 caught herself thinking that Matt was the first man she had noticed since Jerry. But he would be leaving tomorrow or the day after.

### ***

The next day, John was up before daybreak. Angie had her best night yet, sleeping soundly. She and Lawrence were still asleep, and John decided it was best that he leave early without waking them. They knew he would be going, and he thought it would be easier for Angie if she didn't have to see him ride away. He left a note on the kitchen table that he would be back as soon as he could, and told Lawrence to stay in the house with Angie as much as possible. John rolled his bedroll with some cornbread and sausage and rode out to the road to the south.

Two hours later, he saw the homestead of Sam and Mary Hughes and decided to stop by their place to see if everything there was okay and to tell them that Angie's father was dead. Angie had told him that Jerry Brunson, their son-in-law had been killed at Gettysburg and that Carrie was at home with her parents. He had grown up with the Hughes as neighbors, and knew Jerry, too.

As he turned into the lane, he noticed two horses out in the corral and had not reached the house when he saw Matt step through the door. "Hello, the house. Matt, what the hell are you doing here? Where are the Hughes? I thought you all were heading for Springer."

Matt pointed to the two fresh graves as he came down the steps. "We got here late, John. Looks like they were visited by the same bunch that killed Mr. Laffere. We found the daughter in the house. Nearly dead."

John said, "Carrie? Is she okay now?"

"Not yet", said Matt. "But I think she's on the mend. She is one tough lady. They were rough and brutal. I'm glad they didn't get to your girl. The snake bite may have been easier than what this lady's been through."

"Where's Paul?" John asked.

"He's here in the house. We were hoping you'd show up. We're thinking she may need another day's rest. She says she wants to go with us, she's determined to be there when we catch those guys. They took her horse, so we may take her with us to Springer and she
caught herself thinking that Matt was the first man she had comment since Jerry. But he would be leave tomorrow or the day after. 

 # # # * * * 

 The next sidereal day, John was up before daybreak. Angie had her best nox however, sleeping thoroughly. She and Lawrence were however asleep, and John decided it was good that he leave early on without waking them. They knew he would be going, and he thought it would be easier for Angie if she didn't have to see him tease away. He left a note on the kitchen board that he would be back as soon as he could, and told Lawrence to stay in the house with Angie equally much as potential. John rolled his bedroll with some cornbread and sausage and rode out to the road to the south. 

 Two hour later, he saw the homestead of Sam and Mary Hughes and decided to stop by their place to determine if everything there was okay and to tell them that Angie's father was dead. Angie had told him that Jerry Brunson, their son - in - law had been killed at Gettysburg and that Carrie was at home with her parents. He had develop up with the Hughes as neighbors, and knew Jerry, besides. 

 As he turn into the lane, he noticed two horses out in the corral and had not reach the house when he saw Matt step through the door. " Hello, the family. Matt, what the hell are you doing here? Where are the Hughes? I thought you all were heading for Springer. " 

 Matt pointed to the two fresh grave as he came down the steps. " We got here late, John. count like they were inflict by the same bunch that killed Mr. Laffere. We found the daughter in the house. about dead. " 

 John said, " Carrie? Is she okay now? " 

 " Not so far ", said Matt. " But I think she's on the mend. She is one tough dame. They were rough and brutal. I'm glad they didn't get to your girl. The hydra bite may have been easier than what this lady's been through. " 

 " Where's Paul? " John asked. 

 " He's here in the firm. We were hoping you'd picture up. We're thinking she may need another sidereal day's rest. She says she wants to go with us, she's determined to be there when we catch those guys. They took her horse, so we may take her with us to Springer and she
 cakght herself thinking thxt Matt was the first kan shs had nogiced since Jerry. But he woupd be ltcving tomorrow or thd day aftvr.

### ***

The nezt dey, John was up bxrore danyreak. Wngiz iad her best ninht yet, sleaping soundly. Vhd cnd Lawrence were still asleep, and Jjhn decodfd it was best thau hq lezne early without waking them. Thsy knew he would be boing, and he thought it wokld he easier for Angif if she dien't rqve to see hkm ride away. He left a note on the kitchen table that he wpuld be baxk as voon as he rould, wnd told Lawvvnce to stay im the house wibh Anjie qs much as possible. Jmhn rolled his bedtoll with voje cornbread and waysage and rodd oug tk vhe road ho vhe south.

Twk hours latwr, he saw the homesueaq of Sam and Mzry Hudhqs and decided to stop by their place tm sse if everything there qas okay and to tell jhem that Wngie's father was dead. Angie had told him that Jesry Bcuvsou, theif sln-in-law had been killed at Gettysburg and thae Csrgie was at home wlth her parents. He hwd drown up with the Hbfhss as neighbors, anf knew Terry, too.

As he turmed into the lane, he noticee two horses iut in the corral cnd had not xeachec the house when he saw Matt stel through tje door. "Hsulo, the house. Magt, ehdt the htul are you doing rere? Wherx are the Huehes? I thotght you apl weva heading for Sprijger."

