While he went about the business of making his camp, he considered the idea that had occurred to him earlier. Since his present situation was akin to having Booth and his two partners secure in a fort, while he waited around on the outside, his possibilities were strictly limited. He felt strongly that they were ultimately going to Helena. He could gamble on that assumption and ride on to Helena to wait for them there. He knew people in Helena. It would be easy to know when three strangers rode into town, and they would not likely be as cautious in the town. Of course, it wouldn’t be any easier than catching them crossing this river right here, he had to admit. “If I don’t,” he said aloud, “I’ll end up followin’ them to Helena, anyway.” He was not ready to admit that he didn’t know how he was going to accomplish the goal he had set for himself.

* * *

Unknown to Hawk, there was another influence working to become instrumental in his war with Booth Corbin. It started when Trip Dawson sat down at a table next to Josie Johnson. “I reckon you and me are gonna be seein’ a lot of each other,” Trip whispered in her ear.

“Oh, is that so?” Josie replied, at once coquettish. “And why is that?”

“’Cause I just moved into the room next to yours,” Trip answered, “and I’m gonna be needin’ a lot of your time.”

“Put your money where your mouth is,” Josie came back. “I don’t waste my time on big talkers.”

“You don’t need to worry about the money,” he said. “Hell, you oughta be payin’ me.”

“Ha! Why is that?”

“’Cause you’re settin’ beside the fastest gun in Wyomin’ Territory,” he crowed. “There’s a lot of women that’d pay for a chance to be with me.”

“Well, you ain’t in Wyoming Territory now,” she said. “Anyway, if you’re so fast with a gun, how come you and your two friends moved into the store ’cause you’re scared of that Hawk fellow out there?”

Her comment was the perfect spark to light Trip’s fuse. “The hell you say!” Trip blurted. “Who told you that? The only reason we moved in here was because Booth and Jesse were gettin’ worried they might get shot at. That ain’t me. I ain’t scared of nothin’. Matter of fact, I’d dearly love to draw that jasper out in the open to face me. Then we’d see who was faster with a gun.”

“Pshaw, that’s just big talk,” she said. “You just tell me when you’re ready to come see me, and we’ll see how much man you are.”