Hoping the horses covered any sound, Wyatt moved. Low, as quiet as he could, he closed the distance between him and Hawkins. He wished Falcon was here. Now there was a man who knew how to be quiet in the woods.

With the horses gone, Wyatt braced himself for a new round of gunfire. There was none.

Moving faster now, he reached the spot where he knew Hawkins had been. Nothing.

Crouching low, he looked all around, expecting a bullet to come flying, in true dry-gulching style.

Not a sound. Not even the whisper of a footstep or the quiet breath of a man running for his life.

Gritting his teeth, Wyatt called out, “He’s gone. I don’t see a sign of a trail.”

The woods were heaped in leaves. There was snow, but it wasn’t deep enough to make a smooth coat on the forest floor. The wind tossed the leaves and sent the snow scudding here and there.

John came fast. Molly caught up. The three of them exchanged a look, then Molly said, “We need the best trackers. We need Falcon and Cheyenne.”

All three of them turned and ran for the cabin. They met Cheyenne and Falcon, coming fast. Before they reached the two trackers, they heard a high yell of pain. All five of them whirled to face the forest.

“What was that?” Molly edged closer to Wyatt, and he felt her shudder. He slipped an arm across her waist.

“It sounded like Hawkins to me. It sounded like fear.” Cheyenne pulled her gun and checked the load.

Another shout. Hawkins for sure.

Win came running down the trail.

“You were supposed to watch Kingston,” Cheyenne growled.

“He’s tied up and unconscious, and the sheriff and Rachel have guns on him. He’s not going anywhere.” Win heard the next shout. Then she smiled as Hawkins emerged from the woods, being shoved along by Kevin.

John strode forward and said, “I’ll take him back to the cabin. Let’s get the horses caught and head back for the jail.”

He nodded at Kevin—they had matching bleeding shoulders. “Glad to see you made it.”

John took hold of Hawkins and turned to march him back toward the cabin.

“You’re alive.” Win rushed to her husband and wrapped her arms around him. Gently, as if she could see he was a man nearing the end of his rope.

Kevin wrapped both arms tight around her and hugged her close. “You’re alive.”

They held each other, rocking a bit, utterly silent. Then the silence was broken by the sound of Win’s tears. Kevin held her tighter.

Cheyenne went to Kevin and said, “Did you leave your horse around here?”

Kevin told her where, and she headed up the trail away from the cabin. Falcon jogged along until he caught up with her, and they disappeared into the woods together.