“My God, Tom. You want me to swap you fresh horses for those of the ones you killed? They'll as likely hang me, too.”

“I got that figured, Poke. You and me never had no conversation, never saw each other. You just come out here and found these animals. Later you noticed some of yours was gone. It would make perfect sense that we would just steal yours, us being wanted desperados on the run. And you can make a claim on ours up at the mine. You just tell Thems that you want our horses as compensation. Hell, you could end up six for three if Thems don't get their hands on these.”

“I don't know, Tom. It's a bad spot. But you always been straight with me, and I believe you're straight with me now. And I don't want to see you killed. And I do believe they will kill you if they catch you. There's a small string right over yonder beyond that little hummock. They's about eight of them. Take what you want, and leave those behind. That one there looks pretty lame.”

“Fell on her shoulder. Might have popped it out. I don't know. If you have to shoot her, it's still a good deal for you—five for three. And this mule is quality stock. And this one, it might just be bruises. I don't see you losing on this.”

“Yeah. Well, I don't share your optimism, but I don't want to see your bodies in the back of someone's truck, either. You can handle the switch, right? I'm not sure I want to be that involved.”

“Oh, hell yes, Poke. You know me. I can handle horses.”

“Yes, you can. That's the truth. Where you headed?”

“Mexico. Not exactly sure how we're going to get there, but Mexico. Mexico will be good for us. That's the land of opportunity. Better than this place, where a poor man never gets a straight deal.”

“Don't need to know, Tom. Don't want to know. As the Mexicans say, ‘Vaya con Dios.’”

“You stay here, Poke. I don't want you with me if Thems should come up on me. Give me about fifteen minutes with the horses and then get on out of here. If you see someone coming, I'd appreciate a sign.”

Poke touched the rifle in his saddle ring. “Lots of damn coyotes out here. I might want to thin that herd a bit.”

“I appreciate it.”

“You got it. I been meaning to tell you, next time I seen you, how sorry I was to hear about Ola May. She was a good girl. It's just a shame what happened to her. And now this. A shame.”

“What is it they say? ‘Didn't got bad luck, wouldn't got luck.’ Must have been a Power first said that. But you go with what you got. Don't get no redeals.”