“Not sure we want to get up there before daybreak,” McBride said. “That's about four hours from now. It's a two-hour ride. We probably ought to take a rest here and get back to going about five, a little before, maybe.”

McBride and Kempton watered the horses at the spring behind the cabin, breaking ice off the pool. When the horses were done, they corralled them and moved back to the cabin. There was no fire going, just in case the Powers were near enough to see or smell the smoke. Haynes held a bottle up for McBride and Kempton. “I understand your desire not to offend your church, but it's cold in here. You really ought to put some warmth into yourselves.”

“I think I'm plenty warm inside,” McBride said.

“You know, Sheriff, I don't know you real well, but I don't sense that much warmth in you at all.”

“But then, you don't know me real well.”

Haynes nodded. “Probably a blessing for us both.”

McBride wasn't unhappy to see the bottle out again. In the two-or-more-hour wait there was plenty of opportunity for Haynes and Wootan to overdo the whiskey and end up passed out. He could wait and waken them in the morning light, claiming that he, too, fell asleep. They would have to scuttle the plan for a while. That would give McBride his chance to take the Power brothers into custody in Safford one or two at a time. It would be easy. And no one would get hurt. He thought it a good plan and watched the bottle go from one to the other.

“Sheriff. Sheriff.” It was Martin. “Sheriff, Marshal Haynes says it's time to get going if we're going to reach the mine before daylight.”

McBride came fully awake. He could not remember getting sleepy, though he had been tired from the events of the day and the ride up the canyon. It was still dark out, and he and Kempton were the only ones in the cabin. Haynes and Wootan were readying the horses for the last push through the canyon and out, over the ridge to Kielberg Canyon and the mine. That settled it. They were going. There was no question now.