I reached the campsite about a half a mile outside town, and to my relief, Ace was still alive and spitting venom. His hands were tied behind his back, affixed to one of the wagon wheels. Another rope was strung around his neck, also secure to the stagecoach. It was probably the only thing keeping him still and relatively quiet.

If those horses got spooked, though, it would spell the end for my blue-eyed murderer. The dastardly part of me felt like shooting off a round just to ensure that precise thing would occur.

Instead, I approached cautiously.

"This is barbaric!" Harker shouted, for the first time not carrying his sketching book. I spotted it, tossed in the dirt a few yards off. "We are not animals!"

Bram pressed a hand against the air. "It's not for you to decide, Mr. Harker.”

"That is untrue, and you know it. Should we be accosted by the law with that man in our possession, I would wear the same noose as her."

"He's right, you know," Ace said, smiling wide.

"I will not be responsible for another man's death," Harker continued.

"Then feckin' leave, ya whiny bastard," Irish told him. "You ain't doin' us no favors fosterin' about and jabberin' your gob."

"Irish, please," Bram said. Then back to Harker, "He wounded one of our own, deeply."

"She is not one of ours," Harker said.

"Yet."

I tried to ignore their bickering and focus on the source of their discussion. Rosa sat with her revolver in her grasp, atop Timperina if you could believe that. My Timp, who never let another soul but me onto her saddle… until now.

"Rosa," I said. My voice was much softer than Harker’s protestations of inhumanity. But I knew it would cut through.

Timp's head whipped around to face me. I swear, her eyes looked like she was nervous I'd be mad at her betrayal or something.

"Ah, the savior hath come!" Ace pronounced. "Howdy, Crowley."

At the same time, Rosa raised her pistol my way. I put both hands up, and she lowered it when she recognized me. "You don't need to be here, James." I'd never heard her voice like that. I'd heard her heartbroken and angry, but this was… bloodlust.

"I think I do," I said. "Timp, bring her over here."

My horse tapped her hoof. I gave her a stern look, and she turned to approach me, but Rosa quickly slid off her back to stand in front of Ace herself.

"What were you thinking?" I asked Timp as she shyly hobbled over. I rubbed her muzzle. She snorted and gave a sad whinny. I couldn't be mad at her. She'd watched us together, Rosa and me, and probably thought she was doing what I’d want.

"Alright, stay clear." I led Timp aside and approached Rosa on my own. She had her Colt raised at Ace's head, her snake tattoo beneath those many bracelets plain as day with her sleeve rolled up. She was ready to get her hands dirty.

"You don't wanna do this," I told her.

"Other than getting my William back, there's nothing I want more," she replied.

"It won't change anything." Which was funny. It was those same words Rosa's father-in-law had used with me back in Dead Acre when I was trying to avenge her husband's murder. "It won't change anything." He'd said a few times as I left his ranch. Funny how you never realized how true something can be until you’re speaking it yourself.

"Thank you," Harker said. "Finally, a voice of reason."

"Shut it," Irish said again, stepping toward him and making him jump. He scurried away like a frightened rodent.

Bram rushed toward me. "Mr. Crowley—"

"You were just gonna stand by for this?” I interrupted. “And I thought you were a gentleman."

"This is my choice, James," Rosa said. "Mine alone.”

“Like hell it is,” I said.

"C'mon, tough guy. Put an end to this nonsense," Ace said. "This pretty lady might break a nail pulling that trigger, and you and I had a conversation to finish before you ran off playing hero as always."

"Mierda!" Rosa cursed and kicked dirt in his face.

"Just wait, Rosa! Hold on!" I demanded. My hands ran up through my hair in frustration. This was quite the predicament.

Bram pulled me aside. "Rosa told me all about him,” he said, low. “How he struck her mother. Surely, you of all people can understand the need one has to face down their monsters? It's all any of us can do."

I pointed at Ace. "That bastard has done more to earn my ire than any other man alive. But this ain't the way. We need him."

"Need me? Why, I'm touched." Ace pretended to sniffle.

"He should die for everything he’s done!" Rosa yelled, spit flying out.

I pushed past Bram until I was standing just an arm's length from her. "I know. I know. He should die for a lot, but it shouldn't be at your hand."