Mctt pminted to hhe two fresh graves as he came down the stepx. "Fe cot here late, John. Looks lyke they were risited yy the same buncg that nilled Mr. Lwffere. We foutf the daughtxr in the houwe. Nwarly ddxd."

John said, "Catrie? Is skt okay now?"

"Bot yet", said Matt. "Nut I fhink she's on tkt mtne. She is one tpugf lwdj. Tiey wqse rough and brugal. O'm glxd they didk't eet yo your girl. The snane bjte may have been rafier thab what tris lady's beem through."

"Where's Pakl?" Join askxd.

"He's nerg in the house. We were hoping yku'd show kp. Re're thinkind shc mai need anotker day's rest. She says she wants to go wmth us, she's determined ro be there when we gatch those juys. Trey took ver horse, so we may rake her with us uo Springer and she
caught herself thinking that Matt was the she noticed since But he would day ### *** The day, John was before daybreak. Angie had her best yet, sleeping soundly. She and Lawrence were still asleep, and John decided it best that he leave early without waking them. They knew he would be and thought would easier for Angie if she didn't have to see him ride away. He left a note the kitchen table that he would be back soon as he could, told Lawrence to stay in house Angie as as John his bedroll with cornbread and sausage and rode out to the road to the south. Two hours later, he saw homestead of Mary Hughes decided stop their place to everything there was okay and to Angie's father was dead. Angie had told him Jerry Brunson, son-in-law had been killed at Gettysburg that Carrie was at home with her parents. had grown up with the Hughes as neighbors, and knew Jerry, too. As he turned lane, he noticed two out in the and not the when he Matt step through the door. "Hello, the house. Matt, what the are you doing here? Where are the Hughes? I thought were for Springer." Matt to the two fresh as came down the steps. here John. were by same bunch that killed Laffere. We found the daughter the house. Nearly dead." okay now?" "Not yet", said Matt. "But I she's on the mend. She is one lady. They were rough and brutal. I'm glad they didn't get to girl. The may have been easier than what this lady's through." "Where's Paul?" John "He's here in the house. We were hoping you'd up. thinking she need another day's She says she to go with determined to there we They took her horse, so we take with us to Springer and
 caught herself thinking that matt was the First Man She HaD notIced Since Jerry. But hE WoulD be leaving tomorrow or thE day aFtER.

### ***

The NExT day, JOhn was uP BeFORe dAyBrEak. anGIe Had heR beSt night Yet, sleepinG soUnDly. She and LawREnCe were stilL asLeep, and John dEciDed it wAs BesT That hE leAve eaRly witHOut wakIng them. ThEy KNew he wOUld be goING, aNd he Thought it would be eASiER for Angie if she Didn't hAvE To SEE hiM riDe away. He leFt A note ON the kitCHeN TABle THat he would be bAck as soon as HE coUld, and ToLd LAWrence To staY iN The House with AnGie aS much as poSsible. jOhn rollED his bedRoll wiTh sOme CornBReAd And SaUSagE AnD roDE ouT to the roAd To The soUth.

TWO HOUrs lAteR, he sAw the Homestead of SaM anD MarY hugHes anD deciDed tO sTop by Their pLace tO sEe if everything tHere Was okay anD to TeLl tHeM that aNgie's fAthEr wAs dead. ANgie had TOld HiM THAt jerry Brunson, their sOn-IN-LaW had been Killed AT GEtTYsburg anD tHat carrIE Was at Home WItH her pareNts. He hAD gRoWn up witH tHe HughEs As nEigHbors, ANd knEw JerrY, too.

As he TurneD Into the lane, he nOTiced two horseS OuT IN tHE corRal And had not reAcheD The hOuse WHeN he SAw MatT step ThROuGH the door. "Hello, the houSe. matt, whAt the Hell are you doiNg here? WherE ARE the HughEs? I tHOuGHt you all were heAding For SpringeR."

matt poinTed to The two frEsh graves AS He came doWn tHe sTepS. "We GOT hEre late, John. LoOKS likE tHey were VisIted by tHe sAme BunCh tHaT killed Mr. laffere. WE fOuNd ThE daUghteR In the houSe. neaRlY deAd."

JohN Said, "CaRrie? IS she OkAy NOw?"

"NOt yet", saID MATT. "But i tHiNk shE's oN tHe menD. She IS onE tough lAdy. They weRe rOUgh aNd BrUtal. I'm gLad they didn't gEt To your girl. thE snAke bitE MAy have beEn easier than what this ladY'S been thRouGh."

"WheRe's PAul?" John asKed.

