"For years," he said, not explaining their friendship began at West Point.

"When Walker married Skye he wrote about her family. He had a line or two for you." Ryder winced as he shifted his weight.

"I didn't connect you and your wife with Mary when you first came to Fort Union." The trial had been underway then, Jarret remembered, and the testimony had been damning.

"You had a few other things on your mind." Jarret said.

Ryder's rueful grin acknowledged the truth of that.

"Just a few."

And only a few less now, he thought.

"You tracked the blood?" he asked. Jarret nodded.

"Hell of a fall you took back there. I half expected to find a body at the bottom of that ravine."

"Disappointed you didn't?"

"Glad I didn't find Mary."

"I don't suppose you and I would be talking if you had."

"That's right."

Jarret tapped the butt of his Colt.

"I would have killed you. No question." It was nothing less than Ryder would have expected.

He was a little surprised that Jarret was carrying on a conversation now.

"I may ask you to do it anyway," he said.

"Mary can't."

"Jesus," Jarret said lowly.

"You asked her?"

"I told her I was considering it."

"Jesus," he said again.

"You had no right. Not Mary. You know what she is... what she was.

She'd never give up. She'll kill herself working to save you."

"Do you think I don't know it?" Ryder asked quietly. His eyes strayed back to Mary's exhausted figure and lingered there.

"You've got to get her out of here." It was what Jarret came to do.

However, he hadn't expected to be invited to do it. He pointed to Ryder's injured leg.

"What the hell were you doing on the lip of that ravine anyway?"

"Trying to cover our tracks."

"Mary was with you when you fell?"

"God no." He closed his eyes briefly, thankful she hadn't been around when the ridge of stone had given way beneath his feet and sent him plunging over the edge.

"I left something along the route, and I had to go back to get it."

"Clothes," Jarret said.

"That's right. How did you-"

"You missed a sock." jarret raised one hand, holding off the question he saw in Ryder's eyes.

"It's all right. I have it now. I cleaned up the trail, too. Just in case it led me to you. I didn't want anyone else finding it." Ryder didn't thank him, his mind already racing ahead to the obvious question.

"Anyone in particular?"

"A Tonto scout."

"Rosario."

"That's right. Jay Mac upped the ante. Rosario gets a bonus above what's already being offered for-"

"For my head." Ryder finished.

"It's all right. Mary warned me her father would want my head on a platter."

He forgot his pain long enough to allow himself a small, self-mocking chuckle.

"Jay Mac could have saved his money.

Rosario would happily turn over my scalp for free."

"So I understand."

"It's not personal," Ryder said.

"Rosario hates all Chiricahua equally and that's what he considers me.

That's why he's been such a good scout for Gardner. Bringing in the Chiricahua is a matter of pride. He can cut his teeth on me, but if he can bring down Geronimo he'll be a legend." Ryder shifted his weight again, this time moving back on the bed so he could lean against the stone side. The effort beaded his brow with sweat.

"So Rosario's out on his own. I'm surprised General Gardner released him to go alone."

"Jay Mac was convincing. And the general thinks Rosario's with me."

"Why isn't he?"