"Listen to him, Sweetheart," Ace said.

"You shut the fuck up, or I'll walk away and let her gut you," I told him. It was a bluff. We all knew it, but it did the trick for now.

Rosa moved forward with the gun, now only inches from his head. Her hand wasn't even shaking. Grief over Willy, plus what must have been childlike memories dredged up by what Ace did back in that mountain cabin had her truly able to pull the trigger. I could tell. Unable to help her husband, now she could right a wrong against her and her mom long left unpunished.

"Why shouldn't it be me?" she said. "Because I'm a woman?"

"Because you're not a killer,” I said. “Not like this. Not in cold blood with a man tied up, no matter what awful things he's done. Rosa. This ain’t you."

"Yet," Irish chimed in.

I glared back and saw her and the others all watching with rapt attention.

"Would all of you just back away!" I hollered. "This don't concern you one frail bit."

They waited for a few seconds until Bram decided to do the right thing and lead them away.

“Again! Always yanked before things get lively," Irish grumbled.

"You possess a strange sense of fun," Harker said.

When they were far enough, I turned back to Rosa, who remained still as a statue with the gun in hand. At this point, Ace was deadly quiet. I couldn't get a read on him. He wasn't one to fear death, but none of us was sure Rosa wouldn't apply those few pounds of pressure and send Ace to meet Jesus or God, or the Devil. Maybe all three.

"There's no coming back from this," I whispered to her. "There's a big difference between fighting for your life and killing cold."

"You're right,” she said. “I'll be able to enjoy this one."

"Now wait a second," Ace said. Now it was clear he was more angry than scared. "I know I've deserved this from many women in my life, but just who the hell are you? I don't even know you. So, pull the damn trigger or shut your trap." He leaned in as far as he could so that the barrel of her revolver touched his forehead.

I watched the anguish ripple across Rosa’s face. Her lip twitched. Bram's words came back to me. Ace was her monster. The nightmare she likely saw in her sleep and who made her mother live a life in fear.

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And he had no idea who she was.

"You don't even remember, do you?" she whispered.

"Ain't that what I just said?" Ace answered. "Or do you not spic English too well, Honey?"

She shoved his head back and pushed with the gun, no doubt making a circular imprint on his forehead.

I stepped closer. "You remember that day you shot me, Ace?" I asked.

"Foggy, but sure."

"Well, that woman and her daughter you tried to rape…"

Ace’s eyes went wide, and then he grinned impishly. "No shit? That's you, little girl, ain't it? You're the daughter of that whore Crowley tried to give his life for."

Rosa pulled the hammer back on her gun. The thing was rattling, she was shaking so much now. But still, it wasn't nerves. It was unbridled rage.

"Well, ain't this a touching reunion!" Ace laughed. "God works in mysterious ways, don't he? Where is your mama… Rosa, is it? I never did get to finish with her."

"Dead." Rosa said the word softly, but there was malice there too. Plenty of it.

"She die of longing for me, or—"

"Enough, Ace!" I barked. "You're lucky I care about her enough not to cheer her on while she puts you down like the dog you are."

I moved to Rosa's side and whispered in her ear. "Rosa, you know I can't let you do this. You're talking about killing a man and putting yourself on the wrong side of the law. He ain't worth it."

"There is no right side of any law that would allow this man to walk free," she said without looking away from him.

"And what makes you think that would happen?"

"I can still hear you," Ace said, taunting.

Rosa gritted her teeth, but we ignored him. I tugged on her arm, and this time she backed away slightly with me, though she refused to lower her firearm. That arm was locked in place.

"I've lived long enough to know what injustice is, James. I'm no fool. He…" She lowered her voice. "All he needs to do is wave around the right number of greenbacks to the right person, and he walks free."

"I won't let that happen."

"And who are you—God?" she snapped. I knew she was just upset, so I didn't hold any of it against her.

"Please, Rosa,” I said. “He might know where to find the outlaws behind all of what just tore this town apart."

"Ah, so the truth comes out." Ace chuckled. "He don't care about you, girly. Or saving your soul. He's only after that bounty on their head."

"I don't give a two shits in a barrel about that."

"Liar."

