU/$4
  8,:AT C ,I D Y =80
  ,%E PLAC$ ! VOICE N[1 -+ F ": %E SAW !
\TL9E (A MAN AT "W 2H A BACK C.T]4
,%ELVES L9$ ! WALLS1 ! /OCK ON !M SPOT-
TY4 ,A PICKLE B>REL1 A FEW DOZ5 PICKS &
%OVELS1 A ROLL ( *A9 & "S GOLD PANS LAY
AB 9 UNTIDY /ACKS4 ,A FIFTY-GALLON DRUM
( K]OS5E )A H& PUMP /ICK+ \ ( X 0 NEXT
6! DOOR4 ,%E SMELL$ ! OILY REEK Z %E
PASS$4
  8,I NE$ A FEW SUPPLIES10 %E SD1 MAK+
H]F S.D GRUFF4 8,CAMP FOOD & S*40
  ,%E TOOK A /EP =W>D--& TRIPP$ OV] AN
OB/RUC;N 9 ! AISLE L1D+ 6! C.T] ": ! MAN
WAIT$4
  8,DANG NAB X1 KID4 ,GET \ (! WAY40 ,!
/OREKEEP]'S VOICE C>RI$ A LA%4
  ,UNTIL !N1 ,C>OL9E ?"\ ! OB/RUC;N MI<T
H BE5 A DOG S9CE %E'D FELT ! YIELD+
FLE%4 ,N[ %E SAW X 0 A *1 WE>+      #BBH
BRIT*ES &A %IRT1 B NO %OES OR COAT4 ,HE
D>T$ AWAY F H]1 8 B>E FEET APP>5TLY IM-
P]VI\S 6! SPL9T]$ PLANK FLOOR4 ,X 0 COLD
9 ! /ORE4
  8,KID'S AN ORPHAN10 ! /OREKEEP]1 PRE-
SUMABLY ,TOM ,WATSON1 ! .PROPRYET]1 SD4
8,I KEEP HM >.D & LET HM C>RY GROC]IES4
,FE$ HM ONCE 9 ! :ILE40
  ,! S\L ( G5]OS;Y1 ,C>OL9E DECID$4 ,!
/ORE WASN'T EXACTLY OV]RUN ) CU/OM]S4
  ,%E PLAC$ H] ORD]1 ) ,WATSON EI PIL+ !
ITEMS ON ! C.T] OR SAY+ HE 8DIDN'T H ANY
S* AN ANIMAL40 ,TOO (T51 X 0 ! LATT]4
,B1NS & BACON1 CORNM1L & SALT4 ,T 0 AB
X4 ,%E LET HM SELL H] AN AIRTI<T ( P1*ES
=! SAME PRICE %E'D H PD =A CASE BACK 9
,PHILADELPHIA4
  8,GETT+ COLD = CAMP+ \1 ,I RECKON10
,WATSON SD1 /UDY+ H] ?ICK COAT4 ,HE
LICK$ ! 5D ( 8 P5CIL & />T$ A4+ TGR H]
TOTAL4 ,HE MADE LL M>KS 2S EA* ITEM 9 AN
EF=T 6KEEP X /RAI<T4
  8,YES1 SIR10 %E SD1 WI%+ %E CD J]K !
P5CIL AWAY F HM & D ! MA? H]F4 ,X 0
SIMPLE4 ,ANY S*OOL*ILD CD H D"O X   #BBI
9 A FEW SECONDS4
  8,IF Y ?9K Y'RE GO+ 6F9D GOLD1 Y'RE
PROBABLY MISTAK540 ,WATSON PE]$ AT H] F
"U BEETL+ BR[S4 8,& J A ^W ( W>N+4
,SN['LL 2 -+ SOON & FOLKS W 2 HOL$ UP4
,WON'T 2 M* *.E ( F9D+ "W1 EI40
  8,I'M N LOOK+ = "W10 ,C>OL9E SD4 8,I'M
J PASS+ "?40 ,%E 0 AW>E ( ,WATSON WAT*+
CLOSELY Z %E DUG A FIVE-DOLL> GOLD PIECE
F H] POCKET4 ,HE 0 TRY+ 6SEE IF %E _H
ANY M--OR ELSE MAKE SURE %E WASN'T PULL+
A GUN ) 9T5T 6ROB HM4 ,%E 0 GLAD %E'D
TAK5 ! PRECAU;N ( SLIPP+ H] SMALL /ORE (
M"OY 9 H] BOOT4 ,! MAN 0 5TIRELY TOO
NOSY4
  8,": Y H1D$80 ,WATSON F9I%$ 8 A4I;N &
2GAN *ECK+ 8 NUMB]S4
  ,! *'S D>K GAZE SCRUT9IZ$ E MOVE EI %E
OR ! /OREKEEP] MADE1 L A W>Y ANIMAL4
  8,=T ,/EELE10 %E SD1 AL]T 6! * :O 9*$
CLOS]4 ,8 NOSE 0 CRU/$ & RUNN+4
  8,IS T "R8 ,M9+ HAS G"O 6L1D & SILV] 9
!M "PS1 S ,I HE>4 ,A9'T BE5 ANY GOLD "!
= YE>S40 ,HE F9I%$ ! T,Y & PRES5T$ H] )!
BAD NEWS--AB TWICE :AT %E _H EX-    #BCJ
PECT$ 6PAY4 ,8 H& SLAPP$ ! C.T] ) SU45
=CE1 H>D & L\D1 & %E JUMP$4 ,N Z M* Z !
KID1 H["E1 8 SMALL H& J]K+ AWAY F ! $GE
(! POCKET ": %E'D KEPT H] QU>T]-EAGLE4
  8,SCAT10 ,WATSON SD1 &! KID RETR1T$ A
FEW /EPS4 8,DAMN ?IEF10 ! MAN GRUM#D4
8,B ,I C'T LET HM />VE40
  8,NO4 ,C'T D T40 ,C>OL9E />T$ PACK+ !
GDS 96H] SA4LEBAGS4 ,%E FIGUR$ ! * WD
FREEZE 2F HE />V$ IF ALL HE _H 6WE> 0
:AT HE _H ON4 ,T1 OR CAT* A LUNG 9FEC;N4
  ,M IMPORTANT ISSUES ABSORB$ ,WATSON--
"O ( !M 2+ ! SATISFAC;N ( 8 BURN+ CURI-
OS;Y4 8,LOT ( F>M]S UP ,=T ,/EELE WAY4
,I "U/& !Y GOT ACRES ( FRUIT TREES &
VEGETA# G>D5S 9 CULTIV,N4 ',C\RSE1 N ?
"T ( YE>4 ,/1 !Y EAT WELL UP 6,/EELE4 ,Y
DON'T LOOK ANY M L A F>M]1 "Y/]1 ?AN Y D
A M9]40
  ,IF ,TOM ,WATSON QUIZZ$ ALL ( 8 CU/OM-
]S Z P]SI/5TLY Z HE 0 H]1 ,C>OL9E FIGUR$
HE 0 Z GD Z TAK+ \ A NEWSPAP] SUBSCRIP-
;N4 ,& %E MI<T J 2 A# 6USE 8 CURIOS;Y4
  8,I'M NEI A F>M] NOR A M9]10 %E SD4
8,I'M LOOK+ =A MAN4 ,8 "N IS        #BCA
,WILLIAM ,GRE5LEI< & HE'S RID+ A R1L
CLASSY BAY /ALLION4 ,HE MI<T H -E "? ^!
"PS 9 ! LA/ WEEK OR S40
  ,WATSON DROPP$ FIFTY C5TS 9 *ANGE 96H]
H&4 ,%E NOTIC$ SU45LY T H] PALM 0 CAL-
L\S$ & D>K ) DIRT & CAMPFIRE SOOT1 GR.D-
9 AF "DS ( TRAVEL+4 ,X DIDN'T LOOK L !
H& ( ANY LADY %E'D "E SE54 ,%E FELT !
*'S BLACK EYES FA/5 ON ! M"OY Z %E TUCK$
! CO9S 96H] BRIT*ES FRONT POCKET4
  8,I MI<T H SE5 HM10 ,WATSON SD1 & ,C>-
OL9E LIFT$ H] H1D1 /IRR$ ) EXCITE;T UN-
TIL HE A4$1 8,A WORE-D[N LOOK+ FELL]1 )A
BE>D HANG+ 6"H40 ,"O F+] TAPP$ 9 ! MI4LE
( 8 *E/4 8,APPE>$ A TI! D[N ON 8 LUCK40
  ,4APPO9T;T DAMP5$ H] _SS AL? %E _HN'T
EXPECT$ ANY DI6]5T4 ,%E DIDN'T D\BT
,WATSON1 B _H A NO;N X WD 2 A MI<TY COLD
"D 2F A MAN L ,GRE5LEI< *ANG$ 8 NATTY
APPE>.E EV5 6?R[ (F PURSUIT4 ,%E %OOK H]
H1D4 8,NO4 ,! MAN ,I'M LOOK+ = DRESSES
R1L D&IFI$4 ,ANYWAY1 X'S ! HORSE Y'D
PROBABLY NOTICE4 ,I GUESS HE M/ H TAK5 A
DI6]5T ROAD40 ,X WD H BE5 %E] *.E IF
,GRE5LEI< _H /OPP$ "H4              #BCB
  8,:AT D Y WANT ) HM80
  ,C>OL9E HESITAT$1 RELUCTANT 6SP1K !
TRU? AB ,GRE5LEI<4 ,! /OREKEEP] _H NO
R1SON 6TRU/ H] ^W = ANY?+4 ,IF %E DIDN'T
APPE> Z WORE-D[N & SCRU6Y Z HE DESCRIB$
! MAN HE CLAIM$ 6H SE51 %E'D 2 SURPRIS$4
,AMUSE;T LIT 9SIDE H]4 ,"! 0 "O WAY %E
CD FOX HM4 ,FOX !M BO?4
  8,HE'S MY "F10 %E SD4 8,I'M ,C>L9
,GRE5LEI<4 ,HE TOOK MY GR&"F'S HORSE :5
HE LEFT & ,GR&PAPPY IS MA4] ?AN A BULL 9
A PA/URE FULL ( %E GOATS4 ,GR&PAPPY 0
GO+ 6:UP ME = :AT MY DA4Y D"O1 S ,I RAN
AWAY4 ,I'M LOOK+ 6JO9 UP ) MY DAD40
  ,WATSON'S EYES POPP$4 8,WELL60 HE SD4
8,I N"E4 ,A WELL SET UP MAN L HM8 ,/OLE
8 [N "F'S HORSE80
  8,Y'VE SE5 HM80 ,EAG]LY1 ,C>OL9E L1N$
=W>D4
  8,LOOK "H1 "Y FELL]1 SEEMS L Y "\ 6/E]
CLE> ( YR PAPPY40
  ,A WAVE ( H] H& BRU%$ A M9OR 3SID],N L
HORSE-?IEV]Y ASIDE4 8,GR&PAPPY [$ HM4
,HE 0 "H1 !N80
  8,WELL10 ,WATSON SD1 DRAW+ X \4   #BCC
8,I GUESS HE WAS4 ,?REE OR F\R "DS AGO4
,B "Y/]1 IF ! ,NOR?-,WE/ ,M.T$ >E CALL$
ON 6TAKE A H& 9 ?1 Y'D 2 BETT] (F H1D+
ON HOME 2F ! TR\# />TS40
  8,AW1 "! WON'T 2 ANY TR\#4 ,GR&PAPPY &
,DAD FI<T ALL ! "T4 ,0! "T ,DAD GETS
HOME1 ,GR&PAPPY WILL'VE =GOTT5 :AT !
FUSS 0 AB40
  8,!N :Y10 ASK$ ,WATSON WISELY1 8>E Y
RUNN+ AWAY 6JO9 YR PA80
  ,C>OL9E'S H& FLOPP$ AG4 8,J 'CAUSE
SOON] OR LAT] ,GR&PAPPY =GETS :AT HE'S
MAD AB DOESN'T M1N ! /ICK DON'T HURT AT
! "T40
  ,WATSON LAU<$ A HE>TY RO> ( MIR?4
8,Y'VE GOT ! TRU? ( X "!4 ,:Y1 ,I REMEM-
B] :5 ,I 0 A :ELP '''0
  ,! ,9DIAN *'S EYES N"E LEFT H] "?\T
,WATSON'S L;G /ORY4 ,%E GOT A LL IT*Y "U
8 UNBL9K+ />E4 ,%E WAIT$ ) ALL ! PATI;E
%E CD MU/] UNTIL ! /OREKEEP] GOT BACK TO
,GRE5LEI<4
  8,B1 KID1 YR PA N"E SD HE 0 H1D$ = ,=T
,/EELE4 ,I 4REMEMB] ": HE SD HE 0 GO+1 B
HE TOOK \ DUE NOR?40                #BCD
  ,( C\RSE HE DID1 %E ?"\4 ,& IF ,I 7
,GRE5LEI<1 ,I WDN'T LET ANY"O "K ": ,I 0
GO+1 EI4 ,_HN'T %E1 9 ! SPUR (! MO;T1 J
GOT "? TELL+ HM "S (! BI7E/ :OPP]S %E CD
?9K UP8 ,%E 0 F9D+ ! M :OPP]S %E TOLD1 !
EASI] !Y 2CAME4
  8,NOR?1 Y SAY8 ,M* OBLIG$1 SIR4 ,Y'VE
J SAV$ ME "S MILES4 ,I RECKON ,I'LL 2
H1D+ 9 T DIREC;N MYF40 ,9 A PIG'S EYE4
,%E 2LIEV$ 9 ! EVID;E %E & ,M>%AL
,FIELD] _H F.D 9 ,OSC> ,HAG]/ROM'S 2L;G-
+S--& T SD ,=T ,/EELE4
  ,ONCE \TSIDE AG1 9 ! CLE> AIR AWAY F !
/5* ( K]OS5E1 ,C>OL9E PAUS$ 6LET H] EYES
REA3U/OM !MVS 6! GL>E4 ,%E 0 TY+ H] SAD-
DLEBAGS ON 2H ! SA4LE :5 H] NOSE TWIT*$4
,! FRAGR.E ( FRE%-BAK$ BR1D SPR1D "? !
/REET4
  ,GOD "KS %E'D SP5T 5 M"OY 9 ? R\< LL
T[N1 B %E F.D %E CDN'T RESI/ ! >OMA--&
DIDN'T TRY V H>D4 ,A FEW M9UTES LAT] &A
DIME LI<T]1 )A /-W>M LOAF "U H] >M1 %E
LIMP$ 6,M\SE'S SIDE4 ,! ,9DIAN * 0 /&+
"!1 NO COAT & NO %OES4 ,SL[LY1 8 H& CAME
\4                                  #BCE
  8,MISSUS10 HE SD4 ,HE LISP$ "? ! GAP
LEFT 0TWO MISS+ FRONT TEE?4 8,I'M HUN-
GRY40
  .,MISSUS1 HE _H SD4 ,! * _H SE5 "? H]
4GUISE4 ,C>OL9E =C$ H]F 6SMILE4 8,!N Y
%D BUY FOOD40 ,%E H&$ HM ! =TY C5TS / 9
H] POCKET4 ,A M1L OR TWO4 ,N M* 6A HUN-
GRY * HAPPY 6H 8 /OMA* FILL$ = TD4 ,B
:AT AB TM8 ,H] 9SIDES CL5*$4 ,%E KNEW AB
HUNG]4 ,%E _H BE5 SP>$--S F>--! ANGUI% (
BE7+4
  ,TURN+ F HM1 %E LIFT$ "O BOOT$ FOOT
96! /IRRUP & HUNG "! :ILE %E FI%$ ANO!R
QU>T]-EAGLE F ! BOOT'S L9+4 ,!N %E F9I%$
M.T+ & SAT LOOK+ D[N AT ! BOY4 ,%E _H
MET K9D;S F A HALF-,9DIAN WOMAN2 %E'D
MET O!RWISE F H] [N K9D4
  ,! CO9 FLIPP$4 ,! BOY CAU<T X MIDREVO-
LU;N ) SURPRIS+ DEXT];Y 9 "O S "Y4
  8,BUY YRF A COAT10 %E SD4 8,& %OES40
  ,UNSMIL+1 HE NO4$4
  ,A NUDGE 9 ! RIBS SET ,M\SE MOV+4 ,:AT
! DICK5S8 %E ?"\4 ,ANYWAY Y LOOK$ AT X1
! M"OY 0 ILL-GOTT5 GA9S ALL ! WAY D[N !
L9E4 ,F ,GRE5LEI<1 6,HAG]/ROM1 TO   #BCF
,C>OL9E ,PRUETT4 ,LIKELY1 ! BOY 0 MO/
DES]V+ ( !M ALL4

  ,MIDAFN ON ! SECOND "D AF ,C>OL9E
PASS$ "?1 ,MICAH ,SUTTON & ,/ICK] RODE
96,TRAIL4 ,! LIV]Y 0 ,MICAH'S F/ /OP1 &
AL? HE PRESS$ ! HO/L] = NEWS ( ,GRE5LEI<
&! /UD1 HE MI<T Z WELL BE5 ASK+ ! W9D4
,AT LA/ HE SLAPP$ ,/ICK] ON ! RUMP &
LEFT ! HORSE 6A BAIT ( OATS4 ,! ANIMAL
TUCK$ IN1 YELL[ TEE? GR9D+ ON ! GRA94
  8,Y'VE E>N$ X1 BOY40 ,MICAH FIGUR$
HE'D E>N$ A CIVILIZ$ D9N]1 HMF4 ,X _H
RA9$ DUR+ ! MORN+1 A COLD RA9 T M/ SURE-
LY 2 AN OM5 (! W9T] 6-E4 ,HE DES]V$ !
W>M? & S(T;S (A HOTEL B$ AF T5 "DS
SLEEP+ ON COLD1 H>D GR.D4 ,AF LOS+ "T 9
*AS+ ,GRE5LEI< NOR?1 ONLY 6F9D TWO "DS
LAT] T ! CATTLEMAN _H *ANG$ DIREC;N &
D\#D BACK1 HE 0 TIR$4 ,HE NE$$ A BA? &A
M1L S]V$ AT A TA# )A CL1N PLATE & N ONLY
A SPOON1 B AL A =K &A KNIFE O!R ?AN 8
HUNT+ KNIFE1 )A TA#CLO? & NAPK9 = GD
M1SURE4
  ,X WASN'T YET ! D9N] H\R :5 HE    #BCG
/EPP$ 96! /1MY W>M? (! CAFE4 ,AT ? "T (
"D HE EXPECT$ PROMPT S]VICE & HE GOT X4
,! ONLY O!R CU/OM]1 IF A P]SON CD ID5TI-
FY ! LL ,9JUN BOY Z S*1 0 HUNK]$ ON 8
HEELS NE> ! SW++ DOOR 96! KIT*54 ,! BOY
HELD 8 PLATE 9 "O H&1 & %OVEL$ BEEF /EW
96HIS M\? )! O!R1 FA/ Z HE CD "W !
SPOON4 ,HE WORE A COAT & %9Y NEW %OES4
  ,MICAH SAT AT A TA# CLOSE 6! SW++
DOORS1 TOO4 ,"PLY 6SAVE ! WAITRESS A FEW
/EPS1 "PLY S HE 0 TR1T$ 6! SMELL ( GD
FOOD COOK+4
  8,I'LL TAKE "S /EW L ! BOY'S EAT+10 HE
TOLD ! MI4LE-AG$ WAITRESS4 ,HE GAVE !
KID A QK W9K4 8,LOOKS GD40
  8,X IS GD10 ! WAITRESS SD1 !N %>PLY1
6! KID1 8,HURRY UP1 ,5O*4 ,F9I% YR VICT-
UALS 2F ! CU/OM]S />T -+1 !N SKEDA4LE ON
\ ( "H40
  ,! BOY B[$ 8 H1D & GOB#D FA/]1 AL?
,MICAH SD1 S.D+ LAZY1 8,NO RU% ON MY AC-
C.T4 ,I DON'T M9D %>+ ! SPACE40
  ,! WAITRESS FLA%$ HM A SMILE4 8,Y'RE 9
A CLASS 0YRF1 !N1 MI/]4 ,Y "K1 ,I ?9K ,I
MI<T J 2 A# 6RU/LE UP A SLICE (     #BCH
FRE% APPLE PIE40
  8,& ,I'D TAKE X1 MA'AM4 ,IS "! A PIECE
=! BOY80 ,MICAH SURPRIS$ HMF )! (F]4
  ,! WOMAN HESITAT$4 8,I ?9K S4 ,M9D Y1
IF ANY"O ELSE -ES IN1 HE'LL H 6TAKE X
\TSIDE40
  ,AT T ,MICAH %RU7$4 ,HE'D G"O Z F> Z
HE 0 WILL+ 6G4 ,HE DIDN'T NOTICE :5 !
BOY LEFT--0T "T1 HE 0 BUSY ) 8 [N *UCK4

