Only 06 - Winter Fire

shooters.”
    Another rifle opened up. The shots were spaced, methodical, as cold as the wind.
    â€œHunter,” Case said. “Probably covering Conner.”
    Counting shots, Case eased up to the canyon rim. When he knew his brother had only a few rounds left, he started shooting. As Hunter had, Case swept the valley with systematic fire, pinning Culpeppers down while Conner retreated.
    A shotgun boomed once, then again, shredding the willows where Ab and the other Culpeppers had taken cover. Moments later, the shotgun boomed twice more.
    Conner didn’t wait for a better opportunity. He ran for the brush and vanished like the hunter he was.
    The shotgun fired again, keeping the Culpeppers hugging the ground.
    â€œThat’s my gal,” Ute said, grinning over his rifle barrel. “Taught her how to reload quick as a flea jumping.”
    â€œLola?”
    â€œSarah. Bet them Culpeppers is praying for deliverance right now.”
    â€œOne way or another, they’ll get it.”
    Ute laughed, then leveled his rifle at a piece of brush that moved when it shouldn’t have.
    â€œHell is gonna be a busy place tonight,” the old outlaw said, sighting down the barrel.
    Case had seen the same movement Ute had. Both men shot into the brush.
    Nothing moved there again.
    The sun soared above the edge of the plateau, spilling golden light throughout the canyon floor below. Gunsmoke turned blue and then gray as it rose toward the rim.
    Gradually the shooting died into silence. Case put his hat on his rifle barrel and poked it out over the canyon.
    Shots from the willows sent the hat spinning away.
    Rifles and shotguns answered in a deadly hail that lasted until everyone was forced to reload.
    No answering fire came from the willows.
    Silence expanded, filling the canyon with an almost unbearable pressure.
    A horned lark called from below. Case answered. So did Morgan.
    Nothing moved in the willows.
    Ute gave a hawk’s piercing cry. An answer came from the canyon floor where Conner had taken cover. Another answer came from the ancient trail down to the springs where Lola was.
    No answer came from the ruins.
    â€œSarah!” Case called.
    â€œ Sarah! ” Conner yelled.
    He came out of cover at a run, yelling his sister’s name.
    A shot rang out from the willows.
    Conner stumbled and fell out of sight again in the brush. From the ruins came a scream that was Conner’s name.
    Sarah , Case thought. Thank God!
    He was the first one to fire into the willows where the shot had come from, but he wasn’t the last. Unnatural thunder rolled through the canyon until Hunter’s shrill whistle cut the air.
    The shooting stopped.
    Case uncocked his rifle and began shoving cartridges into the magazine.
    Reluctantly, Ute lowered his rifle.
    â€œYou sure they’re done for?” the outlaw asked.
    â€œHunter and Morgan are going through the brush right now. If it isn’t over, it will be soon.”
    â€œHope Conner ain’t hurt bad. Sarah sure sets store by that boy.”
    â€œI know.”
    Grimly Case shoved another bullet into the magazine, filling it against a need he hoped wouldn’t come.
    It seemed a very long time before the call of a horned lark lifted above the valley once more.
    Hunter walked out into an opening in the brush andlooked up at the east rim toward his brother.
    â€œIt’s over,” Hunter called to Case.
    â€œAll of them?”
    â€œEvery last one.”
    Slowly Case stood. He pulled a worn “Wanted Dead or Alive” poster from his jacket. Only a few Culpepper names remained.
    He tore the poster into scraps the size of reales and flung them over the cliff. They turned in the rich light and floated as slowly as ashes onto the canyon floor.
    I hope you rest easier now, Ted and Emily. God knows the living will .

24
    W ith a startled cry, Sarah grabbed her brother’s shoulders to balance herself as he lifted her off her feet.
    â€œConner Lawson, no sooner do I bandage you than you do something to start the bleeding all over again,” she said. “I should have left you for the Culpeppers!”
    â€œBut you didn’t leave me,” he said, grinning. “You rescued me because I’m your one and only brother and you love me more than a fortune in silver.”
    Laughing, he lifted her even higher and whirled her around the cabin, barely avoiding upsetting the two chairs and small table. If the ache of