Sheepishly Andy complied, looking as if he dreaded a whipping. Clemmie threw her arms around him and embraced him so tightly Rusty half expected to hear Andy’s ribs crack. For a small woman, she had always been amazingly strong.

“God bless you, Andy,” she declared.

He stammered, “I’m . . . I’m sorry about your daddy.”

“It was God’s doin’, not yours or mine. We can’t fault the Lord for doin’ His will.”

Haltingly Andy said, “I got his watch back for you.”

He slipped the loop over his head and handed her the silver timepiece. Reverently she pressed it to her cheek. “Bless you, Andy.” She cleared her throat and turned toward the larger group of horsemen. “You-all must be tired and thirsty and hungry. Come on up to the house. We’ll fix you a celebration supper.”

Burmeister dismounted and touched the brim of his hat. “In a while, madam. First we must see to the horses.”

Geneva released Billy only long enough for the other family members to hug him again, then she clasped him as if she never intended to let him go. She leaned her head against her husband’s shoulder and cried.

Rusty wanted to go to her but could not. Instead, Josie came and put her arms around him. “It’s a happy day you’ve brought us, Rusty.”

He found it hard to speak. “It was Andy’s doin’.”

“Billy told us a little. If it hadn’t been for you and the rangers, Andy and Billy might not’ve gotten home. I don’t know how Geneva could’ve lived. It’s a bitter thing to lose family.”

“I can imagine.”

“You’ve been a member of this family for a long time, Rusty, whether you’ve realized it or not. And so will Andy be from now on. It takes more than just blood to make a family. It takes love.”

She tiptoed to kiss him on his bewhiskered cheek. Warmth rushed into his face.

He said, “Maybe you shouldn’t do that out here in the sight of God and everybody.”

“I’ll do it again, Rusty Shannon, whenever I want to. But I’ll wait ‘til you get rid of those whiskers.”

Preacher Webb led the family and everyone else within hearing in a prayer of thanksgiving for Billy’s deliverance. “Lord, we thank Thee mightily for the deliverance of this child who was lost. And we beseech Thy blessings on the lad who brought him back to us, for in some ways he is also a lost soul, seeking his way.”

Andy appeared overwhelmed. Rusty tried to ease his discomfort. “I know you’ve been blamin’ yourself, but nobody else feels that way. You heard what Clemmie said.”

“You don’t suppose she just said that to make me feel better?”

“Clemmie Monahan never says anything she doesn’t mean.”