York reached for the paper, pencil, and plate. With shaking hand he signed it. “You-all witness it. Make it to where no lawyer can mess with it.”

Blessing signed beneath York’s name and passed the paper to Rusty. “You’ve done good by Shanty. I’m proud to’ve known you, Isaac.”

“I ought to’ve given him his freedom years ago.”

Shanty’s voice quavered. “I thank you, Mr. Isaac.”

Isaac relaxed, seeming to sink deeper into the bed. “Some people ain’t blessed with any real honest-to-God friends in a lifetime. I’ve had one, at least.”

Outside, Blessing turned sharp eyes on Rusty. “You got any idea where Preacher Webb might be found?”

“Ain’t seen him, but they tell me he comes by my place to visit the Monahan family pretty often.”

“If he shows up, I wish you’d tell him to get over here as quick as he can. I doubt he can do much about Isaac’s sickness, but maybe he can help the poor feller die with his soul at ease.”

“I’ll watch for him.”

Blessing looked worried. “I’m afraid Isaac ain’t thought all this through.”

“He’s leavin’ Shanty a good farm.”

“May be leavin’ him trouble, too. There’s some folks won’t take it kindly.”

“It’s Isaac’s farm to do with as he pleases.”

“He won’t be here to take the punishment, but Shanty will.”

“You’re the sheriff. You can help him.”

Blessing’s eyes narrowed. “Maybe, maybe not. Looks to me like the state government is comin’ unraveled. Maybe we can hold the county together. I’ll keep tryin’ to do my job ‘I’ll the Federals come and tell me I’m not sheriff anymore.”

Blessing’s comment was like an echo of the concerns Rusty had heard from Captain Whitfield. “Do you really think they’ll do that?”

“I don’t know. I’ve never been on the losin’ side of a war before. We weren’t exactly gentle with Mexico. Maybe the Yankees won’t treat us kindly either.”

“Captain Whitfield says they can’t hang us all, and they don’t have prisons enough to pen us all up.”

“But they can make life pretty miserable. Best thing for a while is stay close to home and tend to business like I always did. Keep the peace the best I can ‘I’ll they tell me otherwise.”

“You won’t have any rangers to back you up.”

“I don’t even have a deputy. He went off to the war, and the county hasn’t hired anybody to take his place.”

Rusty considered awhile. “If you need help, let me know. I’ll come runnin’.”

“Thanks, but the county’s got no money to pay you.”