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hurried to Lou’s side. He gave him a quick look and saw he was breathing well. He then turned toward the window.
    “She okay?” Ray asked.
    “Yeah. She fainted, but she’ll be fine in a little while.”
    Ray nodded. “Good. Now, I’ve gottat stop this bleeding. I don’t think it’s a bad wound, but it’s bleeding a lot.”
    “Need me to look at it?”
    “Nah, I’ll manage.”
    “When you finish, check Bullins if you feel like it. I gave him a quick look and think he’s alright, but you make sure.”
    “Will do.”
    Ty turned back to the outlaw. “Think your men will listen to you?”
    “They better.” His voice was weak.
    Ty knew he would probably bleed to death soon. “Doesn’t look like they’re too concerned. They’ve gathered in a circle. Probably trying to decide if you’re worth trying to save.”
    The outlaw didn’t answer. He’d passed out.
    Xenia came around the cabinet. “What’s going on? I heard you talking about Ray. Is he hurt?”
    “I’m going to be fine, Miss Xenia. It’s just a scratch.”
    She moved toward him. “Scratches need to be taken care of, too.”
    “I know that’s what you told Ty, but I’ll be fine.”
    “Oh, Ray, don’t try to be as brave and stubborn as Ty was. You’re hurt. Let me help.”
    He grinned. “I’d never refuse help from a beautiful Poindexter sister, but maybe you should check on Bullins.”
    “I will after I take care of you.”
    “I’ll check him again.” Ty propped the outlaw in the window and moved to the salesman. “He’s going to be fine. He hit his head on the corner of the doorframe and knocked himself out when he fell. His wound is only a scratch on the head.”
    Ray chuckled. “Looks like our intruder was a poor shot.”
    A bullet came through the window, and the outlaw fell backward. Ty raced to the window and fired. “Don’t look like they have any respect for their boss.”
    “Is he dead?” Ray asked.
    “Looks like it.” Ty shoved him out of his way and took his window position. “When you finish with Bullins, I can use you to reload again, Xenia.”
    “I’m almost through. I’ll be there in a minute.”
    The gunfight didn’t last much longer. Of the three remaining raiders, one died from a bullet Ray put in his chest. One rode off holding his arm from a gunshot Ty sent there, and the last one took one look at his wounded cohort, turned his horse, and rode off behind him. It wasn’t long until Ty declared the battle over. 
    ****
    Later, Lou sat on one of the benches as Xenia bandaged his head. “What happened here?” he asked.
    “You fell and hit your head,” she explained.
    “Where are the other men?”
    “Burying the station manager and his wife.”
    “What about those outlaws?”
    “I think they said they were going to wrap their bodies in tarps and take them to town. According to Ray, some of them are probably wanted.”
    His eyes lit up. “Did he think there’d be a reward on their heads?”
    Xenia glared at him. “He didn’t say.”
    Lou glanced at Mea Ann, who was sitting on the other bench cuddling the sleeping baby. An empty bottle was sitting on the table. “I see you’re still taking care of the half-breed.”
    Mea Ann glared back at him. “Stop calling him that. He’s a precious little baby who has lost his parents. You don’t have to be disrespectful to them by calling their baby a derogatory name.”
    “Don’t worry about it. If your conscience won’t let you leave it here to die, you can get rid of it when we get to town.”
    “I’m not going to get rid of it.”
    “Don’t be stupid. A white woman like you can’t keep a breed. I’m sure some worthless redskin will take it to his village to be with its kind. If not, there’s always an orphanage you can send it to. Those religious idiots will take any child. Even a breed.”
    “Shut up, Bullins. Nobody cares what you think should be done with the baby.” Xenia jerked the bandage tight around his head. She didn’t like