 less than a year before he was killed. That was over three years ago and if she had any relationships since then she had not mentioned it. The way Beth spoke about his cousin left no doubt that she loved him dearly. The fact that the romance crossed the German/Anglo barriers proved that beyond a shadow of doubt.

After Sam finished his breakfast he went outside the station, intending to get his horse and start toward the San Pedro Valley. A tall, slender man was dismounting from a good looking black horse in front of the station. The two men exchanged glances and Sam noticed the man wore two guns tied low on his hips. He immediately recognized the man as a gunfighter.

Sam knew the type, and as the man looked at him he hoped it wasn't someone from Mexico who held a grudge against him. His work down there had caused him to make more than a few enemies.

Sam spoke first, hoping there wasn't going to be any trouble. "Morning, better get in there and grab some of those biscuits before they get cold," he said.

The man replied, "Thanks, I was aiming to do just that. Say, partner, you sure look familiar, do I know you?"

Sam looked at the man and thought he did look familiar. The smile on his face and the way he spoke did not make it appear the man was looking for trouble. Sam said, "Don't know, but you look a little familiar yourself. I've been in Mexico for the past few years. Were you ever down that way?"

The man smiled slowly as if he remembered where he had known Sam. He said, "No, but I think we've met. My name is Johnny Dalton, now, but I think back in Texas you knew me as something else." He emphasized the word "now" as he spoke.

The man's voice and the reference to Texas triggered a bell and Sam felt himself tense inside. Sure, this was John Ringo. When John was younger he had lived in Mason County and his stepfather had hated the German immigrants. Sam decided to try to get by peaceably. He replied slowly, "Yes, you're right, we may have known each other in the past. My name is Sam Smith, now." Sam's voice held a challenge. He also emphasized the word "now" when he finished speaking and he looked intently at the man to see if there was going to
less than a year before he was killed. That was over three years ago and if she take any relationship since then she had not mentioned it. The way Beth spoke about his cousin leave no doubt that she loved him dearly. The fact that the romance cross the German / Anglo barrier proved that beyond a shadow of doubt. 

 After Sam finished his breakfast he went outside the post, intending to get his sawhorse and begin toward the San Pedro Valley. A tall, slender man was dismounting from a good look black horse in front of the post. The two men exchanged glances and Sam noticed the serviceman wore two guns tied low on his hips. He immediately recognized the valet as a gunfighter. 

 Sam knew the type, and as the man looked at him he hoped it wasn't someone from Mexico who held a grudge against him. His work down there had caused him to make more than a few enemies. 

 Sam spoke first, hoping there wasn't going to be any trouble. " Morning, good get in there and grab some of those biscuits before they draw cold, " he said. 

 The man replied, " Thanks, I was draw a bead on to do just that. Say, partner, you sure count familiar, do I know you? " 

 Sam looked at the man and think he did look familiar. The smile on his face and the way he spoke did not make it look the valet was looking for trouble. Sam said, " Don't know, but you count a little familiar yourself. I've been in Mexico for the past few years. Were you ever down that way? " 

 The man smiled slowly as if he remember where he had known Sam. He say, " No, but I think we've meet. My name is Johnny Dalton, now, but I remember back in Texas you knew me as something else. " He stress the word " immediately " as he spoke. 

 The man's voice and the reference to Texas triggered a chime and Sam felt himself tense inside. Sure, this was John Ringo. When John was younger he had lived in Mason County and his stepfather had hated the German immigrants. Sam decided to try to get by peaceably. He answer slowly, " Yes, you're right, we may have know each other in the past. My name is Sam Smith, now. " Sam's voice held a challenge. He also emphasized the word " immediately " when he finished speaking and he looked intently at the man to see if there was travel to
 leds than a year before he was killed. Thaj qas ovxr thres years xgo and if she had any relatmonsyips wince then she had not mentionef it. The way Veth spoke about hlf cohdin nxft no doubt thst she lovad him dearly. Dhd yact that the romance crossed the Gewman/Angko barriers provgd thse begond a shadow of doubt.

After Sam fihished iis breakfast hr went outside the station, intfnding to get his jorse and sjzrt roward the Sxn Pedro Valley. A tall, slender man was dismounting frum a yood lookint vlafn horse in hront jf the station. The tfo men rxchanged glanges aid Sqm noticed the man woce two guns tied low on his hhpa. He immediately eexognieed tve mxb ar a gnnfjghter.

Dam knew the fype, and as the man looked at nii he hoped it sasn't foieone from Mexico who held a grudge agapnst him. His work down therw had caused him to mwke more ehan a few enemies.

Sam spoke first, hoping there wavn't gkkng tj ve any trouble. "Morning, better get in there and ddan xome of those niscuits before thry grj cold," he said.

Jhe man rellied, "Thanks, I was aiming to di just thwt. Ssy, partner, you sure look faniliar, do I hbow you?"

Sam looked ct the man aud thooght hr did look familiar. The smime on his fwce and tgd way he spoke dkd kot make it appear the man waf looking for troubld. Sak said, "Don't know, but nmu look a little fwmilicr yogrself. I've been in Mexico for the past fex years. Were iou evvr down tkat wan?"

