the ground before he fell to his knees.
Frank rushed forward, reaching the gunman just before he went over on his back.
'Where's Vanbergen? Where's Pine?' Frank demanded with his gun clamped in his fist.
The bearded cowboy lay motionless with blood leaking from a wound in his chest. His eyes batted shut.
'How the hell did you know I was here?' Frank asked, knowing the man would never answer him.
He put his smoking six-shooter away and headed back toward town. He would have to report the incident to the local sheriff and if possible, get the dead man's identity.
Somehow, Pine and Vanbergen already knew he was here, hot on their trail. But what puzzled Frank most was how the Indian had known that a member of the gang was coming for him.
--------
*Five*
Sheriff Tom Brewer looked down at the body in the light of a coal-oil lantern. 'Can't say as I've ever seen him in Glenwood Springs before.'
' He tried to kill me with that shotgun,' Frank said. 'I had no choice.'
Brewer glanced up at Frank. 'I heard you was in town, Mr. Morgan. I know your reputation. You're a killer for hire, a paid shootist. I won't tolerate that in my jurisdiction.'
'It was self-defense, Sheriff.'
'I reckon I'll have to take your word for it, unless there was any witnesses.'
'None. An old man who said his name was George was here before this gunslick showed up, only he left before the trouble started.'
'George Parsons. His daughter is buried here. I reckon that's all I need from you now, Mr. Morgan, only I sure as hell hope there won't be no more shootin' in my town.'
'There won't be ... unless someone else starts it, the way this owlhoot did.'
Sheriff Brewer turned back toward Glenwood Springs. 'I'll send Old Man Harvey out to take care of the body. He's our undertaker, when he ain't bein' a blacksmith.'
* * * *
Frank turned out the lamp in his tiny room and lay across the bed. His guns were on a washstand beside him. All this recent bloodshed was a result of Ned Pine and Victor Vanbergen, and the events that had brought Frank to this part of Colorado to put unfinished business to rest.
He thought about Conrad, and the snowstorm that had finally led Frank to the right spot to rescue his son....
* * * *
Frank watched from hiding as Ned Pine brought Conrad out of the cabin with a gun under his chin. The boy's hands were tied in front of him. Swirling snow kept Frank from seeing the boy clearly.
Five more members of the gang brought seven saddled horses around to the front. Frank was helpless. For now, all he could do was watch.
He wondered if Pine would execute his son for the men he'd already lost. But Pine needed a human shield to get him out of the box canyon. He needed Conrad alive. For now.
'Pine will kill Conrad when he hears the first gunshot,' Frank whispered to himself. 'I'll have to follow them, and wait until Ned makes a mistake.'
He wondered where they were taking his son. Frank had taken a deadly toll on Pine's gang in a matter of hours, with the help of Tin Pan Rushing.
Frank felt something touch his shoulder, and he whirled around, snaking a pistol from leather. He relaxed and put his Peacemaker away.
'Don't shoot me,' Tin Pan said softly. 'They're clearin' out, as you can see.'
'I've got no choice but to trail them. Maybe Ned will get careless somewhere.'
'Where will they take him?'
'I've got no idea, but wherever it is, I'll be right behind them. I don't know this country.'
'I do,' Tin Pan said. 'Been here for nigh onto twenty years.'
'This isn't your problem. I appreciate what you've done for me, but I can handle it from here.'
'I'll fetch one of them dead outlaws' horses from behind the canyon. I'll ride with you.'
'No need, Tin Pan. This isn't your fight.'
'I decided to make it my fight, Morgan. When some ornery bastards are holdin' a man's son hostage, he needs all the help he can get.'
'That was a nice shot from up high a while ago. Couldn't have done any better myself.'
'I was hopin' the wind didn't throw my aim off. But this ol' long gun is pretty damn accurate. I'll collect that horse and unsaddle the others so I can let 'em go. I'll bring your animals around, along with Martha, to the mouth of the canyon soon as they ride out.'
'I'd almost forgotten about your mule.'
