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Zeke sat in a spot that was a suitable distance from Blaze and shaved the whiskers off his face.

The two didn’t speak the entire time they were getting ready for the day.

That was fine with Zeke. He liked the peace and quiet that came with the morning.

There was nothing like a sunrise. The striking yellows, oranges, and pinks chased away the dark blue of night.

With the sunrise came the promise of adventure.

The new day marked the possibility of him doing something worth talking about.

The first time he saw Bernadette, he thought of the sunrise.

She might have been covered in dirt from her time in the cave, but she was still a striking beauty.

No doubt Blaze had noticed how beautiful she was, too.

Regardless of his attraction for Bernadette, she was already spoken for, and he would honor that.

He’d meant what he’d told Lucas. He didn’t go after someone else’s woman.

At the moment, he might not be much of a deputy, but he was a man of honor.

Unfortunately, no one ever praised the exploits of an honorable man.

They only praised strength, looks, and charm. And Blaze had all three.

Blaze put his shirt on then ran his fingers through his thick, dark hair before he stood up from the stream.

Zeke hurried to his feet as well. He had dawdled here for much too long feeling sorry for himself.

His ma wouldn’t like that. She’d tell him to do something to make things better, rather than looking for reasons to get stuck in self-pity.

Upon his return to the camp, he saw that Lucas, Gail, and Bernadette were already eating.

Zeke hid his disappointment. As the deputy, he should have seen to it that things were at least out and ready for them to make for breakfast. Blaze went over to them and sat down.

They handed Blaze a plate, and the three laughed at something Lucas said.

Zeke felt his appetite leave. There was no doubt about it.

Blaze fit in with them. Zeke didn’t. It was like being at the schoolhouse all over again.

He gathered his things for the day. All he needed was a few pieces of jerky.

That would get him through until lunchtime.

While the others ate, he decided to make sure the horses had water to drink.

The sooner they got started for the day, the sooner they would get to the part where they would encounter Lee and Wilson.

And he wasn’t going to mess things up like he had with Bower and his gang. This time, he would be a hero.

After he finished saddling his horse, he secured his belongings to the back of the saddle. Since Bernadette’s horse seemed impatient to get ready, he decided he would get it ready next.

Just as he reached her bedroll, Blaze called out, “What do you think you’re doing?”

Zeke jerked and almost fell on his behind. He managed to regain his balance in time to avoid embarrassment. He glanced at Bernadette, Lucas, and Gail. Thankfully, they weren’t looking over at him. They were busy putting the fire out.

He hadn’t seen Blaze approach, and that was bad.

A deputy ought to be more aware of his surroundings than that.

He straightened the deputy badge on his vest then looked Blaze directly in the eyes.

He hated how intimidated he was by Blaze.

But he was determined to press through it because, as his ma liked to say, “There can be no courage unless you’re afraid.

” If he could face Blaze, he could face Lee and Wilson.

Blaze crossed his arms. “Well?”

“I was only getting everyone’s things ready for our trip,” Zeke replied, hoping his tone came out smooth and steady. “There’s no law against being helpful.”

“You aren’t getting Lucas’ horse ready. You aren’t getting Gail’s horse ready.”

What was Blaze getting at? “I’ve already taken care of my horse. Bernadette’s horse is done grazing, so I thought I’d take care of hers next. I was planning to get to Lucas’ and Gail’s horses next.”

Blaze narrowed his eyes at him. “Really?”

“Yes, really.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“I can’t help it if you don’t believe me,” Zeke said.

“Don’t think I haven’t noticed the way you look at Bernadette. I know you like her, but you can’t have her. Lucas didn’t arrange for you to marry her. He arranged that with me.”

Zeke blinked in surprise. Is that what Blaze thought? That he was trying to win Bernadette over? Zeke might struggle with courage, but he wasn’t stupid. He knew he didn’t have a chance against someone like Blaze. “I realize Lucas arranged for you to marry her.”

“Then why aren’t you acting like it?”

Zeke wasn’t sure what Blaze was talking about. This was just as confusing as things were with Lucas when Lucas accused Zeke of flirting with Gail. What, exactly, was he doing to give men the impression that he was trying to steal their women?

“I’m a rancher. I own 1,400 acres, 500 cattle, 200 goats, and 50 chickens,” Blaze informed him. “Bernadette will live a comfortable life with me.”

Again, that didn’t help Zeke figure out what he was doing wrong. “I don’t know what you’re seeing, but I assure you that I’m just trying to be helpful. I’m anxious to get to Lee and Wilson. They’re hard to track down. I don’t want them to get to the X on the map before I do.”

“We.” Blaze pointed to himself, pointed to Zeke, and then pointed back to himself. “You aren’t doing this without me. I managed to get Bower, Big Mike, and Squiggy behind bars.”

Zeke’s face warmed with a mixture of humiliation and annoyance.

This was just like facing Barney back at the schoolhouse.

“I could have gotten myself free of those ropes if I’d had a little more time.

Then I would have had Bernadette safely out of that cave before you even got there.

And if I had done that, I could have taken care of Bower and Big Mike in that cave. ”

“They tied you up.”

“Granted, there was that little mishap,” Zeke allowed, “but they were sleeping before you showed up.”

“Do you really think you could have taken care of Squiggy?”

“I do.” And Zeke was sure he could have done that since Squiggy was focused on the map. As his uncle would say, “A distracted man is easy to pin down.”

“I realize you tried. I don’t want to be unfair to you. It’s obvious you want to deserve the badge you wear, but there’s no way you’re getting Lee and Wilson unless I’m there.”

Zeke swallowed the lump in his throat. “You don’t know that.

” Now that he had been with Bower, Big Mike, and Squiggy, he had a better idea of how bandits behaved.

Even if he hadn’t been all that successful, he had learned something from the experience, and it might be something he could use in the future.

He’d like to think that even failures could be good teachers.

Blaze let out a sigh. “I don’t want to fight with you. Lee and Wilson are too great of a threat to let something like pettiness get in our way. I only came over here to remind you that I’m the one who’s going to marry Bernadette. I’ll thank you to stop acting like you’re courting her.”

“How am I doing that?” Zeke asked.

Blaze gave him a skeptical look. “As if you don’t know.”

“I don’t.”

“I can believe you are oblivious to many things, but I can’t believe that you are too dumb to get this one.” Blaze picked up her bedroll then headed for her horse.

Zeke almost called out that he really could be that dumb because he really didn’t understand what he was doing, but then he thought better of it. Blaze already had a low opinion of him. Why make things worse?

Zeke almost picked up Gail’s bedroll but worried Lucas might get upset.

He didn’t need to irritate Lucas on top of everything else.

He and Lucas might have had their confrontations, but Lucas was still more pleasant than Blaze was.

The last thing he wanted to do was ruin things with the only ally he might have in this group.

Deciding on the safe route, he retrieved Lucas’ bedroll then went to Lucas’ horse.