A week later, Micah rode over to the McCain ranch, a big smile on his face as Luke came to the door. The big man's face was still haggard, but his eyes were bright and he smiled back. "Micah! Come for supper?"
"Don't mind if I do, Lucas boy, but that's not why I came. I just got word about that fellow that had you, Jason Dooley."
Luke's smile faded. "Mark should hear it too." He led the way into the little house where his son was working over the stove. "Micah has some news about Jason Dooley."
"All I care is that he's dead," said the boy bitterly.
"Mark!" Luke was honestly shocked at the venom in his son's voice.
"I'm sorry, Pa." Mark lifted his chin. "I know you always taught me to live by the Good Book and not to hate anyone but I can't help it. Shooting was too good for him after what he did."
Luke looked helplessly at Micah and the marshal said quietly, "I happen to agree with him, Lucas boy. Dooley was an escaped murderer. He was identified by an old brand on his left shoulder. He killed a sentry when he deserted from the Army, and the marshals found two bodies on his land. One was worn away to a skeleton, but the other one was only about a month old. Looks like you weren't the first man he kept as a slave."
The big man blew out his breath. "I guess I was lucky."
"Very lucky."
"Will you stay to supper, Micah?" asked Mark.
The marshal looked thoughtfully at the father and son, then shook his head. "No, I have to be getting back. Maybe in a couple of days."
He left and Luke went outside to see him ride away, then sat on the porch. Mark came to the door. "Supper's ready, Pa."
"I'm not hungry," said Luke absently.
"You gotta eat." The boy went to sit next to his father. "You still need to get your strength back."
Luke tried to smile. "I know, son." He sighed. "I'm so proud of you, Mark. You thought I was dead, but you didn't give up. You came home and you started life on your own account." He stared at the ground, going on so quietly Mark could barely hear him. "I'm the one who gave up. I was Dooley's slave as surely as if I were in chains but it was my mind that was holding me back. I never would have thought I could break like that, not after surviving losing your mother."
Mark said thoughtfully, "I might have given up too, Pa, but it was different for me."
Luke turned and looked at his son. "What do you mean?"
"After my mother died, you had me to take care of. You couldn't give up, not after you promised to raise me right." The boy looked proudly at his father. "And you kept your word. You raised me right enough to know that when I have a responsibility, I have to...well, I have to be true to it no matter what. When you thought I was gone, you didn't have anything to be true to anymore but I did. I had to let all our friends know what happened to you." Mark waved his hand. "And I had to keep this place going. Everyone around here knows about you and what you did to build our ranch. I couldn't let you be forgot."
Luke felt comforted. "You've grown up to be quite a man, Mark. I guess you'll be all right when I'm not here anymore."
The boy put his arms around his father. "I just don't want that to be for a long, long time."
"Neither do I." Luke held Mark tightly. "Neither do I."