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Chapter One

Son 1867

When Wash Halliday caave hi band gathered in the town square wearing their faded green unifor Hero” only slightly off-key

His ears rang with the noise, and he felt it all the way down to his feet He glanced down at the leather boots in which, a year ago, he had marched from the unionprison at Richmond all the way to Fort Kearney Now, he was back in Smoke River

Midsue to duck; the flash of light looked exactly like an exploding mortar

Thad McAllister, the graying band leader, pumped his skinny arms rhythmically up and down, up and down, but now Wash could hear nothing A roaring noise bloomed in his head, rolled and echoed like thunder, and then a high-pitched screaan He pressed both hands over his ears

Stop Stop Behind his closed eyes the red-gold explosions began again

“Havin’ one of yer spells, are ya?” his grizzled companion queried softly

“What? No…no Just can’t stop re”

The sun-blackened half-Coet away from this headache po and have a drink Saloon’s just across the street”

Rooney was usually thirsty for some Red Eye about this time of day Wash usually wasn’t But today it was the other way around

He waved his thanks at the bandleader and the two h the crowd across the main street of hard-packed dirt The hot afternoon breeze rustled the leaves of h it was only August

The buildings were sparse but well-kept Livery stable, sheriff’s office, mercantile and two saloons “Damn small town for a railway station,” Rooney muttered

“It’ll grow,” Wash said with conviction “When the railroad coest town in Jefferson County”

Rooney shot him a look and spat tobacco juice froet the surveyin’ done and get yer clearing crews out here”

Wash didn’t answer He had plenty of tion Central Railroad wouldn’t expect a route plotted for another week; that gave hiet the survey crew started