It did Conn’s heart good to see Mary smile. Maybe a dog would help her in more ways than just keeping watch.
She said goodbye to the dog and promised to come back, and she and Conn went back out to the main street.
Conn looked up at the sun and knew he had only ten or fifteen minutes until it would be time to meet with the volunteers.
“Let’s stow the guns in your room,” he said, “and then I’ll drop you off at the marshal’s before I go to meet those men.”
Mary said that sounded good.
Conn was happy for the opportunity to check her room. It was nothing fancy, but it looked clean enough, and there was a lock on the door. They laid the guns on the bed.
“Do you know how to load and shoot them?” he asked.
“Yes,” she said. “And clean them.”
“Good. You ready?”
“Yes.”
They walked back downstairs and out onto the street.
He glanced toward the saloon but didn’t see anybody waiting out front yet.
“Come on,” he said, leading her toward the marshal’s office.
“I can’t thank you enough, Conn. I would have been totally lost without you.”
“It’s the least I can do. We’re family.”
She nodded, looking sad. “I hate for you to leave.”
“I hate to leave you, but I’ve got work to do.”
She nodded.
“I hope your brothers come soon,” he said.
“No worries about that. They’ll come straightaway. Conn, be careful on the trail.”
“I will.”
“And come back.”
“I will. I told you. Once I’ve killed all of them, I’ll come back and help you build your house.”
“Well, thank you again,” she said, and stuck out her hand. “I will pray for you.”
“Thanks, Mary,” he said, shaking her hand. “You take good care.”
He started down the street but stopped when she called to him.
“I do hope to see you again,” she said. “It’s a comfort, you being Cole’s brother. And looking at you, it’s almost like being able to see him again. I mean, you even have the scar.”
He nodded. “Looks can be deceiving. I’m not half the man Cole was.”
“It’s funny to hear you say that. Cole always said the same thing about you, that he could never match you.”
“That’s funny, all right. In fact, it’s about the funniest thing I’ve ever heard. Because Cole was ten times the man I’ll ever be.”
