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being.”
    Fiona almost shook her head, but caught herself in time. “Thank you for doing that. It was the Christian thing to do.”
    â€œWell, I’m no Christian and neither is anyone else here, so that doesn’t matter much at all. Mostly, what I did it for is to eliminate any evidence or trace of that sorry pair.”
    â€œJoe’s wound has closed, but he still needs a doctor,” Fiona said, reminding Holt again.
    â€œI’ve been thinking on that some,” Holt replied. “And I think that Joe Moss is strong enough and you are a good enough nurse to keep him alive while we are on the move to the Comstock Lode.”
    â€œNo!”
    â€œMy decision has been made,” Holt said. “And I won’t brook any arguments.”
    â€œPlease be reasonable! My husband can’t ride a horse! Look at him. He’s pale and too weak from the loss of blood even to sit up.”
    â€œYes,” Holt said, “of that I am well aware.”
    â€œThen what—”
    Holt cut off her question with a dismissive wave of his hand, then glanced over at the brothers. “Hey, boys, come on over here.”
    Dalton and Eli had been sorting through a few odds and ends they’d scavenged from the dugout, and now they sauntered over to look down at Joe Moss.
    â€œHe don’t look too healthy,” Eli said with an indifferent shrug. “Still think he’s gonna make it?”
    â€œHe will,” Fiona said. “If he gets a doctor and some bed rest.”
    â€œNo doctor,” Holt snapped. “And as for bed rest, well, that’s what I wanted to talk to these boys about.”
    Dalton and Eli turned their attention to the big man.
    â€œBoys,” Holt said, “we’re needing some supplies and a wagon.”
    The brothers frowned in serious concentration. Finally, Dalton said, “Why don’t we git ’em on the way to Virginia City?”
    â€œBecause,” Holt told him, “I don’t want to deal with the Mormons and after we leave this part of the country, there isn’t much of anything between us and the Comstock Lode except Paiute Indian villages.”
    â€œPaiute women sound good to me,” Eli said with a cackle as he and Dalton leered at Fiona. “This ’un ain’t gonna hold up too good with all three of us fucking her. She’s way too skinny and weak.”
    Fiona colored and bit her lip. She was just thankful that Joe Moss wasn’t awake and aware of this conversation. If her husband had been awake, he’d have tried to kill all three despite his grave condition.
    â€œWell, now,” Holt said, towering over the leering brothers. “That brings up another issue. We’re going to put Fiona and Joe Moss in shackles and keep them in locks and chains all the way across the desert.”
    â€œShe ain’t gonna have short leg shackles on so we can’t squeeze in between them skinny legs, is she?” Dalton asked, his leer replaced by real concern. “Gotta give her enough chain to spread ’em wide.”
    â€œCan’t do that,” Holt said in his most genial voice. “We’ll shackle both of them short—hand and foot.”
    â€œBut . . .” Eli was forming a protest. “We’ll all want to be fuckin’ her!”
    â€œNo,” Ransom said. “If you find some willing Paiute women, then you can have a go at them with my blessings, but Fiona is all mine.”
    â€œThe hell you say!” Eli growled, hand moving toward the butt of his holstered six-gun.
    â€œThe hell I do say,” Holt shot back, giving them a look that said there’d be no further argument.
    â€œFine,” Dalton said. “I can wait for them Paiute women . . . or, I guess, even the whores up in Virginia City if it comes to that.”
    â€œWise decision,” Holt said, folding his massive arms across his chest. “You boys are gonna be pretty rich after