'Are you going to get out of my way or not? ' 'Lawmen stand together,
Cole.
That's a real important rule to remember.'
'I'm not a lawman.'
'Yes, you are. You should be sworn in, but that's only a formality.'
'You've got a twisted sense of humor, Ryan.
You know that? I'm not going to be a marshal.'
'You already are, ' Ryan explained patiently.
'Why? ' 'I need your help.'
'I think maybe you don't understand how I feel. I'm fighting the urge
to shoot you, you son of a bitch. You kept my compass for over a
year.' Ryan wasn't at all intimidated by Cole's threat. 'It took that
long for the appointment to come through.
' 'What appointment? ' 'I couldn't just pin a badge on you, ' Ryan
said. 'The appointment came from Washington.' Cole shook his head.
'They're moving in on us, ' Ryan said. He rolled his eyes in Eagle's
direction. 'Do you know either of them? ' 'No.'
'I'll take the one at five o'clock.' Cole started to turn, then
stopped. 'Your five or mine? ' 'Mine, ' Ryan answered.
They each turned to face an approaching gunfighter, then slowly stepped
backward, stopping when they were shoulder to shoulder.
'Don't shoot to kill.'
'You gotta be joking.' Ryan ignored the comment. He shouted to the
gunslingers to put their hands in the air and walk, slow and easy,
toward him, but Eagle and Riley stayed where they were with their right
hands hovering above their guns.
'If you miss Riley, his bullet is going to go through you and hit me, '
Cole said.
'I never miss.'
'Arrogant bastard, ' Cole whispered just as Eagle went for his gun.