The man smiled slowly as if ke rememyered dhere he hzd knowi Sam. He saiq, "No, but I thhjk we've met. Ky name ys Jihnnt Daltov, now, but I thimk back iu Texqs you knew me as xomgtging else." He em'kawized the word "mow" as hv s'oke.

Tra man's voice and thd refefence to Tewas tribgered a bell and Sak femt himself tense imslde. Sure, jhis was Tohn Ringo. Whrn John was youngeg he iad lited in Mafon County and his stepfather gad hated thc German immidranbs. Swm decided to try to get by peaceably. He replied wlowly, "Yes, you're tight, we may have knocn each other in tre past. Mf name is Sam Smith, bow." Sam's voice hekd a challenge. He alsk emphdsizef the word "now" when he finished speaking and he looked intently at the mab to sxe if there wzs gping no
less than a year before he was was three years and if she she not mentioned it. way Beth spoke his cousin left no doubt that loved him dearly. The fact that the romance crossed the German/Anglo barriers proved beyond a shadow of doubt. After Sam finished his breakfast he went outside station, to his and start toward the San Pedro Valley. A tall, slender man was dismounting from a good black horse in front of the station. The men exchanged glances and noticed the man wore two tied on his He recognized man as a Sam knew the type, and as the man looked at him he hoped it wasn't someone from who held against him. work there caused him to than a few enemies. Sam spoke wasn't going to be any trouble. "Morning, better in there grab some of those biscuits before get cold," he said. The man replied, "Thanks, was aiming to do just that. Say, partner, you sure look familiar, do I know looked at the man thought he did familiar. smile his and the he spoke did not make it appear the man was looking trouble. Sam said, "Don't know, but you look a little I've in Mexico for past few years. Were ever that way?" The man as he had Sam. said, "No, but I we've met. My name is Dalton, now, but I knew me as something else." He emphasized the "now" as he spoke. The man's voice the reference to Texas triggered a bell and Sam felt himself tense Sure, this Ringo. When John was younger he had lived Mason County and his had hated the German immigrants. Sam decided to try get peaceably. He slowly, "Yes, you're we may have each other in My name Sam now." a challenge. He also emphasized the "now" he finished speaking and he intently man to see if there was going to
 less than a year before he was kIlled. That wAs oveR thRee YeArs aGo anD if she had any reLAtioNships since then she had nOt menTiONed iT. thE way BEth spokE AbOUT hiS cOuSin LeFT nO doubT thAt she loVed him dearLy. THe Fact that the rOMaNce crossed The german/Anglo bArrIers prOvEd tHAt beyOnd A shadOw of doUBt.

AfteR Sam finisHeD His breAKfast he WENt OutsIde the station, inteNDiNG to get his horse And staRt TOwARD thE SaN Pedro VallEy. a tall, SLender mAN wAS DIsmOUnting from a goOd looking blACk hOrse in FrOnt OF the stAtion. thE Two Men exchangeD glaNces and SaM noticED the man WOre two gUns tieD loW on His hIPs. he ImmEdIAteLY rEcoGNizEd the man As A gUnfigHter.

sAM KNew tHe tYpe, aNd as tHe man looked at Him He hoPEd iT wasn'T someOne fRoM MexiCo who hEld a gRuDge against him. HiS worK down therE haD cAusEd Him to MAke morE thAn a Few enemIes.

Sam sPOke FiRST, HoPing there wasn't goinG tO BE aNy troublE. "MorniNG, bEtTEr get in tHeRe aNd grAB Some oF thoSE bIscuits bEfore tHEy GeT cold," he SaId.

The mAn RepLieD, "ThanKS, I waS aiminG to do jusT that. sAy, partner, you suRE look familiar, DO I KNOw YOu?"

SaM loOked at the maN and THougHt he DId LooK FamilIar. ThE sMIlE On his face and the way hE sPoke diD not mAke it appear thE man was looKING for trouBle. SAM sAId, "Don't know, but yOu looK a little faMIliar youRself. i've been iN Mexico foR THe past feW yeArs. werE yoU EVeR down that way?"

THE Man sMiLed slowLy aS if he reMemBerEd wHerE hE had known sam. He saiD, "NO, bUt i tHinK we've MEt. My name Is johNnY DaLton, nOW, but I tHink bAck iN TExAS yoU knew me AS sOMEthiNg ElSe." He EmpHaSized The wORd "nOw" as he sPoke.

The maN's vOIce aNd ThE refereNce to Texas triGgEred a bell aNd sam Felt hiMSElf tense Inside. Sure, this was John RiNGo. When JOhn Was yoUngeR he had livEd iN Mason couNTy and hIs stepFatheR hAd hATEd the gERmAn iMmIgrants. Sam DECidEd to tRy To geT by peacEably. He replied slowLY, "YeS, you're right, we May Have KNOwN eaCH oTHer In THe pAST. My name is Sam SmiTh, now." Sam's vOiCE hEld a challeNGe. HE aLso emphAsized tHe worD "Now" when He finisheD speaking AnD he lOOKed Intently at The man to See if therE Was goINg To
 less than a year before h e was kill ed. T hat  wa sover  thr ee years ago a n d if  she had any relations hipssi n ce t h en  shehad not me n t ion ed  i t.Th e  w ay Be thspoke a bout his c ous in  left no dou b tthat she l ove d him dearly . T he fac ttha t  therom ancecrosse d  the G erman/Ang lo barrie r s prove d th at b eyond a shadow of do u bt.

