Hawk followed the road to the river and was relieved to find a shallow crossing, so he didn’t get his meat and other possibles wet. Once across, he left the road and set out along the riverbank until he came to a spot that suited him. Before doing anything else, he pulled the saddle off Rascal and let him go to water. Then he built his fire.

CHAPTER 10

CHAPTER 10

He passed a peaceful night on the bank of the Sun River, waking with the first light of morning. He had taken the precaution of making his bed in a gully, away from his campfire, in case he’d guessed wrong about Lige and his two friends. He had felt that the three roughnecks were more accustomed to bullying people like Earl and Jack, and that the wound Lige suffered would be enough to discourage any more trouble to come his way. And since there was no visit from them during the night, he figured he was done with them. According to what Alvin Peavy had told him, it was about thirty miles from his store to Wolf Creek, not even a day’s journey on horseback. But Hawk decided to delay his breakfast until he had ridden about halfway. It would be easier on Rascal, and he should still get there before very late in the afternoon. The big buckskin had enjoyed a hearty meal of oats the night before, so he should be ready to ride.