Rusty saw no sign of a rain cloud. “Doesn’t appear likely.”

Shanty’s enthusiasm gave way to concern. “You looked as much dead as alive last time we seen you.”

“I’ve healed up pretty good. Don’t have a lot of strength in that shoulder, but it’ll get better.”

“Them Oldhams don’t mean to just wound you in the shoulder next time. They’ll aim for your heart.”

Tom Blessing strode out to greet Rusty and the others. He still had a crushing handshake. “Been expectin’ you,” he said, “even though I hoped you wouldn’t come. Things have turned off real mean around here.”

“I thought they already were.”

“They’ve got worse. The Oldhams and a bunch of state police made a wild sashay after Farley Brackett. He shot one of them dead and wounded two more before he got away.”

“I don’t suppose Buddy or Clyde were hit.”

“No such luck. Now there’s hell to pay. Governor Davis is threatenin’ martial law.”

“Maybe they’re too busy to be worryin’ about me.”

“The Oldhams ain’t forgot you. They’ve added some new charges. Fleein’ to avoid prosecution, refusal to submit to arrest. Also attempted murder. They claim you fired on Clyde up at the Monahan place.”

Tanner protested, “That was me, not Rusty.”

“Doesn’t matter. They say it was Rusty, and the carpetbag judge we’ve got will take their word for it. He’s hell on any old rebel that gets brought before his bench.”

Rusty said, “I’ve thought some about givin’ myself up. Not to the Old-hams but to the court.”

“You’d better get over that notion. The judge would turn you over to the Oldhams anyway. Remember what they did to you the last time.”

Rusty rubbed his shoulder. “What can I do?”

“Smart thing would be to quit this part of the country and not show yourself again ‘til the government changes. It will, when all the old Texans finally get a chance to vote.”

“But Clyde Oldham stole my farm. I want it back.”

“Be patient. The land ain’t goin’ anywhere.”

Rusty, Tanner, and Andy pitched in to help with the cabin raising. They finished the walls awhile before sundown. Tom Blessing stepped back to gaze on the work, smiling in satisfaction. “Me and the boys all got our chores to see after before dark. We’ll start on the roof in the mornin’.”

Shanty bowed to all of them in the subservient manner cultivated during long years of slavery. “I’m much obliged to all of you.” He stood beside Rusty as the Blessings rode away. He said, “I ain’t got no money, but I’ve got somethin’ better. I’ve got friends.”

Rusty nodded. “That’s somethin’ you couldn’t buy if you had all the money in the world. But I’m afraid you’ve still got some enemies, too.”

“Been a long time since they bothered me. Mr. Tom and his boys put the Indian sign on them, and lately the state police been chasin’ them around some, too. They ain’t had time to mess with old Shanty.” He walked to an outdoor fire pit and stirred the coals until they glowed, then added small pieces of dry wood to coax a flame. “You-all are goin’ to stay the night here, ain’t you?”