Only 06 - Winter Fire

lay there.
    Six-gun pointed and cocked, Case came to his feet, walked a few steps, and turned the man over with his foot.
    He was wearing a sombrero rather than an old Confederate cap, but even in the wan light, the raider’s long, lanky body, narrow face, and straw-colored hair were unmistakable.
    Be damned , Case thought, startled. Why didn’t he ride his mule?
    Then, Wonder which Culpepper it is?
    There was no ready answer.
    Doesn’t matter, I suppose. One varmint is pretty much like another .
    Except for Ab , he amended. That old boy could teach evil to the devil himself .
    Once more Case blended his silhouette with that of the tall sagebrush. By touch alone he reloaded his six-gun and shotgun. The cartridges went in smoothly, almost silently.
    Once more he waited.
    This time nothing stirred, no matter how long he listened to the small sounds of the night.
    Slowly he let out a long breath. For the first time he noticed that he was cold, his wounded leg throbbed, and his forehead stung where bullets had kicked bits of bark across his skin.
    He had to lick his lips twice before they were wet enough to send a hawk’s fluting call through the darkness.
    A hawk answered from inside the cabin.
    Limping, he set out for the ragged black rectangle that was all that showed of the cabin. Though he didn’t expect to encounter any more outlaws sneaking around the underbrush, he wasn’t careless. He used every bit of cover to break up his silhouette.
    As a precaution, he whistled again before he touched the front door.
    A hawk cried sweetly from just beyond the rough planks. The door opened. The pale moonlight showed Conner standing just inside.
    His shotgun was leveled at Case’s belt buckle.
    â€œSee?” Conner said, uncocking the gun and stepping aside. “I told you he would be all right.”
    Sarah hurried around her brother.
    â€œCase?” she asked huskily. “Are you hurt?”
    Her voice trembled. So did the hands that went lightly over him, searching for injuries.
    â€œTired, dirty, and scuffed up a bit,” he said, closing the door behind him. “Nothing to worry about.”
    â€œLight the lamp,” she said to her brother.
    Conner looked at Case, who nodded.
    â€œWhat happened?” Conner asked.
    â€œCome dawn, we’ll have some shovel work.”
    A match scraped on the iron trivet. A tongue of orange-red light flared, followed by the more mellow light from the wick of an oil lamp. The glass chimney clinked softly against the metal holder as Conner replaced it.
    â€œShovel work, huh?” he asked, looking at Case.
    â€œAny trouble up on the rim?” Case asked.
    â€œHow many did you kill?” the boy persisted. “Howdid you find them before they found you? Where—”
    â€œThat’s enough,” Sarah interrupted curtly. “Case is barely three weeks away from dying, he’s been out in the dark fighting for our lives, and now you’re pestering him to death.”
    â€œBut—”
    A glittering silver glance shut Conner up.
    â€œHell’s fire,” he muttered. “You’d think I was still wearing rompers.”
    She ignored her brother.
    â€œSit down,” she said to Case. “You’re bleeding.”
    â€œNothing to—” he began.
    Sarah exploded.
    â€œWill you just shut up and sit down!” she snarled. “I’m sick unto death of being ordered around by males who are too damned big for their damned britches!”
    Case gave her a wary look. Then he sat down in one of the two chairs the cabin had. The chair’s cottonwood frame creaked when it took his weight.
    She gave her brother a measuring glance, obviously seeking another target for her anger.
    â€œUh,” Conner said, “I think it’s time for me to spell Ute up on the rim.”
    â€œGo ahead,” Case said. “But keep your eyes peeled.”
    â€œAre there more raiders?” Conner asked with subdued eagerness.
    â€œNot unless they rode double, and I doubt that those little mustangs could carry that much freight.”
    â€œUte will wonder about the gunfire. What shall I tell him?”
    â€œTo bring a shovel,” Sarah said sharply.
    Conner opened the door and left without another word.
    â€œThank you for keeping your sister in the cabin,” Case called.
    â€œMy pleasure,” the boy called back.
    Then his laugher rippled through the night.
    â€œYou should have