He swung back into the saddle and carried the note to Whitfield, telling him what it said so the captain would not have to waste time trying to read it in the moonlight.

Whitfield grunted. “Then let’s go to the Shannon place, too.”

By the stars Rusty guessed it was midnight or a little later by the time they reached there. He agonized all the way, fearing that he would find the place in charred ruins, its occupants slaughtered. Somewhat to his surprise he found himself whispering a prayer. As he rode in, James close beside him, he saw that the cabin was dark but intact. A large number of horses were held in a corral.

The Indians had not struck here. Not yet, at least.

“Thank God,” Rusty said in a husky voice.

James responded, “I thank Him, too. I sure as hell do.”

A shot was fired from the far side of the corral. A sentry’s warning, Rusty surmised.

“Hold on,” he shouted. “We’re comin’ in.”

He recognized the distant voice as Vince Purdy’s. “Who’s out there?”

“It’s me, Rusty Shannon. With some rangers.”

“Well, come on in, and welcome. We’ve been expectin’ company, but not you.”

Several men materialized from the shadows, carrying rifles. Rusty realized that several neighbors had come together for mutual protection. Purdy pumped Rusty’s hand, then hugged his grandson. “Preacher Webb told us you’d rode for help. But it’s liable to cost you, son.”

Rusty said, “He came here under arrest. Where’s the preacher?”

“He rode on to warn others. Said he was goin’ to Tom Blessing’s first so Tom could help him spread the word. He ain’t been back, and we been worried about him. From the sign he showed us down on the river, there was a war party came by here a couple of nights ago. They could’ve taken us then. We wouldn’t’ve known they was around ‘I’ll they was on top of us.”

“They were savin’ you for their return trip.”

“That’s the way we see it. If it hadn’t been for Preacher Webb, no tellin’ what Might’ve happened.”

“It still could.”

“But now they won’t catch us by surprise. We’re fixed to give them a dandy scrap.”

James asked urgently, “Is everybody all right? Mama and them?”

“Your mama’s made out of rawhide. That bullet slowed her down a little, but it was a long way from killin’ her.”

James turned back to the captain. “I’m goin’ up to the house to see my folks. Any objections?”

Rusty said, “I’ll go with him.” He tried to make it sound as if he were volunteering out of a sense of duty.

“Go ahead. We’ll set up camp at the corrals. There won’t be any horses stolen out of here tonight.”

Purdy went ahead to awaken the family. Clemmie and Geneva came out onto the dog run so quickly that Rusty doubted they had ever gone to bed. With the threat of a raid hanging over them, they probably could not sleep in any case. Clemmie clasped her son in her arms and wept.