In January, the postman delivered a medium-size package for Killian. He took it out to the stable, put it on the ground, and opened his round-top 1840s leather-covered trunk with brass fittings. He had brought the trunk back with him when he and Kip had returned from his Texas ranch. The old trunk’s packed with a variety of his belongings. He removed the top tray and took out two of his old lariats, which he, as an old cowboy, called his “catch ropes.” Then he replaced the top tray and closed the trunk. He tore the brown paper from the package and opened the cardboard box. Inside were three bolas throwing weapons. Killian removed one of them. It had ten feet of interconnected cords which had weighted balls on each of the three ends. A week earlier, he had seen a colorful picture of a bolas
