Just as he whipped up his rifle Melissy sprang forward. She heard the sound of the explosion fill the draw, saw Bellamy clutch at the air and slowly sink to the ground. Before the echoes had died away she had flung herself toward the inert body.
The outlaw took a step or two forward, as if to make sure of his work, but at the sound of running footsteps he changed his mind, swung to the saddle and disappeared among the rocks.
An instant later Bob Farnum burst into view.
“What’s up?” he demanded.
Melissy looked up. Her face was perfectly ashen. “Phil Norris ... he shot Mr. Morse.”
Farnum stepped forward. “Hurt badly, Mr. Morse?”
The wounded man grinned faintly. “Scared worse, I reckon. He got me in the fleshy part of the left arm.”