eyes, alienated their trust, so he kept his mouth shut except to down the whiskey they pressed on him. When they decided he'd had enough, he clambered up on his horse and slumped over the animal's neck as he was led back to the ranch house-an indignity, for someone else to have control of his reins, but better than being slung over the saddle like a sack of flour.
The entire Warner family was up by the time he was half-carried into the house. Addie's world had been suspended in motion from the moment she'd learned of the fire and knew Ben was probably in the middle of the commotion. She was frantic and relieved the moment she saw him. His clothes were bloody, his face haggard and soot-streaked. Every line of his body spoke of exhaustion and shock. She couldn't get words out of her mouth fast enough as she urged the men on either side of him to bring him into the parlor. As he slumped on the sofa, holding his head in his hands, she flew to the kitchen for a pair of scissors and the box of medical supplies, returning to find May fretting over the nicks the cowboys' spurs had left on the carpet and furniture legs.
Ben protested as Addie insisted on cutting away what was left of his shirt, cleaning his wound again and rebandaging it. Ignoring his muffled command to leave it alone, she tended his shoulder and washed his battered face. Eventually Ben went still under her hands, lulled by her gentle touch. Had May not been there, he would have pillowed his head in Addie's soft lap and gone to sleep. The idea was so tempting he considered using drunkenness as an excuse, but better judgment kept him from it.
'Addie,' he said thickly, raising his hand to touch hers. 'Watts…'
'I know.' Her eyes were clear and serene as they met his. He realized that somehow, the knowledge of Watts's death had lightened a burden on her shoulders. He wanted to tell her that it wasn't over yet, but the exhaustion was too strong to fight now.
'The rest… tomorrow.'
Addie nodded in understanding. 'Together,' she said, and he shook his head wearily.
'No. No, Addie.' Those were the last words he remembered before falling asleep, turning his face into the sofa cushion with a sigh.
Addie stayed with him for hours, ignoring May's remonstrances to go to bed. She knelt by him and stroked his black hair, her eyes wandering over him frequently to make sure he was really there. May dozed lightly in a large chair, waking to find Addie curled up close by Ben with a protective hand on his shoulder, her gaze fastened on his slumbering face.
'For goodness sake,' May said, sounding annoyed, 'you've been all over him ever since he was brought in. Let the poor man alone while he sleeps. Why do you have to watch over him as if he were a child?'
Addie looked up at her gravely. 'He's been hurt,' she said, leaving her hand where it was. 'And he's mine.'
Did she mean to imply Ben was actually in need of such outrageous pampering, or that the way she treated him was her own business? It was unclear to May. But she didn't offer another word of criticism, perhaps deciding Addie was as much an enigma as Russell had been, and there was no use trying to understand her. In the silence, an awareness came to the two women as they each thought over the short exchange.
Addie was no longer May's most dependent child, in need of spoiling and soothing and understanding. She was as much a woman as May, stronger in a perplexing way, more self-contained. It was not lost on the older woman that much of the difference had been made by the man sleeping on the sofa.
Ben was livid the next morning as he talked with the sheriff in Russell's office. 'Dammit, Jennie told me straight out that Watts did it! He admitted it to her. He gave her the money to keep for him. I know she'd swear to it-'
'For nothin'?' Dary interrupted quietly, reading his answer in Ben's scowl. 'No, I didn't think so. You'd have to pay her. Most folks will believe she'd say whatever she was paid to say. An' I'm not sure I wouldn't believe that too. '
'The point is, she'll swear up and down Watts was paid by the Johnsons to murder Russell Warner.'
'Anyone else hear his confession?'
'I did!'
'So…' Dary said, sighing and chewing on the end of a fat cigar, 'We got your word and the word of a whore…' He paused and looked at Addie sheepishly. ''Scuse me, ma'am. I meant-“
'I know what she is,' Addie assured him dryly. Dary turned again to Ben. 'Your word and Jennie Watts's against the Johnsons', An' no proof.'
'I've already told you one of the hands saw his bunk empty the night of the murder.'
'He mighta just gone outt' take a… ' Dary paused and looked at Addie, clearing his throat. 'T' relieve himself. 'Scuse me, ma'am.'
'One look at Ben's shoulder is proof of what he claims,' Addie said. 'Why do you think Watts shot him? Because Ben found out the truth and confronted him with it.'
'Or maybe it was.just a cussin' match that got outta hand. Cowmen have been known to shoot each other with less reason.'
'Dammit to hell. You're falling all over yourself to make excuses for him.'
'Ben, I know how riled y'are. I know what you believe, an' I believe it too. But you can't convict a man without more evidence than we got. You know that. '
Ben muttered something under his breath, staring out the window with hard green eyes.
'Tell you what I can do,' Dary continued. 'I'll take the Johnson boy t' my office in town and question him. And I'll have a talk with Big George, let him know the suspicions a whole lotta folks have 'bout him. The Johnsons are gonna lie for a long while, I c'n promise you that. It'll give y'all a chance to git back on your feet. They won't make trouble for you.'
'We'd appreciate that,' Addie said quickly, before Ben could reply.
'Alrighty,' Dary replied, and picked up his hat. 'Well, I'm gonna ride out to the shack an' take a look before goin' to the Double Bar. Ben-'
'I'll have one of the boys show you the way,' Ben said, swallowing his frustration as best he could.
'I'd do more 'f I could, Ben.'
'I know.'
The two men shook hands, and Addie preceded them out of the office. She stood on the porch with Ben and watched the Sheriff ride off in the direction of the burned-down line shack. As she looked up at Ben's stiff-jawed profile, she understood how painful it was for him to have to sit back and do nothing, knowing the Johnsons would get a slap on the wrist.
'I know you feel helpless,' she said quietly.
The words seemed to spur him into action. 'Not for long.' He settled his hat on his head and pulled the brim low over his eyes.
'Where are you going?'
'To pay the Johnsons a visit. Before Dary gets there.'
'You mean you're going to settle the score,' Addie said in panic, following as he started to walk away. 'Wait. I'm going with you.' He wouldn't do anything rash or dangerous if she was with him.
Ben stopped and faced her. 'No.'
'You can't keep me from going. I'll follow you.'
'You'll stay here if I have to tie you to a tree.'
'Why not lock me in my room? I'll be less trouble to you that way. Or don't you remember what you told me that night about giving me freedom?'
'No. You're not going to win that way. This has nothing to do with that.'
'I believed you when you said you wouldn't hold me back.'
'I have a right to go. He was my father. And I was practically engaged to Jeff. '
'I have to keep you safe-'
'What's the danger in this visit? What are you planning to do, brandish your guns and start
