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down,” Talbot said.
    Gerhardt’s eyes widened.
    â€œIs it . . .”
    â€œIt looks like,” Talbot said. He explained about the wounds on the body and the tracks in the ground and the blood.
    â€œIs it possible?” Gerhardt asked.
    â€œI will have to find out.”
    â€œWhy you, Papa?” Sarah asked.
    â€œBecause it may be my fault the killer is in this country, Sarah,” Talbot said.
    â€œBut . . . you don’t have your kit. You left it at home . . . or did you?”
    Talbot looked at Gerhardt, who looked away.
    â€œDidn’t you?”
    â€œNo,” he said, “no, I did not. I have it with me.”
    â€œPapa!” she said, stepping away from him. “But you promised.”
    â€œSarah—”
    â€œYou said you would not hunt again,” she went on. “You promised.”
    â€œI am sorry,” he said, with a shrug, “I am a hunter. It is what I do.”
    â€œSarah,” Gerhardt said, “it is your papa’s responsibility.”
    â€œIs it?” she demanded. “Even after it was his hunting that caused my momma to be killed?”
    She turned and stormed away.
    â€œFrederick,” Gerhardt said, “if you leave the train . . .”
    â€œI can take her with me and leave her in town,” Talbot said, “or I can let her go with you. I will catch up later, when it is over.”
    â€œIf you leave her with us,” Gerhardt said, “we will keep her safe or die.”
    Talbot knew that.
    But he was also afraid of that.

ELEVEN
    â€œI don’t know what you mean,” Parker said to Clint.
    â€œI think you do,” Clint said. “Sarah Talbot is a lovely young woman.”
    â€œYes, she is.”
    â€œAnd I think you should keep away from her.”
    â€œI don’t know—”
    â€œIf I hear you bothered her,” Clint said, “you’ll have to deal with me. Do you understand?”
    The color drained from the captain’s face and he took a step away from Clint.
    â€œDo you?” Clint demanded.
    â€œYes,” Parker said hurriedly, “y-yes, I—I understand.”
    â€œGood,” Clint said, slapping the man on the back firmly. “And I wouldn’t want to hear that you abandoned these people.”
    â€œI wouldn’t do that!” Parker said. “I have a reputation.”
    â€œGood,” Clint said. “I’m glad we understand each other. We do understand each other, don’t we, Captain? Completely?”
    â€œY-Yes,” Parker said. “Completely.”
    * * *
    When Clint returned to camp with the captain, the man slunk away.
    â€œI don’t think your Sarah will have any problem with the captain anymore,” Clint said to Talbot.
    â€œWe were just discussing what would be best,” Gerhardt said.
    â€œThis is my friend Gerhardt,” Talbot said. “He and his son, Carl, have sworn to keep Sarah safe.”
    â€œGood,” Clint said, “because I think she’d be safer staying with the wagons. Especially with a killer in the area.”
    â€œAgreed,” Talbot said.
    â€œShall we go, then?” Clint asked.
    â€œJust give me a moment.”
    Clint nodded and stood with Gerhardt while Talbot went to his wagon.
    * * *
    Talbot climbed into the back of his wagon and immediately went to the cedar chest, removing the blanket. He unlocked it and removed the vampire kit from inside. Then he reached behind him for a canvas bag that had a flap and a long handle that would allow him to wear it over his shoulder. He donned it, then opened the flap and fit the vampire kit inside, closing the flap after it.
    Prepared for what he had to do, he climbed out of his wagon and looked around. There was no sign of Sarah, so he started over to his friend Gerhardt’s fire.
    * * *
    Clint saw Talbot walking toward him, wearing a canvas bag over his shoulder with