  ,MICAH 5T]$ ,WATSON'S /ORE ! NEXT
MORN+ )! 9T5;N ( REPL5I%+ 8 C(FEE & BA-
CON SUPPLY4 ,! BOY 0 "!1 /RET*$ 6HIS
TALLE/ HEI<T & ABSORB$ 9 /ACK+ T9S ( TO-
MATOES ON A %ELF4 ,! * IGNOR$ ,MICAH &!
/OREKEEP] Z ,MICAH ASK$ ! SAME "QS HE'D
BE5 PUTT+ 6"EY"O HE MET4
  8,Y "K1 FELL]10 ,WATSON SD1 Z IF HE 7
/>TL$1 8Y'RE ! SECOND "Y BUCK ASK$ AB ?
,GRE5LEI< "* 9SIDE ! LA/ TWO "DS40
  ,MICAH TRI$ N 6%[ 8 [N SURPRISE1 OR
ANY EXCITE;T1 EI4 8,IS T "R8 ,M9D TELL+
ME IF ! O!R FELL] ASK+ _H A "N80
  8,DUNNO Z ,I %D SAY40 ,WATSON EXAM9$
,MICAH1 S ,MICAH 0 PL1S$ HE'D       #BCI
%AV$ LA/ NI<T :5 HE >RIV$4 ,J Z WELL HE
KEPT 8 HAT ON1 TOO1 & COV]$ ! RAW R$ SC>
TRAC+ "? 8 HAIR4 ,"! 0 NO D5Y+ A SC> L 8
_H A T5D5CY 6BO!R "S FOLKS4
  ,QUIETLY1 HE SD1 8,C Y TELL ME ! SAME
Z Y TOLD ? O!R G5T8 ,DID Y SEE ,GRE5-
LEI<8 ,GRE5LEI<'S RID+ A BIG BAY /UD1 &
MI/]1 ,I H 6TELL Y 9 ALL H"O/Y1 HE
DIDN'T -E 0T HORSE 9 ANY LEGAL FA%ION40
  ,WATSON RU2$ 8 H&S ON ! D>K GRE5 APRON
HE WORE OV] 8 BUSI;S CLO!S4 8,Y1H4 ,I
HE>D AB T4 ,MAN %DN'T /1L F 8 PA1 EV5 IF
! OLD MAN IS M1N] ?AN A F\R-PECK]$ BILLY
GOAT4 ,X J DOESN'T SEEM RESPECT;L1 DOES
X80
  ,MICAH />T$4 ,"H 0 AN UNEXPECT$ TWI/4
8,NO10 HE SD4 8,X DON'T40 ,HE WAIT$ =
,WATSON 6SAY M1 & AF A BIT1 8 PATI;E 0
REW>D$4
  8,>E Y ! LAW1 MI/]1 OR >E Y F ,GRE5-
LEI<'S OLD MAN80
  ,MICAH DIDN'T EV5 H 6?9K AB 8 ANSW]4
8,I'M F ,MR4 ,GRE5LEI<40 ,! EMPHASIS 0
H1VY ON ! 8MI/]0 "P1 & HE MADE X S.D R1L
RESPECT;L4                          #BDJ
  8,AH40 ,WATSON 0 WA7+ 8 H1D L HE'D _H
X ALL FIGUR$4 8,I'LL BET Y'RE TRY+ 6GET
T LAD BACK1 >5'T Y8 ,I'LL BET ! BOY'S
GR&PA DECID$ HE'D BE/ LOOK AF ! KID NO
MATT] :AT 8 [N SON D"O40
  .,BOY8 8,T'S AB X40
  8,WELL N[1 T ,C>L9 ,GRE5LEI<1 HE'S A
R1L UP"R LAD40
  ,MICAH'S E>S P]K$ UP4 .,C>L98
  8,SURE IS10 HE SD4
  8,"K :AT HE D"O80 ,WATSON DIDN'T WAIT
= ,MICAH 6/ATE YEA OR NAY4 8,HE GIVE ?
,9DIAN KID "H A FIVE-DOLL> GOLD PIECE &
TOLD HM 6G BUY HMF A COAT & "S %OES4
,FREE GRATIS1 0GUM4 ,FREE GRATIS40
  ,MICAH TURN$ & />$ N>R[LY AT ! BOY4 ,!
,9DIAN *--:AT _H ! WAITRESS CALL$ HM8
,5O*8--APPE>$ D1F Z A PO/4 8,A F9E1 *>I-
TA# ACT40
  8,& IF ,I 0 6TELL Y !Y 0 AB F\R "DS
A"P & H1D$ = ,=T ,/EELE1 ?\< !Y SD DI6]-
5T1 Y'D MAKE SURE T LAD GOT HOME SAFE1
WDN'T Y80
  8,YES1 ,I WD10 ,MICAH SD4 ,:O 9 HELL 0
? ,C>L9 ,GRE5LEI<8 HE WOND]$4 ,":   #BDA
_H HE -E F8 8,I ?ANK Y =! 9=M,N40
  ,5O* FOLL[$ HM \ ONTO ! /ORE POR*4
8,MR4 ,WATSON DON'T "K10 HE SD1 LISP+
>.D 8 MISS+ TEE?4 8,T "O HE ?9KS IS A
BOY--%E IS N40
  ,MICAH1 9 ! PROCESS ( UNHIT*+ ,/ICK] F
! RAIL1 PAUS$4 ,HE F"\ D[N A WAVE (
LAU<T]4 ,HE MI<T H "KN4 .,B .H[8 8,C>L9
,GRE5LEI<1 EH80 ,HE TOOK A CO9 F 8 [N
POCKET4 ,N A FIVE-DOLL> GOLD PIECE1 B X
0 A %9Y SILV] DOLL>4 8,? P]SON H BIG D>K
EYES & LI<T COLOR$ HAIR8 ,WALK )A LIMP80
  ,5O* SMIL$4 8,YES40 ,HE WAIT$1 E S5SE
AL]T1 R1DY 6CAT* ! DOLL>4
  ,MICAH SNORT$ & FLIPP$ ! CO94 8,C>L9
,GRE5LEI<4 ,:AT NEXT80
  ,! BOY _H NO ANSW]4







                                    #BDB
























               ,*APT] #AE           #BDC

  ,N 6CRITICIZE ,M\SE1 B ,C>OL9E 0 WORN
\ F RID+ HORSEBACK & 2+ 3/ANTLY ON !
MOVE4 ,CAMP+ 9 ! COLD GOT TIRE"S1 =C+ H]
6HU4LE 2S H] NI<T"T FIRE WRAPP$ 9 ! BUF-
FALO ROBE & %IV] UNTIL "DLI<T4
  ,!N "! 7 ! "ELA/+ SUPP]S ( B1NS & :AT-
"E ELSE %E CD SC>E UP--GR\SE OR ONCE A
GOOSE ON XS WAY S\?4 ,%E 0 SICK ( B1NS4
,SICK] ( N 2+ A# 6BA! PROP]LY1 UNTIL
%E'D ALM =GOTT5 :AT X FELT L 6BE CL1N4
,! "Q PICK$ AT H] UNTIL %E REMEMB]$ H]
LA/ R1L BA? _H BE5 9 ,TONASKET1 ALM TWO
WEEKS AGO4 ,"O EV5+1 %E 0 REVOLT$ 0CAT*+
H] [N SC5T4 .,GLORY6 ,%E 0 RIPE 5 6AT-
TRACT BUZZ>DS4
  ,"S"TS %E FELT Z ?\< %E'D BE5 TRAVEL+
="E1 GO+ "H1 GO+ "!1 ALL 6NO PURPOSE4
,K+'S RESCUE ELUD$ H]1 UNTIL %E D\BT$ %E
WD "E F9D HM4 ,X _H O3URR$ 6H] A FEW "TS
LATELY T %E %D LET HM G1 GIVE UP1 TURN
BACK4 ,EXCEPT !N ! /U2ORN /R1K ,GRAN ALW
A3US$ H] ( HAV+ WD BR1K "?1 & SOON %E'D
F9D H]F PU%+ ON4
  ,! SI<T ( ,=T ,/EELE SPR1D \ ON   #BDD
! PLA9 EA/ (! ,KOOT5AY ,RIV] E>LY "O AFN
LIFT$ H] _SS4 ,SMOKE BILL[$ F ! SMALL
-MUN;Y'S *IMNEYS4 ,! 4TANT CLANG (A HAM-
M] %AP+ METAL ON AN ANVIL CAME 6H]4 ,A
W9DMILL PUMP$ WAT] UP F ! RIV] 6! POLICE
B>RACKS & B>NS4 ,AT LA/4 ,? IS ": ,GRE5-
LEI<'S LR _H SD HE'D BE4 ,? IS ": %E WD
F9,Y MEET UP ) HM--& ,K+4
  ,"! 0 A BRIDGE OV] ! ,KOOT5AY'S
/RANGE1 MILKY BLUE WAT]4 ,A F>M]1 OV]-
TAK5 Z HE HAUL$ A WAGONLOAD ( FULL MILK
CANS T[>D ! =T1 _H TOLD H] ! COLOR 0
CAUS$ 0M9E TAIL+S 2+ DUMP$ 9 ! RIV]4
  8,ANY BEEF RAIS$ 9 ? C.TRY80 %E ASK$
HM4
  ,"! M/ 2 A L>GE PAY(F TEMPT+ ,GRE5LEI<
6/ICK+ >.D1 %E FIGUR$4 ,A LL CATTLE RUS-
TL+ 2T RACE MEETS WD PROBABLY D ! TRICK4
,HE CDN'T1 AF ALL1 RUN ,K+ TOO (T54
,"!'D 2 NOBODY TAKE HM UP ON 8 BETS & T
M/ 2 ": HE MADE ! MO/ M"OY4 ,"W ! HORSE
TOO H>D & EV5 A SUP]B SPECIM5 L ,K+ WD
2G9 6BR1K D[N1 ESPECI,Y IF ,GRE5LEI<
WASN'T WRAPP+ 8 LEGS OR KEEP+ HM W>M AF
RAC+4                               #BDE
  8,Y BET "!'S BEEVES >.D10 ! F>M] SD1
BR1K+ 96H] WORRI$ ?"\S4 8,B ,I'M A MAN
:O LIKES 2+ A LL H&I] 6CIVILIZ,N4 ,!
*EESE FACTORY BUYS ALL MY MILK1 LAD4 ,I
C MAKE A LIV+ & / G HOME AT NI<T & SLEEP
9 MY [N B$4 ,DON'T SEE :Y Y C[BOYS WANT
6RIDE A HORSE ALL "D & SLEEP \TSIDE AT
NI<T40
  ,C>OL9E 0 SURPRIS$ 96A HA/ILY DEEP5$
LAU<4 8,:5 Y PUT X T WAY1 S.DS L C[BOYS
DON'T H M* 9 ! WAY ( GD S5SE40
  8,GUESS T'S :Y "!'S ROOM 9 ! _W = BO?
C[BOYS & F>M]S10 ! F>M] SD1 JO9+ 9 H]
LAU<T]4
  ,WATSON1 ! /OREKEEP] 9 ,TRAIL1 _H BE5
"R1 %E F.D4 ,F>M+ APPE>$ ! FAVOR$ M1NS (
LIVELIHOOD N[ ! GOLD RU% _H PET]$ \4
,ONLY A FEW SILV] & L1D M9ES REMA9$ 9
PRODUC;N4 ,%E SAW OR*>DS C>V$ F ! HILL-
SIDE ABV ! RIV]4 ,! V>IETY ( FRUIT GR[N
"H PROV$ ELUSIVE1 Z ! TREES 7 ID5TIFIA#
AT ? 4T.E ONLY 0_! PRUN$ %APES & AUTUMN-
COLOR$ L1VES4 ,M5 & T1MS T5D$ 6! FALL
PL[+ ON ! FLATS SURR.D+ ! =T4
  ,"O (! F/ ?+S %E SPI$ 0 AN OVAL   #BDF
RACETRACK LAID \ AL;G ! BANKS (! RIV]4
,"! 0 ACTIV;Y "H1 TOO4 ,?1 %E FELT C]-
TA91 0 ": %E WD F9D ,K+ & ,GRE5LEI<4
,EXCITE;T--&A TRACE ( FE>--%IV]$ "? H]4
  ,= N[1 %E IGNOR$ ! GO+S-ON OV] 0!
/RAI<TAWAY4 ,%E CD H>DLY RIDE 9 & 3FRONT
! HORSE-?IEF H1D ON4 ,GRE5LEI< _H PROBA-
BLY CR1T$ AN ID5T;Y = HMF 0N[1 & 9V5T$
OR =G$ PAP]S = ,K+1 Z WELL4 ,:O'D "E BE-
LIEVE H] CLAIM 6,K+ :5 %E _H NO PRO(8
,2LIEVE A GIRL 4GUIS$ Z A NO-A3.T BOY
ABV AN IMPOS+ FIGURE L ,GRE5LEI<8 ,N
LIKELY4
  ,BA? F/1 %E DECID$1 DELI<T$ AT ! PROS-
PECT ( SCRU2+ CL1N4 ,!N A M1L4 ,& NEXT1
A SC\T+ =AY >.D T[N ": %E'D ASK A FEW
"QS1 *ECK ! SALOONS & G5],Y SEE :AT %E
CD DIG UP4 ,%E'D BE/ 2 AL]T1 CAT* SI<T (
,GRE5LEI< 2F HE SAW H]4 ,= ONCE %E _H !
ADVANTAGE ON HM1 S9CE HE'D H>DLY 2 EX-
PECT+ H]4 ,HE PROBABLY ?"\ H] D1D4 ,H] &
,SUTTON BO?4
  ,%E "P$ -PANY )! F>M] AT ! F/ CROSS-
ROAD 9SIDE ! =T GATES1 AF HE PO9T$ H]
T[>DS ! BUSI;S 4TRICT4 ,=T ,/EELE   #BDG
WASN'T BIG 5 6GET LO/ IN4 ,%E SOON F.D
H] WAY D[N ! DU/Y /REET 6:AT ! F>M] SD 0
! BE/ HOTEL 9 T[N4
  ,C>OL9E LEFT ,M\SE AT ! LIV]Y ACR !
/REET F ! ,/EELE ,H\SE4 ,TOT+ H] SA4LE-
BAGS1 %E WALK$ OV] 6! HOTEL 6*ECK IN4 ,!
CL]K /&+ 2H ! FRONT DESK WORE A PROP]
BLACK SUIT1 BOIL$ :ITE %IRT )A GRAY-
/RIP$ B[ TIE1 & ACT$ E BIT Z />*Y Z 8
BIG-C;Y C.T]"PS 7 WONT 6D4
  8,T W 2 A DOLL>-FIFTY P] NI<T10 HE SD1
REG>D+ H] )\T FAVOR4 ,%E IMAG9$ ! TAWDRY
/ATE ( H] CLO?+ PUT HM (F4 ,PRIM Z AN
OLD MAID1 HE A4$1 8,PAYA# 9 ADV.E4 ,M1LS
>E EXTRA4 ,HOT WAT] = BA?+ IS ANO!R FIF-
TY C5TS40
  ,C>OL9E W9C$ AT ! CO/--R DE>--B DIDN'T
QUIB#4 8,I'LL TAKE X4 ,I'LL TAKE A BA?1
TOO4 ,BR+ A TUB & WAT] 6MY ROOM "R AWAY1
PL1SE40
  ,! CL]K SNI6$ AT H] DEM&4 8,Y'RE "Y TO
2 ON YR [N1 LAD10 HE SD4 8,LET ME SEE !
COLOR ( YR M"OY40
  ,C>OL9E 0 2Y >GU+4 ,%E SPUN A CO9 ONTO
! C.T]4 8,AM]ICAN GOLD4 ,N[ LET'S   #BDH
SEE IF Y'RE WOR? X4 ,IF ! B$ IS GD1 ,I
MAY WANT ! ROOM = ANO!R NI<T40
  ,! CL]K PALM$ ! M"OY & C.T$ \ *ANGE )A
PRACTIC$ MO;N 2F R1*+ =A KEY F ! HOOKS
2H HM4 8,UP ! /AIRS & 6YR LEFT4 ,NUMB]
EI<TE54 ,SIGN IN1 PL1SE1 & /ATE YR HOME
A4RESS40 ,HE TURN$ ! H1VY REGI/R,N L$G]
6FACE H]4
  ,N[1 AG1 ,C>OL9E HESITAT$4 ,%E CDN'T
SIGN ,C>L9 ,GRE5LEI<1 ! "N %E'D GIV5
,MR4 ,WATSON4 ,:AT IF ,GRE5LEI< _H TAK5
A ROOM "H & HE F.D \ %E 0 US+ ! SAME "N8
,%E D>E N SIGN H] [N1 EI1 & GIVE AWAY H]
SEX4
  ,%E 4C>D$ ! USE ( "NS L ,JOHN1 OR
,WILLIAM1 OR ,GEORGE4 ,N"O _H ANY POETRY
AB !M4 ,B "! 0 "O "N T CAME 6M9D4 ,Z ?\<
TAK5 OV] 0A _S1 %E WAT*$ H] H& WRITE D[N
TWO ^WS ^: SYLLA#S PL1S$ H] M4 8,MICAH
,SUTTON40
  ,AF A MO;T ( DELIB],N1 %E WROTE
8,U4,S40 = AN A4RESS4
  ,%E 0 HALFWAY UP ! /AIR1 HIT*+ H]F
AL;G )! H&RAIL'S HELP1 2F %E REMEMB]$
%E'D US$ T ID5T;Y ONCE 2F4 ,& DI-   #BDI
RECTLY "!AF GOTT5 %OT4

  ,! ,/EELE ,H\SE 0 L>GE & WELL BUILT )A
?ICK1 /URDY DOOR T MU6L$ ! S.DS ( P
WALK+ 9 ! HALLS4 ,! ONLY S.D 6P5ETRATE
H] ROOM 0 A "M CALM+ A *--! * S.D+ TIR$
& QU]UL\S4
  ,:ILE %E WAIT$ = "S"O 6HAUL 9 H] BA?-
TUB1 ,C>OL9E 9SPECT$ H] SURR.D+S4 ,"O
B$1 SPR1D )A QUILT ( BLUE1 YELL[ & R$
SQU>ES COV]$ ! %EETS & BLANKET4 ,"O BAS9
& PIT*]1 )A *AMB] POT ( MAT*+ L1F PATT]N
HI45 2H ! -MODE DOORS4 ,A MIRROR1 ! SIL-
V] BACK+ SCRAT*$1 HUNG ABV ! -MODE4 ,F\R
PEGS1 HAMM]$ 96! WALL & M1NT 6HOLD A
TRAVEL]'S SP>E CLO?+ & P]H ALL[ A FEW
WR9KLES 6%AKE \4 ,T 0 X4 ,! TEMPT,N 6TRY
! B$ IMMLY 0 ALM OV]:ELM+4
  ,A MEMORY ( H[ LIFE 0 3DUCT$ 9 A CIVI-
LIZ$ _W MADE H] FLIP ! ,*9ESE BA? MAN A
DIME :5 HE BR"\ ! BA? WAT]4 ,X 0 A MU-
NIFIC5T TIP 9 VIEW ( H] [N POV]TY & H[
F> 4TANT H] LIFE _H GR[N F ! CU/OMS (
POLITE SOCIETY4
  ,AL"O1 %E /RIPP$ \ (! WELL-       #BEJ
RIP5$ CLO!S %E'D BE5 WE>+ = BETT] ?AN A
WEEK4 ,!Y DROPP$ 6! FLOOR1 & %E KICK$ !M
ASIDE4 ,) H] *E/ UNB.D AT LA/1 ! AIR %E
SUCK$ 96H] LUNGS EXP&$ H] LUNGS UNTIL %E
FELT LI<T1 YET FULL AT ! SAME "T1 Z IF
%E CD ALM FLOAT AWAY4
  ,%E GR9N$4 ,X 0 D\BT;L %E'D "E 9 H]
LIFE 2 -=TA# :5 %E RESUM$ WE>+ CORSETS &
SKIRTS4 ,IF %E "E BR"\ H]F 6D S4
  ,/1M ROSE F ! SLIPP] TUB Z ,C>OL9E
/EPP$ IN4 ,W9C+1 %E SAT1 ALL[+ ! HOT WA-
T] 6LAP OV] ! RAW1 R$ SC> ON H] ?I<4 ,A
SMALL GASP ( PA9 ESCAP$ H] Z1 IGNOR+ !
BRIEF 4COM=T1 %E 3C5TRAT$ ON D\S+ H] H1D
& -B+ TANGLES F H] HAIR ) H] F+]S4
,/ICKS1 P9E NE$LES &A C\PLE ( WOOD TICKS
T _HN'T _H A *.E 6BURR[ FELL 96! WAT]4
  ,SLEEP NE>LY OV]TOOK H] :ILE %E LAZ$ 9
! TUB4 ,! MU6L$ S.D (! "M & * RETURN+ TO
_! ROOM--! * BOI/]\S N[--B>ELY T\*$ H]
S5SES4 ,! /1M+ WAT] LULL$4 ,B"OS %E
_HN'T R1LIZ$ 7 COLD 6! M>R[ W>M$ "?4
  ,%E DR[S$4 ,F9,Y1 A ?UMP F ! HALL \T-
SIDE H] DOOR R\S$ H] SLI<TLY1 & %E 2CAME
AW>E ( H] *ILL+ FLE%4 ,/&+1 SLO%+   #BEA
WAT] ON ! FLOOR1 %E ?REW A T[EL >.D H]
%\LD]S4 ,%E WASN'T "H 6LAZE ! EV5+ AWAY
L "S DILETTANTE LADY ) NO?+ IMPORTANT TO
D4 ,%E M1NT 6RECOV] H] HORSE4
  ,! RUM# 9 H] BELLY REM9D$ H] T %E
CDN'T EXPECT ROOM S]VICE4 ,IF %E WANT$
H] D9N]1 %E'D BE/ F9D A DEC5T CAFE4 ,%E
BRAID$ H] HAIR1 DUG A CL1N PAIR ( DRAW]S
F H] SA4LEBAG1 REB.D H] BR1/S1 & DONN$ !
L1/ SOIL$ ( H] TWO %IRTS4 ,WR9KL+ H]
NOSE 9 4TA/E1 %E CRAWL$ BACK 96! DIRTY
BRIT*ES4
  ,%E M/ KEEP AN EYE PEEL$ = ,MR4 ,WIL-
LIAM ,GRE5LEI< :ILE %E 0 \4 ,HORSE
?IEVES OR \TLAWS1 P GOT HUNGRY1 & SOON]
OR LAT]1 %E'D CAT* HM :5 HE EM]G$ F :]"E
HE WAS4 ,IF N TN1 !N TM4 ,=T ,/EELE
WASN'T BIG 5 6HIDE A MAN = L;G4 ,M1 X
WASN'T L>GE 5 6KEEP ,K+ HI454 ,ANYWAY1
IF :AT ,WATSON _H SD 0 TRUE1 ,GRE5LEI< N
ONLY WASN'T TRY+ 6HIDE1 B 0 ACTIVE 9
BUILD+ HMF--& ,K+--A PROM95T SPOT 9 !
PUBLIC EYE4
  ,? IS GO+ 6BE EASY1 %E DECID$4 ,B J 9
CASE1 %E TUCK$ ! #.CH 9 H] COAT     #BEB
POCKET 2F %E LEFT ! ROOM4

