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blond hair. “Can it wait a few minutes Bear? I’m almost through interviewing this gentleman for our deputy position. Bill Wallace, may I present my brother Bear MacKay.”
    Wallace stood and Bear shook the tall man’s firm hand. “Pleased to make your acquaintance, Sir.”
    “And ‘tis glad I am to meet ye, Mr. Wallace.” Bear glanced back at William. “Aye, it can wait. I’ll be at the eatery when ye have finished.”
    “No, there’s no need to leave. Have a seat over there at Deputy Mit…” William stopped himself. “At the deputy’s desk. I’m almost through here.” Grief briefly touched his brother’s crystal blue eyes.
    Bear took a seat and remembered seeing Deputy Mitchell sitting right here many a time. He shook his head at the sorrowful memory of the fine young man.
    “Well, Mr. Wallace, your credentials are impressive and you come highly recommended by men I respect. When are you available to start?”
    “Does that mean I have the job?” Wallace asked hopefully.
    “Indeed it does,” William told him, smiling. “Congratulations.”
    “Thank you, Sir. I promise to serve you and this town to the very bestof my ability. Although I have both military and civil experience, I know I will learn a great deal working with you and Judge Webb.”
    The new deputy’s words impressed Bear. He was glad his brother would finally have help with his long list of duties. And it would provide someone to watch over the town while they traveled to Cumberland Falls for Christmas.
    “Your new quarters are here in the blockhouse, upstairs,” William told Wallace, pointing to the stairs behind him. “Why don’t you get settled in while I speak with my brother? After lunch, I’ll start your training.”
    “Thank you Sheriff Wyllie. I appreciate this,” Wallace said as he shook William’s hand. He turned toward Bear. “Very nice to have met you Mr. MacKay. I take it Mr. Wyllie is your half-brother since you have a different last name?”
    “Nay, William’s parents adopted me when I was a young lad. But we are brothers, to be sure. I lost both me Mum and me Da to illness on our voyage to the colonies. That’s why William’s parents adopted me and how I gained five brothers, includin’ this ugly one,” he said smiling and nodding at William. He enjoyed teasing William about his looks since everyone acknowledged that William was the most handsome of all the brothers.
    Bear rose and shook the man’s strong rough hand. Bear liked what he saw. Like William, the man carried himself with an air of self-confidence. That would give him a distinct advantage when dealing with lawbreakers. The beginnings of age lines around his mouth and eyes gave him the look of experience, despite appearing to be around thirty years of age. His dark curling hair, a stark contrast to William’s straighter blond hair, was cut short and his face clean shaven.
    Wallace went outside to retrieve the bags on his horse and Bear took the seat in front of William. He related everything Breedhead told him about the three strangers headed for Sam’s place. “If they’re na there already, they will be shortly,” he told William.
    “It is strange, indeed,” William said. “But we have no reason to believe there is anything sinister to worry about.”
    “Aye, we do. They told Breedhead na to tell anyone they were here, claimin’ they wanted to surprise Sam. That does na make sense. No one here would race ahead of them to tell Sam they heard he was havin’ visitors.”
    “Agreed.”
    “And, as ye well know, Sam did na have many close friends. Unlike you, he’s always been a bit of a loner. Here’s the list of the men’s names that Breedhead gave me.”
    William studied the names for a moment. “I don’t recognize any of these names.”
    “Nor did I. William, we should leave for Cumberland Falls as soon as we can.”
    “I agree. This all seems rather odd. It may be nothing, but we can’t count on that. If those men are