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their hideout.
    I have no answers. Only questions. The only thing Frank said before he died was the word McCaw. Anything else?
    He said there were five of them total. She yawned. Imgathering up my belongings and heading to the livery and hotel. You can find me there. But Ill be back after a few hours of sleep.
    Dont forget your hawk. Dont worry about me. Get a good nights sleep, and Ill talk to you tomorrow. Ill ask him a few questions myself.
    She slipped her hand into an elbow-length leather glove for the hawk. They walked back inside, and the squeak of the door didnt arouse Aiden in the slightest. She coaxed the bird onto her arm.
    Hows your sister-in-law faring? Sage said.
    With the folks clearing out of the parsonage, she finally shed the necessary tears. I want to help her, and I will, but the ache in her heart will take time.
    It gets easier, but you never forget.
    For a moment, Parker had forgotten about Sages being a widow.
    Your story about sheep reminded me of how too many folks judge others without the facts.
    So shed listened, and her Ute blood was most likely a source of harsh talk. I learned a lot from my granddad. He told stories that showed folks how to live right. My father was a cattleman, and I followed in his steps. But granddads life lessons about sheep are still there.
    Were you named after him?
    Yes, maam. How did you guess? Its Parker Moses Timmons.
    Moses was a leader. She reached out and shook his hand, then whirled around and left without another word. Strange woman. Peculiar. Strong. And easy to look at.

S EVEN
    A iden eyed Marshal Timmons hunched over his desk, reading papers and writing on some of them. A pot of fresh coffee stayed warm on the woodstove. Smelled good, but the good marshal had refused to give him a hot cup of it earlier. Course, his brothers had killed Parkers brother, according to the plan. Seemed rather ironicconsiderin. Until then, hed bide his time until sprung from jail.
    A newspaper lay on the far corner of the desk, but since Aiden could barely read, all he could make out was Denver. He hoped the front page was about the McCaws. All of Timmonss fancy reading and writing was a joke. He should have never stuck his nose in the McCaw gangs business.
    Timmons had lit a lantern a few moments ago, and the glow sent shadows bouncing off the walls. Those werent the only shadows that would be waiting once darkness settled in and the people of Rocky Falls slept.
    Hed hated being trussed up like a pig while Sage led him down from the mountains. Downright humiliating. Hed give her credit, though. She and that hawk held their own in a mans world. The Ute had done a good job teaching her how to track and shoot. Rumor was she could throw a fair knife and speak their language. She was more respectable than most, giving him plenty of water and food in the morning and evening. He hid his smile at her consideration. Why, shed even given him privacy when nature called. Didnt know of a single bounty hunter whocared about a mans private needs. Or who was as pretty. Feisty too. But hed use her reputation to play into his hand. All aces.
    Until two years ago, Aiden believed Charles and Sage Morrow had taken their secrets to their graves. Then he learned she hadnt died when Charles met his end. He chuckled. What Sage didnt know was the hunter had become the hunted.
    Fools. Sage and Parker had waited too long. Why did they act like theyd never met? Must be for his benefit. But he was a smart man.

E IGHT
    A fter a hot bath and a real plate of tough roast pork, onions, and potatoes, all floating in grease except for the bullet-hard biscuit, Sage fell asleep with a stomachache just as the sounds from the saloon escalated into obnoxious comments. The owner of the hotel and saloon hadnt been pleased about Hawk, but shed assured the man that the bird would be in her care. To show her sincerity, she paid for three nights in advanceincluding the meals before shed sampled the cooks food. From the looks of