  ,MICAH CROSS$ ! BRIDGE A FULL H\R AF
D>K4 ,A CLU/] ( LI<TS L$ HM T[>D ! MA9
"P ( T[N ": SALOONS 7 ! MO/ B"RLY LIT (!
BUILD+S4 ,HE'D ?"\ 6EAT F/1 !N F9D A
ROOM1 B AF H&+ ,/ICK] OV] 6! WRANGL] AT
! ,/EELE ,H\SE'S LIV]Y1 HE 4COV]$ ALL !
BETT] EAT+ E/ABLI%;TS 7 FULL4
  ,AT F/ HE DIDN'T "U/& :Y--ALM SUSPECT$
ANO!R GOLD 4COV]Y--UNTIL HE OV]HE>D A
REM>K T 9=M$ HM ? 0 ,SATUR"D NI<T4 ,SAT-
UR"D NI<T & PAY"D4 ,HE'D LO/ TRACK (!
"DS4 ,E C[H& & F>M]1 LO7] OR M9] = MILES
>.D _H -E 6T[N1 9T5T ON A BL[ \4
  ,SETTL+ 8 SA4LEBAGS OV] 8 %\LD]1 ,MI-
CAH H1D$ =! ,RAILROAD ,SALOON1 DRAWN 0!
MUSIC & LI<TS4
  ,H1T1 Z HE PU%$ "? ! DOORS1 HIT HM L
AN EXPLO.N4 ,! SMELL ( TOBA3O & SPILL$
BE] CLO7$ 8 NOSE4 ,NOISE BLA/$ 8 E>S1
GR[N US$ ^! PA/ "DS 6! NATURAL SIL;E (!
L&4 ,P TALK$--%\T+ 6BE HE>D OV] "EY"O
ELSE1 & "! 0 MUSIC4 ,L\D MUSIC4 ,A MAN
WE>+ A D]BY HAT1 8 EYES R$ &        #BEC
GLAZ$1 0 P.D+ \ A TUNE ON ! BATT]$ UP"R
PIANO4 ,A FEW (! LUCKI] M5 D.ED )! GALS
EMPLOY$ =! PURPOSE1 FEET ?UMP+ 9 CAD;E4
  8,BE]10 ,SUTTON TOLD ! B>KEEP4 ,A MUG1
! H1D ( FOAM SPILL+ OV] ! SIDE1 SLID ACR
! B>'S POLI%$ SURFACE4 ,"! W]5'T _M M5
/&+ \ ! D.E4 ,HE _H PL5TY ( ROOM 6TURN1
MUG 9 H&1 & WAT* ! ACTIV;Y4 ,IF ,GRE5-
LEI< 7 "H1 ,SUTTON DIDN'T EXPECT 6F9D HM
DANC+1 B ! \TLAW WASN'T AT ! GAMBL+ TA-
#S1 EI4 ,SUTTON RELAX$1 5JOY+ 8 BREW &!
SPECTACLE4
  ,! FIRM1 B GIV+ PRESSURE (A WOMAN'S
BR1/ AG/ 8 >M />TL$ HM4
  8,HELLO1 C[BOY10 ! WOMAN PURR$4 8,C>E
6D.E80
  ,%E 0 "Y1 HE SAW1 ) PALE1 FRECKL$ SK91
H] FACE ONLY LI<TLY PA9T$4 ,%E WORE A
%ORT SKIRT & H] FOOT TAPP$ 9 "T )! PI-
ANO4
  ,SUTTON %OOK 8 H1D4 8,N M* (A D.ER40
  ,! GIRL LAU<$ & COCK$ H] H1D AT !
TWIRL+ C\PLES4 8,& !Y >E80
  8,N[ T Y M5;N X1 NO4 ,GUESS ,I'M
AFRAID T'S :AT ,I'D LOOK L40        #BED
  8,OH10 %E DRAWL$1 H] VOICE ?ROATY1
8DON'T WORRY1 H&"S4 ,Y'D N"E LOOK L T40
  ,SUTTON KNEW WOM5 "S"TS--(T5 "TS--F.D
8 LOOKS PL1S+4 ,HE _H NO IDEA :Y T WAS4
,MO/LY1 HE 5JOY$ ! ATT5;N4 ,HE PRID$ HMF
ON KEEP+ 8 4T.E F ! M>RIAGEA# LADIES1
?\<1 FIGUR+ ! />T (A FAMILY UNLIKELY 9 8
NE> FUTURE4 ,B HE'D "S"TS TAK5 WOM5 96!
BACKROOMS (! ,OLD ,DOM9ION4 ,N"O ( !M "E
-PLA9$ AB HM4
  ,X 0 8 REC5T ACQUA9T.E ) ,C>OL9E ,PRU-
ETT T MADE HM ?9K TWICE AB ! GIRL /&+
NEXT 6HM4 ,& MADE HM WOND] IF ,C>OL9E WD
"E DEVELOP ! BOLD;S T LET H] WE> %ORT
SKIRTS1 PA9T H] FACE & RUB H] BODY AG/
/RANGE M54 ,HE F.D HMF REVOLT$ 0! IDEA1
ESPECI,Y ! LA/4
  ,B "! 0 NO MISTAK+ "O GIRL =! O!R4 ,!
"O MAK+ UP 6HM _H GRE5 EYES1 & %ORT1
SORREL-COLOR$ HAIR4 ,%E 0 R.D] ?AN !
,PRUETT GIRL1 TOO1 & AN 9* OR TWO TALL]4
,& %E 0 A :OLE LOT FRLI]4 ,HE B"\ H] A
DR9K4
  ,3V]S,N SEEM$ CALL$ =4 8,:AT'S YR "N80
HE ASK$4                            #BEE
  8,PE>L10 %E SD4 8,YRS80
  8,CALL ME ,MIKE40
  ,%E TOOK A SWALL[ (! DR9K4 ,MICAH KNEW
X 0 J COLOR$ WAT] OR FLAT TEA1 B H]
T;GUE RAN OV] H] LIPS1 LICK+ AWAY ! F9AL
DROP Z IF X 7 NECT>4 ,HE WAT*$1 FASC9AT-
$1 W>M? GA!R+ 2L 8 BELT4
  8,NICE "N40 ,%E SMIL$ UP AT HM4
8,?ANKS =! DR9K1 ,MIKE4 ,I NE$$ X40
  ,%E 0 MISS+ A TOO?1 HE SAW1 AL? S9CE X
WASN'T A FRONT "O H] LOOKS W]5'T H>M$4
  ,PE>L MOV$ CLOS] Z ?\< 0A3ID5T1 ) N
ONLY H] BR1/S AG/ HM1 B H] BELLY L1N$
96HIS HIP4 ,! ROOM 0 CR[D$1 B N .T CR[D-
$4 ,MICAH SMIL$4
  ,SUTTON MO;N$ ! B>T5D] = ANO!R BE] &)A
%RUG1 B"\ A SECOND PHONY DR9K = ,PE>L4
,! MUSIC SWELL$ 9 8 E>S & HE FELT 5]GET-
IC & ALIVE1 AL? HE'D BE5 TIR$ & HUNGRY
:5 HE CAME IN4 ,N[ HE 0 J HUNGRY1 & N
NECESS>ILY = FOOD4 ,HE'D BE5 ON ! TRAIL
TOO L;G1 HE ?"\1 ) AN 9N] ANTICIPATORY
*UCKLE4
  ,! BE] RAN D[N 8 ?ROAT & 96HIS /OMA*1
HITT+ BOTTOM )A KICK4               #BEF
  8,:AT ELSE D Y NE$80 HE ASK$4 ,AT !
"Q1 %E TURN$ FUR!R 96HM1 H] LEG FITT+ XF
2T HIS4 ,%E ROCK$ BACK & =?1 & HE KNEW
%E 0 AW>E (! EXCITE;T BUILD+ 9 HM4 ,%E
R1*$ UP & KISS$ HM1 H] T;GUE WRAPP+ XF
>.D HIS4
  8,Y "K :AT ,I WANT1 H"OY10 %E SD 96HIS
M\?4 8,-E 6MY ROOM80
  ,MICAH GR9N$4 8,H[ M*80
  8,TWO DOLL>S40 ,%E WRI!D AG/ HM1 !
/AYS 9 H] CORSET /IFF AG/ 8 *E/1 BR1/S
NE>LY PU%+ F ! FRONT ( H] DRESS4
  ,HE BACK$ AWAY1 L1V+ AN 9* OR TWO 2T
!M4 8,D>L9'1 IF Y DON'T SL[ D[N1 WE
WON'T MAKE X Z F> Z YR ROOM40 ,MAYBE T 0
:AT %E WANT$4 ,SAVE WE> & TE> ON H]
CLO!S & "W AN EXTRA MAN 96H] S*$ULE4 ,HE
DIDN'T C>E4 ,X WASN'T >DOR T DROVE HM1
EI4 ,X 0 BASIC NE$1 L AN IT*4
  ,SUTTON TURN$ 6SET 8 EMPTY MUG BACK ON
! B>1 & Z HE DID S1 GL.ED 96! MIRROR 2H
! B>4 ,X WASN'T A GD MIRROR4 ,AN IT9]ANT
>TI/ _H PA9T$ A PICTURE (! LOCAL SC5]Y 9
"O CORN]1 OV]LAID 0! OBLIGATORY FAT
NUDE4 ,! MIRROR 0 CRACK$ AL;G !     #BEG
O!R SIDE1 POSSI# DAMAGE F A FI<T4 ,&!
LI<T+ 9 ! ROOM 0 DECEPTIVE AT BE/1 2+
GLOOMY "EY": B ABV ! GAM+ TA#S4 ,S X
TOOK A SECOND GL.E F BLE>Y EYES = ,SUT-
TON 6BE SURE J :OM HE 0 SEE+4
  8,OH1 HELL60 HE SD1 & PU%$ ,PE>L AWAY4


















                                    #BEH
























               ,*APT] #AF           #BEI

  8,T 0 A R1L TA/Y SUPP]10 ,C>OL9E -PLI-
;T$ ! WAITRESS1 REMEMB]+ AT ! LA/ MO;T
6DEEP5 H] VOICE4 ,%E WIP$ H] M\? )A R\<
CLO? NAPK9 & SET X 2S H] PLATE4
  8,GLAD Y 5JOY$ X1 SON4 ,H 5 6EAT80 ,!
WAITRESS /UDI$ ! CR[D$ ROOM1 *ECK+ CUS-
TOM]S )A PRACTIC$ EYE4
  8,PL5TY1 MA'AM4 ,I WOND] '''0
  8,YES80 ,! WAITRESS'S ATT5;N CAME
BACK4
  8,H Y NOTIC$ A MAN--HE MAY H BE5 9 TO
EAT--:O IS RID+ A BLOOD BAY /ALLION T
HE'S BE5 RAC+ D[N ON ! FLAT8 ,HE'S AN
,AM]ICAN1 WE>S A SUIT4 ,8 "N IS ,GRE5-
LEI<40
  8,Y "K ,MR4 ,GRE5LEI<80
  ,C>OL9E'S 9SIDES GAVE A LUR*4 8,YES1
MA'AM4 ,DOES HE EAT "H80 ,%E'D *OS5 ?
RE/AURANT ) C>E1 GUESS+ ! \TLAW WD WANT
6PATRONIZE AN UPP]-CLASS EAT]Y OV] A
GR1SY SPOON1 ! BETT] = HM 6MEET P ) M"OY
6WAG]4
  8,HE DOES4 ,DID1 ANYWAY4 ,HE 0 -+ "H =
8 M1LS1 ESPECI,Y BR1KFA/1 2F HE     #BFJ
LEFT4 ,ON "DS 8 HORSE WON1 HE TOOK 8
SUPP] 9 ! ,/EELE ,H\SE'S D9+ ROOM1 & HE
LIK$ 6D 8 DR9K+ AT ! ,RAILROAD4 ,T HORSE
( 8 HAS BE5 ! TALK (! T[N10 ! WAITRESS
A4$4 8,WON NE>LY E RACE HE 5T]$40
  8,HE'S G"O80 ,4APPO9T;T CLUT*$ ,C>O-
L9E4 ,H] SUPP] LAY H1VY 9 H] /OMA*4 ,_H
%E -E ALL ? WAY 6LOSE ,K+ N[8 ,& :AT DID
! WOMAN M1N1 ,8WON NE>LY E RACE80' ,HE
%D H WON !M ALL4 8,":'D HE G80
  ,! WAITRESS1 )\T ANSW]+1 SNAT*$ ! C(-
FEEPOT F A W>M+ /OVE AT A CU/OM]'S SIG-
NAL & DA%$ (F >.D ! D9+ ROOM1 FILL+ ALL
! EMPTY CUPS4 ,C>OL9E /EW$1 WORRY GNAW+
AT H] Z %E WAIT$ =! WOMAN 6-E BACK4 ,&
!N %E _H ANO!R WAIT :ILE A MAN & 8 BOY
CA%$ \4 ,H] IMPATI;E GREW4
  8,": DID ? ,GRE5LEI< G80 %E REP1T$1
TAK+ H] TURN AT ! CA% REGI/]4 8,:5 DID
HE L1VE80 ,PRAY ! WOMAN 0 MISTAK54 ,A
TIR$ QUIV] RAN "? H]4 ,PRAY ,GOD X
WASN'T ! SAME ,GRE5LEI<4
  ,! WAITRESS SI<$ & PU%$ AT A DANGL+
/R& ( HAIR SW1T$ AG/ H] NECK4 8,I J S]V$
8 FOOD1 SON40 ,%E GL.ED M KE5LY     #BFA
AT ,C>OL9E4 8,OR %D ,I SAY SIS8 ,DRESS+
Z A BOY DOESN'T "W = Y1 MY DE>4 ,Y'RE
TOO DELICATE F1TUR$40
  ,C>OL9E OP5$ H] M\? 6REFUTE ! WOMAN'S
OBS]V,N1 B _H NO *.E4
  8,ANYH[10 ! WAITRESS SD1 C.T+ \ *ANGE4
8,AB ,MR4 ,GRE5LEI<4 ,I'M SURE ,I DON'T
"K ": HE W5T4 ,HE 0 A /1DY CU/OM] = OV]
A WEEK1 !N YE/]"D MORN+ HE DIDN'T %[ UP4
,I HE>D "SBODY SAY HE'D MOV$ ON4 ,I
DIDN'T ASK 8 DE/9,N40
  ,C>OL9E FELT AN \TBUR/ -+ ON--TE>S OR
SCR1M+--%E WASN'T C]TA9 :4 ,%E H&$ !
WOMAN BACK ! TWO NICKELS ( *ANGE4 8,Y'RE
SURE80
  ,! WOMAN $G$ =! KIT*5 AT ! COOK'S
CALL4 8,I'M SURE HE HASN'T BE5 IN40 ,%E
%RU7$ & RAC$ AWAY1 H1VY FOOT/EPS MAK+ !
FLOOR CR1K4
  ,C>OL9E BUTTON$ H] COAT & /EPP$ \ ONTO
! BO>DWALK4
  ,D>K;S _H FALL5 & X 0 COLD4 ,! T[N _H
QUIET$1 EXCEPT =! ACTIV;Y >.D ! SALOONS4
,AL? %E HOP$ 6AVOID 5T]+ ANY ( !M1
,C>OL9E WALK$ AL;G ! SAME SIDE (!   #BFB
/REET Z ! CAFE1 GLANC+ "? OP5 DOORS 9
CASE ! WAITRESS 0 MISTAK5 & ,GRE5LEI< 0
/ >.D4 ,S9CE X 0 ,SATUR"D NI<T1 ! SA-
LOONS 7 PACK$1 ! WILD & R[DY ,CANADIAN
CLI5TELE NO M SEDATE ?AN _! C.T]"PS 9 !
,/ATES4 ,9 N"O (! DR9K+ E/ABLI%;TS _H %E
GLIMPS$ ,GRE5LEI<1 AL? ONCE %E WALK$
BOLDLY OV] 6! S+LE GAM+ TA# NE> ! DOOR 9
"O & SD 6! BE/-DRESS$ MAN SITT+ "!1
8,MI/]1 H Y SE5 ,WILLIAM ,GRE5LEI< TN1
0ANY *.E80
  8,GRE5LEI<8 ,Y M1N ! MAN T [NS ! RACE-
HORSE80 ,! GAM#R B>ELY GL.ED UP F 8
C>DS4
  ,AL? IRK$ AT AGREE+ )! 8[NS0 "P1 ,C>O-
L9E SD1 8,YES4 ,T'S "R4 ,HM40
  8,HE'S G"O10 ! GAM#R SD4 8,WON PRACTI-
C,Y ALL ! M"OY 9 T[N & W5T (F UP 6,A9S-
WOR?'S SETTLE;T--OR S ,I HE>D4 ,N T HE
*ECK$ 9 ) ME F/1 M9D40 ,! O!RS LAU<$ AT
8 WITTICISM4 8,:AT D Y WANT ) HM80
  ,%E ?"\ FA/4 ,%E 0 SMALL & WIRY LOOK+4
8,?"\ ,I'D SEE AB RID+ ! HORSE 9 8 RAC-
ES4 ,I'M A JOCKEY40
  8,HELL10 ! GAM#R SD4 8,HE ALR     #BFC
HAS E ADVANTAGE1 B T A9'T A BAD IDEA4
,TOO BAD Y'RE TOO LATE40
  8,Y'RE SURE HE'S LEFT ,=T ,/EELE80
,C>OL9E FELT TIR$ J ?9K+ AB TAK+ UP !
*ASE AG4
  ,! GAM#R ROLL$ 8 %\LD]S1 ?REW "S M"OY
\ 9 A BET & DREW A C>D4 8,ALL ,I'M SURE
AB1 KID1 IS T Y'RE BO!R+ ME40
  ,TAK+ ! H9T1 ,C>OL9E RETR1T$4
  ,S9CE ! ,RAILROAD--AN OPTIMI/IC "N =!
SALOON SEE+ NO RAILROAD RAN 96! T[N--WAS
ON ! O!R SIDE (! /REET1 %E SAV$ X = LA/4
,%E AGRE$ )! WAITRESS' CLAIM T ? 0 ! MO/
LIKELY E/ABLI%;T 6F9D ANSW]S 6H] "QS1 =
X 0 ! BUSIE/ SALOON 9 T[N4 ,K+ WASN'T
HIT*$ 6ANY (! RAILS1 %E KNEW1 = %E EXAM-
9$ ! ANIMALS C>E;LLY 2F %E 5T]$4 ,%E
HOP$ ,GRE5LEI< _H BE5 /ABL+ ! HORSE AF 8
RACES1 & FE$+ HM ! "R MIX ( GRA9 & HAY4
  ,! ,RAILROAD'S DOOR /OOD OP5 6! \T-
SIDE4 ,SMOKE P\R$ "? ! OP5+ Z ?\< !
BUILD+ 7 ON FIRE4 ,! MUSIC 0 L\D4 ,SPEC-
TATORS CR[D$ >.D ! D.E FLOOR1 WAIT+ _!
TURN 6D.E )! WOM54 ,C>OL9E CDN'T SEE OV]
! TALL] M54 ,%E SLIPP$ 9SIDE1       #BFD
KEEP+ H] BACK AG/ ! WALL1 & H] HAT PULL$
L[ OV] H] FACE4
  ,%E *ECK$ ! GAM+ TA#S F/1 9 ! 2LIEF A
MAN L ,GRE5LEI< WD FIX 8 9T]E/ ON "S?+
O!R ?AN LOOSE WOM54 ,! GRAY HAT HE'D BE5
WE>+ :5 %E LA/ SAW HM 0 NO": 9 EVID;E4
,HE WASN'T ON ! D.E FLOOR EI1 & AF /UDY+
^? CLOSE/1 %E PU%$ "? ! CR[D =A CLOS]
LOOK AT ! M5 L9+ ! B>4
  ,H] EYES WID5$4 ,%E FELT A FLU% SPR1D
HOTLY OV] H] *EEKB"OS4 ,AT L1/ ? 0 A
LESSON 9 :AT ! LIFE (A :ORE 5TAIL$1 %E
?"\4 ,? IS :AT !Y DID3 :AT %E'D S F> ES-
CAP$4 ,TRU? IS1 %E DIDN'T ?9K %E'D 2 A#
6EMBRACE ! DUTIES Z :OLEHE>T$LY Z "S (
^! WOM5 SEEM$ 6D4 ,LOOK AT T "O1 %E TOLD
H]F1 FIX+ ^U A R$H1D WE>+ A B"R GRE5
DRESS4 ,! WOMAN'S BR1/S 7 ALM BUR/+ OV]
! LACE $G+ ( H] BODICE4 ,C>OL9E SWALL[$
DRYLY Z %E OBS]V$ :AT ! WOMAN 0 DO+ ) H]
BODY1 "R \ "! 9 FRONT ( "EYBODY4 ,&! C[-
BOY %E 0 ) DIDN'T SEEM 6M9D 9 ! L1/4
  ,T'S :5 %E ID5TIFI$ ! C[BOY4 ,A QUE]
T+LE JOLT$ H] B"OS4 ,%E GASP$ \ L\D1 &A
DRUNK5 M9] SWAY+ PA/ H] HE>D &      #BFE
SD1 8,SORRY1 BOYO4 ,DIDN'T M1N T' /EP ON
YA40
  ,IF HE _H1 %E CDN'T FEEL X4
  ,MICAH ,SUTTON4 ,:AT 0 HE DO+ "H8 ,H[
_H HE CAU<T UP ) H] S SOON8 ..,& :AT IS
HE DO+ ) T .WOMAN8
  ,X 0 A MO;T 2F ,C>OL9E R1LIZ$ HE SAW
H]1 TOO4 ,HE PU%$ ! WOMAN AWAY Z IF %E 7
NO M ?AN A TR\#"S 9SECT1 & H1D$ T[>D
,C>OL9E ) PURPOSE;L /RIDES4 ,HE LOOK$
ANGRY1 AL? :AT HE _H 6BE ANGRY AB %E
CDN'T SAY4 ,%E WASN'T ! "O MAK+ AN EXHI-
BI;N ( H]F4 ,N"E!.S1 %E DIDN'T WANT A
BIG 4CUS.N4 ,%E TURN$ & FL$4
  ,H] BOOTS P.D$ L\DLY ON ! BO>DWALK4
,"! 0 AN OP5+ J AH1D1 AN ALLEY 2T ANO!R
SALOON &A CLOS$ T9SMI? %OP4 ,%E DUCK$
96X1 B 2F %E W5T M ?AN HALF A DOZ5 /EPS1
A H& CLAMP$ ONTO H] %\LD]4 ,A FA9T
SCREE* ESCAP$ 2F %E CD %UT X (F4
  8,Y10 ,SUTTON SD1 SP9N+ H] >.D 6FACE
HM4 8,:AT 9 HELL >E Y DO+1 HANG+ >.D A
SALOON8 ,I LEFT 5 M"OY 6KEEP Y SAFE BACK
9 ,TONASKET4 ,I'D 'VE ?"\ Y LE>N$ YR
LESSON40 ,8 R$-RIMM$ HAZEL EYES 7   #BFF
ANGRY & H>D4 ,BE] LAD5 BR1? GU/$ 9 H]
FACE4
  8,OH1 Y D1 D Y80 ,%E WR9KL$ H] NOSE4
8,I CAME 6GET ,K+1 ( C\RSE4 ,I'M N LETT+
ANY NO-GD HORSE ?IEF MAKE (F ) MY HORSE
& BR1K HM D[N4 ,OR MAKE A PR(IT F HM4 ,&
J Y TAKE YR H&S (F ME1 ,MICAH ,SUTTON4
,? IS N"O ( YR BUSI;S4 ,Y C'T TELL ME
:AT 6D40
  8,! HELL ,I C'T10 ,MICAH SD1 8 ^WS J
SLI<TLY SLURR$4 8,&! HELL X A9'T MY
BUSI;S4 ,:AT'S M1 T A9'T YR HORSE1
SWEETHE>T4 ,X'S M9E40
  8,SAYS :O80
  8,SAYS ME4 ,& ,I GOT PAP]S "R "H 9 MY
POCKET T SAY ! SAME40
  ,C>OL9E'S H& WAV$ T DETAIL ASIDE4
8,TSK6 ,Y W5T & LO/ HM4 ,I FIGURE T
MAKES HM REV]T 6ME4 ,HE'S M9E40
  8,LO/ HM8 ,Y %OT ME & /OLE HM4 ,X A9'T
L ,I TOOK HM \ & =GOT ": ,I PUT HM40
  8,HAH4 ,& ,I SUPPOSE Y ?9K ,GRE5LEI<
/OLE HM F ME8 ,WELL1 ,I'VE GOT NEWS = Y1
MI/]4 ,Y 7 ! "O )! GUN T NI<T4 ,I'D H
%OT ! BA/>D40                       #BFG
  ,MICAH DREW BACK L HE 0 %OCK$4 8,Y HU%
UP TALK+ T WAY4 ,:AT'S ! MATT] ) Y8 ,AN
$UCAT$1 G5TLY RAIS$ GIRL S* Z YRF4 ,Y "\
6"K BETT]40
  8,:AT DI6];E DOES T MAKE80 ,C>OL9E
TOSS$ H] H1D4 ,A DEMON 9 H] BRA9 E7$ H]
ON4 8,ANYWAY1 Y'RE DRUNK4 ,BET IF ,I 0
WE>+ A GRE5 DRESS ) MY FRONT EXPOS$ Y
WDN'T 2 WORRI$ AB A LL OLD CUSS^W40
  8,NO10 ,SUTTON %OT BACK4 8,2C IF Y 0
WE>+ A GRE5 DRESS ) YR FRONT EXPOS$1
,I'D H Y DO+ "S?+ O!R ?AN TALK+40
  ,H] M\? OP5$4 8,IS T "R80
  8,Y1H10 HE SD4 8,T'S "R40 ,ONLY X S.D$
A LL M L1 ,8?ASS "R0'4 ,& !N HE SD1
8,?10 & GRA2$ H] %\LD]S & PULL$ H] UP
AG/ HM ALM Z TI<TLY Z ! R$H1D$ WOMAN _H
BE5 CL++ A FEW M9UTES AGO4
  ,C>OL9E'S HAT CAME (F & H] HAIR TUM#D
D[N4 ,%E 0 (F BAL.E ) NO *OICE B 6EI
FALL AG/ ,MICAH1 OR FLAT ON H] 2H4
  ,MICAH DIDN'T LET H] FALL4 ,HE HELD H]
UP"R & PRESS$ 8 M\? D[N ON TOP ( H]S1
R\<1 ANGRY1 HUNGRY FEEL+4 ,EXCITE;T $DI$
"? H] VE9S1 & IF ,C>OL9E ?"\ AT     #BFH
ALL1 : %E WASN'T ANY TOO SURE %E 0 CAPA#
( DO+ "R AT T MO;T1 %E ?"\ T TGR !Y MI<T
LE>N ! WAY ( ? BUSI;S4 ,!Y 7 A LL CLUM-
SY1 BO? ( !M4 ,%E 9EXP]I;ED :5 X CAME TO
KISS+--,SUTTON HALF DRUNK4 ,B X DIDN'T
MATT]4 ,X FELT1 AF ALL1 /RANGELY PL1S-
ANT1 & !Y CD PRACTICE UNTIL !Y GOT X "R4
  ,& !N X /RUCK H] T ^! ?"\S 7 L ^? %E'D
_H AB LE>N+ H[ .X 0 D"O1 BACK :5 %E'D
2LIEV$ %E CD TURN H]F 96A :ORE4 ,! NI<T
%E LO/ ,K+4 ,6,SUTTON4
  ,%E WRE/$ H]F \ ( ,SUTTON'S >MS4 ,H]
LEGS FELT W1K4
  ,SUTTON REEL$ BACKW>D1 8 %\LD]S /RIK+
AG/ ! T9 %OP'S \T] WALL H>D 5 ! :OLE
BUILD+ %U4]$4 8,HELL10 HE SD4

