Tyen was on the ledge 10 ft above them, her back to a sheer drop of 200 ft. The carving knife was still in her hand, her knuckles white. She was breathing hard, her eyes darting like a trapped animal, but she was not crying. Jeb Smith and the Drifter were below her, trying to find a way up. "Come down, girl," Jeb was saying, his voice a mocking Weedle.
We ain't going to hurt you. Preacher just wants to talk. "I'll go up," the drifter said, holstering his pistol and grabbing the rock. You cover me. Daniel raised his rifle.
He did not call out. He did not warn them. This was not a fight. This was an execution. He set his sights on the drifter, who was halfway up the rock face.
He squeezed the trigger. The.44 caliber slug hit the man in the center of the back. He grunted, his body slamming against the stone and then he fell, tumbling silently to the base of the cliff. Jeb Smith spun around, his pistol clearing his holster. "What the—?"
Daniel's second shot was ready. It took Jeb in the chest, spinning him around. He staggered, looked down at the blood blooming on his shirt and then pitched forward. Silence. The echo of the shots rolled down the canyon.
Tyen stared, her hand over her mouth. "Daniel," she whispered. He stepped out from the trees, his rifle still shouldered below them on the trail. Pike appeared, his face white. He looked at the two bodies, then up at Daniel.
"Murderer!" He shrieked. "You are a godless killer." Daniel walked down the game trail until he was on the same level as the preacher. He did not lower the rifle.
His face was a terrible thing. All emotion burned away, leaving only a cold, deadly calm. "They tried to take her," he said. "She is my ward. The law is on my side."
Pike was trembling, but his righteous fury held him together. "You will hang for this, Reed, you and your heathen." Daniel's rifle came up. The muzzle aimed not at Pike's chest, but at his face. You lay hands on her again, Daniel said, his voice a low, grading whisper.
And I will plant you in this dirt. Pike flinched. He saw the truth in Daniel's eyes. This was not a threat. It was a statement of fact.
You You can't, Pike stammered. You can't kill a man of God. "I can," Daniel said. Hoof beatats pounded on the trail. "Hold your fire, Reed.