After Sam  finis he d  h i s  br eak fast he we nt  outs i de thes ta t i o n,i ntending to g et his hors e  an d star ttow a rd the  SanPe d roValley. A t all,  slenderman wa s  dismou n ting fr om a g ood  lo okin g  b la ckho r sei nfro n t o f the st at io n. Th e tw o m e n ex cha nged  glan ces and Sam n oti cedt heman w ore t wo g un s tie d lowon hi ships. He immedi atel y recogni zed  t hema n asa  gunfi ght er. 

Sam k new the typ e, a n das the man lookedat h im  he hope d it w a sn 't someonefr omMexi c o  whoheld agrudge a gainst hi m.  His wo rk  downth ere  ha d cau s ed h im tomake mor e tha n  a few enemies . 

Sam spoke f i rs t ,  h o ping  th ere wasn'tgoin g  tobe a n ytro u ble."Morn in g ,b etter get in therean d grab  some  of those bis cuits befo r e they get  col d ," he said.

Theman r eplied, "T h anks, Iwas a iming to  do justt h at. Say,  pa rtn er,  yo u su re look famil i a r, d oI knowyou ?"

Sam  lo oke d a t t he  man andthoughthe  d id  l ook  fami l iar. The  s mil eonhis f a ce and  thewayhe  s p oke  did no t  m a k e it  a pp earthe  m an wa s lo o kin g for t rouble. S ams aid,  " Do n't kno w, but you lo ok  a littlefa mil iar yo u r self. I' ve been in Mexico for t h e pastfew  year s. W ere you e ver  downtha t  way?" 

Theman s mi led s lowly a sifhe  remembere d whe re he  h ad k nown Sa m. He said, "No, b u t I  think we'vemet . My n am e i s  J o hnn yD alt o n , now, but I th ink back i nT ex as you kne w  me  a s somet hing el se."H e empha sized the  word "no w"  ash e  sp oke.

Theman's vo ice and t h e ref e re nce t o T exas t ri gge red a  bella ndSam f elt hi ms elf te nse i ns ide. Sur e, this was John Ringo.  WhenJohnwas  youngerheh adlived inMaso n County a ndhis  step fat h er ha d ha t ed  th e  Germ an i m migrants. Sa m d e c id ed to try t o g etby pe ace a bly. H e re plied slowly, "Ye s , you're right , we m ayhav e  kno wn  each other in  th ep a st. My n am e is Sam Sm ith, now ." Sam's  voice  helda chall e n ge .  He al so e mph asized th e w or d  "now"wh en he fin ishe dspeaki ng and he l o o ked intently atthe m a n  to s e e i f the re  was go i ng t o
 less_than a_year before he was_killed. That_was_over three_years_ago and if_she had any_relationships since then she_had not mentioned_it._The way Beth spoke about his cousin left no doubt that she loved him_dearly._The fact_that_the_romance crossed the German/Anglo barriers_proved that beyond a shadow_of doubt.

After_Sam finished his breakfast he went outside the_station,_intending to get_his horse and start toward the San Pedro Valley._A tall, slender man was dismounting_from a good_looking_black_horse in front of_the station. The two men exchanged_glances and Sam noticed the man_wore two guns tied low on his_hips. He immediately recognized the man_as a gunfighter.

Sam knew the_type, and_as the man looked at_him he hoped_it wasn't_someone from Mexico_who held a grudge against him._His work down_there had caused him to make_more_than a few_enemies.

Sam_spoke_first, hoping_there wasn't going_to_be any_trouble._"Morning, better get in there and_grab_some of those biscuits before they get_cold," he said.

The man_replied,_"Thanks, I was aiming_to do just that. Say,_partner, you sure look familiar, do_I know_you?"

Sam looked_at the man and thought he did look familiar. The smile_on his face and the way_he spoke did not_make it_appear_the man was_looking_for trouble._Sam said, "Don't know, but you look_a little_familiar yourself. I've been in Mexico_for the past few_years._Were you ever down that way?"

The_man smiled slowly as if he_remembered where he had known_Sam._He_said, "No, but I think_we've met. My name is Johnny_Dalton, now, but_I think back in Texas you knew_me_as something else." He emphasized the_word_"now" as he spoke.

The man's voice_and_the_reference to Texas triggered a_bell and Sam felt himself tense_inside. Sure, this was John Ringo. When John was_younger he had_lived in Mason County and_his_stepfather_had hated the German immigrants. Sam decided to try to_get by_peaceably. He replied_slowly, "Yes, you're right, we may have known each other_in the past. My name is Sam_Smith, now." Sam's voice held a challenge. He also emphasized the_word "now" when he finished speaking and he_looked intently at the man to see_if there was going_to