“Right,” Lige said at once. “I ain’t got no reason to hang around here any longer.” He glanced at Clell. “Let’s get the hell outta here.” Pete started for the door and Clell followed. Lige couldn’t resist a side remark to Hawk as he followed his partners out. “Next time, stranger.”

“Look forward to it,” Hawk returned.

When the three walked out, Earl turned to Hawk and extended his hand. “Mister, I think you just saved me and Jack from gettin’ our butts kicked at best, and maybe a shot in the head at worse. What is your name?”

“John Hawk,” he said, and shook Earl’s hand, then shook Jack’s as well.

“Well, John Hawk, I’d like to buy you a drink, if we can get Alvin to put his shotgun down and pour us one.”

“Much obliged,” Hawk said, then asked, “You ever see those fellows before?”

“No, never seen ’em in here before. Have you, Jack?” Jack said that he had not, and Earl went on, “Me and Jack are tryin’ to raise cattle back down the river a few miles from here, and if you’re not in a hurry to get somewhere, you’re welcome to rest up at our place.”

“That’s mighty decent of you,” Hawk said, “but I am in kind of a hurry. Thank you just the same. And I expect my horse might come in here after me, if I don’t get out there and take care of him pretty soon.” He stayed long enough to have the drink that Earl wanted to buy him, then he took his leave. He wanted to find a spot to camp, so he could rest Rascal before much longer, so he stopped at the front counter only long enough to pick up a sack of oats and pay for his supper.

“Much obliged,” Peavy said when he took the money for the oats but gave his supper money back. “Supper’s on the house. That was a helluva thing you done for those fellers, and you likely saved me from gettin’ mixed up in some real trouble with those three jaspers.”