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on, Talbot. Let’s see what we can do about the captain, and about making you feel better about helping us.”
    Talbot nodded, and they left the sheriff’s office.

TEN
    As Clint and Talbot rode out to the camp, Clint tried to learn more about the man.
    â€œWhat did you do in your country?”
    â€œI was a hunter.”
    â€œWhat kind of hunter?” Clint asked. “I mean, we have different kinds of hunters in this country. Animal hunters, manhunters—”
    â€œManhunters?” Talbot asked.
    â€œBounty hunters,” Clint said.
    â€œNo,” he said, shaking his head, “no, I was not a bounty hunter. Not really.”
    â€œThen what?”
    â€œIt is difficult to explain,” Talbot said. “I would have to . . . show you.”
    â€œShow me how?”
    â€œWe can talk about that another time,” Talbot said as they approached the wagon train camp. “I will have to . . . show you something.”
    â€œAll right,” Clint said. “Let’s finish with this first.”
    * * *
    As they rode up to camp, Sarah saw her father and ran to him.
    â€œPapa!”
    As he dismounted, he took her into his arms.
    â€œAre you all right?” she asked.
    â€œI am fine,” he said. “How are you?”
    â€œI am good,” she said. “Carl has been looking after me. He and his father made me sit by their fire.”
    Talbot knew he’d have to thank Gerhardt for that. The man knew that Captain Parker was lusting after Sarah, and that Talbot did not want to say anything to the others. He was afraid if Parker found out, he would leave them stranded. He would probably take the guide with him, since it was he who had recommended him.
    â€œThat is good,” Talbot said, holding her at arm’s length.
    â€œAre you back?” she asked. “Are we ready to move on?”
    â€œNot yet, my dear,” he said. “They want me to help them.”
    â€œHelp them? How?”
    â€œThey want me to track their . . . killer.”
    â€œBut why?” she asked. “Why should you help?”
    â€œBecause,” he said, lowering his voice, “I know what the killer is.”
    Her eyes widened.
    â€œOh, no!”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œHere?” she asked. “In this country?”
    He nodded.
    â€œWere we . . . followed?”
    â€œThat is possible,” he said. “If we were, if we brought this killer here, you can see why I must help them.”
    â€œBut what about . . . the others?” she asked. “Will we have to leave them?”
    â€œFor a time, perhaps.”
    â€œBut how—”
    â€œMr. Adams is here to help.”
    â€œWhat can he do?”
    â€œHe is a famous man in this country,” Talbot said. “He will talk to the captain—”
    â€œPapa—”
    â€œDon’t worry,” he said. “Don’t worry. It will be all right.”
    â€œWelcome back, Talbot,” Captain Parker said.
    â€œCaptain,” Talbot said, putting his arm protectively around Sarah.
    â€œAnd Adams,” Parker said. “What brings you back?”
    â€œActually,” Clint said, “we’re asking Mr. Talbot for a little more help, and it might make it necessary for him to leave the train for a time.”
    â€œLeave?” Parker frowned. “Do you expect us to wait for him?”
    â€œNo,” Clint said, “we figure he can catch up.”
    â€œWell,” Parker said, “if his daughter stays with us, we’ll be sure to keep her safe.”
    â€œI wanted to talk to you about that,” Clint said, putting his arm around the captain’s shoulders. “Let’s take a walk.”
    As Clint and Parker walked away, Gerhardt came over to Talbot.
    â€œWhat is happening?” he asked. “What about this murder?”
    â€œI think I will have to help them hunt the killer