“I’ll hike up to the head of Pond Creek and cross over onto Marrowbone. Hit’s safer to go west, I reckon. I was thinking to head in that direction anyhow if I had to run.”

“How far west?”

“Colorado. They’s a big fight in the coalfields out there. Taking on the Rockefellers.” He held my hand, ran the tip of his finger along the lines of my palm. “I tried this twicet, and made a mess of it both times, aint I? I cant git no help from Charleston. The leadership up there aint worth shooting. I got to git out and learn how to do this better, meet Debs and Mother Jones and all them.”

“Take me with you.” I cringed at the sound of my voice, begging.

He smiled, kissed my hand, stood up and hobbled inside. I followed him. The widow sat in her front room stitching a quilt. Her eyes were cold when she looked at me.

“How you going to manage with them crutches and all?” I said. “What if them guards catch up to you?”

“I got a gun. I can take care of myself.”

“What will you live on?”

“I’ll do odd jobs. Jump trains. I got ten dollars saved up. I’ll git by.”

He picked up a pillowcase full of clothes, stuck it under his arm against one crutch and swung out into the dusk. I ran after him.

“I got five dollars. Take it.” I folded the bill and stuck it into his shirt pocket.

“All right,” he said softly. “I’m obliged.”

“Please let me go.”

He touched my cheek. “I’m sorry I drug you into my life. I never should have done it. Maybe if things was different—”

He set his hand to my forehead, smoothed back my hair, then turned away. I watched him cross the bottom.

“I love you!” I cried.

I thought he paused, but it may have been some trick of the fading light. I heard the tapping of his crutches even after he was no longer visible. Then I ran up the hill, tore into the house. Miles stood in the parlor by the window.

“I hate you!” I screamed. “I hate you! You aint no brother of mine, you aint worthy to be kin, and I never want to see your face again!”

I went back to my room, sobbing with hurt and rage, and packed my things. I left the furniture, taking only my clothes, my books, and the electric lamp. I went to the station early the next morning. Farther down the tracks I saw Miles with all his men standing in a bunch. He was reading from a list, and the men separated to stand on one side of the track or the other. I wondered which side was the union men. When the train from Justice pulled in, four men with rifles got off.