Chapter 63

“She’s a little spitfire, isn’t she?” Reid shouted, pulling her by her hair until she straightened. “It’s a shame that such a fine young woman with so much spirit has to die.”

Shouts of protest went up from the crowd…

“Let us keep her!”

“Man, she’s a hellcat!”

“Just for a few days, Mayor!”

“Days? Fuck! Give us a few hours!”

“Now, now, gentlemen,” Reid said. “She’s far too dangerous to keep as a prisoner. I mean, look at what she did to poor Paul, and she was only in his charge for a single night!”

The crowd laughed, as if it were a great joke. Eliza saw Martha standing on the edge of the still-growing mob, but the other girl wouldn’t meet her eyes.

“Come now, clear a path!” Reid shouted, pushing his procession forward. They all marched down the road, Elsie still at her back, Paul still lying lifelessly on the saloon’s roof, until they reached the base of the new structure.

“Up we go,” Reid said, shoving her toward the gallows stairs.