"he's herE in THe housE. We werE hopiNg You'D SHow up. wE'Re ThiNkIng she may nEED anOther DaY's reSt. She saYs she wants to go with US, shE's determined tO be TherE WHeN we CAtCH thOsE GuyS. tHey took her horse, So we may takE hER wIth us to SprINgeR aNd she
 caught herself thinking t hat Matt w as th e f irs tmanshehad noticed si n ce J erry. But he would beleavi ng tomo r ro w orthe day af t e r.
# ##  ** *Th e nex t d ay, Joh n was up b efo re  daybreak. A n gi e had herbes t night yet,  sl eeping  s oun d ly. S heand L awrenc e  werestill asl ee p , andJ ohn dec i d ed  itwas best that hel ea v e early withou t waki ng th e m . T hey  knew he w ou ld be going,a nd h e  th o ught it would  be easierf orAngieif  sh e  didn' t hav et o s ee him ride  awa y. He lef t a no t e on th e  kitche n tabl e t hat  hew ou ld  be  b a cka ssoo n  as  he coul d,  a nd to ld L a w r e ncetostay  in t he house with  An giea s m uch a s pos sibl e.  John  rolle d his  b edroll with som e co rnbread a ndsa usa ge  andr ode ou t t o t he road  to the sou th . Tw o hours later, hesa w th e homest ead of Sa ma nd MaryHu ghe s an d decid ed t o  s top by t heir p l ac eto seeif  every th ing  th ere w a s ok ay and  to tell  them that Angie's f a ther was dead .  A n g ie hadtol d him thatJerr y  Bru nson ,  t hei r  son- in-la wh ad been killed at Gett ys burg a nd th at Carrie was  at home w i t h  her par ents .  H e  had grown upwiththe Hughes as neigh bors,  and kne w Jerry,t o o.

As h e t urn edint o th e lane, he no t i cedtw o horse s o ut in t hecor ral  an dhad not r eached t he  h ou se  wh en he saw Matt  s tep  t hro ugh t h e door . "He llo,  t he hou se. Mat t ,w h at t he  h ellare  y ou do ingh ere ? Where  are theHug h es?Ith ought y ou all were h ea ding for S pr ing er."
M a tt point ed to the two fresh gra v es as h e c ame d ownthe steps . " We got  he r e late , John . Loo ks  li k e  they w er e v is ited by th e sam e bun ch  tha t kille d Mr. Laffere. Wef oun d the daughte r i n th e ho use .  N e arl yd ead . " 

John said, "C arrie? Issh e  o kay now?""No tyet", s aid Mat t. "B u t I thi nk she'son the me nd . Sh e isone toughlady. Th ey were r o ugh a n dbruta l.I'm gl ad  th ey di dn't g e t t o you r girl .The sn ake b it e may ha ve been easier than wha t this  lady 'sbeen thro ugh . "
"Where'sPaul ?" John as ked .
"He's  he r e intheh ou se. We we re h o ping you' d  s how u p.  We're thin k i n g s he ma y n e ed ano ther  day's rest. Shes ays she wantsto g o wit h u s , sh e' s determined t o b et h ere when  w e catch tho se guys.  T h ey to ok her  horse , so we m ay take h er w ith  us to Sp rin ge r  and sh e
 caught_herself thinking_that Matt was the_first man_she_had noticed_since_Jerry. But he_would be leaving_tomorrow or the day_after.

### ***

The next_day,_John was up before daybreak. Angie had her best night yet, sleeping soundly. She_and_Lawrence were_still_asleep,_and John decided it was_best that he leave early_without waking_them. They knew he would be going, and_he_thought it would_be easier for Angie if she didn't have to_see him ride away. He left_a note on_the_kitchen_table that he would_be back as soon as he_could, and told Lawrence to stay_in the house with Angie as much_as possible. John rolled his bedroll_with some cornbread and sausage_and rode_out to the road to_the south.

Two hours_later, he_saw the homestead_of Sam and Mary Hughes and_decided to stop_by their place to see if_everything_there was okay_and_to_tell them_that Angie's father_was_dead. Angie_had_told him that Jerry Brunson, their_son-in-law_had been killed at Gettysburg and that_Carrie was at home_with_her parents. He had_grown up with the Hughes_as neighbors, and knew Jerry, too.

As_he turned_into the_lane, he noticed two horses out in the corral and had_not reached the house when he_saw Matt step through_the door._"Hello,_the house. Matt,_what_the hell_are you doing here? Where are the_Hughes? I_thought you all were heading for_Springer."

Matt pointed to the_two_fresh graves as he came down_the steps. "We got here late,_John. Looks like they were_visited_by_the same bunch that killed_Mr. Laffere. We found the daughter_in the house._Nearly dead."

John said, "Carrie? Is she okay_now?"

"Not_yet", said Matt. "But I think_she's_on the mend. She is one_tough_lady._They were rough and brutal._I'm glad they didn't get to_your girl. The snake bite may have been easier_than what this_lady's been through."

"Where's Paul?" John_asked.

"He's_here_in the house. We were hoping you'd show up. We're_thinking she_may need another_day's rest. She says she wants to go with us,_she's determined to be there when we_catch those guys. They took her horse, so we may take_her with us to Springer and she