Clay stands above the Rider, a bloody mess against the side of our Jeep. I don’t look. I can’t take any more blood. I climb back in the Jeep next to Ethan (who’s completely undisturbed, thank God or the Good Mother or whoever) and tuck my head in my arms. The urge to throw up returns. I breathe through my nose and try to sort through what just happened.

Clay was amazing. And scary. The way he dispatched Bear Paws … I’d hate to have that directed at me. And who is Kody?

When I look up, Clay stands at the edge of the tailgate. His face is pale and distant. His voice rolls out of his throat as if he were just coming out of a dream. “The little man? He alright?” His hat’s down low over his face so that his features are covered in shadow again, but his hands tremble slightly as he rubs a revolver on his shirt and tucks it in the holster.

I put my hand on Ethan’s chest. “He’s still out.”

He tucks both guns into their holsters. He looks at me, his face tight. “You okay? You look really pale.”

I nod, though I feel anything but okay. “All in one piece.” I look up at him and note the tremble of his hands, the paleness of his cheeks. “What was that back there? The Rider said something about—”

“Nothing,” he says sharply. Then his tone softens. “He’s a lying, thieving sonovabitch, but he won’t hurt anyone again.”

I bite my lip. I don’t believe that was nothing.

Clay’s eyes stray to Bennett and his father. He walks over, crouches and lays two fingers on their necks. Each time he shakes his head sadly. Despite all they’ve put us through, he’s sad they’re dead. I can’t feel sad. They would’ve sold us into torture and death.

Clay frowns, his hand on Bennett’s arm. “We have to bury them.” He stands up and brushes the dust off his pants. “He was my friend.”

“Your friend kidnapped us and almost killed us.” Yet, I think of Arn drug out for the coyotes. It’s no way to go, even for someone as low as Bennett. I scoot to the edge of the Jeep and stand. My legs tremble, but I steady them. “Let’s get this over with.”

Clay nods, a ghost of a smile on his lips. It fades as he picks up his lifeless friend.