They made pretty good time covering the miles back to camp, and once they arrived, Sharps gazed around at the spot with appreciation. The man who’d chosen it had known what he was doing. Two large wagons were positioned for optimal protection, and the mule teams had been corralled on fresh grass. Sharps was certain Steve was the one who’d selected this, and he smiled at his captain, so proud of him, he could have burst his buttons, although Steve was too preoccupied just then to notice.
Steve had to select a burial spot, and then bring the dead man’s body to his loved ones.
A passel of kids descended on them, three of them crying as they ran past the cap to where Mrs. Hall sat the buckskin mare. “Georgie, Georgie!”
She slid from Salida’s back and knelt to embrace her brothers.
The othe
