Shardeen went down.
“Shardeen!” one of his men called. He made the mistake of stepping out of the darkness so that he, too, was in silhouette.
“Mister, you just made the same mistake Shardeen did,” Jim said. “I can see you clearly. Drop your gun.”
“I’m dropping it. I’m dropping it,” the man said.
“If anyone else is left in here, you’d better call him out,” Jim said.
“There ain’t no one else in here.”
Jim cocked his pistol. “That lie just cost you your life,” he said.
“No, wait! Wait! Arnie, come on out,” the man called.
Arnie didn’t move.
“Arnie, for God’s sake, come on out!”
There was a scuffing sound. Then Arnie appeared in the door as well. He dropped his gun.
“What’s your name?” Jim asked.
“Lester.”
“Who is outside, Lester?”
“Dingus and Pete.”
Jim moved to the edge of the door, but still didn’t show himself.
“Dingus, Pete,” he called.
“What do you want?”
“Lester and Arnie have given up. Shardeen is dead. You want to keep this up? You’ll probably get killed, and even if you don’t, there’s nothing in it for you anymore.”
There was a moment of silence. Then a voice answered, “No, don’t shoot. We’re comin’ in.”
Jim waited until he could see Dingus and Pete. Then he called out to them. “Drop your guns right there,” he said.
Both men did as ordered. Then, holding their hands up, they came on up to the barn. By the time they reached the barn, Barry, Gene, Frank, Katie, Marilou, and Brenda had materialized out of the darkness.
“What are you going to do with us?” Dingus asked.
Jim studied each man’s face for a long moment. “I’m going to kill you on sight if you ever show up on this ranch again,” he said. “My advice to you is to get as far away from here as you can.”
“That’s fine with me,” Dingus said. “I’ve always had a hankerin’ to see California anyway.”
“Good choice,” Jim said.
“Come on, boys. Let’s get out of here,” Dingus said.
Lester started to pick up his gun.
“Leave your guns here,” Jim ordered.
By now, Gene and Barry had led their horses over to them. Gene nodded toward Shardeen’s body. “Take your trash with you,” he said.
Nodding in assent, Lester and Arnie picked Shardeen up and threw him belly down across his horse. Then the outlaws mounted and rode away, disappearing into the darkness.
“I think maybe I’ll follow along behind those fellas for a while, just to make certain they don’t change their minds,” Frank said.
“Good idea,” Jim said.
“Barry, Gene, why don’t you two come with Brenda and me?” Marilou said. “We’ll show you the bunkhouse where you can stay.”
Smiling, the cowboys followed the two young girls off into the dark. Now only Jim and Katie remained.
“I owe you so much,” Katie said when they were alone.
“You don’t owe me anything,” Jim replied.
“Yes, I do,” Katie insisted. “But what I owe you can’t be paid with money.”
Katie ringed Jim’s neck with her arms, then kissed him hard on the lips.
“But if you are willing to negotiate, I think I can find some way to say thanks.”
“I’m more than willing to negotiate,” Jim said huskily, eagerly returning her kiss.
REGISTERED TRADEMARK—MARCA REGISTRADA