The last thing that came to him was a renewal of the vision. Once again he saw the man with the red hair. And once again the face was that of the boy he had taken for his own but had lost in the turmoil and fire of Plum Creek.

Rusty felt a terrible pain as a hand gripped the shoulder the club had struck. He cried out, and the hand jerked away. He recognized James Monahan’s anxious voice before he was able to focus on the face.

“Are you shot?”

Rusty had trouble bringing out the words. “He hit me with his club. Feels like he might’ve busted my shoulder.” He reached up to examine the source of pain. “He was fixin’ to fetch me another lick when you rode up. Thanks. You saved my life.”

“It ain’t worth thankin’ me for.” James straightened up and looked around. “I’ll go fetch your horse. Looks like our Indian got away, but he won’t go far. I put a bullet in him.”

While James rode out to catch Alamo, Tanner reined up and swung a long leg over the cantle of his saddle. He bent down to give Rusty a searching look. His anxiety faded, a smile creasing his face. “Fell off of your horse, did you?”

Rusty did not see the humor. “Got clubbed. If James Monahan hadn’t come along, I’d have my brains scattered all over the grass.”

“Wouldn’t’ve been enough to make much of a mess. Come on, I’ll help you up.”

Rusty felt shaky on his feet, and Tanner held him until James brought the horse. Tanner boosted Rusty into the saddle. Rusty asked, “Where’s everybody else? What went with the Indians?”

“Scattered to hell and gone,” Tanner replied. “Looks like we busted up their party. You know how it is with Indians. They’ll go off in six directions and meet up later, somewhere they don’t figure we can reach them.”

James observed, “They’ve left their horse herd behind.”

Rusty was grateful for that. “But they’ll be back. They’ll try again. Maybe not today, but sooner or later.”

Tanner said, “That means me and you can hang on to our high-payin’ job.” He pointed his chin toward the York cabin. “Looks like the boys are startin’ to gather over there. Guess we’d best go join them.”

James looked toward the river. It was only fifty yards away. “Maybe they won’t notice for a while that I’m not with you.”

Rusty frowned. “You leavin’?”

“I promised to stay ‘I’ll the trouble was over. It is, so I’m gittin’ while the gittin’s good.”

Tanner said, “They’ll blame Rusty for you gettin’ away.”

“Tell them it happened while him and that Indian was havin’ their set-to. Wasn’t nothin’ he could do about it. Ain’t much either of you can do now except shoot me in the back.”

Tanner drew his pistol and studied it. “I ain’t had time to reload. Don’t reckon Rusty has either.”

James smiled. “Then adios, Rusty. Take good care of my sister. See you when the war is over.”