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in the file as evidence in those murder cases. We don’t have much to go on, but killers slip up. I sure want them in jail before they kill any more.”
    â€œThe county board finally hired a man to build the scaffold.”
    â€œGood. You and Zamora be sure it’s solid. I knew a Texas sheriff had one built and when all of them got up there to hang a man, the damn thing collapsed. The sheriff broke his leg and the prisoner got away. Don’t ask me how; I wasn’t there. But it was supposed to have happened.”
    â€œIt will be secure.”
    â€œKeep an eye and ear on this Walter Pierson. He starts running over small ranchers, I’ll run him out on a rail.”
    Baker agreed.
    â€œI’m going to the dance tomorrow night with my wife, and plan to have a leisurely day Sunday at the ranch with her, but don’t hesitate to send word if you need me.”
    Guthrey rode back to the ranch and arrived before sundown. His wife rushed out and tackled him. A long ways from the straight-backed young lady he’d met here months ago. Short of flattening him, she let go, rose up, and kissed him, as excited as a yearling filly colt. Whew, he never expected his married life to be such fun. Noble took the horse and the infatuated newlyweds went to the porch, both ignoring the rest, they were so concentrated on each other.
    â€œTell me about what you found,” she said.
    He put his hat on her head, rolled up his sleeves, and washed his hands in the enamel washbasin. Then he took a towel down and mopped his face and dried his hands.
    â€œLet’s see. Someone stole Mrs. Gunzo’s best fighting rooster.”
    Cally laughed. “Did your deputies apprehend him?”
    â€œI don’t think so but they are hot on his trail.”
    â€œGood.”
    â€œOn the other side, between Doc and the funeral director, they issued a report on the murders. And some company must have bought the Whitmore Ranch. Their supervisor came in raising hell, saying that folks were eating his beef. His name is Walter Pierson. Teddy Baker wished he’d stayed in hell.”
    â€œWill he be like Whitmore?”
    â€œNot for very long. I won’t put up with him.”
    She hugged his arm when he hung the towel on the nail. He raised the hat brim on her head and kissed her. “Good to see you. Maybe we can have some peace this weekend.”
    She smiled. “I hope so.”
    She put food out for him and apologized for it being cold. Then she hung his hat on the rack and joined him. “Our guys thought everything was fine up range. They’re going west tomorrow to check, then ride up to the dance, and Noble’s coming back to milk the cow in the morning. He has a tent for us in the buckboard if that’s okay?”
    â€œOkay? That sounds wonderful to me.”
    â€œYou sure are easy to please, Phil.”
    â€œWhy not? I have a wonderful, hardworking wife. I simply appreciate you. I have been at so many houses in my life where the woman whines at her husband about the damnedest things. Maybe that’s why I never married until I got you.”
    â€œAw, I’m just proud we have each other.”
    â€œLet me sneak out and shower and shave, and then we can go to bed.”
    She winkled her nose. “I am so anxious for you I don’t know if I can wait.”
    â€œLordy, girl, then let’s go to bed.”
    She laughed. “Wonderful.”
    He wiped his mouth, closed his eyes. He needed to write his sister in Texas. Bonny would never believe he’d found a wife. He swept Cally up and kissed her, then they ran off to the bedroom for more honeymoon time.

SIX
    T HEY DROVE THE buckboard leisurely over to the schoolhouse. Guthrey tied his Roman-nosed horse on behind, just in case. At the schoolyard he helped Cally down and then up set the tent. She carried her food dishes up to the table inside and covered them with cheesecloth. He unsaddled his horse and studied the