It took barely five minutes for Elia to give the required directions again, which he did ungraciously enough. But Peter verified his account with the original story, and was satisfied.
Then the two men went out and saddled the horse. In three minutes Jim was in the saddle, and Peter gripped him by the hand.
“The good God’ll help you out for this, Jim. So long.”
“So long.”
As the horseman passed the hut Eve and Elia were standing before the closed door. Jim saw them, but he would not pause. However, his keen ears heard the whispered “God bless you” which the woman threw after him. And somehow he felt that nothing else in his life much mattered.
A few moments later Eve was at her gate, fumbling for the latch. Elia was at her side, looking out at the lights of the village. Suddenly he turned and raised his beautiful face to hers.
“Say, sis, you’re a fule woman,” he declared sharply. He was listening to the sounds of bustle down at the saloon. “Can’t you hear? That’s the boys. They’ve come in, and they’re gettin’ ready to start with Doc. If they get him––they’ll hang him.”
“Him? Who? What d’you mean?”
The terrified woman was staring down into his calm eyes.
“Why––Jim.”