Billy came down the built-in ladder in a series of lurches, his left foot landing heavily on the wooden slats of the ladder. Billy had no doubt broken the leg a couple of times and, at least once, hadn't gotten it set right. He was old, maybe fifty, gone to gut mostly but still strong through the arms, legs, and shoulders. His face was the color and texture of an old saddle. He was dressed as he dressed every day of his life—canvas pants, a cotton shirt, and a battered hat that was once probably a pretty good Stetson. His boots were old. You knew he was a successful rancher, as far as success could ever be counted in ranching, because he had boots good enough to get old before they completely fell apart. He extended his hand to Tom. The fingers were grease-stained, cut, and bent at odd angles from breaks and arthritis. Tom took the hand, which was a preview of his own if he could stay alive a few years longer.

“You look like hell,” Billy said. “What's with your eye?”

“Glass, I guess. Maybe wood, probably glass. Did you hear what happened?”

“More or less. I guess pretty much everyone's heard something. Can't outrun that damned telephone.”

“They been looking for us?”

“A couple of times. They'll be back a couple more, that's for sure. How much do you know?”

“Just what happened. The Old Man's dead. So are McBride, Kempton, and Wootan.”

“All dead. They've had posses out since Sunday evening.”

“Who got away?”

“Haynes. Got away clean. Called it in from Klondyke. That's how they's on you so fast. You didn't know that?”

“It was a hell of a fight, Billy. There could have been a circus set up ten feet away, and I wouldn't have noticed.”

“It don't make sense, though. None of it.”

“I'm guessing it was the gold they was after.”

“They're saying it was that draft business, Tom. Most around here ain't in favor of that story, but that's what they're saying. It just don't make much sense, the way I see it. It would have been a damned simple thing to take you boys in Safford.”

“We didn't go to Safford much. Usually Sisson went.”

Billy Hendricks shook his head. “Well, there it is. You wait for Sisson to come to town, and you arrest him. Aiding and abetting. Pretty soon, Old Jeff comes wandering in, looking for Sisson. Aiding and abetting, again. Then, when they don't come back, you and John come in looking for them. Pretty simple. You got all four of you without any unpleasantness. Not a shot fired. Anyone knows that firing a shot at a Power is going to get you a bunch of shots in return. No. It don't make no sense at all.”