“Why, then, it’s our civic duty to empty their pockets and take their wages, to return them to their families.”

“If we ever see their families,” Ronnie adds.

I make myself breathe slow and easy, or else I’d scream and run. These men aren’t just robbers, they’re killers. Freebooters, just like Colonel Plug’s boat-wreckers down the Ohio River or Mason’s gang at Cave-In-Rock.

Emmett grabs the jug from Ronnie and tilts it to his lips. Peony is tugging at her hitch, which shakes the branches of the small birch she’s tied to. She doesn’t like the smell of this either.

“I have to admit that northern folks are unjustly suspicious of me and my brothers, on account of their deep and hypocritical prejudices,” Emmett says. “But you? You look as innocent as a sacrificial lamb with those big, wide girlie eyes. We might be able to use that.”

They’re starting to relax. I can see it in their shoulders. In the easy way they tip back their heads for a swig. Just a few more drinks, boys.

“On the other hand, if you don’t want to join us as our long-lost cousin Tackett from Ellijay, no hard feelings. We’ll just take what we need and leave you here in the woods.”

Leave me dead in the woods, he means. Zeke’s hand is too near the big knife on his belt. Ronnie seems to be gazing off the other way, but Emmett still aims the Hawken at me. My belly squirms to think that after everything, I might get killed by Daddy’s own gun.

Emmett holds out the jug, offering me a drink. “So what’s it going to be?”

I’m supposed to beg them to take me along. If I do, they’ll have a laugh at my expense, then murder me anyway. If I don’t, they’ll use it as an excuse to be extra mean.

The jug hangs in the air, along with Emmett’s question. I figure I’m dead no matter what I answer. So I pull a trick I learned watching Jefferson deal with his father: I change the subject.

“My horse. Sounds like she got snarled up.”

At my voice, Peony whinnies and struggles harder. I say a silent blessing to her.

I add, “She spooks easy. If she doesn’t get unsnarled, she could hurt herself. And then she’s no good—can’t ride her, can’t sell her.”

Ronnie frowns. Emmett shuffles closer to the fire, trying to get a better look at me. His hand inches toward the triggers. Staring me down eye-to-eye, he says, “Zeke, go untangle the horse.”

“Why me?”

“Because I told you to.”

Zeke stomps over to Peony, spewing a string of curse words. He draws his knife and cuts her hitch.

“There, you satisfied?” he says.

Peony thanks him by biting his cheek.