She didn’t bother to look at him, but she answered, “That isn’t any of your business.”

“You might think it isn’t,” Renda said. “I’ll tell you this-the only way Willis quits while I’m here is to get carried out feet first.”

“I’m surprised you let him go to Fuegos.”

“Willis’s got to have some fun.”

“What if he should run away?”

Renda shook his head. “He doesn’t even think about it any more.”

Lizann said, “You must have someone there to watch him, or you wouldn’t be so sure.”

“No, Lizzy…you know it and Willis knows it, if he runs out on me he’s a ruined man. I don’t need anybody bird-doggin’ him.”

“He’s already ruined,” Lizann replied.

“Let’s say he realizes that,” Renda said. “He still wouldn’t leave you here. See how it is?”

They were almost halfway across the yard when Renda saw the riders out beyond the gate. They were perhaps a quarter of a mile out and walking their horses toward the compound. Watching them, he said, “A man tried to run away this morning.”

Lizann looked up, following his gaze. “Good for him.”

“That’s him they’re bringing back.”

“And now you’ll teach him a lesson.”

“Even if I didn’t want to,” Renda said, “I would.”

They went on to the ramada shade of the long adobe and stopped there to watch the Mimbres ride in.

They straggled to almost single file as the guard opened half of the gate for them, then broke into a trot as they passed into the compound, two of the horses carrying double, and now Renda and Lizann could see the man they were leading.

Bowen was on foot, fifteen feet behind the last Mimbre. His hands were tied behind him and a reata extended from his neck to the saddle horn of the rider in front of him. The reata pulled taut as the horse started to trot and Bowen was jerked forward. He stumbled but kept his feet under him and now had to run to keep up with the horse.