The town had an empty, silent feel as they clip-clopped down the street, their horses' irons echoing from building to building. People were beginning to stir. Joe found a solitary youth hanging around outside the stable door.

"Anyone leave this morning?"

"Nope. Who wants to know?" The boy stared at Joe insolently, chewing a stalk of straw.

"Never mind that. What about last night?"

"Wouldn't know."

"Well, who would?"

"My Pa, I guess."

"Where is he?"

"In bed. Look, who are you, mister?"

Joe was not known for his patience at the best of times but worry about his sister and irritation over the kid's attitude made him explode. He grabbed him, fisting his hand in his shirt and pushed him back so he slammed into the door of the barn. "I'm the guy who's gonna give you a real hard time if you don't start answering a few questions!"

"I...I ain't done nuthin', mister! Go easy, will yer?"

There was no point in bullying a kid half his size. Joe let him go. "Look, I'm sorry. My sister's hurt. I'm looking for someone."

"Yeah? Well, look somewhere else!" He turned to go but Joe stopped him.

"I'm sorry. My temper'll be the death of me. Look..." He delved into his pocket. "Twenty. Twenty dollars just for some information." The boy's eyes lit up and he made a grab for the money. Joe held it just out of reach. "So no-one's left this morning? You sure?"

"Yeah, I'm sure."

"I need to speak to your father."

"Er...I don't know. He don't like being dragged out of bed." He saw Joe dig out another ten. Joe was fast running out of cash.

"Thirty. Thirty dollars. You can have half, your Pa half. Surely that's worth getting out of bed for? Just to answer a few questions?"

"Wait here."

Joe waited impatiently. He heard shouting from the upstairs window. A slovenly man came to the door, braces hanging down from his waist, his undershirt yellow. Joe stopped himself from curling his nose.

"What you want? You been giving my kid a hard time?"

"I'm gonna give you thirty dollars just in return for some information."

The old man whistled and leered at his son. "Thirty bucks, eh? What you wanna know?"

"I need to know who left here last night."

"There was an old guy and his kid. They put up their horses a coupla days ago."

"Were they the last ones?"

The ostler thought hard. "There was another guy. Dark, tall."

"What time?"

"About eleven."

"Can you describe him?"

"I can do better than that." He took a ledger off the table just inside the door. "Dean. Dean Atkins."

Joe groaned. He took the book and quickly scanned the spidery columns of names. He went back one page, two, and joy broke out on his handsome features. He poked his finger into the page. "This guy. Harry Peterson. What can you tell me about him?"

"His is the gray," the man said, jerking his head toward the stable. "Said he was staying a few days."

"How long ago?"

"Coupla days. Thursday."

"Where's he staying?"

"Hotel."

"Thank you, thank you so much." Joe stuffed the money into the man's hand and ran across the street. Hoss was standing on the steps, scowling, his arms crossed.

"Room nine. "

"Seen him?"

"No, I ain't seen him. I don't trust myself yet. I'd probably kill him. I'm waiting for Adam, anyway."

"Yeah, he'd murder us. You know how he feels about her."

They waited, quivering with impatience and anger. Adam seemed to be taking his time. He strolled over, shaking his head.

"No-one staying there. No joy."

"We've found him."

"You have?!"

"Room nine."

"What you doing standing here, then?"

"Waiting for you, stupid."

"And Hoss is trying to calm himself. He has murder on his mind. So have I, come to that."

"Come on. I'm gonna mark him!"

When they crashed into the foyer, the porter looked up, alarmed. He saw the thunderous looks on their faces and managed to get in front of them as they made for the stairs.

"I don't want any trouble!"

Adam figured truth was the best policy. "Peterson hurt Marie last night."

"Marie?! Sweet little Scamp? Why, what happened?"

"He tried to take advantage of her. She's got spunk, she fought him off," Hoss growled. "But she was badly frightened." Joe was already trying to get past the man but his brother restrained him. "Quit it, Joe...Imagine it was your sister, Potter. You know Scamp. She's feisty but she's innocent. You've got to let us deal with him."

"You're not going to..." He gave them a long, meaningful look.

Adam tutted. "What do you think? We're not cowards like him. We'll give him a fair chance."

"Will we?" Joe raged.

"Yes, Joe, we will. We are not barbarians. He'll pay for what he did to Scamp, don't you worry. But we'll do it right."

Joe pushed past Potter again and this time the man let him go. He crashed up the stairs, his brothers fast behind him. Potter stood at the foot of the stairs.

"Don't you smash my place up!..." He already heard the thumping at the door. "Any breakages you'll have to pay for!"