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gonna farm them out between them. That doesn’t seem right to me. Brothers ought to stay together.”
    Cole agreed with a pensive nod.
    â€œI got my own opinion why they killed Luke’s wife. Want to hear it?”
    â€œSure.”
    â€œI think they were sending folks a message.” His voice dropped to a whisper of confidentiality as he continued. “Word gets around fast, and anyone who might see something or hear something in the future is gonna think long and hard before stepping forward. Witnesses don’t survive. That’s the message.”
    â€œThey’re bound to make a mistake one of these days.”
    â€œSon, that’s what everyone is hoping will happen. I’m praying it happens soon, ’cause a lot of good people have died, and not just men, but women and children too. Those men are gonna burn in hell for what they’ve done.”
    â€œThey’ve killed children?”
    â€œI heard about one little girl that got killed. She was in the bank with her mama. Of course it could just be speculation. I asked Ryan about it, but he got a realstrange look in his eyes and went out the door without answering me, so I don’t know if it’s true or not. The marshal sure has his hands full,” he concluded with a shake of his head. “Are you thinking about heading back to your ranch?”
    â€œRight now I’m headed for Texas to bring some steers back. The regional office better be on the way or—”
    Norton wouldn’t let him finish. “I got a little favor to ask you.” He put his hand up to ward off any interruption and hastily added, “I know I don’t have the right, since I went and knocked you over the head. Still, I’m compelled to ask.”
    â€œWhat is it you want?”
    â€œHold on to your badge until tomorrow before you make up your mind. It’s already going on dusk, so you don’t have to wait long. In the morning, if you’re still determined to give the badge back, then I’ll be happy to tell you the fastest way to get to the regional office. With that fancy compass, you won’t have any trouble finding it. Now, don’t shake your head at me. At least consider it, and while you’re at it, answer another question for me.”
    â€œWhat?” Cole asked with a bit more surliness than he intended.
    â€œWhy do you suppose Ryan went and shoved you the way he did before he took off?”
    â€œFrustration,” Cole answered.
    The sheriff grinned like a big cat sitting in a tub of cream. “You wanted to hit him, didn’t you? I saw you make a fist, and—yes, son, I did—and I saw something else happening too, but never you mind about that. You showed considerable restraint,” he added. “And Marshal Ryan did apologize—I heard it with my own ears—but now I’m wondering to myself if he was apologizing for shoving you or maybe something else he’d done.”
    Before Cole could ask him to explain what he waschattering on about, the sheriff pushed the topic around to the badge again.
    â€œWill you stay on tonight? I’ll treat you and Josey to supper at Frieda’s fancy restaurant, and if you ride out now, you won’t get far before dark hits. If I were you, I’d want to spend one more night sleeping between clean sheets before I headed out on such a long trip. Come morning, I’ll give you the directions you’re wanting and you can be on your way lickety-split. Course you’ll probably want to go on over to Rockford Falls first. It ain’t too far away from here.”
    Cole raised an eyebrow. “Why would I want to go to Rockford Falls?”
    Norton chuckled. “To get your compass back.”

Five

 
    The town of Rockford Falls was reeling with shock. In the past two days, they had lost eight of their finest citizens and one who wasn’t quite so fine but who mattered to all of them just the