“Afternoon, sheriff.” Richard spoke to a man who approached them. He was dark around the eyes, with a dinged-up star on his waistcoat. The sheriff gestured to the Railwalkers, as if to ask about them. Richard nodded in his captives’ direction. “Horse thieves,” he said. He held out his hand, motioning to the Railwalkers’ horses. “Caught ‘em off the Rio Grande.”
“All right,” said the sheriff, looking them over. “Let’s take ‘em in. We got a man out from the railroad who might need some extra hands.” Mei, though she kept her eyes focused downward, immediately tensed. Violet wanted nothing more than to reach for her hand. The sheriff circled them before stopping at Violet. He removed Violet’s hat, looking at her face. “What’s this one’s story?”
“Accomplice.”