"Branch, I should tell you that I am really sorry about your father but I won't let this pass and he will have to pay for what he did."

"I understand, Walt."

We stood in the sterile hallway. I was sizing him up. I admit it. Searching his eyes for any hint of non-truths. Trusting my gut and a quarter century of law enforcement experience I decided to put Branch in play.

"Stay here with Barlow. Can you do that?"

"Yes, I can."

"Ok, I will check in with you later."

I headed out to the Bullet and had to fight my desire to go ahead with my original plan and deal with Nighthorse straight away with a rifle round to the head. I want to kill him. The urge rises up inside of me nearly strangling every decent thing about me. My hate is palpable. Now that I have more of the story, hopefully, the whole story I know that more people will pay. Pay dearly for what the stole from me.

The neon light from the Red Pony illuminates a faded red in the distance. Henry keeps the sign on during the day because as he explains it the Wyoming weather changes its mind more than any woman he ever met. I stride through the double western doors and eye the Cheyenne Nation behind the bar. We make eye contact and he knows it is serious. I see him excuse himself as I head straight for his back office door. Once inside, I can barely contain the rage I feel, and my skin feels as if it is coming off the bone.

"Walter, what is going on?"

"I found out the entire story behind Martha's murder and I had to come here because I want to kill Nighthorse and Barlow Connally. I want to see them suffer, Henry. I want to put them in the ground."

"Barlow Connally?"

I tell Henry the entire plot nearly word for word.

"And you believe Branch? Do you think this is a ruse to get out of the trouble he is in?"

"No, no I don't. Maybe if Barlow was going to die or was dead maybe but no I believe him."

"Is it possible for Barlow to hate you that much after all of these years?"

"Apparently, so. I know he hated Martha for choosing me and not him but I never thought he meant what he said 25 years ago. He said he would soon see her dead than with me."

I want to break something. I want to hurt somebody and this rage will destroy me.

"Walter, you cannot do something rash. This entire year we have worked to free ourselves from our actions in Denver. Do not think that just because you are right, and you are right, that your actions will not have very bad repercussions, my friend."

"I know, Henry but I don't know if I care anymore."

"You do and you know you do."

"I don't know if that's true. I don't feel the same and I know I take risks I shouldn't. I've thought about it. I'm not afraid to die, Henry. Not anymore."

"That does not make you foolish. That makes you wise but you are still a man who has much to lose. You have people worth living for."

"Sometimes I question that."

"You cannot. You are very important to our community, Walt, and to your friends and your family."

I just look at Henry having endured beatings in jail and constant threats from Malachi all because he was helping me.

"Is everything I have gone through in vain? If you do this thing than you will make a mockery out of my sacrifices and I will not stand for that. Not from you."

Henry takes a serious stance and a firm pose as if he is ready to knock me out. His hands are on his hips and his jaw clenches. I suppose this is why his is Standing Bear.

I start to pace is the small cramped office like a caged animal.

"Walter, this may or may not be my place but as your best friend I feel obligated to say this. You cannot bear this burden alone. You must let us help you through this and you must not hide it. Not this time. You lost a wife but Cady lost her mother and I a very dear friend. You have to talk to my God daughter."

My mind races and I realize it never occurred to me to talk to Cady. My natural instinct is to protect her from the truth. To bury the violence surrounding her mom's death. How do I tell her this? How do I tell her that Branch's father was the mastermind to her mom's murder?

I close my eyes and summon the lawman inside of me. He needs to take over because the husband, father, man inside of me is anxiously waiting. I have been waiting for nearly 4 years to excise my exact revenge on these sonofabitches.