In a few minutes the boys came in. They had found Blair’s gray horse, branded with the K-10, and brought it up to the house.
“What’s the next thing to do?” asked Ike.
“We’ll put Blair on his horse and take him to town,” said Hashknife. “Me and Sleepy found him beside the road when we were comin’ in from this ranch, and we don’t know a thing about how he got killed. There’s somethin’ wrong about this deal, and if we make a mystery about this, mebbe somebody will show their cards.”
Big Medicine nodded gravely.
“Possibly. I wish we could settle this without open warfare, but I do not want you to take the blame. Blair had no right to be here tonight. He knew that I had drawn a deadline against the K-10, and he knew that I would keep my word.”
They loaded Blair’s body on his horse, roped it on with Blair’s rope, and saddled their own horses. Hashknife walked with only a slight limp and was able to mount his horse without much suffering. His head ached slightly, but otherwise he felt able to take care of himself.
“Come out tomorrow mornin’,” invited Big Medicine.
“Come tonight,” said Lucy. “We got plenty bed.”
“Thank yuh,” grinned Hashknife. “We’ll see how this deal will work out. So long.”