By the time they arrived at El Paso, it was high noon. The Railwalkers were famished and drenched with sweat. El Paso was bustling, with massive public buildings and wide city streets. An overlooking hotel perched at the main corner, while inns, bars, and brothels fanned out behind it. A measly church sat idle in the distance.
“Afternoon, sheriff.” Richard spoke to a man who approached them. He was dark around the eyes, with a dinged-up star on his waistcoat. The sheriff gestured to the Railwalkers, as if to ask about them. Richard nodded in his captives’ direction. “Horse thieves,” he said. He held out his hand, motioning to the Railwalkers’ horses. “Caught ‘em off the Rio Grande.”
“All right,” said the sheriff, looking them over. “Let’s take ‘em in. We got a man out from the railroad w