  ..,:AT ! HELL >E Y DO+1 .,SUTTON8 ,!
?REE OR F\R BE]S ,MICAH _H TAK5 ON AN
EMPTY /OMA* MADE 8 VI.N SP9 9 A RA9B[-
COLOR$ :IRL & 8 BRA9S C>T:EEL4 ,OH1 HE
KNEW :AT HE'D D"O1 ALL "R1 B "! WASN'T
ANY LOGIC 6X4 ,C>OL9E ,PRUETT 0 ! GIRL
:O'D %OT HM1 = ,*RI/'S SAKE4 ,! SAME "O
:O'D D"O H] BE/ 6DUPE HM AT E       #BFI
TURN--&1 HE _H 6ADMIT--D"O WELL AT X4
  ,& "H %E WAS1 "W+ H] MAGIC ON HM YET
AG4 ,HE KNEW X 0 A WIT* SPELL1 2C AL? "T
PASS$ & 8 HE>T SL[$1 HE / FELT ! HOT
FIRE ( H] M\? BURN+ "U 8 [N4 ,& %E _H
KISS$ HM4 ,HE _HN'T BE5 ! ONLY "O 2+ /U-
PID4
  ,A SPILL ( LI<T F A LANT]N "S"O 0 C>-
RY+ AL;G ! BO>DWALK 9 FRONT (! ALLEY %[$
H] EYES1 Z D>K & /RICK5 Z A GUT-%OT DOE4
,H] F+]S 7 PRESS$ AG/ H] M\?4
  ,IF HE'D HURT H]1 HE ?"\1 %E'D _H X
-+4
  8,": Y /AY+80 HE HE>D 8 [N VOICE GR[L4
  8,HOTEL40 ,X CAME \ ON A BR1?4
  ,HE %OOK 8 H1D IMPATI5TLY & SC[L$4 8,I
FIGUR$ T4 ,: HOTEL8 ,I'LL WALK Y OV]4
,Y'D BE/ GET (F ! /REET 2F "S"O F9DS \ Y
A9'T A BOY40
  ,%E %OOK H]F1 & /RAI<T5$4 ,H] *9 J]K$
UP4 8,NOBODY ''' NOBODY M* HAS GUESS$ Z
YET4 ,I'VE GOTT5 GD AT ACT+ ! "P40
  8,GD80 ,MICAH SNORT$1 & EXA7]AT$ A LL4
8,I KNEW Y 7 A GIRL TWO M9UTES AF ! GAME
/>T$ T NI<T4 ,SO'D ! BUT*] &! O!R   #BGJ
FELL]S4 ,X A9'T R1L T\<40 ,HE DIDN'T
BO!R M5;N+ ! BOY AT ! /ORE 9 ,TRAIL4
  8,Y1H80 ,H] EYES MET HIS4 8,!N ,I'M
SURPRIS$ Y DIDN'T TRY 6GET ME KICK$ \ (!
GAME40 ,%E PIL$ H] HAIR ON TOP H] H1D &
JAMM$ ! HAT ON OV] X4
  8,I DIDN'T FIGURE :AT Y DID 0 ANY ( MY
BUSI;S4 ,& X WASN'T--UNTIL Y BET ! HORSE
& ,I WON HM4 ,LOOKS 6ME AF T1 Y MADE ?
:OLE %EBANG MY BUSI;S40
  8,NO4 ,Y DID T YRF40
  ,MICAH DIDN'T WA/E "T >GU+4 ,"SH[1 HE
GOT ,C>OL9E TURN$ >.D & H1D$ \ (! ALLEY4
,AT ! 5D1 HE HESITAT$ & LET H] TAKE !
L1D4 ,HE KNEW %E WASN'T ?9K+ Z %E TURN$
LEFT & ANGL$ ACR ! /REET1 T[>D ,/EELE
,H\SE4
  ,"W$ = HM1 HE ?"\4 ,HE NE$$ A PLACE TO
/AY4 ,HE MI<T Z WELL TRY =A ROOM "!1
TOO4 ,HELL4 ,IF %E CD PAY ! HOTEL'S
PRICES1 S CD HE4 ,! PROXIM;Y WD MAKE X
EASI] 6KEEP 8 EYE ON H] TN4 ,TM MORN+1
E>LY1 HE'D />T ASK+ >.D UNTIL HE GOT A
L9E ON ,GRE5LEI<'S ":ABS4 ,:5 HE DID1
HE'D G 6! ,M.TIES & SWE> \ A W>-    #BGA
RANT AG/ ! \TLAW4 ,F/ (F1 HE'D %[ !M !
/UD'S PAP]S & /AKE 8 CLAIM ON ! HORSE4
,HE'D RETURN 6! HOTEL1 !N1 & PICK ! GIRL
UP4 ,SEE %E GOT BACK 6! ,/ATES4 ,AF T1
%E 0 ON H] [N4 ,N 8 PRO#M1 ANYMORE4 ,NO1
SIRREE4
  ,"! 0 NO D5Y+ ! GIRL 0 SM>T Z A :IP1
?\<4 ,CL"E & RES\RCE;L4 ,MICAH FR[N$4
8,H[ DID Y 5D UP "H8 ,& H['D Y GET AH1D
( ME80
  ,C>OL9E SMIRK$4 8,Y %D'VE WAIT$ >.D A
:ILE L;G]1 BACK 9 ,TONASKET4 ,M>%AL
,FIELD] & ,I F.D A LR 9 ,HAG]/ROM'S SAD-
DLEBAGS4 ,9 X1 ,GRE5LEI< WROTE T HE 0
H1D+ = ,=T ,/EELE Z SOON Z HE _H ,K+4 ,I
KNEW "R ": 6-E40
  8,LET ME GET ? /RAI<T--Y RODE HORSE-
BACK ALL ! WAY F ,TONASKET 0YRF8 ,I ?"\
Y DIDN'T L RID+40 ,MICAH CDN'T MAKE UP 8
M9D :E!R 6BE %OCK$ 0H] N]VE & APP>5T TO-
TAL LACK ( FE>1 OR ADMIR+ ( ^? SAME
QUALITIES4
  8,I DON'T M9D RID+4 ,X'S RAC+ ,I DON'T
L4 ,ANYWAY1 ( C\RSE ,I RODE4 ,Y DON'T
SEE W+S ON ME1 D Y80                #BGB
  ,! SU45 EJEC;N (A HO>SE-VOIC$ M9] F !
9T]IOR (! SALOON !Y 7 PASS+ CAUS$ !M BO?
6SIDE/EP4 ,! M9] 0 %\T+ T HE 0 GONNA SET
A *>GE "U ! NEXT =NICAT+ C[BOY HE SAW4
,:I/LES & JE]S CAME F )9 ! SALOON4 ,MI-
CAH IGNOR$ ! ALT]C,N & S DID ,C>OL9E4
  8,ONLY BIRDS & ANGELS H W+S1 SWEET-
HE>T1 & "! N ONLY A9'T ANY F1!RS ON Y1
,I DON'T SEE A HALO1 EI40 ,MICAH PULL$
H] \ (! WAY (A ?R[N BOTTLE1 8 REFLEXES
FA/ EV5 ?\< 8 H1D / BUZZ$ F ! BE]4 8,I
ONLY ASK$ 2C ,I'M ?9K+ Y "\ 6BUY YRF A
TICKET & RIDE ! RIV]BOAT HOME4 ,X'LL
TAKE Y 6,MONTANA ": Y C CAT* ! ,NOR!RN
,PACIFIC WE/--OR EA/40
  ,C>OL9E'S TEE? GR.D AG/ EA* O!R4
8,I'LL KEEP T 9 M9D = :5 ,I GET ,K+40
  ,MICAH REG>D$ H] REPLY Z NONS5SICAL4
8,PROBABLY 2 BE/ 6SELL ! HORSE Y'RE RID+
"H 9 ,=T ,/EELE40 ,A ?"\ /RUCK HM4 8,IF
Y'VE GOT A BILL ( SALE4 ,O!RWISE1 J TURN
X LOOSE40
  ,S9CE !Y 7 WALK+ PA/ ! RE/AURANT ":
,C>OL9E _H EAT5 H] SUPP] E>LI]1 LI<T "?
! W9D[ ALL[$ ,MICAH 6CAT* H]        #BGC
GUILTY EXPRES.N4 ,A BILL ( SALE ON H]
HORSE1 HE SURMIS$1 0 Z FANCI;L AN IDEA Z
,C>OL9E 9 POSSES.N (A HALO4 8,TURN X
LOOSE10 HE REP1T$4
  8,I'LL PROBABLY L1VE ! SAME WAY ,I
CAME4 ,TRACE ! ,DEWDNEY TRAIL R\TE WE/
UNTIL ,I HIT ! ,COLUMBIA1 & !N FOLL[ !
RIV] S\?40 ,%E 0 /U2ORN1 PAY+ HM AB Z M*
M9D Z %E WD A MOSQUITO FLY+ >.D H] H1D4
8,I L ! M>E ,I'M RID+4 ,WE'RE US$ 6EA*
O!R40
  ,%E 0 A DANG$ LO/ CAUSE1 ,MICAH DECID-
$4 ,Z *ANGEA# Z A ,*9OOK W9D1 BL[+ HOT &
COLD4 ,EXASP]AT$1 HE SI<$ & TRI$ 6PUT 8
?"\S 9 ORD]4
  8,S1 H Y SE5 HM80 HE ASK$4
  8,SE5 :O80
  8,GRE5LEI<1 ( C\RSE4 ,:O ELSE80
  ,%E _H T ANNOY+ CURL AT ! CORN]S ( H]
LIPS AG4 8,I ?"\ Y MI<T H M1NT ,K+40
  8,! HORSE1 TOO4 ,F9D "O Y F9D ! O!R1
,I SUPPOSE4 ,H Y80
  8,NO10 %E SD4 8,I HAV5'T SE5 EI ( !M40

                                    #BGD
  ,X WASN'T A LIE1 ,C>OL9E TOLD H]F--:
DIDN'T /OP H] F FEEL+ GUILTY & CROSS+ H]
F+]S 2H H] BACK4 ,GRANT$1 %E _HN'T ACTU-
,Y SE5 EI ,K+ OR ,GRE5LEI<1 B ?ANKS 6A
TIP "H & "!1 %E ?"\ %E KNEW ": 6F9D !M4
,& %E DIDN'T PLAN ON %>+ T 9=M,N ) ,MI-
CAH ,SUTTON4
  ,! SAME S\R CL]K :O'D S]V$ H] 9 ! AFN
0 AT ! HOTEL DESK :5 !Y WALK$ IN4 ,HE 0
Z (FICI\S Z "E :5 X CAME 6HOTEL BUSI;S4
  8,SORRY10 ! MAN SD1 N LOOK+ SORRY AT
ALL4 8,ALL \R ROOMS >E FULL4 ,X'S ,SAT-
UR"D4 ,WE'RE ALW FULL UP (A ,SATUR"D40
,HE PAUS$4 8,Y SEEM 6"K ? "Y FELL[ "H
'''0
  8,MY BRO!R10 ,C>OL9E CUT IN1 J A %ADE
TOO FA/4
  8,WELL1 !N1 WE C ALL[ Y 6%>E ! ROOM40
,! CL]K SPUN ! REGI/] >.D & 3SULT$ !
SIGNATURES4 8,I ?"\ S4 ,I PUT Y 9 EI<T-
E54 ,T ROOM HAS A D\# B$40
  8,OH1 NO10 ,C>OL9E SD4 8,Y SEE1 MY
BRO!R HAS ? 3DI;N--0
  8,:AT 3DI;N80
  8,HE ''' HE '''0 ,H] M9D W5T      #BGE
BLANK4
  8,MY BRO!R IS JO%9' Y10 ,MICAH SD4 8,!
S+LE ROOM W D40 ,HE NUDG$ ,C>OL9E1 A
W>N+ 6KEEP QUIET & H1D OV] T[>D ! /AIRS1
B 2F %E CD MOVE1 ! CL]K 0 SP9N+ ! REGI/]
>.D AG4 ,HE DIPP$ 8 P5 9 AN OP5 9KWELL &
H&$ X 6,MICAH4
  8,IF Y PL1SE1 SIR10 HE TOLD ,MICAH4
8,SIGN ! GUE/ BOOK40
  ,C>OL9E FROZE4 8,:AT =8 ,I ALR SIGN$
YR REGI/]40
  8,RULES10 ! CL]K SD4 8,I "K Y'VE
SIGN$1 "Y SIR1 B X'S ! RULE T EA* O3U-
PANT 9 ! ROOM D ! SAME40
  ,C>OL9E DIDN'T 2LIEVE X1 B ,MICAH
%RU7$ & R1*$ =! P54
  8,"R "H40 ,! CL]K PO9T$4 8,2S YR BRO?-
]'S "N40
  ,C>OL9E SAW ! P5 HOV] ABV ! PAGE :ILE
,MICAH /UDI$ ! SIGNATURE4 ,%E SQUIRM$1
FEEL+ 8 GAZE RE/ ON H] BRIEFLY1 & !N !
P5 SCRAT*$ ACR ! PAP]4 ,%E CRAN$ H]
NECK4 ,:AT _H HE WRITT58 ,"! 0 A ;C1 AN
;A1 AN ;R1 AN ;L & TWO M LRS4 ,%E
SQUIRM$ AG4                         #BGF
  8,"! Y >E10 HE SD 6! CL]K1 & 6,C>OL9E1
8,-E ON1 LL BRO!R4 ,LET'S G GET "S %UT
EYE40

  ,SEE+ T ! FRLY >M HE DRAP$ OV] H] %\L-
D]S WEI<$ AB A TON1 ,C>OL9E DIDN'T BE-
LIEVE %E _H M* *OICE4 ,:AT DID HE ?9K %E
0 GO+ 6D8 ,RUN8
  ,B %E WASN'T 2+ FAIR4 ,DEEP D[N ,C>O-
L9E KNEW T & 0 M ?AN HALF A%AM$ ( H]F4
,SUTTON _H BE5 FAIR 6H]4 ,HE'D GIV5 H]
GD ADVICE1 & TR1T$ H] ) R1L ?"\;L;S1
3SID]+1 AL? X SEEM$ 6H] HE 0 GETT+ J A
LL \TSPOK5 LATELY4 ,& !N "! 0 T KISS4
,%E 0 GO+ 6SP5D "S "T ?9K+ AB T4
  ,%E J HOP$ HE WASN'T GO+ 6GET 9 A SNIT
OV] ! USE ( 8 "N4







               ,*APT] #AG           #BGG

  ,MICAH'S >M DROPP$ Z HE & ,C>OL9E M.T$
! /AIRS 6! SECOND FLOOR4 ,! GIRL 0 RIGID
Z A FROZ5 BEEF C>CASS1 H] FLE% UNYIELD+4
,%E 0 AFRAID ( HM1 HE R1LIZ$4 ,HE %DN'T
H KISS$ H]4
  ,RECK.S LL HOYD5 T %E WAS1 %E DES]V$ A
GD :UPP+1 B HE DIDN'T ?9K HE 0 ! MAN TO
ADM9I/] X4 ,HE MI<T N 2 A# 6/OP1 ONCE HE
GOT />T$4
  8,Y SURE 9 HELL M/ 2 C>RY+ A GRUDGE
AG/ ME40 ,HE R1*$ OV] & PULL$ H] \ (!
PA? (A WELL-DRESS$ WOMAN -+ D[N ! /AIRS
T[>D !M4 8,OR ELSE ,I'M AN EASY M>K4 ,F/
Y /1L MY HORSE1 & !N Y /1L MY GODDAMN$
"N40
  ,HE T\*$ ! BRIM ( 8 HAT 6! WOMAN4
,HIPS SWI%+1 %E DREW H] SKIRTS ASIDE Z
?\< AFRAID ( /EPP+ 9 :AT"E HE C>RI$ ON 8
BOOTS4 ,HE B>ELY NOTIC$ H] AV].N--OR HE
DID1 B AC"KL$G$ T HE LOOK$ R\<4 ,HE M/
LOOK R\< 6,C>OL9E1 TOO1 N T %E 0 ANY
PICTURE ( SA9THOOD H]F4
  8,I'M SORRY AB T10 %E MUTT]$4 8,B
,GRE5LEI<'S 0 ! F/ "N ,I ?"\ (1 &   #BGH
S9CE X SEEM$ R1SONA# HE MI<T 2 /AY+ "H1
,I DIDN'T D>E USE HIS4 ,YR "N O3URR$ 6ME
SECOND40
  8,?ANKS4 ,S1 ,I RANK 2H A HORSE ?IEF1
D ,I8 ,AF ,I SAV$ YR LIFE & GAVE Y M"OY1
TOO40 ,:AT 0 ! MATT] ) H] [N "N8 HE WON-
D]$4
  ,%E /OPP$ 9 FRONT (A V>NI%$ WOOD DOOR
& FUM#D )A L;G-%ANK$ KEY4 8,I'LL PAY Y
BACK1 ,SUTTON4 ,I PROMISE ,I W4 ,J Z
SOON Z ,I GET SETTL$ "S": & ,K+ />TS
E>N+ M"OY40
  8,HE'S E>N+ M"OY "R N[1 SWEETHE>T1 ON-
LY Y A9'T GETT+ ANY ( X4 ,& NEI AM ,I40
  ,X 0 Z IF %E _HN'T HE>D HM4 8,Z SOON Z
,I GET HM BACK1 ,I PROMISE4 ,Y'RE GO+ TO
2 ! F/ P]SON ON MY LI/4 ,! ONLY P]SON ON
MY LI/4 ,I DON'T [E ANY"O ELSE40
  8,N[ T RELIEVES MY M9D NO 5D4 ,B TELL
ME ?1 ": Y GO+ 6SET UP )! /UD8 ,H Y MI-
RACUL\SLY -E 96! M"OY 6BUY A RAN*8 ,I
D\BT S40 ,HE PU%$ ! UNLOCK$ DOOR OP5 &
DRA7$ H] 9SIDE4 8,T FIFTY DOLL>S ,I GAVE
Y WON'T PAY YR KEEP =! 5TIRE W9T]1 LET
AL"O ! HORSE'S4 ,!N :AT80           #BGI
  ,%E FL\NC$ OV] & PLOPP$ ONTO ! B$1
BURY+ H] H1D 9 H] >MS ) ELB[S RE/+ ON H]
KNEES4 8,I DON'T "K4 ,I'LL F9D A WAY40
  ,HE CD H>DLY HE> H]1 :AT ) H] VOICE 2+
MU6L$ 0H] H&S4 ,H] HAT _H -E (F & H]
BRAID UND"O4 ,FLOAT+ /R&S ( TA6Y-COLOR$
HAIR HID H] FACE4 ,HE R1*$ OV] & FLICK$
A CURL ) 8 F+]4
  8,IF Y'RE DET]M9$ 6ACT L A MAN1 :Y
DON'T Y CUT ? (F80 ,HE S.D$ H>% & CRUEL
6HIS [N E>S4
  ,H] BR1? GAVE A LL HIT*1 & %E ANSW]$
)\T LIFT+ H] H1D4 8,I DON'T WANT 6BE A
MAN1 ,SUTTON4 ,A F>M] TOOK ME =A BOY F/1
&1 AF T1 X J SEEM$ EASI] & SAF] IF ,I
LET HM ?9K S4 ,REG>D.S ( :AT Y M/ ?9K1
,I DON'T 5JOY LOOK+ L A D[N-ON-HIS-LUCK
SA4LE TRAMP4 ,I L PRETTY ?+S Z WELL Z !
NEXT WOMAN4 ,? IS J UNTIL ,I C GET ,K+
BACK & WE C SETTLE "SPLACE40
  8,DAMMIT1 ,C>OL9E4 ,I WI% Y'D QUIT
SAY+ T6 ,I WON ! HORSE F Y4 ,HE'S M9E4
,:Y C'T Y GET T "? YR /U2ORN H1D80 ,MI-
CAH TWIT*$ A BRAID$ RAG RUG F 2S ! B$ )!
TOE ( 8 BOOT & %IFT$ X OV] 9        #BHJ
FRONT (! -MODE4 8,GIVE UP4 ,F9D A MAN &
GET M>RI$4 ,"! M/ 2 A HUNDR$ M5 >.D "H
:O'RE J BE7+ =A WIFE40 ,HE IGNOR$ ! PANG
! SU7ES;N GAVE HM4
  8,I DON'T WANT 6M>RY A HUNDR$ M54 ,I
WANT :AT ,I WANT1 & T'S 6LIVE MY [N
LIFE4 ,& ,I'M GO+ 6D X1 TOO40 ,H] ^WS 7
L\D1 & BRAVE4
  ,! SLIPP] TUB ( COLD BA? WAT] / /OOD 9
! MI4LE (! FLOOR4 ,GREY SCUM _H =M$ OV]
! TOP2 A SMALL PU4LE LAY DRY+ ON !
FLOOR4 ,MICAH /IRR$ X ) 8 TOE4
  8,Y1H10 HE SD1 SU45LY TIR$4 ,UN.S T 0
! DESIRE ! R$H1D _H R\S$ / DRA9+ \ ( HM4
8,I RECKON Y'LL TRY4 ,J L1VE ME \ ( X40
  ,HE 0 HUNGRY4 ,HE'D MISS$ 8 SUPP]1 :
M1NT HE'D 2 HUNGRI] 0MORN+4 ,& 2SS T1 HE
0 ALM C]TA9 HE'D MADE ,C>OL9E ,PRUETT
CRY4 ,S.D.SLY1 6BE SURE1 B H] FACE 0
HI45 & H] %\LD]S %OOK4
  8,?R[ ME A BLANKET & "O ( !M PILL[S10
HE SD4 8,I'LL MAKE D ON ! FLOOR TN40

