“It’s no game to me, Clyde.” Rusty looked regretfully at Buddy. “I never wanted to shoot your brother. He forced it on me.”

Clyde did not acknowledge that he had heard. “Thanks for the farm, Shannon. It’s a good one.”

“Don’t be likin’ it too much. One way or another I’ll get it back.”

“Come visit any time. We’ll be lookin’ for you.” Clyde jerked his head at his brother and the deputy. They went to their horses.

Watching them mount, Rusty said, “I didn’t expect them to give up that easy.”

Tanner said, “They ain’t given up. You’ll be seein’ them again.”

Rusty did not want to think about that. “This horse is tired and sweaty. I’m goin’ to water him and brush him down.” He led the horse to a makeshift corral and pulled the saddle off. He dropped the blanket and bent down to pick it up.

A fence post exploded just above his head. A split second later he heard the loud, flat sound of a rifle.

Tanner shouted, “Get down, Rusty.” Tanner steadied his rifle across a fence rail and fired at the retreating Clyde.

Burmeister and his scouts quickly covered Buddy and the deputy with their firearms. Rusty felt points of fire in his face. Clyde’s shot had driven splinters into his skin. He reached up and felt the warm stickiness of blood on his fingers.

Bent low in the saddle, Clyde was spurring away, his boots flailing at his horse’s ribs, his shirttail standing out behind him. His hat blew off, but he did not slow down.

Tanner watched Clyde’s desperate flight with disgust. “Had my sights on him right between the shoulder blades. Gettin’ to where I can’t shoot worth a damn anymore.”

Rusty pulled at a splinter that had pierced his cheek. It burned as if it had been set afire.

Burmeister walked up to Buddy Oldham, his eyes smoldering. “That is some brother you have. He tried to do murder here.”

Stubbornly Buddy said, “We got a warrant.”

“Take your warrant and go before I get mad. You don’t want to see a German get mad. It is a terrible thing, all thunder and lightning.”

Buddy glared at the captain, then turned to Rusty, hatred burning in his eyes. He said, “You come south any time you’re ready. We’ll give you back your farm . . . six feet of it.”

Buddy and the deputy left. Watching the deputy dismount to pick up Clyde’s lost hat, Tanner said, “Losin’ his arm made Buddy mean as poison.”

“He’s not as dangerous as Clyde.”

“Clyde’s a coward.”

“That’s why he’s dangerous. He’ll get you when you’re not lookin’.” He reached up and felt his burning cheek.

Burmeister gave Rusty an anxious study. “You bleed. He hit you?”