Audrey sat staring at her dad, eyes wide with excited pride, while Walter set the pan of heated water in front of him and handed him a reasonably clean cloth.

"That cheek is gonna be swoll for a bit, and a pretty ugly colour, but the scratches should clean up okay. I kin bind then ribs for yuh, for the ride home, but they'll just hafta mend on their own."

"That's fine, Walter, I can manage alright, and thanks for this." He wiped the hot water over his face and winced as it stung.

Galen and Arch had spent some time with Huber's men discussing what should be done. Carson said he'd take the body back to Barrow Falls, Huber had a plot all picked out in the town cemetery. Said it gave him standing. The other men all agreed that when the County Marshal showed up, they would tell it like it was. Huber tried to kill Harley in a fist fight with a knife, and fell on it himself.

There was a strained parting as Arch and Galen watched the men trot up the slope out of town, Darcy's body bouncing over the saddle of his horse.

"Thinks their word's good?"

Arch nodded, grim faced. "Yeah, Mr. Helliwell, I think it is. 'Cept for a couple, they were pretty good boys."

"Well, it'll be a while before we know. I'll wire the Marshal as soon as we get back. I want to see how Harley is and what his plans are now."

They followed the carriage tracks to Walter's neighbour's barn, surprised when Audrey ran outside, smiling and waving. Hitching the horses to a fence post, Galen and Arch stopped, and laughed as she ran up, taking their hands.

"Come inside! You have to see what Uncle Walter did." She dragged them, excitedly, toward the barn entrance. Inside, Harley sat, stripped to the waist, with a cloth pressed to his face, and strips of bandage about his chest.
You okay, Harley?" Galen asked, dropping Audrey's hand and studying her father.

"Pretty sore here," he touched his chest. "Might be busted - cracked for sure." He rinsed the cloth in the pan beside him.

"That cheek looks a sight. Kinda like a desert sunset." Arch observed, grinning. "Pretty swollen too."

"Looks a dang sight better'n that other fella - Huber." Walter laughed and mussed Audrey's hair, and handed her the small sack he had been carrying.

"Look what Uncle Walter did!" She opened the sack and held it toward Galen.

"Whoa! Is that gold?" Galen stared at Walter.

"It ain't flapjacks." Walter jerked his head confidently.

"That's quite a haul, Walter. Guess all your years of hard work paid off."

Walter looked at Harley, who just hung his head, shaking it, a sly smile blooming. "If'n you think that little sack is all I managed over the last ten, twelve years, you best grab hold of that hat of yours."

"You braggin' big boots agin, Hennessey?" The voice boomed from the barn entrance, and they turned to face a tall, raw-boned man in a floppy brimmed hat, leaning on a long barrelled rifle.

"Whatta ya mean agin? You're the only desert rat I've spoke to in years."

"Yeah, and it's always the same story - more gold than them Inca Injuns."

"Here we go. Rufus is gonna dazzle us with his book larnin'"

"Wouldn't do you no harm to turn a page or two." He approached the group, hand out. "Rufus Preacher, pleased to meet you all. Heard about the doins in town. Reckon it worked out okay for you folks." His eyes held theirs with a calm confidence.

"How did you hear?" Galen looked past him to the door.

"Got an Injun lives in the town. He won't have much to do with us, and he keeps well hid, but every now and then he brings us some fresh game, and we give him some of Walter's treasure."

Galen looked curiously at Walter. "Why are you sitting here if you have so much gold, Walter? You could be in a real comfortable place with plenty of good food and drink."

"Son, if I was to show up in some town with all the wealth I've dug outta this ground, I'd either be pestered to death, or shot to death, and I ain't got that many years left to give for either of those choices."

"But why keep at it?"

"So's I can do what I've done for Harley and my niece, and any other folks I feel deservin'."

"You won't change him, mister." Rufus snorted. "Ornery old cuss won't do anythin' that makes sense." He exchanged a friendly glare with his neighbour.

"What about you, Mr. Preacher?" Arch asked, intrigued.

"'Fraid my lot's to stick with this old coot, otherwise he wouldn't have nobody to brag to."

Arch rubbed his neck and walked around a bit. "I have never met such a strange bunch of people in all my life. And that includes all of you."

"That may be, Mr. Gainer, but you should know before we finish here, one word to anyone about this place, will fetch that person a load of hurt." Harley stood, stretching uncomfortably into his shirt.

"Mr. Duggan, you don't have to worry about me. This will just be a wild memory between the bunch of us." Arch twirled a finger around the group.

"I think we should be decidin' our next move." Galen said. "Arch and I are goin' back to Barrow, we'll ride with you if you like, Harley."

"Yeah, I think I'd like that . . ." he glanced at his daughter. "Be a comfort since I'm still a bit stiff."

Walter clapped his hands. "Well you ain't goin' yet. Tonight we're havin' a celebration meal. Rufus here is a great cook and he's gonna roast up some of that game meat Injun brought us. Right, Rufus?"

"Sounds pleasurable, Walter." Galen looked at the others. "Guess we leave in the mornin'."