  ,SUTTON DIDN'T SNORE4 ,C>OL9E DIDN'T
?9K HE SLEPT4 ,%E DIDN'T SLEEP M*   #BHA
EI1 B LAY /I6LY ON H] BACK1 FULLY CLO!D4
,? WASN'T :AT %E'D IMAG9$ :5 %E R5T$ !
ROOM4 ,^? PLANS _H 9CLUD$ A BLISS;L
NI<T'S SLEEP 9 A R1L B$1 N ? LI/5+ 6HM
LI/5 6H]4 ,%E _H NO D\BT B T HE'D L1P TO
8 FEET IMMLY 7 %E 6SW+ H] LEGS OV] ! $GE
(! B$4
  ,9 FACT1 EXP]I;T+ ONCE1 %E LET H] B>E
FEET CREEP F "U ! BLANKET4 ,!N %E SCOO*$
UP ON "O ELB[ & />$ >.D4 ,SUTTON'S BR1?
LOCK$ & HELD4 ,HAH6 ,%E'D "KN X4
  ,8 AL]T REAC;N 5C\RAG$ H] 9 DIRECT
PROPOR;N 6RELAX1 & EV5TU,Y1 %E SLEPT4
,AL;G AB MIDNI<T %OTS S.D$ 9 ! /REET 2L
H] W9D[4 ,A HORSE SQU1L$4 ,9 ! 4T.E1 A
W9D[ %ATT]$4 ,"! 7 %\TS1 A MURMUR ( L[]$
VOICES1 & !N A 4TURB.E ": %E ?"\ A MAN
PROTE/$ AG/ 2+ HAUL$ (F 6JAIL4 ,QUIET
FELL AG1 & LAT]1 :ITE MOONLI<T GL>$ 9 "?
! W9D[ & %"O 96H] EYES4 ,%E ROLL$ ONTO
H] SIDE1 BACK 6! W9D[1 & ABRUPTLY FELL
DEEPLY ASLEEP4
  ,AT #D ,A4,M41 %E AWAK5$4 ,! ROOM 0
PIT* BLACK & %E CD TELL 0! REGUL> RISE &
FALL ( ,MICAH'S BR1? T HE1 TOO1     #BHB
_H FALL5 ASLEEP4 ,! B$SPR+S CR1K$ Z %E
CLIMB$ \ ( B$4 ,MICAH N"E /IRR$4
  ,MO/ ( H] CLO!S 7 / 9 H] SA4LEBAGS1
,C>OL9E REMEMB]$4 ,EXCEPT =! SP>E /RIP (
BR1/ B9D+ MAT]IAL T %E'D R9S$ & HUNG ON
! -MODE'S T[EL PEG &! PAIR ( DRAW]S
DRAP$ OV] ! IRON B$/1D'S FOOT RAIL4 ,%E
CD GA!R ! DRAW]S2 ! /RIP %E'D 2QU1? TO
,SUTTON4 ,A SMILE TWIT*$4 ,:AT WD HE
?9K8
  ,C>OL9E SLIPP$ H] >MS "? ! SLEEVES (
H] COAT1 : %E'D BE5 US+ = W>M? AF ,MICAH
3FISCAT$ "O (! BLANKETS4 ,%E HEFT$ !
SA4LEBAGS OV] H] %\LD]1 ! #.CH /[$ IN-
SIDE4 ,X CLUNK$ AG/ ! DOORFRAME Z %E
/OLE F ! ROOM1 C>RY+ H] BOOTS 9 H] H&4
  ,! HALL & /AIRWAY 7 DES]T$ AT ? H\R1 )
ONLY "O %IELD$ LANT]N LI<T+ ! WAY D[N-
/AIRS4 ,C>OL9E SAT ON ! TOP /EP1 TU7$ ON
H] BOOTS1 & BUTTON$ H] COAT4 ,%E W.D H]
HAIR >.D H] H& & SWEPT X "U H] HAT1 ?9K+
T ,SUTTON 0 "R1 %E %D CUT X4
  ,B %E WDN'T4 ,! 2G9N+S (A PLAN _H IN-
VAD$ H] M9D1 & %E ?"\ 6SEE H[ T "W$ \ 2F
%E TOOK S DRA/IC A /EP4             #BHC
  ,>.D ! CORN]1 ! NI<T CL]K YAWN$ OV] A
BOOK HE 0 R1D+--F ": ,C>OL9E /OOD ! LU-
RID COV] LOOK$ L A DIME NOVEL--& %E TRI$
6?9K :AT H] NEXT /EP %D BE4 ,BOLDLY WALK
UP 6HM & SAY ''' :AT8 ,OR WAIT UNTIL 8
BACK 0 TURN$ & SN1K PA/4 ,HE'D N"E "K %E
0 G"O1 & :AT HE DIDN'T "K1 HE CDN'T RE-
PORT :5 ,SUTTON 9QUIR$1 Z HE 0 C]TA9 6D4
  ,B %E DIDN'T H H\RS 6WAIT =A *.E 6PASS
! CL]K )\T 2+ SE54 ,SUTTON CD AWAK5 AT
ANY MO;T1 & :5 HE DID1 HE'D 2 AF H] L A
T]RI] AF A RAT4 ,& IF HE CAU<T H]1 X
WDN'T TAKE L;G = HM 6WORM ! SECRET (
,GRE5LEI<'S ":ABS \ ( H]4 ,!N1 %E _H NO
D\BT1 HE'D L1VE H] "H :ILE HE W5T AF
,GRE5LEI<4 ,HE CD RUN 8 GRAY HORSE UNTIL
! NAG DROPP$1 :ILE %E 0 /UCK ) ,M\SE'S
SEDATE TROT4
  ,BETT] 6L1VE HM /EW+ 9 8 [N JUICE1 )!
4COV]Y ( ": ,GRE5LEI< _H G"O LEFT 6HIS
[N 9VE/IG,NS4 ,:AT %E REGRETT$ 0 H] [N
9ABIL;Y 6RECOV] ,K+'S PAP]S F :]"E ,SUT-
TON _H PUT !M4 ,PROBABLY 9 8 SA4LEBAGS1
2C HE'D MADE A PO9T ( KEEP+ !M NE>4
  ,BOLDLY1 %E M>*$ T[>D ! FRONT     #BHD
DESK4 ,AT ! S.D ( H] FOOT/EPS1 ! CL]K
GL.ED F 8 BOOK1 />TL$ AT 2+ 9T]RUPT$ 9 8
R1D+4
  8,C ,I HELP Y1 SON80 HE ASK$1 ALL
BUSI;S4
  8,YES10 ,C>OL9E SD4 8,Y C4 ,I'M ,SUT-
TON1 F ROOM NUMB] EI<TE54 ,I'M L1V+ N[1
GOTTA GET 6"W1 B MY BRO!R IS / ASLEEP4
,HE'S AW;L TIR$1 MI/]4 ,I'D APPRECIATE X
IF NOBODY BO!R$ HM UNTIL LAT]40
  ,! CL]K SMIL$4 8,:Y C]TA9LY4 ,I C >-
RANGE T4 ,I'LL RUN ON UP & HANG ? NOTICE
ON ! DOORKNOB4 ,HE'LL 2 F9E40 ,HE DIV$
2N ! DESK & CAME UP )A TAG DANGL+ F 8
F+]S4 ,X SD3 ,D ,N ,4TURB4
  8,?ANK Y40 ,A GR9 CURL$ ! CORN]S ( H]
M\?4 ,:AT A GD LL BRO!R %E WAS4 8,HE'LL
2 R1L PL1S$40

  ,! FAMILI> ODOR ( HORSE & MANURE
GREET$ ,C>OL9E Z %E 5T]$ ! B>N4 ,%E 0
2G9N+ 6?9K %E 0 ="E DOOM$ 6BE SN1K+ H]
HORSE \ ( LIV]Y /A#S AT DAWN4 ,UN=TU-
NATELY1 SN1K+ WASN'T POSSI# ? "T4 ,"! 0
AN OLD FELL[ &A KID ALR BUSY        #BHE
MUCK+ \ F 2H A GRAY4 ,A CLOS] LOOK %[$
H] ! GRAY 0 ,/ICK]4
  8,MORN9'10 ! WRANGL] SD Z %E /EPP$ 96!
LANT]N LI<T4 8,:AT D Y NE$80
  ,A9SWOR?'S ,HOT ,SPR+S ,CAMP4 ,%E WI%$
%E D>E ASK HM ! %ORTE/ R\TE "!1 B ,SUT-
TON 0 SURE 6"Q ? MAN :5 HE CAME AF 8
HORSE1 J ON G5]AL PR9CIPLE4 ,"! 0 NO
PO9T 9 TELL+ ": 6F9D H]4
  8,I'M J AF MY HORSE10 %E SD1 SWALL[+
N]V\S;S & =C+ *E] 96H] HUSKY VOICE4 ,%E
L$ ! WAY 6,M\SE'S /ALL ": ! OLD M>E
:ICK]$ HELLO4 ,S9CE ! HO/L] 0 2H H]1 %E
TOOK SPECIAL C>E 6MOVE H] %\LD]S 9 A
SWA7] & /RUT A LL4 ,H] SA4LE HUNG ON A
RAIL \TSIDE ! /ALL4 ,%E GRA2$ X UP &
WALK$ 9 AL;GSIDE ! M>E4 8,GOT A L;G RIDE
TD4 ,H[ F> IS X BACK 6,TRAIL80
  ,WELL1 %E 0 CURI\S4 ,& %E _HN'T SD %E
0 GO+ "!4
  8,DUNNO EXACTLY10 ! HO/L] SD1 WAT*+ Z
%E BRU%$ ! M>E'S BACK & ?REW ! BLANKET
ON4 ,! SA4LE FOLL[$4 8,HUNDR$1 HUNDR$
TW5TY MILES1 GIVE OR TAKE40
  8,IS "! ANY R\TE %ORT] ?AN !      #BHF
,DEWDNEY TRAIL80 ,C>OL9E YANK$ ! C9*
TI<T >.D ,M\SE'S BELLY1 & LOOK$ PA/ !
MAN & \ "? ! DOORS ! KID _H J ?R[N WIDE4
,%E _H BE5 _! F/ CU/OM]1 B !Y 7 GE>+ UP
=! "D4
  ,HE %RU7$4 8,DEWDNEY'S 0 ALW ! BE/4
,X'S A PIECE1 ?\<1 & BADLY OV]GR[N1
'SPECI,Y IF A GRE5 SPR\T L Y IS GO+
AL"O4 ,T ": Y'RE H1D$8 ,TRAIL80
  ,C>OL9E MOV$ 6! M>E'S H1D1 SLIPP$ !
BIT 96H] M\? & PULL$ ! H1D/ALL ON OV] H]
E>S4 ,%E LET ! HALT] FALL AWAY4
  8,SOON] OR LAT]10 %E SD1 )\T RISK+ A M
DEF9ITE RESPONSE4 ,%E TOSS$ ! SA4LEBAGS
ON 2H ! CANTLE & L$ ,M\SE F ! /ALL4 ,AT
! DOORS %E PAUS$1 LOOK+ C>E;LLY D[N BO?
SIDES (! /REET 2F %E M.T$4 ,SEE+ NO?+ TO
9DICATE %E %D D O!RWISE1 %E HEEL$ ,M\SE
96A TROT & H1D$ \ ( T[N4
  ,%E GL.ED BACK ONCE1 & SAW T ! MAN & 8
HELP] _H G"O 9 & RESUM$ _! /ALL CL1N+4
,NO "O 0 9T]E/$ 9 WAT*+ H] L1VE4
  ,HOT ,SPR+S ,CAMP4 ,H[ 0 %E 6F9D X1 OR
M IMPORTANTLY1 GET "! 2F ,SUTTON 4COV]$
! CLUES %E'D LEFT 7 ALL FALSE8      #BHG
,SETTL+ H] RE> 9 ! SA4LE1 %E YAWN$ &
SI<$4 .,GLORY6 ,%E FELT L %E'D BE5 BORN
ON TOP (A HORSE4 ,OR MAYBE %E 0 TURN+
96"O ( ^? C5TAUR CR1TURES ( MY?4 ,HALF
HORSE1 HALF HUMAN4 ,IF S1 %E WASN'T M*
5JOY+ ! TRANSI;N4

  ,A WAGON :EEL 9 NE$ ( GR1SE AWAK5$
,MICAH F A S.D SLEEP4 ,/>TL$1 HE ROLL$1
?UMP+ 8 H& ON ! -MODE'S %>P CORN]4 ,AB !
"T HE PLAC$ ! NOISE Z -+ F \TSIDE & RE-
MEMB]$ HE 0 9 A HOTEL1 HE AL 2CAME AW>E
T ! MORN+ H\R 0 WELL ADV.ED4 ,"! 7 S.DS
( ACTIV;Y \TSIDE ! DOOR1 FOOT/EPS1 !
RATTLE ( *9A1 TALK+4
  ,! NEXT ?+ HE NOTIC$ 0 T HE 0 AL"O 9 !
ROOM4
  ,& !N T 8 H& HURT & 0 BLE$+ F A SMALL
CUT4
  8,I'LL 2 '''0 ,HE RU2$ 8 BLOODY H& ON
! BLANKET1 HE$.S (! R$ SME> LEFT ON !
WOOL4 8,%E'S D"O X AG40
  ,ANY HOPE T ,C>OL9E MI<T ONLY H /EPP$
\ 6USE ! PRIVY OR F9D A RE/AURANT FAD$ Z
HE SAW ALL H] 2L;G+S 7 G"O4 ,ALL1   #BHH
EXCEPT =A L;G1 FL[]-PR9T$ /RIP ( :ITE
FABRIC LEFT HANG+ OV] ! -MODE4 ,XS USE
DEFI$ 8 K ( FEMALE A3\TRE;TS4 ,HE SUS-
PECT$ X REMA9$ 6PUZZLE HM ONLY 2C %E
WD'VE NE$$ 6/EP OV] HM 6RETRIEVE X4
  ,HE GOT UP1 MUSCLES A*+ F ! H>D FLOOR1
& AL? ! WAT] 9 ! UNEMPTI$ TUB 0 EV5 M
REPELL5T ?AN X _H BE5 ! PREVI\S NI<T1 HE
DIPP$ \ A H&;L 6WA% ! SLEEP F 8 EYES4
  ,X REQUIR$ ONLY A MO;T 6SETTLE 8 HAT
ON TOP 8 H1D1 PULL 8 BOOTS ON & GA!R 8
SA4LEBAGS4 ,HE 0 AT ! DOOR 2F HE REMEM-
B]$ ! /RIP ( CLO?4 ,Z AN AF?"\1 HE W5T
BACK = X & /U6$ ! L5G? 96HIS COAT POCK-
ET4
  ,DESPITE 2+ IRRITAT$ 6! PO9T ( ANG]1 !
,D ,N ,4TURB SIGN SLANT$ A CROOK$ GR9
ACR 8 FACE4 ,C>OL9E ,PRUETT 0 A CL"E LL
MUCKLE1 & T 0 NO LIE4
  ,HE TROMP$ D[N/AIRS & /OPP$ AT ! DESK4
,! CL]K LOOK$ UP F 8 BOOK & /UDI$ ,MI-
CAH'S R$-RIMM$ EYES & UN%AV5 FACE4
8,SIR80
  8,I'M ,SUTTON10 ,MICAH GR[L$4 ,HE
CDN'T REMEMB] :AT HE'D US$ Z A F/   #BHI
"N :5 HE SIGN$ IN4 8,:5 DID MY ''' BRO!R
L1VE80
  ,! CL]K 3SULT$ A L>GE S*OOLH\SE CLOCK
ON ! WALL OPPOSITE ! DESK4 8,AH1 YES4
,MR4 ,SUTTON4 ,I 2LIEVE ! BOY LEFT AB
#D3CJ4 ,YR BRO!R IS A B"R BOY1 FULL (
5]GY1 & S ?"\;L4 ,HE SD Y 7 V TIR$1 & IF
,I MI<T SAY S1 SIR1 Y DON'T APPE> 6H
GOTT5 YR RE/ \ YET40
  ,MICAH'S /OMA* GAVE A L\D RUM#4
  ,! CL]K SMIL$4 8,! D9+ ROOM IS / S]V+
BR1KFA/1 ,MR4 ,SUTTON4 ,BEEF /1K & HOT-
CAKES1 ,I 2LIEVE1 ) ,NOVA ,SCOTIAN MAPLE
SYRUP40
  ,MICAH SNI6$1 TEMPT$4 8,SMELLS GD40
  8,X IS GD40 ,! CL]K GE/UR$4 8,"? T
DOOR40
  ,! D9+ ROOM 0 NE>LY EMPTY1 MO/ (! HO-
TEL PATRONS HAV+ G"O AB ! "D'S BUSI;S4
,MICAH BASK$ 9 ! LUXURY Z HE SETTL$ 6HIS
M1L4 ,! HOT CAKES 7 LI<T1 ! /1K T5D]4
,"! 7 /EW$ APPLES ON ! SIDE4 ,HE ATE QK-
LY & N1TLY UNTIL SATISFI$1 !N SETTL$
BACK ) 8 ?IRD CUP ( C(FEE 6SURVEY ! O!R
M5 9 ! ROOM4                        #BIJ
  ,"! 0 A TA# ( ?REE NEXT 6HM1 & HE
CDN'T HELP OV]HE>+ "PS ( _! 3V]S,N1 ES-
PECI,Y :5 X 2CAME A MITE H1T$4
  8,T SONSABIT* RUN (F )\T PAY+ ME4 ,WE
_H A D1L4 ,I 0 6BET ! BAY WD LOSE4 ,HE
WD HOLD ! HORSE BACK1 HE SD1 GET B1T 0A
NOSE4 ,N 5 6R\SE SUSPICION1 B 5 6BR+ !
O4S UP NEXT "T4 ,HELL1 Z X /&S N[ NO-
BODY1 H>DLY1 W BET AG/ HM4 ,HE TOLD ME
HE WANT$ A PAY(F \ ( ? RACE1 ?\<4 ,HE SD
T ,I %D WAG] UP 6A HUNDR$ DOLL>S1 & T
HE'D COV] ! BETS4 ,NEXT "T ! HORSE RAN
WE CD BO? MAKE "S R1L M"OY4 ,I %D H "KN
BETT] ?AN TRU/ HM40 ,! MAN1 DRESS$ 9 A
BANK]'S BUSI;S SUIT S.D$ 4GU/$--MO/LY )
HMF4
  ,AN OLD] MAN LAU<$ UNSYMPA!TIC,Y4
8,HELL1 ,SMITTY1 HE PROBABLY DID M1N TO
HOLD ! HORSE IN4 ,X'S GD BUSI;S 6LOSE
"S"TS4 ,KEEPS ! SUCK]S -+ BACK = M4
,TR\# IS1 T HORSE TAKES (F L A FIRE'S
BE5 LIT "U HM1 OR S ,I'VE HE>D4 ,! BOY
HE HIR$ PROBABLY CDN'T HOLD HM40
  ,SMITTY SNORT$4 8,ALL ,I "K IS1 ,I _H
6PAY \ F\R HUNDR$ DOLL>S & :5 ,I    #BIA
CAME 64CUSS ! MATT]1 ,GRE5LEI< _H MY/]I-
\SLY 4APPE>$40
  ,MICAH CAME 6ATT5;N1 E>S PRICK$4
  ,! ?IRD MEMB] (! TRIO1 A SMALL1
P]SNICKETY-LOOK+ MAN )A FULL BE>D WIP$
C(FEE F 8 LIPS & C\<$4 8,:O 0 X PLAC$ ^?
BETS1 ,SMITTY80
  8,AH1 HELL1 ,AMOS4 ,A MAN "H1 A MAN
"!40 ,HE PAUS$ & ?"\4 8,F\R M54 ,I PD \
A HUNDR$ EA*40
  8,F\R HUNDR$ IS AN UNASSUM+ LL NUMB]1
ISN'T X80 ,AMOS W9K$ AT ! OLD] MAN1 & !Y
LAU<$1 %>+ A JOKE AT ,SMITTY'S EXP5SE4
  ,SMITTY'S FI/ SMA%$ ONTO ! TA#4 ,*9A
RATTL$ & SILV]W>E *IM$4 8,Y ?9K HE--0
  8,PRACTIC,Y C]TA910 ! SECOND MAN SD4
8,& N[ ,I HE> HE'S G"O ON UP 6,A9SWOR?'S
PLACE AT ,HOT ,SPR+S ,CAMP4 ,SUPPOS$ 6BE
HOLD+ A FALL RACE MEET NEXT C\PLE (
,SATUR"DS4 ,"!'S M M"OY FLOAT+ UP "! ?AN
"! IS "H4 ,M SUCK]S 6HAUL IN40
  ,SMITTY'S EYES N>R[$4 8,Y SURE AB T80
  8,:AT8 ,! M"OY OR T ,GRE5LEI< HAS
G"O80
  8,GRE5LEI<40                      #BIB
  8,I RECKON S10 ,AMOS CUT IN4 8,POP
,J"OS D[N AT ! LIV]Y SD HE SAW HM ON !
WAY \ ( T[N YE/]"D1 & ,GRE5LEI< 0 DEFI-
NITELY H1D$ NOR?4 ,TOOK ALL 8 GE>1 TOO40
  ,MICAH1 WAT*+ ,SMITTY \ (! CORN] ( 8
EYE1 SAW ANG] 2H ! MAN'S CALM-SEEM+ FA-
@CADE1 AL? HE S.D$ FA9TLY AMUS$4 8,WELL1
!N4 ,SEEMS ,I'VE BE5 TAK5 =A PROP] FOOL1
DON'T X8 ,:AT D Y SUPPOSE ,BILLY ,9G]-
SOLL IS UP 6^! "DS8 ,I WOND] IF HE'D L
6TAKE A LL TRIP UP 6,A9SWOR?'S ON MY BE-
HALF40
  8,N[1 ,SMITTY10 ,AMOS SD1 8Y DON'T
WANT 6GET TOO RIL$4 ,9G]SOLL GETS A LL
C>RI$ AWAY1 "S"TS4 ,X WDN'T D =A MAN 9
YR POSI;N 6BE 3NECT$ )A MAN L T4 ,Y'RE
APT 6L& 9 ! HOOSEG[ AL;GSIDE ( HM40
  ,SMITTY'S *9 LIFT$4 8,DID Y HE> ME SAY
"O ^W T WD L& ME 9 JAIL8 ,I GUESS Y
DIDN'T40
  8,I "K Y10 ! OLD] MAN SD4 8,& ,I "K AB
,BILLY ,9G]SOLL1 TOO4 ,HE LIKES US+ 8
FI/1 & SPILL+ BLOOD4 ,LIKES %OOT+ P1
TOO1 IF ! PRICE IS "R40
  8,:O SD ANY?+ AB %OOT+ P80        #BIC
,SMITTY 0 ! P]SONIFIC,N ( 9NOC;E4 8,B Y
"K Z WELL Z ,I D T A HORSE )A BROK5 LEG
HAS GOT 6BE %OT & PUT \ ( XS MIS]Y40
  ,MICAH'S BLOOD *ILL$4 ,ON ! V]GE (
LUNG+ 6HIS FEET & PROTE/+ ? EDICT1 HE _H
SECOND ?"\S4 ,Z AN ,AM]ICAN TRAVEL+ 9
,CANADA1 ANY PROTE/ HE MADE1 ANY A3US,N
HE MI<T MAKE AG/ A CITIZ5 "H WD C>RY LL
WEI<T4 ,^! ?REE OLD FRS TALK$ F> TOO
OP5LY = HM 6?9K !Y WDN'T COV] = EA* O!R
IF "O 0 9 TR\#4 ,& ? ,BILLY ,9G]SOLL !Y
M5;N$ S.D$ L A FELL] :O WDN'T BALK AT
TAK+ ON AN 9EPT ,AM]ICAN C[BOY4
  ,NO4 ,8 BETT] OP;N 0 6PAY = 8 M1L &
QUIETLY WALK \4 ,& !N RIDE 6,A9SWOR? QK
Z ,/ICK] CD C>RY HM1 CLAIM ! /UD1 & GET
\ (! C.TRY 2F ,SMITTY & ,9G]SOLL MADE _!
MOVE4
  ,X 0 A MI<TY BIG RELIEF1 HE ?"\1 H&+
TWO BITS 6! CA%I]1 T ,C>OL9E ,PRUETT
_HN'T HE>D ? 3V]S,N4 ,AT L1/ %E 0 \ (!
WAY4


