Rusty frowned at Tanner. “The Oldhams. I’ve wondered how long it would take them to figure out where I’m at.” He looked back at the messenger. “Did the captain say what he wants me to do?”

“No, just said he didn’t want you ridin’ in unawares.”

Tanner said, “You take Clyde. I’ll take Buddy-Boy. We can put an end to them once and for all.”

Rusty realized Tanner was serious. “I don’t want us to kill anybody. Remember, they’re state police.”

“Damned poor recommendation.”

The scout said, “There’s a third man with them. Deputy of some kind, I think.”

The Oldham brothers and the deputy waited outside Burmeister’s tent, their stance stiff and expectant. Burmeister and two of his men stood nearby, watching them. Tanner’s rifle lay across the pommel of his saddle, ready.

Rusty dismounted, keeping his horse between himself and the Old-hams. He said, “I expected you a lot sooner, Clyde.”

“It ain’t that we didn’t try You’re a hard man to locate.”

“Now that you’ve found me, what do you figure on doin’?”

“We’ve come to arrest you.”

Rusty said, “If you plan on shootin’ me in the back again, you’ve come a long ways on a fool’s errand. I’m not goin’ with you.”

Clyde started to reach into his pocket but stopped abruptly when Tanner swung his rifle around. He swallowed hard. “I’m just goin’ after my warrant.”

Tanner said, “See that that’s all you go after.”

Buddy Oldham dropped his hand to the butt of a pistol on his hip but made no effort to draw the weapon. He stared into the muzzle of Tanner’s rifle.

Tanner said, “Better raise that hand, Buddy, or this time you’re liable to lose more than your arm.”

Buddy lifted his hand clear, his eyes flashing anger.

Clyde demanded, “Where’s that Indian kid of yours, Shannon?”

None of your damned business, Rusty thought. But he said, “He’s not here.”

“Probably runnin’ with his Comanche friends.” Clyde scowled. “When he left down yonder, we followed him. Second or third day out, a bunch of Comanches come swarmin’ down on us. I’d swear on a stack of Bibles that boy was with them. He was after our scalps.”

Rusty wondered. Andy hadn’t told him about that, if it was true.

Tanner said, “Damned shame he didn’t get them.”

Captain Burmeister reached out for the warrant. “I will read that, if you please.”

Clyde hesitated. “I come to serve it on Shannon.”

“I am commanding officer here. I will read it first.”

Grudgingly Clyde handed it over. Burmeister glanced at the paper. “This judge, his name is not known to me. How am I to know this document is real?”

“It’s got the court seal on it.”

“Perhaps it is real. Perhaps it is not. You will tell me about the charges against Private Shannon.”