Mike’s eyes defied Rusty to offer criticism. Rusty held silent as he fried more ham. Preacher Webb tried to smooth Mike’s ruffled feathers by talking of other matters such as the promise of ground moisture for next spring’s crops, a new baby he had christened for the Mather family, the rumors about building a railroad into Texas.

None of them distracted Mike. “I ain’t finished my discussion with Isaac.”

Webb argued, “You know he has a crazy streak in him. He’s dangerous.”

“I’m an American, born free and raised to stay that way. Nobody can tell me what to say or think.”

“A man doesn’t have to go around tellin’ everybody what he thinks. He can keep it to himself and stay out of fights that might get him killed.”

“Isaac York ain’t seen the day he could kill me, not in a fair fight.”

Rusty thought of the old Indian and the woman. “What promise have you got that it’d be fair?”

Mike soon began to yawn. Rusty saw him to bed, then returned to the kitchen and the minister. “I wish we could get him away from here for a while. Ain’t there Indian trouble someplace, or maybe somethin’ stirrin’ down on the border?”

“Not anything serious that I know about. I’ll talk to Tom Blessing. He might cook up an excuse to get Mike away.”

“Tom’s strong for secession, too.”

“But he’s too decent a man to put politics ahead of an old friendship.”

Tom Blessing showed up one frosty morning as Rusty prepared breakfast. Mike, still stiff and sore from his fight with York, was having difficulty getting out of bed. Rusty had not been eager to push him, for Mike’s mood was not forgiving. He had been pulled away from a fight before it was finished, and it rankled.

“Come on in this house,” Rusty called to Blessing. “Coffee’s ready, and the rest will be in a few minutes.”

Blessing paused at the kitchen door, then glanced back toward the room where Mike grumbled to himself, trying to get his clothes on. “Is he all right?”

“He’s movin’ kind of slow. I guess Preacher Webb talked to you?”

“He did. I’d already heard about Mike’s set-to with Isaac. Preacher’s right. Tempers bein’ the way they are, it’d be smart to get Mike away from here ‘til the secession election’s over with and things quiet down.”

“I’m afraid he doesn’t realize how serious things have got. Preacher says there’s been killin’.”

“Other places. Not here . . . yet.”

“Even Sam Houston talks against secession. Why shouldn’t Mike?”

“Nobody’s goin’ to kill Sam Houston. He’s a Texas hero. But he’s old now, and not many people listen to him anymore.”