                                    #BID
























               ,*APT] #AH           #BIE

  ,! TRAIL "? ! ,PURCELL ,M.TA9S CROSS$
/EEP1 RU7$ T]RA94 ,X 0 N SU6ICI5TLY WIDE
= WAGONS4 ,IF A MAN WANT$ 6HAUL FREI<T F
,=T ,/EELE OR ,CRANBROOK 6! M9ES AT ,HOT
,SPR+S ,CAMP1 HE WD NE$ F/ 6BACKTRACK TO
,CRE/ON 2F CUTT+ NOR? PA/ ,KOOT5AY
,LAKE4 ,! R\TE OV] ! ,PURCELLS 0 DIRECT1
B T\< C.TRY = AN OLD HORSE L ,M\SE 6NE-
GOTIATE4 ,C>OL9E DIDN'T PU% ! M>E4
  ,%E 0 TIR$1 TOO1 &A LL JUMPY4 ,HAV+
MET NO O!R TRAVEL] S9CE ASK+ DIREC;NS ?
MORN+1 %E CDN'T HELP WORRY+ %E MI<T H
GOTT5 (F TRACK4 ,"!'D BE5 FOLKS R1DY TO
PO9T ! WAY 9 ! R>E 9/.ES %E'D 2COME CON-
FUS$ ON ! ,DEWDNEY ,TRAIL4 ,"H1 H] D\BTS
W5T UNANSW]$4
  ,0MID"D1 ! B"R AUTUMN "D _H GR[N W>M 5
6%$ H] COAT4 ,VORACI\S BIT+ 9SECTS BUZZ$
ALL >.D & ,M\SE'S TAIL FLICK$ 3/ANTLY1 L
A METRONOME4 ,!Y MOV$ SL[LY1 CLAMB]+ OV]
& >.D FALL5 B\LD]S &A FEW D[N$ TREES4
,C>OL9E (T5 WALK$ A WAY1 EAS+ ! /RA9 ON
! M>E4 ,DU/ PU6$ 9 GRAY CL\DS F 2N _!
FEET4 ,%E REM.T$ ONLY :5 ! TRAIL    #BIF
SMOO!D4 ,!Y _H -E NO M ?AN ?REE-QU>T]S (
! WAY :5 DUSK 2GAN 6SETTLE1 AF 2+ ON !
MOVE = M ?AN TWELVE H\RS4 ,HUNG] GNAW$
AT H] BELLY1 & ,M\SE (T5 GRA2$ AT ! DRI$
GRASS AL;GSIDE ! TRAIL4
  ,C>OL9E HE>D WAT] 2F %E SAW X4 ,M\SE
CAU<T ! SC5T1 JUTT$ H] NOSE =W>D & NICK-
]$4 ,A FEW Y>DS (F 6! "R1 A TRICKLE (
PURE1 ICY WAT] DRIB#D F A FISSURE 9 A
L$GE ( ROCKS1 SEEPAGE T GA!R$ 9 A CIRCU-
L> /"O BAS9 2L4 ,C>OL9E DECID$ !Y'D MADE
5 MILES = "O "D4 ,"T 6/OP1 EAT A BITE &
RE/4 ,! CLIMB+ "P 0 D"O2 TM WD 2 MO/LY A
D[NHILL RIDE4 ,!Y'D MAKE BETT] "T IF
,M\SE W]5'T ALR WORN \4
  ,%E BUILT A SMALL FIRE ON ! REMA9S (
"O LEFT 0PREVI\S TRAVEL]S1 & RESIGN$ H]F
6A M1L ( CRACK]S & W1K C(FEE4 ,MICAH
,SUTTON'S FAULT4 ,%E POK$ AT ! FIRE
GLOOMILY1 TRY+ 6:IP UP "S ANG] AG/ HM4
,IF %E _HN'T BE5 RU%+ 6AVOID 8 WAT*;L
EYE1 %E'D H B"\ SUPPLIES 2F L1V+ ,=T
,/EELE4
  ,T'S :5 %E HE>D ! TELLTALE FLAPP+ (
W+S T 9DICAT$ A BIRD 0 9DULG+ 9 A   #BIG
DU/ BA?4 ,=GETT+ ,MICAH1 ,C>OL9E MADE A
DIVE = H] SA4LEBAGS ": %E C>RI$ ! #.CH
,M]W9 & ,HULB]T4 ,%E CAME UP1 ?UMB DRAW+
BACK ! HAMM] 9 "O SMOO? MO;N4
  8,EASY10 %E W>N$ H]F 9 A MUTT]4 8,X'S
PROBABLY J A ROB940
  ,%E S(T-FOOT$ X \ 6! TRAIL ": ! NOISE
0 L\DE/1 LI/5+ 9T5TLY4 ,! :IRR ( W+S
B1T+ 9 ! DU/ L$ H] =W>D4
  ,X WASN'T A ROB94 ,X 0 A NATIVE GR\SE1
& H] %OT TOOK XS H1D (F4

  ,A LL BURP 3V9C$ H] %E'D _H PL5TY4
,EV5 ?\< %E CD EASILY H F9I%$ ! :OLE
BIRD1 IF %E SAV$ ! LEGS & F9AL W+ %E'D H
BR1KFA/ = TM4 ,! FIRE FL>$ Z %E ?REW !
GNAW$ B"OS 96XS HE>T4 ,TIDY ( H]1 B N1T-
;S AL 4C\RAG$ PR$ATORS4
  ,N REPLETE1 B H] HUNG] COOL$1 ,C>OL9E
SAT PROPP$ AG/ A LOG4 ,H] HAT1 CAU<T 0!
*9 /R+ >.D H] ?ROAT1 HUNG D[N H] BACK1
HOLD+ H] LOOSE HAIR F FLOPP+ >.D H]
FACE4 ,%E 0 *EW+ ON A WOODY TWIG1 CL1N+
H] TEE?1 :5 ! UNMISTAKA# SNICK (A BULLET
2+ *AMB]$ S.D$ ONLY A FEW FEET 6!   #BIH
LEFT4 ,! ABLU;NS C1S$1 H] >M POIS$1 ELB[
RAIS$4
  8,0DAMN1 ,S*AFT]10 SD A SLURR$ VOICE F
(F 6H] "R4 8,I ?9K WE'VE F.D U A LIVE-
'UN40
  ,C>OL9E'S TEE? CLAMP$ ON ! TWIG4 ,SL[-
LY1 %E TURN$ H] H1D T[>D ! VOICE4
  8,H[DY10 %E SD1 TRY+ 6S.D Z IF HE
_HN'T J SC>$ ! 2JA2]S \ ( H]4 8,Y BOYS
LOOK+ = "S"O80
  ,:AT %E SAW DIDN'T MAKE H] FEEL ANY
BETT]4 ,A MAN /OOD GR9N+ AT H]1 LOOK+ L
A WOLV]9E 9 BOOTS1 & 8 "PN] ,S*AFT]1 A
L>GE MAN :O SLUNK F 2H A BU% L AN OV]-
GR[N COYOTE1 0 EQU,Y UNSETTL+4
  ,! WOLV]9E MAN GR9N$1 %[+ /UMPS ( F\R
BR[N & BROK5 TEE? T LOOK$ Z IF !Y'D BE5
%E>$ (F )A RIPSAW4 8,GUESS WE F.D HM10
HE SD4 ,)A QK MO;N1 HE PO9T$ 8 H1D T[>D
! FIRE4 8,:AT'S T ,I SMELL8 ,C(FEE &
FRI$ *ICK580
  ,"! W5T H] BR1KFA/4 8,GR\SE10 %E SD4
8,BROIL$4 ,"! ISN'T M* LEFT1 B :AT "!
IS1 Y'RE WELCOME TO40 ,%E MADE X S.D Z
IF %E 7 GIV+--N L !Y 7 TAK+4        #BII
  ,! ,WOLV]9E'S GR9 0 M L A GRIMACE4
8',PRECIATE T4 ,"H1 ,S*AFT]40 ,HE ?REW !
W+ 6! O!R MAN & KEPT ! TWO LEGS = HMF4
  8,? ALL Y GOT80 ,S*AFT] SC[L$ AT ! T9Y
W+ LO/ 9 "O BIG H&4 ,A ,P1CEMAK] ,COLT
TOOK UP SPACE 9 8 O!R4
  ,C>OL9E SI<$4 8,T'S ALL ! GR\SE4 ,"!'S
"S CRACK]S4 ,C(FEE'S HOT 9 ! POT40 ,AN
EXCUSE =! LACK 9 H] HOSPITAL;Y O3URR$4
8,ME & MY "PN] >E ON \R WAY 6,HOT ,SPR+S
,CAMP4 ,WE'RE GO+ 6GET U A M9E4 ,! ?+
IS1 MY "PN]'S HORSE ?REW A %OE ? MORN+ &
HE _H 6H ! %OE RESET4 ,HE HASN'T CAU<T
UP YET1 B ,I FIGURE HE'LL 2 AL;G ANY M9-
UTE4 ,HE'S BR++ ! SUPPLIES40
  ,WOLV]9E GNAW$ ! LEG B"O1 EX*ANG+ A
GL.E )! MAN HE CALL$ ,S*AFT]4 8,*ECK !
KID'S SA4LEBAGS1 ,S*AFT]4 ,SEE IF'N HE'S
GOT ANY M FOOD40
  8,IF HE A9'T10 ,S*AFT] GR[L$1 8H[ AB
WE PLUG T OLD HORSE OV] "! & :ACK U (F A
H9DQU>T]4 ,I'M P[];L HUNGRY40
  ,C>OL9E J]K$4 8,HA HA10 %E SD1 H]
?ROAT DRY4 8,T'S A FUNNY JOKE40
  8,NO JOKE1 KID10 SD ,WOLV]9E4     #CJJ
8,S*AFT] A9'T ET ALL "D1 & HE DON'T MAKE
JOKES :5 X -ES 6EAT9'40
  ,! BIG MAN 0 CRUN*+ BIRD B"OS 9 8 TEE?
L !Y 7 MA%$ POTATOES4 ,HE SWEPT UP ALL B
?REE ( H] REMA9+ CRACK]S & CRAMM$ !M 9TO
8 M\?1 TOO1 2F TAK+ H] SA4LEBAGS & %OV+
A ?ICK1 DIRTY H& 9SIDE4
  8,HEY10 %E YELL$4 8,/OP T6 ,^? >E MY
CL1N CLO!S1 IS ALL40
  ,PANIC RAC$ "? H]4 ,DAMN6 ,9 ANO!R
SECOND HE WD 4COV] H] SECRET4 ,AT L1/ %E
_HN'T PUT ! #.CH BACK 9 ! BAG4 ,IF %E CD
GET AT X1 %E / _H A *.E4 ,%E 2GAN 9*+
T[>D H] BLANKET ": %E'D LAID ! GUN4
  ,A QK GL.E %[$ ,S*AFT]'S UGLY FACE
WORE A PUZZL$ LOOK Z HE FI%$ 9SIDE !
BAG4 ,HE %OOK X1 PREP>+ 6PIT* H] /UFF ON
! GR.D4 ,M1N:ILE1 ,WOLV]9E AM#D OV] TO
LOOK AT ! M>E4 ,HE GOT 8 PI/OL \1 PO9T$
X AT ,M\SE & GR9N+ AT ,C>OL9E SD1
8,BANG40
  ,C>OL9E JUMP$4 8,I NE$ T HORSE10 %E
SD4 8,H[ AM ,I SUPPOS$ 6GET (F ? M.TA9
)\T H]80 ,N ! SM>TE/ "Q1 SEE+ ! ANSW] 0
ALL TOO EASY4 ,%E WDN'T GET (F ?    #CJA
M.TA9--ALIVE4 8,2SS10 %E TRI$ 6*UCKLE4
8,! HORSE IS OLD4 ,PROBABLY T\<] ?AN
SA4LE L1!R40
  ,? DREW ,S*AFT]'S ATT5;N4 8,I DON'T
C>E4 ,I GOT GD TEE?1 DON'T ,I1 ,SAMMY80
  ,SAMMY1 ^U ,S*AFT]'S REF];E 6TEE?1
GL[]$ & PULL$ 8 LIPS TI<T] OV] 8 BROK5
/UBS4 ,HE PO9T$ 8 GUN AT ! M>E ": %E
/OOD1 HOB#D & UNCONC]N$LY *EW+ GRASS1 A
FEW Y>DS AWAY4 8,K]-P[EE10 HE SD1 WAT*+
,C>OL9E4 8,K]-P[EE P[40
  8,N[ LI/5 "H10 %E SD4 8,DON'T Y D T4
,T'S MY HORSE1 & ,I DON'T L X40 ,M\SE
DID 2L;G 6H]--M OR LESS4 ,:ILE X 0 TRUE
%E _HN'T EXACTLY PD =! HORSE1 %E'D BE5
TAK+ GD C>E ( H]4 ,%E GUESS$ T MADE H] !
[N]--& RESPONSI#4
  ,%E />T$ T[>D HM1 & 9 DO+ S1 MANAG$ A
SPECTACUL> FALL OV] H] [N FEET T LOOK$ Z
?\< %E'D BROK5 H] ANKLE4 ,! #.CH LAY 2N
H]1 N[1 \ ( SI<T4 ,WOLV]9E B>ELY LOOK$
AT H] ANYWAY1 :AT ) GI7L+ & HAV+ FUN
MAK+ SPORT ( %OOT+ ,M\SE4
  8,LOOKIE "H10 ,S*AFT] SD1 A SURPRIS$
EXPRES.N SPR1D+ OV] 8 BROAD FEA-    #CJB
TURES4 ,HE'D DUMP$ ,C>OL9E'S SP>E CLO!S
\ (! SA4LEBAG & 0 DANGL+ H] DRAW]S F "O
?ICK F+]4 8,A9'T ^! ?+S FEMALE DO+S80
  ,! M5;N ( FEMALE GOT ,WOLV]9E'S ATT5;N
FA/ 5\<4 ,HE TURN$ F ! HORSE & SQU9T$ AT
! OBJECTS 9 "Q1 !N /EPP$ ACR ! FIRE4 ,X
0 GETT+ D>K2 TOO D>K =! OBJECTS 6%[
CLE>LY4 8,LET ME SEE ^?10 HE SD )A %>P
LOOK AT ,C>OL9E4
  ,%E TWI/$1 KEEP+ HM 9 FRONT ( H] &!
MO;N ( H] [N H&S HI454 8,^? 2L;G 6MY
GIRL10 %E SD4 8,!Y'RE KEEPSAKES & ,I
DON'T WANT Y H&L+ !M4 ,9 FACT1 Y BE/
RIDE ON & L1VE ME BE40
  8,KEEPSAKES1 EH80 ,WOLV]9E SNA7$ !
LACE-$G$ DRAW]S ON ! B>REL ( 8 PI/OL &
WAV$ ! G>;T L A FLAG4 8,SONNY1 Y LOOK
TOO "Y 6H KEEPSAKES L ^!4 ,:Y1 A GR[N
MAN WD 2 PR\D 6PACK ^! >.D4 ,PR\D4 ,& "H
Y >E1 SMOO?-FAC$ Z A GIRL YRF40
  ,S*AFT]'S E>S P]K$4 8,:AT D Y M1N1
,SAMMY80
  ,WOLV]9E'S BROK5 TEE? B>$4 8,I M1N1 ,I
?9K WE "\ 6SEE :AT ? "H 8BOY0 IS WE>+ "U
8 PANTS4 ,"U 8 %IRT1 TOO40          #CJC
  8,NOBODY IS LOOK+ AT MY "UWE>40 ,C>O-
L9E ACT$ Z BELLIG]5T Z ?\< ^! TWO DIDN'T
T]RIFY H]4 ,)! H9DSI<T T ALW %[S ! R\TE
A P]SON %D H TAK51 %E R1LIZ$ %E _H BE5 9
TOO M* (A HURRY 6ESCAPE ,SUTTON ? MORN+4
,:AT %E "\ 6H D"O 0 /ICK 6HM L P]FUME
/ICKS ON ROSES4
  ,WOLV]9E HELD ! DRAW]S 6HIS FACE & IN-
HAL$ Z IF HE SMELL$ ^? SAME ROSE PETALS
AL? ,C>OL9E KNEW ! FABRIC M/ SMELL (
NO?+ O!R ?AN HORSE & L1!R &! C(FEE B1NS
%E'D _H 9 ! BAG ) !M4
  8,WANTA MAKE A SMALL WAG] ON T80 HE
ASK$4 8,S*AFT]1 GRAB ! KID4 ,LET'S TAKE
A LOOK40
  ,S*AFT] LUMB]$ T[>D H]4 8,I HOPE X'S A
H]1 ,SAMMY4 ,T'D 2 FUN40
  ,C>OL9E RAIS$ ! #.CH1 ! B>REL WA7L+
ONLY A LL4 8,NOBODY LOOKS AT MY "UWE>10
%E REP1T$4 ,H] VOICE CLIMB$ HI<]4 8,I
2LIEVE X'S "T Y TWO MOV$ ON4 ,I WDN'T
WANT 6KILL Y40
  ,"! 7 ONLY F\R R.DS 9 ! ,M]W9 & ,HUL-
B]T1 %E REMEMB]$1 & :O KNEW IF ALL ( !M
WD FIRE4 ,! PI/OL _H "W$ SMOO? Z    #CJD
CR1M :5 %E %OT ! GR\SE4 ,: M1NT X 0
PROBABLY AB DUE = ANO!R MISFIRE1 L _H
HAPP5$ ) ,SUTTON4 ,%E SD A LL PRAY]1 "K+
H] LIFE DEP5D$ ON XS SMOO? OP],N4
  ,WOLV]9E GL.ED AT ! GUN 9 8 [N H& Z IF
SURPRIS$4 8,WELL6 ,:AT D Y "K8 ,"H WE
>E1 Y & ME1 & WE BO? GOT IRON 9 \R H&S4
,: "O ( U C %OOT F/1 D Y SUPPOSE8 ,ME OR
Y8 ,:I*"E1 ,S*AFT] IS GO+ 6DROP !M PANTS
( Y\RN4 ,Y "\ 6SAVE YRF "S TR\#40
  8,G 6HELL10 ,C>OL9E YELL$1 & PULL$ !
TRI7]4

