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were soaked with blood, and his eyes were squeezed shut because of the pain.
    “You shot him, you sumbitch.”
    “No, that was his own doing.”
    “Well, you gotta at least help him. He’s gonna die if you don’t.”
    “He’s going to die no matter what I do.”
    “You’re a lawman for God’s sake!”
    “That’s true. But right now he doesn’t need a lawman. He needs a grave digger.” Mason turned to Bowie. “Come on, boy.”
    Bowie took one last look at Willie before turning and trotting over to his master.
    “Marshal!” he shouted, struggling to get to his knees. “What you did here ain’t gonna go unpunished. I can promise you that.”
    Mason stopped and looked back.
    “You do what you need to, and I’ll do the same.”

Chapter 4  
     
     
    The drive winding out of the Blue Ridge Mountains was quiet and peaceful, and Tanner and Samantha rolled their windows down to let the late morning air circulate through the Hummer’s expansive cabin. The small county road eventually intersected with Highway 321, a two-lane thoroughfare that ran all the way from South Carolina to Tennessee. It was cluttered with abandoned vehicles, but neither of them took much notice. There had been roughly three hundred million cars and trucks in the US when the pandemic hit, and many now rested on desolate stretches of highway all across the country. Perhaps the only thing to have suffered worse than mankind was the new car business.
    As they passed by a small service station in Sugar Grove, they saw a bearded man in an adjacent field. He was kneeling next to a car that looked like it could have been taken right off the set of Mad Max. As soon as he saw the Hummer, he scrambled to his feet and began waving for them to stop.
    “That man’s trying to get our attention,” said Samantha.
    “Yep.” Tanner’s foot remained firmly on the gas.
    “If that was you, you’d appreciate some help.”
    “That’s true, but I wouldn’t expect any either.”
    She watched over her shoulder as the bearded stranger flipped them off with what was left of a bloody finger. When he was out of sight, she turned back to Tanner.
    “You’re not much of a people person, are you?”
    “You’re just now figuring that out?”
    “I suppose my being around all the time is hard on you.”
    “You have no idea.”
    She smiled, not at all minding the jab.
    “Once I get married, I’ll move out. Then you’ll miss me for sure.”
    “You’re getting married?”
    “Someday.”
    “I see. And what’s your husband going to be like?”
    “I don’t know.” Her eyes turned dreamy. “Smart, of course.”
    “Of course.”
    “And he’ll have to like my sense of humor.”
    “Good luck with that one.”
    “Funny.” She paused a moment. “He’ll have to be tough too.”
    “I would hope so, on account of all the trouble you get into.”
    “I guess he’ll be a lot like you, only smaller and more handsome.”
    Tanner couldn’t help but chuckle.
    “I understand more handsome. But why smaller?”
    “I can’t very well marry a giant.”
    “I’m a giant now?”
    She shrugged. “Not big enough to climb down a beanstalk, if that makes you feel any better.”
    “Much, thanks.”
    “I only hope my husband likes you.”
    “Why wouldn’t he like me?”
    “You can be kind of…” She hunted for the right words. “You know… kind of rough with people.”
    “It’s not like I’m going to challenge him to a wrestling match.”
    “Promise?”
    Tanner growled.
    She giggled. “Anyway, don’t worry too much about my moving out. I promise I’ll come to visit at least once a week.”
    “Oh, goody.”
    Samantha leaned back and began to daydream about what the future might hold.
    Tanner drove on for another few minutes, finally passing the city limits sign for Boone. The town was already stirring with daily activity, folks heading out to work the farms, others on their way to the college to start preparing the day’s community meal. Boone was as