They came at last to another rise, and from there, Cole saw in the depression a small town. It wasn’t much, a collection of several clapboard buildings, some more not yet fully erected, clinging to a single tracked street. A church lay at the far end, the most impressive of all the buildings. The women pleaded with Cole to go with them into the town, but he refused, explaining that time was against him and Cairns had to face justice. At this, Cairns muttered a string of obscenities, forcing Cole to rap him around the back of the head with the butt of his revolver.
There was much hugging and tears when Cole finally departed, giving the group a final wave before he disappeared amongst the trees in the general direction of the Union fort he and the others had left days before.
Without speak
