Rusty was too surprised to move. Webb quickly gripped the pistol and pushed the muzzle down, then gave it a twist that wrested the weapon from Rusty’s hand. “I was afraid you’d take a notion to do this.”

Rusty choked from frustration. “He’s got it comin’.”

Blessing said, “You have no proof. He says he’s been too drunk to leave the place. Shanty yonder backs him up.”

The black man nodded, relieved that the pistol had not been fired.

“What else could Shanty say? Isaac owns him.”

Blessing said, “I’ll admit that from the looks of things you could be right. Isaac and Mike both left mad after their fight broke up. But these are bitter times, and there’s other people around who didn’t like Mike’s politics. You can’t kill a man on suspicion.”

“That’s more than he killed Mike for.” Shaking with anger, Rusty reached for the pistol. Webb turned, keeping it from him.

Blessing said, “Settle down, son. I promise you we’ll look into Mike’s killin’. If we find proof that Isaac did it, he’ll pay. But that’s not for you to do, it’s for the law.”

“I talked to the law yesterday. The sheriff won’t do a damned thing. He as much as told me so.”

Webb said, “Have faith, lad. The Lord finds His own way to punish the evildoer. If it was Isaac, he’ll settle accounts with the Almighty. If it wasn’t. . . you wouldn’t want an innocent man to burden your conscience as long as you live.”

“I’ve got no faith in the law, and not a hell of a lot in the Almighty. How come He wasn’t watchin’ over Daddy Mike?”

“It’s not for us to understand His ways.”

“I sure don’t. If he really punishes the evildoers, how do we know he didn’t send me here to strike Isaac down?”

“He wouldn’t have let us stop you.”

Blessing laid his heavy arm on Rusty’s shoulder, as he had yesterday. “I told you before, you need to get away for a while. Let things here take their own course. That job I tried to give Mike . . . it’s still waitin’.”

“Job?” Rusty was too upset to remember. “What job?”

“South of the Red, in a minuteman company scoutin’ for Indian sign. Turnin’ them back if they cross into Texas. The boys are shorthanded up there.”

Rusty glared at Isaac. “What about him?”

“He won’t be goin’ anywhere. If it’s proved that he killed Mike, he’ll still be here when you come back. Or hung.”

It wasn’t enough. Rusty wanted him to pay now. But he could see that it was not to be. Even if York went on trial, chances were strong that a secessionist jury would acquit him. “You’re tryin’ to protect him. That’s why you want me gone.”