After the scalp-and-burn ritual the night before, the Apache declined to stay and dine with the Rangers and townsfolk. They silently hitched up the wagons filled with horseflesh, and rode off into the dark toward the Lady on the Mountain. Bina informed Maggie Chase the wagons would be returned before the next moon.

Everyone met in the saloon for supper. Many had little appetite in the wake of the day’s extraordinary events, but the whiskey Franchard allowed his men was readily consumed. As the fire raged well into the night, Rangers and their women, along with everyone but the Rangers on watch, paired up and went off to bed.

At dawn, the Rangers and townsfolk found a smoldering pile of ash where the giant pyre had been the night before. The fire was so large, and had burned so hot, there was nothing left of Major Stiles and his gang but small bits of melted metal from their belts and spurs and fragments of powdered bone.

Captain Franchard assembled his men and spoke at the burial of the two Rangers who’d died fighting for the people of Magdalena. Everyone in town came out for the funeral.

Pritchard spent the night in the livery, in Bina’s arms. They spoke little, slept even less, and together watched the first signs of the sun as it clawed its way over the horizon.

Pritchard was still covered in ceremonial Apache blood-paint, so he bathed in the livery trough. By the time he’d dressed, shaved, and saddled Rusty, Bina was already clothed.

“You must go now,” she told him. It wasn’t a question.

“I reckon so.”

“Back to the place you were cursed?”

“Yeah,” Pritchard said.

She nodded to herself. “This is a good thing.”

“That remains to be seen,” he said. “I don’t want to leave you.”

She put her arms around him. “I like you, Joe,” she said, tracing a circle with a finger around the scar on his forehead, “but you must go. I am not for you, and this place is not for you. This we both know.”

“You could come with me.”

She smiled and shook her head. “I belong here. You do not.”

“Is that how your vision ended?” he said. “With me ridin’ off alone?”

Bina nodded. “You have many battles left to fight, Shadow Man, in many different places. The time we have shared is almost over. This is how I saw it, and how it must be.”

It was Pritchard’s turn to nod. “Have breakfast with me,” he said, “before I go?”

“Of course.”

They met Captain Franchard and Maggie Chase in the saloon. Both had already dined and were enjoying coffee. They motioned for Pritchard and Bina to join them.

“Hell of a yesterday,” Franchard said, once they were all seated.

“I’d have to agree,” Pritchard said. “Captain,” he began, “there’s something I have to tell you.”