  ,MICAH KNEW HE'D BE5 TRAIL+ CLOSE ON
"S"O'S HEELS "?\T MO/ (! AFN1 & "H 0
PRO(4 ,A WISP ( /1M ROSE F ! LATE/ PILE
( HORSE MANURE HE CAME ON J AT D>K4
,AH1D ( HM1 HE FANCI$ HE SAW A FLICK] (
FIRE & EV51 HOPE;LLY1 SMELL$ BOIL+ C(-
FEE4
  ,! F/ 9DIC,N T HE MI<T WANT 6RIDE PA/
! CAMP )\T /OPP+ 0 ! H>% T"OS ( L\D1
QU>REL+ VOICES4 ,NOPE1 HE DECID$4 ,N =
HM4 ,PROBABLY LIQUOR 0 9VOLV$1 & HE'D
SU6]$ 5 F LA/ NI<T'S EXCESSES N     #CJE
6WANT ANY M4 ,AL? ,/ICK] PULL$ 9 T DI-
REC;N1 SC5T+ WAT] & O!R HORSES1 ,MICAH
/EPP$ F ! SA4LE & L$ ! GELD+ PA/ ! CLE>-
+1 9T5T ON ESCAP+ ! "PY'S NOTICE4
  ,! NOISE !Y 7 MAK+ COV]$ ANY S.D HE OR
,/ICK] MADE4 ,HE 0 ALM 2Y ! DANG] Z"O :5
HE HE>D A %\T T DIRECT$ "S"O 6TAKE HMF
6! NE!R_W4 ,A GUN%OT FOLL[$4
  ,HE SPUN1 DROPP$ ,/ICK]'S RE9S & 2F HE
R1LIZ$ :AT HE 0 DO+1 H1D$ T[>D ! CAMP-
FIRE AT A TROT4 ,HELL6 ,HE KNEW T VOICE4
  ,! "O T -M;ED SCREE*+ L A W.D$ PIG 0
NEW 6HM1 AL? HE FIGUR$ X 0 B.D 6BE "S"O
HE WDN'T L4 ,MICAH BUR/ 96! CLE>+ J 9 "T
6SEE ! BURLY HULK (A MAN FL+ HMF ON TOP
( ,C>OL9E ,PRUETT4 ,%E HELD A SMOK+ GUN
9 H] FI/4 ,ANO!R MAN 0 HOPP+ >.D A PI/OL
LY+ ON ! GR.D1 8 FOOT"W Z AMBITI\S Z A
W> DANC+ ,9DIAN TRY+ 6/AY \ (! CAMPFIRE4
,! W.D$ MAN 0 %AK+ DROPS ( BLOOD F 8 H&
& SO2+4
  8,WOO1 WOO1 WOO10 HE H[L$4
  ,X LOOK$ L ,C>OL9E'S EYEBALLS 7 AB TO
POP F H] H1D Z ! BURLY MAN'S WEI<T TOOK
! AIR \ ( H] & %E COLLAPS$ 2N HM4   #CJF
,H] GUN H& 0 / FREE1 & AL? %E CDN'T GET
A %OT AT ! MAN ON TOP ( H] )\T LIKELY
%OOT+ H]F1 %E 0 :ANG+ ! MAN'S H1D )!
PI/OL B>REL4
  ,HE M/ H _H A SKULL ( CA/ IRON1 OR
ELSE %E _H NO /R5G?1 = H] BL[S MADE NO
APP>5T DI6];E4
  8,WOO1 WOO10 ! DANC+ MAN MOAN$4 ,MICAH
IGNOR$ HM4
  ,:5 ,C>OL9E'S PI/OL-:IPP+ EF=TS DID NO
GD1 ,MICAH FELT OBLIG$ 6TAKE A H&4 ,"! 0
A BROK5 TREE LIMB LY+ NE> ! FIRE1 A /\T
PIECE AB TWO-9*ES ?ICK & ?REE OR F\R
FEET L;G4 ,MICAH PICK$ ! LIMB UP1 &
JUMP$ >.D 6! MAN'S SIDE4
  ,! MAN _H ,C>OL9E P9N$ D[N TI<T ) "O
H& >.D H] ?ROAT4 ,HE AL _H A KNEE PRESS$
9 H] *E/ &! GIRL 0 :EEZ+ DESP]ATELY4
  ,MICAH COCK$ ! TREE LIMB OV] 8 %\LD]1
& L A BATT] AT ! PLATE1 HAUL$ BACK &
TOOK A GD SW+4
  ,X 0 L ?UMP+ A PUNK91 ONLY ! FELL]'S
H1D DIDN'T BUR/4 ,: WAS1 ,MICAH 3C$$1
PROBABLY J Z WELL4 ,! BIG MAN'S EYES
ROLL$ BACK 9 _! SOCKETS1 ?\<1 &     #CJG
HE PEEL$ (F 6! SIDE & FELL 2S ,C>OL9E4
,%E 0 / FLAIL+ AWAY )! PI/OL1 UNTIL ,MI-
CAH R1*$ D[N & SNAT*$ X \ ( H] H&4
  ,H] HAIR 0 FLOAT+ ALL >.D H] A%5 FACE
& H] D>K EYES LOOK$ BIG Z PLATES4 ,EV5
BANG$ >.D & SC>$ HALF \ ( H] WITS1 %E
WAS1 HE ?"\1 PRETTY Z A MAGAZ9E ILLU/RA-
;N4
  8,WELL10 ,MICAH SD1 GAZ+ D[N AT H]4
8,Z ,I LIVE & BR1!4 ,IF X A9'T MY LL
BRO!R4 ,-E ON4 ,LET'S GET \ ( "H40

  ,X M1NT GA!R+ UP H] BITS & PIECES &
SETT+ POOR ,M\SE ON ! TRAIL AG1 B ,C>O-
L9E 0 S GLAD 6SEE ,MICAH1 ! 9CONV5I;E
SEEM$ M9OR4 ,H] F/ 9CL9,N--AF ! "O %E
/IFL$ ( FL++ H] >MS >.D ,SUTTON'S NECK--
_H BE5 6/AY 9 H] CAMP ": "! 0 GD WAT]1 &
*ASE ,WOLV]9E & ,S*AFT] AWAY4 ,)A GUN1
IF NEC4 ,SUTTON SOON VETO$ T4
  8,Y'D SP5D ! NI<T ?9K+ !Y'RE SN1K+ UP
ON Y10 HE SD4 8,& !Y PROBABLY WD BE4
,BETT] 6CLE> \ & LET !M H ! CAMP40
  ,9 MO;TS1 %E & ,SUTTON 7 R1DY 6MOVE \1
L1V+ A 2FU4L$ ,S*AFT] SITT+ 2S !    #CJH
FIRE -PLA9+ T HE SAW TWO ( ,SAMMY4 8,:
IS10 ,C>OL9E HE>D HM SAY1 8TOO DAD-GUMM$
BAD S9CE "O IS M ?AN 5\<40 ,SAMMY1 8 JAW
/ICK+ \1 J CUSS$ & NURS$ 8 W.D$ H&4
  ,MICAH L$ ! WAY OV] ! RIDGE & D[N !
O!R SIDE1 KICK+ ,/ICK] 96A TROT J A %ADE
TOO FA/ = TRAVEL+ 9 ! D>K4 ,M\SE FOLL[$1
TAME Z A BURRO4
  ,F9,Y1 HE BROKE A SIL;E T _H LA/$ UN-
TIL ,C>OL9E ALM WI%$ = RECRIM9,N4 ,OR "S
SIGN HE 0 AW>E ( H]1 AT L1/4 ,& N[ %E'D
Z SOON HE'D KEPT QUIET4
  8,Y H "S R1L /RANGE ACQUA9T.ES10 ,MI-
CAH SD4 8,"! M/ 2 A KNACK 6X4 ,GUNMAN &
?IEVES K9DA LAT* ONTO Y1 DON'T !Y1 L
Y'RE A LODE/"O1 OR "S S*80
  8,>E Y BLAM+ ME = :AT !Y DID80 ,9CR$U-
L;Y %>P5$ H] "Q4 8,!Y J HAPP5$ AL;G1
,SUTTON4 ,I'D N"E SE5 !M 2F--"E4 ,ANY-
WAY1 ,I DON'T "K :Y Y'RE -PLA9+4 ,X 0 ME
!Y 7 AF4 ,N Y40
  8,T'S :AT ,I SD4 ,A LODE/"O40
  8,I DIDN'T D ANY?+ WR;G10 %E SD1 FEEL+
A LL HURT AT ! 4APPROVAL 9 8 T"O4
  8,WELL1 NO4 ,B Y N"E D1 D Y80     #CJI
  ,X 0 =TUNATE %E & ,M\SE 7 FOLL[+ & N
RID+ 2S HM4 ,& GD T X 0 D>K4 ,HE CDN'T
SEE H] GL>+ AT HM OR ! FAT1 SIL5T TE>S T
L1K$ F ! CORN]S ( H] EYES4 ,%E TRI$ TO
TELL H]F !Y 7 J 2C %E 0 TIR$4 ,& 2C %E'D
BE5 HURT4 ,A BIG OAF (A MAN L ,S*AFT]
L&+ ON A LL WOMAN L H] 0 NO JOK+ MATT]4
,H] RIBS / A*$4
  ,BAD Z %E HAT$ 6ADMIT X1 %E _H BE5
F"R5$4 ,ONCE T SCRU6Y PAIR 4COV]$ H] SE-
CRET1 %E _H NO D\BT ( :AT _! 9T5;NS
WD'VE BE54 ,ACTU,Y1 %E ?"\1 TOO _M (! M5
%E'D MET LATELY _H T SAME 9CL9,N4 ,ALL
EXCEPT ,SUTTON4 ,HE SEEM$ 6PREF] L[ WOM-
EN1 %ADY LADIES & D.E-HALL GIRLS1 6H]4
,HE DIDN'T L H] "O BIT4
  8,T WOMAN10 %E SD4 8,DID Y L H]80
  ,SUTTON TURN$ >.D1 A BLUR ) "O H& RE/+
ON ,/ICK]'S GRAY RUMP4 8,:AT WOMAN8 ,:AT
>E Y GO9' ON AB1 N[80
  8,Y "K :AT WOMAN4 ,! "O ,I SAW Y ) LA/
NI<T4 ,! R$H1D 9 ! GRE5 ''' DRESS40 ,%E
LET A PAUSE 9DICATE %E DIDN'T ?9K M* (!
WOMAN'S G[N4
  8,%E'S A PRO/ITUTE10 ,SUTTON SD   #CAJ
BALDLY1 />TL+ H]4 8,X DON'T MATT] IF ,I
L H]4 ,X DON'T MATT] IF %E LIKES ME1 IF
T'S :AT Y'RE ASK+4 ,WE 7 AB 6TRANSACT "S
BUSI;S4 ,T'S ALL40
  8,OH10 ,C>OL9E SD1 EMB>RASS$4 8,J
BUSI;S40 ,%E CDN'T DECIDE :E!R 8 EXPLA-
N,N MADE H] FEEL BETT]1 OR WORSE4
  8,:AT DID Y ?9K8 ,T ,I 0 PROPOS+ M>-
RIAGE80
  8,WELL1 NO4 ,I M1N '''0 ,:AT _H %E
?"\8
  ,SUTTON'S VOICE S(T5$4 8,BET Y DIDN'T
?9K M* AB :AT LADIES (! NI<T D1 DID Y1
SWEETHE>T8 ,BET Y FIGUR$ WOM5 CD D :AT T
R$H1D DOES1 NI<T AF NI<T1 & N"E 2 T\*$1
DIDN'T Y80
  ,%E'D ?"\4 ,! PRO#M WAS1 %E DIDN'T "K
! ME*ANICS ( 2+ A PRO/ITUTE4 ,OR H[ %E'D
FEEL ^U SELL+ H]F4 ,! ONLY PHYSICAL ACT
%E'D WANT$ 63TEMPLATE 0 ! "O T %[$ H]
SITT+ D[N 6A FULL M1L4
  8,I ''' ,I '''0
  8,B E "O ( ^? GALS >E T\*$ 0:AT !Y D4
,N"O ( !M =! BETT]4 ,ONCE !Y'VE SE5 T
"PICUL> ELEPHANT1 "! A9'T NO GO+    #CAA
BACK4 ,!Y C G /RAI<T1 "S"TS1 IF ! :ISKEY
OR ! OPIUM DON'T GET !M4 ,B !Y C'T "E G
BACK & 2 L !Y 7 2F40
  ,%E R1LIZ$ SU45LY T HE 0 J AB Z EMB>-
RASS$ 0? TOPIC Z %E4 ,N"E!.S1 HE PU%$ ON
) :AT HE WANT$ 6SAY4
  8,2LIEVE ME1 ,C>OL9E4 ,T A9'T A PRO-
FES.N Y'RE SUIT$ =40
  ,HE _HN'T NE$$ 6TELL H] T4 ,%E ALR
KNEW4














                                    #CAB
























               ,*APT] #AI           #CAC

  ,A C\PLE ( MILES 2Y ,C>OL9E'S F/ CAMP1
,MICAH PULL$ (F ! TRAIL & /OPP$4 ,C>OL9E
4M.T$ & />T$ GA!R+ DRY WOOD =A FIRE :ILE
,MICAH UNSA4L$ & HOB#D ! HORSES--UNTIL
HE DECRE$ O!RWISE4
  8,B X'S COLD10 %E PROTE/$4 8,FREEZ+40
  8,:AT >E Y FIX+ 6D80 HE ASK$4 8,RUN UP
! FLAG = T PAIR S'S !Y C F9D U EASI]80
  ,DELIB]ATELY1 ,C>OL9E DROPP$ ! >MLOAD
( BRAN*ES ON ! TOES ( 8 BOOTS4 8,I'VE
BE5 ?9K+1 ,SUTTON4 ,H[ AB IF Y G YR WAY1
& ,I G M9E80
  8,"!'S NO?+ ,I'D L BETT]40 ,8 REPLY
CAME PROMPTLY Z HE KICK$ ! /ICKS ASIDE4
8,EXCEPT X LOOKS Z IF ,I C'T TRU/ Y \ (
MY SI<T4 ,& ,I A9'T GOT "T 6*ASE ALL OV]
HELL'S HALF-ACRE MAK+ SURE ! BOGEY MAN
A9'T GOT Y 9 8 CLUT*ES40
  8,I N"E ASK$ Y 6LOOK AF ME40 ,H] *9
TILT$4 8,I DON'T NE$ YR HELP40
  ,HE SNORT$4 8,Y1H4 ,I NOTIC$4 ,TELL
ME1 H[ 7 Y GO+ 6GET AWAY F ! FAT MAN80
  8,I WD H F.D A WAY40 ,SURE %E WD4
,%E'D ALR PLANN$ H] NEXT MOVE1 2F   #CAD
,MICAH %[$ UP4 ,%E'D BE5 GO+ 6?UMB BACK
! #.CH'S HAMM] & %OOT H] ATTACK] D1D--Z
L;G Z HE DIDN'T KILL H] F/4
  8,IN A PIG'S EYE1 SWEETHE>T4 ,Y GOT
ANY IDEA :O ^? FELL]S >E1 OR :Y !Y JUMP$
Y80 ,MICAH /RET*$1 8 T5DONS CRACK+ 2F HE
SAT D[N ON A MAT ( P9E NE$LES ) 8 BACK
RE/+ AG/ 8 SA4LE4 ,! PO/URE _H 2COME FA-
MILI> 6H]1 0N[4
  8,I'M AFRAID !Y NEGLECT$ 69TRODUCE
!MVS4 ,Z 6:Y !Y JUMP$ ME1 WELL1 !Y SD !Y
7 HUNGRY4 ,?"\ ,I MI<T H FOOD40
  8,DID Y8 ,H ANY FOOD80
  ,C>OL9E %OOK H] H1D4 8,N V M*4 ,I'M
AFRAID ,I DIDN'T H "T 6D MY %OPP+ ?
MORN+40
  8,WELL1 !Y A9'T ! ONLY "OS :O'RE HUN-
GRY40 ,IGNOR+ H] QUIP1 ,MICAH R1*$ 96HIS
SA4LEBAG4 ,HE PULL$ \ A P\* ( J]KY & CUT
A L;G SLICE 9 HALF ) 8 POCKETKNIFE1 (F]+
H] A PIECE4 8,WANT "S80
  8,NO1 ?ANK Y40 ,C>OL9E WAV$ ! J]KY
AWAY4 8,I %OT A GR\SE ? EV5+4 ,I GUESS
T'S :AT SET ^? M5 (F1 2C ONLY ! LEGS 7
LEFT4 ,"!'S N M* M1T ON A GR\SE     #CAE
LEG4 ,!N ! "O )! BROK5 TEE?--HIS "PN]
CALL$ HM ,SAMMY--AIM$ 8 GUN AT ,M\SE1
?R1T5+ 6%OOT & EAT H]4 ,M\SE IS MY
HORSE'S "N10 %E EXPLA9$1 SEE+ 8 BLANK
EXPRES.N4 8,& !N ! O!R MAN 4COV]$ ,I'M
FEMALE1 &! SITU,N />T$ GO+ D[NHILL F
"!40
  8,/>T$40 ,MICAH SI<$4 8,"O IS CALL$
,SAMMY1 EH8 ,DID Y HE> ! O!R "O'S "N8
,WASN'T ,BILLY ,9G]SOLL1 0"S *.E1 0 X80
  8,:O80
  8,NOBODY4 ,J A FELL] ^: "N ,I HE>D M5-
;N$4 ,A H>D CASE40
  ,C>OL9E FR[N$1 S5S+ T HE _HN'T GIV5 H]
A /RAI<T ANSW]4 ,! "N DREW A VEIL$ RE-
SPONSE F HM--: 0 PROBABLY BAD NEWS4 8,Y
M1N "!'S ANO!R L !M LOOSE >.D "H80
  ,HE %RU7$ & OP5$ UP A LL FUR!R4 8,L
!M4 ,OR WORSE4 ,I HE> ? ,9G]SOLL LIKES
6%OOT HORSES1 & T HE MAY J 2 LOOK+ 6%OOT
"O HORSE 9 "PICUL>40
  ,SU45 FE> CLUT*$ H]4 8,K+8 ,D Y M1N
HE'S AF ,K+80
  8,I RECKON S4 ,T'S :Y WE BETT] /ICK
TGR40 ,SUTTON SWALL[$ 8 M\?;L (     #CAF
J]KY1 DREW 8 COAT CLOS] & YANK$ 8 HAT
L[]4 ,HE SETTL$ M DEEPLY AG/ ! SA4LE4
8,Y MAY N L ME1 B1 SWEETHE>T1 ,I'M TELL+
Y ,I'M ! BE/ *.E T HORSE HAS ( GETT+
AWAY F ,GRE5LEI< 9 "O PIECE4 ,& Y GOT TO
ADMIT1 ,I A9'T LOOK+ 6KILL ! NAG IF ,I
DON'T GET MY WAY40
  8,I DON'T "U/& :Y ANY"O WD WANT 6%OOT
,K+40 ,C>OL9E WASN'T PREP>$ 6AGREE )
,MICAH :AT"E HE SD4 ,N "R (F ! BAT1 ANY-
WAY4 8,I HE>D P 9 ,=T ,/EELE TALK+ AB H[
HE'S W9N+ 8 RACES4 ,HE'S RUNN+ 8 HE>T \
= T DAMN$ HORSE ?IEF1 & ,GRE5LEI<
DOESN'T EV5 TAKE PROP] C>E ( HM40
  8,GRE5LEI< MAKES M M"OY BETT+ ON !
SIDE ?AN HE DOES F RACE PURSES10 ,MICAH
SD1 HELP+ CL>IFY4 8,:5 ! O4S GET TOO L[1
HE J PULLS ! HORSE & LOSES UNTIL !Y -E
BACK UP4 ,!N HE LETS HM W9 AG4 ,TR\# IS1
HE MESS$ )! WR;G MAN1 & N[ T UP"R CITIZ5
HAS HIR$ A KILL] 6GET RID (! HORSE40
  8,T'S /UPID6 ,:Y DOESN'T HE GET RID (
,GRE5LEI<80
  ,! CORN] ( ,MICAH'S M\? QUIRK$4 8,PUT
T WAY1 HE "\4 ,B X'S "S LESS TR\#   #CAG
IF HE KILLS ! HORSE4 ,! LAW DON'T WORRY
S M* AB LIVE/OCK1 & 2SS1 ! HORSE A9'T
%OOT+ BACK4
  8,: REM9DS ME10 HE A4$1 8Y MADE A FAIR
%OT YRF1 PUTT+ A BULLET "? T ,SAMMY
FELL]'S H&4 ,:O TAU<T Y 6%OOT80
  8,MY "F40 ,C>OL9E %IV]$ & HU4L$ 96H]
COAT1 L1N+ AG/ H] SA4LE1 : 0 PROPP$ NEXT
6,SUTTON'S4 ,%E WI%$ ! SA4LE RETA9$ "S (
,M\SE'S H1T1 B X DIDN'T4 ,T _H BE5 LO/ 9
! FRE%5+1 NOR!RLY W9D4 ,/1 9 SITT+ CLOSE
6,SUTTON1 HE HELP$ BR1K ! WOR/ ( X4 ,!
ALR *ILL NI<T 0 GR[+ /1DILY *ILLI]4
  8,X HAPP5$ 0A3ID5T10 %E 3T9U$4 8,Z A
RULE1 ,PAPA WASN'T HOME L;G 5 AT A /RET*
6T1* ME ANY?+4 ,B S9CE HE DIDN'T RUN ME
(F :5 HE PRACTIC$ 8 M>KSMAN%IP1 ,I PICK$
UP A FEW PO9T]S F HM40
  ,SUTTON TURN$ T[>D H]4 8,WAS YR PA A
GD RID]80
  ,C>OL9E /RET*$ H] LEGS \ /RAI<T 9
FRONT ( H]1 EAS+ A CRAMP 9 ! W1K MUSCLES
( H] H1L+ ?I<4 ,! L;G "D 9 ! SA4LE _HN'T
D"O X ANY GD4
  8,( C\RSE HE 0 A GD RID]10 %E     #CAH
SD1 KN1D+ ! MUSCLE4 8,GRAN WD'VE 4[N$
ANY ( H] FAMILY :O WASN'T40 ,(F GU>D1 %E
H>DLY KNEW :AT %E 0 SAY+4
  8,TOO BAD YR PA DIDN'T T1* Y 6RIDE1
!N1 A9'T X80 ,SUTTON ASK$1 F : %E CD
TELL HE 0 ALL TOO AW>E ( H] HI/ORY4
8,9/1D ( TRICK %OOT+40
  8,I'M N A BAD RID]1 ,SUTTON40 ,H] TEM-
P] FL>$4 8,I'M Z GD Z ANYBODY1 Z GD Z Y1
S L;G Z WE DON'T G TOO FA/4 ,I DON'T "K
''' X'S ! SPE$ T GETS 6ME4 ,MY EYES G
FUNNY & ,I GET DIZZY4 ,AF ,I FELL (F A
FEW "TS1 ,I DECID$ X WASN'T WOR? !
RISK40
  8,T'S :AT ,I SD4 ,TOO BAD YR PA DIDN'T
T1* Y4 ,OR YR GR&MA4 ,BE5 BETT] IF !Y'D
HELP$ Y OV] ^? DIZZY SPELLS40
  ,C>OL9E'S L[] LIP QUIV]$ 2F %E FIRM$ X
UP4 8,GRAN TRI$10 %E SD1 %RU7+ Z IF T
"PICUL> 3FES.N 0 ( NO MATT]4 8,DIDN'T
"W40
  ,FIVE M9UTES LAT] ,MICAH _H FALL5
ASLEEP ) 8 H1D TILT$ AT AN AWKW>D ANGLE
ONTO "O %\LD]4 ,C>OL9E REMA9$ AWAKE1
WAT*+ ! NI<T & LI/5+ 6! W9D :ISP]   #CAI
AM;G ! TREES4 ,! S.D 0 BO? SAD & 4QUIET+
--J L H] ?"\S4
  ,SUTTON _H A WAY ( PRICK+ H] ) 8 LOGIC
": X HURT ! MO/4 ,H] H1D ?RO2$ ) ?9K+ AB
:AT HE'D SD4 ,MAYBE H] HE>T A*$ A TRI-
FLE1 Z WELL4
  ,%E 0 GLAD HE 0 ASLEEP1 ^? P5ETRAT+
HAZEL EYES ( 8 T ALW SAW TOO M*1 CLOS$4
,%E DIDN'T NE$ 6GU>D H] E MUSCLE TWIT*1
E *ANGE ( EXPRES.N4 ,FANCI;L Z X SEEM$1
HE APP>5TLY F.D H] -PLETELY TRANSP>5T4
,_H HE AL SE5 H[ (T5 %E TURN$ H] ATT5;N
T[>DS HM8
  ,C>OL9E SNAT*$ AT ! RE9S (! F/ ( ^?
?"\S Z X RAN "? H] H1D4 ,:AT PIECE ( IN-
SAN;Y 0 %E ?9K+8
  ,SUTTON _H 8 N]VE1 TALK+ AB H] RID+4
,C>OL9E BUOY$ H] _SS ) ANG]1 ALL[+ X TO
:IP "? H]1 WELCOM+ ! H1T4 ,! R1SON %E
CDN'T RACE ,K+ _H NO?+ 6D ) H] "F4 ,X 0
H] FAULT & NO "O ELSE'S :5 %E N"E 0 A#
6OV]COME T /UPID FE> ( SPE$ &( FALL+4
,NO MATT] H[ H>D ,GRAN _H TRI$ 6PU% H]1
! DR1D ONLY "E GREW WORSE4 ,O!R ?AN T1
%E _HN'T LI$ 6,MICAH4 ,%E DID       #CBJ
RIDE WELL 5\<4
  ,%E %IFT$1 TRY+ 6F9D A BETT] POSI;N4
  ,CD 2 ,SUTTON 0 "R AB !M /ICK+ TGR UN-
TIL ,K+ 0 SAFE1 EV5 IF HE WASN'T "R AB
M* ELSE4 ,& %E _H 63C$E 8 UNCANNY ABIL;Y
( %[+ UP :5 %E NE$$ HM MO/1 & 8 K9D;S :5
HE DIDN'T NE$ 6BE4 ,HE'D GIV5 H] M"OY &
REFRA9$ F TURN+ H] 9 = %OOT+ HM4 ,%E
SUSPECT$ AN ULT]IOR MOTIVE1 S9CE HE MADE
NO B"OS AB 4LIK+ H]4 ,HE'D MADE X CLE>
HE ?"\ H] /UPID--A BITT] PILL = H] TO
SWALL[4 ,ESPECI,Y S9CE %E SUSPECT$ HE 0
"R4

