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name’s Eagle, Clayborne, and I’m here to take you out. Turn and face me, you lily-livered bastard. I’m gonna draw on you, damn your hide.”
    The competing gunslinger wasn’t about to be left out. “My name’s Riley, Clayborne, and I’m the man who’s going to kill you.”
    The gunslingers Cole had encountered so far had allbeen stupid. This pair, he decided, wasn’t the exception.
    â€œI should probably do something about those two,” Ryan said.
    â€œLike what? Are you thinking about arresting them?”
    â€œMaybe.”
    His casual attitude was irritating. “What kind of a marshal are you?”
    â€œA damned good one.”
    Cole clenched his jaw. “You’re sure full of yourself.”
    â€œI know my strengths. I know yours too.”
    Cole’s patience was gone. “Why don’t you go on inside with the sheriff, and you can tell me all about your strengths after I’m finished here.”
    â€œAre you telling me to get out of your way?”
    â€œYeah, I am.”
    â€œI’m not going anywhere. Besides, I’ve got a plan,” he said with a gesture toward one of the gunslingers.
    â€œI’ve got a plan too,” Cole replied.
    â€œMine’s better.”
    â€œIs that right?”
    â€œYes. On the count of three, we both drop to the ground and let them kill each other.”
    In spite of his dark mood, the picture Ryan painted made Cole grin. “That would be real nice if it worked, but neither one of them is close enough to hit the other. Besides, I’d get my new shirt all dirty dropping to the ground.”
    â€œWhat’s your plan?” Ryan asked.
    â€œKill one, then dive, roll, and kill the other.”
    â€œSeems to me you’re going to get that brand-new shirt dirty with your plan too.”
    â€œAre you going to get out of my way or not?”
    â€œLawmen stand together, Cole. That’s a real important rule to remember.”
    â€œI’m not a lawman.”
    â€œYes, you are. You should be sworn in, but that’s only a formality.”
    â€œYou’ve got a twisted sense of humor, Ryan. You know that? I’m not going to be a marshal.”
    â€œYou already are,” Ryan explained patiently.
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œI need your help.”
    â€œI think maybe you don’t understand how I feel. I’m fighting the urge to shoot you, you son of a bitch. You kept my compass for over a year.”
    Ryan wasn’t at all intimidated by Cole’s threat. “It took that long for the appointment to come through.”
    â€œWhat appointment?”
    â€œI couldn’t just pin a badge on you,” Ryan said. “The appointment came from Washington.”
    Cole shook his head.
    â€œThey’re moving in on us,” Ryan said. He rolled his eyes in Eagle’s direction. “Do you know either of them?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œI’ll take the one at five o’clock.”
    Cole started to turn, then stopped. “Your five or mine?”
    â€œMine,” Ryan answered.
    They each turned to face an approaching gunfighter, then slowly stepped backward, stopping when they were shoulder to shoulder.
    â€œDon’t shoot to kill.”
    â€œYou gotta be joking.”
    Ryan ignored the comment. He shouted to the gunslingers to put their hands in the air and walk, slow and easy, toward him, but Eagle and Riley stayed where they were with their right hands hovering above their guns.
    â€œIf you miss Riley, his bullet is going to go through you and hit me,” Cole said.
    â€œI never miss.”
    â€œArrogant bastard,” Cole whispered just as Eaglewent for his gun. Cole reacted with lightning speed. The gunfighter didn’t even get his weapon out of his holster before a bullet stabbed through the palm of his hand.
    Ryan fired at the same time. He shot the gun out of Riley’s hand just as he was bringing his weapon up.