The Enemy at Gunpoint

Cassius raised his carbine to the loophole and put a bullet close past Lost Bird’s ear. The blackpowder smell was plain in the room as he reloaded. Outside, the gray war pony quivered, but did not move its feet. Lost Bird was smiling, and the smile expressed more contempt than he could have shown in any other way.

“You shoot well,” his hands said. “You do not shoot to hit. You hit me, nobody in your house will see the sun again.”

Rachel startled Cash by speaking almost in his ear. “This is no good,” she said.

“You get back where I put you!” he ordered her.

“There isn’t going to be any fight,” she said. “Let me by. I understood what he said, this time.”

“Never mind them damned Indian lies! You’re going to—“

“He’s telling the truth. I’ve known all about it for a long time. I’m going to end all this trouble now…”