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easier.”
    â€œIf you spent a winter in a mining camp or on some cattle drive, you’d understand,” Zeke said.
    Zeke decided the conversation was getting too heavy, the tension in the air too strained. He ate the rest of his stew standing up. “Thanks for the food and the coffee,” he said. “If you don’t mind, Hawk and I will say good night. We plan to head out at daybreak, so we’ll try not to wake you.”
    â€œWe’re heading out at the same time,” Suzette told him. “We want to get to Tombstone as soon as we can.”
    â€œJust keep the river in sight and you can’t miss it.”
    â€œSuzette said you have a ranch only a few miles from Tombstone,” Anna said. “Since we’re all going practically to the same place, why don’t we go together?”
    Four women started to speak at the same time, but Josie’s voice rose above the others’. She moved so close to the fire, Zeke could see its flames reflected in her eyes. “We don’t need anybody to protect us,” she said.
    â€œI’m sure they’ll want to travel as fast as possible,” Suzette said. “It’ll be better if the mares reach the ranch before they start dropping their foals.”
    Zeke turned to Anna. “Thanks for the invitation, but Josie and Suzette are right. You don’t need us to protect you, and we do need to get to the ranch as soon as we can.”
    Anna frowned, clearly unhappy with Josie. “Something could happen to the wagon.”
    â€œIf you have to, you can ride your mules,” Zeke said.
    â€œI don’t ride mules,” Josie declared.
    It was on the tip of Zeke’s tongue to ask what made her so uppity, but he figured he already knew. Anywoman who looked like Josie got pretty much what she wanted. It must have really put her nose out of joint to be driven out of town by a bunch of dowdy housewives, but it was no use taking her anger out on Hawk and him. If she had turned it on the women who’d attacked her, she might still have a job.
    But looking at Josie as she glared at him across the fire made him wonder if she would ever be able to keep any job for long. She seemed so angry, so determined to attack anyone who disagreed with her, that he was sure she’d either be fired or walk out after a few months. Even beauty like hers could compensate only so long for a cantankerous personality.
    â€œI’m sure you’ll manage without our help,” Zeke said. He bent down and picked up the pot Anna had used to cook the stew. “Since you cooked, we’ll clean up. Give Hawk your bowls.”
    Three women readily accepted his offer. Only Josie seemed reluctant, but she handed Hawk her bowl after a brief hesitation.
    Zeke was relieved to walk away from the camp. He could feel the tension ease a little bit with each step he took into the darkness. By the time he and Hawk reached the riverbed, the camp was only a red glow in the distance. Zeke squatted down and began to scour the inside of the pot with sand. “I don’t know what’s bothering Josie, but I’m surprised the men didn’t run her out of town without waiting for the women.”
    â€œSome man has given her a rough time.”
    â€œHell, some man has given every woman a rough time, but it hasn’t turned all of them into man haters.”
    â€œYou shouldn’t judge her until you know what happened,” Hawk said. “It could be that—”
    Hawk broke off at the unmistakable sound of a horse approaching. Both men dropped their work, drew their guns, and headed back to the camp on silent feet.

Chapter Three
    Josie hated to admit it even to herself, but the moment she heard the horse approach, she looked toward the river to see if Zeke was returning. She could even feel his name rising in her throat before she forced it back down. She wasn’t going to depend on any man to protect her. “I think we