Astrid had been right. Brawley was the leader of the Crooked-Eye Gang. And that would explain why he always had more than enough money to purchase oxen from miners when Wyatt struggled to come up with the necessary cash.

Before Brawley could right himself, the crack of a gun came from Wyatt’s direction. An instant later, a bullet tore into Brawley’s hand. He bellowed in pain and dropped his revolver.

All around men jumped into action. Several lunged for Brawley. Some grabbed his companions and disarmed them. Through the commotion and shouting, Wyatt stalked toward her, his worried eyes taking her in. “You alright?”

“I’m just fine.” She held out the eye patch. “Astrid told me Brawley was the leader of the Crooked-Eye Gang and now we have proof.”

Mr. Steele was right on Wyatt’s heels. “Proof of what?”

“That Brawley has a crooked eye, which is evidence that he and his men have been the ones robbing the stagecoaches coming over Kenosha Pass.”

Wyatt took the eye patch from her, examined it, and then handed it to Steele.

Brawley was clutching his injured hand, clearly in too much pain to think about the fact that he was showing his lazy eye for every man in town to see and revealing the lie he’d perpetuated about losing his eye in an Indian attack.

Mr. Steele glanced from the patch to Brawley and then back to Wyatt. “Guess I need to pull the vigilance committee together today after all.”

Wyatt’s expression turned grave. “Didn’t want things to come to this.”

Mr. Steele holstered his gun. “Me either. But we can’t let Brawley and his men rob and kill any more innocent people.”

“Reckon so.” Wyatt’s voice was soft, and his eyes radiated resignation.

Greta pulled her cloak about her tighter so Wyatt wouldn’t see her trembling hands. Now that the ordeal was over, she wanted to sink to the ground and give way to tears of relief that Wyatt was safe and Brawley could never again threaten him or the ranch.

The men pulled Brawley to his feet and began shoving him and his partners down the street. Wyatt watched for only a few moments before leveling a gaze at Steele. “I’m gonna take Greta on home if that’s alright by you. She’s already been through enough for one day.”

At their somber exchange of glances, Greta guessed Wyatt didn’t want to subject her to whatever the men planned to do to Brawley and his men. She could only shudder at the prospect.

When Wyatt reached for her hand, she didn’t resist. She grabbed hold of him and allowed him to lead her to her horse.

Chapter 29