By the time everyone gathered at the downed gates to see Ank and Williams off, there were three new graves out at Serpent’s Butte and the worst of the rain had passed.
“See?” said Williams, showing someone the hidden compartment beneath the guitar façade in his case for the millionth time. “I don’t play. I never have. At least, I don’t think I did.”
“But how’d you come to be so good with that rifle?” asked Someone Else. “Ain’t never seen anything like that in my whole life.”
Williams stroked Ank between the eyes. “That’s something I hope to find out ...” He glanced at Katrina and smiled. “When I get to Tanelorn.”
She approached him slowly and looked up into his eyes, then kissed him softly on the cheek. “You know where we’re at, cowboy, if you don’t find what you’re looking for. Or eve
