Virgil and I sat on our horses on the little rise that sloped down to what used to be the Redmond ranch. The burned-out buildings had been cleared, and the property was staked out in house lots that looked a good bit smaller than the original. Beyond where the house had stood was a creek that had cut its way maybe a foot deep into the prairie. A few cottonwoods grew along it.
“Cluster of trees there,” Virgil said. “Provide some cover.”
I nodded.
“Man and a horse, I’d say.”
Virgil nodded, running his eyes over the layout.
“Hill over there, other side, beyond the house that way,” he said.
“That would work, ’less they come that way.”
“No reason they should,” Virgil said.
“Might start getting cautious,” I said. “We’ve picked off four of them so far.”
Virgil shrugged.
“They do, the ball goes up a little sooner.”
“Okay,” I said.
“So,” Virgil said. “We put two over there. One behind the cottonwoods.”
He glanced around the hilltop where we were.
“One of us up here,” he said, “back’a that outcroppin’.”
“And Redmond down there, starting to rebuild,” I said.
“Yep.”
“You think he’ll stay?” I said.
“Claims he will,” Virgil said.
“But do you think so?” I said.
“Wants to be a man,” Virgil said.
I didn’t say anything.
“I ain’t rubbin’ Beth’s nose in it,” Virgil said. “If he can do it, it’ll help us bed this thing down a lot earlier.”
“And if he gets killed in the process?” I said.
“It’s a risk you and me are taking,” Virgil said. “And Cato and Rose, and we got a lot less at stake than he does.”
“I know,” I said.
We turned the horses and headed back toward the lumber camp, swinging wide around town as we went.
“Mrs. Redmond know about this plan?” I said.
“Don’t know,” Virgil said. “I didn’t tell her.”
“He will,” I said.
“Maybe not,” Virgil said. “Maybe scared he won’t be able to carry it off, and don’t want no one to know unless he does pull it off.”
“You may be right,” I said.
The horses were beginning to labor a little as we went uphill. We slowed them to a walk.
“When you want to do this?” I said.
“Tomorrow seems good,” Virgil said.
“We go down early,” I said.
“Three of us,” Virgil said.
“And one of us brings Redmond down,” I said. “Once we’re in place.”
“Be sure he comes,” Virgil said. “I’d like you to do that.”
“Sure,” I said. “And if they see me with him?”
“Just one man,” Virgil said.
He grinned.
“I know how fearsome you be, Everett,” Virgil said. “But them deputies probably don’t.”
“Hope they spot him soon,” I said. “I don’t want to sit out here all day, or all week.”
“We’ll help them,” Virgil said. “Have him build a cook fire, send up some smoke.”
“You still didn’t answer my question,” I said. “Think he can do it?”
Virgil shook his head.
“Don’t know,” he said. “You.”
“Don’t know, either,” I said.
Virgil grinned again.
“And he’s our hole card,” Virgil said.