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spite of himself, Matt grinned. Although the kid was roughed up pretty bad, he didn’t look beaten. Matt expected the boy to go after Red again at any moment. He could see it in the flashing blue
eyes. Down but not out
.
Thinks he can take on a grizzly bear! Just like Robbie
. In a flash the memory of Matt’s little brother—much younger—going after Matt came to mind. His grin widened. A pair of cubs, neither of whom would admit defeat no matter what.
    Matt was right. Uttering a shriek reminiscent of an Indian war cry, the youth sprang to his feet and lurched at Red, ramming his head into the big man’s belly. With a surprised
oof
, Red reeled back, right into Matt’s arms.

Chapter 6
    W hat’s going on in here?” Matt demanded of the cowhand. He heaved Red away from the boy, who was stumbling around, flailing his arms, and trying to stay on his feet.
    “I’ll kill that little upstart!” Red bellowed, lunging past Matt with murder in his eyes. His knife flashed.
    Quick as lightning, Matt lashed out and grasped Red’s knife hand. A twist, and the knife thudded to the floor. Matt picked it up, brushed away the sawdust, and laid it on the bar.
    Red glared at Matt. “This ain’t your affair, Boss.” He pointed a meaty finger at the kid. “This is between me and him.” He took a step toward the youth, who backed away, still clutching his arm. Blood flowed freely between his fingers, but he didn’t seem to notice.
    Matt stepped between them. “I’ll ask you once more, Red, and I want a straight answer. What in blue blazes is going on?”
    “That’s what I’d like to know,” a deep voice said from the saloon door. Sheriff Meade elbowed his way past the onlookers and glowered at the two men in the middle of the room.
    “I’ll tell you what’s going on,” the bloody but unbeaten lad shouted. He pointed an accusing finger at Red Fallon.  “He stole my horse and supplies two days ago. I had to hoof it here without food and water.” The lad’s dusty shirt, jeans, and boots gave credence to his statement. He shook his fist at Red. “Copper’s hitched outside this very minute!”
    “That’s a mighty serious accusation, son,” Sheriff Meade quietly said. “Can you prove it?”
    “Naw, he can’t prove it!” Red bawled. His nostrils flared. “I found that sorrel wandering around up near Raymond when I was going after strays the other—”
    “Liar!” The boy leaped.
    Matt caught him easily and steered him away from the enraged Red Fallon. “Take it easy, boy. No sense gettin’ killed over a horse. Simmer down and let the sheriff get to the bottom of it.” He looked into the kid’s battered face, “What’s your name?”
    “Seth. Seth Anderson. And that ugly skunk is a lying horse thief.” He made one more attempt to get at Red, then his eyes rolled back into his head, and he collapsed in Matt’s arms.
    Matt stared down at the unconscious youth. Seth’s face was pale and gaunt beneath the dark bruises. Matt motioned to a couple of spectators. “Jake, you and Murray take this poor kid over to Mace’s Hotel and ask Doc Brown to have a look at him. He’s lost a lot of blood. I’ll be along after a while.” He gently placed Seth’s limp body into the men’s care and rounded on his erring cowhand. “There was no call to beat up that boy. Why’d you do it?”
    “Boss, I don’t take kindly to being accused of stealin’ a man’s horse and supplies. I tell you, I found that horse up in the foothills. There was nobody around.” Red shrugged and spread his range-hardened hands. “Figured some feller met his end up near the mines. Why should I let a good piece of horseflesh wander off?”
    “When you found out the horse belonged to Seth, why didn’t you just give it back?” Matt wanted to know. He frowned. Something didn’t ring true with Red’s story, no matter how plausible it sounded. Or how aggrieved and innocent the cowboy acted.
    “Why, Boss.” Red grinned and reached for