I’d be inclined to look in another direction if I was satisfied he was leavin’ the country.”

“I’ll tell his family that. They’ll know a way to get word to him.”

They would do it through Preacher Webb, but Rusty would not tell the captain. What he didn’t know wouldn’t hurt the minister.

Nearing the Monahan farm, Rusty saw Vince Purdy moving out from the house and into the dusk to meet the rangers. His stride was slow and careful. Autumn weather had summoned arthritis into his joints. Purdy’s gaze settled on Rusty. “We figured on company,” he said. “Didn’t know you’d be amongst them.”

“I go where they tell me to.”

“You’re lookin’ a right smart better than the last time I seen you.”

“I’m able to do a day’s work.”

“If your work includes catchin’ James, he ain’t here.”

“Didn’t figure he would be. But he’s been here.”

“You’re the one sayin’ that.”

The captain spoke. “The tracks say it. He came by to let you-all know he failed again to kill Caleb Dawkins.”

“Is that a fact?” Purdy had the look of an innocent child. He carefully avoided telling a lie; he simply withheld what he knew.

Clemmie Monahan emerged onto the porch. She stood with her arms folded, belligerently silent.

Geneva paused beside her mother, then came down the front steps. Clemmie called for her to come back, but Geneva walked toward Rusty. He stepped down from the saddle to meet her.

She halted a stride short and glanced back toward her mother. Her eyes misted. She reached out as if to touch him, then withdrew her hand. “James isn’t here.”

“I wasn’t goin’ to ask you.” He looked regretfully at Clemmie, up on the porch. “I don’t suppose she understood why I tried to take James to the ranger camp.”

“She thought it was poor payment for what we did to help you.”

“You feel that way, too?”

“I don’t agree with you, but I can see why you felt like you did. You had your duty, and you looked at it the only way you could. Bein’ family, we saw it the only way we could. I’m grateful you and James didn’t come to shootin’ one another.”

“I couldn’t have. I doubt he could either.”

“He’s still got his mind set on squarin’ things with Dawkins.”

“I can’t blame him, but it’s our job to keep him from it.”

“What if it means havin’ to kill him?”

“I hope it doesn’t come to that.”

“It might.”

Clemmie called from the porch, “Geneva, you come back here.” Geneva did not move.

The captain rode up almost to the steps. He took off his hat to Clemmie. “Ma’am, we’re lookin’ for James Monahan.”

“You’ll not find him here.”

“I don’t disbelieve you, but it is our duty to make a search.”

“Then do your duty, and be damned.” She turned abruptly and disappeared back into the house.

Rusty told the captain, “He’d be a fool to stay here. If we didn’t come for him, Dawkins would.”