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Lily took a breath and told him what happened, the terror and chaos as the man attacked them and how Josie tried to stop him. When she was done she looked up at him and he saw her anger deflate, as if she were too exhausted to feel anything.

Sympathy for her, for them all, rose in him. “Can you describe him?”

“Yes. His face is burned into my memory. I’ll never forget it.

Dark hair, long, almost to his shoulders, and his eye were almost black…

as if the Devil himself had come to life.

He was tall. Taller than you. But slim. I think his nose had been broken a time or two.

It was a little crooked. And he was angry, so angry, that Valentine didn’t want to go upstairs with him.

None of the girls did. Josie tried…” She looked up at him. “You gonna go after him?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“When?”

“As soon as we know who we’re looking for.”

“Well then, take me down to the Marshal’s Office,” she demanded, “and let me look at your Wanted posters.”

Devlin nodded. “Thank you. I appreciate that.”

“Nothing like this has ever happened here before,” she said, her voice hoarse. “Josie runs a respectable house, the best one I’ve known.” Her gaze swept the room, stopping on the other girls then came back to him. “She was good to us. Took care of us. Protected us.”

He didn’t quite know what to say. Any expression of sympathy would be inadequate.

“We always felt safe here.”

Doctor Ben came down the stairs, carrying his medical bag and asked, “Where’s Lily?”

“Over here, Doc.” Devlin waved him over.

Lily watched Doc Ben approach them, her eyes wide and filled with both anger and pain. “Josie?”

“I’m sorry, Lily.” He shook his head sadly and set his medical bag down beside her.

Lily’s bravado seemed to crumble and tears, the first Devlin had seen from her, filled her eyes.

“Take care of that wound, Doc,” Devlin said and looked down at Lily. “We’ll need you to come down to the office as soon as you can. I’ll send one of my men to escort you,” he paused. “I’m sorry. I know Josie was your friend.”

She nodded and swallowed hard, as if willing herself not to cry.

Soon after, he and Nate left the house and rode to the Marshal’s Office where they compared versions of what happened. “Go get everyone. Tell them what happened and meet me back here.”

“Sure thing, Boss,” he said, but didn’t move as Devlin dismounted and tied Challenger’s reins to the post. “Josie was a nice woman.”

“Yes, she was,” he agreed.

“I’ve known her a long time.”

Devlin recognized the drawn brows and grim expression on Nate’s face, seen in the light glowing from the office’s big windows. “We’ll find him.”

Nate gave a short nod, spurred his horse and took off to gather the others. Devlin watched him go, then stepped inside and looked around.

A game of solitaire was laid out on Nate’s desk, a cup of coffee, long since gone cold, sitting beside the cards. It had been quiet until that man attacked Josie. It wasn’t going to be quiet for much longer.

He paced the office, waiting for his deputies, anxious to gather his posse and go after that man, but there wasn’t anything he could do until Lily gave them a description. He walked into the kitchen and made a fresh pot of coffee. They’d need it.

A few minutes later, Merrill came into the office through the kitchen door. “Nate came to get me. Told me a little bit of what’s happening.” He buckled on his gun belt and tied the strings that hung from the bottom around his thigh.

“Where is he now?”

“Went to Rafael’s. Sherm and the others are on their way.

Said he would head back to Josie’s to escort Lily to the office when he was done so she could look at the Wanted posters.

” He paused, sadness showing in his eyes and in his expression.

“Damn shame what happened. Things like this shouldn’t happen in Serenity. Josie was a good woman.”

“It shouldn’t happen anywhere.” He tried to tamp down the anger flowing through him but failed. Horribly. “Do you think you can draw the man if he isn’t on any of the posters? Lily said she could give you a description.”

“I’ll do my best.”

They drank coffee and waited as the other deputies drifted in, all in various states of dishevel, having been awakened just as rudely as he had been.

Rafael headed for the coffeepot and poured himself a cup.

Sherm came in alert, clearly ready. There was none of the usual teasing each other.

Not this time. This, they knew, was serious business.

They also knew there might be a chance they would not come home. That possibility haunted every lawman.

They didn’t need to wait long before Nate came back with Lily. Devlin stepped forward to open the small gate that separated the office proper from the entryway. He took her hand and drew her to a chair beside Merrill’s desk. “Are you all right?”

She looked at him like he was the stupidest man on earth. He had to agree with her. It wasn’t the most intelligent of questions.

“Do I look all right to you, Marshal?” She snapped, her voice was hoarse and tight. The tension of the night had gotten to her. “I’ve just lost a very dear friend to some…depraved bastard. I am not all right.”

“Forgive me.” He patted her shoulder. “Can I bring you a cup of coffee?”

“Do you have anything stronger?”

“Nate, do you still have that bottle of whiskey in your desk drawer?”

Nate flushed then retrieved the bottle, pouring some into a coffee mug. He handed it to Lily then stayed close, the bottle still in his hand. She swallowed the drink in one gulp, which seemed to steady her.

“Are you ready?” Devlin asked as he took her hand and guided her to the Wanted posters on the wall.

She took her time, looking at each poster carefully before moving on to the next and then she froze. Her eyes widened and the blood drained from her face, leaving her pale except for two bright spots of rouge on her cheeks. “That’s him! That’s the man who killed Josie!”

Devlin glanced at the poster and his heart sank. Ned Delany. “Are you certain?”

Lily took umbrage at the question as she turned to face him. “Of course, I am. I will never forget that face.”

He turned to his deputies. “Sherm, I want you and Tomas to start at Josie’s house and work your way toward the town square then continue on to the other side of town.

Check everything. Look in alleyways and backyards, in wagon beds—anywhere big enough for a man to hide but try to do it calmly and quietly.

The last thing we need is to upset the townspeople though I think they should know what’s happening.

If anyone asks, tell them what’s happened then advise them to stay in their homes, doors locked.

” He took a breath then turned to Rafael.

“We’re gonna need Esteban Silva and his brothers and anyone else you can think of. Your brothers will help?”

“They will.”

“Good.” He pulled the Wanted poster from the wall and looked at Lily.

Her face was still white, whiter than the sheets Tresia hung up to dry.

She swayed a bit and he wondered how she remained on her feet.

She was certainly still in shock. He addressed Nate, who’d come to stand by her again. “Take her over to Doctor Ben’s.”

“Yes, sir.” Nate held out his hand to her.

Lily glanced at the hand Nate offered then raised her gaze and looked at him, her eyes filled with sadness, but at the same time, gratitude.

She turned toward Devlin. “As much as I appreciate your concern, Marshal, I don’t need Doctor Ben.

He has already examined me.” She gestured toward the bandage on her shoulder.

“I’d rather go back to Josie’s, where I’m needed most.”

“Whatever you think is best, Lily.” Devlin laid a hand on her arm and squeezed lightly.

“Thank you for helping us. We’re going to find this man before he hurts anyone else.

” He nodded toward Nate and Caleb. “Take her back to Josie’s but keep your eyes open.

After you make sure she and the other girls are safe, I want you both to head north to the old mines. ”

Lastly, Devlin turned toward Merrill. “You’re with me. We’ll head out to Wyatt’s place then Alfonso’s.” He turned to the rest of the men, who were already checking their pistols, each one knowing that Ned Delany would not be taken easily.

“The sun’s coming up.” He remarked as he stacked boxes of bullets on the desk and the men loaded up. “You all know who you’re looking for. Be careful.”