I'd been sitting with Chavez for quite a while when an unexpected voice made me jump. "Hi." It was Billy. Quickly, I dried my eyes and wiped my nose. I've never been the type to show too much emotion; in fact, I can count on one hand the number of times anybody has seen me cry.

"Are you okay, 'Rena?" Billy asked gently.

"Yeah. I'm just fine," I replied.

"How's Chavez doin'?" Billy continued.

"Still out cold, but Father says he'll live." I said.

A sudden groan behind me attracted my attention. Chavez was sitting up, rubbing his head like he had a headache. "I think I'm fit for another day," he said. "Please thank your father for his kindness, Querida. I owe him my life."

"I'll do that," I promised.

"We got a score to settle with my old friend Patsy," said Billy as I walked them back to their horses. "You gonna come with us, 'Rena?"

I thought about that for a minute. I wanted to join the boys on whatever the hell they were up to, but I wasn't sure I wanted to leave Father. He'd missed me every day when I was gone for four years, then I'd finally come home. I knew it would upset him if I left again.

Doc put a hand on my shoulder. "It's fine if you don't come. We all know that you're brave; you don't have to prove anything."

"I can't leave you boys hanging," I said. "We made a pact to be pals forever."

"I don't care if you all swapped spittle and took turns giving each other a roll in the hay," said Dave. "I don't take to women in my gang, and I definitely don't take to no Indian women."

"It ain't your gang, Dave," Billy reminded him.

"No, you should stay here," said Chavez. "There's lynch mobs everywhere we go, and they will kill you, Querida."

I turned to go back to the village. I sat down with Father and had a serious conversation with him. He didn't like the idea of me leaving again since there was no guarantee I would come back, but he didn't forbid me to join the gang. I rounded up Storm Cloud, saddled him, and caught up with the boys just as they were leaving.

"Wow," breathed the little boy I'd seen with them. "I'm gonna ride the trail with The Kid and Rampaging Riddle."

Billy grabbed the boy by his shirtfront, pulled him real close to his face and said, "You better quit callin' us by those absurd nicknames, or I'll give you a name that'll stick with you forever you won't like. Little Orphan Tommy comes to mind. Maybe Shadow Tom, or somethin' catchy like that. I don't wanna hear any more crazy talk about lawlessness bein' fashionable. It ain't nothin' to sneeze at if you break the law, especially when it involves killin'. Won't lead nowhere but to the grave; you best learn that and learn it fast. You hear me?"

Tommy nodded. "Yes, sir."

Everything was pretty silent until dark, when we found a place to stop and set up camp. Arkansas Dave stretched out lazily on the ground and said, "Billy, if you insist on this woman bein' in my gang, I insist she make herself useful. I could use some supper right quick, darlin'."

I glared at him. "Call me 'darlin' again and see what happens."

Tommy asked nervously, "Do--do you really scalp your victims?"

I raised an eyebrow. What was with this kid anyway?

"No. Not recently, anyways," Billy said just for devilment.

Arkansas Dave blinked. Beneath the dirt all over his face and scruffy beard, I'd swear I detected a hint of worry. Well, if he wanted to think I was some kind of bloodthirsty savage, I was all for letting him. At least it might keep him from insulting me.

I grabbed my six-shooter and went off in search of game. Being that it was late in the evening, there wasn't a hell of a lot of choice other than scorpions or rattlers. Scorpions actually weren't bad after they were shelled and their stingers cut off, but it would take a damn colony to feed seven people. I took my time getting back to camp; I knew the boys wouldn't be happy that I hadn't found any supper.

I got back just in time to witness an amusing episode. Arkansas Dave was saying uneasily, "Darkness ain't natural." Without missing a beat, Chavez kicked some dirt over the campfire and it promptly went out. I chuckled as I lay down next to Chavez. He and I always slept side by side on long journeys for warmth; he didn't want me to catch cold. I closed my eyes and drifted away.