  ,MICAH'S JO9TS MOV$ RELUCTANTLY ! NEXT
MORN+1 "R UP UNTIL ! SUN R1*$ F+]S (
LI<T "? ! D5SE =E/ & W>M$ 8 B"OS4 ,HE
GRUM#D 6HMF AB 2+ Z /IFF Z ,BISCUIT ,M>-
T91 & GRUNT$ Z HE REMOV$ ! HORSES' HOB-
#S4
  ,HE R\/$ ,C>OL9E \ E>LY1 A /R;G FEEL+
( URG5CY PU%+ HM 6/AY AH1D (! TWO M5
:O'D ATTACK$ ! GIRL ! NI<T 2F4
  8,D WE H "T = C(FEE80 %E ASK$1 )A W>Y
GL.E BACK ! WAY !Y'D -E4            #CBA
  ,= ALL H] SASSY ^WS (! NI<T 2F1 HE 0
GRATIFI$ :5 %E S"\ 8 ADVICE =A *ANGE4
,APPE>$ %E 0 F9,Y LE>N+ A ?+ OR TWO4
8,WE'D BE/ RIDE ON4 ,GET A L1D ON T
PAIR40 ,HE (F]$ ! J]KY AG4
  ,WR9KL+ H] NOSE1 %E TOOK A SMALL1 ?9
PIECE4 8,D Y ?9K WE'LL GET "! TD80
  ,HE DIDN'T REMEMB] EI ( !M M5;N+ A
DE/9,N 0"N1 & Z TRICKY Z %E'D PROV51 HE
0 HESITANT AB 2+ F/ 6%[ 8 H&4 8,DEP5DS
ON ": Y'RE GO+10 HE SD4 ,IF %E _H ! IDEA
( TURN+ S\? :5 %E GOT (F ? M.TA91 & 0"S
*.E AIM+ H] OLD M>E T[>D HOME1 HE DIDN'T
9T5D ON SPOIL+ H] PLANS4 ,X M/ N H BE5 !
"R ANSW]1 HE DECID$1 WAT*+ H] FACE4 ,OR
ELSE ! J]KY TA/$ ( V9EG>4
  8,I'M GO+ AF ,K+1 ( C\RSE10 %E SD4 8,)
Y OR )\T Y40
  8,: M1NS Y'RE H1D$ = '''80
  ,! BURN 9 H] D>K EYES WD H SIZZL$ BA-
CON4 8,HOT ,SPR+S ,CAMP UP AT ,A9SWOR?'S
M9+ 4TRICT10 %E SD4 8,I'M TOLD T'S ":
,GRE5LEI< W5T40
  ,MICAH BIT BACK A SMILE4 8,!N WE'RE
H1D$ 9 ! SAME DIREC;N1 ,I RECKON4   #CBB
,%AKE A LEG1 ,MISS ,PRUETT4 ,M.T UP4
,WE'LL RIDE AL;G TGR4 ,SEE IF WE C FIG-
URE \ :AT 6D :5 WE CAT* \R HORSE ?IEF40
  8,? ,9G]SOLL P]SON Y M5;N$40 ,)\T FUR-
!R 4PUTE1 %E PULL$ H]F ONTO ! M>E HE'D
SA4L$ = H]1 & EV5$ UP ! RE9S4 ,%E SPAT !
"N 8,9G]SOLL0 L X 0 A DIRTY ^W4 8,D Y "K
IF HE'S AH1D ( U8 ,DID Y SEE HM8 ,:AT
DOES HE LOOK L80
  ,MICAH WOND]$ ? HMF4 ,HE FELT T5.N
RIS+ AG4 8,NO IDEA4 ,ALL ,I'M GO+ 0IS A
BR1KFA/ 3V]S,N ,I OV]HE>D 9 ! HOTEL D9+
ROOM4 ,MAYBE X'S ALL HOOEY4 ,I HOPE X
IS4 ,I'D Z SOON AVOID /IRR+ UP ANY TR\#
:ILE ,I'M 9 ,CANADA1 IF ,I C4 ,LET !
,M.TIES H&LE ,GRE5LEI<40
  ,HE T\*$ A HEEL 6,/ICK]'S RIBS1 TAK+ !
L1D ON ! M.TA9 PA?4 ,C>OL9E'S OLD M>E
FELL 9 2H Z _H 2COME A HABIT4 ,HE LOOK$
BACK 9 "T 6SEE ,C>OL9E PURSE H] LIPS4
  8,T'S F9E10 %E SD1 8IF "! >E ANY ,M.T$
,POLICE H&Y4 ,I NOTIC$ !Y 7 ?9 ON ! GR.D
9 ,=T ,/EELE 3SID]+ T'S _! H1DQU>T]S4
,ANYWAY1 X DOESN'T S.D L ,GRE5LEI< IS Z
BIG A ?R1T 6,K+ Z ? ,9G]SOLL4       #CBC
,:AT AB HM80
  8,WELL1 :AT AB HM80
  8,IF WE WAIT UNTIL ! POLICE >RE/
,GRE5LEI<1 :AT'S 6SAY ,9G]SOLL WON'T
SN1K 9 & KILL ,K+ ANYWAY8 ,Y SD HE %OOTS
HORSES = FUN4 ,WE C'T AF=D 6DILLY-D,Y
:ILE ! ,CANUCKS PROVE _! CASE4 ,WE H TO
GET ,K+ \ ( "!40
  8,WE D ? 0! BOOK1 ,C>OL9E4 ,! ,CANADI-
AN'S BOOK4 ,Y HE> ME80
  8,WELL1 SURE4 ,0! BOOK ALL ! WAY--IF
POSSI#10 %E SD1 S OP5 SEEM+ & SURPRIS$
HE 0 ALM A%AM$ ( 8 SUSPICION T %E'D H X
ANY O!R WAY4 ,ALM4
  ,MICAH CDN'T PU% D[N ! FRISSON ( AL>M
T SCRAT*$ AL;G 8 SP9E4 ,:AT BEE _H %E
GOT BUZZ+ 9SIDE H] BRA91 N[8 ,:AT TR\# 0
%E B.D 6DRAG HM 96NEXT8 ,HE KNEW %E'D
HAMM] HM ) "S GOL-DURN$ EM]G5CY4 ,MADE
HM SW1T J ?9K+ AB X4
  ,!Y RODE S+LE FILE ON ! N>R[ M.TA9
TRAIL1 "? PAT*ES ( %ADE & SUN T MADE A
MOCK]Y ( 8 P[]S ( OBS]V,N4 ,L&M>KS 9 !
4T.E 7 DECEPTIVE2 ! ONLY TRACKS 9 ! DU/
OLD4                                #CBD
  ,A L;G1 OP5 /RET* 9 ! ROAD AH1D BO!R$
,MICAH 9 A WAY HE CDN'T FA?OM4 ,HE %D H
WELCOM$ ! CLE>+1 = X CUT A SMOO? L$GE
AL;G ! SIDE-HILL4 ,/EEP BANKS L9$ EA*
V]GE4 ,! DI6ICULTY LAY 9 GETT+ (F !
TRAIL F EI BANK1 & 9 ! N>R[;S (! PASSAGE
:5 MEET+ ANO!R HORSE4 ,HE LOOK$ BACK
ONCE1 & ?"\ HE CAU<T MOVE;T1 B !N ,/ICK]
/UM#D & 8 ATT5;N 0 REDIRECT$ T[>D 8
HORSE & 8 RID+4
  ,C>OL9E1 Z HE'D SE51 _H ! DUN M>E WELL
9 H&4 ,! OBS]V,N PL1S$ HM4 ,! GIRL 0
WISE 5 6LET ! M>E SEEK ! BE/ FOOT+ = H]F
)\T LAY+ RE9 6GUIDE H]4 ,!Y SOON NEGOTI-
AT$ ! SEC;N ( ROCK-/REWN TRAIL1 & CAME
AG 6TIMB] &! COLD %ADE 2N ! TREES4 ,!N1
TOO SOON1 !Y BROKE \ ^U YET ANO!R L;G1
OP5 HILLSIDE4
  ,2F !Y />T$ ACR1 ,MICAH PULL$ ,/ICK]
6A HALT4 ,M\SE1 P]=CE1 /OPP$ TOO4 ,SUT-
TON'S UPRAIS$ H& SIGNAL$ = SIL;E & HE
LI/5$1 E>S /RA9+4
  8,:AT IS X80 ,C>OL9E :ISP]$4 ,H] D>K
EYES 7 WIDE4 ,H] H& _H DIV$ 9SIDE H]
COAT1 AL]T$ 0HIS 4QUIET4            #CBE
  ,MICAH1 AF A FEW SECONDS1 SMIL$ REAS-
SUR+LY AT ,C>OL9E & %OOK 8 H1D4 ,HE
GUESS$ HE M/ 2 GETT+ WOMANI%4 ,8 SP9E /
T+L$1 & AL? HE DIDN'T HE> X N[1 HE ?"\
"! _H BE5 ! MU6L$ S.D ( AN EXTRA SET (
HORSES 2H4 ,AN E*O1 HE DECID$4 ,NO M ?AN
! NOISE ( _! [N PASSAGE B\NC+ (F ! /"OS
>.D !M4
  8,NO?+1 ,I RECKON10 HE SD4 8,GUESS
,I'M 9V5T+ PRO#MS ": "! A9'T ANY4 ,CD'VE
SWORE ,I HE>D HORSES4 ,LET'S G1 ,C>OL9E4
,Y F/4 ,I FIGURE WE'RE )9 SEV5--EI<T
MILES ( ,A9SWOR?'S PLACE4 ,"\A 2 "! 2F
NOON40
  ,C>OL9E CLICK$ H] T;GUE &! M>E MOV$ =-
W>D4 8,I'LL 2 GLAD :5 WE GET (F ? HILL4
,GIVES ME ! WILLIES = "S R1SON40
  ,"! 0 NO RELIEF 9 ,MICAH LE>N+ %E FELT
! T5.N1 TOO4 ,HE'D Z SOON BE5 MISTAK54
  ,!Y MOV$ \ ONTO ! SUN-DR5*$ L$GE1 ":
H1T &! GLITT] ( LI<T REFLECT+ F ! MICA-
LAC$ /"O B1T 96_! FACES4 ,MICAH / _H A
QUE] FEEL+ AL;G 8 BACKB"O4 ,! 8WILLIES10
Z ,C>OL9E CALL$ !M4
  ,! F/ %OT CAME :5 !Y 7 HALFWAY    #CBF
ACR4 ,! CRACK (! RIFLE CAU<T UP AB !
SAME "T Z A SECOND BULLET /RUCK 2T HM &!
GIRL4 ,T "O SPL9T]$ /"O F ! WALL ( ROCK
ON _! "R1 /++ ,M\SE ON ! RUMP & ,/ICK]
ON 8 *E/4 ,ROCK *IPS PEPP]$ 8 FACE4
  8,:AT ! '''80 ,HE 0 ALR SETT+ SPURS TO
,/ICK]4
  8,SUTTON10 ,C>OL9E YELP$4 ,%E _H ,M\SE
ON A TI<T RE94
  8,RUN40 ,SUTTON SWEPT 8 HAT (F 8 H1D1
R1*$ \ ) X & FLAPP$ ! M>E ON ! RE>4 ,!
OLD GAL 0 PL5TY AL>M$ 0? "T4 ,%E TOOK !
BIT 9 H] TEE? & BROKE 96A SPRITELY RUN1
,C>OL9E CL++ 6! SA4LE HORN4
  ,0!N1 "! _H BE5 A ?IRD %OT1 AL WILD4
,MICAH DIDN'T "K ": T "O W5T1 & DIDN'T
C>E1 = HE SURE 5 FELT ! NEXT "O Z X
BURN$ ACR 8 =E>M4 ,KEEP ? UP & !Y'D NEI
"O MAKE X (F ? HILL4
  ,HE YANK$ ,/ICK] >.D1 =C+ ! GELD+ TO
HALT DESPITE ! HORSE'S PREF];E 6KEEP UP
)! M>E1 & J]K$ 8 C>B9E F ! SA4LE SCA2>D
Z HE BAIL$ F ! SA4LE4
  8,GODDAMN$ SITT+ DUCKS40 ,MICAH LOOS$
,/ICK] & FLUNG HMF D[N AG/ ! %E]    #CBG
BANK1 CR\*$ 2H ! BI7E/ B\LD] HE CD F9D4
,X WASN'T NE>LY Z BIG Z HE'D H LIK$4
  ,J =! HELL ( X1 HE LET FLY )A C\PLE (
%OTS ( 8 [N1 M 6KEEP ! %OOT]S O3UPI$
:ILE ,C>OL9E GOT 6! O!R SIDE (! CUT1 ?AN
9 EXPECT,N ( HITT+ ANY"O4 ,/ICK] KEPT ON
GO+4
  8,SUTTON10 ,C>OL9E YELL$ AG1 :5 %E _H
MADE X 6! TIMB] ON ! O!R SIDE4
  ,MICAH BR1!D RELIEF :5 HE SAW %E 0
SAFE4
  8,-E ON10 %E CALL$4 8,RUN = X40
  ,& !N1 6HIS VA/ SURPRISE1 %E 2GAN
BANG+ AWAY AT _! 9VISI# ATTACK]S ) H]
OLD #.CH4 ,HE TOOK ADVANTAGE (! DIV].N
%E CR1T$ & RAN =W>D--HURRI$ AL;G 0A WILD
R.D--6! M SECURE SAFETY (A BI7] ROCK4 ,A
TRAIL ( B"R R$ SPLATT]S FOLL[$ HM1 & HE
SWORE AG Z PA9 LAC$ "? 8 >M & 96HIS %\L-
D]4
  ,RE9S TRAIL+1 ,/ICK] _H R1*$ ! 5D (!
CUT4 ,"O (! B&ITS TOOK A %OT AT HM Z !
HORSE L1PT UP ! BANK4 ,! BULLET MISS$1
SLIC+ A PIECE ( L1!R \ (! SA4LE POMMEL4
  ,C>OL9E /EPP$ \ 96! OP51 SNAT*+   #CBH
AT ! RE9S 2F ! HORSE CD ESCAPE4
  8,GET D[N10 ,MICAH BELL[$1 BO? FE> &
ANG] FL>+ 9SIDE4 ,:AT DID ! LL FOOL ?9K
%E 0 DO+8 ,HE'D R H A D1D HORSE ?AN A
D1D GIRL4 ,ALM 2F T ?"\ =M$1 "O (! M5
:O'D 2DEVIL$ H] LA/ NI<T1 ! BEEFY "O1
/OOD UP & FIR$4
  ,RE/+ 8 C>B9E ON ! TOP (! ROCK T HID
HM1 ,MICAH SQUEEZ$ (F A %OT4 ,! RECOIL
SLAPP$ ! BUTT 96HIS SORE %\LD]1 NUMB+ X
UNTIL ! >M W5T D1D ALL ! WAY 6HIS F+]S4
,C>OL9E _H ,/ICK] 9 T[1 HE SAW1 & 0
HAUL+ ! HORSE DEEP] 963C1L;T 2H ! TREES4
,%E IGNOR$ ! BU%:ACK]S US+ H] Z A T>GET4
  ,MICAH %IFT$ ! C>B9E 6HIS O!R SIDE &
FIR$ AG1 H>DLY HOP+ = A3URACY4 ,6HIS
SURPRISE1 ! BIG B&IT LET \ A QUE]-S.D+
SCREE* & FLUNG UP 8 >MS Z IF HE 0 SALUT+
! SKY4 ,8 RIFLE DROPP$4 ,! MAN W5T D[N1
FALL+ =W>D 96! OP5 L A POLE-AX$ /E]4 ,HE
LAY /4
  ,MICAH SUSPECT$ A TRICK4 ,C>OL9E M/ H1
TOO1 = %E 3T9U$ A SPORADIC FIRE4 ,IF %E
_H A M>K1 ,MICAH CDN'T SEE X4 ,AF A BIT1
%E QUIT4 ,SIL;E FELL--T5SE &        #CBI
WAIT+4 ,HE EXPECT$ ANO!R R.D 6/>T ANY
MO;T4
  ,SWALL[+ ON :AT FELT L A BALL ( L9T1
,MICAH MOV$ UNCOM=TABLY4 ,8 CANTE5 0 TI$
6HIS SA4LE & L;G G"O D[N ! ROAD1 &= ALL
HE TRI$1 HE CDN'T MAKE HMF /OP ?9K+ AB A
DR9K ( WAT]4 ,8 >M / DRIPP$ BLOOD1 WETT+
! DU/ 9 ! TRAIL4 ,M/ H CLIPP$ A VE91 HE
?"\4 ,HE 0 SURPRIS$ HE BL$ S FREELY1
3SID]+ H[ DRY ! RE/ ( HM WAS4 ,&( C\RSE1
ANY?+ HE CD USE Z A B&AGE 0 9 8 SA4LE-
BAGS1 : _H 4APPE>$ ) 8 HORSE4
  ,MICAH PATT$ 8 POCKETS1 SE>*+ =A NECK-
]*IEF HE MI<T AT "S "T H /[$ "!4 ,HE
DIDN'T F9D A K]*IEF1 B HE F.D ! /RIP (
CLO? ,C>OL9E _H LEFT DANGL+ OV] ! MIRROR
YE/]"D MORN+4
  ,HE DREW X \1 F.D AN 5D & M1SUR$ (F A
Y>D OR S1 & CUT X (F )! POCKETKNIFE HE
FUM#D \ ( 8 J1NS4 ,A LL M (! /RIP 0 SAC-
RIFIC$ 6MAKE A PAD4 ,MICAH C9*$ ! :OLE
BUSI;S OV] ! DEEP FURR[ 9 8 >M4 ,DIDN'T
MAKE X /OP HURT+1 B ! BLOOD QUIT DRIPP+4
  ,! BIG BU%:ACK]'S BODY LAY FACE D[N4
,A R$ /A9 COV]$ ! BACK ( 8 %IRT     #CCJ
": ! C>B9E'S BULLET _H EXIT$1 ! COLOR
SL[LY TURN+ D>K Z X DRI$4 ,D1D = SURE1
,MICAH FIGUR$4 ,NOBODY CD BLE$ T M* OR
LIE T / O!RWISE4
  ,"S "T LAT]1 ! SCRUNTY1 SNA7LE-TOO!D
BADMAN ,C>OL9E _H %OT "? ! H& ! NI<T 2F
LIFT$ A FIL?Y B&ANNA TI$ 6! 5D (A /ICK &
WA7L$ X1 DRAW+ ,MICAH'S ATT5;N4
  8,HEY1 Y10 ! BADMAN YELL$ \4 8,C[BOY4
,Y'VE KILL$ ,S*AFT]4 ,H[ AB WE CALL X
QUITS80
  ,MICAH ANSW]$ )\T MOV+ AWAY F 8 B\LD]4
8,SUITS ME4 ,Y F/4 ,PULL ON \--& TAKE T
BODY ) Y40
  ,"! 0 A PAUSE4 8,TAKE ! BODY8 ,H[ D ,I
"K Y WON'T GUN ME D[N IF ,I %[ MYF80
  ,MICAH SNORT$4 8,GUESS Y DON'T4 ,B
LOOK AT X ?ISAWAY ''' Y BOYS />T$ ! MU-
SIC4 ,I RECKON X'S UP 6Y 6S.D ! LA/
NOTE40
  8,:AT'S T M1N80
  8,M1NS Y'RE GONNA H 6TRU/ ME N 6%OOT Y
:5 Y COLLECT T CORPSE40
  ,! BADMAN--,MICAH SEEM$ 6REMEMB] T
,C>OL9E _H DU2$ HM ,SAMMY--:9$      #CCA
OV] ! ULTIMATUM4
  8,LI/51 PAL10 ,MICAH SD1 WI%+ !Y CD
GET ? >GUFY+ OV] ) S HE CD G GET 8 DR9K
( WAT]1 8Y BOYS DREW ON ! GIRL & ME4 ,N
! O!R WAY >.D4 ,IF ,I'D WANT$ 6%OOT Y1
,I'D ( D"O X LA/ NI<T :5 ! %OOT+ 0 EASY4
,N[1 ,I J WANT 6GET ON AB MY BUSI;S40
  8,SUTTON80 ,C>OL9E SANG \ F ! O!R 5D (
! ROAD4 8,Y'RE N GO+ 6LET T SLIMY LL
W1SEL G1 >E Y80
  ,9T]N,Y1 ,MICAH GROAN$4 ,HE MI<T H "KN
%E'D H 6MIX 9 H] TWO C5TS4 8,A9'T EI ( U
D1D1 SWEETHE>T4 ,"O ( !M IS4 ,I RECKON
WE CD SIT "H & TRADE %OTS UNTIL WE ALL
TURN GRAY1 B "! A9'T NO S5SE 9 X4 ,LET
HM G1 & WE C1 TOO40
  8,I DON'T L X10 %E SD4
  ,MICAH WASN'T SURPRIS$4 ,HE DIDN'T L X
EI1 AL? H] OPPOSI;N MI<T H BE5 :AT DE-
CID$ ,SAMMY 6TAKE ,MICAH UP ON 8 (F]4 ,!
B&ANNA SANK F SI<T1 ONLY 6REAPPE> >.D
,SAMMY'S SCRAWNY NECK4
  8,I'LL D X1 C[BOY10 ! BADMAN SD4 8,B T
GAL4 ,%E'S A BLI/]4 ,HELL1 %E'S LIKELY
CRIPPL$ ME = LIFE4 ,Y KEEP H] (F    #CCB
ME :ILE ,I SNAKE ,S*AFT] \ (! ROAD40
  ,MICAH GR9N$4 ,HE CD H TOLD ! FELL]
HE'D BE/ N TANGLE ) ,C>OL9E ,PRUETT4 ,GD
ADVICE HE 0 GIV+1 TOO4 ,N[1 IF HE'D ONLY
FOLL[ 8 [N RECOMM5D,N4
  8,D MY BE/10 HE TOLD ,SAMMY4