Rosa shook her head. "No. I'm done talking. I have to do this. My whole childhood, I saw his face. I saw it when Mr. Phelps took me in Dead Acre. I see it every time a man looks at me with anything more than a passing glance. I always see it. My mother double-locked every door, the rest of her life. You have no idea how long I've waited for this."

She started back toward Ace, gun steady as a surgeon again.

I slowly backed away and stuck my hand inside my satchel. I wasn't proud of what I was about to do, but I had no choice. I had to stop her. For her sake, and for mine. Otaktay and the Ahusaka had just lost one of their own and were bound to be after blood. More people could— would—die, and fast.

I felt sorrow and pain flood my every fiber as laid eyes upon that infernal harmonica. It worked on the werewolves and not the Yeti, but Rosa was more human than any of them. At least in a biblical sense, she was what Shar called a Child.

But the fact that Rosa hadn't shot yet meant she might not've been able to do it. It's one thing to talk about executing man. Quite another thing to get your muscles to comply.

"Rosa, please put the gun down." I tried one last time. I had to. When she didn't listen. When she pressed the pistol back against Ace’s forehead. I did that all-too-human thing and sighed.

Ace laughed. "She ain't got the backbone. C'mon, girl. Do it. I'll go and conquer Hell too. Do it!"

But he was wrong. She had the backbone. That look in her eyes. If I had to place a wager, I’d put ever dollar on Ace’s brains painting that stagecoach.

Rosa wasn't looking when I played a note on the harmonica, low and personal. This was just about us.

"Don't shoot him," I said, trying to match the same key with my voice. Not sure that mattered but it felt natural. Plus it helped me forced words out through sudden sense like I was going to vomit. "You can't shoot him. You're better than that."

My mind told me she would never forgive. That I’d fail her, Shar, everyone.

I fought through the sullenness and played another note, trying to string together a soothing melody if I could. Rosa swayed in a hypnotic dance, her gun hand quaking intensely now. Ace got a faraway look in his eye too, but I didn't care about him.

I played and played. It wasn't good, but it worked. “Put the gun down, Rosa.”

She lowered the weapon and shook her head out.

"Take him," she said under her breath. She threw the gun away and stormed off.

I wanted to go after her, but I just stared. Ace was saying something I couldn't be bothered with. My ears were burning, ringing, tingling. I'd taken her choice away without her even knowing it. And she didn't even seem to realize the instrument had played a part in it.

Just like that, I was as bad as the goat-Nephilim or the Mind-drifter. As bad as Shar, who never asked me if I wanted to take on this role as a Black Badge after dying. Stealing my free will. Yet are any of us ever truly free?

The harmonica slipped through my fingers to the dirt. I couldn’t bear to keep holding it. But the dark feelings it brought out of me didn't lift this time as I let it go. So, I kicked it into some brush out of frustration, where I’d hope nobody would ever find the awful thing. I’d had enough bearing the responsibility of owning it. The White Throne or its angels could handle it.

Rosa stopped at the edge of a hill and screamed toward the sky.

What had I done?

I'd like to say betraying her like that hurt me more than it hurt her, though I'm not sure that would be true. All I knew is I couldn't let her become the monster she so despised.

"What the hell was that?" Ace said. "When'd you start playing?"

"Shut up," I bristled.

"That some lullaby from when she was a child? Cut to her core or something? ’Cuz I hate to tell you, you ain't good at it."

"I said, shut up." I dropped to one knee in front of him, but in my peripherals could only focus on Rosa.

"Well, whatever it was, good on you. I'll be honest, I was really starting to think she might shoot me." Ace snickered.

"She may not've." I tore my focus away from her as much as it pained my soul. "But I will. Unless you help me."

"James Crowley. The man who won't die. Are you formally asking for my help?"

"This ain’t a date, Ace. I see two ways. I can drag you kicking and screaming back to that sheriff and all those people you hurt, probably get you hanged. Or you can help me stop the outlaws who betrayed you. Maybe I say you escaped, and I never saw where to."

He clicked his tongue and leaned forward until the ropes stopped him. His brow lifted. "Now, I'm listening."

"You know where they might've gone?" I asked.

Sure, he could've been lying about the whole thing. Maybe he'd never even met the Frozen Trio—just heard their names spoken somewhere—but this was the only move I could think of. Asking Shar wasn't in the cards. Right now, I'd trust her less than Ace.

