Chapter 18

As the others take off, I circle back, shooting with one hand, offering the other to Evan, who takes it. I pull him up behind me. We ride off, but as we depart town, there come more shots, and I see men with rifles upstairs at a hotel.

A bullet catches Leland, and down he goes with the other sack of money. Nobody stops to see his fate.

We ride like hell and the horses of the fallen men ride with us, being used to such escapes. Once we’re well out of town, we stop and Evan changes to Leland’s horse, and we set off again, headed for Boyer’s place.

The one horse absent a rider gallops like he’s got a man aboard, which strikes me as an awful sight. Twomen lost, no money gained. That weighs as well, but hard riding soon chases off all thought save outrunning the posse that will surely, in such an organized town, be forming right now.

We’re a sweaty mess when we reach Boyer’s. Changing mounts requires shifting saddles and gear, Boyer and his son looking on.