"Why don't you go on inside with the sheriff, and you can tell me all about your strengths after I'm finished here."

"Are you telling me to get out of your way? " "Yeah, I am."

"I'm not going anywhere. Besides, I've got a plan, " he said with a gesture toward one of the gunslingers.

"I've got a plan too, Cole replied.

"Mine's better."

"Is that right? " "Yes. On the count of three, we both drop to the ground and let them kill each other." In spite of his dark mood, the picture Ryan painted made Cole grin.

"That would be real nice if it worked, but neither one of them is close enough to hit the other. Besides, I'd get my new shirt all dirty dropping to the ground."

"What's your plan? " Ryan asked.

"Kill one, then dive, roll, and kill the other."

"Seems to me you're going to get that brand-new shirt dirty with your plan too."

"Are you going to get out of my way or not? " "Lawmen stand together, Cole.

That's a real important rule to remember."

"I'm not a lawman."

"Yes, you are. You should be sworn in, but that's only a formality."

"You've got a twisted sense of humor, Ryan.

You know that? I'm not going to be a marshal."

"You already are, " Ryan explained patiently.

"Why? " "I need your help."

"I think maybe you don't understand how I feel. I'm fighting the urge to shoot you, you son of a bitch. You kept my compass for over a year." Ryan wasn't at all intimidated by Cole's threat. "It took that long for the appointment to come through.

" "What appointment? " "I couldn't just pin a badge on you, " Ryan said. "The appointment came from Washington." Cole shook his head.

"They're moving in on us, " Ryan said. He rolled his eyes in Eagle's direction. "Do you know either of them? " "No."

"I'll take the one at five o'clock." Cole started to turn, then stopped. "Your five or mine? " "Mine, " Ryan answered.

They each turned to face an approaching gunfighter, then slowly stepped backward, stopping when they were shoulder to shoulder.

"Don't shoot to kill."

"You gotta be joking." Ryan ignored the comment. He shouted to the gunslingers to put their hands in the air and walk, slow and easy, toward him, but Eagle and Riley stayed where they were with their right hands hovering above their guns.

"If you miss Riley, his bullet is going to go through you and hit me, "

Cole said.

"I never miss."

"Arrogant bastard, " Cole whispered just as Eagle went for his gun.

Cole reacted with lightning speed. The gunfighter didn't even get his weapon out of his holster before a bullet stabbed through the palm of his hand.

Ryan fired at the same time. He shot the gun out of Riley's hand just as he was bringing his weapon up. The bullet cut through his wrist.

Keeping their guns trained on their targets, the two marshals strode forward. Ryan reached Riley first. He removed his weapons, ignoring the man's squeals of agony, and prodded him toward Sheriff Norton's jail.

Eagle was bellowing like a wounded boar. Much to Cole's frustration, he wouldn't stand still, but danced around in a gyrating jig.

"You ruined my shooting hand, Clayborne. You ruined my shooting hand, " he screeched.

"I heard you the first time, " Cole grumbled. "Stand still, damn it.

I'm taking your guns." Eagle wouldn't comply, and Cole quickly tired of chasing him. He let out a sigh, grabbed hold of the gunslinger by his collar, and slammed his fist into his jaw, knocking him unconscious. He continued to hold him up until he'd removed his gun, then let him drop to the ground.

Gripping the scruff of his neck, he dragged him to Norton.

The sheriff was beaming at the two marshals from the boardwalk. "Guess I'll have to go get the doc to patch them two up, " he remarked.

"Guess so, " Cole replied.

The sheriff rushed back inside, snatched his keys off the desktop, and hurried on to unlock two cells. A moment later, the gunfighters were pushed inside.

There wasn't time for the sheriff's congratulations, for no sooner had the cell door slammed shut than Ryan was called outside by the telegraph clerk. When Cole joined him on the boardwalk, one look at the marshal told Cole something bad had happened. He was surprised when Ryan handed the wire to him.

Cole read the contents while Ryan gave the news to Sheriff Norton.

"There's been another robbery." His voice was flat.

Norton shook his head. "How many dead this time? " "Seven. will "Where did it happen? " Norton asked.

"Rockford Falls."

"That ain't far from here. I can tell you how to get there."

"How far is it? " "About forty miles over some rough terrain."

"You might want to keep your eyes open in case any of them pass through here again. I doubt they will, " Ryan added. "They've already hit this bank. Cole, are you riding with me? " He shook his head and handed the wire back to Ryan. "It's not my problem." Ryan said nothing. Squinting against the sunlight, his eyes narrowed and his brow wrinkled into a frown. Suddenly he grabbed hold of Cole's vest and shoved him backward off his feet. Before Cole could recover and retaliatehis fingers were flexing into a fistRyan stole his thunder by apologizing.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that. I let my temper get the upper hand. Look, you're right. You didn't ask for any of this, and the robberies aren't your problem. They're mine. I just thought . . .

hoped, anyway . . . that you would want to help. I won't accept your resignation, though. You're going to have to ride to the regional office and surrender your badge to the marshal there. Sheriff Norton will give you the directions. I've got to get going to Rockford Falls before the trail grows cold. No hard feelings? " he asked as he put his hand out.