"Only place I can think of is where we met when we planned all this,” Ace said. “Seemed special to them reds."

"Take me.”

He took a few seconds. Enough time that I was beginning to doubt this entire gambit. Before he finally said, "What's in it for you if it ain't about the bounty?"

Avenging Dale. Getting back at them for getting me stuffed in a hole for days. Protecting lives. Serving the White Throne. Making what I just did to Rosa worthwhile. All of those were good reasons enough, but Ace, helpful as he could be now, didn't deserve to know.

“You gonna take me or not?" I asked sternly.

"Scared to share your feelings with old Daddy Ace?" he said.

“Help me or get the rope.”

He grinned. "All right, I'll run another job with you, Crowley. But I need you to promise. I know you, and your word always was your bond. I get you to the Frozen Trio, you spring me, and may our paths cross again one day."

"I sure as hell hope not." I stuck out my hand. He wiggled his arm, reminding me that it was bound. So, I cut just the one wrist free, spit on my palm to make the deal clean, and we shook.

"Just like old times, huh?" Ace said. "This'll be fun. And who knows, if you won't take the bounty on them, maybe I will."

"That ain't part of the deal."

"Deals change like the seasons, old friend. Now, you gonna cut me fully free so we can get going before daylight or what? They might be halfway to Tijuana by now."

"Doubt it." I looked over my shoulder at Rosa. She sat by a lone cactus, staring off into the distance. Harker tried to approach her, but she didn't even acknowledge his existence. "Wait here."

Ace shrugged his bound shoulders. "Very funny.

Don't go sweet on her, Crowley," Ace called after me. "She'll make you soft as wet clay. They always do."

I ignored him. Rosa didn't look back as I approached, but Harker fled like a cat caught snooping. I sat right beside her, just like I had the night before. So much seemed different now. So much was different.

I started to give her a nudge but decided against it. "You okay?" I asked instead.

She nodded. "I will be."

"Rosa."

"I would have killed him if you hadn’t shown up."

I wanted to tell her she might've killed him anyway. That I'd stolen that opportunity from her, the chance to do right by her mama. I didn't.

"You wouldn't have," I said. What else could I say?

"Mi Madre always told me, la ira no es más que una justificación para el mal comportamiento. ‘Anger is nothing more than justification for poor behavior.’”

"Smart woman."

"I'm just so angry all of the time… I thought it might get rid of that."

"Nothing ever will,” I said, my heart heavy with the knowledge that I’ve tried. “That's all growing up is. Finding more and more things to get pissed off about."

Rosa half-sniveled, half-laughed, which I'll count as a win in my book. "You're a strange man, James Crowley."

"Ain't that the gospel."

She turned to me, her dark eyes boring right through my soul. It only made me feel even worse.

"So, you need something more from him?" she asked.

"Unfortunately," I said.

"Then I'm glad you stopped me. But… maybe I can neuter him like a bull first?"

Now it was my turn to laugh. "Perhaps afterward."

A flicker of a smile touched the corner of her lips and then vanished just as quick. "Can I come with you?"

"Rosa."

"Please? You saw I can handle myself getting him here."

"Oh, I have no doubts about that. Trust me. This just ain't your fight, okay? These people are dangerous. Way more dangerous than Ace Ryker. And if you're out there, I'm not sure I'll be able to focus on my duties."

She batted her eyelashes. "You trying to charm me to get your way?"

I scooted back. “No. I swear."

"Relax, James, I'm only kidding." She laid her hand over mine—the same one Shar had turned into a walking corpse. For the briefest second, it seemed like I could feel again. Her warmth. Her soft skin. But I knew it was just my imagination playing cruel tricks.

"I just want you safe," I said.

"I know, and I'm thankful for it. Even though I wish I could come." She removed her hand, and I felt more sorrow at that moment than anything the cursed harmonica could elicit. Then she surprised me by pressing that hand against the side of my face. "You go do what you came out here to do, you hear me, James? Don't make me have spared him for nothing."

"I plan on it."

Then, she went back to staring off at the sky, longing for a life she couldn’t have anymore.

And, oh, how I wished I could stay there with her.