The two riders hesitated a little longer, then seemed satisfied. They set their horses into a long trot. Andy jumped to the ground and ran to throw his arms around Rusty. Tears of relief rolled down his face, leaving tracks in the dust. Tanner reached up, lifted Billy from his horse’s back, and hugged him.

“Young’un,” he declared, “we was afraid we’d never see you again.”

“Andy found me,” Billy said. “Where’s Mama? Where’s Daddy?”

Rusty hugged him when Tanner got through. “They’re at home. We’ll be takin’ you to them.”

Both boys were scratched as if they had ridden through brush. Billy was badly sunburned, his lips blistered and swollen. Tanner handed him a canteen. The boy drank so desperately that Tanner had to take the water back from him. “Easy, Billy. Not all at once.”

Andy watched Burmeister and the rangers ride up out of the ravine. He turned and glanced worriedly at the trail over which he and Billy had come. “We’re bein’ chased. Last time I saw them was maybe half an hour ago.”

“Comanches?”

“No, whiskey merchants. They figured on tradin’ me and Billy back to the Indians for a lot of horses. We got away from them, but they must still figure we’re worth somethin’. They’ve been on our trail.”

Burmeister came up in time to hear the last of it. He asked only one question. “How many are they?”

“Six, if none of them got trampled in the excitement.”

“There was excitement?”

“I managed to put some of their whiskey jugs into the fire. Caused a hell of a commotion. I never knew the stuff would burn like that.”

Burmeister said, “That is good to consider if ever you are tempted to drink it.” He turned back to the task at hand.

“You and the boy could help us capture those verdammten. Do you object if we make of you bait?”

Andy frowned. “I’ll do whatever you want me to, but leave Billy out of it. He’s wore out. He’s had too many scares already for a boy his age.”

Burmeister accepted. “We want them to think you are too tired to go on. When they come close we will move up and . . .” He made a quick motion as if catching a bug in his hand.

Andy said, “I won’t have to play at bein’ tired. I’m wore to a frazzle.” Rusty felt himself swelling with pride. “Andy, for bringin’ Billy back, the Monahans would let you live on their farm the rest of your life and never do a lick of work.”

“All I want is for them to forgive me. And then I’d like to forgive myself.”

Tanner interrupted. “It’s hard to tell through the heat waves, but I think I see somethin’ to the north.”