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hunting her were like the denim man or Marshal Quinn, she was in serious trouble.
    She waited until the two men walked away then hurried across to the stable.
    • • •
    She had her package securely stowed and both horses saddled when Muh’Weda came in through the building’s back door.
    “Thank the Lord. I was beginning to worry about you.”
    Muh’Weda took the reins of his horse from her. “Sorry you worried, but I got quite a bit of information from that sergeant then decided to take a look see around the camp.
    Kiera nodded. “So you know about the wanted poster and all the people looking for me.”
    “Yep, that’s worrisome, but we knew when we arrived that coming here was a risk.”
    She told him about her encounters with Quinn and Salter. “Can’t tell exactly how much Mr. Salter really knows. He got so much wrong. May be all of it’s wrong. Quinn didn’t seem to recognize me. Looks like my disguise is holding.”
    “Maybe, but I wouldn’t take Salter or his posse lightly. I saw that gunslinger he met up with. Of them all, that marshal worries me most.”
    Kiera nodded. “Worries me a lot too. He won’t be as stupid as that reporter. The last time we ran up against Quinn, we were lucky because we were able to surprise him and his friend ran out of bullets. They won’t let that happen again.”
    “You’re right. I’ve heard Evrett Quinn is good with a six-gun and better with a rifle. Learned tracking from the Lakota.”
    “He’s too much trouble to have following us. Maybe we should split up for a while.”
    “Now Kiera, we talked about this earlier.”
    “I’m not asking you to desert me. Just listen, I let Salter think I was headed southeast. He may not have identified me with the Wildcat, but then he’s a liar and a braggart. Any of those men could figure it out, and the Wildcat’s known to travel with a partner. They won’t be looking for a lone woman, especially one going home to prepare for a visit from her mother-in-law. So I head south like Salter advised, and you head west. When I’ve laid a solid trail south, I’ll cut back west and north and meet up with you at that spot near the Big Wind River where we usually camp for the night.”
    “I’m thinking we should avoid any place we usually go.”
    “You’re probably right. I’ll meet you at the Wind River campsite, and we can go on from there. Plenty of streams in the area, even if the drought has them down to a trickle, we can lose our trail easy.
    “I still don’t like the idea of you riding off alone with so many men hunting you.”
    “It’s only for a few hours, and I’ve been on my own before. I can take care of myself, thanks to you and your family teaching me how.”
    He stared at her as she opened the stable doors wide enough to lead the horses out. “I can’t talk you out of this, can I?”
    Kiera smiled. “Waste of breath.”
    “Then be careful, Dabai’Waipi.” He used the name the Shoshone had given her, reminding her that she was precious to his entire family and respected by his people.
    “You too, Muh’Weda. I’m not the only person taking a risk here.” She mounted her dapple-gray mare and kneed the horse into motion.
    Muh’Weda nodded and took to the saddle of his paint pony. He watched her ride off, waiting to be certain no one followed, before he rode west.
    • • •
    Tossing the ruby earbobs in one hand, Ev settled his Stetson over his hair and watched the dust trail of the woman disappear to the south.
    “Pretty woman,” remarked Boyd. “Some rancher’s a lucky man to have that in his bed. Seems vaguely familiar. You know her?”
    Quinn shook his head, biting his tongue on the temper that flared over the gunman’s remarks. “I don’t know that woman, but I got the same feeling you did, and I’ve only once heard a voice like hers.”
    He reached into his shirt pocket and pulled out the worn photographs sent by express rider shortly after the robbery, fire, and murder at Big